CABBAGETOWN NEIGHBOURHOOD
REVIEW
A PERSONAL VIEW
Usually, this space is reserved for my opinions. This week’s comment comes from Beth Kaplan who wrote an email to the Cabbagetown BIA and copied me. “I rode my bike to Parliament Street today to see what music was on. It was George Crotty playing his cello, the magnificent Bach’s Unaccompanied. I sat and enjoyed an hour-long concert of such fineness, it brought tears to my eyes. Traffic roaring by, passersby paying no attention, and the world’s greatest music pouring out in the middle of Parliament Street. Thank you! It was an incredible treat. I love the park, love the music; it’s fantastic what you’re doing…”
CABBAGETOWN ARTISTS
This site introduces local artists to our local community. Six artists are featured here. They’ve 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, The Yellow Table)
CABBAGETOWN FESTIVAL WEEKEND
Blair’s Run
It’s back. Over $53,000 was raised last year to support the Cabbagetown Youth Centre and Toronto Kiwanis Boys & Girls Club. You can participate with the classic 2 km run/walk or choose your own freestyle event. Teams and participants can do their event together. Do your stuff from Friday September 9 to Sunday September 18. Once you’ve decided, register with the details ($20 fee) and start to fundraise for the Cabbagetown Youth Centre (all donations over $20 get a tax receipt.) The cutoff for the team registrations is Sunday September 17 at noon. There’ll be a celebration in Sprucecourt School yard on Sunday September 18 at 3 pm. More info is available online at the website and updates on Twitter.
The Cabbagetown Short Film Festival
The in-person Live Gala happens on Wednesday September 7 at the Winchester Dance Theatre (80 Winchester). The program will also be screened online from September 8 to 15. Tickets for each event are $15. Gina Dineen says that there are lots of comedies on the program. Tickets will be available next week and the website with program info will be launched soon as well.
The Art & Crafts show
Riverdale Park (375 Sumach between Carlton and Winchester). It starts on Friday September 9 at 1 pm and continues through Saturday and Sunday. 180 art and craft vendors and nine food vendors will display their works. Jazz musicians will play at noon each day. Food from Cabbagetown rstaurants. Check the website for detailed listings.
Cabbagetown Festival on Parliament
Come to Parliament Street between 11 am and 9 pm on Sunday September 11 for a day-long entertainment extravaganza sponsored by the Cabbagetown BIA. Franks & Beans have already signed up - from 2 to 5 pm. More to come! The photo is a trip down memory lane. This year, it’ll have a new face and it'll be a final wrap-up for Parkscape.
LOCAL NEWS
Register at the Cabbagetown Community Arts Centre
The Fall season starts on September 12 at the CCAC (422 Parliament). The music program is at the heart of the CCAC’s activities. There are one-on-one lessons in several instruments. Music theatre is returning and there’s an adult class on Poetry in Motion. Group programs include art and music theory. Go to the website for details, schedules and fees.
Boat tours of the waterfront
Waterfront Toronto is organizing one-hour boat tours of the waterfront on August 20 and 27 at 1:15 pm. Meet at the York Slip at the MV Shipsands boat. The tour will touch on waterfront history, the revitalization and the vision for the future. Early demand for a ride was very strong. Reservations are not available - seats are limited and filled on a first-come, first-served basis.
Volunteer at the Waterfront
Waterfront Toronto and the Waterfront BIA are forming a volunteer corps. It’ll tackle all kinds of projects to make the waterfront cleaner, safer and more vibrant. The first job is a community clean-up day on September 10. Visit the Waterfront Toronto online volunteer form. You’ll be contacted about future projects.
Good news - ActiveTO
Great routes for cyclists and pedestrians. Bayview from Rosedale Valley Road south to Lawren Harris Square and River Street down to Bayview will both be closed on the weekend - Saturday from 7 am to Sunday at 7 pm. Check last minute details online.
Our two Farmers’ Markets
Both markets also have plenty of fresh farm produce - peaches, corn, tomatoes and green veggies are all arriving now. The Cabbagetown Farmers’ Market In Riverdale Park West (Sumach at Winchester) is open every Tuesday from 3 to 7:30 pm. Underpass Park Farmers’ Market (29 Lower River Street) in Corktown is open on Thursdays from 4 to 7:30 pm.
IN THE MEDIA
An architectural guide
The Financial Times has published a spin-off called FT Globetrotter. This issue highlights architectural gems in the city. Three of them are right here - The Cube House (1 Sumach Street), the Cabbagetown neighbourhood and the Allan Gardens Conservatory (19 Horticultural Ave). It’s a fun story - read it here. (Photo: Nathan Cyprys)
St James Cemetery
Tracey Tong has written about the history and activities in St James Cemetery (635 Parliament). It’s Toronto’s oldest functioning cemetery where more than 224,000 people are buried. Recently, repairs and rebuilding have improved the slopes in the grounds and upgraded the crematorium. Read her Toronto Star article here. (Photo: Wikipedia)
Linda Manzer’s Sunflower Guitar
Brad Wheeler has picked up the story of Linda Manzer’s guitar for the Ukraine. He describes its journey through the hands of several musicians and its fundraising purpose. His article appeared in the Globe & Mail. A thanks, again, to Brenda Brown McNee for the tip to this story. (Photo: Handout)
COMING EVENTS
Cabbagetown Walks
Sunday August 21, 10 am. Gilles Huot is leading another of his insightful and amusing Cabbagetown walks. Highly recommended - he knows his topics well and he has a light touch throughout his presentations. Meet at the Cabbagetown People’s board in Riverdale Park West (Sumach and Winchester). Free. The photo - which may or may not have anything to do with this walk - shows Toronto General Hospital, north side of Gerrard between Sackville and Sumach, 1856 to 1922, Toronto Digital Archive.
Music in Allan Gardens
Sunday August 14 - the final Sunday performance. The Counterpoint Community Orchestra presents free concerts in Allan Gardens (Carlton and Sherbourne). 3 to 4 pm every Sunday to August 14.
Moonlight Market in Regent Park
On-going event. Thursdays and Saturdays from 5 to 10 pm, to September 17. Local crafts, food, entertainment. The east patio beside The Daniels Spectrum (585 Dundas E).
Taste of Regent Park
Every Wednesday. Community meals prepared and cooked right in the Park, local vendors and entertainment every Wednesday from 5 pm until September 21. The Big Park (620 Dundas).
Park Yoga
Every Thursday from noon to 1 pm at Riverdale Farm (Sumach and Carlton) up to Thanksgiving. Sarah Elder is the instructor. PWYC. For listings of other locations and dates and for last minute info about rain cancellations, check out the website.
THEATRE NEWS - AUGUST 2022
Ticket sales at Canadian Stage
Tickets for individual plays in the 22/23 season are now on sale. They’re “presenting vital, joyful stories, mounting large-scale plays …and welcoming back some of our favourite artists”. For info about each play and for tickets, click here.
Queen Goneril
On stage August 25 to October 2. King Lear’s daughters in a man’s world. Soulpepper (50 Tank House Lane, Distillery). For more info about the play and for tickets, click here.
King Lear
On stage August 27 to October 1. Goneril’s father near the end of his reign. Soulpepper (50 Tank House Lane). For online info and tickets, click here.
ANNOUNCEMENTS
Tell the world what you want. Do you need a parking space, or a tenant for your apartment, or an owner for a lost cat? Whatever. Meg recently ran a request for a short-term rental. Here’s what she says, “…we found an apartment, not from your ad in the newsletter, but I just got an email from someone who offered me their place (sadly, too late) that otherwise would have been a great fit.” Email Doug - your Announcement will run for two weeks at no charge. Yup, free.
KIDS NEWS
Learn Indigenous painting
Saturday August 20, noon to 3:30 pm. Philip Cote is a renown artist and his class will teach Woodland-style art. Ages 10 to 18, parents welcome. Free - lunch is provided. Daniels Spectrum, room details to be announced (585 Dundas E). Registration is required.
Wayo Children’s Festival
Thursday August 18 to Saturday August 20, 4:30 to 6:30 pm daily. Meet at 250 The Esplanade. “The festival is designed as an arts journey through Berkeley Castle and Canadian Stage with 10 different arts performances at every corner including an aerial show performance, a stilt walk, storytelling, music, dance, face painting and more.” The program is one hour long. It’s free but you need to register online.
The final Mud-Day at Allan Gardens
Mud-Day Monday morning for your kids on August 22 from 10 to 11:30 am. Allan Gardens invites your family to drop-in (no advance notice needed) and stay as long as you wish. Great for children 2 to 7, siblings welcome, accompanied by a care giver. Your kids can nibble on plants, look at bugs, plant some seeds, make nature crafts and go on scavenger hunts. It all happens in the Edible Garden at Allan Gardens (Carlton and Jarvis).
IN OUR STORES
Naomi African Food
The Naomi group of stores is opening a downtown Toronto outlet at the former Pear Tree location (509 Parliament). Details will come soon. In the meantime, check out its website for details on food and produce.
ENTERTAINMENT
Musical performances every day at Parkscape
Buskers in the Distillery
Every Saturday and Sunday until August 28. Noon to 4 pm. A new performer appears very day. The Distillery invites musicians and outdoor performers to take part in the program. Contact them online here.
Headscratchers’ Trivia
Stout Irish Pub (221 Carlton) is hosting its popular Headscratchers Trivia every Monday and Tuesday night from 7 pm. Reservations are recommended. Board games are available daily. (647) 344-7676. Free.
Karaoke at Alice’s Place
Friday night karaoke happens at 9 pm every week at Alice’s Place (554 Parliament). Thousands of songs.
Live music and DJs
The Dominion (500 Queen E) brings you live music and DJs every Saturday night from 7 to 11 pm through the summer.
RESTAURANT NEWS
Happy birthday Fattoush
Fattoush, the Middle Eastern cafe (263 Gerrard E), is celebrating its first birthday. The party will include live music by Kazdoura, a special menu and free snacks and drinks. Saturday August 27, 6 to 9 pm, tickets are $10.
Tastings at The Aviary
Saturday August 20, 5 to 6:30 pm. The Aviary and Longslice Brewery (484A Front E) have teamed up with Bocage cheese for a guided cheese, charcuterie and beer tasting. Taste four cheeses paired with a flight of Longslice Brewery beers and a selection of premium charcuterie. Tickets $20, available on Eventrite.
Anniversary party at The Aviary
August 22, 5 pm. Celebrate The Aviary’s 4th birthday and Longslice Brewery Bricks-And-Mortar 3rd birthday. Special beer deals, raffle prizes and a slice of cake! 484A Front E.
Le Conciliabule on Gerrard
We have another yummy cafe-bakery - this one themed as a French bistro. Le Conciliabule (350 Berkeley) has set up at Berkeley and Gerrard in the former location of the Children’s Book Bank. Early reviews are rave reactions - the pastries and menu are very exciting. Best wishes to them for their new business here - more details soon.
Dominion’s Tasting Flight for Two
Enjoy a dinner for two at the Dominion (500 Queen E). Menu includes a shared appetizer (cannellini bean hummus, cauliflower bites or nacho), one entree for each person (falafel hippie bowl, Dominion burger, truffalo chicken sandwich or fish & chips) and shared chocolate cake for dessert. $55. Continues to Saturday August 31 at 10:30 am. Make a reservation online.
Stout’s doggy menu
Stout Irish Pub (221 Carlton) is now inviting dogs to join their owners on their patio. (They have a separate patio for humans only.) blogTO has written about the whole doggy experience - click here to read about it.
Summerlicious is back
Summerlicious continues to Sunday August 28. Reservations are now open. Summerlicious restaurants offer prix fixe three-course menus at lunch and dinner. Lunch prices range from $20 to $55 and dinner from $25 to $75. Local restaurants include The Aviary (484 Front St E), Mengrai Thai Restaurant (82 Ontario St) and Butter Chicken Factory (560 Parliament).
Cyril’s soup
This week, it’s a chunky “soup au pisto” - basically a minestrone with pesto. Lots of veggies - tomatoes, corn, peas, zucchini, potatoes, carrots, green beans, celery, summer squash - finished with a generous dollop of garlic and basil pesto, tomato paste and Parmesan. Add you own pasta or have a baguette rubbed with garlic and cheese. There are no nuts. 3 to 9 cups at $3/cup and 10 or more cups at $2.50/cup. His juice is cherry nectarine at $9 for 2 cups. Email him with your order.
