CABBAGETOWN NEIGHBOURHOOD
REVIEW
FEATURED ARTIST
This week’s feature is a new image by Michael Cavanaugh - South Shore Lot (36” by 24”, acrylic on gallery canvas). Check out the Cabbagetown Artists’ website - new images have been posted for Michael, Eric Morse and Jack Grunsky. More are coming from Irene Peplinski DeClute, Martha Preston and Victoria Hadden.
LOCAL NEWS
Winchester School fundraiser
Monday night’s fundraiser for Winchester School was a success. An estimated 65 to 70 people attended. The food, as usual at F’Amelia (12 Amelia), was great. People saw their friends, gossiped with each other and thanked the school staff for a job well done. Every year, F’Amelia hosts this fundraiser, covering all the costs so 100% of the ticket price goes to the school.
Councillor Chris Moise has sent out a newsletter discussing the encampments in Allan Gardens. He says that in November there were 39 tents and 30 people in the park. This number has reduced to 27 tents and 11 people. Five people have refused housing alternatives. The rest have been working with City of Toronto staff and they’re scheduled for permanent housing. There are no specific plans yet for the five holdouts.
By-elections were held on Monday January 23 to fill two vacancies.
Anna-Karyna Ruszkowski is the new trustee in Ward 3 in the French public school board, Conseil scolaire Viamonde. She received 421 votes.
Rhea Dechaine won in Ward 4 in the French Catholic school board, Conseil scolaire catholique MonAvenir. Amazingly, only 107 people voted for her.
The City of Toronto operates three rinks in our area - Regent Park (480 Shuter), Riverdale Park East (550 Broadview) and Sherbourne Commons (61 Dockside). On Thursday, all three were closed because of poor ice conditions. Check the City’s lists when you want to skate. They may have reopened.
These Snowdrops started to bloom on Tuesday January 24.
KIDS NEWS
Vermicompost workshop
The Friends of Allan Gardens are hosting a vermicompost workshop - learn what composting does, dispel the myths and find out how to build a composting bin. Container kits are available for sale. 1 pm on Sunday January 29. Allan Gardens Conservatory (160 Gerrard E). Pre-registration is required.
The City of Toronto has released its list of CampTO programs. This list gives parents time to decide which ones to use for their family. The actual registration opens at 7 am on Saturday February 11. Online registration is suggested. There are five community centres where in-person registration is available - the Wellesley Community Centre (495 Sherbourne at Wellesley) is the nearest one.
THEATRE & DANCE NEWS - JANUARY & FEBRUARY
Aki Studio (Daniels Spectrum, 585 Dundas E)
On stage now to January 29 - Martyr
February 16 to 19 - Firewater Thunderbird Rising. “the transformative spirit of dance travelling through dimensional realms of existence – ancestors, dreams, blood memory and the land directly connected to our Anishinaabek way of living, awakening the healing of our Nation’s future.”
February 9 to 11 - Cabaret Noir. “Movement, dialogue, and music reconstruct emblematic scenes from popular culture… a celebration and resistance of concepts of Blackness.”
February 9 to March 5 - English. “What gets lost and found in translation… English Only! That is the class rule in Iran as four adult students prepare for the language exam that will unlock their futures.”
February 22 to March 5 - Billie, Sarah & Ella, Revolutionary Women in Jazz. “Stories of the women that transformed the music industry and gave Jazz its social purpose.”
February 8 to 18 - Anatol. “Seven short one-act plays written by Arthur Schnitzler in the 1890s, all featuring the title character’s compulsion to love and be loved.”
WINTERLICIOUS
Winterlicious starts on Friday
For two weeks, over two hundred restaurants will offer three-course meals at lunch and dinner for special prices. Eight of them are near us. There are more in nearby neighbourhoods and you can view all the participating restaurants across the city on its website. There are six price brackets for each meal ranging from $20 to $55 for lunch and $25 to $75 for dinner. The individual restaurants’ menus, hours and prices are also listed on their websites. Here’s the contact list - click on your favourites.
Blake House (449 Jarvis) - Lunch $27, dinner $35
Boku (42 Gristmill Lane, Distillery) - Lunch $34, dinner $45
Butter Chicken Factory (560 Parliament) - Lunch $27, dinner $35
Cluny Bistro (35 Tank House Lane, Distillery) - Lunch $48, dinner $65
Dominion Pub & Kitchen (500 Queen E) - Lunch $27, dinner $35
F’Amelia (12 Amelia) - Dinner $45
Maison Selby (592 Sherbourne) - Lunch $48, dinner $65
Pure Spirits (17 Tank House Lane, Distillery) - Lunch $41, dinner $55
RESTAURANT NEWS
Haldi
Customers who enjoy Haldi’s food (568 Parliament) can’t resist talking about it. Marion has written to me saying, “The best Indian food around. Maybe you could encourage people to try it…” Ok Marion, I certainly agree. Check out the menu online.
At Bolokelen Malinke Percussion (243 Gerrard E), Friday and Saturday from 8 to 11 pm. Different line-ups each night. $20. Click here for tickets and more info.
Once again, Fusilli (531 Queen E)presents an evening with Pinot Grigio, Chardonnay, Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon and Amara. Paired with a five course dinner with bruschetta, mixed green salad, farfalle and mushrooms, flank steak and tiramisu. 7 pm, Wednesday February 8. To reserve, call (416) 214-5148. $80.
Saturdays and Sundays from noon to 6 pm from January 21 to March 19. There’ll be Muskoka chairs, fire pits, marshmallows, beer, wine, hot drinks and tasty menus. Put away your boards and grab your toque. First come, first served - in the Distillery at Trinity Square.
Enjoy rare and hard-to-get tequilas paired with special dinners. Every Tuesday to the end of March. For more info about the featured bottles and for reservations, click here. El Catrin (18 Tank House Lane, Distillery).
Cyril will be making his regular deliveries every two weeks from now on. Today’s soup is available on Saturday January 28 - carrot, miso and ginger using only carrots, onions, red miso paste, ginger, allspice and lime. You can sprinkle on some chopped green onions when serving it. $3.50/cup for 3 to 9 cups and $3/cup for 10 or more. His juice is pineapple, apple and basil, 2 cups for $9.50. Send him an email with your order.
THURSDAY JANUARY 26 TO SUNDAY FEBRUARY 5
- For contact info about these clubs and restaurants, see the list at the bottom of this page.
THURSDAY JANUARY 26
Dominion
6:30 pm, Pubstumpers Trivia
Bolokelen Malinke Percussion
7:30 pm, Group drumming classes for beginners with Anna Melnikoff
FRIDAY JANUARY 27
Comedy night at Bolokelen Malinke Percussion
8 to 11 pm, 8 to 11 pm, all-female comedy with the Stoner Chicks.
Winterlicious
January 27 to February 9 - F’Amelia (12 Amelia), Butter Chicken Factory (592 Parliament), The Selby (560 Sherbourne), Dominion Pub & Kitchen (500 Queen E), Cluny, Pure Spirits and Boku (all three in the Distillery) and The Blake House (449 Jarvis).
Alice’s Place
9 pm, Karaoke
Super Bargain
10 pm, DJ Shamz
Wing House
9 pm, Karaoke
SATURDAY JANUARY 28
Bolokelen Malinke Percussion
Noon, traditional West African drumming classes with Amadou Kienou
Distillery
Noon to 6 pm, Apres Ski Weekends in Trinity Square
Comedy night at Bolokelen Malinke Percussion
8 to 11 pm, all-female comedy with the Stoner Chicks.
SUNDAY JANUARY 29
Distillery
Noon to 6 pm, Apres Ski Weekends in Trinity Square
Dominion
6 pm dinner and 7 pm, stand-up comedy
MONDAY JANUARY 30
Stout Irish Pub
7 pm, Headscratchers Trivia
TUESDAY JANUARY 31
Aviary
8 pm, Bird Brain trivia
El Catrin
6:30 pm, Tequila tasting and dinner
Stout Irish Pub
7 pm, Headscratchers Trivia
Golden Pigeon
7 pm, live music and $2 oyster specials
WEDNESDAY FEBRUARY 1
Bolokelen Malinke Percussion
7:30 pm, traditional West African drumming classes with Amadou Kienou
Stout Irish Pub
7 pm, euchre night
Golden Pigeon
8 pm, bar trivia
THURSDAY FEBRUARY 2
Dominion
6:30 pm, Pubstumpers Trivia
El Catrin
6:30 pm, Tequila and dinner tasting events.
Bolokelen Malinke Percussion
7:30 pm, Group drumming classes for beginners with Anna Melnikoff
FRIDAY FEBRUARY 3
Alice’s Place
9 pm, Karaoke
Aviary
8 pm, Punching Sideways Comedy
Super Bargain
10 pm, DJ Shamz
Wing House
9 pm, Karaoke
SATURDAY FEBRUARY 4
Bolokelen Malinke Percussion
Noon, traditional West African drumming classes with Amadou Kienou
Distillery
Noon to 6 pm, Apres Ski Weekends in Trinity Square
SUNDAY FEBRUARY 5
Distillery
Noon to 6 pm, Apres Ski Weekends in Trinity Square
Dominion
6 pm dinner and 7 pm, stand-up comedy
CONTACT INFO
Alice’s Place - 554 Parliament
Aviary - 484 Front East
Bolokelen Malinke Percussion - 243 Gerrard E
Cranberries - 601 Parliament
Distillery - Mill Street and Parliament
Dominion - 500 Queen E
El Catrin - 18 Tank House Lane, Distillery
Golden Pigeon - 424 Parliament
House on Parliament - 454 Parliament
NJ Lounge - 507 Parliament
Stout Irish Pub - 221 Carlton
Super Bargain - 441 Parliament
Wing House - 420 Parliament