This week’s image: we have great gardeners here - nominate one of them for the 2021 Streetscapes in Bloom award.
CABBAGETOWN NEIGHBOURHOOD REVIEW
FEATURED LOCAL ARTIST
Laura Gallo
Laura contributed this piece (above) to the window display at Labour of Love (223 Carlton) for the BIA’s Spring Art Walk. She’s an emerging new artist. “Everything to me is art and energy. I am most inspired by magazines. All my pieces are made using a cut and paste technique. The process is my enjoyment, it calms my mind and expresses my soul.” When she isn’t making art, she works as an RMT at Cabbagetown Massage Therapy (Amelia and Sackville) helping clients to feel their best. She’s accepting magazine or old book donations - email her. You can see her work on Instagram and buy it at Etsy.
A Time to Breathe
“A Kettle brings cosy comfort to a kitchen. It’s my timer for when I need a break, my wake-up call when I hear the whistle, and of course my instant noodle cooker when I want a quick bite. Without it my kitchen wouldn’t be complete. Thank you Kettle.”
LOCAL NEWS
Streetscapes in Bloom
Nominate a friend’s garden (or your own) for the annual gardening award. The Cabbagetown Preservation Association collects names every Spring and then checks them out throughout the summer. In the autumn, a winner is announced. See the details online here and nominate a garden that you like before June 15.
Stay safe at the Farmers’ Market
Cabbagetown Farmers’ Market organizers are preparing for their June 1 opening. They’ve posted some simple rules to keep all of us safe while we’re there. Stay home if you don’t feel well. Use sanitizer and put on your mask before entering. Follow the one-way walking directions. Be courteous and stay two metres away from other people. Don’t eat in the Market area. It’s all common sense and we’re all used to these rules by now. Riverdale Park, Winchester and Sumach.
Ari Korkodilos
Ari is another young phenom to watch. He’s 15 years old and has won the 2020 national Briggs Junior Kart championship racing title. He’s now moving up to the Briggs Senior championship. His dad has prepared an amazing You Tube video about his races. Ari needs sponsors. If you’re interested, email his father. Many thanks to Ann MacNaughton for the introduction.
CPA Spring newsletter
The Cabbagetown Preservation Association has issued its Spring edition. It’s full of interesting local stuff - the restoration of the Winchester, names for local lanes, a special side trip to Cabbagetown Atlanta, Jack Nichols, Al Capone, the Museum and more. Click here to read it online.
The latest news from Cabbagetown Steve
Steve Grant is doing well. He and Sam Taylor of the Little Magic Sam band were mentioned on a Q107 podcast about Toronto artists. He’s been invited to play at Buddy Guy’s Club in Chicago. Steve is well-known here for his support of the CYC and his performances in the Festival. Click here to listen to the Q107 podcast.
Great cycling routes
River Street (from Spruce to Bayview) and Lake Shore (east bound lanes from Leslie to Woodbine and from Stadium Road to Windemere) will close to motor vehicles from 6 am on Saturday to 9 pm on Sunday to allow safe wide routes for biking. River Street joins the new bike routes on Bayview going north to Rosedale Valley Road and south to Corktown Common and Mill Street. (Photo: Robin Pueyo)
Foundry progress report
By Thursday May 20, 23,288 people had signed the petition to stop the Foundry demolition and $33,016 had been donated to the Legal Defence Fund. The links for the petition and online donations are here.
A lovely lamb
Thanks to Kate Tinnerman. She captured this picture on Thursday morning at Riverdale Farm.
Cabbagetown Regent Park Museum Historical Tidbit
By Sally Gibson. Samuel Lount and Peter Matthews were local heroes to many ordinary Torontonians. They were prosperous farmers and ardent “patriots” who supported William Lyon Mackenzie’s failed rebellion in 1837 against the power of the Family Compact. After the rebellion, many participants were exiled half a world away to Australia. Lount and Matthews, however, paid with their lives. Many attempts were made to save them, including a petition signed by 8,000 people. To no avail. On April 12, 1838, the two men calmly approached the gallows outside the jail at King and Toronto streets. 10,000 people gathered, some in support of the patriots, some just for an exciting day out. Their bodies were interred at Potters Field at Yonge and Bloor where they lay under a simple stone engraved with their names. In 1859, a procession led by William Lyon Mackenzie transported their remains and the stone marker to the still-young Necropolis. They are buried at the west end where the main entrance to the cemetery off Sumach Street was once located. Lount and Matthews may have lost their lives but their deaths helped defang the Family Compact and led to Lord Durham’s 1839 report that introduced the concept of responsible government. For more Cabbagetown history, photos and videos visit the CRPM Facebook page. (Image: Lount & Matthews original marker, at Necropolis since 1859, SG).
COMING EVENTS
CPA Annual Meeting
The Cabbagetown Preservation Association’s annual meeting happens on Monday May 31 at 7 pm. It’ll be a Zoom event - save the date. The business meeting will be followed by two special events. First, a Cabbagetown home will receive the Peggy Kurtin Award for Excellence in Restoration. Then Gilles Huot will present Cabbagetown through Time, a 30-minute talk with photos and maps. For more info and to register, click here.
Farmers’ Markets
It’s looking good for next Tuesday June 1, 3 to 7 pm - still the target date for the opening of the Cabbagetown Farmers’ Market (Sumach and Winchester). Thursday June 3, 4 to 7:30 pm, is the target for Underpass Market (29 Lower River Street) in Corktown. Check out the Facebook pages for Cabbagetown and Underpass for the latest news about 2021 vendors.
A third Farmers’ Market
Mill Street’s Farmers Market is returning on Saturday May 29 from 11 am to 2 pm. Mill Street Brew Pub, 21 Tank House Lane, Distillery.
IN THE MEDIA
Outreach in St James Town
Workers and volunteers from Community Matters Toronto (102-260 Wellesley E) are reaching out to isolated residents in the St James Town towers. It's important work. They’ve seen lots of evidence of mental distress brought on by the COVID emergencies. The CBC aired a report about their work - click here to watch the video. (Photo: CBC)
Top twenty walks in Toronto
NOW Magazine has written a quick guide to good walks in Toronto, including the Lower Don trail and Corktown Common. Click here to see the column. (Photo: Glenn Sumi)
YOUR ANNOUNCEMENTS
Apartment for rent
Available September 1. Spacious one-bedroom Cabbagetown basement apartment, fully furnished. Private entrance through gorgeous garden, high-ceilinged living room with dining space and kitchen, dressing room, bathroom with big shower, full-sized washer/dryer, bedroom. Use of part of garden. Startlingly tranquil, ideal location. $1700 a month including utilities and high-speed wifi. Quiet reliable person with references. Prefer long term but short term also possible, one month minimum. Email Beth for more info.
356 Wellesley St E
Daniel Bloch and Liora Tal-Bloch have just listed this historic home. Click here to visit their website for more details.
BUSINESS NEWS
Yummy alert!
St Jamestown Steak & Chops (516 Parliament) has fresh Ontario strawberries. And while you’re there, be sure to search for the Ontario asparagus and rhubarb.
Welcome Cabbagetown Massage Therapy
Christine Brown and her team at Cabbagetown Massage Therapy (78 Amelia) are new faces for an old friend. They’ve taken over Claudia Salzmann’s massage therapy practice - she’s retired and is moving to Nova Scotia. The staff are all familiar faces. Christine has a new logo and her website has lots of info - click here to read it.
Congrats to our cake bakers
Velvet Lane (194A Carlton) and Staij & Co (552 Parliament) have made the top-ten list of best custom cake bakers in Toronto. Check out the list on blogTO.
Furniture clearance sale
Tired of your old sofa or armchair? Kendall & Co (514 Parliament) is having a clearance sale of selected Canadian-made floor model furniture to make way for new styles. Enjoy these savings now. Shop online to browse all the deals. The shop is open for virtual appointments to assist with your plans for new furniture, reupholstery, rugs, drapery, window shades and wallpaper. Noon to 5 pm weekdays during current lockdown. Curbside pick up or delivery available. (416) 363-9914 and email.
RESTAURANT NEWS
1 Billion Breaths
Haldi (568 Parliament) joined four other Indian restaurants in Toronto to raise funds for oxygen tanks for India. They’re part of a global campaign - forty restaurants from Canada, the US, the UK and Peru are involved. 15% of Haldi’s sales on May 25 and 26 went to the campaign. It's a remarkable project - thanks for this effort. 647-898-5680 and online.
Tenfed at The Irv
The Irv (195 Carlton) will provide one meal for a hungry child for every can of Tenfed sold and ten meals for very six pack. Regan has been doing this for two years and so far, he’s provided over 1000 meals through the program. For more, check out The Irv’s Facebook page and, better yet, order a can or six at the pub.
A new pasta store at F’Amelia
On Friday, F’Amelia (12 Amelia) is launching an online store for fresh handmade pasta, sauces, pizza kits, house made pickles and more. Deliveries on Tuesdays and Fridays. Watch for more info online.
DOVA at the Cabbagetown Farmers’ Market
DOVA (229 Carlton) will be one of the new vendors at the 2021 Market. Tuesday June 1 from 3 to 7 pm. Riverdale Park (Sumach and Winchester).
This weekend at Stout
Steak Frites with grilled tomato and a house salad are the weekend special at Stout Irish Pub (221 Carlton) from Friday to Sunday, $30. Add a bottle of red wine for $25. Pickup after 4 pm - (647) 344-7676 or email Madelaine.
Cyril’s soups
Cyril has prepared Maghrebi Chickpea soup with garbanzo beans, tomatoes, onions and parsley. It’s loaded with fragrant North African spices including harissa for a bit of heat. 3 to 9 cups for $3/cup and 10 or more cups for $2.50/cup. His juice has pineapple and orange to provide the sweetness with rhubarb and ginger providing the balancing touches. 2 cups for $9. To order, send him an email.
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.