January 25

This week’s image:  a hidden lane near Wellesley Park.  Photo:  Irene DeClute.


CABBAGETOWN NEIGHBOURHOOD 
REVIEW


LOCAL NEWS

The Pam McConnell Young Women in Leadership Award
The City of Toronto has established this award to honour a young woman for her “exceptional leadership skills” in her community, her social justice work and her mentorship of others.  It’ll be given out annually.  There’s a $500 prize for the woman who’s selected.  It’s open to women between the ages of 19 and 26 and the application deadline is Friday February 16.  For more information and for an application form, click here.  

Cabbagetown South Residents’ annual meeting
The Association’s annual meeting is a great way to meet the people who are working very hard on a wide range of tricky community issues.  Over the past year, Board members have been discussing issues with the developers at Oben Flats (Sherbourne and Gerrard) and the Beer Store site (Ontario and Gerrard).  They’ve had a laneway safety walk.  They’ve informed the members about the new green waste bins and about the school board’s plans for an elementary school of the arts.  
The meeting will be held at Hey Lucy (229 Carlton) on Wednesday February 7 at 7 pm.  Come early and enjoy a quick bite to eat with other Association members.

Annual meeting - Corktown Residents & Business Association
The CRBA’s annual meeting will take place on Tuesday February 6 from 7 to 9 pm in the Cooper Koo Family Cherry St YMCA (461 Cherry).  The Association has an active agenda - it works on a large number of development issues and also introduces local businesses to residents, publishes a newsletter and an online site to announce local events, looks into heritage issues and holds social events through the year.   

The first Parliament project
Ontario’s first Parliament was located at Parliament and Front Streets - as the above photo shows, it’s now a car sales lot.  From this site, Upper Canada was formed and the City began to grow into a provincial and national powerhouse. There’ll be a lecture about the site at the Enoch Turner Schoolhouse (106 Trinity) on Tuesday February 6 from 6:30 pm.  The City of Toronto has a website explaining the project, click here.  

Toronto Light Festival 2018
The Distillery is again home to a spectacular light festival from Friday January 19 to Sunday March 4.  Displays will include a teleporter, a piano that plays light, a lunar eclipse, interactive birds with a psychedelic nest and lots more in six sculpture-filled brick-lined streets.
Inside Toronto has an informative article about the Festival - click here to read it.   

Tables, Chairs & Other Unrelated Objects
OCAD U’s annual furniture show.  The show runs from Sunday January 14 to Sunday February 4 in the Hallway Galleries at the Daniels Spectrum (585 Dundas E).  Works by twenty designers will be featured. 

Enoch Turner talks on schooling
The Enoch Turner Foundation (106 Trinity) presents the fourth in its series of panel discussions about the state of schooling.  Tuesday January 30, 6:30 pm. This week’s topic is “Why the arts matter”. For details about the topics and panel members, click here.   

Save the date - Tuesday February 1
There’ll be a Pop-up Market in the Large Community Room at 246 Sackville on Thursday February 1 from noon to 7 pm. It’s presented by the Regent Park Sewing Circle and Regent Park Catering.  There’ll be hot meals at noon and at 5:30 pm along with vendors offering snacks, clothing and accessories and jewellery.  

IN THE MEDIA

TCHC’s stand-alone properties
Photo:  Tara Walton, Toronto Star
Toronto Community Housing owns 1170 units in “scattered housing” - individual homes separate from the Corporation’s townhouses and apartment towers.  
It’s an important issue for Cabbagetown and Corktown residents.  The City of Toronto has been studying ways to spin off these properties to non-profit groups who will assume repair costs and on-going management and maintenance.  A staff report will go to Council for debate and a decision in its meeting on January 31.  Jennifer Pagliaro has written a report about the issue for the Toronto Star - click here to read it. 

GET YOURSELF IN SHAPE

Parliament Street Fitness Centre
Open House at the new Fitness Centre (488 Parliament)  from 9 am to 5 pm on Saturday and Sunday. Meet the team, enjoy some refreshments and get answers to your questions.  
It’s been a long haul to get the fitness facility open and it’s here at last. It’s a neighbourhood oriented, boutique fitness centre.  It offers personal training, small group sessions, high-intensity interval training, indoor cycling, an outdoor run club, massage therapy and yoga - all in a comfortable and supportive environment that encourages your commitment and continuity.   
It’s a great new facility for our Parliament Street community - congrats and best wishes for many years of success.
Check out the Centre’s website for specific schedules and prices.   There’s also a Facebook page.  

Yoga at Chartwell’s Sumach
For the next two weeks, The Sumach will host 55+ Mindful Yoga sessions with Chuck Jones and Amagoia Langara.  Please RSVP to (416) 895-0130.  
Free.  2 to 3 pm, Monday January 22, January 29 and February 5. Regent Park Community Centre (402 Shuter).  Please bring your own mat.  
The staff at Chartwell have created an event program similar to the kind that will be offered at its new retirement rental building, The Sumach (Shuter and Sumach) once it opens.  

Congrats Brenda - step class anniversary
Brenda McNee has organized her step class at the Cabbagetown Youth Centre (2 Lancaster) for twenty years.  She led her very first CYC group in January 1998.  Well done, Brenda.  
She’s away this weekend so the class for Sunday morning is cancelled.
In February, there’ll be classes every Wednesday at 9:15 am and every Sunday at 11 am except on Sunday February 18 (Family Day weekend).  

Jennifer Snowdon’s yoga 
Jennifer offers her yoga classes in her studio at 58 Rose Avenue. She has regularly scheduled group classes and private sessions.
Hatha Yoga is from 9:30 to 10:45 am on Saturday mornings, Hatha Yoga 2 on Tuesday evenings from 5:45 to 7:15 pm, Yin Yoga on Saturday mornings from 11:15 am to 12:30 pm and Yin Yoga and Yoga Nidra on Wednesday evenings from 7:30 to 9 pm.  Her private classes are held on Wednesdays from 10 am to 3 pm.  
For more information, check out her website.   

Neighbourhood ice rinks
Riverdale Park East (550 Broadview), Regent Park (480 Shuter) and Sherbourne Common (5 Lower Sherbourne) are all open.
Before you go, you can confirm operating hours and conditions at the City’s website.  

KIDS STUFF

Harry Potter at the Children’s Book Bank
On February 1 from 5 to 7 pm, the Children’s Book Bank (Berkeley at Gerrard) will celebrate the 20th anniversary of the Harry Potter book series.  There’ll be fun classes, games and prizes.  A local professor will show kids how to turn paper into frogs! And there’ll be a secret “luck potion” (hint: there may be ice cream involved.)

Buds & Blossoms
P.A. Day Camp, February 16, 2018. A fantastic day is planned for kids ages 4-8 who are off school and up for an adventure. 9 am to 4 pm for the Buds & Blossoms Olympics: games and activities that are sure to win the gold! $70/day, and after-care is available upon request.
On Monday February 19, Buds & Blossoms (517 Parliament) presents a free Family Day event for you and your kids.  It’s a space-themed day to celebrate families with crafts, activities and a photo booth.  9 am to noon.
From March 12 to 16, kids ages 4 to 8 can spend the day exploring the continents through music, movement, masterpieces and memory making at the March Break day camp. No passport required! $70/day or $340 for the full week, per child.
There's more info at the website.

Kids Dance Camp Summer 2018
Registration is now open at the School of Toronto Dance for its summer kids program.  The Dance Camp happens in the Winchester Street Theatre (80 Winchester) from July 16 to 20.  It’s a great experience for kids ages 5 to 11 - dance and music classes, arts and crafts, outdoor experiences. 9 am to 4 pm with optional after-camp care available to 6 pm. For a full description and registration info, click here.  

LOCAL COMMUNITY COMPLAINTS

Cleaning the gutters
James has emailed to complain about the debris and muck that gets left on the road beside parked cars.  He hates stepping into a goopy mess of leaves and garbage or kicking a plastic water bottle.  This is a tough issue.  
As we all know only too well, the litter and leaves pile up rapidly. At this time of the year, all of this is compounded by snow and ice buildups that collect debris and then deposit it during melts.
Street cleaners can’t get at it this stuff because of the parked cars.  In the Spring, the Mayor’s Clean-up campaigns target the problem and people go out in neighbourhoods across the city to sweep it up. In the Fall, the City of Toronto regularly sends crews out to sweep the street around parked cars manually.  
Otherwise, it’s up to the homeowners.  Lots of people regularly maintain the curb areas in front of their homes.  On Aberdeen, the local residents’ group, AARG, annually recruits residents to join the Mayor’s Clean-up Day and the whole street gets swept up - a good example for other residents’ associations as well. 
If anyone has more ideas to fix this problem, contact us at cabbagetownreview@gmail.com  
Thanks James for the tip.

Your issues
Does something in the neighbourhood really bother you?  Maybe it seems too small for a complaint but don’t hesitate any longer.  Send your info here and it’ll be checked out.  cabbagetownreview@gmail.com  

BUSINESS NEWS

Opening party at Blooming
Drop by Blooming (559 Parliament) for Anji’s opening party - Sunday, January 28 from 2 to 8 pm.   It’s our new flower, gift and garden store.  Renovations are now finished and it’s open from 11 am to 6 pm daily from Tuesday to Sunday.  Closed Mondays.  

Winter Sale at Kendall & Co 
Take advantage of Kendall’s winter sale for discounts up to 50% off. Great savings on home accessories, serving ware, lighting, pillows and rugs as they make room for new arrivals. Store hours (514 Parliament) - 10 am to 6 pm weekdays and 11 am to 5 pm Saturdays. http://kendallandco.ca/fyi/retail

New hours at Daniel et Daniel
The food shop (248 Carlton) will close at 6 pm after February 1.  

SUPPORT OUR COMMUNITY

Do Your Part - a la carte
Thursday March 1, 5 to 9 pm, Daniels Spectrum (585 Dundas E)
Dixonlicious is Dixon Hall’s annual fundraiser to support its food programs.  Meals on Wheels, children and youth programs, summer camp, Out of the Cold, homeless shelter programs and more - Dixon Hall provides over 25,000 meals to people in need.  
You’ll enjoy an evening of great food, fine wine and local craft brews.  Biff’s Bistro, Barrio Cerveceria, Daniel et Daniel, Paintbox, Hooked, Food Dudes, Hawthorne Food & Drink and the Show Love Cafe are all preparing yummy bites.  Lost Craft is bringing the beer and cocktails are by SoCIAL Lite Vodka and Walter Craft Caesar.
There’ll be live and silent auctions and live entertainment.
Before February 15, enjoy the Sweetheart Deal - 2 general tickets for $150 and 2 youth for $120.  After February 15, tickets are $90/general and $70 youth. 
For more info and tickets, click here.   

I Heart Neighbourhood Charity Auction
The Neighbourhood Group (Central Neighbourhood House is part of this group) has joined with four other agencies to stage a fantastic evening.  Hosted by Alison Smith, it’ll feature a live and silent auction full of art, sports and entertainment experiences, travel packages, gift baskets, dining certificates, electronics and more as well as live entertainment and delicious fare and beverages. Bellwoods Centres for Community Living, Jessie’s – The June Callwood Centre for Young Women, Regent Park Focus and Springtide Resources are also participating. 
Tuesday February 13, 6:30 pm, Daniels Spectrum (585 Dundas E).  
Click here for tickets and info.    

RESTAURANT NEWS

Winterlicious
Reservations are now open for Winterlicious.  The big foodie festival starts on Friday January 26 and continues to Thursday February 8 in over 200 restaurants across the city.  Lunch prices range from $23 to $28 to $33 and dinners are priced at $33, $43 and $53.  To get specific menu info from participating restaurants, click here.   
Five local restaurants are taking part.
Archeo (31 Trinity, Distillery) - Italian, lunch $23 and dinner $33.  (416) 815-9898
Boku Sushi (42 Gristmill Lane, Distillery) - Japanese, lunch $28 and dinner $43.  (416) 368-8686
Cluny (35 Tank House Lane, Distillery) - French, lunch $28 and dinner $43. (416) 203-2632
F’Amelia (12 Amelia) - Italian, dinner $43.  (416) 323-0666
Pure Spirits Oyster House & Grill (17 Tank House Lane) - seafood, lunch $28 and dinner $43. (416) 361-5859

The Rust Buckets
The Rust Buckets are a five piece band that covers songs from the Beatles, the Rolling Shoes and more.  They’re performing at The Local GEST (424 Parliament) on Saturday January 27 from 8 pm. While you’re there, enjoy a tasting from the Collingwood Brewery from 7 to 9 pm.  

Welcome to Urban Thai
Our latest Thai restaurant has opened at 415 Parliament). It joins the Thai Room, Silk and Sukhothai.  It has a broad menu full of Thai and Malaysian dishes.  You can see the menu online and place orders there for delivery - click here.  Open late night hours - Monday and Tuesday 11 am to 1 am and Wednesday through Sunday 11 am to 3 am.   

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

Classes at School of Toronto Dance Theatre
Photo: Jocelyn Mah © Cylla von Tiedemann 
Registration is now open for several programs at the School of Toronto Dance Theatre.  Summer Intensives, kids camp and young dancers programs, adult dance classes and the professional training programs. All of this activity happens at 80 Winchester.  Click here to see the details.   

New performances in February
Music returns in February - at Soulpepper (50 Tank House Lane) with Prohibition, the latest in the Concert series and at Canadian Stage (26 Berkeley) with Musica Nuda.  Native Earth (585 Dundas E) presents Ipperwash.  George Brown School,of Performing Arts stages Candide at the Young Centre (50 Tank House Lane). 

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

Omission by Alice Abracen
On stage to February 3, 2018 

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

Declarations by Jordan Tannshill
On stage to February 11 

Musica Nuda with Petra Magoni & Ferruccio Spinetti
February 22 to 24

CITADEL + COMPAGNIE
The Citadel: Ross Centre for Dance
304 Parliament Street
(416) 364-8011

Decoding Bharatnatyam
February 14

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

Ipperwash
February 6 to 18

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

A Delicate Balance by Edward Albee
On stage to February 10

Prohibition, The Concert
Soulpepper Concert Series
February 9 to 14

YOUNG CENTRE FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS
50 Tank House Lane, Distillery District
(416) 866-8666

Candide
George Brown School of Performing Arts
February 7 to 17

CLUBS & PUBS – DAILY LISTINGS

THURSDAY JANUARY 25 TO SUNDAY FEBRUARY 4

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 JANUARY 25

Dominion
7 pm, Robbie Burns dinner and Scotch nosing, $69
House on Parliament
6 pm, Robbie Burns celebration with Scottish dancers, bagpipes, William Brisland reading the Ode, haggis and a wee dram available on the menu.
Mill Street Brew Pub
6:30 pm, Robbie Burns five-course, beer-paired dinner with live entertainment, $69.99
New Town
Oki Doki Karaoke

FRIDAY JANUARY 26

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

SATURDAY JANUARY 27

Dominion
9 pm, DJ Ikanpro
Local GEST
8 pm, The Rust Buckets.
New Town
Oki Doki Karaoke
Quincy
10 pm, Nairobi Nights, $10

SUNDAY JANUARY 28

Alice’s Place
4 pm, Karaoke
The Local GEST
4:30 pm, Sunday afternoon jazz with Joe Spina and Mark Teixeira
Quincy
10 pm, Reggae Sundays, $10

MONDAY JANUARY 29

Stout Irish Pub
7:30 pm, Headscratchers Trivia

TUESDAY JANUARY 30

Stout Irish Pub
7:30 pm, Headscratchers Trivia

WEDNESDAY JANUARY 31

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

THURSDAY FEBRUARY 1

Alice’s Place
Karaoke
Local GEST
8 pm, Jeff Barnes and Noah Zacharin
Mill Street Brew Pub
5 pm, Live music
New Town
Oki Doki Karaoke

FRIDAY FEBRUARY 2

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

SATURDAY FEBRUARY 3

Dominion
9 pm, DJ Dash
Quincy
African weekends with DJ Fox and a guest DJ

SUNDAY FEBRUARY 4

Alice’s Place
4 pm, Karaoke
New Town
Oki Doki Karaoke
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
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/
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 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,