This week’s image: The Tilted Dog will close on December 31. It’s a Cabbagetown landmark and it will be missed.
CABBAGETOWN NEIGHBOURHOOD
REVIEW
FEATURED ARTIST
Ray Prince
Ray passed away in October 2020 after living in his Cabbagetown home for over 50 years. He was an accomplished woodworker and turner. He sourced his wood from reclaimed material as much as possible and frequently used exotic species that he had found beautiful in both texture and form. He leaves behind an incredible body of work including intricate bowls, boxes and sculptures. For over twenty years, he was a member of the group that organized the annual Cabbagetown Art & Crafts show in Riverdale Park. He left a bursary in his name, awarded annually to the most accomplished woodworker at the Festival each fall.
A PERSONAL VIEW
Too much salt
Every dog owner knows that the City of Toronto throws down far too much salt onto our roads and sidewalks. Take a look at three examples.
LOCAL NEWS
A sad closure
The Tilted Dog (424 Parliament) will close permanently after December 31. Its owners are offering it for sale. Mainly, “The Dog” was home to good companionship. I remember walking in the door and always seeing the familiar faces of my friends. For me, it was the place where we went for early morning Olympic hockey broadcasts and World Cup soccer games. You could join the Christmas carol singing, even if you couldn’t hold a tune. It’ll be missed. Thanks to Tiffany and Sean for creating a classic pub and best wishes to them for their future projects.
Nearby residents were surprised to see demolition crews back at The Foundry site earlier this month. The buildings that were destroyed in the past few days were scheduled for eventual destruction but this step is earlier than planned. The warehouse, the office building and a connecting building have been taken down. The north side of the machine shop is also down. Toronto’s Heritage Preservation Services says that these steps conform to the agreement reached with the community in August but the timing is very sudden.
Check out Friends of the Foundry Facebook page. It lists day-by-day details of the current demolition. The photos from October also show dramatic pictures of the interior rooms. The group’s website gives details of the agreement reached last August for the district’s preservation.
In late November, Helen was given the 2021 Recognition Award by the Cabbagetown Preservation Association. Her long list of contributions includes serving as the Chair of the CPA, organizing the bi-annual Tour of Homes and the Hidden Gardens & Private Spaces tour. She planned and set up the Streetscapes in Bloom program. Her Carolling for Cans initiative raised thousands of dollars and gathered thousands of pounds of food for local food banks every Christmas. She has been a leader and a helper in the Cabbagetown Preservation Association for over twenty years. Congrats Helen for this well-deserved recognition. (Photo: Nick Kozak, Toronto Star)
Kristyn Wong-Tam
Our Councillor at the City of Toronto. She has an impressive list of achievements in 2021. She’s sent out over 100 e-blasts to keep the community informed on issues and her work. She’s helped with campaigns to save main street businesses and to stop excessive construction noise. She’s held 10 press conferences to stop commercial evictions, to protect local planning and to promote vaccinations. She introduced 122 motions at City Council and she’s responded to 5,000 requests from her constituents.
Ms Morrison is an NDP Member of the Ontario legislature. Over the past year, she’s urged action on the COVID eviction act for renters, introduced the gender-affirming health care act and re-tabled the St James Town Act to protect tenants there. She joined the fight to save the Foundry, supported paid sick days and help for businesses during the third COVID wave. She spoke out for a safe return to schools, a community-based vaccine outreach and proof of vaccination.
Ms Ien is our federal Member of Parliament and a minister in the Cabinet. A request has been forwarded to her to provide her list of accomplishments and her priorities for 2022. (Photo: Patrick Doyle, Canadian Press)
The TTC has announced that two elevators are now available at the Sherbourne subway station. They connect the street level to the concourse and the train platforms.
The last day for the Winter Village will be on Thursday December 30. Due to safety concerns, Friday’s Family New Year’s Eve celebration is cancelled.
All three public rinks in our local parks are open on Wednesday December 29 - Regent Park Athletic Grounds (480 Shuter), Riverdale Park East (550 Broadview) and Sherbourne Common (5 Lower Sherbourne), Check out the City’s website for up-to-date info on openings and closures at each rink.
Organizers have put out a call for non-perishable food, menstrual products and dental supplies. Please make your donation. Outside Cabbagetown Organics (499 Parliament)
Carolyn and Fiona walked their dogs on Christmas Eve morning. We didn’t have a white Christmas, but a white Christmas Eve was better than nothing.
YOUR ANNOUNCEMENTS
Porter’s handywoman services
(Please note - the wrong email address was previously listed for Porter. It’s corrected here.). Many of us know Alicia Porter from her entertaining appearances in Cabbagetown’s pubs. She’s also doing a home repair service. If you need small jobs completed, send her an email.
Apartment for rent
Available January 1. Spacious one-bedroom Cabbagetown basement apartment, fully furnished. Private entrance through gorgeous garden, high-ceiling living room with dining space and kitchen, dressing room, bathroom with big shower, full sized washer/dryer, bedroom, and use of part of the garden. Startlingly tranquil, Ideal location. $1700/month including utilities and high-speed wifi. Quiet reliable person with references. Prefer long-term but short-term possible (one-month minimum). Send an email to contact Beth.IN THE MEDIA
Flood protection in the Port Lands
The Globe & Mail’s Alex Bozikovic has done a summary article about the rebuilding of the mouth of the Don River. It’s a massive job and it’ll open up a huge area for future development, industry and parks. (Photo: Patrick Dell, Globe & Mail)
THEATRE NEWS
Capacity restrictions
Canadian Stage (26 Berkeley) expects that the new restrictions will affect its staging of Solaris (Bluma Appel Theatre) starting January 5 and its dance production, Miigis: Underwater Panther (26 Berkeley) starting January 6. Native Earth (585 Dundas E) is using online video to present its programs from Weesageechak 34 until December 31. Soulpepper’s Golden Record (50 Tank House Lane) starts the year on February 9 followed by the Ex-Boyfriend Yard Sale on February 11. Alumnae (70 Berkeley) presents Nested starting on January 26.NEW YEAR”S EVE
Cranberries (601 Parliament)
Enjoy a three course dinner from 5 pm. Start with either shrimp bisque or a green salad. Prime rib with garlic mashed potatoes, veggies, Yorkshire pudding and red wine au jus. For dessert, choose either sticky toffee pudding or apple pie. Reservations are nice - call (416) 925-6330 or walk-in. $40.
Take out from F’Amelia (12 Amelia)
Two scrumptious choices for your New Year’s Eve take-home dinner. Each choice includes a bottle of Belstar Prosecco. The Fun Pack serves four at $260. The Dinner serves two for $195. The meals are cooked and delivered cold - ready for reheating at your home. Please order before December 30 for pick up on December 31. (416) 363-0666 or email.
Four course dinner for eat-in experiences at $80 per person. Call (416) 363-0666 or email to reserve your table.
Two choices for your New Year’s Eve dinner - both are four courses. The regular menu starts with red pepper soup or salad, followed by shrimp cocktail or steak tartare. Mains are lamb shank, roasted halibut or beef tenderloin. Dessert is a dark chocolate and salted caramel tart. $80. The vegetarian option opens with red pepper soup and arugula salad, sweet potato and vegetable terrine for a main and dark chocolate and salted caramel tart for dessert - $50. Dine in is by reservation only. Takeout - call and pickup from 5 pm. Call (416) 925-4074 to reserve.
The Irv has two different specials for New Year’s Eve. The tomahawk steak dinner for two is a walk-in special at $99.
The New Year’s Eve party platter is a takeout special at $60 - please order it by 9 am on Friday December 31. Call (647) 350-4787 or email to place your order.
RESTAURANT NEWS
Good review for Krystos
Krystos opened recently at 148 Sumach. Dave Bottoms commented on it in Life in Cabbagetown, “The food is excellent as is the service.” He enjoyed the chicken souvlaki, baklava and an Americano coffee.
Buy an entree at Haldi (568 Parliament) and get a second one free. Check out the menus here. (647) 787-5680.
Starting on December 27, the Distillery group’s restaurants will set their hours every day depending on COVID rules. Reservations will open at 9 am for each day. Walk-ins are welcome, based on capacity. El Catrin (18 Tank House Lane), Pure Spirits Oyster House (17 Tank House Lane), Cluny (35 Tank House Lane) and Madrina Bar Y Tapas (2 Trinity)