July 25

This week’s image: the Cabbagetown BIA’s movie night in Riverdale Park.  

CABBAGETOWN NEIGHBOURHOOD 
REVIEW

The BIA’s outdoor movie
The Cabbagetown BIA held its annual summer movie night in Riverdale Park West on Wednesday July 24.  A big crowd gathered to enjoy Space Jam.

Email problems
Every week, I use an email reminder to give my friends a summary of the week’s news and a link to this blog page.  Recently, I’ve had trouble with some of my emails - as if a server somewhere is censoring them.  If you know someone who’s on my email list and has suddenly been “cut off”, please tell me at cabbagetownreview@gmail.com
Thanks.

LOCAL NEWS

51 Division Town Hall Meeting
Deputy Chief Peter Yuen will discuss the Neighbourhood Community Officer Program.  Everyone welcome.  Regent Park Community Centre (402 Shuter), Monday July 29, 6:30 pm.

Theft at the Cabbagetown Community Arts Centre
When the staff at CCAC (422 Parliament) arrived at work on Wednesday July 24, they found a back door had been pried open and a break-in had occurred.  They lost all of their guitars, violins, an amplifier and other sound equipment.  They estimate that the loss could reach $20,000. They aren’t sure now how much their insurance will cover.  
The CCAC provides free one-on-one arts and music instruction to our local kids.  It’s a long-standing local agency that celebrates its fortieth anniversary in September.  Check out its website here.   
A GoFundMe campaign has been started.  Click here for the details and donate whatever you can afford.  

The Rooming House Project
Dixon Hall’s Rooming House Project is now one year old.  It helps tenants stabilize their housing and improve the quality of  their lives.  The staff builds relationships and connects the tenants and their community.  They created a tenant newsletter, opened a tenant-managed food bank and implemented community meals three times weekly.  For more info on this vital service, click here.  

Elspeth Heyworth Bursary - deadline July 31
The Bursary is available to women who live in the Regent Park neighbourhood. It helps those who want to pursue their education but face financial challenges.  It provides financial support for tuition, supplies, textbooks, daycare and transportation.  If you’re eligible, please write a short essay describing how the Bursary will help in your life and how you’ll use it.  Drop it off or mail it to Dixon Hall (58 Sumach St, Toronto, M5A 3J7 ) or email it to elspethaward@dixonhall.org

Sherbourne and Dundas - action from the City of Toronto
Councillor Kristyn Wong Tam’s amendments to the Downtown East Action Plan were adopted by City Council in its meeting last week. She’s aiming for a better balance between residents’ concerns and the services for vulnerable people and addicts. Her new plan includes improved street cleaning, inspections of vacant buildings, increased Community Police resources, regular inspections of respite centres and improved consultations with residents and business groups.  She also asked for increased statistical and service-related studies of neighbourhood problems in order to assess the effectiveness of the City’s programs.

Sherbourne and Dundas - a resident’s experience
“I am sending you this video so you can see what I am living with! She arrived at 1:34 am and left at 2:20. At one point she went to do something in my fountain… Oh she was trying to pull out my flowers until she realized they were artificial.”  Click here for the video.  

New hours at Allan Gardens
The Conservatory at Allan Gardens (Carlton and Jarvis) is now open from noon to 7 pm on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday.  And from 10 am to 5 pm from Thursday through Sunday.

The Distillery’s Christmas Market
Every year, the Christmas Market brings thousands of people into the Distillery District.  Everyone has a great time.  But local residents have found the noise, traffic and congestion to be overwhelming.  Two City Councillors - Kristyn Wong-Tam and Joe Cressy - are part of a review group working on a proper traffic plan for the 2019 Market.  Once completed, the plan will go to the Toronto East York Community Council and then to City Council.

Candidates for the federal election
In September, the gloves come off and the federal election campaign gets going officially.  Our local parties have now selected their candidates for the campaign

Ryan Lester, Conservative.  Ryan is a volunteer and a long-time advocate and he was a candidate in Ward 13 municipal elections.  

Adam Sommerfeld, Green. Adam is a communications designer who has extensive experience with media and arts organizations.  He studied design art at Concordia.  

Bill Morneau, LiberalBill has been our sitting Member of Parliament since 2015 and he’s served as the federal Minister of Finance through that period.   

Brian Chang, NDPBrian is a labour organizer, an active choral  musician and a writer. 

The New Roots Dinner series
Daniel et Daniel (248 Carlton) is again sponsoring the New Roots Dinners to support Green Thumbs, Growing Kids - a local program that connects kids and nature through school garden activities.  This year’s dinners will take place in Allan Gardens, Riverdale Farm, the Toronto Dance Theatre and the Canadian Contemporary Dance  Theatre.  Last year’s series was a resounding success - praised for its glorious presentations, its amazing menu and its successful fundraising.  
Tuesday August 20, 6:30 pm, $200.  Tickets for this year’s dinners are available online at Canada Helps.    

Congrats Sharon
Here’s Sharon Harvie (above left) with Joanne and Peter. Sharon is just finishing a successful exhibition of her lovely silk art at Cranberries (601 Parliament).  Some pieces are still available so drop by and check them out.

The final weekend
The giants from The Fantastic Planet in the Distillery will leave after Wednesday July 31.  They’re worth the visit!

Cabbagetown Regent Park Museum Historical Tidbit
by Sally Gibson
Image: George Ragen circa 1930, Cabbagetown Regent Park Museum
George Ragen grew up in Cabbagetown at his parents’ general store at the corner of River and Oak streets. He went to Park Street School. He became a local hero when at age 13, he and a friend saved two skaters foundering in the ice-covered waters of the Don River.
Ragen spent his career saving lives. In 1929, he became a Toronto Lifeguard and in 1954, he became the Superintendent of the entire Toronto Life Saving & Police Patrol Service, aka Toronto Harbour Police. 
His daughter, Ellen Hughes, donated many items to the Museum, including this photograph of her father with the 1930s skyline featuring the new Bank of Commerce.

CABBAGETOWN FESTIVAL UPDATES

Festival links
Get your tickets, register for the run, mark your calendars for your favourite events.  The big Festival programs - the Cabbagetown Short Film Festival, Blair’s Run, Cabbagetown Art & Crafts in Riverdale Park and the street Festival on Parliament - each have their 2019 websites online.  Some of the info is still tentative, of course.
Save the dates - Wednesday September 4 (film Festival), Friday September 6, Saturday September 7 and Sunday September 8.

COMING EVENTS
Listed by starting dates 

Parent Jam - Cabbagetown Edition
Eden Higgins, the dance teacher at the Cabbagetown Youth Centre (2 Lancaster) will host the CYC’s fundraiser.  Parents and kids will learn new routines for favourite songs.  1 to 3 pm, Sunday July 28, CYC.  Parents $10 and kids $5.  Tickets at the door.

Tirgan
Tirgan is a celebration of Iranian food, culture and arts.  It’s being held in the Distillery, at Harbourfront and in other sites from Thursday July 25 to Sunday July 28, noon to 9 pm.  Click here for the details.  https://tirgan.ca/tirgan2019/event/

Corktown Common - outdoor movies
Thursday July 25 is the final 2019 screening.  Food trucks at 7 pm, movies at sundown,  in Corktown Common (100 Bayview Ave at the foot of River Street).  Free - suggested donation $10.
July 25 - Some Like It Hot with the short film Switch.

Under the Stars - outdoor movies
Wednesday evenings in July and August in the Big Park (Dundas E at Sackville). Community market and kitchen by Taste of Regent Park along with family entertainment happen before each movie - next week, try some beef and veggie patties.
July 31 - Life of Pi
Aug 7 -   Your Name
Aug 10 - Black Panther

Greg’s vegan/vegetarian artisanal soups
Greg sells his soups and St John’s Bread at the weekly Cabbagetown Farmers’ Market.  Last week, he offered a hot Vietnamese veggie soup and a cold apricot soup.  They change each week so stop at his tent for samples.  
Fresh veggies and fruit are now rolling in.  The season’s best are now on sale.  
Every Tuesday in Riverdale Park West (Winchester and Sumach) from 3 to 7 pm, organized by the Riverdale Farm Stewardship Group.  Profits go to the Farm’s capital projects and its food education programs.

The Underpass Park Farmers’ Market 
In Corktown - Thursdays from 3 to 7 pm in Underpass Park (29 Lower River Street).  Activities and face painting for kids, a free yoga class with the Yoga Sanctuary from 5:30 pm and live music. Great produce and baked goods.
Stay around for the outdoor movies in Corktown Common - every Thursday in July.

KIDS STUFF

Mud-Day Monday
Photo:  Ilia Vukas, Friends of Allan Gardens
Every Monday from 10 to 11:30 am to mid-August.  Bring your little ones (ages 2 to 8 recommended) and let them water plants, nibble on a few of them, plant seeds, hunt for bugs and lots more.  Allan Gardens (18 Horticultural Ave, Carlton and Jarvis).  Free.  Parental supervision required.

BUSINESS NEWS

Canadian furniture made your way
For over 20 years, Kendall & Co (514 Parliament) has been delivering quality Canadian-made upholstered furniture to countless happy customers.  You’ll find their latest designs with custom details on two floors in their Cabbagetown shop.  In addition, their extensive collection of fabrics and trims along with stain guarding options mean that you never compromise on style.  Reupholstery is also available to make your old furniture look new again. Store hours: Tuesday to Saturday during the summer. https://www.instagram.com/kendallandco

RESTAURANT NEWS 

Tasso is back
Olya and Mike have been away on holiday.  Their amazing bakery is open again on Friday July 26.  540 Parliament.

Community BBQ
A pop-up food event at the Paintbox (555 Dundas E).  A community bbq presented together with the Regent Park Catering Collective.  Friday July 26, 11:30 am to 2 pm, $10.

RastaFest Showcase Party
On Saturday July 27, family fun starts at 3 pm and continues to 9 pm. BBQ, Ital food, giveaways, bar and vendors.  Music by Spicey Gad and StereoGraph Sound. Free.
Dancing begins at 9 pm (and it’s strictly a 19+ ID event) with special guests Horace Martin, Nkrumah, Konjo Uhuru & Jade Faith.  Tickets are $10, available here on Eventrite.  
Paintbox Bistro (555 Dundas E).

The best patios
The Daily Hive has published its list of the best patios in east Toronto.  Keating Channel (2 Villiers just off Cherry St) and Mill Street (21 Tank House Lane, Distillery) are both listed there.  

Cyril’s soups
For Saturday July 27, his soup is a U.S. Southern classic - cocoa black bean loaded with celery, corn, bell peppers and a whole bunch of spices, in addition to cocoa powder, $9.   
On Saturday, he’s also offering orange-strawberry juice, $9 for 500 ml. 
On Tuesday July 30, he’s making beet, ginger coconut soup, $9.
He’s away on Saturday August 3 for the long weekend and he’ll be back on Tuesday August 6.
Cyril makes two soups every week, on Tuesday and Saturday and informs interested people about his menus in advance by email. He usually prepares a regular version and vegan one. His order deadline is 2 pm on the day before delivery.  He delivers to his Cabbagetown-area customers. He accepts payments by e-transfers and cash. Email him at abeautifulbowl@gmail.com

JULY & AUGUST
THEATRE & DANCE PRODUCTIONS
Listed by starting dates.

The Promised Land:  Steinbeck through Song
Soulpepper (50 Tank House Lane)
On stage to Saturday July 27
Website and tickets here.  (416) 866-8666

Fool for Love
Soulpepper (50 Tank House Lane)
On stage to Sunday August 11
Website and tickets here.  (416) 866-8666

Art
Soulpepper (50 Tank House Lane)
Friday August 9 to Sunday September 1
Website and tickets here.  (416) 866-8666

CLUBS & PUBS – DAILY LISTINGS

THURSDAY JULY 25 TO SUNDAY AUGUST 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 JULY 25

Alice’s Place
9 pm, Comedy night with Dave Burke and Danish Anwar
New Town
Oki Doki Karaoke
Social Smiths
7 pm, Cabbagetown Comedy night with Robert Watson, cash bar, $10
Tilted Dog
8 pm, open mic finger-style guitar sessions

FRIDAY JULY 26

Alice’s Place
9:30 pm, Karaoke
New Town
Oki Doki Karaoke
Paintbox 
11:30 am, community barbeque, $10 

SATURDAY JULY 27

Distillery
Noon to 5 pm, Summer Music Series with Holly Clausius, Morad Saad Guzman, Lili Ahopelto & Matt Girolami, and Kirby  - Trinity Square stage
Dominion
8:30 pm, Sarah Jordan & Matt V
Paintbox
3 pm, RastaFest family fun for all ages, free
9 pm, RastaFest dance party, 19+ years old, $10

SUNDAY JULY 28

Alice’s Place
9:30 pm, Karaoke
Distillery
1 to 6 pm, Summer Music Series with Morad Saad Guzman, LiVVA, Neena Rose and Claire Coupland - Trinity Square stage
Mill St Brew Pub
10 am - Bollywood, Brunch & Beers

MONDAY JULY 29

Stout Irish Pub
7:30 pm, Headscratchers Trivia

TUESDAY JULY 30

Stout Irish Pub
7:30 pm, Headscratchers Trivia

WEDNESDAY JULY 31

Alice’s Place
9 pm, Karaoke
The Tilted Dog
7:30 pm, Smart Ass Trivia with Porter

THURSDAY AUGUST 1

New Town
Oki Doki Karaoke
Tilted Dog
8 pm, live music with Jeff Barnes and Noah Zacharin

FRIDAY AUGUST 2

Alice’s Place
9:30 pm, Karaoke 
New Town
Oki Doki Karaoke

SATURDAY AUGUST 3

Distillery - Noon to 5 pm, Summer Music Series with Courtney Bowles, Silvia Sabash and Jordan Hart - Trinity Square stage  

SUNDAY AUGUST 4

Alice’s Place
9:30 pm, Karaoke 
Distillery
1 to 6 pm, Summer Music Series with Lili Ahopelto & Matt Girolami, Silvia Sabash, Jordan Hart and Jake & Victoria - Trinity Square stage

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