This week’s image: the streets are empty - Wellesley west of Parliament at 10:30 am on Wednesday March 25.
CABBAGETOWN
NEIGHBOURHOOD
REVIEW
FEATURED LOCAL ARTISTS
Every week, a new image in the right hand column highlights the work of a local artist.
Throughout March, Victoria Hadden has been featured. She paints large works in acrylic on canvas and smaller works in pen and ink and watercolours.
PEOPLE HELPING THEIR NEIGHBOURS
Cleo’s delivery service
Cleo Pettigrew Brown is organizing a delivery service for seniors and disabled people who are stuck in their homes during the COVID-19 shutdown. She’ll pickup groceries and pharmacy items and deliver them at no charge. She’s using a heavy-duty touring bike capable of carrying between 40 and 50 pounds. She’ll leave the delivery on the doorstep and collect payment from the mailbox. For details, email her at brindledhound@gmail.com
More hand sanitizers
Mill Street Brewery (21Tankhouse Lane) has started to manufacture hand sanitizers. It’s a really helpful gesture - they’re using their facilities to battle a shortage in the marketplace. Last week, the Distillery District’s Spirit of York (12 Trinity) switched its production to hand sanitizers. Both companies’ sanitizers are made to World Health Organization standards. Check out the online story on blogTO.
Volunteer
Several people have indicated their willingness to help seniors and disabled people during the COVID-19 shutdown. If you'd like to add your name to the list and join a group, contact cabbagetownreview@gmail.com
LOCAL NEWS
COVID-19 contact info
Toronto Public Health has a useful website with the latest information, resources and facts.
Public Health at the City of Toronto (416-338-7600)
Telehealth Ontario (1-866-797-0000).
A salute to Sydney Payne
Photo: Sydney is second from the left in the front row.
Sydney is one of Canada’s Olympic athletes affected by the decision to postpone the 2020 Games until 2021. It’s tough to work so hard and then be frustrated at the last moment. She’s been part of the Canadian medal-winning rowing team at World Cup events for several years. She’s been a member of the #1 ranked rowing team at University of California, Berkeley as well as the Canadian team. Kelly Rogers, her mom, has written that “They have been working extraordinarily hard and are the strongest and fastest they’ve ever been, quite possibly in the world at the moment. … They are devastated but fully accept that this is the only option.”
Earth Hour in Cabbagetown South
Despite the COVID-19 emergencies, it’s still necessary to observe Earth Hour. It happens on Saturday March 28 from 8:30 to 9:30 pm.
You can join a self-guided tour of Cabbagetown South during that time. Start at The Beer Store parking lot (Gerrard and Ontario). It’s a half hour walk and you’ll get noteworthy tidbits about historic homes in the neighbourhood. Please keep the proper distance away from others while enjoying your walk.
The Tour notes have been posted on the Association's website. Check it out - it's a great walk even after Earth Hour.
The Tour notes have been posted on the Association's website. Check it out - it's a great walk even after Earth Hour.
Self defence
Jet Fuel (519 Parliament) has boarded up its front window and door for the duration of the COVID-19 shutdown. John Englar says that it's happened for the safety of the store.
House on Parliament (454 Parliament) has done the same. Kim at Spruce (455 Parliament) has boarded her store as well.
Within the past few days, windows have been broken at Home Hardware, Pet Valu and Pizza Pizza. Before the shutdown, several other businesses experienced the same vandalism.
Send in a report
Staff Sergeant Eduardo Wulff, Community Response manager at 51 Division, urges everybody to report incidents like the window smashing events. Home Hardware made a report. Toronto Police Service relies on the data gathered from your reports in order to allocate their resources. He also gives local businesses a heads-up about outdoor video cameras. With the improvements in technology, these cameras provide very good evidence about the crime directly from the scene. Contact him at (416) 808-5152. Learn about crime reporting procedures - click here.
Forsythia Festival
The Cabbagetown Residents Association has cancelled the 2020 Forsythia Festival. It’s normally scheduled to take place on the first weekend in May in Wellesley Park. The organizers are now looking at safe alternative ways to celebrate the return of Spring to Cabbagetown. As always, our thanks go to the hardworking volunteers who put the Festival together. It’s a sad decision to make, but a necessary one.
Gas prices - down or up
The question, for several weeks, was “How low can it go?” On March 12, gas was 92.9 cents. Last week, it had dropped to 77.9. Then, on Wednesday this week, it reached 65.9. But that might be the end of it - on Thursday morning, it had zoomed back up to 67.9. Cheap gas but nowhere to go!
Dog walking
The City of Toronto has closed dog walking facilities in the city’s parks. It’s unclear whether this ban extends to the playing fields at Riverdale Park West. As this photo shows, people there were keeping lots of social distance between themselves. It also shows how quiet both Bayview Avenue and the Don Valley Parkway are - normally they’re jammed with cars late on a weekday afternoon.
Riverdale Farm
Claire wrote asking whether the animals are still at the Farm. They are indeed still there and they’re being cared for by the Farm’s staff. This photo shows a Farm worker delivering food to the goats. On its website, the Riverdale Farm Stewardship Group notes, “during the closure period all Farm animals will continue to be well taken care of by the Farm attendants.”
BUSINESS NEWS
Banking news
ATMs - all local banking services have ATMs and they're available at all hours.
Meridian's Cabbagetown Branch (486 Parliament) is temporarily closed due to the COVID-19 battle. Meridian recommends that local customers use the services at its Danforth and Logan branch (477 Danforth) while this disruption is going on.
CIBC's Banking Centre (245 Carlton) has also closed indefinitely.
TD's Branch (493 Parliament) has limited hours - 10 am to 4 pm Monday to Friday and 11 am to 4 pm on Saturday.
RBC (480 Dundas E), open for regular business hours - 10 am to 4 pm, Monday to Friday.
Cabbagetown Organics
One of our best local grocers (499 Parliament). Peter has contacted me to say that they still have plenty of hand sanitizer, toilet paper and specialty grocery items in stock.
Marilyn at Pet Valu
Marilyn’s April nail clinic at Pet Valu (240 Carlton) is cancelled. Normally, she would make an appearance on Saturday April 4.
OPEN NOW
Call for details. This list is current to Thursday March 26. Check back here regularly - as more info becomes available, it’ll be addd to the list
Animal services
Cabbagetown Pet Clinic (239 Gerrard), (416) 928-6761.
Parliament Animal Hospital (584 Parliament), (647) 347-3300.
Menagerie Pet Shop (549 Parliament), (416) 921-4966.
Pet Valu (240 Carlton), (416) 961-0661.
Home services
Dollar4U (405 Parliament), (416) 929-4419.
Dollarama (425 Parliament), (416) 944-0536.
Royal Home Hardware (485 Parliament), (416) 924-3921.
Spruce (455 Parliament), (647) 748-4060
Food and grocery
Absolute Bakery (589 Parliament)
Ambal Trading (591 Parliament), (416) 928-6665
Cabbagetown Organics (499 Parliament)
Epicure Shop (473 Parliament), (416) 928-0291
FreshCo (325 Parliament and 559 Sherbourne)
Lennie’s Health Food (489 Parliament), (416) 920-3777
Matt’s No Frills (449 Parliament)
St James Town Steak & Chops (516 Parliament)
Staij & Co Cafe & Pastry (552 Parliament), (416) 792-2505)
Terroni sud forno (22 Sackville), (416) 368-4248
Velvet Lane Cakes (194 Carlton), (416) 262-4159 - online orders only
RESTAURANT NEWS
Beer delivery
You can order beer online from Mill Street Brewery (21 Tankhouse Lane) for home delivery. Next day service, seven days a week, free on orders over $50.
Win a free brunch
BLCK (383 Dundas E) is offering a free meal to every fifth caller who orders brunch for pickup. And there’s no charge for home delivery. Currently BLCK has a tempting brunch menu and the dinner options will be posted soon. Check online for the details or call (416) 364-6565 to place your order.
Cyril’s soups and juices
Cyril’s soup for Saturday is Moroccan Fall vegetable stew at $9. His juice is grapefruit and orange juice with rosewater, $9.
During the current COVID-19 fight, he’s making two changes. First - he’s back to disposable plastic containers and saving the glass ones until the battle is over. Second - he’s urging customers to use e-transfers rather than cash.
He makes two soups every week - on Tuesday and Saturday. He informs interested people about his menus in advance by email. He usually prepares a regular version and vegan one.
His order deadline for Saturday delivery is 5 pm on the previous Thursday and for Tuesday, it’s 5 pm on the previous Sunday. He delivers to his Cabbagetown-area customers. He accepts payments by e-transfers and cash. Email him at abeautifulbowl@gmail.com
RESTAURANTS WITH DELIVERY/TAKEOUT SERVICE
This list was compiled on Thursday March 26. Details change rapidly. Check with your favourite restaurant for its latest information - Facebook and website links are listed here.
If your restaurant isn’t listed, it’s probably closed. If you see an error or omission, please let us know.
Cranberries, 601 Parliament, (416) 925-6330. Full service menu available from noon to 9 pm. Pick-up only.
Shalom Ethiopian & Eritrean Restaurant, 587 Parliament, (416) 964-7271. Menu available at the website.
Tender Trap, 580 Parliament, (416) 920-5147. Menu on the website.
Tokyo Ramen, 568 Parliament - lower level, (647) 352-1122. Delivery by Skip The Dishes. Hours and menu details online here.
Haldi, 568 Parliament - upper level, (647) 898-5680. Save 15% on all takeout orders or get free delivery - menu online here. Available with Uber Eats.
Butter Chicken Factory, 556 Parliament, (416) 964-7583. Menu is listed on the website.
Kingyo, 51B Winchester, (647) 748-2121. Takeout and delivery menu online here. Delivery with UberEats.
Kibo, 533 Parliament The menu is listed online.
Peartree, 507 Parliament, (416) 962-8190. Pickup orders available from 12:30 to 10:30 pm - 15% discount. Menu on the website. Delivery orders through Uber Eats, Skip the Dishes, DoorDash and Foodora.
Salt & Tobacco, 521 Parliament, (647) 348-2993. Check out Facebook for menu, delivery and pickup details.
Johnny Gs, 478 Parliament, (647) 368-3866. Menu online here.
House on Parliament, 454 Parliament, (416) 925-4074. Takeout window at the front of the restaurant. Menu displayed beside the window. Tourtiere, pulled pork and meat pies are this week’s specials. Check Facebook for menu specials.
Tilted Dog, 424 Parliament, (416) 961-9425. Order from DoorDash for pickup and delivery from 2 to 9 pm, menu available on Facebook
Thai Room, 243 Carlton, (647) 352-8424. Menu, hours and pickup/delivery details are online.
China Gourmet, 235 Carlton, (416) 515-0088. Pickup and delivery - menu online here.
The Irv, 195 Carlton, (647), 350-4787. Takeout and delivery from 4 to 8 pm, menu available on Facebook.
Chew Chew Diner, 186 Carlton, (416) 924-7583. Take-out and delivery, 7 days a week from 9am to 3pm. Free delivery . Buy 1 get 1 free specials through UberEats, also available on DoorDash and Foodora.
Fusilli 531 Queen E, (416) 214-5148. For pickup, call the restaurant. Delivery with Skip The Dishes and DoorDash. Menu online here.
Mill Street Brew Pub, 21 Tankhouse Lane, Distillery, (416) 681-0338 ext 4. Open for takeout from noon to 9 pm. Beer and menu items available - menu is online here.
Sweet Escapes, 24 Tankhouse Lane, Distillery, (416) 214-2253. Order by 9 pm online for pickup from noon to 5 pm the next day.
MARCH & APRIL
THEATRE & DANCE PRODUCTIONS
Listed by starting dates.
Our theatres are now closed following directives from the City’s Public Health staff - Aki Studio, Alumni Theatre, Canadian Contemporary Dance Theatre, Canadian Stage, Citadel, School of Toronto Dance Theatre, Soulpepper, Toronto Dance Theatre.
CLUBS & PUBS – DAILY LISTINGS
THURSDAY MARCH 26 TO SUNDAY APRIL 5
Our restaurants and pubs are now offering only takeout and delivery services. Entertainment and special events have been cancelled until the COVID-19 shutdowns are over.
CONTACT INFO
ALICE'S PLACE
554 Parliament St, (647) 931-9088,
ARVO
17 Gristmill Lane, Distillery, (647) 352-2766
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
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
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