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 Gibson. Summer 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.
