This week’s image: Beautiful front lawn decorations.
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…”
Side light Spruce Street
Oil pastel and guache on paper 18.5”x 2s”, 2016
LOCAL NEWS
Best wishes, Anita
Anita Quidangen was the first person in Ontario to receive the Pfizer vaccine. She had her shot just before noon on Monday. She’s a personal support worker at the Rekai Centre (345 Sherbourne) since 1988. She’s been doing double shifts during the COVID outbreak. (Photo: Frank Gunn, Canadian Press)
Regent Park update
Toronto Community Housing has announced that Tridel will build stages 4 and 5 in Regent Park. Three companies, including the Daniels Corporation, Capital Developments and Tridel, had bid for the work. Daniels built stages 1, 2 and 3 - the final block of Stage 3 is located at Parliament and Gerrard and the work there is just beginning. Stages 4 and 5 (the coloured areas on the map) run east to River, south from Gerrard to Oak. The news release from TCHC is online here. Urban Toronto has a factual account of the bidding process and the remaining construction work. (Map: TCHC)
233 Carlton - urgent action requested
The Cabbagetown Coalition is a group that’s formed to oppose the conversion of 233 Carlton into a women’s respite centre. It launched an appeal of the zoning approvals at the Toronto Local Appeal Body (TLAB). The hearing will happen on January 27 but an important deadline happens on Friday December 18. Anyone who wants to present evidence at the hearing must first submit the Party Witness Statement Form 12 no later than 11:59 pm on Friday December 18. If that Form is not filed, you may not be allowed to speak or present evidence. The Form involves several steps and the Coalition has listed useful tips for handling all of this - email them and ask for a copy of their recommendations.
Updates about the Parliament Street rooming houses
Dixon Hall has taken over the buildings at 502 - 508 Parliament from Toronto Community Housing. Plans for restoring them are now being finished with ERA Architecture and ARUP Engineering. Consultations have been ongoing with the community and tenants. Construction will start later in the winter for occupancy in the Fall. The finished units will include individual bathrooms, access to laundry, amenity spaces for social services and healthy food.
Winchester Park community skating rink
Amazing work - thanks, Trish! Trish Finkelstein has approvals from the City of Toronto to build a community skating rink in Winchester Park (Ontario and Prospect). The Parks Department has prepared the water source. She’s located a storage spot for the hoses and tools needed for the rink. She has enough hay bales for the seating area and old rug runners to use as walking paths. She also wants to host a skate exchange in late January or February - if you have any skates to donate, please drop them off on her porch at 138 Amelia. If you want to volunteer for this project, please email her.
And wow, thanks Mark!
Mark Michelin from St Jamestown Steak & Chops (516 Parliament) has funded the full price for a 25’ by 50’ community ice rink in Winchester Park. The equipment has been ordered and should be here in early January.
A Cedar Solstice celebration
The Grade 1 and 2 kids in Winchester School (15 Prospect) decorated the cedar tree in the schoolyard. It’s not an ordinary event. They made the decorations - they glued wood pieces together to make snowmen, created strings of red cranberries and made pine cone elves. They made suet and seeds for the birds. Micah from Green Thumbs, Growing Kids made cedar tea and told them how it helped Indigenous people and early settlers. He explained how cedar trees are “Trees of Life”, cleaning the air, providing protection and saving lives. The kids circled the tree and gave it their thanks. Then the decorating bedlam started and Winchester’s ragged cedar tree became a Solstice tree of life.
Deck the Holidays
The windows at 557 Parliament were decorated by local designer James Davie. He says, “After the year we’ve all had in 2020, my inspiration was to create something that evoked some hope for the new year 2021….like a flicker of light in the cold and the dark of night.” This window is part of the Cabbagetown BIA’s Christmas decorations along Parliament.
City of Toronto skating rinks
Riverdale Park East, Regent Park and Sherbourne Common are now open from 10 am to 10 pm daily. Change rooms and lockers are closed. There’s a 25-person limit for the rinks. You can make a reservation and confirm that the rinks are open at the City’s website.
CHRISTMAS SEASON SPECIAL EVENTS
Hope Tree at Qi Sushi
This tree was put up on the sidewalk outside Qi Sushi (358 Gerrard E). The owner writes on Facebook, “ As I see people walking by smiling, I thought I could brighten the day with a Christmas tree. I was told by all the people in that area this is dangerous and that someone would steal it. And yet, with faith in my message I put my "Hope Tree for Crazy World" up on Nov 17 2020. 1 month has passed. Not one ornament has been stolen, and the tree still stands bright at night… "Hope Tree for my beautiful Neighbourhood", in this time of hardships globally, I want to always thank you and hope that you all have what we can salvage, a happy holidays…”
Blooming Flower Bar
Anji’s holiday centre pieces are ready for delivery - order yours online. Call her anytime at (647) 350-8076. Curbside pickups from 9 am to 1 pm and 5 to 6 pm or by appointments. 559 Parliament.
Cabbagetown Christmas cards
This week’s features are from Nusaybah and Aisha. The Cabbagetown Residents Association has organized a Christmas card contest at Sprucecourt School. Kids design cards and the winning entries are used to send Christmas greetings to residents in the area. This year, over 200 kids from all grades participated. Four winners and twelve runner-ups were selected. You can see the winning entries at Epicure (473 Parliament).
Storefronts
Local businesses do a spectacular job with their front windows. This week’s feature is Spruce (455 Parliament).
Christmas lights contest
The Cabbagetown Residents Association is running its sixth annual Christmas lights contest. It’s going to be a tougher competition this year - people are starting early and really getting into the spirit. Nominate your neighbours (or yourself!). The contest continues to Saturday December 26. Everyone is welcome to vote - voting starts on December 14. Check the CRA website for photos of the nominees and all the voting details.
SUPPORT OUR COMMUNITY
Support Green Thumbs Growing Kids
GTGK is a local charity that creates and manages gardens at Sprucecourt, Winchester and Rose Avenue schools. It helps with another garden at Nelson Mandela Park School. Check it out online and make a donation to support its work.
Sandwiches needed
Victoria Hadden is looking for a volunteer to make sandwiches for Dixon Hall. It’s part of the Aberdeen Ave Residents Group’s ongoing project - they do this every week. If you can make ten or more sandwiches, contact Michael Guenther by email.
Double your gift
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.
COMING EVENTS
Tai chi by Zoom
Michael White is offering his Tai Chi via Zoom through the winter at 10 am every Monday and Thursday. Email him to get the contact links.
IN THE MEDIA
Private security in Sherbourne-Dundas area
Local residents have organized a GoFundMe campaign to pay for security guards to patrol their neighbourhood. As the campaign describes, these security guards will discourage trespassing and break-ins, aid people in distress with CPR and First Aid and alert the police and paramedics. They’ve contracted with Primary Defense Corp to patrol Berkeley, Milan, Poulette, Ontario and Seaton. They’ve raised over $2,300 from twelve donors by Thursday morning - enough to pay for ten nights at $205 per night. The first goal is $10,000 for two random nights each week for six months, then $15,990 for three nights over six months and ultimately $75,000 for seven nights per week for year. Check out the blogTO story by Lauren O’Neil.
Bike racks in Regent Park
The Daniels Corporation installed sidewalk bike racks that worry the cycling community. The racks are fastened to the sidewalks with heavy duty screw bolts. Unfortunately, the bolts are vulnerable to thieves with concrete saws or grinders. blogTO has a story about the ongoing controversy. (Photo: Cycling in Toronto)
CHRISTMAS DINNERS
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 and pickup (no deliveries) from 5 to 9 pm on December 25.
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)
Traditional four-course Christmas dinner - $45 person, minimum two portions. Details and order info are online. Order by noon on December 22 for pickup or local delivery on December 24.
DOVA (229 Carlton)
Dinner for four - $220. The main course is a wood fired, slow cooked roast beef, bell peppers, herbed potatoes & fondo bruno sauce. For starters there’s fried and roasted squash, cauliflower and Sicilian olives and penne pasta and for dessert tiramisu. Pickup only (no delivery) at DOVA. Your order deadline is Friday December 18 - (416) 901-3501.
F’Amelia (12 Amelia)
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. Order by December 21 for pickup on December 23 - phone (416) 323-0666 or email.
House on Parliament (454 Parliament)
Three course meal. Start with white onion soup. Roast turkey with apple, sage and sausage stuffing, mashed potatoes, french beans, carrots, cranberry and orange relish and thyme and brandy gravy. Sticky toffee pudding for dessert. $36 per person. Pre-order by December 23. Ready for pickup after 2 pm on December 24. Call (416) 924-4074 to order.
The Irv (195 Carlton)
A full dinner, $32. Pickups on Thursday December 24 and Friday December 25, from 1 to 3 pm. Order by email before December 20.
Noushe (200 Carlton)
A four course feast - $195 for two and $295 for four. The main course includes turkey breast stuffed with Italian sausage, prunes, butternut squash and seasoning, and wrapped in bacon. Mashed potatoes, beet salad with fresh herbs and feta, rice with cranberries, orange and carrots, green beans and carrots and quinoa salad. There’s also an appetizer, a soup starter and dessert. Deliveries on December 23 or 24 - ready to be heated and enjoyed. Special house selections of wine also available. Details and order info online here.
The Tilted Dog (424 Parliament)
Order your scrumptious Christmas pies now - tourtiere (large $25), turkey pot pie (large $30 and small $10) and shepherd’s pie (large $30 and small $10). (416) 961-9425).
RESTAURANT NEWS
Lobster kits
The Irv (195 Carlton) has vacuum packed lobster kits available on Friday December 18 only. Each kit serves four. Lobster roll mix, four fresh white lobster roll buns and four bags of Lay’s chips. $59. Pick-ups from 4:30 to 8:30 pm on Friday and deliveries between 10 am and 2 pm on Friday. Email your order.
Cranberries daily specials
Cranberries’ website lists the daily specials - check it out here. 601 Parliament.
New features at The Paintbox
The Paintbox (555 Dundas E) has a new menu featuring its Chef Pop-up specialty sandwiches, homemade soups and bistro items - available for pick-ups or UberEats delivery. And don’t forget about Nibbly, the online grocery store. Open Monday to Friday, noon to 7 pm.
Peartree’s specials
This week’s specials at Peartree (507 Parliament) are T-bone steak with garlic lobster tail at $25.99, spinach and goat cheese stuffed fillet of sole at $17.99 and chicken and shrimp fusilli with lemon white wine sauce at $17.99. The regular menu is also available. Pick-up or free delivery (Skip the Dishes). Check the website for menu and ordering details.
Stout’s pantry & bottle shop
Stout Irish Pub (221 Carlton) has fresh produce, sandwich kits, cans, grains and meat. You can also order baskets filled with Louis Cifer beer, snacks, glassware and $5 gift cards - $20 to $60. Order from Door Dash or from Stout’s website.
F’Amelia’s meals for home
Take the stress out of cooking with F’Amelia’s daily takeout specials. $45 for 2, $85 for 4. And order up one of F’Amelia’s wines for a complete treat. 12 Amelia. Call (416) 323-0666 or order online.
Cyril’s soups
Cyril will be offering his soups on his “by-request” system until January. He’s got a list of available recipes - 72 different varieties. Choose those that you want and tell him whether you plan to freeze them. Tell him your specific target date. He’ll schedule his deliveries and let you know when to expect him. For your minimum order - two large ($12 vegetarian and $15 meat option/each) or three small ($9 vegetarian and $12 meat option/each). Email him for the list of soups and for your orders.
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.
