February 16

 CABBAGETOWN NEIGHBOURHOOD 

REVIEW

A PERSONAL VIEW

I was planning to write something profound about John Tory’s departure.  But it’s too late - everybody else has already said everything else.  Far too many commentators seem to think that he’s fair game for a bashing.  On the other hand, Bob Hepburn’s column in today’s Toronto Star sees Mr Tory’s mistakes but also his achievements. He’s gracious and sympathetic with Mr Tory and he gives him credit where it’s due. (Photo:  Tijana Martin, The Canadian  Press)

FEATURED ARTIST

This week’s feature is a new image by Irene Peplinski DeClute - Dermott Place and Spruce. She painted it after a major snow storm last winter. Check out the Cabbagetown Artists’ website for more of her work and paintings from other artists.

LOCAL NEWS

Number 9 Audio

George Rondina, owner of Number 9 Audio (222 Gerrard E), reports that insurance forensic inspectors have ruled that arson played a role in the devastating fire in his studio in mid December.  He is now reporting this information to the police.  Tenants living upstairs in the building weren’t at home when the fire broke out.  George has noted the fire in a nearby home south of Gerrard on Christmas Eve and wonders if there is a connection. A GoFundMe campaign has started to help George and his staff to restart the studio. (Photo:  Enzo Arimini / Global News) 

Des Ryan’s new books

Des writes police procedurals from his unique perspective as a former Toronto police detective.  He has two series underway now with Level Best Books.  His latest is “10-33 Assist PC” about an ambitious young cop who is on the verge of cracking an international prostitution ring.   It’s available at Amazon and at Barnes & Noble.

Speed camera in Corktown

A new speed camera has been installed on Queen East near Sackville.  There’s another one on Sherbourne south of Wellesley.  These cameras are proving to be lucrative for the City - over 21,000 tickets were issued in December 2022.

Free open house

Monday February 20, 11 am to 4 pm.  Take a tour through Enoch Turner Schoolhouse (106 Trinity).  It was the first free school in Toronto and now it’s a museum dedicated to the City’s education system.  Crafts and activities for the whole family. 

Well done!

The Friends of Allan Gardens teamed up with Plantzza Hut to organize Hungry For Love - a sale of carnivorous plants and specialty vendors.  Over 700 people showed up last Sunday.  Congrats for a successful event.

Outdoor skating rinks

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, Sherbourne Commons was closed due to weather conditions.  Regent Park and Riverdale Park East were both open. Check the City’s lists for ice conditions when you want to skate. 

ANONYMOUS TIPS 

Useful info from readers who don’t want to use their names.

Raccoon dangers

A homeowner near Wellesley and Sumach encountered a “psycho raccoon” on her upper deck.  It was lunging at her and trying to get in the house, even when she wacked it with her broom.  Raccoons are suffering from an epidemic of distemper which may have been the case here.  You’re advised to call the City of Toronto at 311 and ask that Animal Services come for a check-up.

Roofer scam

A group of “roofers” visited a Cabbagetown home last week and after cleaning the gutters, they claimed to notice that the roof was badly in need of repairs.  They offered a quote for the job which later turned out to be impossibly low.  The homeowner called a respected roofer who said that the roof is fine. But the phoney roofers had already damaged it. Among your safeguards, try the following steps - get more than one quote, ask for references and online info and ask for their insurer. Beware of low quotes, unauthorized roof “inspections” and companies with no online links.

Roadside litter

As the snow melts, garbage in the curbs is becoming more noticeable.  A Cabbagetown homeowner urges us to pick up the litter.  One member of this family  gathered up more than six garbage bags full of litter from his street.

IN THE MEDIA

Mulroney and the trees at Moss Park

Martin Regg Cohn has written a tough opinion piece in the Toronto Star about Caroline Mulroney.  Ms Mulroney is the Minister of Transportation in the Ford government.  At the direction of her office, two Ontario MPPs were kept in the dark about the damage to the trees at Moss Park.  Kristyn Wong-Tam and Peter Tabuns weren't informed of the tree-cutting and only learned of it from their community sources.  Click here to read his column. (Photo: Arlyn McAdorey, The Canadian Press)

Limberlost Place

Dave LeBlanc has written a column in the Globe & Mail about this new building at George Brown College.  It’s going up in the East Bayfront at the foot of Sherbourne on the waterfront.  It’s a ten-storey, mass timber building. Click here to read his story. (Photo: George Brown College). 

KIDS NEWS

PA Day Puzzles

Friday February 17, 10 am to 3 pm.  Storytelling, crafts, puzzles. Children’s Book Bank (585 Dundas E). 

Storytelling in the Park

Saturday February 18, 11 am to noon.  Presented by the Children’s Book Bank in the Children’s Conservatory in Allan Gardens (Jarvis and Carlton).  Free books for every child.  Drop-ins are welcome.

Regent Park Family Skating Party

Sunday February 19, 1 to 4 pm, Regent Park rink (480 Shuter).  The City’s skate lending library will be there to provide free skates, helmets and skating aids.  Volunteers will be available to give skating tips.  Starbucks and Zero Cocktail Bar will donate free drinks and the Friends of Regent Park will have free cornbread muffins.

Family Fun Day

Monday February 20 from 10:30 am to 12:30 pm.  Make a pine cone bird feeder.  The program is aimed at kids 3 to 8 years old. Children's Conservatory at Allan Gardens, 160 Gerrard St E.  $5 suggested donation.

IN OUR STORES

St James Town Steak & Chops

The shop is closing for a week’s holidays from Monday February 20 to Sunday February 26.  Back on Monday February 27.

THEATRE & DANCE NEWS - FEBRUARY

School of Toronto Dance Theatre

Winchester Dance Theatre (80 Winchester)

al dente

Eleven new dances by the graduating class from the Professional Training Program. The students have collaborated in this creative process to bring their concepts onto the stage. Thursday February 16 and Friday February 17, 8 pm.  Tickets are available online. 

Aki Studio 

(Daniels Spectrum, 585 Dundas E)

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.”

Soulpepper 

(50 Tank House Lane, Distillery)

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.”  

RESTAURANT NEWS 

Congrats Kingyo and Naija Jollof

Both restaurants are featured in the March print edition of Toronto Life.  Its article on comfort foods includes complimentary mini-reviews of each of them.  Naija Jollof (507 Parliament)  “brings the signature flavours and dishes of West Africa to downtown dwellers.”  Take-out is the focus at Kingyo Fisherman’s Market (51B Winchester), “Tsukiji-style fish market complete with grab-and-go fish counters, fridges of fresh fish and shelves packed with Japanese junk food as well as fancy sake and condiments.”

La Gloria Mexican Coffee Shop

This new coffee shop is now open at 453 Parliament, near No Frills.  It’s offering Mexican coffee and a variety of menu items with salads, sandwiches, fruit, a breakfast plate and waffles. It’s attracting lots of early attention.

Drag Bingo

Super Bargain (Parliament), Tuesday February 21 7 pm.  Messy Margaret is back with another round of Drag Bingo. Come for your chance to win one of our silly themed prize bags.  Tickets are $17.31 and include cards for each round of bingo.

Apres ski weekends

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. 

Cyril’s soup

Cyril will be making his regular deliveries every two weeks from now on.  This week’s soup is available on Saturday February 25 - turmeric, lentil and sweet potato ($3.50/cup for 3 to 9 cups, $3/cup for 10 or more cups). His juice is apple, grape, lime, cucumber and mint, 2 cups for $9.50.  Send him an email with your order.

WEEKLY CALENDAR - CLUBS & PUBS

THURSDAY FEBRUARY 16 TO SUNDAY FEBRUARY 26

• For contact info about these clubs and restaurants, see the list at the bottom of this page.  

THURSDAY FEBRUARY 16

Dominion

6:30 pm, Pubstumpers Trivia

Bolokelen Malinke Percussion

7:30 pm, Group drumming classes for beginners with Anna Melnikoff

FRIDAY FEBRUARY 17

Alice’s Place

9 pm, Karaoke 

Super Bargain

10 pm, DJ Shamz

Wing House

9 pm, Karaoke

SATURDAY FEBRUARY 18

Bolokelen Malinke Percussion

Noon, traditional West African drumming classes with Amadou Kienou

Distillery

Noon to 6 pm, Apres Ski Weekends in Trinity Square

The Aviary

Noon to 6 pm, brews, brunch and a community market

SUNDAY FEBRUARY 19

Distillery

Noon to 6 pm, Apres Ski Weekends in Trinity Square

Dominion

6 pm dinner and 7 pm, stand-up comedy

The Aviary

Noon to 6 pm, brews, brunch and a community market

MONDAY FEBRUARY 20 

Stout Irish Pub

7 pm, Headscratchers Trivia

TUESDAY FEBRUARY 21

Aviary

8 pm, Bird Brain trivia

El Catrin

6:30 pm, Tequila tasting and dinner

Golden Pigeon

7 pm, Jazz with Gord Mowat and $2 oyster specials from 4 pm

Stout Irish Pub

7 pm, Headscratchers Trivia

Super Bargain

7 pm, Drag Bingo

WEDNESDAY FEBRUARY 22

Bolokelen Malinke Percussion

7:30 pm, traditional West African drumming classes with Amadou Kienou

Stout Irish Pub

7 pm, euchre night

Super Bargain

Cupcakes and cocktails

THURSDAY FEBRUARY 23

Dominion

6:30 pm, Pubstumpers Trivia

Bolokelen Malinke Percussion

7:30 pm, Group drumming classes for beginners with Anna Melnikoff

FRIDAY FEBRUARY 24

Alice’s Place

9 pm, Karaoke

Super Bargain

10 pm, DJ Shamz

Wing House

9 pm, Karaoke

SATURDAY FEBRUARY 25

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 26

Distillery

Noon to 6 pm, Apres Ski Weekends in Trinity Square

Dominion

6 pm dinner and 7 pm, stand-up comedy

The Aviary

Noon to 6 pm, brews, brunch and a community market

Super Bargain

Industry night

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