CABBAGETOWN NEIGHBOURHOOD
REVIEW
CABBAGETOWN FESTIVAL SPECIAL EVENTS
The St James Town Festival
The exceptional talent of our local artists is showcased in the Festival. Enjoy live music and dance. Delight your taste buds with offerings from our array of local food vendors. There’ll be activities catering to children, youth, adults and seniors alike along with arts, crafts, games, food vendors and community info booths. Saturday September 9, 2 to 7 pm. Come to St James Ave and Wellesley Street (behind Food Basics.)
A sell-out success
Last night’s screening at the Cabbagetown Short Film Festival was a sell-out success. It’s a great start to the weekend programs. The top photo shows the coveted Barbie Award, the prize given to the People’s Choice film, voted by the audience at the screening. Congrats to Gina Dineen for her creative direction and hard work. The photo below shows her (right) with two classmates “from days of yore,” Erin Coffey and Pandora Richardson. (Photos: Eric Morse)
Cabbagetown Art & Craft Show
The weekend starts on Friday afternoon at 1 pm in Riverdale Park West. The Show is a big event and it’s often hard to absorb the scores of artists and artisans displaying there. The Show’s Instagram has a useful Guide - vendors are grouped by categories showing samples of their work and their booth location. Mixed Media, Metal Work, Jewellery, Drawing/Painting/Print, Culinary, Clothing, Ceramics/Glass and Accessories. It’s a handy head start for your visit.
Music at the Cabbagetown Art & Craft Show
Two jazz trios are providing musical background to the Art & Crafts show. On Saturday, the Duncan Hopkins Jazz trio is playing. On Sunday, it’s the Ben Bishop Jazz trio.
Grab a snack
No need to starve yourself during your tour of the show. The Animal Liberation Kitchen, Cobblestone Foods, Nabulu Coffee, the Regent Park Catering Collective, The Lemon Maid and Nepali Momo will all have food booths. And another eight vendors will be selling packaged goodies for you to take home.
St Jamestown’s bbq
Mark at St Jamestown Steak & Chops (516 Parliament) is offering his tasty barbecue on both Saturday and Sunday. Peameal bacon sandwiches, hot dogs and burgers. The picture shows how many people enjoy his barbeque - and his staff are quick and his food is excellent, He fires up his flames early each morning so you can start your day with him.
Blair’s Run
Coming in to the final weekend before the race, 269 racers and 23 teams have registered. These are prime athletes, ready to handle the gruelling 2 km run/walk in Cabbagetown’s mini-marathon on Sunday September 10 at 8 am at Carlton and Parliament. If you have a creative idea, you can also develop your own event as part of the Freestyle Option - any time until September 17. Go to the website for more info and registration. Proceeds support the Cabbagetown Youth Centre and the Toronto Kiwanis Boys and Girls Club.
PSF warm-ups
Limber up for the big race at Blair’s Run. Parliament Street Fitness (488 Parliament) is conducting stretches and warm-ups at 8:45 am. As the picture shows, some need it more than others.
Good street food and fun patios
Food is a big part of the Festival weekend. On Carlton Street, Stout Irish Pub (221 Carlton) is serving free 5 oz beer tastings and a special menu on the front patio. Revelstoke (195 Carlton) is located outside the Festival zone, so they’re opening a booth on Parliament with vegetarian options. At the north end of Parliament, you can enjoy Indian food at Butter Chicken Factory (560 Parliament), Jamaican at Maracas (601 Parliament). Luis H (566 Parliament) is offering a taco special over the weekend. L’Avenue (583 Parliament) will have its regular brunch and dinner menus on its front patio. F’Amelia (12 Amelia) is serving pizza, beer, wine and cocktails on its patio.
Performers on Parliament Street
Festival organizers have lined up an impressive collection of performers for the weekend. Local groups include the St Jamestown Youth Centre Steel Orchestra and Snooky Tynes.
Others will be scattered along Parliament and Carlton - The Toronto All Stars Big Band, TDot Batu, Jen Schaffer and the Shiners, Breadra Bidness, Alex Radeff and Donkey, Jerome Tucker and Imbayakunas.
Outdoor karaoke
Alice’s Place (554 Parliament) is hosting its Festival outdoor karaoke on Saturday and Sunday from 1 pm. It’s a fun event.
Go Freddy Go
They’re back at the House on Parliament (454 Parliament). Dedicated fans will be staying up at night, practising their dance moves. Newcomers better be ready for an afternoon’s delights. Saturday afternoon. If you don’t know how to find them just follow the good music sounds.
CYC Boxing Club
The Boxing Club (upstairs, 2 Lancaster) is back at The Festival this year with a boxing demonstration and an open house on Saturday, September 9 from 1 to 3 pm. Drop in and find out about this marvellous place.
Riverdale Farm Fall Festival
Back again in Riverdale Farm (Winchester and Sumach). Saturday September 9 and Sunday September 10. There’s a hog calling and a corn shucking contest, line dancing and meet-the-farmer demonstrations. On both days, you can enjoy freshly cooked corn on the cob. Special children’s activities and face painting happen both days in the Meeting House. The Toronto Guild of Spinners and Weavers will demonstrate their craft in the Meeting House from 10 am to 3 pm each day. On Sunday, there’s a pancake breakfast in the Francey Barn from 9 to 11 am.
Cabbagetown merch
Get dressed for the Festival - grab a tee shirt (in black, magenta, jade, grey or green), a kid’s tee in blue or pink or a white baby’s onesie. Take it all home in a nifty Cabbagetown tote. You can shop online or drop in to The Great Mallard (503 Parliament) for in-person browsing.
Welcome back, Eclectisaurus
Leslie is bringing her shop back to us on the weekend at 143 Winchester. She’ll offer an irresistible selection of vintage and antique items. She’s located right on your way to the Art & Craft Show in the park.
LOCAL NEWS
Artscape is insolvent
Artscape operates the Daniels Spectrum (585 Dundas E) and it has spaces in the Distillery. Nearby, it’s located in the Daniels Launchpad (130 Queens Quay E), PACE (155 Dundas E) and the Bayside Lofts (30 Merchants Wharf). It was founded as a property management company to provide subsided spaces for artists at prices they can afford. It currently houses almost 400 tenants. In August, the company announced that it’s entering receivership. Later that month, they were able to extend tenants’ leases to the end of September, thanks to emergency support.
2023 World Rowing Championships
Sydney Payne and the Women’s 8 rowing team are working for a spot in the 2024 Paris Olympics. This year, the Worlds are in Belgrade - the event has two prestigious roles. They are, themselves, a great achievement. They’re also the gateway to next year’s Olympics. Kelly Rogers reports, "This is the Olympic qualification event for the 2024 Paris Olympics next summer. Only the top boats qualify for the Olympics, the Paris Olympics is less than half the size of the World Championships.” The first heats have already taken place and Sydney Payne’s crew placed third. The next race is Friday at 6:36 am eastern time. The final is on Sunday at 8:44 am.
IN THE MEDIA
Artscape’s move to receivership
Francine Kopun has written a story in the Toronto Star about the impact of Artscape’s collapse, particularly for tenants in the Daniels Spectrum’
COMING EVENTS
Hungry for love
The Friends of Allan Gardens are bringing back Toronto’s only carnivorous plant market. The vendors include Plantzza Hut, Gregory Thiel, the Carnivorous Plant Club, Alezscapes, Nature’s Greedy Little Catchers and Home Grown Carnivores. Save the date - Saturday September 9, 11 am to 4 pm in the Children’s Conservatory (160 Gerrard E).
Tour of Homes - get your tickets
You can buy your tickets online. Or you can drop in to one of our local stores and buy them there - Akasha Art (204D Carlton), Epicure Shop (473 Parliament), Fairway Market (520 Parliament), Jay’s Garden Centre (358 Gerrard E), Kendall & Co (514 Parliament), Le Conciliabule Lab (350 Berkeley), St Jamestown Steak & Chops (516 Parliament) and The Great Mallard (503 Parliament). And around Toronto, get them at Garden’s Path (983 Queen E), Sheridan Nurseries (2827 Yonge) and The Door Store (1260 Castlefield). $40, cash at the stores and credit cards online.
RESTAURANT NEWS
Le Conciliabule
Le Conciliabule is celebrating the Festival with a special menu on Sunday. From 11 am, they’re offering sandwiches and freshly made omelettes. They’re planning music and delicious pastries on the patio as well. 350 Berkeley at Gerrard
Tasso
Tasso (540 Parliament) will be selling its yummy pastries at the Cabbagetown Farmers Market on Tuesday September 12.
Dova
Dova (229 Carlton) is holding a special dinner at 6:30 pm on Tuesday September 12. It’s a five course dinner featuring Sicilian food paired with wines from Tornatore Vineyards. The chef and the winemaker will talk about each course. To reserve your seat, please call (416) 901-3501 or go to the Dova website for online contact links. $180.
Cyril’s soup
To celebrate garlic week, Cyril is making a garlic, chickpea and potato soup. It’s flavoured with rosemary, thyme, paprika and a touch of chilli flakes and, yes, it’s nicely garlicky. His juice is pineapple, kiwi and lemon. He’s added a touch of spinach for colour and some basil. Soup - $3.50 per cup for 3 to9 cups and $3 a cup for ten or more. Juice - $9.50 for two cups. Deliveries on Saturday September 16. Please email him to place your order.
WEEKLY CALENDAR - CLUBS & PUBS
THURSDAY SEPTEMBER 7 TO SUNDAY SEPTEMBER 17
For contact info about these clubs and restaurants, see the list at the bottom of this page.
THURSDAY SEPTEMBER 7
Cabbagetown Roaming Performers
6 to 8 pm, David Caten
FRIDAY SEPTEMBER 8
Cabbagetown Art & Craft Show
1 to 6 pm, Riverdale Park West
Cabbagetown Roaming Performers
4:30 pm, Ethan Young
Distlllery buskers
Summer Busker series, 4 to 8 pm.
Alice’s Place
9 pm, Karaoke
Naija Jolloff Lounge
6pm,Karaoke
Super Bargain
10 pm, DJ Shamz
Wing House
9 pm, Karaoke
SATURDAY SEPTEMBER 9
Cabbagetown Art & Craft Show
10 am to 6 pm, Riverdale Park West
Cabbagetown Festival on Parliament Street
11 am to 8 pm, Parliament and Carlton Streets
Riverdale Farm Fall Festival
10 am to 3:30 pm, Riverdale Farm (Winchester & Sumach)
Distillery Jazz in Trinity Square
1 pm, Rhonda Takich
Distlllery buskers
Summer Busker series, noon to 8 pm.
Naija Jolloff Lounge
6pm, live music
SUNDAY SEPTEMBER 10
Cabbagetown Art & Craft Show
10 am to 5 pm, Riverdale Park West
Blair’s Run
8 am, Carlton & Parliament
Cabbagetown Festival on Parliament Street
11 am to 7 pm, Parliament and Carlton Streets
Riverdale Farm Fall Festival
10 am to 3:30 pm, Riverdale Farm (Winchester & Sumach)
Distillery Jazz in Trinity Square
1 pm, Grooveyard
Distlllery buskers
Summer Busker series, noon to 8 pm.
Super Bargain
3 pm to 2 am, Sunday Funday
The Aviary
Noon, Brews, brunch & makers’ market with local artists
MONDAY SEPTEMBER 11
Distillery Jazz in Trinity Square
1 pm, Kevin Ray Clark & friends
Stout Irish Pub
7 pm, Headscratchers Trivia
Super Bargain
7:30 pm, Trivia
TUESDAY SEPTEMBER 12
Golden Pigeon
4 pm, $2 oysters
7 pm, live jazz
Stout Irish Pub
7 pm, Headscratchers Trivia
WEDNESDAY SEPTEMBER 13
The Vibrational Apothecary
7:30 pm, traditional West African drumming classes with Amadou Kienou
Stout Irish Pub
7 pm, euchre night
THURSDAY SEPTEMBER 14
No announcements
FRIDAY SEPTEMBER 15
Distlllery buskers
Summer Busker series, 4 to 8 pm.
Alice’s Place
9 pm, Karaoke
Naija Jolloff Lounge
6pm, Karaoke
Super Bargain
10 pm, DJ Shamz
Wing House
9 pm, Karaoke
SATURDAY SEPTEMBER 16
Distillery Jazz in Trinity Square
1 pm, Richard Underhill Band
Distlllery buskers
Summer Busker series, noon to 8 pm.
Mill Street Brewpub
4 pm, Mill Street Block Party
Naija Jolloff Lounge
6pm, Live music
SUNDAY SEPTEMBER 17
Distillery Jazz in Trinity Square
1 pm, Lady Son
Distlllery buskers
Summer Busker series, noon to 8 pm.
Distillery yoga
9 am, Yoga in Trinity Square - final session
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
La Gloria Mexican Coffee - 453 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
