December 29

 This week’s image: Winter’s here and it gave us a white Christmas. 


CABBAGETOWN NEIGHBOURHOOD 

REVIEW




FEATURED LOCAL ARTIST 


Joanne Pettigrew 

Joanne Pettigrew is a graphic designer and artist, and a long-time resident of the Cabbagetown neighbourhood. She’s currently teaching at the School of Design at George Brown College. 


Urban Landscapes, Drawings by Joanne Pettigrew 

“For some reason the beauty of the urban landscape becomes clearer to me at night. Maybe because there are fewer distractions, or perhaps because the darkness creates a greater intimacy. Formally, these drawings are about my fascination with the effect of light on our perception of colour…” 


Gerrard and Sackville 

Oil pastel and guache on paper 16” x 24”, 2018 

LOCAL NEWS 


Christmas lights contest 

Congrats to the homeowners on Spruce who really did a great job decorating their home. They won the contest in a landslide, despite the high quality of all the entries. Congrats as well to the Cabbagetown Residents Association. It’s been a remarkably successful contest - 2,337 people voted in 20 days. Check the CRA website for photos of the nominees and all the voting details.  

200 Wellesley  

Another fire has struck the large Toronto Community Housing building at Bleecker and Wellesley. This one happened in a 12th-floor unit about noon on December 26. Two people were injured - a man with life-threatening burns and a woman with serious injuries. A quick Google search shows that fires have hit the building three times in the past ten years. In 2010, it was a big one that resulted in an evacuation. Smaller fires happened in separate units in March 2017 and November 2019. This is not the large building at 650 Parliament where a fire forced an evacuation for eighteen months. (Photo: CityNews, Ryan Belgrave).

Thanks to the Aberdeen sandwich group

The group supplies sandwiches, home baking, fruit and other foodstuffs plus clean socks to Dixon Hall’s Wednesday lunch program.  Its members now come from all corners of Cabbagetown and they’ve recently recruited four new members.  They make at least fifty sandwiches each week. They made a huge effort for the annual Christmas dinner that fed eighty people.  Congrats all for your fine work.  If you’d like more info and want to join the group, email Michael Guenther. (Photo:  Victoria Hadden).

Green Thumbs Growing Kids 

Throughout the year, various programs by Green Thumbs Growing Kids have been featured here.  GTGK creates and manages gardens at Sprucecourt, Winchester and Rose Avenue schools. It helps with another garden in Regent Park.  1,560 kids were involved, 300 pounds of food produced and donated, 182 seed kits provided to 168 participants - and lots more.  There’s a good video report about the successes that it's had in 2020 despite the COVID problems - click here to watch it. 
 

A great memory

One of Yvonne’s closest friends died three years ago from a cancer.  She had two Macaws and when they shed their feathers, she collected them from the bottom of their cage.  Yvonne has found them and made a wreath from them.  It’s hanging on her front door in her friend’s memory.

Flowers blooming in the winter

These are helleborus or the winter rose.  They bloom and survive in the cold and snowy days that we’re currently enjoying.  This batch has lived in its Cabbagetown garden for many years.

Bread is a big thing

Baking bread has become a COVID trend. Peter certainly does it and he does it really well. He’s dropping off samples right to the front door for his lucky fans. Yummy stuff. Thanks, Pete.

City of Toronto skating rinks 

Riverdale Park East, Regent Park and Sherbourne Common are now open from 10 am to 10 pm daily. Outdoor rinks are still open with a 25-person limit. Change rooms and lockers are closed. You can make a reservation and confirm that the rinks are open at the City’s website. (Photo: Waterfront Toronto)  

SUPPORT YOUR COMMUNITY


Final days

The School of Toronto Dance (80 Winchester) is raising funds to support its bursaries and scholarships. All donations up to $5,000 made between now and December 31 will be matched by the Del Degan family. Make your donations online here.  

IN THE MEDIA 


Congrats Suppli 

Megan Takeda-Tully’s project has attracted favourable attention from CBC News. Nazima Walji wrote about Megan’s new business promoting reuseable metal containers for restaurant takeout food. The story is online here. (Photo: Megan Takeda-Tully).

Cycling in Toronto

Matt Elliot is a Toronto Star contributor and a Corktown resident.  On December 28, he did a column about cycling in our part of Toronto along Bayview, the Danforth and the Lakeshore.  He makes a strong case for a renewal of these bike lanes next summer.  Click here to read his story.  (Photo: Richard Lautens, Toronto Star) 

Rabba Foods and Paramount Fine Foods

Rabba is opening a new grocery store in Regent Park (Dundas and River).  Inside, it’ll offer takeout Middle Eastern specialties by Paramount Fine Foods - including shawarma, wraps and baklava.  blogTO has a writeup about their new joint venture, click here.  (Photo:  blogTO).  

The future of Quayside

Donovan Vincent followed the Sidewalk Labs’ project from its start to its withdrawal.  His article in the Toronto Star looks at the lessons learned and the future of this large, valuable chunk of lakefront real estate.  Click here to read it. (Image:  Sidewalk Labs) 

BUSINESS NEWS


What’s open and closed 

Rick at the Cabbagetown BIA has posted a handy list of the stores and services affected by provincial lockdown regulations. These rules continue until January 23. For more info and updates, go to the BIA’s business directory on its website or to its Facebook page     

Open 

Groceries, variety stores, liquor and beer stores, pharmacies, laundromats and dry cleaners and veterinarians (for animal health services). 

Curbside pickup only 

All restaurants and bars (pickups and delivery only), cannabis stores, hardware, pet supplies, computer sales and repairs, and clothing stores. 

Fully closed 

Gyms, nail and hair salons and real estate open houses. 

A tasty local recipe

Rick has gathered some turkey from St Jamestown Steak & Chops, veggies from Cabbagetown Organics and pasta from Epicure - he’s made a yummy post-Christmas Cabbagetown lunch. He’s extended the thanks of all our local businesses for your support in these tough times.

RESTAURANT NEWS

Go to the restaurants’ websites and Facebook pages for more menus from your favourite places - click here for the contact list.   


Cranberries (601 Parliament) 

Start your New Year’s Eve dinner with seafood chowder or organic mixed green salad. Select either Black Angus striploin with mashed potato and veggies or Atlantic salmon with basmati rice, veggies and a lemon dill cream sauce or chicken roulade stuffed with spinach, roasted red peppers and cheese with mashed potato and veggies.  New York cheesecake with cranberry sauce for dessert. $35.  To order, call (416) 925-6330 for pick-ups (no deliveries). 

F’Amelia (12 Amelia)

Two packages for a fun New Year’s Eve and another for the morning after.  Dinner for two includes a salad, Osso Bucco with potatoes and veggies and ricotta cheesecake for dessert, $195.  Fun Pack for four includes an antipasto box, muffuletta caponata, mini meatballs and tiramisu, $260.  And each option comes with a bottle of Bel Star prosecco. The Morning After serves four - premixed Caesars for four, ground Barzula coffee, southern Italian frittata pie and potato hash, $150.  Served cold, cooked and ready to reheat. Email for your order.  

Stout Irish Pub (221 Carlton)

Dinner for two - fire grilled striploin and garlic shrimp. Two ten-ounce striploins with chimichurri, sauteed shrimp, frites, creamy macaroni and cheese, caesar salad, coleslaw and horseradish. Serves two, $90. Available New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day - email Erin to place your order.

Daniel et Daniel (248 Carlton) 

The D & D count-down cocktail party is available for New Year’s Eve.  It’s got nibblies, cold hors d’oeuvres, hot hors d’oeuvres and desserts.  $68.   The holiday celebration dinner is available now until New Year’s Eve. Four courses,  $65. Minimum order for each package is two portions. Check out the details online along with the regular menus.   

The Irv (195 Carlton) 

The Irv’s New Year’s Eve dinner has two options. Slow roasted prime rib with mashed potato, green beans, wild mushroom and horseradish, $36. Or butternut squash ravioli with a brown butter and sage sauce, $25.  Included with both of these - New York cheesecake. Pre-order by December 30 or go to the regular menu, no pre-orders needed.  Email your order to Regan.  

Noushe (200 Carlton) 

Special house selections of wine are available. Details and order info online here. Closed January 1. 

BREAD & BUTTER STUFF


Absolute Bakery (589 Parliament) 

Open daily for regular hours 6 am to 8:30 pm. 

Cabbagetown Organics (499 Parliament) 

Shorter hours on Christmas Eve and Boxing Day - 10 am to 6 pm. Closed on Christmas. Regular hours from December 27, 10 am to 9 pm. 

St Jamestown Steak & Chops (516 Parliament) 

Check out the store hours - you don’t want to be caught short with no bacon or fresh veggies in the house.  Mark is open on Wednesday from 10 am to 6 pm and on Thursday from 9 am to 4 pm.  Then he’s closed on Friday, Saturday and Sunday. 

Cyril’s soups 

Cyril is taking a break over the Christmas and New Year period. He’s finished with his special order system. When he starts up again in January, he’ll let us know.

CONTACT INFO 


COVID regulations for retail stores 

There’s a business directory on the Cabbagetown BIA website with the COVID details listed beside each store’s info. 

Food services 

A comprehensive listing of our local food services is now available in our new Cabbagetown Directory. The list includes bakeries, coffee shops, delis, restaurants and pubs. Each entry gives the name, address, phone number and a link to a Facebook page or website. Click here to find your favourite. 

December 22

 This week’s image:  another beautiful holiday decoration.



CABBAGETOWN NEIGHBOURHOOD 

REVIEW



FEATURED LOCAL ARTIST


Joanne Pettigrew

Joanne Pettigrew is a graphic designer and artist, and a long-time resident of the Cabbagetown neighbourhood. She’s currently teaching at the School of Design at George Brown College.


Urban Landscapes,  Drawings by Joanne Pettigrew

“For some reason the beauty of the urban landscape becomes clearer to me at night. Maybe because there are fewer distractions, or perhaps because the darkness creates a greater intimacy.  Formally, these drawings are about my fascination with the effect of light on our perception of colour…”


Exchange Lane

Oil pastel and guache on paper 25” x 17.5”, 2018


SPECIAL EVENTS 

Christmas lights contest
The competition in this year’s Christmas lights contest will be tougher - people started early and really got into the spirit. Nominate your neighbours (or yourself!). The contest continues to Saturday December 26. Everyone is welcome to vote. Check the Cabbagetown Residents Association website for photos of the nominees and all the voting details.


Deck the Holidays

The lights in the garden boxes beside the TD Bank (Carlton and Parliament) are part of the Cabbagetown BIA’s contribution to street decorations along Parliament.

Storefronts

Local businesses do a spectacular job with their seasonal front windows. This week’s feature is Labour of Love (223 Carlton).

WHAT'S OPEN & WHAT'S CLOSED

Rick at the Cabbagetown BIA has posted a handy list of the stores and services affected by provincial lockdown regulations.  These rules continue until January 23. For more info and updates, go to the BIA’s business directory on its website.  

Open

Groceries, variety stores, liquor and beer stores, pharmacies, laundromats and dry cleaners and veterinarians (for animal health services).  

Curbside pickup only

All restaurants and bars (pickups and delivery only), cannabis stores, hardware, pet supplies, computer sales and repairs, and clothing stores.

Fully closed

Gyms, nail and hair salons and real estate open houses.

NEWS 


Help needed - announcement

Ron has lost a hearing aid somewhere on the sidewalk along  Parliament Street.  He’s unsure where exactly - he went to Absolute Bakery, Cranberries and all the way south to No Frills. If you see or find it, please call him at (416) 300-7093.  

City of Toronto skating rinks

Riverdale Park East, Regent Park and Sherbourne Common are now open from 10 am to 10 pm daily. Outdoor rinks are still open with a 25-person limit.   Change rooms and lockers are closed.  You can make a reservation and confirm that the rinks are open at the City’s website.  

Cyril’s soups

Cyril is taking a break over the Christmas and New Year period.  He’s finished with his special order system.  When he starts up again in January, he’ll let us know.

Tilted Dog

Congrats to Sean and Tiffany.  Their Christmas pies have sold out!  

Cabbagetown Regent Park Museum Historical Tidbit

Image:  Gendron Manufacturing, ca. 1895 

by Sally Gibson
Preparing for Christmas 1895, French-speaking elves worked long hours down at the Gendron Manufacturing Company at 411 Richmond Street E. (The building still stands.) Bicycles. Doll carriages. Rocking horses. Express wagons.  Père NoÈ…l had a big order that needed to be completed by December 24 . Fortunately, many Franco-Canadian elves lived in the nearby French Quarter. On Christmas Eve, work done, they would bundle over to mass at Toronto’s first French Roman-Catholic church, Église du Sacré-Coeur, at 436 King Street East. In 1887, the French community had been able to purchase and convert a former 1870 Presbyterian church on that site. The Sacré-Coeur parish church moved to its present, purpose-built church and community centre at Carlton and Sherbourne in the late 1930s. Joyeuses fêtes 2020. May this be the last holiday season requiring separation and masks!

IN THE MEDIA


Regent Park School of Music

The School held its first-ever virtual recital of its annual Winter program on Friday.  This CBC News report describes the concert and the School’s program.  Click here to read it. (Photo:  Regent Park School of Music)   

Christmas in the Distillery

Frank Gunn captured this gorgeous image from the Distillery on Saturday December 12.  (Photo:  Frank Gunn, Canadian Press)

UPDATES - CHRISTMAS DINNERS & HOURS


Cranberries (601 Parliament) 

This is Cabbagetown’s original crowd-pleasing Christmas dinner. $30 per person. Butternut squash soup or organic mixed green salad. Roast turkey with mashed potatoes, veggies, stuffing, gravy and cranberry sauce. Apple crumble for dessert. To order, call (416) 925-6330 before December 23. Closed December 24, open from 5 to 9 pm on December 25 for pick-ups (no deliveries) and closed again on December 26.

F’Amelia (12 Amelia) - order deadline extended

Dinner for four including a bottle of red or white wine. Two options. Option 1 is a traditional turkey dinner and dessert. Option 2 features braised beef and dessert. Served cold, cooked and ready to reheat. Each option, $250 - serves four people. Order by December 22 for pickup on December 23 - phone (416) 323-0666. Closing from December 24 to 27.

Chew Chew Diner (186 Carlton)

A traditional meal with roast turkey, stuffing, mashed potato, gravy, cranberry sauce and fresh veggies.  $14.99 - add split pea soup for $4 and pumpkin pie for $4.  Pre-order at (416) 924-7589.  Pick-up at the restaurant or delivery with Uber Eats and Door Dash.  

Daniel et Daniel (248 Carlton)

D & D has reached its capacity for Christmas orders. The Food Shop is closed from December 25 to 28 and open again from December 29 to 31 - regular hours, 9 am to 6 pm.  Other food items are available in the Shop and online.     

DOVA (229 Carlton)

Christmas hours - closed from December 24 to 26.    

House on Parliament (454 Parliament)

Pick up your turkey dinner orders on December 24.  Closed December 25 and 26 - open again on December 27 with the regular menu plus the yummy roast beef dinner!

The Irv (195 Carlton)

Closed until December 27.  Pickups only for the Christmas dinner on  Thursday December 24 and Friday December 25, from 1 to 3 pm. 

Noushe  (200 Carlton)

Orders for the four course feast are now closed.  Deliveries on December 23 or 24.  Special house selections of wine also available.  Details and order info online here.  Closed December 25, 26 and January 1.  

BAKERIES & FOOD SHOPS


Absolute Bakery (589 Parliament)

Open daily for regular hours 6 am to 8:30 pm except December 24 and 25, open from 7 am to 5 pm.

Cabbagetown Organics (499 Parliament)

Shorter hours on Christmas Eve and Boxing Day - 10 am to 6 pm. Closed on Christmas. Regular hours from December 27, 10 am to 9 pm.

Le Beau Croissanterie (665 Dundas E)

Order pickups and limited selections on December 23 and 24.  Closed from December 25 to January 8.

Roselle (362 King E)

Holiday orders are now closed.  The bakery is open to noon on December 24, reopening at 11 am on December 30.

St Jamestown Steak & Chops (516 Parliament)

Open until 2 pm on Thursday December 24.  Reopening on December 28.

Staij & Co (552 Parliament)

Their order book is full and they can’t handle any new Christmas business now.  Pickups and deliveries will happen until New Year’s.  After that, they plan to close for two weeks.  Best wishes to everyone and thanks for the support.

Velvet Lane (194A Carlton)

The bakery is fully booked now for Christmas Eve and can’t accept new orders.  Open to 5 pm on December 24 and closed until January 6.


CONTACT INFO


COVID regulations for retail stores

There’s a business directory on the Cabbagetown BIA website with the COVID details listed beside each store’s info. 


Food services

A comprehensive listing of our local food services is now available in our new Cabbagetown Directory.  The list includes bakeries, coffee shops, delis, restaurants and pubs.  Each entry gives the name, address, phone number and a link to a Facebook page or website.  Click here to find your favourite.