December 22

This week’s image: Salisbury in the winter, painting by Irene DeClute.

CABBAGETOWN NEIGHBOURHOOD 

REVIEW

 

BEST WISHES FOR THE HOLIDAYS

Eat, drink and be merry!  And have a healthy and joyous holiday season.

CHRISTMAS IS HERE

Congrats to The Irv

Originally, The Irv (195 Carlton) planned to hold an outdoor Santa visit last weekend but the new COVID restrictions stopped that idea.  The food, toy  and clothing drive went ahead anyway.  Over 400 pounds of food were collected along with $550 in cash donations used to purchase grocery gift cards.  A great idea, great perseverance and great supporters.

Get your turkey

St Jamestown Steak & Chops (516 Parliament) still has a limited supply of turkeys in the 16 to 18 pound range.  If you’ve ordered yours for pick-up, please get to the store before 2 pm on Friday.

Christmas lights contest - last chance to vote

An amazing number of homes are being decorated for the Christmas season.  Lights, ribbons, wreathes and inflatables are popping up every where. Once again, the Cabbagetown Residents Association is organizing a community contest to select the best home display.  Voting happens until December 26.  For more information, check out the CRA website.

Distillery Winter Village

The Distillery’s annual Christmas celebration continues until December 31, closed December 24, 25 and 26. Vendors, fine dining and snack cabins.  Open from Tuesday to Sunday - safety requirements include masks and proper government vaccination ID. The Distillery’s regular retailers and restaurants are open seven days a week.  Tickets are required for Friday, Saturday and Sunday - $8.  Click here to visit the Distillery’s website.

LOCAL NEWS

A sad closure

The Tilted Dog (424 Parliament) will close permanently after December 31.  Its owners are offering it for sale.  “The Dog” was home to lively entertainment, community Christmas carol singing and good companionship.  It will be missed. Thanks to Tiffany and Sean for creating a classic pub and best wishes to them for their future projects.

Bike lanes on Bayview

The bike lane on Bayview from Rosedale Valley Road to River Street has been approved for permanent use.  City Council approved these routes at its meeting on December 16. No word yet about the lower stretch of Bayview between River and Mill Street.  This section was closed on weekends in the summer for the ActiveTO program.

Public skating rinks

Two public rinks in our local parks are open on Wednesday December 22  - Regent Park Athletic Grounds (480 Shuter) and Riverdale Park East (550 Broadview). Weather conditions continue to make the ice unsafe for skating at Sherbourne Common (5 Lower Sherbourne), Check out the City’s website for up-to-date info on openings and closures at each rink.

Community fridge

Organizers have put out a call for non-perishable food, menstrual products and dental supplies.  Please make your donation.  Outside Cabbagetown Organics (499 Parliament)

It doesn’t take much snow.

Brook and Blair in Wellesley Park

Lots of families in Riverdale Park

Cabbagetown Regent Park Museum Historical Tidbit

By Sally Gibson.  Any Victorian Cabbagetown child would have been delighted to see this exquisite miniature tea set under the Christmas tree. Originally created in England, the hand-painted and gilt-edged items included a 4 1/4 inch tea pot and 2 1/4 inch tea cups - all fit for Alice in Wonderland’s Mad Hatter and the local boy or girl. Maybe some 21^st century kids will see a miniature tea set under their tree. Merry Christmas to one and all from the Cabbagetown Regent Park Museum.  (Image:  Victorian Miniature Tea Set,  Carol Moore-Ede/CRPMuseum)

YOUR ANNOUNCEMENTS

Porter’s handywoman services

Many of us know Alicia Porter from her entertaining appearances in Cabbagetown’s pubs.  She’s also doing a home repair service.  If you need small jobs completed, send her an email.

Cleaning services

Faye runs a cleaning service in Cabbagetown.  She’s available now.  You can contact her at (647) 786-4593.

Cat sitting

Are you looking for someone to take care of your furry feline?  Look no further than your own neighbourhood. Victoria van der Meulen has been a Cabbagetown cat sitter for over twenty years and she still has openings for the Christmas holidays.  From afternoon cuddles to administration of medicines, she’s equipped to handle any cat and its particular needs.  Email her for more info.

Apartment for rent

Available January 1.  Spacious one-bedroom Cabbagetown basement apartment, fully furnished.  Private entrance through gorgeous garden, high-ceiling living room with dining space and kitchen, dressing room, bathroom with big shower, full sized washer/dryer, bedroom, and use of part of the garden.  Startlingly tranquil, Ideal location.  $1700/month including utilities and high-speed wifi.  Quiet reliable person with references.  Prefer long-term but short-term possible (one-month minimum). Send an email to contact Beth.

IN THE MEDIA

The Regent Park Project

Kirthana Sasitharan has written a story for CBC News about the Regent Park Project - a program aimed at bringing opportunities in film making to young people ages 15 to 26 in Regent Park.  (Photo:  Paul Borkwood/CBC)

Protesters on the Bloor Viaduct

Protesters supporting the Wet’suwet’en people in their opposition to the pipeline plans in the BC mountains closed the Bloor Viaduct at noon on Sunday December 19. A second group blocked the streets at Yonge and Dundas later in the day.  Nick Lachance wrote a brief account in NOW Magazine.  (Photo:  Nick Lachance, NOW Magazine)

BUSINESS NEWS

Kohl Strawford 

Kohl is one of the vendors at The Great Mallard County Market (503 Parliament).  Kohl makes charcuterie boards, serving trays and tables from black walnut or maple and colourful epoxy.   His pieces can be seen on Instagram, @westernskywoodco. 

THEATRE NEWS

Capacity restrictions

Canadian Stage (26 Berkeley) expects that the new restrictions will affect its staging of Solaris (Bluma Appel Theatre) and its dance production, Miigis: Underwater Panther. (26 Berkeley). Each ends on February 6.  Native Earth (585 Dundas E) is using online video to present its programs from Weesageechak 34 until December 31.   Soulpepper’s Golden Record starts the year on February 9 followed by the Ex-Boyfriend Yard Sale on February 11 - no word yet about capacity restrictions.

CHRISTMAS DINNERS

Several restaurants are preparing Christmas dinners for pickup.  Please note the order and pickup deadlines for each of them.  

Cranberries (601 Parliament)

Cranberries’ lovely Christmas feast is a takeout event this year.  It’s a three course menu — soup or salad, roast turkey with all the traditional extras and pudding for dessert.  All done with Siva’s magic touch.  Call (416) 925-6330 before Friday. The restaurant is closed on Friday.  Pickup on Saturday. $38 per person. 

F’Amelia (12 Amelia)

Two scrumptious choices for your holiday dinner - roast turkey roulade or slow braised brisket.  Each choice includes a bottle of primitivo or pinot grigio.  Serves four. The meals are cooked and delivered cold - ready for reheating at your home. Please order before December 22 for pick up ion December 23 - $250. (416) 363-0666 or email.

House on Parliament (454 Parliament)

Christmas dinner done with the HOP's good cooking. Turkey with Yukon gold mash potatoes, apple, sausage, sage and pecan stuffing, veggies, cranberry chutney and gravy, $26.  Add a sticky toffee dessert, 9.  Call (416) 925-4074 to reserve by December 23.  Pickup on Friday December 24 from 4 to 6 pm.

The Irv (195 Carlton)

Enjoy a turkey dinner with all the traditional extras and a sticky toffee dessert.  Pick-up on Friday December 24 from 10 am to 1 pm.  To order, send an email.  $29

EVENTS, CLUBS & PUBS – DAILY LISTINGS

THURSDAY DECEMBER 23 TO SUNDAY JANUARY 2

The event calendar will return next week with listings for New Year’s Eve.