May 5

 CABBAGETOWN NEIGHBOURHOOD 

REVIEW

A PERSONAL VIEW

Anniversary Park

The City of Toronto is starting consultations about the reconstruction of Gerrard Street between Sherbourne and Parliament including the strip beside Anniversary Park.  At the same time, the Cabbagetown BIA has undertaken a streetscape study about the park.  The BIA’s ideas cannot be completed unless the City incorporates them in the road work along Gerrard.  The cost would be far too high for the BIA and yet manageable for the City as part of the road budget.  For years, the City promised the BIA that its ideas for the park would be included in any major road project nearby. 

The City dropped the ball in 2018 when the TTC dug up Gerrard and Parliament for its track repairs.  As the map shows, the work wrapped right around the park.  The opportunity was lost then - nobody pursued the possibilities for renewing the park. The online consultation meeting on Tuesday May 17 is our opportunity to stress to City officials that we don’t want to be overlooked again. Details about the online meeting are here.

FEATURED ARTIST

Michael Cavanaugh

Michael’s powerful image, After The Rain.  Go to his page on Cabbagetown Artists to see the details and his contact info.

Cabbagetown Artists

This site introduces local artists to our local community.  There are currently four artists featured here.  More are coming soon.  In addition, these artists have been adding new images regularly.  It’s a site where you can happily browse and see works by people you know.  And you can purchase any that appeal to you. (This image: Victoria Hadden’s Spring III). 

LOCAL NEWS

The 2022 Forsythia Festival

Congrats to the organizers who put together the 2022 Festival. It was great to have it back. Good crowds showed up despite the chilly, wet weather.

The band and the parade launched everything successfully.

Mark and Alex sold over 300 hot dogs!

Erin’s beer garden gave the grown-ups a place for their traditional gossip.  

Kids enjoyed the magic show, the bouncy castle, the mechanical ride and the other games. It’s a lot of work and it was well done. Thanks, everybody!

Rebuilding Gerrard Street

The City of Toronto will repair and redesign sections of Gerrard Street in 2023.   The road between Sherbourne and Parliament will be reconstructed and between Parliament and Blackburn, the work in Regent Park provides an opportunity for further work in coordination with private developers.  A public consultation about the project is scheduled for Tuesday May 17 at 6:30 pm.  To register, click here. 

Ontario election

Do you want to work during the election?  Jobs are available - here’s the link.  

Hidden Gardens & Private Spaces

Another great community event is back.  The Hidden Gardens & Private Spaces tour takes place on Sunday June 5 from 10 am to 3 pm with 11 gardens on the program.  Several extra events are planned. The CBC’s gardening expert Paul Zammit will be there along with master gardeners who can answer your questions.  On June 5, many local merchants will offer special discounts to tour supporters.

Tickets for the garden tour

Tickets are now on sale, $20.  They’re available online after May 10 - credit card sales.  Five local stores are selling them - cash sales only.  Akasha Art (204D Carlton), Epicure Shop (473 Parliament), Fairway Variety (520 Parliament), Jay’s Garden Centre (360 Gerrard E) and Spruce Home Decor (455 Parliament).  Two other businesses outside the area are also selling them - Davenport Garden Centre (360 Davenport, 1465 Bayview and 903 Pape) and Sheridan Nurseries (2827 Yonge N).  

Volunteers needed

Volunteers are needed to help in the various gardens and activities along the way.  It’s a fun job and every volunteer gets a free ticket to the gardens on the tour. You can do a morning shift from 9:50 am to 1 pm or an afternoon from 12:50 to 4 pm.  Send your email to Helen Coltrinari. 

Streetscapes in Bloom

Every year, the Cabbagetown Preservation Association presents an award to a garden for its design and impact.  We can nominate any location in Cabbagetown, including our own - nominations are open now until Monday June 6.  Past winners and members of the CPA Board will visit each site four times during the gardening season.  For details about the awards and for a link to nominate your favourite, click here.

COMING EVENTS

Marilyn at Pet Valu

Marilyn from Diggity Dog Grooming (239 Gerrard E) is visiting Pet Valu (240 Carlton) for her regular nail grooming day on Saturday.  9 am to (whatever).  Bring your pets for a trim.  Please call (416) 920-6814 for a reservation.

Jane’s Walks

Jane’s Walks return this weekend from Friday May 6 to Sunday May 8.  Several are in our neighbourhood.  On Friday at 2 pm, Transforming Toronto’s East Bayfront - meet at Jarvis and Queen’s Quay E, south side.  On Saturday, at 2:30 pm, explore Public Art in the Canary District - meet at 434 Front Street East.  On Saturday, at 10:45 am, Revitalizing Toronto’s Waterfront - meet at the Jack Layton statue near the ferry dock, 9 Queen’s Quay W.  On Saturday at 10 am and Sunday at 2 pm, Shared Stories of Corktown - meet at Berkeley St beside 300 King E.  On Saturday and Sunday at 1 pm each day, Allan Gardens & its Eclectic Neighbours - meet at the southwest corner of Carlton and Sherbourne.  On Sunday at 10 am, see Three Centuries in Corktown - start from the Enoch Turner Schoolhouse (106 Trinity). Central Waterfront - meet at Sugar Beach (Lower Jarvis and Queen’s Quay E) at 10:30 am.  More walks cover other parts of Toronto.  Check the website.

Walking the Regent

Nathalie Prezeau is guiding a 3 km walk through the old and new sections of Regent Park. She’s a popular local author who’s written four walking guides to sites in Toronto.   It’ll start with a meet-n-greet at The Sumach (146 Sumach) followed by lunch on the Terrace and then the walk.   Thursday May 12, 10 am to 2 pm. Please register in advance by email or call (905) 597-7000.  

Spring plant sale and seed giveaway

Friends of Allan Gardens is holding this event on Sunday May 15 from 1 to 4 pm.  The plants on sale will include succulents, foliage plants, and vegetable seedlings for backyards and balconies for prices ranging from $5 to $15. Volunteers are also sharing seeds for herbs, veggies, flowers and native plants.  Master gardeners will be there to answer your questions.  Allan Gardens at the edible garden (near the playground at the west end of the park.)

Sunday in the Park

A celebration of Allan Gardens (Sherbourne and Carlton). Sunday May 15 from 1 to 4 pm.  A full agenda including the plant and seed sales.  There’ll be community booths, giveaways, a scavenger hunt, yoga, kids’ activities and more.  There’ll be an announcement of an Indigenous Artist in the Park. 

Save the date - Cabbagetown Preservation Association

The CPA will host its annual meeting at 7 pm on Thursday May 26. The event will be either online or in-person (at the Meeting House in Riverdale Farm).  The guest speaker will be Adam Brunch, author of Toronto Book of the Dead.  Meeting details will be announced as soon as possible.

Doors Open Toronto

On Saturday May 28 and Sunday May 29, intriguing buildings across the GTA will be open for public tours.  Free.  Several are in our neighbourhood.  St Peter & St Simon Church (525 Bloor E) - Saturday and Sunday.  The Daniels Spectrum (585 Dundas E) - Saturday and Sunday.  Toronto Humane Society (11 River)  - Saturday and Sunday. St Paul Basilica (83 Power) - Saturday and Sunday.  Little Trinity Church (425 King E) - Saturday and Sunday.  Enoch Turner Schoolhouse (106 Trinity) - Sunday.  Deaf Culture Centre (15 Mill St, Distillery) - Saturday and Sunday.  Details about each site are available online.

IN THE MEDIA

Reflections on national immunization week

Marcus Gee has written a column in the Globe & Mail about the impact of past epidemics.  He takes a trip through the Necropolis and uses examples from graves located there.  

Alex Bozikovic columns

Alex Bozikovic is the Globe & Mail’s architecture critic. He’s written two stories that cover Cabbagetown topics.  On May 2, he discussed the trend to new uses and innovative design in older church buildings - Saint Luke’s (Sherbourne and Carlton) is one example.  On May 3, he wrote about the new proposals for the development of the north end of Regent Park.  (Image:  Karakusevic Carson Architects/TCHC/Tridel),

THEATRE & DANCE NEWS

Is God Is

Presented by Canadian Stage at the Berkeley Street Theatre (26 Berkeley).  May 6 to May 22. Tickets and info are available online.  

This duet that we’ve already done (so many times)

Citadel + Compagnie (304 Parliament).  Choreographer, musician, dancer and jack of all trades Frédérick Gravel is joined by Brianna Lombardo.  May 5 to May 7, 8 pm. Tickets online, $25.

Acceleration 2022

Third-year students at the School of Toronto Dance (80 Winchester) will perform works by leading choreographers. In-person performances on May 5 and 6 at 8 pm and May 7 at 2 pm and 8 pm.   Program details and tickets are available here. 

Pipeline at Soulpepper

The Canadian premiere of this story by Dominique Morisseau runs at Soulpepper (50 Tank Home Lane, Distillery) to May 8.  She tells the story of a mother’s battle to give her son a better future.  Ticket sales and more info are online.

Verge

The Canadian Contemporary Dance Theatre (509 Parliament) is staging Verge at 8 pm on Friday May 27 and Saturday May 28.  The program features world premiere works by Deborah Lundmark Jennifer Archibald and Charlotte Boye-Christensen and favourites Reset by Roderick George and Arena by Colin Connor.  Fleck Dance Theatre (207 Queens Quay W).  For more info and tickets, click here.

IN OUR SHOPS

Welcome Lana

Lana Rebic is the new administrative and marketing coordinator at the Cabbagetown BIA.  She’ll be on staff there for the summer.  She’s a Cabbagetowner and a student at George Brown College.  The new park ideas will keep her summer busy.  Best wishes, Lana.

Congrats Anji

Blooming Flower Bar is participating in Fleurs de Villes FEMMES, a flower festival in Yorkville that runs until May 8. It celebrates the impact that powerful women have had on our world. Her mannequin featuring Viola Desmond is in the Manulife Centre. The festival happens throughout the Yorkville neighbourhood and features works by leading florists.

RESTAURANT NEWS

Mother’s Day

Dominion

Brunch features - eggs Royale or PB&J stuffed French toast. 500 Queen E

F’Amelia

Three course prix fixe for brunch $45 and three-course dinner for $59.  12 Amelia.

House on Parliament

There’ll be gifts for mom to enjoy along with a scrumptious brunch.  And prime rib dinner after 5 pm.  454 Parliament

Stout Irish Pub

Stout has lots of choices for Mother’s Day brunch - a full Irish breakfast for $18, a class Canadian $14, eggs Benedict $14, mushrooms Benedict $14 and a breakfast sandwich $16.  11 am to 2:30 pm, Saturday May 6 and Sunday May 7.  221 Carlton

Terroni

Make-your-own pizza kits, cannoli for dessert, Mille Foglie with strawberries and cream - just a few of Terroni’s Mother’s Day specials.    22 Sackville.

Cyril’s soup

Cyril’s soup this week is white chicken chilli.  He’s doing both a chicken and a vegan version.   It has white beans, tomatoes, corn, onions, carrots, celery and lots of spices.  The chicken version has chicken!  3 to 9 cups at $4/cup and 10 or more cups at $3.50/cup. The vegan version is meatless!   3 to 9 cups at $3 each or 10 and more cups at $2.50 each.  His juice is a summer blend of apples, basil and strawberries at $9 for 2 cups.  Email your order to him.