CABBAGETOWN NEIGHBOURHOOD
REVIEW
LOCAL NEWS
Coming next week
Here’s the list of vendors for next Tuesday June 13 at the Cabbagetown Farmers’ Market (Sumach and Winchester). The rotating vendor is Sustainable Roots Ecological Restoration, selling native plants, DIY pollinator kits and plant products and chatting about their services. Click on the image for a larger size.
New bike lanes
The Traffic Department’s report has been adopted by the Infrastructure & Environment Committee of City Council in its June 5 meeting. It will now go to City Council for final approval on June 14. The design changes will only affect cycling patterns. Three streets will have “contra-flow” bike lanes to allow two-way bike traffic - Sumach and Sackville from Gerrard to Wellesley and Ontario from Carlton to Aberdeen. Gerrard from Parliament to Sumach will have “bi-directional” bike lanes - also for two-way bike traffic. The details involving Winchester Street west of Parliament were left out of this report inadvertently and will be addressed in the future. The other bike lanes will be created in 2023-2024 and the Gerrard Street work will be scheduled for 2024-2025.
Objections in Winchester Park and Aberdeen
The Cycling Connections report to the Infrastructure Committee has stirred opposition by Aberdeen residents concerned about the change in parking on Ontario Street from the east to the west side. Specifically, they’re worried about access to Winchester Square Park by service vehicles and about visibility and security for the park from the street. Residents suggest that the parking be left alone and the bike lanes be built on the west side of the street. The city experts are looking at different designs for Ontario Street to adjust for these concerns.
Protest at Dundas and Sherbourne
There’s a large property south of Dundas on Sherbourne (214 to 230 Sherbourne) with a heritage house and a vacant lot. For years, members of various groups have urged the City to buy it for affordable housing. Neither the City nor the property owner agreed. It’s been sold to Kingsett Capital who plan to build a large condo on the site. A rally with a meal is planned for Saturday June 10 at 1 pm at 230 Sherbourne followed by a march to Kingsett Capital and then to the Royal York Hotel. Read the group’s demands online here.
Supporting Mark Saunders and Brad Bradford
We’ve asked both mayoral candidates to point us toward local residents who are supporting them. We want a local flavour for their endorsements. Unfortunately, neither campaign has responded. If they get to us in a reasonable time, we’ll include their comments before the election.
By-election update
Advance polls are open now 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 and signs are appearing in front of homes across the City. Election Day is Monday June 26 from 10 am to 8 pm.
Tent encampments in Allan Gardens
Officials at the City of Toronto have answered the demands for action about the tents. Carlton Grant, the Executive Director at Municipal Licensing and Standards, notes that 113 tents have been removed this year but despite this, more are arriving. Agencies like Streets to Homes, Toronto Fire, the Encampment Office and private security are all working to remove debris, ensure safety for tent residents and park visitors - “24 hours per day, seven days a week, year-round, with a focus on building trusting relationships, helping to address immediate health and safety needs and finding permanent housing.” Their primary goal is “on making homelessness rare, brief and non-recurring.”
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. 1,945 people have signed by Thursday, up from last week’s 1,825.
Condo proposal at 505 - 509 Parliament Street
Gilles Huot’s petition opposing this project has attracted 1,060 signatures by Thursday June 8. In his petition, he notes several flaws in the application to the City. Send him an email if you want to join his list. The public zoom meeting showed the dissatisfaction of local residents. Gilles comments that “the developer representative was often very vague and gave “this will be looked at at a later date” answers to some tough questions. Unfortunately, the format of the meeting did not allow us to challenge some of his answers or assertions.” He suggests that there’s still time for more comments to the City Planner, Tiffany Ly.
Michael Hepburn is back
Michael and his crew are back again to build new gardens and landscaping in Cabbagetown. He’s not only active in the neighbourhood, he also supports both the Forsythia Festival and the Tour of Homes. Give him a call to discuss your plans for your garden. (416) 801-4438.
Streetcapes in Bloom
Nominate a front garden for this prestigious annual award. It’s given to a garden where the owners have maintained a high quality throughout the Spring, Summer and Fall seasons. Nominations close on Saturday June 10. The winner receives a Kitras glass medallion and a portrait of the garden. More details are listed online.
Wandering minstrels wanted
The Cabbagetown BIA is recruiting musicians who can stroll through the business area to entertain patio customers and shoppers. The performances will happen from July 3 to September 8 over four days each week - Thursday: 6:00pm - 8:00pm ($150/shift), Friday: 6:00pm - 9:00pm ($225/shift), Saturday: 11:00am - 3:00pm ($300/shift) and Sunday: 11:00am - 1:00pm ($150/shift) . More info and an application form are online here.
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.
The 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)
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.
Our Farmers’ Markets
Cabbagetown Farmers’ Market - opens from 3 to 7 pm every Tuesday in Riverdale Park West (Sumach and Winchester). 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 until October. For more info, visit the Market’s Facebook page.
Kids are busy at the CYC
The Cabbagetown Youth Centre (2 Lancaster) is open and active. There’s an after-school program for kids in grades 1 to 6 with a pickup at Winchester School. People’s Elite and UbuntuTO are running evening programs. Five programs funded by CAPC from the Health Agency of Canada are operating from Rose Avenue School and the CYC.
The boxing club, the gym and the activity rooms are all busy again. More info is available at the CYC page on the website.
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. She’s 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.
Under the Stars
The Sumach (146 Sumach) invites you to a night of complimentary dinner, dancing and music. There’ll be a request for donations for Pat’s Place, a temporary haven for seniors experiencing abuse at home. Friday July 21, 6 to 9 pm. Please RSVP to Grant Hooper or to Mosaic Home Care - although the event is one month away, over 60% of the places have already been reserved.
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.
IN THE MEDIA
Condo opposition is a NIMBY idea
A flurry of comments on Twitter has provoked articles in Toronto-area blogs. Streets of Toronto blog done by Post City has published a story saying that the opposition to the condo at 505-509 Parliament is a NIMBY response. blogTO picked up the same theme in its article by Jack Landau.
Playgrounds in Promontory Park
Waterfront Toronto is building a large park within the Port Lands, the area where the Don River is being redirected and new housing and infrastructure will be built. There’s a proposal for a children’s playground in that park and it’ll need private funding to be completed. Alex Bozikovic has described this plan and the fundraising needed to get the $50 million needed for it.
A new library in Regent Park
The new application to redevelop the old strip of Regent Park on Gerrard includes a new library. It’ll eventually replace the existing one at Parliament and Gerrard. Andre Bermon, writing in The Bridge Community News, describes the details involved in this move.
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 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’s half way to her target. 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 until Sunday June 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 returned from his vacation plans. His first soup will be the one that was cancelled just before his trip - smoked tea and tomato. He uses smoked Lapsang Souchong tea along with onions and tomatoes finished with half and half cream or coconut milk. ($3.50/cup for 3 to 9 cups and $3/cup for 10 or more). His juice is orange, strawberry and grape (2 cups for $9.50). Deliveries on Saturday June 17. Please send him an email with your order.
WEEKLY CALENDAR - CLUBS & PUBS
THURSDAY JUNE 8 TO SUNDAY JUNE 18
- For contact info about these clubs and restaurants, see the list at the bottom of this page.
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
MONDAY JUNE 12
Stout Irish Pub
7 pm, Headscratchers Trivia
TUESDAY JUNE 13
Aviary
8 pm, Bird Brain trivia
Golden Pigeon
7 pm, jazz and $2 oysters
Stout Irish Pub
7 pm, Headscratchers Trivia
WEDNESDAY JUNE 14
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
8 pm, Bar trivia with Rachelle Lauzon
THURSDAY JUNE 15
No events listed
FRIDAY JUNE 16
Distillery Jazz
4 pm, Julian Fauth Quintet, Trinity Square
SATURDAY JUNE 17
Distillery Jazz
1 pm, Richard Underhill, Trinity Square
4:30 pm, Queen Pepper, Trinity Square
SUNDAY JUNE 18
Distillery Jazz
1 pm, Linda Carone Lemon Twist, Trinity Square
4:30 pm, Christopher Plock Band, Trinity Square
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
