CABBAGETOWN NEIGHBOURHOOD
REVIEW
LOCAL NEWS
Tuesday at the Cabbagetown Farmers' Market
Here’s the list of vendors for next Tuesday June 6 at the Cabbagetown Farmers' Market (Sumach and Winchester). The St. James Town Community Corner is a pop-up this week and they'll provide information on their programs. And here's a quick reminder - the Fat Quarter Band will be performing each week and donations to the band are greatly appreciated. Click on the image for a larger size.
New bike lanes
The Traffic Department’s report has been sent to the Infrastructure & Environment Committee of City Council for its June 5 committee meeting. The design changes will only affect cycling patterns - vehicle traffic flows will not be changed. Four streets will have “contra-flow” bike lanes to allow two-way bike traffic - Sumach and Sackville from Gerrard to Wellesley, Winchester from Parliament to Ontario and Ontario from Carlton to Aberdeen. Gerrard from Parliament to Sumach will have “bi-directional” bike lanes - also for two-way bike traffic. Parking on Winchester will switch from the south to the north side and on Ontario over to the west side - there’ll be no loss of spaces. A stop sign is recommended at Ontario and Winchester and a bike signal will be installed at Winchester and Parliament. Four spaces on Rose will be devoted to school drop-offs. The Gerrard Street work will be scheduled for 2024-2025 and the other bike lanes will be created in 2023-2024.
Objections in Winchester Park and Aberdeen
The Cycling Connections report to the Infrastructure Committee has stirred opposition west of Parliament. Aberdeen residents are concerned about the change in parking on Ontario Street from the east to the west side. They worry about access to Winchester Square Park by service vehicles and about visibility and security for the park from the street. The design of the contra-flow bike lanes on Ontario is also opposed. Residents suggest that the parking be left alone and the bike lanes be built on the west side of the street.
Supporting Josh Matlow
We’ve asked local residents and community leaders to tell us why they’ve chosen a specific candidate for mayor in this election. We’ll quote different people each week. Walied Khogali Ali is a progressive community leader and activist who works in Moss Park and Regent Park. He’s actively supporting Josh Matlow because he’s hardworking, progressive and focused on Toronto’s communities. Josh has “reached out to communities across Toronto to ensure that he’s got a people’s platform ... he’s visited every Ward.” He’s very progressive, “He’ll invest $300 million for housing controlled by City agencies.” And “$150 million for youth hubs, mobile crisis response teams and a shelter system.” He has a social development plan for Moss Park and for Regent Park. And Walied sees Matlow as “practical, he’s costed his ideas” and he has “evidence-based solutions.” (Photo: CP24)
By-election update
Advance polls open next week from 10 am to 7 pm, June 8 to June 13- you can vote locally at the Wellesley Community Centre (495 Sherbourne) and the St Lawrence Community Recreation Centre (250 The Esplanade). Candidates’ sign campaigns have started, so watch for signs to appear in front of homes across the City.
Tent encampments in Allan Gardens
Rick Matthews attended a meeting with Councillor Chris Moise about the tents in Allan Gardens. Rick’s report is available on Facebook. Moise says that this encampment is now the largest one in the city. On May 18, there were 48 tents - up from 32 on April 28. Everyone staying in the park has been offered a permanent home and this housing is still available to them. The tents are all located east of the Conservatory - the west side has been kept clear. Private security teams are in the park but they cannot enforce the bylaws or stop further encampments. It appears that City of Toronto staff are removing tents in other parks but not here. Councillor Moise has set up a Dashboard with up-to-date statistics.
Allan Gardens petition
The Allan Gardens Neighbourhood Group has a petition demanding that the City of Toronto remove the tent encampments in the park and restore local residents’ sense of safety there. 1,825 people have signed by Thursday afternoon. Councillor Chris Moise has issued a newsletter calling for removal of the tents - see his comments here.
Condo proposal at 505 - 509 Parliament Street
Gilles Huot’s petition opposing this project has attracted almost 850 signatures. In his petition, he notes several flaws in the application to the City. Send him an email if you want to join his list.
Congrats to the Winchester Fun Fair
A big crowd showed up last Saturday at Winchester School (15 Prospect) for games, storytelling, rides and barbeques.
Cabbagetown Community Arts Centre
The CCAC (422 Parliament) really needs our support - its funding is running out. Greg Loucks, its executive director, told CBC Radio that the pandemic seriously cut into its resources. Enrolments dropped and so did sponsorships. The kids have come back but sponsors have not. Its programs include several levels of personal and small music classes in a variety of musical instruments for kids from St James Town, Regent Park and Moss Park. Find out more online about its work and about its GoFundMe campaign. (Photo: Global News)
Silent auction for Dixon Hall
The silent auction has started and there are dozens of terrific items on it - hotel visits, golf packages, resort stays, paintings, men and women’s clothing, bags, jewellery, skin care products, wine and dinner packages, cooking wares, spa sessions, guitars, Apple watches and more. Over 95 different items just waiting for your bid. It’s all part of the Dixonlicious events in support of Dixon Hall’s food programs.
Cabbagetown Farmers’ Market
The Market opens from 3 to 7 pm every Tuesday in Riverdale Park West (Sumach and Winchester). Veggies and other farm produce are the reason for the Market but there are also some very skilled kitchens preparing snacks and dinners for us. This week, I tried Fathima’s Kitchen. Her butter chicken naan is amazing - don’t miss it. There’s more info online.
The Underpass Park Farmers Market
Corktown’s Farmers’ Market (29 Lower River) has returned - every Thursday from 4:30 to 7:30 pm until October. The seasonal produce this week includes apples, asparagus, strawberries, rhubarb, broccoli, field cucumber, leeks, lettuce, spring garlic, spring onion, potatoes, radishes, cheese, wine, cider, and more! For more info, visit the Market’s Facebook page.
Jack Grunsky’s wearable art
Jack has joined with a Montreal-based wearable art company, Le Galeriste. He has his own storefront with over 100 different items for summer wear, leisure wear, active wear and out-on-the-town wear. Click here to check out his wearables and to order your own.
Sponsors for the Cabbagetown Festival
The Cabbagetown BIA has issued a call for sponsors to support the annual Cabbagetown Festival. It happens on Saturday September 9 and Sunday September 10 along Parliament and Carlton. It attracts over 50,000 people from diverse backgrounds and neighbourhoods across the GTA. Sponsorships start at $1500. Click here for the details and contact info.
Garlic mustard
This plant is an invasive species that takes over gardens and wild places wherever it grows. Trisse Loxley was part of the Don’t Mess with the Don cleanup along Rosedale Valley Road when she realized how widespread it is in our area. She recommends this government website for instructions on identifying and removing the plant.
Lookin’ good
Todd and Kristyn at the Winchester Fun Fair.
COMING EVENTS
Walk with Amal
Amal is a 12-foot tall puppet depicting a Syrian refugee child. She’s travelled 9000 km across the world to symbolize the plight of refugee children in Syria. From June 7 to 11, she’s part of Toronto’s Luminato Festival. Her tour here includes a walk in Regent Park on Thursday June 8. She starts in the Regent Park Athletic Grounds (480 Shuter) at 6 pm and continues to the Big Park opposite the Daniels Spectrum (585 Dundas E). Online details are available here. (Photo: Amal in Manchester England)
Environment day
If you missed our local environment day a few weeks ago, there’s another one happening nearby on Thursday June 8 from 4 to 8 pm at Leaside Memorial Gardens (1073 Millwood). It’ll include an opportunity to collect loose compost - bring your own bags to take some home. You can drop-off electronics, household hazardous waste, clothing, books, sporting goods, cameras, small household items and lots more. A third event will happen at Bridgepoint Hospital grounds on September 17. Click here for specific guidelines.
Heritage Toronto tours
This year’s walks and tours highlight Toronto’s diverse communities and history. Four of them focus on our neighbourhoods and each one is repeated several times. June 25, August 26 and September 23 - St James Town. July 11, August 22 and September 19 - Black History Unburied. July 22, August 24 and September 9 - Being Black on King. July 23 and September 17 - Indigenous Art & Nature. Tour descriptions, starting places and fees (if any) are all listed online.
Live jazz in the Distillery
There’ll be live music throughout the weekend in Trinity Street Square. On Friday June 2 from 4:30 to 7:30 pm, it’s Occhipinti’s Grooveyard. From 1 to 4:00 pm on Saturday, Trash Panda and from 4:30 to 7:30 pm, Queen Pepper. On Sunday from 1 to 4:00 pm, it’s Danny Marks Revue and from 4:30 to 7:30 pm, Red Hot Ramble.
IN THE MEDIA
Allan Gardens encampments
Global News has a clip about two official City of Toronto signs that have just gone up on the west side of Allan Gardens. The signs forbid tents and camping in the park. blogTO also has a story about the signs with additional details about other parks. (Photo: Becky Robertson, blogTO)
FOR YOUR BODY
Parliament Street Fitness
New this week - HIIT classes on Thursday at 5:30 pm. PSF (488 Parliament) offers both personal fitness opportunities and weekly organized classes. Their class schedules will be shown here every week, fresh from their blackboard in the gym. Updates will be posted every Monday. Click on the picture for a bigger image.
Outdoor yoga in Trinity Square
Every Sunday from 9 to 10 am in Trinity Square at the Distillery. Hosted by Pure Yoga Toronto.
At the Cabbagetown Youth Centre (2 Lancaster)
Step classes - Brenda Brown McNee’s popular step class at 9:15 am Wednesdays. Drop-ins are welcome. Children are also welcome. $5 or PWYC. For more info, email Brenda. Stretch & strength - Gina Dineen’s weekly Essentrics class, Mondays at 9:30 am. Drop-in style, $5/class.
RESTAURANT NEWS
Support the Food Bank
Erin at Stout Irish Pub (221 Carlton) has set up a GoFundMe page to support the food bank at St Bartholomew’s Church (509 Dundas E). She describes her concern when she saw the line-ups of people looking for help early in the morning. She has also listed the food items that normally aren’t available at a food bank and she’ll provide them. Her GoFundMe page is here.
Queer Marketplace in the Distillery
Organized together with Pride Toronto. This is the first-ever Distillery District Queer Marketplace showcasing local makers and artisans from the 2SLGBTQI+ community. From 3 to 9 pm daily, June 5 to 11. Check out the entertainment schedule below for the performers that follow the Marketplace each day from 5 pm in Trinity Square.
Cyril’s soup
Cyril has vacation plans - he’s left for France and will return for deliveries in mid-June.
WEEKLY CALENDAR - CLUBS & PUBS
THURSDAY JUNE 1 TO SUNDAY JUNE 11
- For contact info about these clubs and restaurants, see the list at the bottom of this page.
THURSDAY JUNE 1
No events listed
FRIDAY JUNE 2
Trinity Square, Distillery music
4:30 to 7:30 pm, Occhipinti’s Grooveyard.
Distlllery buskers
Summer Busker series, 4 to 8 pm.
Alice’s Place
9 pm, Karaoke
Super Bargain
10 pm, DJ Shamz
Wing House
9 pm, Karaoke
SATURDAY JUNE 3
Mill Street Brew Pub
11 am, Tea Time with Lemon Drag brunch
Trinity Square, Distillery music
1 to 4:00 pm, Trash Panda
4:30 to 7:45 pm, Queen Pepper
Distlllery buskers
Summer Busker series, noon to 8 pm.
The Vibrational Apothecary (formerly Bolokelen Malinke Percussion)
Noon, traditional West African drumming classes with Amadou Kienou
2 pm, beginner drumming classes with Anna Melnikoff
SUNDAY JUNE 4
Trinity Square, Distillery music
1 to 4:00 pm, Danny Marks Revue
4:30 to 7:30 pm, Red Hot Ramble.
Distlllery buskers
Summer Busker series, noon to 8 pm.
Super Bargain
9 pm, Industry night with DJ Shamz
MONDAY JUNE 5
Distillery District
3 to 9 pm, Queer Marketplace and 5 to 9 pm, live entertainment in Trinity Square with Jump She Said
Stout Irish Pub
7 pm, Headscratchers Trivia
TUESDAY JUNE 6
Distillery District
3 to 9 pm, Queer Marketplace and 5 to 9 pm, live entertainment in Trinity Square with Ori Dagan
Aviary
8 pm, Bird Brain trivia
Golden Pigeon
7 pm, jazz and $2 oysters
Stout Irish Pub
7 pm, Headscratchers Trivia
WEDNESDAY JUNE 7
Distillery District
3 to 9 pm, Queer Marketplace and 5 to 9 pm, live entertainment in Trinity Square with Kenny Kirkwood Band
The Vibrational Apothecary (formerly Bolokelen Malinke Percussion)
7:30 pm, traditional West African drumming classes with Amadou Kienou
Stout Irish Pub
7 pm, euchre night
The Golden Pigeon
Bar trivia with Rachelle Lauzon
THURSDAY JUNE 8
Distillery District
3 to 9 pm, Queer Marketplace and 5 to 9 pm, live entertainment in Trinity Square with Trash Panda
FRIDAY JUNE 9
Distillery District
3 to 9 pm, Queer Marketplace and 5 to 9 pm, live entertainment in Trinity Square with Seraphin LaRiviere
Distillery music
1 to 4 pm, live music
Distlllery buskers
Summer Busker series, 4 to 8 pm.
Alice’s Place
9 pm, Karaoke
The Aviary
5 pm, Aloha Friday Luau
Super Bargain
10 pm, DJ Shamz
Wing House
9 pm, Karaoke
SATURDAY JUNE 10
Distillery District
3 to 9 pm, Queer Marketplace and 5 to 9 pm, live entertainment in Trinity Square with Mandy Goodhandy
Distillery music
1 to 8 pm, live music
Distlllery buskers
Summer Busker series, noon to 8 pm.
The Vibrational Apothecary (formerly Bolokelen Malinke Percussion)
Noon, traditional West African drumming classes with Amadou Kienou
2 pm, beginner drumming classes with Anna Melnikoff
SUNDAY JUNE 11
Distillery District
3 to 9 pm, Queer Marketplace and 5 to 9 pm, live entertainment in Trinity Square with Jenna Marie
Distillery music
1 to 8 pm, live music
Distlllery buskers
Summer Busker series, noon to 8 pm.
Super Bargain
3 pm, Sunday Funday
CONTACT INFO
Alice’s Place - 554 Parliament
Aviary - 484 Front East
The Vibrational Apothecary (formerly Bolokelen Malinke Percussion) - 243 Gerrard E
Cranberries - 601 Parliament
Distillery - Mill Street and Parliament
Dominion - 500 Queen E - closed permanently
El Catrin - 18 Tank House Lane, Distillery
Golden Pigeon - 424 Parliament
House on Parliament - 454 Parliament
Mill Street Brew Pub - 21 Tank House Lane
NJ Lounge - 507 Parliament
Stout Irish Pub - 221 Carlton
Super Bargain - 441 Parliament
Wing House - 420 Parliament
