CABBAGETOWN NEIGHBOURHOOD
REVIEW
A PERSONAL VIEW
The Golden Shovel Award
Six weeks ago on May 1, Parliament Street from Wellesley to Carlton was a pristine strip of beautiful new asphalt. The question - at that time - was simple, “Where would somebody dig it up first?”
We now have the answer. It’s a patched up hole at Amelia and Parliament.
LOCAL NEWS
Happy Anniversary
June 21 is the Summer Solstice and it’s also our anniversary. Back in 2012, we popped up with stories about a Picnic in the Paddock, improvements in St James Town, an evening with Patricia Beatty, a highlight from Luminato, a demonstration in Winchester Square Park and Prince (now King) Charles’s visit to UforChange and the Yonge Street Mission. Life was busy then - and it still is today. Thanks to everyone who’s contributed stories, photos and feedback over the past eleven years! (Image: Poster for the Picnic in the Paddock)
2023 Blair’s Run
This year’s Run will return to its in-person format on Sunday September 10. Organizers are calling it “The Classic”. Once again, you’ll be able to walk, run or whatever over a 2 km course. Bring your kids, your dogs and even your spouse - everyone is welcome. Plus, the success of the past three years has inspired a second event - “The Freestyle”. You can pick your own activities, your own time and your own format and recruit your friends to join. It’s all good news. Congrats to the organizers who dedicate a lot of time and energy to put together this terrific community event. Details to come soon.
Volunteers needed
The Cabbagetown Farmers’ Market is looking for volunteers with a vehicle. The Market’s vendors will soon be donating surplus food to Mothers Of Peace in Regent Park. They need someone who can deliver these weekly donation to Dundas and Sumach. Please email Ellie. (Photo: Natalie & Shehan at Green & Bloom Farm)
The Cabbagetown Community Arts Centre
Funding for the CCAC (422 Parliament) 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 affordable 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: Talia Ricci/CBC)
Voting on Monday June 26
Check at the City’s website to see whether your name is on the voters’ list and also find out where you vote. During the campaign, we asked six leading candidates for endorsements from people who are their local supporters. Three replied - Ana Bailao, Josh Matlow and Olivia Chow. Unfortunately, we haven’t had a reply from Brad Bradford, Mitzie Hunter or Mark Saunders. You can see the endorsements online here.
Tent encampments in Allan Gardens
Take a walk through the park or as an alternative, along Sherbourne or Carlton beside the park to see for yourself what the controversy is all about. Tent residents are just hanging out without any apparent purpose. Some areas are strewn with garbage and discarded furniture. Laundry can be seen hanging from ropes near several tents. The overwhelming impression is size - tents have taken over the entire east side.
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. 2,380 people have signed by Thursday, up from last week’s 2,125.
Condo proposal at 505 - 509 Parliament Street
Libby has designed a poster to highlight opposition to this condo project. She describes the problems that it’s causing and offers contact info for further action. Gilles Huot’s petition opposing this project has attracted 1,165 signatures by Thursday June 22. In his petition, he notes several flaws in the application to the City. Send him an email if you want to join his list. Both Libby and Gilles recommend that we contact the City planner, Tiffany Ly, with our views.
What are they hiding … oops, I made a mistake
Originally, I wrote that this sign in Broadcast Lane was the only official announcement for the condo project. That was wrong. Another sign was posted on the Parliament Street side at the same time. Thanks to those who corrected my comment.
Congrats to Neil and Alain
Their house at 274 Carlton won the 2023 Peggy Kurtin Award by the Cabbagetown Preservation Association. It was given a new brick facade to replace its badly damaged bricks. Its porch was rebuilt to its original design to complement the other porches on nearby homes. Professional Training Program
Dance Arts Institute is the new name for the School of Toronto Dance Theatre. It’s relocated to the Daniels Spectrum (585 Dundas E). Auditions will be held for its 2023-2024 Professional Training Program - apply by July 1. Check out the application process online.
New items on Jack Grunsky’s wearable art
Jack has joined with a Montreal-based wearable art company, Le Galeriste. The clothing features designs based on his art. He has his own storefront with over 100 different items for summer wear, leisure wear, active wear and out-on-the-town wear. He’s just added new items to his line. Click here to check out his wearables and to order your own.
Our Farmers’ Markets
Cabbagetown Farmers’ Market - opens from 3 to 7 pm every Tuesday in Riverdale Park West (Sumach and Winchester). Here’s the list of vendors for Tuesday June 27. Traynor Family Vineyards and Sustainable Roots Ecological Restoration are the weekly pop-ups. There’s more info online.
The Underpass Park Farmers Market - Corktown’s Farmers’ Market (29 Lower River) is open every Thursday from 4:30 to 7:30 pm. Here’s the list of vendors for Tuesday June 27. For more info, visit the Market’s Facebook page.
COMING EVENTS
Cultural Bazaar
There’ll be live music, raffles, henna, multicultural food, artisanal products, homemade clothing and lots more. Every Friday afternoon from June 23 to October 13, 4 to 9 pm. 660 Dundas E.
Scavenger hunt
Friends of Corktown Common are marking Pollinator Week with a scavenger hunt finding special native plants through the park. Sunday June 25 at 1:30 pm. Start at the corner of Bayview and Front.
Painting butterflies
Friends of Allan Gardens are inviting kids of all ages to paint butterflies. Plywood cut-outs and painting materials will be supplied. The finished butterflies will be distributed around the park. Saturday June 24, 10 am to noon. PWYC with a suggested donation of $5 per child. Meet at the Children’s Conservatory (Jarvis and Carlton).
Heritage Toronto walking tour
Explore St James Town with Heritage Toronto tours. Rain or shine from 11 am on Sunday June 25. Meet in Rekai Family Park (625 Bloor at Bloor and Parliament). Registration is advised since the number of participants is limited - $9.85. Tour description is available online.
The Lavazza IncluCity Festival
The Distillery is bringing back this celebration of multiculturalism and modern cinema. It’ll run from June 27 to July 21 and include feature films from 20 countries. It’s a unique outdoor film event with the cinema village lining the cobblestone streets. There’ll be multiple daily screenings and ample opportunity to view the best contemporary cinema, special guest appearances, stunning red carpets and unique cocktail experiences. Check out the film schedule and get info about ticket sales and packages - online here.
Beth Kaplan’s annual workshop
Save the date - Sunday July 23, 10 am to 5 pm. Beth is hosting her annual writing workshop in her garden. Spend a summer day learning to trust your voice and tell your stories. Write in the garden and gain confidence and perspective from friendly contact with other writers. Lunch and a glass wine are included. $200. To register, send Beth an email.
IN THE MEDIA
Rosie DiManno on Allan Gardens
Toronto Star columnist Rosie DiManno looks at the problems with the tents in Allan Gardens (Sherbourne and Carlton). She concludes that the situation has been badly distorted by inaction from City of Toronto staff and by outside political activists. Read her column online here.
Delays at the Don River
Waterfront Toronto’s project at the mouth of the Don River will create 72 acres of new parkland, four new bridges, new pedestrian and cycling paths, landing spots for kayaks and canoes and Villiers Island with new housing and businesses. The project has been delayed. David Rider has written about its progress in the Toronto Star. (Photo: Waterfront Toronto, Toronto Star)
FOR YOUR BODY
Parliament Street Fitness
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 will end the season on June 28. Then she’ll take a summer break. 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 will be a Zoom experience over the summer, every Tuesday and Thursday. No plans yet for a live in-person class. Send her an email to get the link.
RESTAURANT NEWS
Erin’s fundraiser
Erin from Stout Irish Pub (221 Carlton) is hosting a GoFundMe drive to support a local food bank. She reports that, “Today I dropped off 40 bricks of cheese, 24 pineapples and 32 quarts of strawberries for $275. What a deal! They've asked for juices and toilet paper, so that will be in the next drop. Please share this link with friends to help out. Even if it's just $5. - Erin.” Click here to visit her GoFundMe page.
Keating Channel
20th annual patio party with complimentary oysters, live music, beer and wine sampling and great prizes. From 6 pm, Friday June 23. 2 Villiers Street.
Luis H
A friend and I dropped in to Luis H (556 Parliament) on Monday. We shared three plates and an opening round of guacamole and chips. It was delicious. And our server, Doma, gave us good advice about the menu and great service once we’d ordered. (Photo: Doma (left), Luis H and Sunayama)
Cheese and beer
Two of our favourites are getting together - Le Conciliabule (350 Berkeley) at The Aviary (484 Front E). They’re holding a cheese and beer night featuring Longslice beer paired with selections of cheese by Le Conciliabule. 5 pm on Thursday June 29.
Cyril’s soup
Cyril describes this week’s offering - “Summer begins this week, on Wednesday morning to be precise. For the occasion, let me introduce you to the love child of a chili and a minestra. It inherited beans and tomatoes from both sides of the family. It is loaded with summer vegetables (mostly corn and zucchini) and herbs but with the added boldness of cumin, chili, and jalapeños. Chilestra tends to stay away from carbs, but you don't have to. If you think of it mostly as a minestrone, add your favourite pasta, but if you have a chili in mind, some (wild?) rice will work just as well. Full disclosure: that was my dinner last night. I used ‘gemelli’ pasta and it was a very satisfying meal.” ($3.50/cup for 3 to 9 cups and $3/cup for 10 or more). His juice is watermelon, cherry and orange (2 cups for $9.50). Delivery on June 24. Please send him an email with your order.
WEEKLY CALENDAR - CLUBS & PUBS
THURSDAY JUNE 22 TO SUNDAY JULY 2
- For contact info about these clubs and restaurants, see the list at the bottom of this page.
THURSDAY JUNE 22
The Aviary
8 pm, Battleship Bingo
FRIDAY JUNE 23
Keating Channel
6 pm, Patio Party
Distillery Jazz in Trinity Square
4 pm, Eliana Cuevas
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 24
Distillery Jazz in Trinity Square
1 pm, Ben Hardy & His Ornamentals
4:30 pm, Sean Bellaviti
Distlllery buskers
Summer Busker series, noon to 8 pm.
SUNDAY JUNE 25
Distillery Jazz in Trinity Square
1 pm, Linda Carone Lemon Twist
4:30 pm, Christopher Plock Band
Distlllery buskers
Summer Busker series, noon to 8 pm.
Super Bargain
3 pm to 2 am, Sunday Funday with DJ Shamz
MONDAY JUNE 26
Stout Irish Pub
7 pm, Headscratchers Trivia
TUESDAY JUNE 27
Golden Pigeon
7 pm, jazz and $2 oysters
Stout Irish Pub
7 pm, Headscratchers Trivia
WEDNESDAY JUNE 28
The Vibrational Apothecary
7:30 pm, traditional West African drumming classes with Amadou Kienou
Stout Irish Pub
7 pm, euchre night
The Golden Pigeon
8 pm, Bar trivia with Rachelle Lauzon
THURSDAY JUNE 29
The Aviary
8 pm, Cheese & beer night
FRIDAY JUNE 30
Distillery Jazz in Trinity Square
3:30 pm, Julian Fauth Quintet
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 JULY 1
Distillery Jazz in Trinity Square
Noon, Christopher Plock Band
3:30 pm, Elizabeth Shepard
Distlllery buskers
Summer Busker series, 4 to 8 pm.
SUNDAY JULY 2
Distillery Jazz in Trinity Square
Noon, Ori Dagan
3:30 pm, Red Hot Ramble
Distlllery buskers
Summer Busker series, 4 to 8 pm.
Super Bargain
3 pm to 2 am, Sunday Funday
CONTACT INFO
Alice’s Place - 554 Parliament
Aviary - 484 Front East
The Vibrational Apothecary - 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
Keating Channel - 2 Villiers St
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
