This week’s image: Fall colours have arrived in Wellesley Park
CABBAGETOWN NEIGHBOURHOOD REVIEW
FEATURED LOCAL ARTIST
Marion Voysey
Marion is a professional photographer who specializes in portraits from her in-home studio in Cabbagetown. She has a website and she’s on Instagram. You can contact her by email.
“I found myself drawn to the intense concentration of these two musicians and the focus and grace of the two dancers.”
A PERSONAL VIEW
Daycare gets approvals
In a letter dated October 21, the daycare proposal at Sackville and Amelia received approvals from the Ontario government for a facility with 80 places. This is a big step forward for the project. The project must now return to the Toronto-East York Community Council for its approval of the parking and traffic plans. Councillor Kristyn Wong-Tam is opposed - she used procedural manoeuvres to derail it. She hasn’t put forward any rational reason for her opposition. She should give it a break. The idea is worthy and the community will benefit from it.
LOCAL NEWS
Hallowe'en Happy Hour
The Cabbagetown BIA is organizing the Hallowe’en Happy Hour on Friday October 29. Special menus and discounts will be available in our restaurants and stores, starting at 5 pm on Friday. F’Amelia, Cranberries, Haldi, Souvlaki Express, Stout Irish Pub and Super Bargain are all participating. Stores include Spiritleaf and the Epicure Shop. More are being added - go to the BIA website to see the full list.
Help for last minute shoppers
Pumpkins are on sale at our local variety stores - Parliament Smoke (609 Parliament), Jamestown Milk (592 Parliament). Fairway (520 Parliament), Cabbagetown Organics (499 Parliament) and Sunny Green (224 Wellesley). And at No Frills (449 Parliament) and Freshco (Parliament and Dundas).
The Pumpkin Walk is back
Carve your beauty and then take it over for a fun, gossipy event at the Pumpkin Walk. Monday November 1, 5 to 9 pm, Riverdale Park West (Winchester and Sumach). Organized by the Cabbagetown Residents Association. (Photo: Lenka Life Photography, Parliament Street News)
Congrats to Marci Ien
Ms Ien has been appointed to the federal cabinet as the Minister for Women and Gender Equality and Youth. She has long been involved with programs supporting underprivileged youth in Canada and around the world. She’s a graduate from Ryerson University and has returned there by co-founding a scholarship for media students and by serving on the Board of Governors. In the recent election campaign, she made issues for youth a central theme.
More success for Blair’s Run
Brenda Brown McNee recently organized walking tours in the Necropolis and James the Lesser cemeteries. Participants in last Sunday’s walk donated another $600 to the annual Blair’s Run campaign. These funds are earmarked for the Cabbagetown Youth Centre.
The community fridge
Paula reports that the fridge in front of Cabbagetown Organics (499 Parliament) is clearly a welcome boost for the community. It’s filled daily and emptied quickly. Sam at Cabbagetown Organics says that donors are also contributing cash for its operations. This week, the fridge suffered a setback - someone removed every single moveable part from its interior including the shelves, the vegetable drawers, the butter keeper lid and the shelving inside the door. On the positive side, the fridge is a member of the Community Fridges TO and their bike brigade loads it up every Wednesday. The Parkdale Community Food Bank supplied hams for Thanksgiving.
Schools and COVID
The Toronto Star has developed an app that lists up-to-date info about COVID cases among students and staff in our schools. We have nine schools in our immediate area. None of them reports an active COVID case. Just type in the school name and the data will appear. It’s current to 2 pm on the day before the report.
Momo deliveries
If you got hooked on momos at the Cabbagetown Farmers’ Market over the summer, then there’s good news. Nepali Momo are delivering them. Check the website for menus and delivery details.
Underpass Farmers’ Market
Thursday’s Market is the last one for this season. Open from 4 to 7:30 pm. Check out the Underpass Facebook page for the latest news.
Flu shots
The flu vaccines are available now in pharmacies across the neighbourhood.
Cabbagetown Regent Park Museum Historical Tidbit
ANNOUNCEMENTS
Apartment for rent
Located in prime Cabbagetown (Wellesley and Sackville). A beautiful one-bedroom basement apartment, $1400+ Natural light, gas fireplace, full kitchen including dishwasher, laundry, separate entrance through garden. Suitable for one non-smoker (for health reasons no smoking of any kind). No pets please. Available November 1. Viewing by appointment only, will need proof of COVID vaccination (both doses) to view. Contact by email.
IN THE MEDIA
The Parrot Sanctuary
Marie-Elisabeth Gagnon operates a parrot sanctuary in Cabbagetown. Tracey Tong wrote about it in the Toronto Star. Interestingly, the story was picked up by various media outlets including Africa’s Botswana News. (Photo: Eduardo Lima, Toronto Star).
COMING EVENTS
October Fun Fest
DJ, Monster Mash dance, free pumpkins (limited quantities) and storytelling. 1 to 3 pm, Saturday October 30. Big Park at the Bake Oven in Regent Park.
Enoch Turner’s Speakers Corner
The third Speaker’s Corner with Brian Stewart will focus on food literacy. November 3, 7 pm. Guests are Sunday Harrison, Janet Nezon and Carolyn Webb. It’s a digital presentation - click here to register.
All Purpose Flour
A virtual Coffee House dance performance by the students in the Professional Training Program at the School of Toronto Dance Theatre. Book your ticket at Eventrite and you’ll get your link by email 48 hours before the event. Pay what you can - details at Eventrite. November 5, 7 pm,
LIVE THEATRE
Alumnae Theatre
Michel Tremblay’s Albertine in Five Times, November 5 & 6, 11 to 13 and 18 to 20. It’s a live digital performance. Four actors will be broadcast from their homes onto the stage and two more will be live and in person. 70 Berkeley.
Canadian Stage
Three plays will be performed at the Marilyn and Charles Baillie Theatre (26 Berkeley) from January to May 2022 - MIIGIS (January 29 to February 6), Other People (March 20 to April 3) and Is God Is (May 3 to May 22). Three more will be staged at the Bluma Appel Theatre downtown.
Native Earth
Weesageechak Begins To Dance 34 - the annual development festival of new Indigenous works in theatre, dance and multidisciplinary creations. November 16 to 27, Aki Studio (Daniels Spectrum, 585 Dundas E).
Soulpepper
Soulpepper is performing the Canadian premiere of Draw Me Close - November 2 to December 12. This is an individual interactive performance and admission is timed. Young Centre (50 Tank House Lane, Distillery)
BUSINESS NEWS
Halloween is blowing up
Everyone at any age can easily create a ghoulish celebration with these Hallowe’en balloon craft kits from Kendall & Co (514 Parliament). Each box set contains all the balloons and self-adhesive decorations that you need to create a Skull, Jack O'Lantern, Witch and Ghost. Buy online. Email or call (416)363-9914 with your furniture and decorating needs.
RESTAURANT NEWS
Mystic Michael at the HoP
Mystic Michael will read tarot cards from 6 pm on Saturday until he’s exhausted. House on Parliament (454 Parliament)
Indoor dining at Terroni
The indoor cafe is now open at Terroni Sud Forno (22 Sackville). Enjoy a bite to eat while overlooking the kitchen.
Hallowe’en cocktails at Fusilli
Another cocktail night - the first one was a popular success! Enjoy two cocktails, wine and beer plus a variety of hors d’oeuvres. Seating inside or on the heated patio. Friday, October 29, 6 pm. Fusilli Restaurant (531 Queen E). To reserve, call (416) 214-5148. $40.
New hours at Haldi
Starting November 2, Haldi (568 Parliament) will only be open for dinner. Closed Monday. 4 to 10 pm, Tuesday to Sunday.
Paintbox hours
Paintbox (555 Dundas E) will close on Sunday and Monday. Open other days from 5:30 to 10:30 pm.
Cyril’s soup - vampire repellant
Freshly returned from his extensive trips in the Carpathian Mountains, Dr Ghoulart is thrilled to share with us the folk remedies he tested first hand in vampire-laden Eastern Europe. Garlic is key but you had already guessed that… His velvety garlic and potato soup is loaded with fresh, pungent garlic smothered with delicious locally grown potatoes and light cream (rest assured, his dairy-free version with coconut milk is equally delicious). If you are as prone to vampire bites as I am prone to mosquito bites, you may want to consider his other discovery: a restorative fruit and vegetable juice that would simply nullify the effects of any bite! And it is lip-smacking good: red beets, oranges, pomegranates and mint. It looks like blood but tastes like ambrosia. With these two concoctions, you are guaranteed a safe Hallowwen weekend. Enjoy! Soup - one to 9 cups at $3/cup, 10 or more cups at $2.50/cup. Juice - 2 cups for $9. Email him to place your order.
EVENTS, CLUBS & PUBS – DAILY LISTINGS
THURSDAY OCTOBER 28 TO SUNDAY NOVEMBER 7
If there's a cover charge or tickets are sold, the prices are listed.
THURSDAY OCTOBER 28
Underpass Park Farmers’ Market - final day
4 to 7:30 pm (29 Lower River Street)
FRIDAY OCTOBER 29
Hallowe’en cocktails at Fusilli
6 pm, 531 Queen E, $40.
SATURDAY OCTOBER 30
October Fun Fest - DJ, Monster Mash dance, pumpkins and storytelling
1 to 3 pm, Big Park at the Bake Oven in Regent Park
Mystic Michael reads tarot cards
6 pm to closing, House on Parliament (454 Parliament)
SUNDAY OCTOBER 31 - HALLOWE’EN
Yoga Flow with Alex - indoors
10:30 am. Parliament Street Fitness (488 Parliament). Members are free, non-members welcome, $15.
MONDAY NOVEMBER 1
Trivia at Stout Irish Pub
7:30 pm, Headscratchers Trivia, hosted by Josh Fishbane. (221 Carlton)
Pumpkin Walk in Riverdale Park West
5 to 10 pm.
TUESDAY NOVEMBER 2
Trivia at Stout Irish Pub
7:30 pm, Headscratchers Trivia, hosted by Josh Fishbane. (221 Carlton)
WEDNESDAY NOVEMBER 3
Learn to Run classes with Manissa
7 am. Riverdale Park (Winchester and Sumach). Offered by Parliament Street Fitness. Members are free, non-members welcome for 8-week package at $50.
Enoch Turner Speaker’s Corner with Brian Stewart - Food Literacy
7 pm, Zoom.
THURSDAY NOVEMBER 4
No events are listed
FRIDAY NOVEMBER 5
All Purpose Flour - online dance performance by the students at School of Toronto Dance Theatre
7 pm, online link at Eventrite. Pay what you can.
SATURDAY NOVEMBER 6
No events are listed
SUNDAY NOVEMBER 7
Yoga Flow with Alex - indoors
10:30 am. Parliament Street Fitness (488 Parliament). Members are free, non-members welcome, $15.
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.
