February 24

This week’s image: the Don River filled up to the top of its banks on Tuesday February 22.




CABBAGETOWN NEIGHBOURHOOD 

REVIEW

 



FEATURED ARTIST


February is a month full of love  

To celebrate, five local artists have agreed to send along an image full of love.  This week, Marion Voysey has sent her photograph of two young people.  You can reach Marion here.  


LOCAL NEWS


Floods on the Don River

Over the past week, water levels have increased in the Don. Bayview Ave south of River and the lower Don Valley Parkway are vulnerable. Although the river receded on Thursday toward more normal levels, the trail on the west side of the river is quite wet and the river banks are cold and slippery. We’re advised to stay away until the shore dries up.

Tasha Kheiriddin

Ms Kheiriddin is considering a run for the federal Conservative leadership.  She’s a Cabbagetown resident, a Principal (on leave) at Navigator Inc and a Tory activist.  Although she doesn’t have a seat in Parliament, she’s a well-known party member and campaign advisor.  She’s fluently bilingual and a political moderate.  She has a hefty resume as a lawyer, a media commentator, an author and an academic lecturer.  Check out her full story online here and follow her progress on Twitter and on Facebook.  

Residents’ petition about The Beer Store

The Georgian is a new condo that’s been approved for the old Beer Store site (227 Gerrard E).  The Beer Store plans to replace its store with a big new one that will occupy most of the ground floor space allocated to retail.  This has come as a disappointment for local residents who had hoped for a smaller boutique store.  They fear that the bigger store will simply bring back all the disruptions that centred on the old location.  They’ve started a petition to oppose this plan.  Click here to sign it. (Photo:  Cabbagetown South Residents Association). 

Meeting with the developers and The Beer Store


Rick Matthews reports that Councillor Kristyn Wong Tam, residents from Cabbagetown South, the Cabbagetown heritage committee, Stafford Homes, staff from the City of Toronto and The Beer Store met to discuss the new store. Residents asked for a smaller store located in the middle of the building. They also want two-way traffic on both Ontario and Seaton north of the new lane behind the building and bump-outs to prevent trucks from turning into the residential area. The heritage committee presented reactions to the building’s materials and design. 

Hidden Gardens & Private Spaces
The 2022 garden tour is happening on Sunday June 5. Organizers are now looking for gardens to include and for volunteers. It’s a popular Spring event sponsored by the Cabbagetown Preservation Association. If you’d like to be included, please email either Sarah or Helen.

Cabbagetown Festival

The Parliament Street portion of the Festival may return this year on the usual date, September 10 and 11. It’s been closed for two years by the COVID lockdown rules.  The Cabbagetown BIA Board is discussing the event and the type of program that it’ll offer. Several people have mentioned that a fresh approach is needed - the old format with street vendors, roadside patios and entertainment is getting shopworn.  It’s a good time to tell the BIA any ideas that you may have for the event - email here.

Skating at The Wink

The weather has cooled again and the Wink has opened again on Thursday. There are spots available for skating on the weekend.  Click here for updates and for reservations. (Photo: Parliament Street News)

Updates - public skating rinks

Our three nearby rinks are open on Thursday February 24 - Riverdale Park East (550 Broadview), Regent Park Athletic Grounds (480 Shuter) and Sherbourne Common (5 Lower Sherbourne), Check out the City’s website for up-to-date info at each rink.

Toboggan hill in the park

Doreen took this photo on Tuesday showing how incredibly slippery the hill has become in Riverdale Park.  (Photo:  Doreen Fumia).

Enoch Turner and the Blackburn Family

The Blackburns were escaped slaves who reached Toronto in 1834 and created prosperous lives for themselves.  Enoch Turner was an immigrant, a businessman and a brewer.  Their lives were connected.  The Enoch Turner Schoolhouse has posted an essay about their fascinating stories.  (Photo: Karolyn Smardz Frost - the Blackburns’ grave in the Necropolis). 


COMING EVENTS


Celebrating Black Art & Culture

The Regent Park School of Music is hosting a Zoom recital with faculty and students on Sunday February 27 at 1 pm. Click here to register.


IN THE MEDIA


New fence at Dundas & Sherbourne

Scott Laurie has reported in the Toronto Sun on the fencing erected by Toronto Community Housing  around its William Dennison building (310 Dundas E). The facility houses seniors and has often been plagued by crowds and rowdy behaviour out front.  Click here to read his story.  (Photo:  Scott Laurie, Toronto Sun).


KIDS EVENTS


Hoot & howl

The Toronto  & Region Conservation Authority is hosting a Zoom event about owls and coyotes in the Toronto area.  Thursday February 24, 6:30 to 8 pm.  It’s aimed at viewers of all ages.  Click here to register.

Two kids’ programs at Central Neighbourhood House

Central Neighbourhood House (349 Ontario Street) is holding a March Break camp for kids 7 to 12 years of age.  March 14 to 18.  $15 per day. The Kidz Klub is a free after-school program providing a safe place for kids to meet friends and to enjoy games, sports, arts and crafts.  And there’s a healthy snack.  Please email Maleeka Black or call her at (416) 797-5043 for more info and registration for each program.

Children’s Book Bank

The Book Bank’s new home in the Daniels Spectrum (585 Dundas E) is a bright comfy space. It’s open now.  Monday and Friday - open for school groups only, 10 am to 3 pm.  Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday - drop ins, 10 am to 6 pm. Saturday - drop-ins from 10 am to 3 pm.  Closed on Sundays. (Photo - staff members Lori and Roxanne).


IN OUR STORES


The Great Mallard

The Great Mallard (503 Parliament) is Cabbagetown’s home for unique vendors and products.  This week, try Nature Lion’s gourmet mushroom growing kit.  You’ll get four crops from one box.  Reviewers on the company’s website say that it’s a fun way to enjoy a tasty homegrown meal. And while you’re there, find out about Christine’s plans for MapleLicious.

Parliament Street Fitness

Life is getting back to normal again for PSF (488 Parliament).  Appointments are available for registered massage therapy - Paul is booking Tuesday through Saturday, including evenings.  HIIT classes, outdoor running classes and yoga are all scheduled.  Monthly memberships are $99 with no initiation or cancellation fees.  Click here to see the Facebook page.   


THEATRE & DANCE NEWS


On Air

Citadel (304 Parliament) launches its new in-person season with Heidi Strauss’ On Air - a conversation between three women.  8 pm, February 26.    Live streaming available also on February 25.  Buy tickets here.

The Resistible Rise of Arturo Ui

Bertolt Brecht’s play is presented by Canadian Stage (26 Berkeley) for two-days, February 25 and 26. Details and tickets are available here.

The War Being Waged

Native Earth (Daniels Spectrum, 585 Dundas E)  presents an online production about three generations of Indigenous women.  One woman becomes an activist while her brother goes to war. A grandmother raises her granddaughter with love, in community.  And a granddaughter full of turmoil finds her voice.  March 1 to April 3. For tickets and more info, click here.

Nested

Alumnae Theatre (70 Berkeley) opens its live productions with Liz Best’s Nested.  Elaine and David have sold their family home, their kids are away and Grandma Rose is going to a retirement home. March 2 to 13.  More info and tickets - click here.


YOUR ANNOUNCEMENTS


Earring

Earring found on Sunday February 13th in St. James Cemetery. If it's yours, please email James Wood or call him at (647) 701-7162.


RESTAURANT NEWS


LJS Khasos

Sadly, LJS Khasos (507 Parliament) has closed. It’s been a struggle for the new owners over the past year as COVID held back their efforts to promote and grow their business.

Cyril’s soup

This week, it’s curried zucchini - with zucchini. potatoes, coconut milk, onions and curry powder.  Juice is apple, carrot and ginger.  Soup is $3/cup for 2 to 9 cups and $2.50 for 10 or more.  Juice is $9/two cups.  Email him to place your order.  

February 17

This week’s image:  A red-tail hawk drifted past one of the new bridges at Villiers Island on the waterfront.  As the area is transformed, wildlife will find new homes here. (Photo:  Waterfront Toronto)




CABBAGETOWN NEIGHBOURHOOD 

REVIEW

 



FEATURED ARTIST


February is a month full of love  

To celebrate, five local artists have agreed to send along an image full of love. This week, Steve Yeates sent us a watercolour and ink image of his two cats when they were kittens and crammed themselves in their basket to go to sleep.


LOCAL NEWS


Beer Store controversy

The Beer Store has announced that it will open a 7000 square foot store in the new building going up at its old Gerrard Street site (227 Gerrard). Negotiations between the Cabbagetown South Residents Association and the developers have gone on for several years. The previous owners, Rosewater Capital Group, sold the property to Stafford Homes. Construction is expected to start later this year. The Beer Store will occupy most of the ground floor space allocated to retail. Details can be seen online here.(Photo: Brien Keith Convery)


The reaction from the residents

The old Beer Store was the centre of considerable disruption in the surrounding area.  The Cabbagetown South Residents Association feels that a big new store will continue those problems and it’s asking for a much smaller store instead.  For several years, the Association has negotiated with the developer to refine the building’s design. The Beer Store management was not meaningfully engaged in these discussions until former MPP Glen Murray intervened.  The residents’ position is outlined on the CSRA website.  (Photo:  Cabbagetown South Residents Association) 


The Beer Store’s view

The Beer Store says that this store is a regular size, that thousands of customers use it every week and that its employees are sensitive to the problems experienced in the nearby community. It also claims that it has participated in numerous community consultations. On the central issue about disruptions in the neighbourhood, the Beer Store notes that it’s sympathetic about problems of addiction and homelessness and that it supports efforts by the police, health authorities and the City of Toronto to tackle these problems. Click on the images to read the full statement.


Residents’ petition

Over the past week, residents have started a petition in opposition to the Beer Store’s proposal.  Click here to sign it.  (Photo:  Cabbagetown South Residents Association). 


Quayside

The Quayside area on the Waterfront is located just west of Parliament and Queen’s Quay.  It’s the place where Alphabet, one of Google’s companies, was once developing its city of the future.  Waterfront Toronto has now selected a new developer - Quayside Impact made up of Dream Unlimited and Great Gulf.  The plan calls for 4300 residential units, 1000 of which will be affordable rentals or for sale below market rates.  There’ll be a two-acre forested courtyard, a huge midrise building made from mass timber, a performing arts space and a new park. Click here to read Waterfront Toronto’s statement about its plan. Alex Bozikovic has written about Waterfront Toronto’s plan in the Globe & Mail. (Image:  Globe & Mail)


Food security fundraiser

Six local groups have joined together again to raise funds for Dixon Hall’s Neighbours Helping Neighbours campaign.  Last year’s fundraiser collected over $13,000.  To learn more and to contribute, click here and follow the links.


The fridge

Don’t forget the community fridge.  Donations are needed now - it’s cold and wintry outside.  Drop off some butter, milk, individual yogurts, cheese, eggs fruit and veggies.  499 Parliament.


Skating at The Wink

On February 17, The Wink is temporarily closed due to the warm and unsettled weather. Plans are in place to open again for the weekend. Click here for updates and for reservations.


Updates - public skating rinks

Our three nearby rinks are open on Thursday February 17 - Riverdale Park East (550 Broadview), Regent Park Athletic Grounds (480 Shuter) and Sherbourne Common (5 Lower Sherbourne), Check out the City’s website for up-to-date info at each rink.


Cabbagetown Regent Park Museum Historical Tidbit

By Sally GibsonSummer and winter, newspapers featured the polar bears at Riverdale Zoo as a kind of thermometer. In summer, the poor creatures were shown to be stretched out in their tiny pool to cool off. And in winter, they were celebrated as being content in super-cold weather, splashing among their tiny ice floes, while mere humans were said to be quivering in their boots and britches. Nevertheless, if you look at the top of this photo from February 15, 1973, you can see lots of human legs, a testament to the year-round popularity of the bears.  (Image:  Polar bear at Riverdale Zoo in its element, TPL Toronto Star, Reg Innell.)


COMING EVENTS


MapleLicious is here

The Cabbagetown BIA will launch its new Maple event on Family Day, Monday February 21, at St Jamestown Steak & Chops (516 Parliament).  Drop by in the afternoon and stand in front of the photo wall.  Marion Voysey will be there to snap your pic.  Watch for food, drinks and decorations in businesses in the BIA - MapleLicious will run until Sunday April 3.


Metrolinx and the Don Valley Layover

Don’t Mess with the Don is sponsoring a webinar about Metrolinx’ plans for a rail layover in the Don Valley.  Wednesday, February 23, 7 pm.  For info about the service facility and its impact, click here.  To register for the webinar, click here.


IN OUR STORES


Vacations at St Jamestown Steak & Chops

Mark is taking a break between Monday February 21 and Sunday February 27.  The store will reopen on Monday February 28.  516 Parliament


Children’s Book Bank

The Book Bank has a new home in the Daniels Spectrum (585 Dundas E).  Monday and Friday - open for school groups only, 10 am to 3 pm.  Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday - drop ins, 10 am to 6 pm. Saturday - drop-ins from 10 am to 3 pm.  Closed on Sundays.


Menagerie

Menagerie Pet Shop (549 Parliament) is now using DoorDash.  There are no fees at this time and the prices listed are the same as the store prices.  Check the website for the February specials - 40% off.  


Fair Trade Jewellery

Sweet studs for every day wear. These feature Montana sapphires and offer a pretty hint of colour. Take your pick from yellow or rose gold - both are available in the Ready to Wear collection.  576 Parliament.


Cycle Solutions

Get your bike into the shop for your annual tune-up.  Do it now and beat the Spring rush.  444 Parliament.


THEATRE & DANCE NEWS


At Arm’s Length

The annual choreographic workshop by students at the School of Toronto Dance Theatre (80 Winchester) is an in-person event happening at 8 pm on Friday February 18 and Saturday February 19.  These eleven new dance works were choreographed by third-year students and produced by second-year students.  For tickets and more program details, click here.


On Air

Citadel (304 Parliament) launches its new in-person season with Heidi Strauss’ On Air - a conversation between three women.  8 pm, February 18 and 19, 23 and 26.    Live streaming available also on February 25.  Buy tickets here.


The Resistible Rise of Arturo Ui

Bertolt Brecht’s play is presented by Canadian Stage (26 Berkeley) for two-days, February 25 and 26. Details and tickets are available here.


The War Being Waged

Native Earth (Daniels Spectrum, 585 Dundas E)  presents an online production about three generations of Indigenous women.  One woman becomes an activist while her brother goes to war. A grandmother raises her granddaughter with love, in community.  And a granddaughter full of turmoil finds her voice.  March 1 to April 3. For tickets and more info, click here.


Nested

Alumnae Theatre (70 Berkeley) opens its live productions with Liz Best’s Nested.  Elaine and David have sold their family home, their kids are away and Grandma Rose is going to a retirement home. March 2 to 13.  More info and tickets - click here.


YOUR ANNOUNCEMENTS


Wedding ring

This ring was discovered in a snow bank on Smith Gemmell Lane (between Naismith and Sumach) about three weeks ago.  Enquires in this neighbourhood have come up dry.  If you think you know its true owner, please email Alan.  Thanks to Keith for his efforts to locate the ring’s owner. 


Earring

Earring found on Sunday February 13th in St. James Cemetery. If it's yours, please email James Wood or call him at (647) 701-7162.


RESTAURANT NEWS


Family Day at Dominion

Dominion Pub & Kitchen (500 Queen E) is organizing a Family Day brunch.  10:30 am to 3 pm.  Free hot chocolate for your kids and entertainment from 1 to 4 pm.


Blondies is opening

Blondies Pizza (419 Parliament) is opening on Friday February 18.  The storefront has been there for a while. Along with the other Blondies, it’s offering four new pies as well as its regular menu.  


Kimchi Express

Gail Gordon Oliver gave this new restaurant a try and was very pleased with her order. She says that her meal was wonderful  - pork bone soup and assorted shrimp and tempura.  Her comments on Facebook inspired a couple of others who also gave it great reviews.  The menu is Korean - click here to see it. 358 Gerrard 


Cyril’s soup


Cyril’s soup this week is “an Indian vegetable stew…another one of these ‘kitchen sink’ kinds of soups; most vegetables will work. I'll probably go with something along the lines of chickpeas, potatoes, sweet potatoes, zucchini, cauliflower, peas, and spinach. The most important part is the sauce in which the vegetables will simmer. Tomatoes and coconut milk blended together with onions and cashews will act as flavour carriers for a slew of spices: coriander, cumin, curry powder, garam masala, garlic, ginger, tamarind, turmeric... and I will even throw in my Indian version of a bouquet garni (cardamom, chilis, cloves, curry leaves, and mustard seeds wrapped together in a cheesecloth bundle). Just picture a Bollywood dance scene in your mouth.“  His juice has apple, pineapple and celery.  Soup is $3/cup for 2 to 9 cups and $2.50 for 10 or more.  Juice is $9/two cups.  Email him to place your order.