This week’s image: new seating areas on Parliament Street.
CABBAGETOWN NEIGHBOURHOOD REVIEW
NEXT WEEK -
Thursday is Canada Day. We'll publish on Wednesday June 30.
A PERSONAL VIEW
Rooming house fires
A potentially serious fire happened this week at 373 and 375 Sackville. Fortunately, the Fire Department successfully fought it back before serious damage happened here or in the neighbours’ homes. The same owner has an Ontario Street house where another fire ruined the building in early June and other properties across Cabbagetown South where fires have also happened. The owner’s response seems to be indifference - the damaged homes are often simply boarded up and abandoned for long periods of time. One more reason why the City of Toronto needs a serious look at these places - why they’re left empty, how we can hold the owners responsible for clean living conditions and how we can help tenants become safer in the places where they live.
FEATURED LOCAL ARTIST
Eric Farache
“I graduated from the OCAD in 1994 with time spent in Florence, Italy and I completed my MFA from the University of Leeds in 2000. Through the past 20 years my artistic practice has focused on photography, watercolour and oil painting, all the while continually producing elaborate sketchbooks. I have a website and an Instagram page.”
Ladies
“Strange and mysterious- these quasi-librarians walk with serious purpose with books on their heads, but to where and why? We can only wonder.” Click on the image to see a larger version.
LOCAL NEWS
Streetside patios
Two tiny streetside parkettes have been built among the restaurant patios. They have seats and picnic tables (to be installed next week). They’re intended for anyone who simply wants to sit down. They’re not part of any restaurant patio. This one is located near Shalom (587 Parliament) and Absolute Bakery (589 Parliament) and another is set up near the House on Parliament (456 Parliament).
Sackville Street fire
On Monday June 21, a serious fire broke out at 373 and 375 Sackville. These two homes are rooming houses. In the end, the blaze was contained to a rear third floor deck and quickly extinguished. No one was injured. Neighbours report that the residents were able to move back. This is the second fire in a few days experienced by this building’s owner - another rooming house on Ontario Street burned badly on June 11.(Video: Gina Dineen).
Cabbagetown Residents Association
The CRA held its annual meeting on June 23. The Association is in good shape. 2020 was a slow year despite its pioneering success with a virtual Forsythia Festival and the community’s strong response to its Christmas seasonal contests. The Pumpkin Walk and the park clean-ups were cancelled. Revenues dropped in 2020 - only $3726 came in from membership fees. The group experienced its first loss, $1,718. There is, however, a sizeable reserve fund. Together with the Cabbagetown Preservation Association and the Cabbagetown Coalition, the CRA helped to raise $13,000 fo combat food insecurity and also contributed $750 to help the Cabbagetown Youth Centre. 2021 and next year are looking more normal and successful. The CRA has a website and a Facebook page.
Charlie’s Freewheels at the Cabbagetown Farmers’ Market
Bike repairs for kids, ages 12 to 25. Bring your bike to next week’s Market (Winchester and Sumach). Charlie’s Freewheels is there every two weeks and they’ll be back next Tuesday, June 29. Here’s what they say about themselves, "Charlie’s Freewheels is a registered non-profit that uses bicycles to support the development of empowered young leaders and self-assured young cyclists. We do this by improving youth access to bicycles, facilitating bicycle-related skill development and inspiring youth to ride with confidence. All of our programming is free and open to youth and young adults ages 12-25.”
Riverdale Farm
Riverdale Farm (201 Winchester at Sumach) has officially opened to the public. 9 am to 5 pm daily.
Gerrard Street Beer Store
The Beer Store (227 Gerrard) has moved these massive trailers into the parking lot. They are, apparently, for the recycling and empties system. This store is one of the few in downtown Toronto where empties are accepted.
Outdoor fitness and yoga with Parliament Street Fitness
PSF (488 Parliament) now offers outdoor HIIT classes with Warren at 6 pm on Tuesdays and with Adem at 7:15 am on Thursdays - both at Sprucecourt School (70 Spruce). In Riverdale Park (Winchester and Sumach), Manissa is holding Learn to Run classes on Wednesdays at 7 am focusing on techniques, strategy and healthy habits. Two yoga sessions are planned - Slo-Flo yoga with Robin is online on Wednesdays at 9:30 am and Yoga Flow with Alex is in Riverdale Park on Saturdays at 10:30 am. In case of bad weather, the outdoor classes will happen online. Classes are free for current members. For more info, check out the PSF online calendar.
Fundraising for Green Thumbs Growing Kids
GTGK supports school gardens. Since the pandemic started, it’s expanded online to nine more schools in four more cities. To handle this extra work, GTGK has hired students supported by the Canada Summer Jobs program. That funding ends on July 9, just before the harvesting season and eight weeks before school starts. Two generous supporters have given $8,000 and the challenge is to match these donations and to raise $16,000. Click here to learn more and to make your gift.
Bayview cycling route
Bayview from Rosedale Valley Road south to Corktown Common and Mill Street. River Street from Spruce to Bayview. Lake Shore (east bound lanes from Leslie to Woodbine). These three streets will close to motor vehicles from 6 am on Saturday to 9 pm on Sunday to allow safe wide routes for biking. Last week’s report was wrong and I apologize for any inconvenience this caused. (Photo: Robin Pueyo)
Pollinator Playground
The Friends of Allan Gardens are planting a new garden inside the children’s playground area. It’ll attract bees, butterflies and hummingbirds using native plant species. Planning and community feedback begin this summer and the planting will start in September. The City of Toronto has provided a grant to pay for the project. Allan Gardens, Carlton at Sherbourne.
Anniversary Park
The fountain in the park (Parliament and Gerrard) is back in service. In recent years, as this photo shows, this little park has become friendlier and cleaner. (Photo: Rick Matthews).
Foundry progress report
By Thursday June 10, 23,394 people had signed the petition to stop the Foundry demolition and $33,041 had been donated to the Legal Defence Fund. The links for the petition and online donations are here.
KIDS NEWS
Cabbagetown Sport Skills
A summer camp is planned for Parliament Square Park (Parliament at Mill) during the mornings on July 5 to 9 and July 12 to 16. Boys and girls are welcome, ages 6 to 12. $225/week or $50/day. Send an email to get more info and registration.
COMING EVENTS
Kardinal Offishall at CityView Drive-In
The Drive-In Theatre (20 Polson) is open again. On Friday June 25, the first of iwo concerts by the Drive 'N Queens and on Wednesday June 30, a series of concerts by Kardinal Offishall. You can watch these shows from the safety of your car. Info and tickets online here.
Farmers’ Markets schedules
The Cabbagetown Farmers’ Market (Sumach and Winchester) will be open every Tuesday from 3 to 7pm. Underpass Market (29 Lower River Street) in Corktown is open from 4 to 7:30 pm. Check out the Facebook pages for Cabbagetown and Underpass for the latest news about 2021 vendors and events.
IN THE MEDIA
Indigenous Hub
A 2.4-acre centre will be built at Front and Cherry in the West Don Lands to provide health care, employment and education services and housing for Indigenous people. Anishnawbe Health, Miziwe Biik Training Institute, a City of Toronto daycare centre, and the Province of Ontario are all partners. A ground-breaking ceremony happened on Monday. The community centre will be finished in 2022 and the rest of the hub will open in 2024. Olivia Bowden wrote in detail about the project in the Toronto Star. (Image: BDP Quadrangle)
YOUR ANNOUNCEMENTS
Bridgit is missing - Flash update, she's home!
She’s a Cornish Rex cat who’s been lost over the past 24 hours. She lives in the Berkeley neighbourhood south of Carlton. Please contact Susan at (416) 509-7121 or (416) 816-7670. There’s a reward for the person who returns her.
Wood carvers alert
Paul has cut down the last cherry tree from his front yard. He has some beautiful burls and extra timber. He’s interested in trading these supplies for a finished bowl. If you’re a carver, send him an email.
BUSINESS NEWS
Repair and Run
A bike repair pop-up shop is open in the Distillery beside Balzac Coffee. Services include free tire inflation and bike safety checks. There’s a special offer - save $20 - on a basic bike tune-up. Saturdays, 9 am to 1 pm. Check out the website for more services.
RESTAURANT NEWS
Taco wars
All of a sudden, we’ve got two spots selling very yummy tacos. Pastor (245 Gerrard E) is a small takeout restaurant. Then there’s the pop-up taco stand at Tilted Dog (424 Parliament). Both are really good. We’re getting the benefit! Check out blogTO’s write-up of Pastor - it’ll make you hungry. (Photo: Fareen Karim, blogTO).
Tour de France dining
Cluny (35 Tank House Lane, Distillery) will host four weeks of special dining experiences based on the famous Tour de France bike race. Meals will be paired with the best wines and champagnes from France. For menus and reservations, go to Cluny’s website.
Haldi’s patio
Haldi’s streetside patio (568 Parliament) is now open and serving a nifty range of curry, biryani, vindaloo, butter chicken and more along with six shareable appetizers. Kingfisher Beer and Steam Whistle are available.
Cyril’s soup
Sunshine soup is this week’s recipe - a beautiful, light and simple bright yellow concoction with corn, yellow bell pepper, lemon and a touch of garlic and oregano. Add some fresh herbs to it, maybe some diced avocado or crumbled bacon, chopped scallions or even some goat cheese. It can be served hot or cold. 3 to 9 cups for $3/cup and 10 or more cups for $2.50/cup. His juice is also Sunshine juice, an apple and ginger lemonade. Add a little bit of Perrier if you want to give it some fizz. $9 for two cups. 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.
