March 30

This week’s image:  Daniel et Daniel contributed yummy chilli fry rolls to Dixonlicious on Wednesday night. It was another successful evening for Dixon Hall - congrats and thanks to everyone involved.

CABBAGETOWN NEIGHBOURHOOD 
REVIEW


LOCAL NEWS

Beer Store worries
The Winchester Park Residents’ Association has written to Ted Moroz, President and CEO of the Beer Store, about the negative impact of the closure of the Gerrard Street store.  The Association worries about the increase in problem activity at the Parliament Street store which is located beside the Cabbagetown Youth Centre and two blocks away from Winchester Public School.  
Specifically, the WPRA asks for three improvements for the Parliament store.  First, they want a ban on single-can sales.  Second, they want a ban on high-alcohol beer products.  Third, they want an increase in security around the store to cut back loitering and threatening or nuisance activity.
To add your support to this campaign, contact the Association at info@winchesterparkra   

Consultations about short-term rentals
There are lots of short-term rentals in our neighbourhood.  The City of Toronto wants to know about your views and experiences in order to develop its regulations for this emerging industry.  There’s a consultation meeting coming up at City Hall, Committee Room 2, 6:30 pm, Wednesday April 12.   For more info about live streaming of the meeting, a public survey and stakeholder meetings, contact amy.buitenhuis@toronto.ca   

Mega-club on the waterfront
Photo:  CBC News
A proposal has been submitted to build the world’s largest nightclub with a capacity over 15,000 people on the waterfront in the Port Lands.  There have been a variety of crazy schemes for this location in the past - casinos and Doug Ford’s ferris wheel among them. And the existing clubs in this area operate under restrictions because of the noise made in the past by The Docks.  The CBC did a story about it in January.   
A citizen’s group has now been formed to oppose this scheme at the Alcohol and Gaming Commission.  The group is called Waterfront For All and it’s made up of a coalition of over fifteen other organizations.  It’s now seeking volunteers and donations and it has a website with a petition.  Click here to see its website.  

Progressing Human (In) Security
The NATO Association is presenting an art exhibition that explores human security over time.  Eric Morse, a prominent Cabbagetowner, is an active member of the Association.  Friday March 31, 6 pm, The 519 (519 Church).  

Ward 7 News
David Reed has discovered a website with archived copies of the Ward 7 News from 1970 to 1985.  It was a community-owned, non-profit newspaper distributed throughout the former municipal Ward Seven.  
This was a turbulent period in Winchester Park,  Cabbagetown and Cabbagetown South as developers tried to muscle through these neighbourhoods and expand St James Town.  It was also an energetic, creative time when the BIA was formed, the annual Cabbagetown Festival started up and big personalities like John Sewell, Karl Jaffray and Janet Howard dominated our local politics.  Click on this link to find the site - thanks David.  

River Street trailer
Photo:  Jack Lakey, Toronto Star
The Toronto Star’s Fixer, Jack Lakey, ran a story last week about a graffiti-covered construction trailer apparently abandoned at Spruce and River Streets. This week, Mr Lakey writes that the trailer has stirred up plenty of interest.  During the week, Susan Corrigan reported her frustrations with the City’s 311 procedures (her query went nowhere). Then, in follow-ups, both Susan and Mr Lakey learned that the trailer won’t be moved.  It’s needed for additional road work on River Street, south of Gerrard.  No word to either of them about a target date for its removal.  
  
Jennifer Snowdon Yoga
Jennifer offers group classes and private sessions in her studio (58 Rose).  Single session drop-ins are also welcome.  In April, her private classes start at 10 am from Monday to Thursday.  
On Monday evening from 7:30 pm, she offers a group class on Beginner’s Yoga. On Wednesday from 7:30 pm, she has a class for Yin Yoga and Nidra.  Kids’ yoga happens from 4 pm on Thursday and on Saturday, she has Hatha Yoga at 9:30 am and Yin Yoga at 11:15 am. 
Sign up for Jennifer’s newsletter and get lots of details and contact info at her website.   
Jennifer and Sarah Moore periodically do a Restorative and Yoga Nidra workshop together.  They have one scheduled for Sunday April 9 at 2 pm at 58 Rose.  There’s a sign-up form on Jennifer’s website - click here.  

April step classes
Brenda’s offering an active schedule for April - there are some changes that she wants to point out.  Her regular classes happen in the Cabbagetown Youth Centre gym (2 Lancaster) at 11 am on Sunday and at 9:15 am Wednesday mornings.  The class on Easter Sunday, April 16 is cancelled.  The class scheduled for Wednesday April 19 is rescheduled for Thursday April 20 at 9:15 am - this is a one time change.

Tai Chi
Steve Kwan is holding his Tai Chi class on Sunday mornings at 9:15 am in the Cabbagetown Youth Centre (2 Lancaster).  These are small, personal sessions.  Steve has offered them at various locations in Cabbagetown for over twenty years.

Moss Park Market
Photo: Natalia Manzocco, NOW Magazine
The Market is now open for its second season at Queen and Ontario Street.  It’s being operated from Tuesday to Saturday from 1 to 6:30 pm.  There’ll be lots of fresh veggies and fruit - look for a bright shipping container.

Calendar for CPA events
Garden Tour and Tour of Homes - the CPA has announced that each Tour will now be held in alternate years. The next Tour of Homes is now scheduled for the Sunday September 17, 2017 and the next Garden Tour will happen in 2018..
Peggy Kurtin Award - the CPA’s annual recognition of an important renovation. Three awards are given each year - for excellence in restoration, for a special addition and for an improved facade.  Nominations for the 2017 awards are now open and run until April 15 and the winners are announced at the CPA Annual Meeting in late May.  For details and for submission guidelines, click here.  
Streetscapes in Bloom - a friendly competition to honour a homeowner whose garden is judged the best.  Nominations for neighbourhood gardens now open to May 27.  Over the summer, the judges will visit each nominee’s garden four times and then will announce the overall winner at the CPA’s fall meeting.  To learn about the award and to nominate a garden, click here.  

COMING EVENTS

Cabbagetown Festival
Can you believe it - the first announcements about the 2017 Festival have appeared.  First of all, save the dates - Saturday September 9 and Sunday September 10.  If you want to be a vendor along Parliament Street, click on the BIA’s link here and scroll to the bottom to find vendor info and an application form.  

Corktown Residents & Business Association
The CRBA’s monthly meeting happens on Tuesday April 4 at 7 pm in the Cooper Koo Family YMCA (461 Cherry).  Two new businesses are locating in Corktown and they’ll be introduced at the meeting - Yoga Lounge (331 Queen E) and Gusto 501 (501 King E).  There’ll also be a presentation about TOCore.

Pockets Warhol’s Art Collective
Pockets Warhol is a 25-year-old capuchin monkey living at the Story Book Farm Primate Sanctuary.  The Sanctuary, located in Sunderland, is now a safe home for 19 primates.  Cabbagetowners Anita Kunz and Ray Gates are helping with a fundraiser to support the Sanctuary.  Over 100 pieces of art will be displayed from April 6 to April 16. Opening on Thursday April 6, 7 pm, Papermill Gallery at Todmorden Mills (67 Pottery Road), $20/online here and $25/door.   

Emergence
Photo:  Natalie Illanes Nogueira
Green Thumbs works with schools to plant and tend gardens in school yards.  We have one of the Green Thumbs’ school gardens at Winchester Public School (photo above).  
On Thursday April 13, Green Thumbs is holding a Spring fundraiser - Emergence -  at Regent Park Community Food Centre (40 Oak St) from 6:30 to 9 pm.  During the evening, Mark Cullen will be honoured for his work as an advocate for children’s gardens.  Tickets and more info - click here.   

Blueprint for the Future
A silent auction and gala in support of the Toronto Kiwanis Boys & Girls Club (101 Spruce).  They’re hoping to raise $30,000 this year to send one hundred kids  to summer camp.  Tuesday April 25, Daniels Spectrum (585 Dundas E).  
The event includes a silent auction, a cocktail hour and a dinner.  Special guests include Thompson Egbo-Egbo and Justice Donald McLeod.  Tickets for the entire program are $145 and for the cocktail hour and silent auction, $50.  Check out the website here for tickets and more info.  

IN THE MEDIA

Cabbagetown decor
Photo:  Jennifer Roberts, Globe & Mail
Anya Georgijevic did a story in the Globe & Mail last Friday about the eclectic tastes of James Reiger and Riley Stewart. It’s a charming story about a fascinating apartment - click here to read it.

ON STAGE

Corktown Chamber Orchestra
The Orchestra is back at 8 pm, Thursday April 6 with a program featuring small ensembles.  Little Trinity Church (425 King E),  $12.

TDT’s Chiasmata
Christopher House’s Chiasmata returns to the stage for the first time in eight years in this fresh new iteration.  Toronto Dance Theatre is offering its Cabbagetown friends an exclusive discount - $15 tickets for any performance.  Contact Cathy at info@tdt.org to book your tickets.  For more info about the performance, click here.  March 30 to April 2 and April 5 to April 8, Winchester Theatre (80 Winchester).  

Spoon River
One of Soulpepper’s constant favourites is back, Friday March 31 to Saturday April 15. Online tickets and info here.  50 Tankhouse Lane.

BUSINESS NEWS

Seasonal final sale
Kendall & Co (514 Parliament) is making room for even more new arrivals. Save on rugs, lighting, tables, sofas, pillows and home accents at 40 to 70% off . Now or Never!  Your one-stop design shop at Parliament & Winchester. Open on Monday to Friday from 10 am to 6 pm and Saturday from 11 am to 5 pm. http://kendallandco.ca/fyi

Easter baskets from Staij
Anastasia has prepared Easter baskets that promise to be perfect and sweet Easter gifts.  They’re filled with sugar cookies, meringues, chocolates, candied popcorn and chocolate covered pretzels.  Preorders taken until April 8, $20.  Staij and Co, 552 Parliament.

RESTAURANT NEWS

Congrats to the HOP
The House on Parliament (456 Parliament) has served a roast beef dinner on Sundays since it’s start-up, away back in the dim mists of time.  It’s a community favourite.  blogTO has done a “Top-Ten” list about Sunday roast beef dinners and, of course, the HOP is right there among Toronto’s finest.  

Congrats Jet Fuel
Photo:  Brad J, Twitter
John’s landmark coffee shop will celebrate its 25th anniversary on April 1.  Save the date - he’s planning a party.  And just in time for the party, the landmark Jet Fuel sign is back on the storefront.  519 Parliament.

Dinner and a movie
Ugandan chess prodigy Phiona Mutesi is the real Queen of Katwe.  Her life and struggles growing up in Ugandan slums are the basis for the Disney movie, Queen of Katwe.  Enjoy a chance to meet Phiona and have dinner with a showing of the Disney film - 5 pm, Friday April 7, Fuse (366 Queen E), $75.  

Arvo Concert Series
The Arvo series presents Nashville singer/songwriter Justin James on Saturday, April 8 at 7 pm.  Free. 17 Gristmill Lane, Distillery.  

Love Food, Give Food
Paintbox (555 Dundas E)  is joining with Action against Hunger.  In April and May, $1 from the price of its Moroccan Tagine on the bistro menu will be donated to the fight against malnutrition.  

Mill Street Beer Hall
The Beer Hall (21 Tank House Lane) is currently closed for renovations.  Along with these changes, the Retail Store is also expanding to provide more space for sampling.  The Brew Pub, right next door, is still open.

THEATRE & DANCE CALENDARS 
Addresses, online info and current events.

ALUMNAE THEATRE
70 Berkeley

The Clean House - April 7 to April 22
Online tickets and info here

CANADIAN STAGE
Berkeley Street Theatre
26 Berkeley Street

Kiss - March 28 to April 16
Online tickets and info here.

Jack Charles v The Crown (Spotlight Australia) - March 29 to April 8
Online tickets and info here.

COLEMAN, LEMIEUX
The Citadel
304 Parliament 

Baseline/Multiform - March 31 to Apil 8
Online tickets and info here.

NATIVE EARTH PERFORMING ARTS
Aki Theatre, Daniels Spectrum
585 Dundas E

Niimi’we, double bill - Thursday March 30 to Saturday April 1
Online tickets and info here .

SOULPEPPER
50 Tank House Lane, Distillery District

Crawl Space - March 23 to April 15
Online tickets and info here.

Spoon River - March 31 to April 15
Online tickets and info here.

TORONTO DANCE THEATRE
Winchester Theatre
80 Winchester

Chiasmata - March 30 to April 2, April 5 to April 8
Online tickets and info here.


CLUBS & PUBS – DAILY LISTINGS

THURSDAY MARCH 30 TO SUNDAY APRIL 9

  • For contact info about these clubs and restaurants, see the list at the bottom of this page.  
  • If there's a cover charge or tickets are sold, the prices are listed.

THURSDAY MARCH 30

The Irv
7 pm, live acoustic music

FRIDAY MARCH 31

Alice’s Place
10 pm, Karaoke 
Dominion
8 pm, DJ Wizdome
Fuse
10 pm, Ladies night and dancing, ladies free, others $10
Johnny G’s
8:30 pm, Live Greek music with Dimitra (vocals), Vassilis (keyboard) and Vaggelis (bouzouki). 
Quincy
African weekends with DJ Fox and a guest DJ

SATURDAY APRIL 1

Dominion
8 pm,DJ Regina
Quincy
African weekends with DJ Fox and a guest DJ

SUNDAY APRIL 2

Alice’s Place
4 pm, Karaoke with Vee
Dominion
11 am, Brunch & Beats, live DJ with Wizdome
The Local GEST
4:30 pm, Sunday afternoon jazz with Brendan Davis

MONDAY APRIL 3

Stout Irish Pub
7:30 pm, Headscratchers Trivia

TUESDAY APRIL 4

Stout Irish Pub
7:30 pm, Headscratchers Trivia

WEDNESDAY APRIL 5

Alice’s Place
9 pm, Karaoke
Local GEST
7:30 pm, Wednesday Night Trivia
Paintbox
8 pm, Corktown Ukulele Jam, $12
Quincy’s
Latin Wednesdays with DJ Fight - reggaeton, merengue, rumba salsa, Afromusic and more.  $10.

THURSDAY APRIL 6

The Irv
7 pm, live acoustic music
The Local GEST
8 pm, Jeff Barnes and Noah Zacharin

FRIDAY APRIL 7

Alice’s Place
10 pm, Karaoke
Dominion
8 pm, DJ Bookshelf
Fuse
5 pm, Meet and greet, dinner and movie with Phiona Mutesi, the Queen of Katwe.
Johnny G’s
8:30 pm, Live Greek music with Dimitra (vocals), Vassilis (keyboard) and Vaggelis (bouzouki)
Quincy
African weekends with DJ Fox and a guest DJ

SATURDAY APRIL 8

Arvo
7 pm, Justin James
Dominion
8 pm, Dave Deez
Quincy
African weekends with DJ Fox and a guest DJ

SUNDAY APRIL 9

Alice’s Place
4 pm, Karaoke with Vee
Dominion
11 am, Brunch & Beats, live DJ
The Local GEST
4:30 pm, Sunday afternoon jazz with Whitney

CONTACT INFO

ALICE'S PLACE
554 Parliament St, (647) 931-9088, https://www.facebook.com/alicesplacetoronto
ARVO
17 Gristmill Lane, Distillery,  (647) 352-2766
CORKTOWN KITCHEN
354 King St E, (46) 901-1188
CRANBERRIES
DOMINION PUB & KITCHEN
500 Queen St E, (416) 366-5555, https://www.facebook.com/DominionTO/
EL CATRIN
18 Tank House Lane, Distillery, (416) 203-2121, https://www.facebook.com/elcatrin.ca
FUSE
366 Queen St E, (647) 347-3873, http://fusedining.com 
HOUSE ON PARLIAMENT
IMPACT KITCHEN
THE IRV
95 Carlton Street, (647) 350-4787, https://www.facebook.com/theirvpub/
JOHNNY G’s
478 Parliament St, (416) 928-1358
THE LOCAL GEST
424 Parliament St, (416) 961-9425, http://www.thelocalgest.com/
MERRYBERRY CAFE
MILL STREET BEER HALL
21 Tank House Ln, Distillery, (416) 681-0338, http://millstreetbrewery.com/toronto-beer-hall/
MILL STREET BREW PUB
21 Tank House Ln, Distillery, http://millstreetbrewery.com/toronto-brew-pub/
ODIN
514 King E, (647) 350-6346, https://www.facebook.com/odinhus
PAINTBOX BISTRO
555 Dundas St E, (647) 748-0555
QUINCY’s AFROKITCHEN & BAR
326 Parliament, (647) 989-9127,  https://www.facebook.com/cometoquincys/
SOULPEPPER
Young Centre, 50 Tank House Lane, Distillery, (416) 866-8666,
STOUT IRISH PUB
UNDER THE TABLE

568 Parliament St, (647) 351-1533, https://www.facebook.com/underthetabletoronto