This week’s image: At last, it’s Spring in Cabbagetown. Photo: Irene DeClute.
CABBAGETOWN NEIGHBOURHOOD
REVIEW
OPEN HOUSE ANNOUNCEMENTS
Four open houses happen this week on Saturday and Sunday - a modern townhouse in Regent Park and three homes in Cabbagetown on Winchester, Amelia and Wellesley. Click here to read these announcements.
LOCAL NEWS
Street Health
There’s a powerful short video online that explains how the site helps addicts and how it addresses a crucial public health epidemic.
Progress in the Port Lands
Waterfront Toronto has released a short video showing the work that’s being done on the Port Lands at the foot of Parliament Street. The new river is being excavated and the northwest corner of Villiers Island is now visible. Trees have been planted around Essroc Cove. Click here to see the video.
Distillery Sunday Market
Every Sunday until October, noon to 5 pm. Shop with vendors who offer locally made artisan goods and artwork including specialty foods, flowers and pet supplies. While this is going on, check out the flower market as well.
Local farmers’ markets
The Underpass Park Farmers’ Market in Corktown opens for the season on Thursday May 23 from 3 to 7 pm in Underpass Park, 29 Lower River Street. There’ll be activities for kids, a free yoga class and live music. It’ll happen every week on Thursday afternoon.
The Cabbagetown Farmers’ Market starts on Tuesday June 4 from 3 to 7 pm. As usual, it takes place in Riverdale Park West (Winchester and Sumach). This year, the Market is being organized by the Riverdale Farm Stewardship Group - they’ll have announcements about both the Market and Farm activities as the summer moves along. Open every Tuesday afternoon.
Storm water management
A second construction site is happening in our area on this massive flood control project. Work is now underway at Dundas and River. It’s scheduled for a mid-November completion. Another site at Gerrard and River started a few weeks ago. Neither project will interrupt local traffic flows.
This work is part of the biggest storm water diversion project in the city’s history. It will eliminate sewer overflows and storm runoffs that currently contaminate the Lower Don, Taylor Massey Creek and the Inner Harbour. For more info, go to the City’s website here.
Toronto Island flooding
Photo: John McLeod
Some flood activity has already occurred on the Island. Lake Ontario water levels are forecast to increase every week for another 2 to 3 weeks. John McLeod has sent pictures of flooded areas that he took on Sunday May 19 and he suggests that anyone who wants to visit the Island should check conditions first. Toronto & Region Conservation Authority has a Shoreline Hazard Warning in effect for Lake Ontario.
Jennifer Snowdon yoga
Jennifer is holding a 90-minute webinar on Tuesday May 28 at 7 pm. Her topic is Functional Breathing & Yogic Breathing. She notes that we breathe at least 15,000 times each day (and likely breathe more than that). It’s a habit — and if it's not functional breathing, it could be a bad habit. “This is why I teach breathing the way that I do, to help people create better breathing habits.” Check here for more info and registration.
Her June schedule includes Yoga For Life (formerly Hatha Yoga) three times a week and a workshop on June 2 about Restorative and Yoga Nidra.
All workshops happen in her studio at 58 Rose.
A fat robin on Sword Street
Photo: Louise Koepfler
Louise has sent along this photo of a big, fat robin guarding its nest on a Sword Street porch. The bird, she says, seems to be a robin but it’s big, “way bigger”. Comments and advice from other birdwatchers will be welcome.
Lookin’ good
Will Owen Sound ever be the same again? These two lovely people are on a marathon road trip along Lake Huron and Georgian Bay. Victoria and Catherine - both wearing stylish Cabbagetown Tees - had their picture snapped at the Billy Bishop Museum by a guy who kept calling them Cabbage Patchers.
TWO BIG EVENTS THIS WEEK
SING!
Sing is Toronto’s vocal arts festival celebrating the best a cappella music. It’s coming from May 24 to June 2. Workshops and free outdoor concerts happen in the Distillery and Little Trinity Church.
For a complete schedule of all the events and for tickets online, click here.
Workshops happen on Saturday May 25 in Dancemakers Studio (15 Case Goods Lane, Distillery) - from 11 am to noon with David Sereda, noon to 1 pm with Mzansi A Cappella Ensemble from South Africa and from 1 to 2 pm with Joanna Wallfisch. $15/workshop.
Free outdoor concerts take place all afternoon on Saturday and Sunday from noon to 5 pm in Trinity Square.
Concert. On Friday May 31 from 8 pm, The Swingles and Countermeasure join forces to present jazz-influenced arrangements of pop, r&b and folk in Little Trinity Church (425 King E). $35
Workshops On Saturday June 1, Katy Dane leads a workshop on Barbershop singing from 11 am to noon. From noon to 1 pm, The Swingles share their approach to group singing and harmony. Speech-language pathologists Alyssa McCarthy and Daniel Boyle offer a workshop on caring for your voice from 1 to 2 pm. All these workshops happen in Dancemakers Studio (15 Case Goods Lane, Distillery). $15/workshop.
Free outdoor concerts take place all afternoon on Saturday and Sunday from noon to 5 pm in Trinity Square.
DOORS OPEN
Here’s your chance to peer into Toronto’s fascinating and hidden places. Saturday May 25 and Sunday May 26.
The full list of events is online here.
Local events are listed below.
Alumnae Theatre
70 Berkeley St
10 am to 5 pm, Saturday &
1 to 5 pm, Sunday
Children’s Book Bank
350 Berkeley St (at Gerrard)
10 am to 5 pm, Saturday & Sunday
Distillery - Artscape Studios
15 Case Goods Lane
10 am to 5 pm, Saturday & Sunday
Distillery - Deaf Culture Centre
15 Mill Street
10 am to 5 pm, Saturday & Sunday
Distillery - Voice Integrated School
50 Gristmill Lane
10 am to 5 pm, Saturday & Sunday
Distillery - Young Centre for the Performing Arts
50 Tank House Lane
10 am to 5 pm, Sunday
Enoch Turner Schoolhouse
106 Trinity
10 am to 5 pm, Saturday
Harris Institute
118 Sherbourne St
Noon to 5 pm, Saturday & Sunday
Jarvis Street Baptist Church
130 Gerrard St E
10 am to 5 pm, Saturday & Sunday
Little Trinity Church
425 King St E
10 am to 5 pm, Saturday &
Noon to 5 pm, Sunday
Native Women’s Resource Centre of Toronto
191 Gerrard
10 am to 4 pm, Saturday & Sunday
Toronto Council Fire Native Cultural Centre
439 Dundas St E
11 am to 4 pm, Saturday & Sunday
Toronto Humane Society
11 River Street
10 am to 5 pm, Saturday & Sunday
Toronto’s First Post Office
260 Adelaide St E
10 am to 5 pm, Saturday & Sunday
WE Global Learning Centre
339 Queen St E
10 am to 5 pm, Saturday & Sunday
SUPPORT OUR COMMUNITY
Golf day for the CYC
Two weeks to go. It’s happening at the Royal Woodbine course on June 5. The Irv (195 Carlton) is organizing a golf day fundraiser for the Cabbagetown Youth Centre (2 Lancaster). Get your friends together and sign up now. Your donation of $160 will pay for 18-holes, a cart, prizes, contests and an auction plus a tax receipt.
Local business can help out. Add your gift for the list of prizes and auction goodies. Your donation will increase the fundraiser’s impact and add to your store’s profile.
Email jacklyne@theirvpub.ca or call The Irv at (647) 350-4787.
COMING EVENTS
Listed by starting dates
Swift Night Out
Bird Studies Canada and Friends of Allan Gardens present an evening watching chimney swifts in Moss Park. During their spring migration, hundreds of chimney swifts descend every night to rest in the Moss Park Armoury chimney - the largest known spring roost in Toronto. Rain or shine.
Note - the indoor presentation is fully booked. You’re invited to join the main outdoor event at the Armoury (south of Shuter and George) at 8 pm, Friday May 24. Moss Park, south of the tennis courts.
Betty White’s exhibition
Betty will hold her exhibition on Saturday May 25 and Sunday May 26 from 11 am to 5 pm at 365 Sackville. She’s showing her own paintings and drawings along with weavings by Keiko Shintani.
Annual Meeting for the Cabbagetown Preservation Association
Tuesday May 28 at 7 pm in the Meeting House in Riverdale Farm (Winchester and Sumach). Annie Vandenberg from Evergreen will talk about the Don River Valley Park - a 200 hectare area from Pottery Road to Corktown Common. The winner of the Peggy Kurtin Award will also be introduced.
Walking tour of the Necropolis
Presented by the Cabbagetown Preservation Association. Thursday May 30, 6:30 pm. Meet at the cemetery entrance (200 Winchester).
Seaton Street Block Party
Saturday June 1. Seaton Street will be blocked off from Shuter to Dundas to make way for garage sales in the morning, fun and games mid-day and a giant Potluck in the late afternoon.
History ride and talk
Toronto Cyclists will ride along the Don River from Corktown Commons (155 Bayview) to Taylor Creek Park and back again. Gathering after the ride at C’est What Pub (67 Front). Sunday June 9, 1 pm ride and 3 pm at the pub. Free. Register at Eventrite.
IN THE MEDIA
650 Parliament
Photo: Rene Johnston, Toronto Star
The owners of 650 Parliament have announced that tenants cannot return to their units until the Fall at the earliest. They have also said that they need to deal with tenants’ property inside each unit in order to complete the repairs. They’re asking a judge to rule on the options for handling this property and a hearing has been set for mid-June. The repair bill for all of this work now exceeds an estimated $46 million.
1500 people were displaced by an electrical fire in the building last August. Most are now housed temporarily in apartments.
CBC News has done a report. Click here to read it.
Quayside and Sidewalk Labs
Illustration: Sidewalk Toronto
The Globe & Mail has prepared an extensive overview of the Quayside development proposal from Sidewalk Labs. It introduces the people and companies involved, the proposal and the controversies. Click here to read it.
RESTAURANT NEWS
Cabbagetown Comedy at the Social Smiths
The monthly comedy night returns to the Social Smiths (574.5 Parliament) on Thursday May 30 at 7:30 pm. Performances by Daphney Joseph, Alice Rose, Amar Singh, Tamlynn Bryson, Dustin George and Dave Kim. Hosted by Robert Watson. Cash bar and nibblies. Tickets available at the door and on Eventrite, $10.
French onion soup
Photo: Hector Vasquez, blogTO
blogTO lists two local restaurants - Cluny (35 Tank House Lane, Distillery) and the new Maison Selby (592 Sherbourne) - among Toronto’s top ten places to grab a bowl of the best French onion soup.
Cyril’s soup
Saturday’s soup is Moroccan vegetable stew that’s loaded with vegetables (carrots, potatoes, sweet potatoes, bell peppers, onions, leeks, celery, tomatoes), pulses (white beans, lentils and chickpeas) and spices (ras el hanout with extra cumin, coriander, turmeric, cinnamon, thyme, chili). I'll even throw in some orange peel, raisins and dried apricot. $8.
Order deadline is 7 pm on Friday. He delivers his soups in Cabbagetown. He’s accepting payments by e-transfers and cash. Email him at abeautifulbowl@gmail.com
MAY THEATRE & DANCE PRODUCTIONS
Listed by starting dates.
The Brothers Size
Soulpepper (50 Tank House Lane)
On stage to Saturday June 1
Website and tickets here. (416) 866-8666
Welcome to My Underworld
Soulpepper (50 Tank House Lane)
On stage to Saturday May 25
Website and tickets here. (416) 866-8666
I swallowed a moon made of iron
Canadian Stage Berkeley Street Theatre (26 Berkeley)
On stage to Sunday May 26
Website and tickets here. (416) 368-3110
August: Osage County
Soulpepper (50 Tank House Lane)
On stage to Wednesday June 19
Website and tickets here. (416) 866-8666
Teasing Gravity - dances for the young and fearless
Canadian Contemporary Dance Theatre
Fleck Dance Theatre, Harbourfront (235 Queens Quay W)
Student matinees
Thursday May 23
Website and tickets here. (416) 924-5657
Against Nature
Citadel + Compagnie
Ross Centre for Dance (304 Parliament)
On stage to Saturday June 1
Website and tickets here. (416) 364-8011
Marienbad
Toronto Dance Theatre
Winchester Theatre (80 Winchester)
On stage to Saturday June 1
Website and tickets here. (416) 967-1365
Light Years
Canadian Contemporary Dance Theatre
Fleck Dance Theatre, Harbourfront (235 Queens Quay W)
Public performances
Friday May 24 and Saturday May 25
Website and tickets here. (416) 924-5657
Spring Song
Canadian Contemporary Dance Theatre
Fleck Dance Theatre, Harbourfront (235 Queens Quay W)
Sunday May 26
Website and tickets here. (416) 924-5657
by heart
Canadian Stage Berkeley Street Theatre (26 Berkeley)
Thursday May 30 to Sunday June 2
Website and tickets here. (416) 368-3110
CLUBS & PUBS – DAILY LISTINGS
THURSDAY MAY 23 TO SUNDAY JUNE 2
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 MAY 23
Mill Street Brew Pub
5 pm, Live music
New Town
Oki Doki Karaoke
Tilted Dog
8 pm, open mic finger style guitar sessions.
FRIDAY MAY 24
Alice’s Place
10 pm, Karaoke
New Town
Oki Doki Karaoke
SATURDAY MAY 25
Dominion
8:30 pm, Dad the Singer
SUNDAY MAY 26
Alice’s Place
9 pm, Karaoke
MONDAY MAY 27
Stout Irish Pub
7:30 pm, Headscratchers Trivia
TUESDAY MAY 28
Stout Irish Pub
7:30 pm, Headscratchers Trivia
WEDNESDAY MAY 29
Alice’s Place
9 pm, Karaoke
The Tilted Dog
7:30 pm, Smart Ass Trivia with Porter
THURSDAY MAY 30
Alice’s Place
9 pm, Comedy night with Dave Burke and Danish Anwar
New Town
Oki Doki Karaoke
Social Smiths
7:30 pm, Cabbagetown Comedy night
FRIDAY MAY 31
Alice’s Place
10 pm, Karaoke
New Town
Oki Doki Karaoke
SATURDAY JUNE 1
Dominion
8:30 pm, Andrew Fetterley
Mill St Brew Pub
10 am - Bollywood, Brunch & Beers
SUNDAY JUNE 2
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,
NEW TOWN
413 Parliament Street
ODIN
514 King E, (647) 350-6346,
PAINTBOX BISTRO
555 Dundas St E, (647) 748-0555
PHO PAS
480 Parliament, (416) 922-0769
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
