This week’s image: Celebrating Spring with this brilliant red Cardinal.
CABBAGETOWN NEIGHBOURHOOD
REVIEW
LOCAL NEWS
Send Kamel to the Nationals
Kamel Tejada has earned a spot at the Nationals as Ontario’s super heavy weight boxing champion. The Cabbagetown Boxing Club is holding a fundraiser to pay for his trip to Victoria BC in April. There’ll be draws for gift cards at The Irv, a 50/50 draw, drinks and demonstration sparring and fights.
Don’t miss this event - Saturday March 23, 7 to 9 pm, Cabbagetown Boxing Club (2 Lancaster), $10. For more info, call Jimmy at (416) 961-2919.
Update about George Smitherman
Photo: CP24 News
After his foray last year into municipal politics, George has returned to normal life. He’s joined Biome Grow as its senior VP of Corporate Affairs. He was previously on the company’s Board of Directors and he’ll continue in that role as well. Biome is a Canadian-based company whose business interests are focused on the medical and recreational cannabis markets.
We can all look forward to George’s new book, a memoir entitled “Unconventional Candour”, published by Dundurn Press. Nobody’s saying whether there’s any dirt that he might reveal about Cabbagetown! It’ll be on sale in early May.
Best wishes for all your plans, George.
Snow clearing
Councillor Kristyn Wong Tam has put forward a motion to City Council. She wants a report on bringing snow clearing service back onto the City’s payroll. It’s currently contracted out to private companies. She also wants to know what would be involved if the City raised its clearing services in our neighbourhoods to the same standards as York, Etobicoke and Scarborough where they get regular sidewalk ploughing. This report will influence the 2020 budget decisions made by Council next year.
Megana Hookah Lounge
Nearby neighbours close to Megana Hookah Lounge (460 Parliament) have asked whether such smoking is permissible in Toronto. Hookah lounges sell both tobacco-based and fruit-based shisha to their customers.
Tyler Johnson from Councillor Wong Tam’s office has now clarified the City of Toronto’s regulations on this issue.
Smoking tobacco products in restaurants, bars and other businesses is not permitted in the city. Also - if the lounge sells or gives away food and beverages including soft drinks, coffee or tea, then it must be licensed. It will then be inspected by Toronto Public Health under the DineSafe program. If that licensed lounge permits its customers to smoke a shisha product, then it may be fined or closed. If the lounge is not licensed and is not serving food or beverages, then it is not inspected.
In short, there’s no outright “ban” but the City gets a handle on the issue if the establishment requires a municipal license.
Megana is offering customers fruit-based shishas in flavours like double apple and lemon mint.
Summer camp registration
Registration for the summer camps at the Toronto Kiwanis Boys & Girls Club (101 Spruce) is now open. The camps are for kids ages 6 to 13. Programs run from 8 am to 6 pm with structured programs scheduled from 9 am to 5 pm. The cost is $40 to 80 per week on a sliding scale based on income with subsidies for those needing support. For info and registration, click here.
Cabbagetown Regent Park Museum Historical Tidbit
by Sally Gibson
Image: Eaton’s Catalogue 1939, CRP Museum
From 1884 to 1976, Eaton’s sent mail-order catalogues out across the country to service customers in far-flung locations. The bargain-hunting skier of 1939 would have snapped up the “frieze cloth” (wool with a small amount of cotton) ski jacket and slacks on the cover of that year’s Midwinter Sale edition - for only $2.69 and $1.95. Other items featured were zippers but no velcro, rayon but no gortex, all-wool “blanket cloth” but no quilted-down insulation. The rest of the catalogue offered a huge range of possible purchases from furniture and an expensive $29.95 Marconi console radio to linoleum, hand tools and stoves. One ad promoting men’s pyjamas bizarrely shows three men in their overnight finery inspecting a long-gun … perhaps to reinforce the notion that real men sleep in pyjamas.
YOUR STORIES - RACCOONS
We’re collecting memorable raccoon stories. As Andrew’s photo shows, not all of them are unpleasant. Share yours with everybody else - send it here, cabbagetownreview@gmail.com .
Andrew writes -
This raccoon doesn’t know how close it is to a canine dust-up. Or maybe it does and maybe it also knows what a window is! Cocoa Bean, the chocolate Lab, is probably thinking “so close and yet so far.”
SUPPORTING OUR COMMUNITY
Golf for the CYC
Regan and Jackie at The Irv (195 Carlton) are organizing a late Spring golf tournament on June 5 to support the Cabbagetown Youth Centre (2 Lancaster). It’s a great bargain with lunch, eighteen holes, prizes, contests and an auction. A bus will leave The Irv for those who want a ride. If you can’t join the group, you can still help - gift donations for the prize list and sponsors are welcome. $160, tax receipt. Royal Woodbine Golf Club (195 Galaxy Blvd, Etobicoke). Contact jacklyne@theirvpub.ca
Early bird for Dixonlicious
Dixonlicious is the popular fundraising evening to support Dixon Hall’s ongoing food program. Dixonlicious is a fun evening. Live music and silent and live auctions. Food stations provide scrumptious bites from local restaurants with selected wines to match the food. This year, enjoy craft beer from ten local breweries in the Toronto East Brewery Collective.
Thursday, May 9, 6 to 9 pm in the Daniels Spectrum (585 Dundas E).
The early bird ends on March 31, $85 - get your tickets now!
Forsythia Festival volunteers
The Cabbagetown Residents Association organizes the annual Spring Forsythia Festival. It’s a great event with lots of activity for kids and adults. It’s held in early May in Wellesley Park.
Volunteers are needed and the CRA has put out a call for everyone interested. 45 people have already signed up and 51 more are needed. Please contact Carolyn (carolyn.jarman@gmail.com) if you'd like to find out more!
Volunteer directors at the CRA
YOUR ANNOUNCEMENTS
You can use this space to find your lost watch or rent a garage or tell your own story. Send your info along to cabbagetownreview@gmail.com
Apartment needed
A quiet, responsible woman in her early seventies has just been evicted from her long-term apartment on Sackville Street by new landlords. She’s lived in Cabbagetown for years and would like to stay nearby if possible for $1100 or under. Please contact her friend Beth Kaplan at kaplan2721@rogers.com or (416) 922-2721.
Found - a watch
For the past two weeks, there’s been an announcement about an attractive watch that was found on Wellesley Street. Stephen, its owner, read the item and realized that the watch belongs to his mother-in-law. It was successfully returned to him.
COMING EVENTS
Listed by starting dates
Regent Park Multi-national spring market
Food from over ten countries along with art and craft vendors. Live entertainment and a DJ. Thursday March 21, 6 to 8 pm, 264 Sackville. Cash sales only.
Acceleration 2019
Performances by the graduating class at the School of Toronto Dance Theatre. Peggy Baker's exhilarating duet, Yang, will be danced by three different pairs of dancers along with the pulsing percussion music of Thierry de Mey. Patricia Beatty's powerful and exquisite solo, High Heart, will be performed by two graduating women. Susie Burpee will present a new piece for eight dancers. Danny Grossman ’s tongue-in-cheek male duet from his energetic and satirical work, Nobody's Business and Christopher House's challenging quartet, Colder Ink, which demands extreme precision and elastic control from its performers. On stage at 8 pm until Saturday March 23 in the Winchester Street Theatre (80 Winchester). $17 to $22, tickets available here.
St James Town spring gathering
At this year's Spring Gathering, local service agencies will be working together with residents to build new initiatives in St. James Town - a neighbourhood association, income-generating initiatives such as local catering and a share/re-use hub, harm reduction activities, an intergenerational project and activities to address newcomer isolation.
Friday, March 22, 2019, 5:30 to 8:30 pm, Rose Ave Public School gym (675 Ontario).
Meet Soulpepper’s new leadership
Meet Weyni Mengesha and Emma Stenning at Soulpepper on Monday March 25. They’ll talk with Amanda Parrish about their careers, the attractions of working in Toronto and their plans for Soulpepper’s future. Young Centre for the Performing Arts (50 Tank House Lane, Distillery), Monday March 25, 7 pm. Free - click here for tickets.
A roundtable on retirement
Chartwell’s Sumach and the Cabbagetown Residents Association are sponsoring an informal roundtable on retirement myths and issues. Vanessa Tyndall from The Sumach will preside. 6 pm, Wednesday March 27, Stout Irish Pub (221 Carlton). Free - please RSVP to 416-910-3431.
Comedy night at the Social Smiths
A laid back, intimate evening of comedy at the Social Smiths (574 Parliament) featuring local comics, from total newbies to straight-up pros. Hosted by the creator of the A Gay Victorian Affair web series, Robert Watson. 7 pm, Thursday March 28, $10.
Regent Park Pop-up Market
Food, crafts and jewellery from the chefs and artisans of the Regent Park Collective. Free admission - sales in cash only. Paintbox Bistro (555 Dundas E), Thursday March 28, 5 to 8 pm.
Songbook IX
Tapestry is the only professional opera company in Canada solely creating, developing and performing original Canadian opera.
In Songbook IX, thirteen of Canada’s brightest emerging artists perform alongside soprano Jacqueline Woodley and pianist Andrea Grant. Hear highlights from Tapestry’s 39-year collection of absurd, tragic, and beautiful Canadian repertoire. Ernest Balmer Studio (9 Trinity, Distillery), 8 pm, Friday March 29 and Saturday March 30 at 4 and 8 pm. Tickets are $25, available online.
Brenda’s step classes
IN THE MEDIA
Brendan Healy at Canadian Stage
Photo: Samuel Engelking, NOW Magazine
Brendan Healy was appointed as the new artistic director at Canadian Stage last July. He’s now making his announcements about his first season. NOW Magazine has done an extensive article about these performances and his views.
The 2019-2020 season schedule is available online here.
BUSINESS NEWS
Mini egg macarons and cupcakes are in store until Easter! Visit Staij & Co (552 Parliament) for a sweet and a coffee.
Akasha Art Projects
Heidi Leverty and Christian Bernard Singer’s Habitat - from Thursday March 28 to Saturday April 27. 204D Carlton.
Rug Clearance Sale
Final markdowns on discontinued rugs at Kendall & Co (514 Parliament) to make way for new styles. Enjoy a great selection of forty wool, jute and outdoor rugs at 25% off! Now or never - limited quantities available. Follow Kendall’s Instagram for preview & updates and visit your local design one-stop-shop for rugs, furniture, fabric, drapery, blinds, wallpaper and décor.
New extended store hours - Closed Monday. Tuesday and Wednesday, 10 am to 6 pm. Thursday and Friday, 10 am to 7 pm. Saturday 11 am to 6 pm. Sunday noon to 5 pm.
Blooming Flower Bar
Anji is closing her shop for two weeks to Saturday March 23 to change things around. As you can see, she's making some changes and she expects them to be finished early next week. Her online sales will still be filled - check it out here.
MUNCHIES
Readers write about their noteworthy food experiences. Send along yours whenever you’ve really enjoyed eating out in our neighbourhood. cabbagetownreview@gmail.com
Louise Koepfler writes -
“The Tilted Dog weekend brunch is Cabbagetown's best kept secret. The Tilted sandwich has two fried eggs, smoked bacon, cheddar, caramelized onions and hollandaise on ciabatta bread with a potato pancake and seasonal fruit.” The Tilted Dog, 424 Parliament
RESTAURANT NEWS
Good news at lunch
Salt & Tobacco (521 Parliament), the Parliament Street pizza destination, is now open for lunch. Its new business hours are 11:30 am to 9 pm, daily.
Live music at The Tilted Dog
Leigh Ann and Robert LaBell will sing classic rock at The Tilted Dog (424 Parliament). Saturday March 23, 8 pm.
Music bingo at the Dominion
Music, trivia, prizes and hanging with your friends over a drink – make sure you come out! Each player gets a Music Bingo card listing an assortment of songs. Instead of calling out numbers, we play the music! Singing along encouraged. 7 pm, Tuesday March 26, Dominion Pub and Kitchen (500 Queen E)
Cyril’s soup
Cyril has a new email - abeautifulbowl@gmail.com. Please use it for both your orders and e-transfers.
Saturday's soup is sumac. It’s a spice that stands on its own, imparting the dish with a lemony, almost sour, flavour. This Saturday, Cyril will it use it in a rather thick (partly blended) and chunky Oriental chickpea and fennel soup ($8). Serve it with pita, thick slices of rustic bread, or even along with your favourite grain and it will turn into a meal on its own.
Order deadline is 7 pm on Friday. He delivers his soups (in Cabbagetown). He’s accepting payments by e-transfers and cash.
MARCH THEATRE & DANCE PRODUCTIONS
Listed by starting dates.
New Ideas Festival
Three weeks of new works - four short plays each week
Alumnae Theatre (70 Berkeley)
On stage to Sunday March 24
Website and tickets here. (416) 364-4170, ext 1
Unsafe
Canadian Stage Berkeley Street Theatre (26 Berkeley)
On stage to Sunday March 31
Website and tickets here. (416) 368-3110
ISITWENDAM
A Bound to Create Theatre Production
Aki Studio Theatre (Daniels Spectrum, 585 Dundas E)
On stage to Sunday March 31
Website and tickets here. (416) 531-1402
Acceleration 2019
School of Toronto Dance Theatre
Winchester Theatre (80 Winchester)
On stage to Saturday March 23
Website and tickets here. (416) 967-6887
Wedding at Aulis
Soulpepper (50 Tank House Lane)
Friday March 22 to Tuesday April 14
Website and tickets here. (416) 866-8666
Amorous Playlist
Citadel + Compagnie
Ross Centre for Dance (304 Parliament)
Wednesday March 27 to Saturday March 30
Website and tickets here. (416) 364-8011
CLUBS & PUBS – DAILY LISTINGS
THURSDAY MARCH 21 TO SUNDAY MARCH 31
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 21
Alice’s Place
9 pm, Comedy night with Dave Burke and Danish Anwar
New Town
Oki Doki Karaoke
Tilted Dog
8 pm, Open mic with Robert LaBell
FRIDAY MARCH 22
Alice’s Place
10 pm, Karaoke
New Town
Oki Doki Karaoke
SATURDAY MARCH 23
Tilted Dog
Live classic rock with Leigh Ann and Robert LaBell
SUNDAY MARCH 24
Alice’s Place
9 pm, Karaoke
MONDAY MARCH 25
Stout Irish Pub
7:30 pm, Headscratchers Trivia
TUESDAY MARCH 26
Dominion
7 pm, music bingo hosted by Kaleb Robertson
Stout Irish Pub
7:30 pm, Headscratchers Trivia
WEDNESDAY MARCH 27
Alice’s Place
9 pm, Karaoke
The Tilted Dog
7:30 pm, Smart Ass Trivia with Porter
THURSDAY MARCH 28
Mill Street Brew Pub
5 pm, Live music
New Town
Oki Doki Karaoke
Social Smiths
7 pm, Comedy night with Robert Watson
Tilted Dog
8 pm, Open mic finger-style guitar sessions.
FRIDAY MARCH 29
Alice’s Place
10 pm, Karaoke
New Town
Oki Doki Karaoke
SATURDAY MARCH 30
Dominion
8 pm, James Sheehan
SUNDAY MARCH 31
Alice’s Place
9 pm, Karaoke
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,
HENRIETTA LANE
394 King E
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
See below - The Tilted Dog
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,
SOCIAL SMITHS
574&1/2 Parliament
SOULPEPPER
Young Centre, 50 Tank House Lane, Distillery, (416) 866-8666,
STOUT IRISH PUB
221 Carlton St, (647) 344-7676,
THE TILTED DOG
(Formerly The Local GEST)
424 Parliament. (416) 961-9425
