June 11

This week’s image:  Quiet Streets - a bonus during the COVID shutdown.



CABBAGETOWN
NEIGHBOURHOOD 
REVIEW


FEATURED LOCAL ARTISTS

Every week, a new image in the right hand column highlights the work of a local artist.  
Rosie Shephard, our featured artist throughout June, was born and raised in Cabbagetown.   Her main media are watercolours, pencil/pen and digital photographs.  She sells prints of her original paintings and does commissions on request. She paints a range of subjects including residential houses, commercial buildings, landscapes, and gardens.
You can reach her online at her website.  

Quiet streets
Photo:  Keith Lawrance
The City has changed several local streets into shared spaces.  As Quiet Streets, they permit pedestrians to walk or run on them and they encourage bike traffic.  Local car traffic is slowed by barrels and signage.  Sumach, Sackville, Spruce, Bleecker, Howard, Winchester, Mill Street and The Esplanade are included.  Click here to see a map of the Quiet Streets routes.  

A PERSONAL VIEW

Video by Maia Sraga
Here’s an amazing bit of art.  Congrats to Maia for thinking of the story and then making her video.
She’s a grade 10 student at Western Tech and a resident on Cabbagetown’s Alpha Ave.  
She did her animation for her English class. Her teacher wanted her to create something of her own and then explore different ways to have it published. At the Cabbagetown Neighbourhood Review, we’re delighted to oblige her. She says that animated drawing is a fun thing that she enjoys doing in her spare time when she feels creative. 
It’s a really lovely piece - great artwork and colours and an engrossing story, all in one minute.  

COVID-19 NEWS

St James Town Storeys
St. James Town Storeys is a podcast about building community in Canada's densest and most diverse neighbourhood. 
The fifth episode in this series about coping with COVID in St. James Town is entitled “Agencies and volunteers respond to heightened food insecurity with donation and delivery of groceries to residents in need.” Grassroots groups, community agencies, and volunteers in and near St. James Town are responding to the needs of people facing challenges in shopping for groceries during the pandemic.

Townes’ masks
Townes is making beautiful non-medical face masks.  The proceeds from her sales are going to local agencies.   The Cabbagetown South Residents’ Association has an online story and links.  
If you want one (or more!), email her - $10 each.     

Thanks Cleo 
Cleo Pettigrew Brown is still doing her delivery service to help seniors and disabled people who are stuck in their homes during the COVID-19 shutdown.  So far, she’s made over 60 trips.
She picks up groceries and pharmacy items and delivers them at no charge. She leaves the delivery on the doorstep and collects payment from the mailbox.  For details, email her.

COVID-19 contact info
Toronto has a useful website with the latest information, resources and facts.  
Contact Public Health at the City of Toronto by telephone (416-338-7600) and email. 
Telehealth Ontario (1-866-797-0000).

LOCAL NEWS

Welcome back - Cabbagetown Farmer’s Market
The Market will open again on Tuesday June 16.  It’s an online shopping experience.  The website lists over twenty vendors and the products they’re selling - there’s lots of stuff from regular favourites and new vendors.  The online shop is open from Wednesday to Saturday.
Place your order by Saturday for pickup on the following Tuesday. Open from noon to 3 pm on the patio at the House on Parliament (424 Parliament).  
Click here to visit the Market shop.   

Pot news
The Little House (307 Wellesley)  - public consultations about the application for a pot store licence have now closed. The AGCO lists the file as “in progress”.  Informal comments indicate that a large number of nearby residents contacted the AGCO, most of them opposed to the application.  Councillor Kristyn Wong-Tam also wrote to them in opposition. You can find her letter online here.   
blogTO summarized the efforts to stop the licence for The Little House (307 Wellesley).  Click here to read it.  
Spiritleaf at 238 Carlton (in the former Mi Casa location) has applied for its licence.  Public consultations will continue until Thursday June 18.  
The AGCO pot store map - click here to see it.  

Planting on Drovers Lane
Photo: Louis-Philippe Rochon
The residents along Drovers Lane are serious about making it a more liveable space.  Louis-Philippe Rochon posted his photo on the Friends of Cabbagetown South Facebook page.

Congrats to Friends of Regent Park
Volunteers showed up last Saturday to clean up litter around Regent Park.  

233 Carlton
The conversion of this building into a women’s respite centre passed the City’s Committee of Adjustment in February.  Official notices about this decision have been sent out and dated June 3.  
The deadline for appeals to the Toronto Local Appeal Body is Tuesday June 23.  
The instructions and the forms needed to launch an appeal are available online here.  

Dora nominations for Soulpepper and Native Earth
Native Earth (Aki Theatre, Daniels Spectrum) has earned four Dora nominations for its play, “This is how we got here” - outstanding production, outstanding new play (Keith Barker), outstanding direction (Keith Barker) and outstanding scenic design (Shannon Lea Doyle). 
Soulpepper (50 Tank House Lane, Distillery) has received 24 nominations for the 2020 Dora Awards.  The Brothers Size received 8 nominations, Streetcar Named Desire got 6 nominations, Almighty Voice and His Wife got 5, August: Osage County got 2, Jesus Hopped the A Train got 2 and Betrayal got one. 

CPA Newsletter - Spring 2020
The popular semi-annual Newsletter from the Cabbagetown Preservation Association is now available online.  Normally, its print edition is delivered to your door by the CPA volunteers.  This issue covers Cabbagetown experiences in past endemics, gardening tips and photos from the Hidden Gardens & Private Spaces tours and renovations advice for heritage homes.  Click here to read it.   

Shuter Street reconstruction
Shuter Street between Bond and River will be rebuilt over the summer with construction starting in July. The bike lanes will be separated from the car traffic.  New parking areas will be built.  The work will be done in three phases - River to Sackville, Sackville to Sherbourne and Sherbourne to Bond.  The Cabbagetown South Residents Association has a good summary on its website.  

Oops
Bev Jenkins witnessed all of this on Winchester near Sackville last weekend.  After the tree fell onto the Steam Whistle truck, she was commiserating with the driver. Then the U Haul guy came along and drove right into it.  Thanks Bev for the photo.

Cabbagetown Regent Park Museum Historical Tidbit
Image:  Sir Henry Pellatt, 1905,  Internet Archive
Sir Henry Mill Pellatt is the well-known creator of Casa Loma, the 98-room baronial castle designed by old City Hall architect, E J Lennox. He and his wife lived there only briefly before his dramatic financial descent into poverty. 
Less well-known, however, is Pellatt’s connection with Cabbagetown.
In 1859, infant Harry emigrated with his family from England. The Pellatts lived at 30 Elm (now Carlton) Street and then moved to 141 Seaton Street.  They stayed there until Henry Pellatt Sr, who had established a very successful partnership with Edmund B Osler, moved to fashionable 319 Sherbourne Street. Young Henry remained there until he married in 1882. During his childhood, he likely explored his Cabbagetown environs including the Don River. 
In this cartoon from the 1905 Torontonians As We See ’Em, Pellatt strikes a pose in his Queen’s Own Rifle uniform, holds a strip of stockbroker’s ticker tape and displays a certificate from an electrical company that formed a prominent part of the fortune he amassed … and lost.

ANNOUNCEMENTS

Gardener needed
An award winning garden in Cabbagetown could now use some maintenance help.  If you are interested call Babs at(416) 763-2142 

COMING EVENTS

Cabbagetown Residents Association
The CRA will hold its annual meeting online.  It’ll be a ZOOM event - the agenda includes a summary of the past year, financial reports and an introduction to the new CRA Board members. 7 pm, Thursday June 11.  For the link and for more info, click here.   

Plant sharing day this weekend
The 2020 garden tour was cancelled because of the COVID-19 requirements.  So the Cabbagetown Preservation Association is organizing another way to enjoy your Spring garden.
Bring a plant to one of the drop-off spots - 89 Winchester, the southeast corner of Carlton and Sackville and Winchester Square Park (Aberdeen and Ontario).  Leave your plant and take another one home.  Sunday June 14, 10 am to 5 pm.  

Local street closures
It’s a fun bike ride - River Street down from Gerrard to Bayview is a great hill and Bayview is wide and easy to use.  
Closures include Bayview from Front Street north to the Rosedale Valley Road and River Street from Gerrard to Bayview will each be closed this weekend - from 6 am on Saturday to 11 pm on Sunday.  This will ease bike and pedestrian traffic on the Don River Trail.

Streetscapes in Bloom
Nominations for the annual award continue until Monday June 15.  The Cabbagetown Preservation Association holds this contest to highlight the neighbourhood’s great gardeners. 
The judges will visit the candidates four times throughout the Summer and early Fall.  The winner is announced at a presentation at the CPA’s Fall meeting and receives a medallion from Kitros Glass and a watercolour painting by Rosie Shephard.
To learn more and to submit a nomination, go to the CPA’s website.  

Keep your body tuned-up
Parliament Street Fitness (488 Parliament) has a YouTube channel with videos by its staff that will maintain your fitness programs - yoga, pilates and HIIT.  The instructors are doing their workouts from their homes.   Check them out regularly on the PSF Facebook page and start your own at-home stretches and poses.

IN THE MEDIA

Good news at Blooming Flower Bar
Anji says that her online business for Blooming Flower Bar (559 Parliament) has eased a lot of the stress that she’s experienced during the COVID-19 shutdowns.  She’s offering delivery services. Her floral bouquets and her happy hour bunches are all proving popular.  She earned a ranking in NOW Magazine’s article about Black-owned businesses to support in Toronto.  Click here for that story.   

KIDS STUFF

Summer Camps
The City of Toronto has announced that its summer camp program will open in July.  For more info and links, go to the City’s website.  

Thanks to Sprucecourt teachers and staff
Every year, the Sprucecourt School Council says “thanks” to the staff at a breakfast. This year’s “Thanks” will be digital - the Council is gathering photos from students and parents to use in a slide show that’ll be emailed out before the end of the year.
To participate, just click a picture of your child holding up a thank-you sign or drawing.  Email it before Wednesday June 17. 

Congrats to the Children’s Book Bank
The Children’s Book Bank (350 Berkeley) reopened this week. It’ll open on future Tuesdays and Wednesdays for the foreseeable future.  Staff will observe the protocols set out by the City and the Province to ensure that everyone is safe and the books are clean.

BUSINESS NEWS

Couch Surfing
You can now couch surf the brand new sofas at Kendall & Co (514 Parliament) or surf on their website for couches too! Kendall & Co has reopened, welcoming four customers in the store at one time. Open Tuesday to Saturday from noon to 5pm. 
Email shop@kendallandco.ca for an appointment for a private visit. 
You can also shop online from the comfort of your home.  Check out the creative items to entertain your family, a little self-care to lift your spirits and gift cards for the heroes in your lives. You’ll also find special deals on their website -  select rugs at up to 25% off and select floor model furniture at up to 60% off.  Choose “Pick Up” at check-out for free curbside delivery within Cabbagetown on most items.   https://kendallandco.ca       

The Distillery
The Distillery has published a list of the stores and restaurants that are open now and offer curbside services.  Click here to read it.  

RESTAURANT ANNOUNCEMENTS

Thanks to Morning Glory
Morning Glory (457 King), the little cafe at King and Gilead has closed.  

Welcome Maya Bay Thai Market
It takes courage to open a new restaurant in the middle of the COVID-19 lockdown.  It appears that the people backing Maya Bay (252 Carlton) have lots of it.  Signage has appeared in its windows and there are lots of boxes inside.  Something’s happening - more details will come when available.

Patio hours are coming
When restaurant rules ease up, patios will open first. The House on Parliament (454 Parliament) is getting its rooftop ready.  Open Tuesday to Friday from 4 to 8 pm and weekends from noon to 8 pm.  Menus are available daily online - click here.  

 The Tilted Dog
Photo:  Eric Morse
Tiffany, Sean and their friends are getting the pub ready for reopening.  What a relief - a lot of devoted regulars are getting very thirsty.  424 Parliament.
  
PearTree takeout specials  
Three specials this week at PearTree (507 Parliament). Black Angus steak with poutine and fresh veggies at $22.99.  Baked haddock and lemon garlic jumbo shrimp with fresh vegetables and your choice of rice or Yukon gold mashed potato at $16.99.  Cajun creole chicken spiced to taste mild, medium or hot, with fresh vegetables and rice at $15.99.
The full menu is available for take out and delivery.  Free delivery on orders over $30 - call  (416) 962-8190.  Pickup orders available from 12:30 to 10 pm.  You can also go to Uber Eats, Skip the Dishes and Door Dash.  For menu details, go to PearTree's website.   

F’Amelia  
Order a pizza kit and claim the credit for cooking it - Stagioni, Diavola or Margherita.  Salads, pizzas and pastas available for takeout.   Also available every day - order two pizzas and a bottle of Sangre de Toro Cabernet Sauvignon for $69.
Open Wednesday through Sunday.  Online line orders start at 2 pm.  Pick-up from 4 pm.  For menus and info, go to F'Amelia's website.  (416) 323-0666, 12 Amelia.  

Saturday at The Irv 
The Irv (195 Carlton) has great BBQ and cold drinks on Saturday from noon to 8 pm.  Call 647-350-4787 for pick-ups and delivery.  Menus and specials are listed online, click here.  

Breakfast at Stout 
Stout Irish Pub (221 Carlton) is offering a Full Irish Breakfast for pickup on Saturday and Sunday from noon to 4 pm.  Call or message - (647) 344-7676.  Add a mimosa.  Details on facebook. https://www.facebook.com/stoutirishpubto/ 
Open now for pickups 7 days a week.  Monday to Thursday 4 to 8 pm and Friday, Saturday and Sunday from noon to 8 pm.  

Cyril’s soups and juices
Cyril’s soup for Saturday will be suited to a cooler night, lemon-orzo-dill, with either chicken or shredded tofu.  3-cup size for $9 (tofu) and $12 (chicken) and 4-cup size for $12 (tofu) and $16 (chicken).  His juice will scream “summer”, strawberry and watermelon with a squeeze of lime: $9 for a 2-cup container.
He makes two soups every week - on Tuesday and Saturday. He informs people about his menus in advance by email. He usually prepares a regular version and vegan one. Email him to get all the details about each day’s menus as well.

JUNE 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 JUNE 11 TO SUNDAY JUNE 21

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