March 24

This week’s image: On Scottish Moor, one of Victoria Hadden’s paintings featured in the new Cabbagetown Artists site.

CABBAGETOWN NEIGHBOURHOOD 

REVIEW

 

FEATURED ARTIST

Steve Frost 

With over 30 years experience as a professional photographer, Steve Frost remains a committed, enthusiastic fan of the medium. Steve considers photography to be about 80% preproduction and 20% serendipity, but in reality that 20% comes from a willingness to say ”What if….”

The Unseen - Lido Vaporetti 

Photographed in Venice September 2013 from the deck of the Lido 5.2 Vapoeretti. We had just spent the afternoon exploring the Jewish sector of Venice. Ghetto comes from the Italian/Venetian word, at the time, 'Geto' or steel works. The vaporettii water bus line, 5.2,  goes around Venice clockwise, on the outer side of the city. I loved the Unseen on the far building. I didn't see that until I arrived home.”

LOCAL NEWS

A new site for artists

Martha Preston does beautiful, delicate watercolours.  Check them out here.  While you’re looking at them, imagine having a set of five of them in your home.  

Here's Irene's picture of Amelia and Rawlings Lane.  Images by four talented Cabbagetown artists are on display at our new site - Michael Cavanaugh, Irene DeClute, Victoria Hadden and Martha Preston. More artists will be added regularly. Click here to visit the site. And email me to send back your comments. 

Feedback about our new site

Michael Cavanaugh painted Cabbagetown's variety store.  Many thanks for your comments.  Here are a few samples -

• “Congratulations on the launch of the new Cabbagetown Artists blog. Very exciting!” - David
• “I love the new Cabbagetown Artists blog - a great initiative” - Heather
• “Great idea.  Thanks for this.” - Cilla
• “This is genius!” - Gina
• “I think it is a terrific idea” - Gayle
• There have been lots more.  You get the idea.  Visit Cabbagetown Artists, click here and see for yourself. 

Lavazza IncluCity Festival

The Distillery will be home to outdoor theatres and events showcasing heartwarming films, visual art exhibits, installations and live performances - all part of the Italian Film Festival.  From June 27 to July 16.  The lineup and program will be published on May 26.  Early bird tickets will be available from April 20 and general admission tickets from May 26. For more information, click here. 

CYC progress report

Art Eggleton has sent along a few photos of the renovations now underway at the Cabbagetown Youth Centre (2 Lancaster).  He’s hoping that some programs will restart in May. That’s good news.

Cabbagetown flag

Christopher carried his flag to Macchu Picchu and waved it proudly. In the past, it’s been flown on Mount Kilimanjaro, Norway, Goa,, Cuba, Iceland, France, Pompeii, Manitoulin Island and even Burlington Ontario.  It’s fun - just get a flag at the Cabbagetown BIA office (237 Carlton), $35.  Take it on your trip, snap a photo and email your picture to the Cabbagetown Neighbourhood Review.  You’ll be famous!

Friends of Allan Gardens

Gardeners at Allan Gardens (Jarvis and Carlton) have been planting Spring blooming bulbs both inside and outside the Conservatory - daffodils, tulips, hyacinth and more..  It’s open every day now from 10 am to 5 pm.  COVID restrictions have been lifted and masks are no longer necessary.

Skating info

The three public rinks in our neighbourhood have closed.  All City rinks finished on Sunday March 20.  Our local rink, The Wink, finished its season on March 5.

COMING EVENTS

Tour downtown Budapest with Zsuzsi Hejja

The Sumach’s (146 Sumach) is offering virtual events in its Fit, Fun and Food series.  The second one visits Heroes Square, St Stephen’s Basilica, Szechenyl Chain Bridge and more in this beautiful city.  Free,  March 30,  11 am.  Register online here.

MapleLicious - save the date

The Cabbagetown BIA is holding its big MapleLicious celebration on Sunday April 3, from 3 pm, Carlton and Parliament. There’ll be a live band, gourmet maple taffy on snow, a crepe station with maple syrup and the colourful, popular photo wall.

Clean Toronto Together

The annual Spring clean-up happens this year from April 22 to 24.  Local groups and associations are asked to register with the City of Toronto before April 15 in order to arrange litter pick-ups. 

The 2022 Forsythia Festival

The Festival is back for live in-person participation on Sunday May 1.  The parade will begin at 10 am and the Wellesley Park events will run from 11 am to 3 pm. Details will come soon.  It’s a big job to complete in just seven weeks.  Katie Tozier is this year’s lead organizer.   If you’d like to help, send an email to Katie. (Poster:  Ava Stipe, Lily Finkelstein and Charlotte Finkelstein)

Volunteer at the garden tour

The 2022 Hidden Gardens & Private Spaces 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.  

Save these dates

Gina Dineen has announced dates for the Cabbagetown Short Film Festival.  It’s in two parts.  The live gala event happens on Wednesday September 7.  The online broadcast is a followup on September 8 to 10.  Applications for films are being received now and the deadline for submissions is July 15.  

Randy Brown is going ahead again with the Cabbagetown Art & Crafts show in Riverdale Park on the weekend of September8, 9 and 10. There are two deadlines for submissions - Thursday March 31 and Tuesday May 31.    

IN THE MEDIA

Tony Brady

The Forsythia Festival grew out of Tony’s imagination in the 1970s. His sister,  Joanna Brady Schmida, has written about him in a charming story that appears in the recent Parliament Street News.

YOUR ANNOUNCEMENTS

Job opportunity

Fix-It Friend (208 Gerrard E) is looking for a new team member.  It’s a small handyman business operating in downtown Toronto. The person who joins will receive lots of hands-on, on-the-job training and will become an independent team member.  They’re looking for someone who is a good people-person with lots of pride in the skilled trades.  Check out their website for the list of qualifications and for the application form. 

Rental at The Hub

Unit 2 is available for immediate occupancy.  It’s located on the ground floor of The HubTO (208 Gerrard E).  650 square feet with 8 foot double doors and close to the 10 foot street level garage doors.  For rental info, check the website. 

KIDS EVENTS

Cycling with kids

Learn from the experiences of other parents and share your own knowledge. Four sessions are planned - the first one is online on Sunday April 3 at 3 pm and the next three are in-person on Sunday April 24, Saturday May 28 and Saturday June 18.  Location and times for the in-person sessions TBA.  For more information and registration, click here. For questions and concerns, send an email. 

THEATRE & DANCE NEWS

Acceleration 2022 - Rescheduled

New dates have been set for this performance - May 4 to 7.  Eleven third-year students at the School of Toronto Dance (80 Winchester) will perform works by leading choreographers. Tickets are limited - safety procedures against COVID transmission are in effect.  Program details and tickets are available here. The School will contact current ticket holders for the March performances.

New Tricks

Christopher House uses costumes, disguise, props and 44 years of choreographic research to explore ways of moving.   Citadel (304 Parliament), March 24, 25 and 26 at 8 pm, March 27 at 4 pm and March 30 and 31, April 1 & 2, 8 pm.  Tickets $25.  More info and tickets are available online.

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.

Other People

Canadian Stage (26 Berkeley) welcomes Daniel Brooks in his play about a man recently diagnosed with a terminal disease who is in a silent retreat.  March 20 to April 3.  Click here for details and tickets.  

RESTAURANT NEWS

L’Avenue

Elora Walrond is one of the owners of this new restaurant at Amelia and Parliament.  She reports that work is now happening on interior finishes and in the kitchen.  She has a target opening set for May.  She’s preparing a Mediterranean menu.  Her plans for an outside patio have been put on hold by a neighbour’s complaint.  The liquor licence will be issued once the inside work is done.

More compliments

Johnny Gs (478 Parliament) has had another favourable review.  James reports that the food is good, the service is very friendly and the restaurant is very clean.

Karaoke is back

Alice’s Place (554 Parliament) has revived its popular karaoke evenings.  The first one is scheduled for Friday March 25 at 9 pm.

Confusion

Announcements have popped up about a new bakery/cafe planned for Berkeley and Gerrard, presumably in the former home of the Children’s Book Bank (350 Berkeley).  A phone call to Cafe Jules Patisserie on Mount Pleasant - the business rumoured to be our future benefactor - resulted in a denial.  The person who answered the call said that Jules had no plans for this location. It’s a loss for us - they have yummy stuff.

CafeTO

This popular and successful project to help the food industry is back again for 2022.  Restaurants and pubs are reminded that the application deadline for CafeTO is only a week away on April 2.  Contact the Cabbagetown BIA if you want to participate.  (416) 921-0857.  The City of Toronto has detailed info on its website.

Cyril’s soup

Cyril is doing a mushroom barley soup with squash and white beans.  One to nine cups, $3/cup.  Ten or more, $2.50/cup.  His juice is pear, pomegranates and cantaloupe, $9 for two cups.  Place your order with Cyril by email.