This week’s image: We love the folks who do this!
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. As an artist she’s worked in a number of media, including wood and metal sculpture, print making and drawing. She’s participated in numerous group shows and several solo exhibitions. She’s currently teaching at the School of Design at George Brown College and her duties there leave little time for making art. She still finds inspiration in the local landscape.
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. As night images, they are necessarily dark. But the city is never completely dark and there is still a wide range of colour to see if you look long enough.”
Sumach & Spruce
Oil, pastel and guache on paper, 24” by 26”, 2016.
LOCAL NEWS
Restoring The Winchester
The rooftop cupola has been installed on The Winchester (Parliament and Winchester). It’s been missing for decades. The building owners created a replica and the finishing work is underway now. It gives the building a commanding look, the kind that must have dominated the neighbourhood in the late 19th century. (Photo: John McLeod).
Generators at 280 Wellesley E
Two big generator trucks are parked in front of 280 Wellesley E. Queries at the Management Office were not answered. One resident reports that a fire happened in the building in August. The trucks are supplying power while that damage is repaired. In the meantime, she has no heat in her apartment. She’s been told that the repairs will be finished and the heat restored on Friday December 4.
Congrats Marilyn
Marilyn Marshall has earned the 2020 Recognition Award from the Cabbagetown Preservation Association. She certainly deserves both this award and our heartfelt thanks for her efforts. She’s been deeply involved with the community for a very long time - in Blair’s Run, the Cabbagetown Youth Centre, the BIA, the Tour of Homes and on parent councils at Sprucecourt and Winchester schools. Click here to read the citation from the CPA.
The Toronto Miracle
Update - over 250 pounds of food has been collected by Saturday afternoon. On Saturday morning, December 5 volunteers gathered up food donations for the food banks at Council Fire (439 Dundas E) and Allan Gardens (St Luke’s Church, 353 Sherbourne). The Toronto Miracle is being organized across the city in 140 neighbourhoods. It’s entirely volunteer driven.
Deck the Holidays
Photo: the window at 419 Parliament. The Cabbagetown BIA is decorating the shopping area to create holiday magic. It organized five displays in store windows along Parliament Street - at 419, 495, 527 and 557. Check out the lights in the garden boxes beside the TD Bank at Carlton and Parliament. And glance up at the light posts along the street - the Christmas bouquets have been installed.
Holiday giveaways
The BIA is giving away five prizes every week over Christmas as part of its Deck The Holidays celebration. To enter, share your holiday photos. Tag @cabbagetown_bia on Instagram and Facebook and add the hash tag #decktheholidays.
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 - it must be the lockdown but it’s obvious that 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 all the details.
Neighbours Helping Neighbours
Update - over $12,000 has been raised so far. Six local associations have joined together with Dixon Hall in a Christmas fundraiser to address food insecurity in our neighbourhood. This problem is urgent and it’ll get worse over the winter. Dixon Hall has a long history helping to deliver food to seniors, unemployed people and other vulnerable families in Cabbagetown, Regent Park and St James Town. The campaign is called Neighbours Helping Neighbours. Click here to learn more and to find the link for your donation.
Donate to our schools
Across Toronto, local communities donate extra funds to their schools to enrich their programs. This year, it’s a lot tougher - fundraisers have been cancelled because of COVID restrictions. You can help our schools by making an online gift. Visit the Toronto District School Board’s website and select your school - Lord Dufferin, Nelson Mandela, Rose Avenue, Sprucecourt and Winchester are all in our neighbourhood.
Ice rink in Cabbagetown
Trish Finkelstein is organizing people who want a skating rink this winter in the neighbourhood. She’s researched the idea and she’s now recruiting more people to work on the rink throughout the season. She hopes to have the final details ready next week. Email Trish if you’d like to join the group.
Pots and pans for little kids
Lindsay Matheson is collecting wooden spoons, spatulas, old pots and pans - it doesn’t matter if they’re banged up. She’ll use them in a mud kitchen for Kindergarten kids at Sprucecourt School. Email her and she’ll pick them up.
Flu shots
Both our local Rexall (539 Parliament) and Shoppers Drug Mart (467 Parliament) report that small shipments are arriving weekly without prior notice. Two other neighbourhood Shoppers stores (565 Sherbourne and 593 Dundas E) are also getting limited supplies each week. These are the regular vaccines, not the seniors’ dose. If you’re already registered at Rexall, the pharmacist will call you. Shoppers is not making telephone calls. Both stores also say that the chain’s website is accurate. Pharmasave (290 Shuter) still has supplies of the vaccine - call to check at (647) 352-2252.
FreshCo toy drive
FreshCo (325 Parliament at Dundas) is holding a toy drive between Sunday December 6 and Sunday December 13. Bring a new, unwrapped toy to the store and it’ll be forwarded to the toy drive at Fire Station 325.
Green Thumbs Growing Kids
GTGK supports three school gardens in Cabbagetown and St James Town and assists with another in Regent Park and the Children’s Garden in Allan Gardens. Their normal fundraising has been cancelled by the COVID restrictions and it’s now online. Your donation ensures that children get connected with their food through their own gardening experiences. Click here for more info and to make your donation.
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.
Skating rinks
Riverdale Park East, Regent Park and Sherbourne Common are now open from 10 am to 10 pm daily. 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.
ANNOUNCEMENTS
Apartment for rent
Hilary Browning at Sage Real Estate (538 Parliament) has a special offer on behalf of a special client.
Exclusive opportunity to rent the top floor of a Cabbagetown mansion. Loads of character and light in this 2 bedroom suite with a west-facing balcony overlooking downtown. Enjoy living in the heart of the neighbourhood and steps from Riverdale Park. Available January 1st for $2,000/mo. Please email Hilary for more information.
Kittens
Lisa on Sword Street has two really cute little guys looking for a home. They’re bonded and they should go together. If you’re interested, email her.
COMING EVENTS
Waterfront Toronto virtual meeting
Live meeting - Friday December 4, 2:30 to 4:30 pm. Learn about the status of the Port Lands project. Waterfront Toronto is holding a public meeting online to bring you up-to-date about its construction progress, the final designs for the river valley and parks and an update about changes to the public realm. The first hour will cover presentations on the project and the second hour will be devoted to your questions. Details about the schedule and the presentations are available online.
Children’s Book Bank
Even though the store (350 Berkeley at Gerrard) is closed for COVID lockdown, it’s still giving away books to kids who want them. On December 9 from noon to 5 pm, the Walk-Up Window will be open. Kids can tell the staff person about the books they want and they’ll be delivered to the window.
Wintersong
Canadian Contemporary Dance Theatre (509 Parliament) presents WINTERSONG – dances for a sacred season. It’s an evening of virtual dances old and new. The program features two World Premiere short dance films, an inside peek at what it's like dancing with CCDT's company during a global pandemic, iconic repertoire highlights and a whole lot more! This heart-warming holiday event is live-streaming to viewers around the globe on Saturday December 12. Make your evening extra special with the Dinner & Dancing upgrade, adding gourmet pizza kits delivered to your home by local caterer Gusto 54! Go online for more information and to purchase tickets.
IN THE MEDIA
Deck the Holidays
Breakfast Television on CityTV ran a video feature about Deck the Holidays - the window displays done for the Cabbagetown BIA’s Christmas season. Click here to watch it.
Dave LeBlanc’s favourites
Dave LeBlanc writes the “Architourist” column in the Globe & Mail. In late November, he described the places in Toronto where he would take visitors - and Cabbagetown was his #1 destination. Click here for his article. (Photo: Globe & Mail)
BUSINESS NEWS
Shop Wonderkind
Shawna Pereira has a gift catering service based on Canadian-made products from companies founded by women. She’s using four nifty ways for you to create your gift. You can answer a quiz and she’ll build your gift accordingly. Or you can send a gift code and let your lucky loved one take the quiz. Or you can select a pre-tailored set. Or you can call her and talk it over. She’s gathered up lovely gifts for your Wonderkind Surprise. Free porch deliveries in Cabbagetown. Check out her gift sets (and she can include alcohol in your package) on her website and start your order today.
Shop online with KENDALL & Co
Holiday Shop 24/7 on their website. Browse under “Holiday” at the top main menu or use the search bar to find what you are looking for. Or simply call 416.363.9914, Email with your inquiries. More goodies will be added to their website in the coming days and new arrivals are now here. So check back on their website, Facebook @kendallandcodesign and Instagram @kendallandcoca for updates. Curbside pick-ups Tuesday to Saturday Noon to 5 pm. They also offer worldwide delivery and FREE delivery in Cabbagetown. While you are on their website, learn about their Made in Canada Furniture, Reupholstery Service, Fair Trade Area Rugs, Vinyl Floor Mats, Custom Drapery and Wallpaper. The team at KENDALL & Co is here to help and offer creative solutions whether it is shopping for Christmas or for your home. They are pretty great at being creative as their Christmas Shop Window demonstrates year after years. 514 Parliament.
Distillery’s Toronto Winter Village
Check out the Winter Village Holiday Gift Guide. The Distillery’s stores are offering curbside sales and this guide is a handy catalogue of their specials.
RESTAURANT NEWS
Takeout Tuesday from the Cabbagetown BIA
Mr Jerk (209 Wellesley St E), “If you know them, you love them… Mr Jerk is all about layering Jamaican and Caribbean flavours and traditional cooking techniques. Jerk chicken/pork, patties, curries and stews...Mr Jerk carries a wide range of dishes! Your biggest challenge will be deciding what you want to try!”
Pies from The Tilted Dog
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) are all available. If you’re hungry and want your pie now, just ask and Tiffany will get it for you! Open Tuesday to Friday from 3 to 8 pm and weekends from 1 to 8 pm. (416) 961-9425). 424 Parliament.
Daniel et Daniel joins Suppli
The food shop at Daniel et Daniel (248 Carlton) now offers Suppli reuseable containers for their takeout service. When you place your order, ask for Suppli containers. Click here to see how the system works - November 17 on Facebook.
Peartree’s specials are back
This week’s specials at Peartree (507 Parliament) are classic pepper steak at $21.99, New Zealand white fish and jumbo shrimps at $19.99 and Mediterranean chicken fusilli at $18.99. The regular menu is also available. Pick-up or free delivery (Skip the Dishes). Check Peartree's website for menu and ordering details.
District Pizza
A new pizza store has opened in the Distillery. District Pizza (32 Gristmill Lane) has 13” and 16” pies, wings and dips. Pick-ups and deliveries (Uber Eats). Details are online on its 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.
Cranberries’ daily takeout menu
Every day, Cranberries (601 Parliament) offers new specials for take-outs along with its regular menu. Call (416) 925-6330.
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.
