November 9

This week’s image: the boxing demo at the Cabbagetown Boxing Club during the BIA’s annual meeting.  Photo:  Cabbagetown BIA.

CABBAGETOWN NEIGHBOURHOOD 
REVIEW

OPEN HOUSES THIS WEEKEND
There’s a new listing on Wellesley Street. The Open House takes place on Saturday and Sunday afternoons.
There's a three-unit home on Berkeley available now.  The Open House takes place on Saturday.  
Click here to see the details.

LOCAL NEWS 

Congrats BIA
The Cabbagetown BIA held its annual meeting on Wednesday November 8 and combined it with its Chairman’s Awards presentation.  It was, undoubtedly, a fun time. 
The meeting happened at the Cabbagetown Boxing Club.  As members arrived, they could watch a boxing demo and enjoy a live band, drinks and nibblies.  The program included the presentation of the annual award winners and a table where Cabbagetown swag was laid out.
The local businesses along Parliament, Carlton and Gerrard make up the BIA membership.  All of them deserve our thanks and congratulations for their ongoing work to improve our shopping district.  It takes a lot of effort and it often costs a great deal of money. They’re doing a fine job. 

Jonny in the SickKids campaign
SickKids is collecting funds for a major new construction project.  As a kick-off, there’s a powerful video on YouTube and print and social media advertising.  Jonny is one of the kids featured in the promotions.  He’s been a patient at the hospital, first as an infant and then as an ongoing clinic patient.  He’s a Cabbagetown kid and his mom is proud of him for being so strong and brave.  Find out more and make your donation here.  

Our new Councillor
Photo: David Rider, Toronto Star
Lucy Troisi is getting settled into her new job at City Hall.  Her staff reports that she cast her first vote in favour of making the new bike lanes along Bloor Street a permanent fixture.  If you need to contact her, call (416) 392-7916 or email her at councillor_troisi@toronto.ca .

Get your flu shot
Charlotte is on her way to get her shot along with her mom, Trish, and her two sisters.  Our local pharmacies - Shoppers Drug Mart, Ultra, Rexall and pharmacy.ca - are offering free flu shots.  The Ontario government advises that we get it done as early as possible - check out the online flu facts page here.  Seniors over 65, kids under 5, pregnant women and people with immune deficiencies are at increased risk of catching the flu.  

It’s Movember
Duncan is growing his mustache to draw attention to his fundraising campaign to improve men’s health and fight testicular cancer, prostate cancer, mental health and suicides.  His group is in honour of our great Cabbagetown friend, Mike Reid, who died earlier this year.  If you’d like to help, contact Duncan at the House on Parliament (454 Parliament).
Well done, Dunc and thanks!  

Congrats Sherbourne
Sherbourne Health Centre (333 Sherbourne) has been named the 2017 Family Practice of the Year by the Ontario College of Family Physicians. The award celebrates its comprehensive services and the continuity and quality of its care.  
This award comes on the heels of the NOW Magazine Reader’s Choice Poll that listed Sherbourne’s Support Our Youth as its Best Youth Organization for 2017.  

Alumnae Theatre’s auction of the century
Event tickets, restaurant deals, art, fashion, fitness and a fabulous weekend getaway - all available in Alumnae Theatre’s auction sale.  It’s part of the Theatre’s 100th anniversary celebrations.  Check out the list of goodies online here.   
It’s  fundraiser.  The proceeds will purchase air conditioning for the theatre.  

CRA safety and security survey
The Cabbagetown Residents Association is running a survey to ask your views about safety and security in Cabbagetown.  It’s a follow-up to the walkabout that the CRA organized with police officers from 51 Division.  The results will help the Association plan its education and intervention activities.  Please respond before Monday November 14. Click here to participate. 

Recognize yourself?
Brenda’s step classes at the Cabbagetown Youth Centre (2 Lancaster) have been going on for a long time.  She’s just found this photo from June 2007. 
As usual, her November classes on Sunday continue each week at 9:15 am.  Her Wednesday classes start at 11 am except for November 22 when the class is cancelled.

Christopher at Machu Picchu
Whenever Christopher Dew travels, he takes along his trusty Cabbagetown flag.  This time, he’s at the Incan temples in the Andes mountains.  He tells us that he’s not really grinning in this picture. It’s a grimace - his four-day Inca Trail trek wasn’t a walk in the park.  

COMING EVENTS

Alumnae Theatre’s Fireworks Festival
Three original plays plus special panels and writer/director feedback discussions.  To celebrate the Theatre’s 100th anniversary and its rich female-led history, all three plays have been written and directed by Canadian women. Each play is staged over one week.  To find out more about the plays and events and to get your tickets, click here.  
Photo: Natalie Frijia is the playwright for This Will Be Our Last Transmission.
This will be our last transmission by Natalie Frijia is the account of three women, expert mountain climbers, who are trapped above 8000 metres on K2.  November 8 to 12.
Surrender, Dorothy by Liz Best explores the hilarious, rueful and touching experiences of online dating for a woman in her 50s. November 15 to 19.
Gash by Caitie Graham is about two high school kids adrift in a world that they’re ill-equipped to navigate.  November 22 to 26. 

Values and visions in public schooling
The Enoch Turner Schoolhouse Foundation presents four lectures about the challenges and possibilities of education today.  The first talk is on Tuesday November 14 at 6:30 pm and it focuses on the aims of public education. Historian Paul Axelrod will describe the origins of public schooling in Canada.  Panel members are Steve Alsop, professor of education at York, Annie Kidder from People for Education and Jonathan Kakegamic, principal of First Nations Junior & Senior School.  Free.  For ticket and program details, go online here.  

Save the date - Regent Park Film Festival
Toronto’s only free community film festival.  There’s a jam packed program, starting with opening night on Wednesday November 15 at 7:30 pm and continuing all day on Thursday, Friday and Saturday.  It all happens at the Daniels Spectrum (585 Dundas E).  Check out the program details at the Festival website.  

IN THE MEDIA

More controversy about Airbnb
Photo:  John MacDougall/AFP/Getty Images.
As City Hall launches its new regulations of Airbnb units across the city, critics have already spotted a major flaw in their system.  Owner/operators are not required to prove that the home is also their principal residence - they only need to claim that it is.  Betsy Powell, has written in the Toronto Star about this problem, focusing on a house on Spruce Street.  Click here to read her story.  

Vimy Ridge remembered
Citadel + Compagnie honours the soldiers who fought and died at Vimy Ridge in Laurence Lemieux’s Jusqu’a Vimy.  It opens on November 10 at Mississauga’s Living Arts Centre (4141 Living Arts Dr) and then continues from November 15 to 18 and November 22 to 25 at the Citadel (304 Parliament).  
The Toronto Star’s dance critic, Michael Crabb, has written about the story behind the performance - click here.  

St James Town security guard dies
Photo:  Cristina Tenaglia/CP24
On Wednesday, police were called to 260 Wellesley St E.  A security guard had collapsed and died.  Police arrested a man and charged him as a result.  On Thursday, police reported that the guard died from “a medical incident” and released the man who had been arrested.
CP 24 has a story about the incident.  Click here.   

BUSINESS NEWS

BIA Chairman’s Awards
The Cabbagetown BIA has revived its Chairman’s Awards program.  The 2017 winners were announced at its annual meeting on November 8.  
Congrats to each one.  These are the businesses that other business people want to highlight for their successes during the past year -
Best Coffee or Snack Shop: Jet Fuel
Best Neighbourhood Restaurant: The House On Parliament
Best Window or in Store Display: Kendall & Co.
Best Interior And/Or Exterior Improvement: The Epicure Shop
Best Customer Service/Staff: Cranberries Restaurant
Best Professional Service Provider: Dr. Steve Goren
Best Community Involvement: St. James Town Steak & Chops
Most Dedicated To Their Craft: Cyril Picard of MerryBerry
Long Standing Business Award: Allan’s Hair
Long Standing Business Award: Hair Lift Group
Long Standing Business Award: Pizza Pizza
Dedicated Past Board Member: Carol Buss

Canada in a Cup
Another new series of Canada-themed mugs arrived at Kendall & Co (514 Parliament).  they feature local artist Wendy Tancock’s signature fun and colorful illustrations. Perfect pairing for your apple cider, hot coco or double double, eh!  Our store is now open on Sundays for the Christmas season.  Shop local at Kendall & Co on weekdays from 10 am to 6 pm, Saturdays from 11 am to 5 pm and Sundays from noon to 5 pm.  http://kendallandco.ca/fyi/retail

Get ready for the Christmas season
Nano at the Hair Spa (440 Parliament) wants to remind everybody to visit her shop to get ready for the busy Christmas season.  You can drop by for a free personal consultation - it’s her ambition to give you a personalized, relaxing and uplifting experience. She’s a senior stylist and colour tech professional who offers a wide range of hair services  - colours, latest cuts and styles, highlights, perms and extensions.  
At the BIA’s Awards Night, she received a Welcome Award and best wishes for continued success at her salon.

Anji is opening at Blooming
Blooming is Anji’s new shop that she’s currently sharing with Merryberry (559 Parliament).  She’ll take over the full space in January.  In the meantime, she has Christmas floral decorations, plants and gardening supplies available and she’s using the front patio as well as part of the interior.   

New winter cowl from Ninebark Knits
An intricate, uneven rib stitch gives this classic cowl subtle stripes and structure. Hand knit using super soft, 100% organic cotton yarn. Only $55 each. Available in ash, graphite and indigo. Get yours from Sarah at www.ninebarkknits.com. 

Christmas Market at the Distillery
Next week, the annual Christmas Market starts up for the season at the Distillery.  It’s open six days each week (closed Mondays) from Thursday November 16 to Saturday December 23.  
36 vendors offer crafts and specialty foods.  Beer gardens, patios and lounges serve mulled wine, Christmas specialties and craft beer.  Events happen each day - usually along daily themes.  
To find out what’s going on, click here.  
Admission is free from Tuesday to 5 pm on Friday.  $6 from 5 pm Friday through the weekend.  

RESTAURANT NEWS

Remembrance Day at The Irv
The Irv (195 Carlton) is again welcoming veterans on November 11. Those who visit between 11 am and 3 pm will enjoy a free lunch. 

Emily Steinwall at Arvo
Arvo (17 Gristmill Lane) presents its monthly music night on Saturday November 11 from 5 to 7 pm.  Emily Steinwall sings jazz and pop classics. Free. 

Artisanal baking workshop
Leo Baduria will lead a baking class at Paintbox (555 Dundas E) on Sunday, November 12 from 10 am to 5 pm.  It’s a hands-on workshop about artisanal breads and baking.  $125.  Register at (416) 347-1212 or by email at leobaduria@gmail.com 

Merryberry’s cooking classes
Cyril is cooking meat pies for his next two classes - winter comfort food.  The first one on Wednesday November 15 will offer a classic and delicious chicken pot pie, an exotic curried pie (fish or turkey - not decided yet) and possibly a steak and mushroom pie.  In the second class on Wednesday November 29, he’s going with an Australian meat pie, a French-influenced Vietnamese pork pie and a good, old-fashioned Quebec tourtiere.  Classes start at 5:30 pm.  $45.  Contact Merryberry to register at (647) 348-0411 or drop in at 559 Parliament.  

December cooking classes
Although it’s still flexible, Cyril’s hoping to do three more classes in December.  Two are ready to go - Asian comfort food (Pad Thai and Nasi Goreng) and the five French classic mother sauces (bechamel, hollandaise, espagnole, sauce tomate and veloute.)  The third is still up in the air.  Contact Merryberry to sign up and to tell Cyril about your wish list.  Call (647) 348-0411 0r visit 559 Parliament.

Toronto Life’s Food Lover’s Guide
The magazine has published its  annual recommendations about Toronto’s best restaurants with over 300 places included.  14 of them are in our neighbourhood.  Here’s the 2017/2018 list -
Bistro - Cluny Bistro & Boulangerie (35 Tank House Lane)
Italian - F’Amelia (12 Amelia)
Japanese - Kingyo (51B Winchester)
Mexican - Cocina Economica (141 Berkeley)
Middle Eastern - Souk Tabule (494 Front)
Bakeries - Roselle (362 King E)
Chocolatiers - Soma (32 Tank House Lane)
Coffee - Balzac (1 Trinity), Jet Fuel (519 Parliament), Odin (514 King E) and Red Rocket (154 Wellesley E)
Prepared Food - Daniel et Daniel (248 Carlton)
Pubs - Mill Street Brew Pub (21 Tank House Lane) and Stout Irish Pub (221 Carlton)
Congrats all!

Congrats Peartree
November marks Peartree’s 24th anniversary - a remarkable achievement that’s been earned by its friendly atmosphere and great food. To celebrate, there’s a special dinner for two - two appetizers, two entrees and two desserts for only $50.  Add two glasses of wine or beer for an extra $10. 507 Parliament. 

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

ALUMNAE THEATRE
70 Berkeley Street
(416) 364-4170, ext 1

Fireworks 2017, Three New Plays - Festival November 8 to 26
This will be our last transmission - November 8 to 12
Surrender, Dorothy - November 15 to 19
Gash - November 22 to 26

CANADIAN STAGE
30th Anniversary Season
Berkeley Street Theatre
26 Berkeley Street
(416) 368-3110

Backbone by Sandra Laronde
Red Sky Performance
November 2 to 12
Heisenberg by Simon Stephens
November 28 to December 17 

NATIVE EARTH PERFORMING ARTS
Aki Theatre, Daniels Spectrum
585 Dundas Street E
(416) 531-1402

Weesageechak 30 by Native Earth
November 15 to 25
Anisa Tejpar
November 27 to December 3

CITADEL + COMPAGNIE
304 Parliament Street
(416) 364-8011

Jusqu’a Vimy choregraphed by Laurence Lemieux
November 15 to 18 and November 22 to 25

SCHOOL OF TORONTO DANCE THEATRE
Winchester Theatre
80 Winchester Street
(416) 967-6887

Impulse 2017
November 23 to 25 and November 30 to December 2

SOULPEPPER
20th Anniversary Season
Young Centre for the Performing Arts
50 Tank House Lane, Distillery District
(416) 866-8666

The Goat, or Who Is Sylvia by Edward Albee
November 1 to 18

CLUBS & PUBS – DAILY LISTINGS

THURSDAY NOVEMBER 9 TO SUNDAY NOVEMBER 19

  • 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 NOVEMBER 9

Local GEST
10 pm, Comedy night with Ethan O’Reilly
Mill Street Brew Pub
5 pm, Live music
New Town
Oki Doki Karaoke

FRIDAY NOVEMBER 10

Alice’s Place
10 pm, Karaoke 
Fuse
10 pm, Ladies night and dancing, ladies free, others $10
New Town
Oki Doki Karaoke
Quincy
African weekends with DJ Fox and a guest DJ

SATURDAY NOVEMBER 11

Arvo
5 to 7 pm, Kalyna Rakel Duo, blues, folk and jazz
Dominion
11 am Garrick the DJ
11 am Bianca Lee
Quincy
African weekends with DJ Fox and a guest DJ

SUNDAY NOVEMBER 12

Alice’s Place
4 pm, Karaoke with Vee
Local GEST
4:30 pm, Sunday afternoon jazz with Ambiance
New Town
Oki Doki Karaoke
Quincy
10 pm, Reggae Sundays, $10

MONDAY NOVEMBER 13

Stout Irish Pub
7:30 pm, Headscratchers Trivia

TUESDAY NOVEMBER 14

Stout Irish Pub
7:30 pm, Headscratchers Trivia

WEDNESDAY NOVEMBER 15

Alice’s Place
9 pm, Karaoke
Dominion
7 pm, Jazz Plazma
Local GEST
7:30 pm, Wednesday Night Trivia with Porter
Quincy’s
Latin Wednesdays with DJ Fight - reggaeton, merengue, rumba salsa, Afromusic and more.  $10.

THURSDAY NOVEMBER 16

Local GEST
8:30 pm, Open mic with Evan
Mill Street Brew Pub
6 pm, Live music
New Town
Oki Doki Karaoke

FRIDAY NOVEMBER 17
Alice’s Place
10 pm, Karaoke
New Town
Oki Doki Karaoke 
Quincy
African weekends with DJ Fox and a guest DJ

SATURDAY NOVEMBER 18

Dominion
9 pm, 3000AD
New Town
Oki Doki Karaoke
Quincy
10 pm, Nairobi Nights, $10

SUNDAY NOVEMBER 19

Alice’s Place
4 pm, Karaoke with Vee
Local Gest
4:30 pm, Sunday afternoon jazz with Surefire Sweat
Quincy
10 pm, Reggae Sundays, $10

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