February 22

This week’s image:  night time at the Regent Park Aquatic Centre


CABBAGETOWN NEIGHBOURHOOD 
REVIEW

LOCAL NEWS

Vandalism on cars
Two men have been arrested in connection to the widespread vandalism against cars in several Cabbagetown neighbourhoods. Police estimates have ranged as high as 68 different vandalism and robbery events.  
Police from 51 Division Major Crime Unit and 51 Division Community Response Unit were watching Sackville Street at 4 am on Monday February 19 when they saw two young men entering and damaging nearby parked cars.  After a brief chase, they were caught and arrested.  The police found an ice pick and a long bladed knife. 
We’re still hearing about damage to vehicles that hasn’t been reported to the police.  It’s a mistake to hold back a report since the information may help the police to piece together a stronger case.  If you’ve experienced similar damage or if you have an outdoor camera that’s captured an image, please call the police at 51 Division at (416) 808-5100.  
There’s an online news release from 51 Division about the arrest - click here.   

New hours at St James Town Library
The library (495 Sherbourne) will be opened on Sunday afternoons starting on September 9.  It’s one of nine branches across the city to get extended hours, totalling 42 branches with this service. The expansion is part of the City’s anti-poverty program announced two years ago. The Parliament Street branch (269 Gerrard E) already opens from 1:30 to 5 pm on Sunday afternoons.

Repair Cafe at CNH
Is your stuff broken?  Don’t throw it away - get it fixed.  You can get the job done at Repair Cafe. It’s a volunteer event where neighbours help neighbours to fix all sorts of useful household items.  Appliances, computers, jewellery, clothes, books and more - all repaired for free. Our next local Repair Cafe happens at Central Neighbourhood House (345 Ontario) on Saturday February 24 from noon to 4 pm.

My Piece of the City
A new feature-length documentary film about the experiences of young people in Regent Park during the revitalization.  Based on Mitchell Cohen’s The Journey, the film shows these young artists as they put together the show and as their homes are changed forever.  TIFF Bell Lightbox (350 King W), 7 pm Friday February 23, 2 pm Saturday February 24 and 7 pm Sunday February 25.  Tickets available online here

Port Lands community consultation
Image:  MVVA and Waterfront Toronto
Waterfront Toronto will hold a consultation and public information event about the new flood protection project being built in the Port Lands.  The seven-year project will develop a new mouth for the Don River, a new island and new parks, roads and bridges.  People from Waterfront Toronto, the City of Toronto and Toronto & Region Conservation Authority will be available to answer questions.  6 to 9 pm, discussions at 7 pm, Thursday February 22, Daniels Spectrum (585 Dundas E).  
The Globe & Mail’s architecture writer, Alex Bozikovic, has written an article that details the impact of this project.  Click here to read his story. 

Allan Gardens spring show
Tulips, hyacinths and other bulbs fill the Allan Gardens Conservatory with beautiful colours and fragrant blooms from Sunday February 25 and to Sunday April 29.  During that time, the annual Easter show will also be staged from March 25 highlighting Easter lilies and hydrangeas.  Daily from 10 am to 5 pm, free admission, Carlton and Sherbourne.  

Corktown Residents & Business Association
The CRBA’s annual meeting takes place at 7 pm on Tuesday March 6 in the Cooper Koo Family Cherry Street YMCA  (461 Cherry St).  Councillor Lucy Troisi will be there to give her report from City Hall and answer your questions.  Volunteers are needed to join the Board - it’s a great project if you’re interested in neighborhood issues, heritage preservation, new developments and the Corktown News.  Contact info@corktown.ca 

Nominations for the Peggy Kurtin Award
The award is one of the highlights in the Cabbagetown Preservation Association’s program each year.  The CPA recognizes outstanding restorations, laneway improvements and facade improvements.  The winners are announced in the Spring and the official awards are given out at the CPA’s Fall Meeting.
Nominations will close on April 30.  The details for your submission can be found on the CPA’s website.  Please submit your choice to the CPA at cpa@cabbagetownpa.ca  

Garden tour volunteers needed
Spring may still be a long time away but the organizers of the Hidden Gardens & Private Spaces tour are already working on it.  The tour is a big and very popular event.
If you know an interesting garden (including your own) that should be on the Tour, please submit your suggestion.
Volunteers are needed to staff the gardens during the Tour on Sunday June 3.  There are two shifts for volunteers - 9:45 am to 1 pm and 12:45 to 4 pm.  
Contact Helen at cpa@cabbagetownpa.ca.  

Toronto Light Festival 2018
Continuing in the Distillery until Sunday March 4. toronto.com has a short article about the Festival with lots of photos online here.  

KEEP FIT

Restorative yoga and yoga nidra
Jennifer Snowdon and Sarah Moore are holding a special workshop with restorative yoga postures, aromatherapy and gentle hands-on adjustments.  Guided meditation.  It’s an afternoon of tranquility.  Sunday February 25, 2 to 3:45 pm.  $40. 58 Rose Avenue. Sign up online here.  

Parliament Street Fitness
Our new Fitness Centre (488 Parliament) has a weekly schedule of classes for its members including indoor cycling, an outdoor run club and high intensity interval training. There are yoga sessions every day except Sunday - Hatha and slow flow, mindful meditation and relaxation, Vinyasa level 1and level 2, and fundamental flow. You can find all the details about dates and times and membership opportunities at the Centre’s website. 

Schedule for Brenda’s step classes
Brenda will be offering her step class at 11 am on Sundays through March - two dates are tentative, March 11 and March 18 and she’ll confirm them when the time gets closer.  Her 9:15 am class on Wednesdays continues as usual through March except on March 14 when the gym will be busy with a CYC Camp.  Cabbagetown Youth Centre gym (2 Lancaster, behind the Beer Store).

Neighbourhood ice rinks
Riverdale Park East (550 Broadview), Regent Park (480 Shuter) and Sherbourne Common (5 Lower Sherbourne) are all open. Each rink is scheduled to stay open, weather permitting, through March 18.
Before you go, you can confirm operating hours and conditions at the City’s website.

SUPPORT OUR COMMUNITY

Do Your Part - a la carte
One more week to go before the event - 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.
Tickets are $90/general and $70 youth. 
For more info and tickets, click here.   

KIDS STUFF

Auditions at CCDT
Auditions for various 2018 classes and age groups at Canadian Contemporary Dance Theatre (509 Parliament) take place in the next couple of weeks.  Young dancers ages 8 to 13 can audition for the Apprentices program on Sunday February 25.  Auditions for dancers ages 14 to 18 take place on Sunday March 4.  All the details about each level and the auditions are available at CCDT’s website - click here.   

LOCAL COMMUNITY COMPLAINTS

Post Office elastics
Photo: Stephen Poulin
We’ve had a complaint from Stephen about an obvious, irritating and ongoing issue.  Our postal people drop their bright blue elastic bands all over the place.  Stephen gathered up a bunch of them on Family Day and displayed them on his fence.  I hope to have a report for you from Canada Post next week.

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 

St Jamestown Steak & Chops holiday closing
Mark and his staff are on holidays through Sunday February 25.  The shop will reopen on Monday February 26.  516 Parliament.

Tune-ups for your bike
You’ve still got a week to get your bike into the shop for its annual tune-up.  Kale at Cycle Solutions (444 Parliament) is offering a 20% discount. The offer is good to February 28.

Exciting weeks ahead
New Spring arrivals at Kendall & Co (514 Parliament), all personally chosen by Kevin and Kendall, will start coming to the store next week! In the meanwhile, Kendall & Co is featuring a selection of upholstered furniture, made in Canada, in the fabric of your choice. 
And these are the final days to enjoy 25 to 50% off select rugs. Plus, there’s a special promo on select duvet cover and sham sets. 
Kendall & Co is your one-stop-shop for furnishings, lighting and decorating. Open from10 am to 6 pm, weekdays and 11 am to 5 pm on Saturdays. http://kendallandco.ca/fyi/retail

Blooming
Anji recently celebrated her grand opening at Blooming (559 Parliament) with friends and family after renovating and expanding her flower shop. She has plans for a cafe to join her in the shop - stay tuned for yet another opening party in April once the cafe is fully up and running. 
Spring is in the air.  Visit this week for specialty tulips, rose or ranunculus bunches featured from $10.

ON STAGE

Corktown Community Orchestra
The CCO’s next concert features The Carnival of the Animals with small ensembles from players within the orchestra.  Thursday March 1, 8 pm, Little Trinity Church (425 King E), PWYC (suggested $20), kids free.

Musica Nuda at Canadian Stage
The Italian duo of Petra Magoni and double bassist Ferruccio Spinetti bring their stripped down style to Canadian Stage (26 Berkeley) for three days - Thursday February 22, Friday February 23 and Saturday February 24.  Click here to listen to their version of a Jacques Brel classic.   

Alumnae Theatre’s New Ideas Festival
Alumnae Theatre (70 Berkeley) presents its New Ideas Festival annually.  It's a three-week long juried festival that presents new writing, works-in-progress and experimental theatre.  There’s a different program each week and staged readings on Saturdays at noon.  
Details about the plays, the cast and the writers plus info about buying tickets are online.   

RESTAURANT NEWS

Congrats to The Irv
The Irv is celebrating its fourth anniversary on Thursday March 1.  The pub is a fantastic part of our neighbourhood wth great food, good beer and lots of interesting events.  Drop by for snacks, prizes, giveaways, beer samples and more.  Live music.  No cover charge.  195 Carlton.

Young Live & Local
Another evening with Evan Simms and his crew of young musicians at The Local GEST (424 Parliament).  Drink specials will be on the menu.  Saturday February 24 from 9 pm.   

Fiona’s in the Food Fight
Fiona from the Scullery (200 Carlton) will be duking it out in this Second Harvest fundraiser organized by the Chef Collective.  She’ll be boxing other celebrity chefs for three two-minute rounds.  She’s been training since October with Jab Cross Promotions. In all, there’ll be six matches, starting at 8 pm on Monday March 12 at the Daniels Spectrum (585 Dundas E).  Tickets are $42.50 until March 10 and $50 after that. Half the proceeds will go to Second Harvest.  You can buy yours online.  

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

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

New Ideas Festival 2018
Three weeks of new works from March 7 to 25, 2018 
Wednesdays to Saturdays at 8 pm and Saturdays and Sundays at 2:30 pm.
Week One, March 7 to 11:
F*ck L*ve by Rosemary Doyle
The Dancing Man of Macklin Street by Andrew Lee
Governing Ourselves by Stephen Near
Oracle Jane by Vicki Zhang
Week Two, March 14 to 18:
Sweet Mamma and the Salty Muffins by Ciarán Myers
If Socrates Were in My Shoes by Donna Langevin
Stars by D.J. Sylvis
Moving On by Elmar Maripuu
Week Three, March 1 to 25:
The Devil and the Deep Blue Sea by Natalie Frijia
Marty and Joel and the Edge of Chaos by Camille Intson
The Officiant by Francesca Brugnano
Mourning After the Night Before by Chloë Whitehorn

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

Musica Nuda with Petra Magoni & Ferruccio Spinetti
February 22 to 24
In This Body conceived and sung by Fides Kruker
March 14 to 18
Tanya Tagag & Laakkulul Williamson Bathroy
March 22 to 24

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

4.48 Psychosis
Presented by NSK Theatre
March 9 and 10
Artifice 
Presented by Oakham Community Theatre
March 14 to 17
Finding Wolastoq Voice
Presented by Niimi’iwe:  Indigenous Dance Showcase
March 29 to 31

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

Acceleration 2018
March 21 to 24 

SOULPEPPER
50 Tank House Lane, Distillery District
(416) 866-8666

Idomeneus by Roland Schimmelpfennig
From March 3 to March 24
Animal Farm by George Orwell
From March 9 to April 7
A Moveable Feast, Paris in the ‘20s
Soulpepper Concert Series
March 30 to April 6

TORONTO DANCE THEATRE
Winchester Theatre
80 Winchester Street
(416) 967-1365

Glass Fields
At Fleck Dance Theatre, Harbourfront Centre
March 20 to 24

CLUBS & PUBS – DAILY LISTINGS

THURSDAY FEBRUARY 22 TO SUNDAY MARCH 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 FEBRUARY 22

New Town
Oki Doki Karaoke

FRIDAY FEBRUARY 23

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

SATURDAY FEBRUARY 24

Dominion
9 pm, DJ Dash
Local GEST 
9 pm, Young, Live & Local with Evan Simms
New Town
Oki Doki Karaoke
Quincy
10 pm, Nairobi Nights, $10

SUNDAY FEBRUARY 25

Alice’s Place
4 pm, Karaoke
Local GEST 
4:30 pm, Sunday afternoon jazz with Andy Black
Quincy
10 pm, Reggae Sundays, $10

MONDAY FEBRUARY 26

Stout Irish Pub
7:30 pm, Headscratchers Trivia

TUESDAY FEBRUARY 27

Stout Irish Pub
7:30 pm, Headscratchers Trivia

WEDNESDAY FEBRUARY 28

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 MARCH 1

Alice’s Place
Karaoke
The Irv
4th anniversary party with live music, snacks, beer samples, prizes and giveaways.
The Local GEST
8 pm, Live music with Jeff Barnes and Noah Zacharin
Mill Street Brew Pub
5 pm, Live music
New Town
Oki Doki Karaoke

FRIDAY MARCH 2

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

SATURDAY MARCH 3

Dominion
9 pm, Your Girl Flav
Quincy
African weekends with DJ Fox and a guest DJ

SUNDAY MARCH 4

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

CONTACT INFO

ALICE'S PLACE
554 Parliament St, (647) 931-9088, 
ARVO
17 Gristmill Lane, Distillery,  (647) 352-2766
CORKTOWN KITCHEN
354 King St E, (46) 901-1188
CRANBERRIES
601 Parliament St, (416) 925-6330, 
DOMINION PUB & KITCHEN
500 Queen St E, (416) 366-5555, 
EL CATRIN
18 Tank House Lane, Distillery, (416) 203-2121, 
HOUSE ON PARLIAMENT
454 Parliament St, (416) 925-4074, 
IMPACT KITCHEN
573 King St E, (416) 306-1986, 
THE IRV
95 Carlton Street, (647) 350-4787, 
JOHNNY G’s
478 Parliament St, (416) 928-1358
THE LOCAL GEST
424 Parliament St, (416) 961-9425, 
MILL STREET BEER HALL
21 Tank House Ln, Distillery, (416) 681-0338, 
MILL STREET BREW PUB
21 Tank House Ln, Distillery, 
ODIN
514 King E, (647) 350-6346,
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
221 Carlton St, (647) 344-7676,
UNDER THE TABLE
568 Parliament St, (647) 351-1533,