This week’s image: A well-loved, safely distanced teddy bear in a Cabbagetown window. (Photo: Irene DeClute)
CABBAGETOWN NEIGHBOURHOOD
REVIEW
FEATURED LOCAL ARTIST
David Arathoon
David Arathoon is a successful professional painter who lives in Cabbagetown. He has a website, public Facebook and Instagram pages which include contact details.
Heart of Gold (a series) - most are 12” x12” x 2” but some are as large as 36” x 36” x 2”.
“For many years I’ve painted one of a kind, custom-ordered Hearts for people’s homes. Loaded with texture and contrast, most incorporate metallic golds. I have done themes in purple, green and black as well. Some are collected as single hearts and some as pairs.”
LOCAL NEWS
Good news about our Farmers’ Market
Katya Nemtseva is this year’s manager for the Cabbagetown Farmers’ Market. She’s sent out a preliminary announcement. The Market is scheduled to open from 3 to 7 pm on Tuesday June 1 and run to Tuesday October 12 - as always, in Riverdale Park West (Sumach and Winchester). She’s promised to bring some awesomeness.
Home insurance in a heritage district
Questions have been coming about insurance issues for older homes in heritage districts. Click here to read the discussion at the Cabbagetown Residents Association site. Megann Willson from HomeLife Realty One (501 Parliament) has two very practical tips for you when you buy a house. First, contact the old owner’s insurance company. Second, ask around the neighbourhood and see who’s insuring other homes nearby. It’s hard for a company to refuse insurance if they’ve been covering the house in the past.
Street cameras at Sherbourne and Dundas
Last week, Cabbagetown South residents complained that Toronto Hydro was strangely slow in approving a location at this corner for street security cameras. They generated an email campaign toward Toronto Hydro. Cindy Brooks from Hydro has replied that “…We want to reassure you that we’ve been working closely with Toronto Police Services (TPS) through this process. We expect the final approvals to be issued imminently and are in communication with your City Councillor to provide this update.”
Barrels are back
Once again, the Cabbagetown South Residents are selling rain barrels for your garden. They’re a terrific convenience and they’re a terrific way for the Association to raise some money. Proceeds will go to local service groups and to support the youth anti-graffiti brigade. To get more info and to order your barrel, shop online, $55.
Hassle free gardens
Here’s another good idea from Cabbagetown South. The Association is working with Plantables to bring you a hassle-free way to start your garden. It’s easy - go to Plantables website and order your choice of plants, $4/plant. They’ll bring them along until the seedlings are ready to go into the ground and they’ll deliver them to you. When you order, enter the code cabbagetownsouth and 10% of the proceeds will go to the Association.
COVID cases in our local schools
There are seven public schools in our neighbourhood. The Toronto District School Board publishes a list that’s updated daily about their experiences with COVID cases. By April 8, Jarvis Collegiate had no current confirmed cases with students or staff and 7 resolved cases. Lord Dufferin had 1 student and 1 staff cases confirmed plus 2 resolved. Market Lane has no current cases and 1 resolved one. Nelson Mandela had 5 current cases confirmed among students and 6 resolved ones. Rosedale Heights had 3 students and 1 staff with current cases and 3 resolved. Sprucecourt had no current cases and 4 resolved ones. Winchester had 2 confirmed student cases and 5 resolved ones.
Cabbagetown cares
Last Thursday, Daniel et Daniel (248 Carlton) supplied the lunches. Marci Ien, our federal MP, came along and volunteered to help out. The Cabbagetown BIA along with St Luke’s Church and Dixon Hall supports about 100 people each week in Allan Gardens. The project has been underway since early February. Both the lunch guests and the restaurants benefit. Thanks to private donations, the event will continue on Thursdays through March and into April. Your support will help it continue even longer - click here to make your donation.
The Spring Art Walk
Multidisciplinary artist & designer Julia Prajza painted this mural of Spring flowers - entitled “Grow Wild & Free - at 233 Carlton. The building has been the focus of community disagreements and Juiia’s work is one of the most positive events to come out of it in many months. It’s one of the BIA’s new art exhibition in business windows along Parliament and Carlton is entitled “A New Beginning: Expressions of Hope, Rejuvenation & Community.” Check out the featured artists - click here.
Street decorations
The Cabbagetown BIA has installed new lights at the corner of Carlton and Parliament - a great new feature for the street. As well, the seasonal decorations on the lamp poles are changing now as the faded winter blooms are removed to get ready for the new summer ones.
Foundry progress report
By Wednesday April 7, almost 24,000 people had signed the petition to stop the Foundry demolition and $31,900 had been donated. The donations cover the cost of court actions so far but they’re far from enough to pay for any future actions. The links for the petition and online donations are here.
The most Cabbagetown thing …
James saw this bag and its note on St James Crescent - he says that “it’s quite possibly the most Cabbagetown thing that I’ve ever seen …” Click on the image to enlarge it and read the message. (Photo: anonymous)
COMING EVENTS
April is Forsythia Festival Spirit Month
Shawna and her team don’t fool around. Since you can’t come to the Festival this year, they’re bringing it to you. They’ve designed limited edition special “Experience Bags” with a unique artist design. Inside each bag there’s a DYI dangling doughnut kit, DYI kite kit, DYI window craft, yellow chalk, anniversary window sticker, yellow ribbon to hang on your door, four forsythia themed cake pops from Velvet Lane Cakes and two traditional parade twizzles. You can also buy a limited edition yellow Festival Tee shirt. To manage all of this, the Festival team have set up their own Shopify store - to see each item and to place your order, click here.
Park cleanups have been cancelled
The Cabbagetown Residents Association was organizing its annual neighbourhood cleanup for Saturday April 10. The CRA has had to cancel because of the lockdown rules. It’s a great project - organizers hope that a new date can be set as soon as possible. If you decide to do some cleaning with your family or a safe group of friends, grab a picture and send it to the Association.
First Parliament Site
Councillor Kristyn Wong-Tam is holding a virtual town hall about preserving the First Parliament Site (Parliament and Front). Among her guests are representatives from Metrolinx, City planning, CreateTO and the Transit Expansion Office. There’ll be time for questions following their presentations. Register here - the link will be sent to you when you do. 6 to 8 pm, Thursday April 15.
Soulpepper’s Alice in Wonderland
Soulpepper and Bad Hats Theatre present a family film musical from Saturday April 3 to Sunday April 18. Jump down the rabbit hole and join Alice, the Red Queen and the Cheshire Cat in Wonderland. For tickets, click here. $20 per household.
YOUR ANNOUNCEMENTS
Real estate news
Michael O’Brien and Michael Grant have a listing on Milan Street in Cabbagetown South. Check it out - click here.
IN THE MEDIA
Congrats to Blooming Flower Bar
Anji’s floral business enjoyed a terrific write-up on the weekend in the Toronto Star. Unfortunately, the writer used the old address - she’s just moved into her new location with Velvet Lane Cakes at 194A Carlton. It’s a good story. Click here to read it. (Photo: Toronto Star)
Shawn Micaleff and Sebastian
Toronto Star columnist Shawn Micaleff lived for a while in Cabbagetown with his dog Sebastian. Sebastien died last Friday and Shawn has written a moving tribute to him and to his ability to experience life here in Toronto.
405 Sherbourne Street
A 25-storey building has been proposed for this site as part of Toronto's Housing Now initiative. It will definitely impact the Winchester Park community. The proposal has moved along through the early stages of the planning process. It calls for 266 units, 50% at market rental rates and 50% affordable housing. Urban Toronto has written about this project - click here. (Image: SvN)
FOR YOUR KIDS
Children’s Book Bank
The Walk-up Window at the Book Bank (350 Berkelely at Gerrard) will be open during Spring break on April 13 and 14 from 10 am to 5 pm and on Saturday April 17 from 10 am to 3 pm. After that, curbside book pickups will be available. Due to the renewed lockdown rules, the store itself will not be opened. The book drop-off days happen on Saturday April 10 and Saturday April 24 from 11 am to 2:30 pm - leave your boxes and bags on the pallets next to the gates. Click here for the Facebook page with lots of programming announcements.
BUSINESS NEWS
Cycle Solutions
Make your appointment for your bike’s Spring tune-up. All work done in the shop requires a pre-booked appointment. 444 Parliament. (416) 972-6948.
RESTAURANT NEWS
Tribute to Asokan
Regent Park TV has a moving video about Asokan Rasiah, the late owner of Peartree Restaurant. Click here to watch it.
Tasso
The system for buying Tasso’s superb croissants and other pastries is very straightforward. Every Tuesday, the current list of the week’s products is posted online. As various items are sold, they disappear from the list. Apparently, this process happens very quickly so those who get to the website early will be rewarded. The lucky customers then pick-up their orders on Saturday morning. Because of their limited cooking space, Mike and Olya can only produce specific numbers of each goodie. Sold-out means sold-out. 540 Parliament (Photo: Liza Agrba, Toronto Life)
Poutine at Paintbox
Pick up some poutine with Halal jerk chicken or marinated tofu. Yummy. Check out the weekly features on Facebook. 555 Dundas E.
The Irv
The Irv (195 Carlton) has great burgers, sandwiches and specials available for takeout from 4:30 to 8:30 pm daily. Watch Facebook for more specials each day.
Fusilli
Linguine vongole (pasta with clams) from Corktown’s Fusilli (531 Queen E). Check out Facebook for more delicious ideas.
Stout Irish Pub
Stout (221 Carlton) has sausage and cabbage stew with Irish soda bread - on feature now for takeout and delivery. Call (647) 344-7676 or email Madeleine.
Cyril’s soup
He’s bringing back his most requested and best-selling soup: black bean and mango. 3 to 9 cups at $3/cup and 10 or more at $2.50/cup. About this week’s juice, he says, “Pineapple and mango for their sweet juiciness, kale for its leafy goodness and a touch of ginger for the sake of it.” 2 cups for $9. Order by email to him.
CONTACT 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.
Pick up some poutine with Halal jerk chicken or marinated tofu. Yummy. Check out the weekly features on Facebook. 555 Dundas E. 
