This week’s image: the flea market is open in St James Town, next to the Food Basics store.
CABBAGETOWN NEIGHBOURHOOD
REVIEW
FEATURED LOCAL ARTIST
David Arathoon
Lilacs of Spring
20" x 16”, oil on canvas. “I like familiar flowers and blossoms on trees. I always have one painting of them on the go, often by custom request. Lilacs are a Springtime favourite.”
First, Starbucks came and went. Now Tim Hortons is leaving. Tim’s departure seems to sadden many people but it was different fifteen years ago when Tim’s announced that it would come to Cabbagetown. Irate local residents then mourned the loss of their favourite booze can in the Winny. The store itself proved them wrong. It became a comfy meeting place and its owners supported lots of local causes. Maybe it’s all happening because our tastes have changed. We’ve switched from big-chain coffee shops to big-chain pot shops.
Back in the 1990s, a group of Don Vale parents set up a softball league for their kids. Duncan Fremlin was one of them. He’s put together a warm and nostalgic tribute to their friendships and their kids. He’s combined clips from actual videos, team photos and portions from a Zoom call that he organized with other parents. Don’t miss this - it’s glorious. Click here.
A PERSONAL VIEW
Farewell and thanks, Tim’s
LOCAL NEWS
Don Vale baseball
Crime statistics in 51 Division
Toronto Police Service has released data to its Citizen-Police Liaison Committee about crime rates in 51 Division between 2020 and 2021. There are some highlights. Most major crime indicators are down with the exception of assaults - sexual assaults are up by 32% and other assaults up by 10%. Break-and-enters are down by 21% and robberies are down by 38%. The report gives specific data by types of crime and shows where clusters of these crimes are happening.
RBC leaves the neighbourhood
The ATM in the Esso station (581 Parliament) has been removed. It was RBC’s last lonely presence in Cabbagetown. The new machine at the gas station appears to be one of those highway robbery ATMs with outrageous service charges. Of course, if you simply want to withdraw cash, you can always get cash-back at the LCBO (512 Parliament).
Women supporting women
Cabbagetown’s Sydney Payne is one of the summer Olympians receiving a donation from CAN Fund. CAN Fund supports women competing on the Canadian Olympic team at the coming summer and winter Olympic Games. They’re raising $150 gifts from women across Canada. 850 young athletes have asked for support and so far CAN Fund has provided $6,000 to 314 of them. When you make your donation, you’ll learn the name of the woman whose Olympic journey you’re supporting. Click the link to see the list of athletes being supported and to connect to CAN Fund’s website.
Farmers’ Markets
June 1 is still the target date for the opening of the Cabbagetown Farmers’ Market (Sumach and Winchester). Thursday June 3 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.
Cabbagetown Farmers’ Market
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.
CafeTO
The City of Toronto in cooperation with the Cabbagetown BIA has blocked off sections of Parliament, Carlton and Amelia for summer use by restaurant patios. The barriers are there now and they’ll be decorated and improved by the BIA shortly. Obviously, this won’t happen until the COVID lockdowns are eased to allow outdoor dining. Ten restaurants have joined the project.
Streetscapes in Bloom
The annual gardening contest is now open. The Cabbagetown Preservation Association collects nominees for this award 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.
ActiveTO - rerouting Bayview Avenue
New bike and pedestrian lanes on Bayview Avenue from Rosedale Valley Road south to Lawren Harris Square in the Canary District will bypass the construction on the Lower Don Trail. Additional bike lanes will continue from there to Mill Street. These are temporary changes. Cars will be limited to one-way southbound traffic only on Bayview along this route. 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 on weekends from 6 am on Saturday to 9 pm on Sunday to allow safe wide routes for biking. (Photo: Robin Pueyo)
Foundry plywood panels
The panels on the south wall of the Foundry have been covered with messages, photos and graffiti by local residents who want to save the buildings. The Ford government has ordered them removed. The construction company is clearly uncomfortable about this and has offered to save the panels for future use. Panels along other walls were painted black to cover the messages.
Foundry progress report
By Thursday May 20, 23,247 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.
218 Carlton
Rob Coatsworth has taken a trip down memory lane. 218 Carlton - now being converted into affordable housing - once belonged to his grandfather, Emerson Coatsworth. At that time, Emerson was a Member of Parliament. He later was elected to City Council and then became Toronto’s 33rd mayor. He was honoured by the naming of Coatsworth Street, one block south of Dundas between Ontario and Parliament. Rob believes that the new uses for 218 Carlton would have greatly pleased his grandfather.
COMING EVENTS
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.
CPA Annual Meeting
IN THE MEDIA
The Globe & Mail’s real estate reporter, Shane Dingman, has written about property insurance issues faced by homeowners in heritage districts and in older neighbourhoods. Thanks to Megann Willson for the tip about this article. Click here to read his story. (Photo: Dave LeBlanc)
Home insurance issues
Why the Foundry matters
NOW Magazine’s Enzio DiMatteo has written about the Foundry’s history, the fight against its destruction and plans for alternate uses. It’s a comprehensive overview of the issues and the struggle to save the buildings. (Photo: Samuel Engelking)
YOUR ANNOUNCEMENTS
Michael Hepburn from Hepburn Landscaping is disgusted by the theft of Juniper from its mother in Riverdale Farm. He’s offering a $1000 reward to the person who stole the little goat. Return it to Riverdale Farm and contact him at Hepburn Landscaping. The reward will be paid - no questions asked.
Juniper
356 Wellesley St E
Daniel Bloch and Liora Tal-Bloch have just listed this historic home for sale. Click here to visit their website for more details.
BUSINESS NEWS
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.
Furniture clearance sale
RESTAURANT NEWS
After a ten-year run, Qi Sushi (358 Gerrard E) will close this weekend on May 24. Jenny has posted on Facebook, “You will all forever be in my heart and I’m sorry that this is happening. Thank you for an amazing 10 year chapter in my life.” Thanks and best wishes, Jenny, from all of us.
Qi Sushi
Congrats to three new restaurants
Cabbagetown’s acclaimed new Sicilian restaurant DOVA (229 Carlton), Filipino cuisine at Tala (31 Howard) and Chef Kareema Caribbean Fusion (203 Dundas E) for outstanding Jamaican food. They’ve been listed by NOW Magazine among the top ten new restaurants in Toronto. (Photo: NOW Magazine)
LJS Khasos
Thaso and Vijay have opened their new restaurant at 507 Parliament. They’re offering a wide range of appetizers, salads, sandwiches and nibblies as well as main courses with Atlantic salmon, NY striploin, chicken and butter chicken. There are plenty of pasta dishes and ten different choices for pizza. Open daily from 11 am to 11 pm. (416) 551-2100. Their website is now online - check out the menu and ordering details.
Stay-at-Home suggestions from Daniel et Daniel
The Stay-at-Home Essentials is a convenient way to entertain from home even though everyone is apart. Just select the menu and budget that you want, inform your guests about their choices and then let D & D deliver the meals. The Grill-It-Yourself BBQ kit includes ready to grill sausages, chicken, vegetable brochette, potato salad, cabbage and kale slaw, focaccia and dessert. Call (416) 968-9275 x 10 or click here for the Online Food Shop (248 Carlton).
The Irv
The Irv (195Carlton) knows about hockey. And Regan’s got the perfect game snacks - a pound of buttermilk chicken wings, handcut fries and a can of Greenside Social, $18. Open Monday to Saturday, 4 to 9 pm, takeout and delivery, (647) 350-4787 and online.
Make your own pizzas
Your kids will love making their own pies and so will you. Pick your flavour from F’Amelia’s list. Your kit has all the ingredients that you’ll need. Pickup available daily, from 4 to 8 pm. (416) 363-0666 and online at F’Amelia’s website. 12 Amelia.
Cyril will be back
He’s enjoying a break over the long weekend. He promises to return for next week, May 29.
CONTACT INFO
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.
Food services
