This week’s image: The Cabbagetown Short Film Festival is booked and ready - it’s going online.
CABBAGETOWN NEIGHBOURHOOD
REVIEW
FEATURED LOCAL ARTIST
Betty White
Betty is a Cabbagetown artist who’s lived here since 1984. She’s our featured artist through August. Click on the image to enlarge it. Click here to visit Betty’s website.
“We are both humans and animals and there is no contradiction between the two.”
Gina Dineen’s plans for the Film Festival are settled and she’s ready to go. Program announcements are on her website along with info about ordering tickets and prices. Gina is organizing the Film Festival by switching it to an online event. Your ticket will allow you to watch the films on Wednesday September 9, Thursday September 10 and Friday September 11. Or you can watch all of them in one big binge.
A PERSONAL VIEW
It’s been a landmark week for me.
First of all, I had a really good lunch with a friend at the House on Parliament. Lunch there is usually good but this time, it was special - a chance to sit on a patio outside a restaurant and gossip. It’s been a long time since that happened and I’ve been getting stale and cranky.
Then, amazingly, I had a haircut. My first since January. When my hair gets long, I start to look like a distracted, slightly nutty professor - like Marty McFly’s pal, Doc Brown. Now, I’m all spiffy and proud of it.
COVID-19 hasn’t gone away. But a lunch and a haircut somehow make life more liveable. I’m still wearing my mask, walking out onto the street when another person approaches on the sidewalk and trying to respect the limits needed to enter a store. This stuff is confining but it’s basically easy. Maybe, at my age, I’m finally getting smart.
KEEPING THE FESTIVAL ALIVE
Cabbagetown Short Film Festival
You can also catch the trailers on the website.
Buy yours now - and make a donation to help it to continue in the future. Click here for tickets and the list of films.
This will be the 41st year for this remarkable event. Organizers are looking at ways to do an online “race”. It sounds really imaginative - once the details are cleared up, there’ll be more announcements.
Blair’s Run
Here’s the first step. Save the date - the weekend of September 11 to 13.
Second, team captains should contact Brenda Brown McNee. Let the committee know whether you can help. Volunteers are needed for social media, flyer deliveries and mapping the routes.
The daycare centre at Amelia and Sackville has received approval from the Toronto Local Appeal Body in a decision issued on Thursday August 13. The property owner, Robert Ulicki, was refused approval by the City’s Committee of Adjustment in April 2018. At that time, the issue divided the community and drew attention from media across Toronto. He persisted and TLAB member Stan Makuch agreed with him.
Your ideas are welcome - more to come soon.
LOCAL NEWS
Daycare gets approved
This is an interim decision. Mr Ulicki now has until December 2021 to get an operating partner, devise a street parking plan for the site and get a provincial license.
This decision involves only the use of the homes as potential daycare centres. The operating plan for the daycare centre itself - including the number of children that it can enrol - still must go through various regulatory stages at the Province of Ontario.
Patios on the street
The Cabbagetown BIA is proudly showing off the roadside patios scattered through the neighbourhood. Participating restaurants include Chew Chews Diner (186 Carlton), Stout Irish Pub (221 Carlton), Kingyo (51B Winchester), F’Amelia (12 Amelia), Saigon PAI (446 Parliament), House on Parliament (454 Parliament) and Peartree (507 Parliament).
The BIA organized the fencing, the umbrellas and the banners on each patio. Some of the longer patio areas include a “parklet” where the public can sit down for a few minutes. The patios are the perfect opportunity to enjoy fine food while keeping your safe distances.
The before-and-after photos show how the BIA contributed to the project.
They’re part of the CafeTO program from City Hall. Great idea - thanks.
Enforcement officers will be back at midnight on Friday August 14. You’ll need an on-street permit if you plan to park overnight.
Parking permits and traffic info
The Don Valley Parkway will be closed from the Gardiner in the south to Highway 401 in the north. From 11 pm on Friday August 14 to 5 am on Monday August 17. If it rains, the date will move to the next weekend, August 21 to 24. It’s time for the DVP’s annual clean-up.
233 Carlton
If the City can successfully claim that it’s acting within the narrow confines of the Committee of Adjustment ruling, then the renovations will continue.
Howard’s appeal goes beyond the narrow facts presented at the Committee of Adjustment. If his comments are accepted by the Toronto Local Appeal Body, then the conversion must stop until his argument is heard and settled. He isn’t concerned about garbage bins at the rear or other minor facade adjustments. His case is based on his interpretation of the City’s Official Plan, his view of the zoning bylaws, his claim that the conversion is not minor and his comment that the conversion is not a desirable use of the land.
His appeal has been filed at TLAB. A hearing date has not been scheduled yet.
Gerrard Street Beer Store - 227 Gerrard E
In the meantime, the developer is trying to sell the property. That sale will include the various approvals that have been reached so far. Any additional changes required by a new owner will be assessed by the City planners to determine whether they need a new cycle of consultations and approvals.
Photo: Waterfront Toronto
T3 Bayside
In late July, Waterfront Toronto announced that Hines, an international real estate developer, had started Phase One in the T3 Bayside project. The name reflects the emphasis in the development - Timber, Talent and Technology. The building will be constructed using an innovative and highly sustainable mass timber structure. It will contain over 250,000 square feet of office space.
When the Bayside district is finished, it’ll include two million square feet of new residential housing - market condominiums and affordable housing - along with modern office space, shopping and restaurant destinations and cultural venues. Tridel is Hines’ partner in the residential developments.
Photo: Waterfront Toronto
Congrats Waterfront Toronto
Ten years ago on August 9 2010, Waterfront Toronto opened its Sugar Beach park. It comes complete with sand, pink umbrellas, big chairs and beautiful views. Freighters regularly dock at Redpath Sugar across the quay.
The Canadian Contemporary Dance Theatre (509 Parliament) is accepting registrations for in-studio classes that start in September. Space is limited due to reduced class sizes - register now to ensure a spot in your preferred classes. Rigorous protocols have been put in place to protect the health and safety of all students and staff.
In-studio classes
The expert faculty seeks to make an art of the natural joy of movement found in every child, providing a unique alternative to competition-based training. Children's classes offered include RAD Ballet, Limón Modern, as well as Creative Movement, Jazz, Musical Theatre, and Hip Hop.
All-level Adult Modern is also offered this fall.
Watch the outdoor movies from the comfort of your home. This year, the Regent Park Film Festival’s program is online. Every Wednesday at 7 pm. On August 19, it’s the animated drama Murai and August 26, Dark City Beneath the Beat. It’s free but you need to register here.
Please visit the website to learn more.
COMING EVENTS
Under the Stars
We were. We are. We will be.
Local farmers markets
The Cabbagetown Market (Riverdale Park, Winchester and Sumach) continues every Tuesday from 3 to 7 pm until October. The Underpass Park Farmers Market (29 Lower River Street) operates every Thursday afternoon from 4 to 7:30 pm
Once again offering a free take-away meal once a week. Wednesdays from 6 to 7 pm in Regent Park (620 Dundas E).
CityView Drive-In (20 Polson) is a new venue for concerts and movies. Check out the website for info and tickets.
Taste of Regent Park
CityView Drive-in
IN THE MEDIA
BBQ on the waterfront
BUSINESS NEWS
Yes, Kendall is open!
They have a new collection of wool rugs, vinyl floor mats, wallpaper and Canadian-made furniture. Nothing can slow down the talented and creative people at your local design shop. Open Tuesday to Saturday, noon to 5 pm.
I met a neighbour yesterday and bragged about my haircut. He knew exactly what I was feeling. He was just coming home after his first trip to the gym at PSF (488 Parliament). The gym is open now with shortened hours - weekdays 7 am to 7 pm and weekends 9 am to 5 pm. Great times.
Check out Kendall's online shop.
Parliament Street Fitness
Fair Trade Jewellery
Congrats Anji
RESTAURANT NEWS
DOVA is getting ready
Outdoors at Fusilli
F’Amelia
Terroni Sud Forno Produzione
This week at Peartree
Its customers have commented how much they like the back patio.
On Saturday August 15, Cyril is making peach, thyme and tomato soup (3 cups for $9 and 4 cups for $12) and a kiwi berry juice (2 cups for $9).
Cyril’s soups and juices
He plans to skip Tuesdays for the summer and make one soup each week for Saturday.
Email him to get all the details about each day’s menus.
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.
