June 29

This week’s image:  Taste of Regent Park has started for the season

CABBAGETOWN NEIGHBOURHOOD 
REVIEW

CANADA DAY EVENTS

Strawberry social
The Winchester Park Residents’ Association is hosting an old-fashioned strawberry social.  Saturday July 1 from 2 to 4 pm in Winchester Square Park (474 Ontario just north of Carlton).  The first 150 guests will receive a complimentary strawberry shortcake.  

Pre-party
Mark Hendricks is organizing a pre-Canada Day neighbourhood bash on the playground behind Sprucecourt School (70 Spruce).  Everyone welcome.  Mark is getting the hotdogs and sparklers for the kids.  BYOB.  Friday June 30, after 4:30 pm.  

Bill Morneau’s barbeque
Our federal Member of Parliament - and Canada’s Minister of Finance - Bill Morneau, is celebrating Canada Day with a big barbeque.  Saturday July 1 from 11 am to 3 pm in Regent Park (Sackville and Dundas).  There’ll be free food and live entertainment.  

LOCAL NEWS

From canoe to cable
How news arrived in Toronto.  Steve Brearton conceived and wrote this exhibition and worked with Studio Jaywall on the design and graphics.  It spans our history from the 1787 Toronto Purchase to today’s internet, showing how the city’s residents connected with each other and the outside world.  The exhibition will be displayed at Urbanspace Gallery (401 Richmond W) until September 16.  Monday to Saturday, 9 am to 7 pm

401 Richmond
This building is home for artists and galleries from across Toronto.  Cabbagetown’s Atia Pokorny has space there.  She’s asked that we become familiar with the incredible tax problems the building is now facing.  These increases will drive out the people who now use the building.  There’s a petition to sign (over 10,000 people have already done so) and lots of background data - click here.  

Glen Murray’s tour of Queen’s Park
Glen is leading a tour through Queen’s Park on Friday June 30.  Meet at the Yonge Street Mission (306 Gerrard E) at 2:30 pm - depart for the Legislature at 3 pm.  Free TTC tokens provided.  Glen knows about Queen’s Park - he serves there as our local MPP and as Ontario’s Minister of Environment and Climate Change. Register for your space.  gmurray.mpp.co@liberal.ola.org 

Diggity Dog is rescheduled
Marilyn’s nail clinic at Pet Valu (240 Carlton) is rescheduled this month until Saturday July 8 to avoid conflicts with Canada Day. She’ll return to her normal schedule (first Saturday of each month) in August.  If you want to use her full grooming service, you can contact her at Cabbagetown Pet Clinic (239 Gerrard E) or call (416) 920-6814.  Check out her Facebook page.  

Cabbagetown Farmer’s Market
Every week, new produce appears - we’re now into strawberries, raspberries and cherries as well as the regular early veggies.  
Welcome back to Debbie Wiecha. She comes here every week from Niagara On The Lake.  Last year’s drought (remember that!) attacked her crops and she had to stay away.  Not this year.  She’s back with plenty of fruit plus a welcome batch of fresh lavender.  She’s been a vendor for 15 years and remembers the days when Elizabeth Harris was starting her work in the Market.

Deebs
Deebs is another new vendor at the Market.  Lia and Lucas are selling dairy-free yogurt made from coconut milk along with tzatziki, spinach and artichoke dips, granola and fermented black tea.  They prepare their goodies at Rasa (Harbord and Robert St) where Lia works as the pastry chef.  Best wishes for a successful summer.

Taste of Regent Park
Wednesdays in Regent Park - live entertainment, vendors, food demos and community meals.  The first event took place on Wednesday and it seems that scones from the bake oven were a big hit. Regent Wheels did tuneups and repairs on visitors’ bikes.  UforChange provided a DJ and dancers.  Later in the season on July 12, an outdoor movie will finish off the day’s events.  It happens for another nine weeks in Regent Park (Dundas and Sackville).

Cabbagetown Regent Park Museum Historical Tidbit
Image:  City of Toronto Archives
In 1867, the Peter Lamb family celebrated their Blacking and Glue Factory’s very successful 20th year located in the sparsely populated NE corner of today’s Cabbagetown. Recently married, young Daniel – later alderman and founder of Riverdale Zoo – had moved into a renovated “Lamb House” at 156 Winchester and his father, Peter, lived on Sumach south of Winchester.
As this 1860s ad suggests, the factory boasted a 5-storey, steam-powered, brick building surrounded by 11 smaller buildings for storage of raw resources (fish, bones, hooves, and various animal parts) and “multifarious” final products (glue, blacking, water-proof leather preserver and ground-bone fertilizer). Lamb’s not only catered to a local trade, but exported to the US, Britain and the continent. All this industrial activity from today’s Wellesley Park site.
The operation was noxious in the extreme, hence its originally remote location. While the factory’s intense odours may have represented the smell of money to the Lamb family, complaints flowed in from patrons of its Necropolis neighbour and from as far away as the General Hospital on Gerrard Street which had to close its north windows during the summer. Still, area residents could console themselves with the advertised promise that Lambs’ Super-Phosphate of Lime (i.e. ground bones) would encourage their cabbages to ripen early and produce a 100% boost in yield.
For more Cabbagetown history, photos and videos visit the CRPM Facebook page.
Please support the Museum by clicking on GoFundMe.

Lookin’ good
This guy’s got it all - a lovely lakeside dock, a devoted golden retriever and a daily job in Toronto’s best gastropub.  Thanks to Tania for the great photo.   Congrats Beau!

COMING EVENTS

Cabbagetown by the valley
A walking tour presented by the Cabbagetown Preservation Association and heritage Toronto.  From its bucolic origins to its industrial history to its present-day residential character, Cabbagetown has always been closely linked to the Don Valley.  The tour starts at Wellesley Park (east end of Wellesley) at 6:30 pm, Thursday July 6.  The tour will be repeated on August 26 at 1:30 pm.

Cabbagetown et la vallee de la riviere Don
The above tour, offered in French.  Sunday July 2, 2 pm.  Meet in Wellesley Park (east end of Wellesley).  

Bike tour through Regent Park
Chartwell Residences is organizing a free bike tour through Regent Park and the surrounding area.  You need to reserve your spot - bikes, helmets and Tee shirts are provided.   It happens on Wednesday July 12 and RSVPs are requested before July 4 so the tour can be properly set up.  It’s being organized by Toronto Bicycle Tours.  July 12, 5:30 pm, meeting spot at 500 Dundas E.  Contact Vanessa to register: 

vtynedal@chartwell.com  


Save your spot - Beth Kaplan’s workshop
Beth offers a one-day writer’s workshop in her garden every summer.  This year, it happens from 10 am to 5 pm on Sunday July 23.  Enjoy the company of other writers while you work on your own stories.  Beth has taught creative writing at Ryerson for 23 years and at U of T for 10 years.  Her workshop is an adventure in writing for writers at all levels.  Register early - space is limited.  $150 includes your workshop experience, lunch and wine. Contact her at beth@bethkaplan.ca   

CLASSIFIEDS

Our Classifieds are free announcements about your news.  Are you having a yard sale, renting a parking spot, looking for a lost cat, bragging about your newest baby?  Tell your neighbours here.  Contact cabbagetownreview@gmail.com 

Open house at 382 Sackville
Cabbagetown jewel in a superb location - glorious Victorian meets chic contemporary.  Open house Saturday and Sunday, 2 to 4 pm.  Details online here.  www.annestatton.com.  Anne Statton, Chestnut Park 

BUSINESS NEWS 

Buy Canadian. Shop Local.
Kendall has been operating his Interior design business in Cabbagetown since 1998. He and Kevin expanded with an award-winning retail shop 8 years ago. Despite their time in the neighbourhood, they still find Cabbagetowners unfamiliar with Kendall & Co and what they offer. 
So, they created a video tour to show how they’ve grown into Toronto’s one-stop-shop for everything you desire for your home.  While having a look online, please subscribe to their YouTube channel for more informative videos in the future. 
Like other Cabbagetown proprietors, Kendall and Kevin are also local residents making a difference in our community. Kendall & Co has all the reasons for us to shop local at Parliament/Winchester.
Open from 10 am to 6 pm weekdays and 11 am to 5 pm Saturdays.  514 Parliament.  

Penguin Fresh discounts
As announced last week, Penguin Pickup (453 Parliament) is a new Parliament Street business.  Penguin Fresh is a big part of its service, specializing in online orders and delivery of veggies, fruits, meat, poultry, baked goods, prepared meals and more.  Order online and get your groceries at Penguin Pickup.
To celebrate the new store, Penguin Fresh is offering Cabbagetown customers a 10% discount on all orders (no minimum size).  Hashtag: #PenguinInCabbageTown and promo code “Cabbagetown”.  
Check in with Brendan and Atinder - they're handling the Parliament Street store.
Open from 7 am to 9 pm on weekdays and 9 am to 6 pm on weekends.
Click here to learn more and to register.  

Distillery Sunday Market
The Sunday Market is now underway every Sunday afternoon from noon to 5 pm. Food and artisanal crafts.  Distillery District.

IN THE MEDIA 

Investments in the Port Lands
Photo: Chris Young, Canadian Press
On Wednesday June 29, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, Ontario Premier Kathleen Wynne and Toronto Mayor John Tory jointly announced investments in Toronto’s Port Lands.  Together, the three governments will spend $1.2 billion to build new flood prevention barriers and to redirect the water course at the mouth of the Don River.  This, in turn, will spark the creation of parklands, 290 hectares for new housing developments and the future development at the old Lever Brothers site on the east side of the Don.  It’s a huge infrastructure project.  There are stories on the CBC, the Toronto Star site and in the Globe & Mail.  Click here for the Globe’s story by Alex Bozikovic.   

Don River floods
Photo: Christopher Mulligan, CBC
Last week, the Don River ran over its banks during the heavy rainstorm on Friday June 23.  Bayview Avenue and the railroad tracks were shut for the morning.  The CBC did a short report about the floods which had subsided by the afternoon. 

508 Parliament
Photo: Bernard Weil, Toronto Star
A delegation from Winchester Park Residents’ Association had just warned the mayor and councillors about the dreadful conditions in the TCHC building at 508 Parliament when a resident was badly beaten in a violent incident. Betsy Powell wrote about all of this in the Toronto Star on June 22 - click here for her story.    

Redeveloping Seaton House
Photo: Google Maps
Seaton House on George Street has been targeted for demolition, originally in 2017.  It’s currently the largest shelter for homeless men in the city with 539 beds.  And that’s the problem.  The City of Toronto can’t find acceptable alternatives for the men and so the building keeps limping along as a stopgap solution.  The Toronto Star’s Emma McIntosh wrote about this dilemma on June 25 - click here to read her story.   

Changes for the Health Bus
Photo: Jesse Winter, Toronto Star
For 20 years, the Health Bus, operated by the Sherbourne Health Centre, has offered on-the-spot support for hundreds of marginalized people every month.  Now it’s changing.  A new vehicle with updated clinical equipment is coming in September.  The new bus will now be staffed by a nurse practitioner, a mental health worker and an outreach specialist.  Jesse Winter’s story in the Toronto Star on June 24 describes the new program.  Click here.  

RESTAURANT NEWS 

Summerlicious
Toronto’s big foodie festival is underway again.  Reservations are now open.  From Friday July 7 to Sunday July 23, more than 200 restaurants will offer lunches and dinners at fixed prices.  Three course lunches are priced at $18, $23 and $28 and dinners at $28, $38 and $48.  The main Summerlicious site is online here.    
The local restaurants include -
Archeo (31 Trinity, Distillery), Italian, $18 lunch and $28 dinner.  (416) 815-9898.   
Boku Sushi (42 Gristmill, Distillery), Japanese, $23 lunch and $38 dinner.  (416) 368-8686.  
Cluny (35 Tank House Lane, Distillery), French, $23 lunch and $38 dinner.  (416) 203-2632. 
F’Ameiia (12 Amelia), Italian, $23 lunch and $38 dinner.  (416) 323-0666.  
Fuse Restaurant Entertainment Emporium (366 Queen E), Fusion, $18 lunch and $28 dinner.  (647) 347-3873.   
Pure Spirits Oyster House & Grill (17 tank House Lane, Distillery), Seafood, (16)m361-5859.  $23 lunch and $38 dinner.   

Mill Street Beer Hall
The Great Canadian Beer Dinner happens on Tuesday July 18.  It’s a four-course dinner with a Canadian-inspired menu and with beer pairings at each course.  $70. The Beer Hall’s dinners sell out so it’s a good idea to reserve your spot now - at 21 Tank House Lane or in the Mill Street Retail Store in the Distillery.

Merryberry
Photo: Helen Coltrinari
Every couple of weeks, Cyril holds a cooking class.  It’s sometimes hard to describe just what kind of yummy stuff is produced there.  Thanks to Helen Coltrinari, we now have a permanent record of the group’s achievements with mangoes.  Not only does the class cook up these dishes, they eat them afterward. 
Cyril says that his next class will be Sushi Maki - all sorts of sushi rolls. Wednesday July 12 at 5:30 pm.  Get your name on the list now - call (647) 348-0411 or drop in to Merryberry (559 Parliament). 

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

AKI STUDIO THEATRE
Daniels Spectrum, 585 Dundas E

(In)Sight - June 29 and 30
Online info and tickets here.

SOULPEPPER
50 Tank House Lane, Distillery District

Confederation: Part One, Confederation & Riel - to August 19
Tickets and info online here.

Confederation: Part Two, Scandal & Rebellion - to August 19
Tickets and info online here.

Vimy - June 29 to August 5
Online tickets and info here.

Billy Bishop Goes to War - July 1 to August 5
Online tickets and info here.


CLUBS & PUBS – DAILY LISTINGS

THURSDAY JUNE 29 TO SUNDAY JULY 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 JUNE 29

New Town
Oki Doki Karaoke

FRIDAY JUNE 30

Alice’s Place
10 pm, Karaoke
Johnny G’s
8:30 pm, Live Greek music with Dimitra (vocals), Vassilis (keyboard) and Vaggelis (bouzouki)
Mill Street Beer Hall
8 pm, Friday nights with Humble Mike
New Town
Oki Doki Karaoke 
Quincy
African weekends with DJ Fox and a guest DJ

CANADA DAY - SATURDAY JULY 1

Distillery
2 pm, Music City Summer Series with Tragedy Ann (2 pm) and Angela Saini (4 pm)
Dominion
9 pm, The Mercuri Project
Mill Street Beer Hall
5 pm, Saturday nights with Humble Mike
New Town
Oki Doki Karaoke
Quincy
African weekends with DJ Fox and a guest DJ

SUNDAY JULY 2

Alice’s Place
4 pm, Karaoke with Vee
Distillery
2 pm, Music City Summer Series with Emilyn and Tangi (2 pm) and Ryan Choy (4 pm)
Dominion
11 am, Brunch & Beats with DJ Bookshelf
The Local GEST
4:30 pm, Sunday afternoon jazz with Sherie Marshall

MONDAY JULY 3

Stout Irish Pub
7:30 pm, Headscratchers Trivia

TUESDAY JULY 4

Stout Irish Pub
7:30 pm, Headscratchers Trivia

WEDNESDAY JULY 5

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

THURSDAY JULY 6

The Local GEST
8 pm, Jeff Barnes and Noah Zacharin 
New Town
Oki Doki Karaoke

FRIDAY JULY 7

Alice’s Place
10 pm, Karaoke 
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)
Mill Street Beer Hall
8 pm, Friday nights with Humble Mike 
New Town
Oki Doki Karaoke
Quincy
African weekends with DJ Fox and a guest DJ
Under the Table
9 pm, Karaoke with Joan Ostrom

SATURDAY JULY 8

Distillery
4 pm,  Music City Summer Series with The Diamond Joes (2 pm) and Dana Sipos (4 pm) 
Dominion
9 pm, Garrick the DJ
Mill Street Beer Hall
5 pm, Saturday nights with Humble Mike
Quincy
African weekends with DJ Fox and a guest DJ

SUNDAY JULY 9

Alice’s Place
4 pm, Karaoke with Vee
Distillery
2 pm,  Music City Summer Series with Maneli Jamel (2 pm) and Lisa Patterson (4 pm)
Dominion
11 am, Brunch & Beats
The Local GEST
4:30 pm, Sunday afternoon jazz with Mark Sepic
New Town
Oki Doki Karaoke

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
NEW TOWN
413 Parliament Street
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