CABBAGETOWN NEIGHBOURHOOD
REVIEW
FRESH SNOW
The big snow storm last weekend inspired local photographers to grab their parkas and their equipment and get some great images. Lawrence Bernstein photographed Wellesley Street - that's the one used as this week’s header. Doreen Fumia sent us her charming “Bike in Snow”.
LOCAL NEWS
More snow news
On Sunday morning after the big snow storm, residents on Wellesley woke up to see mounds of snow across their front sidewalks. A City plow had come along and moved the snow from the road onto the walks which the residents had already diligently shovelled.
When asked why this had happened, a City spokesperson from the Media Office said, “Crews are making every effort to plow snow to the curb, but based on the amount of snow Toronto received Friday overnight (20 to 30 cm across the city) and the limited storage capacity in the right-of-way, some curb lanes and sidewalks are being impacted by windrows (piles of snow left behind by plows).” It was, in short, deliberate. It turned out to be okay - with considerable effort, residents shoved it back onto the road. Photos: Steve Brearton (top) and Ann Kay (bottom)
The BIA’s plans for Anniversary Park
For years, the BIA has advocated for a completely new layout for the park. It has a plan to use it as a community gathering space. There's also a plan to shut the right-turn road and expand the park into the main sidewalk. Apparently the City’s Transportation Department is vetoing that idea. There’s speculation that the BIA may be having a hard time getting a voice in the planning at the City. The community consultation phase starts next week.
Step classes
Brenda Brown McNee’s popular step classes have started again at the Cabbagetown Youth Centre (2 Lancaster). The class does step aerobics followed by stretch and strength exercises. There’s no class on March 15 during the March Break period. It resumes on March 22 - Wednesdays at 9:15 am. Drop-ins are welcome. Children are also welcome. Fee is $5 or PWYC. For more info, a detailed safety list and an equipment list, email Brenda.
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 and Regent Park are open and Riverdale Park East is closed. Check the City’s lists for ice conditions when you want to skate.
ANNOUNCEMENTS
Office space for rent
The offices at 493 Parliament above the TD Bank have extra space to rent. This office is open and bright. The common areas are available including a kitchen, a meeting room and seating in the entrance area. There’s elevator access to the second floor. It’s an ideal space for a lawyer or professional. For more info and for a tour of the space, call Tony Lafazanis at (416) 979-1770. $850 month plus HST.
COMING EVENTS
Stoner Chicks comedy
Bolokelen Malinke Percussion (243 Gerrard E) presents its regular comedy night on Friday March 10. A super-charged all-female comedy night. Doors open at 8 pm and shows starts at 9 pm. $20. Click here for tickets.
Sound Art
Terrestrial - two pop-up performances in the Children’s Conservatory at Allan Gardens (160 Gerrard E). Created by Sensorium: the Centre for Digital Art & Technology at York University. Friday March 10, first performance at 3:30 pm, second one at 4 pm. No tickets required.
KIDS STUFF
March Break Job Fair
TNG Community Services has organized a job fair for youth ages 15 to 18 from March 13 to 16. Each day, there’ll be a different employer - McDonalds (Monday March 13), Variety Village (Tuesday March 14), Centreville Amusement Park (Wednesday March 15) and Wendy’s (Thursday March 16). The interviews are on Zoom from 10 am to 1 pm. To register, contact Jessica at (416) 838-9035 or email jessica.castro@tngcs.org.
March Break at the Children’s Book Bank
The Book Bank has prepared a busy schedule for March Break at both its Regent Park (585 Dundas E) and Sherbourne locations (561 Sherbourne, Level P3). There are storytimes, puppets, science, dancing and more. Click on each image to see the events that are planned.
Join a band
The Cabbagetown Community Arts Centre (422 Parliament) has put out a call for kids who want to learn rock and pop songs. Keyboardists, guitarists, violinists, drummers and more. 3 to 4 pm, every Saturday. Have fun and learn to play with others. Register online or in-person.
Family drop-in in French
Friends of Allan Gardens has teamed up with Centre Francophone du Grand Toronto to bring you a family drop-in program - en français - during March Break. Venez jardiner avec vos enfants. Activités amusantes, jardinage en pot et découverte de plantes vous y attendent. Vendredi 17 mars, 10h30 - 12h30. Allan Gardens Children's Conservatory (160 Gerrard E).
IN THE MEDIA
Catherine Tammaro at The Burn
The Burn is a travelling exhibition with sculptures that visit community locations across Toronto. This weekend on the third anniversary of the start of the pandemic, the works will go to Nathan Phillips Square at City Hall for a 24-hour ceremony. Catherine Tammaro joined the project to serve as an Indigenous advisor - she’s a Wyandot elder and an artist. Read about the project and Catherine’s thoughts in the Toronto Star’s online article. (Photo: Dan Galbraith/City of Toronto)
St James Town construction
Construction at the corner of Howard and Sherbourne has spilled over into St James Town West Park. Megan Bocchinfuso has written an article in The Bridge that explains what’s going on. (Photo: Megan Bocchinfuso)
Lockdown at Jarvis Collegiate
On Wednesday afternoon, staff at Jarvis locked down the school and police arrived. A student had self-reported about bringing a gun to the school. No firearm was found and no one was injured. Edward Djan and Ana Pereira wrote about the incident in the Toronto Star. (Photo: CityNews)
William Dennison Apartments
The Toronto Star’s Fixer, Jack Lakey, has written about plans for renovating the William Dennison Apartments for seniors (Sherbourne north of Dundas). The building is owned by Toronto Community Housing. It had been allowed to deteriorate badly until 2021 when it was closed. Current plans call for eleven one-bedroom apartments for low-income seniors. Click here for the story. (Photo: Jack Lakey, Toronto Star)
IN OUR STORES
Menagerie Pet Shop
We’re losing them - Menagerie Pet Shop (549 Parliament) is closing after more than forty years in the community. It's sad. The store is open until Saturday March 11 and then by appointment only until March 18. Everything in the store is available at 25% off. It’s a big loss. Kaelo will still be offering pet food and pet products online - thanks to everyone there and best wishes for the future.
Sooters
Mohammed is closing Sooters (461 Parliament) at the end of March. He’s been in Cabbagetown for over thirty years. The store still has some inventory and customers are welcome to visit. He blames high rental costs for his decision.
ST PATRICK’S DAY
St Practice at the Dominion
Get ready for St Patrick’s Day at the Dominion (500 Queen E) with St Practice Day festivities. Try the mint chocolate cheesecake. From March 1 to March 16.
Stout Irish Pub
Cabbagetown’s Irish home is celebrating from Friday to Sunday with Irish dancers, Celtic music, good food and drink specials. Special brunch through the weekend from 11 am to 2 pm. 221 Carlton.
House on Parliament
The HoP (454 Parliament) has planned a traditional menu along with Irish whiskey flights.
The Aviary
Enjoy an Irish breakfast, corned beef Colcannon and a stout brownie. Get $1 off a pint of Longslice Slickback Stout. St Patty’s celebrations run from March 17 to 19. 484 Front East
The Golden Pigeon
The Pigeon (424 Parliament) is having a cask beer festival for St Patrick’s Day.
RESTAURANT NEWS
Welcome La Gloria
Saul and David, two brothers from Monterey in Mexico, have opened Toronto’s first Mexican coffee shop. They’re serving three varieties - Veracruz (a gourmet blend), Chiapas (a smokey organic blend) and Oxaca (another gourmet blend). And they have an intriguing menu that includes salad plates, sandwiches and Mexican dishes. The shop is a welcoming, bright white room. It’s well worth a visit and it’s a good spot to sit and enjoy a conversation. They’re open from 8 am to 6 pm during the week and 9 am to 6 pm on Saturdays and Sundays. 453 Parliament.
Gustolicious
Gustolicious offers a three-course dinner for $45. Select three courses from the menu to make your favourite meal. The event runs to March 20 at Gusto 501 (501 King W).
Blondie’s Pizza
Blondie’s (419 Parliament) first opened as an industrial kitchen to serve the other restaurants in the chain. Now, it’s open for our business from 4 to 10 pm Monday to Thursday and noon to 11 pm on Friday and Saturday and noon to 10 pm on Sunday. You can phone or email ahead and pick up your pie. Check out the service when you’re at Super Bargain (441 Parliament) - you can order and it’ll be delivered right to your table. Good pizza - thick crust. The menu is online.
Pick 6 at F’Amelia
Every Wednesday, F’Amelia (12 Amelia) will pick six wines - three reds and three whites - and discount them deeply.
El Catrin
Tequila tasting and dinner in the Bodega at El Catrin (18 Tank House Lane, Distillery). It’s your chance to taste rare and hard-to-find bottles. Each Tuesday until March 21, the menu will highlight classic foods that match the featured tequilas and mezcals. For more info and reservations, check it out online.
Apres ski weekends
Fridays (4 to 10 pm), Saturdays (noon to 8 pm) and Sundays (noon to 6 pm) to Sunday 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
WEEKLY CALENDAR - CLUBS & PUBS
THURSDAY MARCH 9 TO SUNDAY MARCH 19
- For contact info about these clubs and restaurants, see the list at the bottom of this page.
THURSDAY MARCH 9
Dominion
6:30 pm, Pubstumpers Trivia
The Aviary
8 pm, Battleship Bingo
FRIDAY MARCH 10
Alice’s Place
9 pm, Karaoke
Super Bargain
10 pm, DJ Shamz
Wing House
9 pm, Karaoke
Distillery
4 to 10 pm, Apres Ski Weekends in Trinity Square
Bolokelen Malinke Percussion
8 pm, Stoner Chicks Comedy Show
SATURDAY MARCH 11
Distillery
Noon to 8 pm, Apres Ski Weekends in Trinity Square
Dominion
8 pm, Live music
Bolokelen Malinke Percussion
Noon, traditional West African drumming classes with Amadou Kienou
2 pm, beginner drumming classes with Anna Melnikoff
SUNDAY MARCH 12
Distillery
Noon to 6 pm, Apres Ski Weekends in Trinity Square
Dominion
6 pm dinner and 7 pm, stand-up comedy
The Aviary
Noon, Market Brews with food, beer specials and a community market.
MONDAY MARCH 13
Stout Irish Pub
7 pm, Headscratchers Trivia
TUESDAY MARCH 14
Aviary
8 pm, Bird Brain trivia
El Catrin
6:30 pm, Tequila tasting and dinner
Golden Pigeon
7 pm, jazz and $2 oysters
Stout Irish Pub
7 pm, Headscratchers Trivia
WEDNESDAY MARCH 15
Bolokelen Malinke Percussion
7:30 pm, traditional West African drumming classes with Amadou Kienou
Stout Irish Pub
7 pm, euchre night
The Golden Pigeon
7 pm, Random Trivia
THURSDAY MARCH 16
Aviary
8 pm, Battleship Bingo.
Dominion
6:30 pm, Pubstumpers Trivia
FRIDAY MARCH 17
Alice’s Place
9 pm, Karaoke
Super Bargain
10 pm, DJ Shamz
Wing House
9 pm, Karaoke
Distillery
4 to 8 pm, Apres Ski Weekends in Trinity Square
SATURDAY MARCH 18
Bolokelen Malinke Percussion
Noon, traditional West African drumming classes with Amadou Kienou
2 pm, beginner drumming classes with Anna Melnikoff
Distillery
Noon to 8 pm, Apres Ski Weekends in Trinity Square
SUNDAY MARCH 19
Distillery
Noon to 6 pm, final Apres Ski Weekend 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
