This week’s image: The west end of The Foundry - these buildings are under attack.
CABBAGETOWN NEIGHBOURHOOD
REVIEW
FEATURED LOCAL ARTIST
Atia Pokorny
Atia Pokorny has lived with her family in Cabbagetown since 1986. Art has been always a part of her life both in her work as an art conservator and in her photography practice. Her photographs are a sort of storytelling. To achieve that, she usually manipulates them further by cutting, folding or digital alteration. As a member of Gallery 44, she has exhibited in numerous group shows and a solo exhibition in 2016. Her work has been also juried for such fundraisers as RMG Exposed or SNAP for ACT. You can see more details about her art on her website and instagram pages.
Beyond Silence
2017, 17”x22”, inkjet print on archival paper
A PERSONAL VIEW
Two avid readers have written to register a few amazing opinions.
LOCAL NEWS
Another animal report
Another climbing fox - this one got up onto a shed roof on Sackville Street, about a block away from the location of last week’s fox sighting. (Photo: Gillian Scarfe)
2021 festivals and events
Several big local events are on our 2021 calendar. All of them require considerable advance work. The uncertainty caused by COVID restrictions make the planners’ jobs more difficult. The 50th annual Forsythia Festival is scheduled for May 2. Although a gathering in the park won’t happen, organizers for this year’s event are setting up a Forsythia Festival Experience Bag - details to be announced soon. The Strawberry Social in Winchester Park on Canada Day has been cancelled. Planning for the September Art & Crafts show in Riverdale Park is proceeding - Randy Brown is determined to go on with the show until he’s told that permits won’t be issued by the Parks Department. The BIA’s Cabbagetown Festival is still being discussed and decisions are pending.
Daycare application moves ahead
Robert Ulike, the property owner of 459-461 Sackville, will now discuss his plans for a daycare with the provincial Ministry of Education. He’s moving to this next level because the City of Toronto and the neighbours have decided not to pursue their claims against the project into the court system. His application was reviewed twice by separate panels at the Toronto Local Appeal Body. Both panels approved it with various conditions involving parking, safety and traffic. Mr Ulike will begin negotiations at the City to settle these conditions. He’s relieved with this progress and hopes that he will now be able to win over Councillor Kristyn Wong-Tam and the neighbours.
The Wink
Now that cold weather has arrived, the new community skating rink at Winchester Park (Ontario and Prospect) is getting shovelled and flooded morning and evening. It needs at least 4” of ice to be ready for skaters. Don’t forget the skate exchange - donate your skates in the box at St Jamestown Steak & Chops (516 Parliament). There’s a GoFundMe drive underway to defray costs - click here. And keep up-to-date at the Facebook page.
Another streetcar tour
Eric Morse likes to get on a streetcar and ride it right around its route. He takes a video every inch of the way. His latest production features the 512 car along St Clair. Click here for a leisurely and fascinating tour. Kudos to Stan Smrke for his lovely soundtrack.
City of Toronto skating rinks
Riverdale Park East, Regent Park and Sherbourne Common are open from 10 am to 10 pm daily. During the COVID restrictions, outdoor rinks are still open with a 25-person limit. Change rooms and lockers are closed. You can make a reservation and confirm that the rinks are open at the City’s website. (Photo: Waterfront Toronto)
DEVELOPMENT NEWS
The Foundry demolition
The demolition of the Foundry in the West Don Lands by the Province of Ontario has provoked a lot of opposition. The City of Toronto is seeking an injunction to halt the work until a formal court hearing can begin. As a gesture of good faith, the Province halted its demolition work until Justice David Corbett rules on the injunction on Friday. In the meantime, the Province issued a statement attacking the City for slowing down the construction of affordable housing at this site. (Photo: Friends of the Foundry, destruction of the heritage sign)
A group called Friends of the Foundry has set up a website and Facebook page. They’re continuing their demonstrations at the site while the court actions proceed. Donations are welcome to pay for the court costs - by Thursday, over $15,000 has been raised. There’s also a suggested letter to send to Premier Doug Ford on the website and photos and updates to use on your personal Facebook and Instagram pages. Over 20,000 people have signed the petition. (Photo: Friends of the Foundry)
A virtual consultation meeting happened on Wednesday January 27 to introduce the work being done to create a new heritage conservation district under Part V of the Heritage Act. The City of Toronto is preparing an official plan for the district’s designation to be sent to City Council for approval by the end of 2021. Wednesday’s meeting was the first of two public consultations that are part of this process. EVOQ Architecture is the lead design firm. Alex Corey is the City’s Senior Heritage Planner.
DEVELOPMENT NEWS
401 Dundas E
A ten-storey building is proposed for the south side just west of Parliament bordering on Berkeley and Milan. It’ll house 92 condo units ranging from 445 to 1,194 square feet. The main floor will have retail and commercial space.
471 Queen East
This Corktown site is on the south side between Bright and Sumach. The two-storey buildings on this stretch of Queen were previously badly damaged in two separate fires and then demolished. The project includes 143 residential units as well as ground-level retail.581 Parliament
This proposal is purely speculative. Real estate agents with Cushman & Wakefield have floated out the idea that the Esso gas station could be developed into a seven storey condo with 101 residential units and 5,900 square feet of retail on the ground level. None of this has been drafted into a proposal for the City of Toronto. The property is currently for sale.
233 Carlton
Howard Bortenstein and the Cabbagetown Coalition have appealed the Committee of Adjustment decision to allow variances for the women’s respite centre (233 Carlton). The Toronto Local Appeal Body held its first hearing on January 27 and heard seven hours of submissions. The hearing was then adjourned. TLAB has issued advance notice of its next online hearing of this appeal on March 19. To search the City’s files, use this TLAB file number - 20 126130 S45 13 TLAB. Anyone interested in the schedule and the system to connect to the meeting - click here.
ANNOUNCEMENTS
Greg Lemond g-force recumbent bike
For sale. It’s a beauty - completely functional. This low impact exercise bike has multiple programs and settings. $999. Text/call (416) 301-6037.
Board members wanted
The Corktown Residents & Business Association is seeking four new Board members. It’s an active group with regular meetings and community projects. The annual meeting happens in March and interested people can email the CRBA here.
COMING EVENTS
Celebrate Love
Imagine the excitement - a takeout Valentine’s dinner and an evening absorbing “Perils in Nude Modelling”. The Cabbagetown Short Film Festival is screening a Valentine special from February 14 to 20. Gina is gathering up her favourite romantic short films. Tickets $10 and you’ll be able to view each film at your leisure during this period. Details to come soon.
Celebrating Black art and culture. Tuesday February 9, 5 to 6 pm, Zoom Get the link here.
Throughout the Fall and early winter, Enoch Turner broadcast panel discussions about various issues in contemporary education. These are now available online.
The Foundry demolition
Ben Cohen in the Toronto Star has described the court actions surrounding the destruction of the Foundry’s heritage buildings.
The Globe & Mail’s Dave LeBlanc wrote a good story on the Winchester and its new cupola. (Photo: Dave LeBlanc, Globe & Mail)
The Leslie Slip Lookout Park will be located on the Martin Goodman Trail at the entrance to Tommy Thompson Park (12 Leslie). Claude Cormier + Associates. the company that designed Sugar Beach and Berczy Park has won the contract. Construction at the park is expected to be finished in 2023. NOW Magazine described the park’s features. (Image: CreateTO.ca, NOW Magazine)
Curbside pickup at the Book Bank
The Children’s Book Bank (350 Berkeley at Gerrard) is changing how you can collect books. The Walk-up Window will only be open on Saturday January 30. Starting on February 3, customers are asked to complete an online form, make an appointment and then get their books at a Curbside Pickup. It’s an easy process - to start your order, click here.
Learn how to make cedar tea and how to plant a cedar tree. Monday February 8 from 6:30 to 7:45 pm via Zoom. Register by Monday February 1. Pick up your kit (cedar, seeds, planters and soil) at the Daniels Spectrum (585 Dundas E) from 1 to 4 pm, February 4 and 5. Pick-up preferred, text 647-348-5437 when you arrive. $10 or pay what you can.
BUSINESS NEWS
Thanks Mark
Mark at St Jamestown Steak & Chops (516 Parliament) has become a big supporter of our new community rink. He’s also hosting the skate exchange box. His generosity has made the project possible.
The Cabbagetown BIA together with Dixon Hall and St Luke’s United Church is providing lunch for our most vulnerable residents. The BIA has recruited Chew Chew Diner (186 Carlton), Daniel et Daniel (248 Carlton), Pho U (398 Parliament), Epicure Food Shop (473 Parliament), Tim Horton’s (537 & 581 Parliament), DOVA (229 Carlton) and Matt’s No Frills (449 Parliament). Each business supplies 100 healthy lunches to be distributed on Thursdays in Allan Gardens until February 25. A grant has paid for this project. The BIA has set up a donation page to extend its life once that money runs out - use the code “Cabbagetown Cares” in the message box for St Luke’s United Church.
Go to the restaurants’ websites and Facebook pages for the menus from your favourite places - click here for the contact list.
Stout’s weekend special
Stout Irish Pub (221 Carlton) now has a regular special on Friday and Saturday. This week’s dinner features two bone-in pork chops with white wine, Dijon and gorgonzola sauce, garlic and herb mashed potatoes, green beans with bacon and apple-fennel slaw. Two for $55 and one dinner for $30. Add a bottle of pinot grigio or grenache syrah for $25. - email Madelaine at Stout to place your order or call (647) 344-7676.
There’s a wide selection of vegetarian and vegan options at Cabbagetown Organics (499 Parliament) - tofu burgers, Field Roast franks and sausages, Henry’s Tempeh, ying ying tofu and organic and dairy-free cheeses.
Mark has butter chicken pot pies and lamb burgers. Get both and stick them in the freezer. 516 Parliament
D + D (248 Carlton) are hosting a virtual chocolate-making workshop with chef Bonnie Kravitz. She’ll take you through a variety of decadent sweets including truffles, turtles, chocolate bark and chocolate-covered strawberries. It’s exclusive to Mastercard holders. 20 spots available. Saturday February 13 at 7 pm - registration closes on February 6. For cooking kit details and registration, click here. $60.
The Irv (195 Carlton) has everything you need for a SuperBowl feast - burgers, wings, fries, poutine and more.
Rick at the Cabbagetown BIA has highlighted Haldi (568 Parliament), “If you haven't tried the incredible Indian cuisine at HALDI yet, what are you waiting for?! Trust us...the dishes made by chefs Devesh and Harish taste as delicious as they look. These talented restaurateurs are also doing their part to help the environment by partnering with @mysuppli to provide a zero waste option for takeout containers.” Call (647) 898-5680
F’Amelia (12 Amelia) closed on January 17 and they’ll be back on February 9 to prepare your Valentine specials. Tasso (540 Parliament) is laying low and staying ready to reopen, hopefully in the Spring. The Dominion Pub & Kitchen (500 Queen E) has closed during the current COVID lockdown.
This week’s soup is spiced red lentils and carrot with cumin, coriander, saffron, a hint of cinnamon and Tunisian harissa (a blend of red peppers and chilies), 3 to 9 cups at $3/cup and 10+ cups at $2.50 per cup. His juice is pear and ginger - 2 cups at $9. He’s offering his soup containers in 2 cup, 3 cup and 4 cup sizes (minimum 3 cups). You can also place bulk orders for freezing, banquets and special orders (minimum 10 cups) and save 50 cents per cup. His soup deliveries are happening again - email him to place your order.
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.