This week’s image: PearTree has set up its street patio - it’s part of the relaxing of COVID-19 restrictions on restaurants and pubs.
CABBAGETOWN NEIGHBOURHOOD
REVIEW
FEATURED LOCAL ARTISTS
July’s featured artist is David Brandy, an award-winning contemporary fine art photographer. He lives in Cabbagetown near Riverdale Park West. David comments about his photograph,
Winter Fog. “On Boxing Day morning, I was driving to the Beaver Valley area. It was a weird weather day, light snow and fog at the same time. That strange combination made for the ideal vista for this shot. This picture perfect fence line in a snow covered field drew a direct line to a tree hidden in the fog. Photography is often about being in the right place at the right time."Because his photos are intricate pieces, they don’t show well in the right hand column and they’re better displayed here. You can see this photo and several others on his website, click here.
A PERSONAL VIEW
Recent events in Ottawa involving WE Charity have resurrected local concerns about the lease between the Kielburger family and the City of Toronto for the property at 233 Carlton. This site is the City’s controversial selection for its future women’s respite centre.
In Ottawa, the scandal involving WE Charity is full of insider decisions and conflicts of interest. The same thing may well be happening here. The secrecy about the City’s real estate deals, the clumsy public relations manipulations from City Hall and the strange final choice - all of this raises lingering doubts about the selection of this site.
Furthermore, 233 Carlton itself is an oddball choice. It’s a commercial office building that has to be wrenched out of shape to fit a respite centre’s special needs. Its selection is a serious disruption of Cabbagetown’s small commercial district.
There are other eligible sites in our community that would be as good or better than this one. But we don’t know whether they were even considered. Discussions about alternatives have been shut right down.
Why did these extreme behaviours happen? Who benefits and why did it happen this way?
LOCAL NEWS
CafeTO
Several Cabbagetown area restaurants are using street level front patios. This is a special project with the City of Toronto. It allows restaurants to set up curbside tables until mid-November using physical distancing guidelines (2 metres between tables), hand sanitizers, masks and guidelines for movement between tables. The BIA has also asked that portable planters be placed at the ends of the street barriers. Cement barricades provide extra protection at the traffic end of each patio. The patio at the HoP covers several storefronts and serves the HoP and Saigon Pai as well as a seating area to be placed inside the barriers.
So far, PearTree (507 Parliament), F’Amelia (12 Amelia), Kingyo (51B Winchester), House on Parliament (454 Parliament), Saigon Pai (446 Parliament), Stout Irish Pub (221 Carlton) and Chew Chew (186 Carlton) have been approved. As times goes along, more restaurants might join the project.
Cabbagetown Farmers Market
This week at the Market, about a dozen vendors showed up - a couple of bakeries, eggs, maple syrup, cheese from Prince Edward County, Murray’s and of course, good fresh produce. Wineries have started to appear. This time, it was Frogpond Farm Winery from Niagara on the Lake. They have a nice crisp pinot grigio. The Market will continue every Tuesday from 3 to 7 pm until October. Winchester and Sumach.
Underpass Park Farmers Market
Corktown’s Underpass Park Market (29 Lower River Street) has opened. It operates every Thursday afternoon from 4 to 7:30 pm. A Cabbagetown favourite, Samsara Fields, Desbarres Chocolate and Brickworks Cider are among the vendors displaying their produce.
Riverdale Farm
Open daily from 9 am to 5 pm - free admission. There’s a one-way walking flow from the Riverdale Park entrance through to the exit onto Winchester. Winchester Street, east of Sumach in Riverdale Park.
Allan Gardens Conservatory
Daily visits from noon to 4 pm, free admission. There are one-way walking guides, lots of space for physical distancing and hand sanitizers. Wear your mask. To see what’s blooming, go to the Friends of Allan Gardens Facebook page. (Carlton and Jarvis)
Wading pools and splash pads
The wading pool in Riverdale Park West and the splash pads in Wellesley Park, Regent Park, Winchester Park and Sackville playground are all open, 9 am to 8:30 pm daily.
Swimming at Pam McConnell Aquatic Centre
The indoor facility at the Pam McConnell Aquatic Centre (640 Dundas E) reopened on Monday July 20. Open from 7 am to 7 pm Monday to Friday and noon to 4 pm on weekends.
Parliament Street Library
The drop box is open for returns 24/7. You can schedule a time to pick up book selections. Computer services are available. Open from 9 am to 8:30 pm, Monday to Friday and 9 am to 5 pm, Saturdays. Closed Sundays. 269 Gerrard E.
Community Centres
The community centres have reopened. Regent Park Community Centre (402 Shuter), the St Lawrence Community Recreation Centre (230 Esplanade) and the Wellesley Community Centre (490 Sherbourne) are all open from 7 am to 7 pm from Monday to Friday and noon to 4 pm on weekends.
Taste of Regent Park
Taste of Regent Park and 40 Oak Street are once again offering a free take-away meal once a week. Wednesdays from 6 to 7 pm.
DriveInTo at CityView Drive-in
CityView Drive-In (20 Polson) is a new venue for concerts and movies. It’s part of the City’s efforts to find reasonable ways for people to enjoy these events without exposure to COVID-19. The drive-in is located near the Rebel nightclub just north of Cherry Beach. NOW Magazine’s profile describes the program that’s being planned for the rest of the summer.
Oops!
Rick has sent along a photo taken at Riverdale Farm that tells it all - as he says, “He can’t read but his mother can.”
Cabbagetown Regent Park Museum Historical Tidbit
By Sally GibsonImage: Railway tragedy Toronto Star July 13, 1937
After a carefree July day playing along the Don River, 7-year old Betty
Louise Walls and bosom-buddy Eileen Duggan, both of Gerrard Street
East, were heading home. Despite signs that warned of the railway
bridge at the foot of Winchester Street, the girls – like numberless Cabbagetown kids before them – paid no attention and started across the big, iron bridge.
Before long and before evasive measures could be taken, a CNR Montreal flyer roared toward them. “The train rushed right at us,” the still-trembling Eileen told a Star reporter, “and bumped Betty on the back of the head and knocked her down and right in the water just as she was turning to run away.” Betty drowned, although the crack on the head would have been fatal. As for Eileen, “I held on to an iron thing under the bridge and the train didn’t hit me.”
The train stopped. “When Betty Louise was hit she gave an awful scream, and I was screaming, too. The man from the train ran over to me and he lifted me up on the bridge and carried me away.”
A terrible additional burden for the Walls family whose father had already been unemployed for two years during the Great Depression.
IN THE MEDIA
Kielburger real estate
Vanmala Subramaniam has written an article in the National Post describing the real estate dealings of WE Charity, ME TO WE and the Kielburger family. It’s a balanced view that covers both the concerns and the benefits surrounding these assets. Click here to read it.
Brian Lilley has written an article in the Toronto Sun looking at the complex real estate interests of the Kielburger family and WE Charity. Most of it was previously centred in Cabbagetown. Their current holdings are now focused on Queen and Parliament with additional condos in Regent Park and Toronto’s east end. Click here to read his column.
Margaret’s House projects
The lovely Victorian mansions at 13, 15, 17 and 19 Winchester Street east of Ontario are being renovated. They were previously used as rooming houses by Toronto Community Housing and they had fallen into considerable disrepair. Margaret’s House will use them as supportive housing for women - a major improvement for the neighbourhood. Click here to read Vanessa Quon’s Globe & Mail article.
BUSINESS NEWS
Soma Chocolate
Soma (55 Mill Street, Distillery) is reopening on Thursday July 23. The new hours while they gear up are Wednesdays to Sundays, noon to 8 pm. They still offer online shopping, curbside pickups and free delivery. There’s a small patio at the Distillery store and it’s open as well. Masks and sanitizers are mandatory.
Businesses are back
Revolt is opening its new hair salon at 244 Carlton. MHC, the vintage clothing store, has moved to a smaller location immediately next door at 553 Parliament. Deciem’s Abnormal Beauty Company (242 Carlton) has reopened. Spiritleaf is renovating its 238 Carlton Street store while it waits for its cannabis licence. The Little Cottage (307 Wellesley) is also waiting for a decision from the AGCO about its application for a cannabis licence.
RESTAURANT NEWS
Thanks from Haldi
Haldi (568 Parliament) experienced a break-in a few days ago. As always, this kind of event really hurts even if there isn't a lot missing. Devesh from Haldi wants to thank the community for encouraging and supporting him throughout this time -"Hey Cabbagetown folks,
We wanted to say thank you to all of you for the outpouring of support and love. It helped us get through the untoward situation we faced last week and in return, we would like to offer you a 15% discount off your complete order (valid from today until July 26th).Thank you all once again for your ongoing support. We look forward to serving you soon."
Picnic supplies
We’re all headed to the park these days for a fun picnic. If you need nifty equipment, check out Porter’s line of bowls, bottles and more at Spruce (455 Parliament). Then head off to Daniel et Daniel (248 Carlton) and fill up with one of their amazing picnic boxes.
This week at Peartree
This week’s specials at Peartree (507 Parliament) include balsamic black angus steak at $25.99, baked fillet of Arctic char with avocado mango salsa at $18.99 and chicken vindalho - Indian classic based on Portuguese dish at $18.99. Wash down your dinner with Jacob’s Creek Chardonnay or Shiraz for $5.50/glass or with Waterloo Dark, Mill Street Organic, Steamwhistle pilsner and Alexander Keith IPA at $5/pint. Free delivery on orders over $30 - call (416) 962-8190. For menu details, go to the website.
The patio at The Irv
Try their oysters and their ribs - all yummy. The patio is open daily from 11 am to 1 am. 195 Carlton.
Alice’s Place
Sit on the front porch and watch the whole world pass by. Alice has a cozy back patio too and it’s open daily as well, 3 pm to 2 am. 554 Parliament.
Cyril’s soups and juices
For Saturday, Cyril is making a mango cucumber gazpacho. Sweet yet refreshing because of the addition of lemon juice and rice vinegar, and loaded with flavour from cumin, coriander, paprika, jalapeno, cilantro, red onion… ($9 for 3 cups, $12 for 4 cups). His juice will combine cucumber with pineapple, mint and ginger. ($9 for 2 cups). Tuesday’s soup features pea, edamame and mint soup with the addition of a whole bunch of allium (leeks, onions...) as well as lemon juice - enjoy it hot or cold ($9 for 3 cups and $12 for 4 cups).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.
CONTACT INFO
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.
JULY & AUGUST 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 JULY 23 TO SUNDAY AUGUST 2
Our restaurants and pubs are opening partially with service available on outdoor patios as well as takeout and delivery services. Entertainment and special events have been cancelled until the COVID-19 shutdowns are over.
