February 22

 CABBAGETOWN NEIGHBOURHOOD 

REVIEW

A PERSONAL VIEW

The impact of safe injection sites

The Toronto Star reported on a recent Canadian study published in the British medical journal The Lancet. It found that safe injection sites dramatically reduce the number of nearby fatal overdoses, “a 67 per cent reduction in overdose deaths in neighbourhoods within 500 metres of supervised consumption sites after they opened.” This is important information for our community. It may reassure neighbours who have serious concerns about the impact of Street Health, a safe injection site at Sherbourne and Dundas. A recent discussion on Facebook about the impact of Street Health is also important. It raises the legitimate point that the agency needs to be more aware of its impact and needs to be open longer hours. (Photo: Street Health/Instagram)

FEATURED ARTIST

Ruth Wagner is our featured artist.  This week’s image is entitled “Among the White Ones” from her Iris series.  12 x 12”, soft pastels on pastel premier sanded paper - white. Ruth has a bent for drawing and soft  pastels.  This is the perfect medium for her work on floral, tree and still life themes. She’s exhibited in juried shows with the Pastel Artists of Canada since 2017 and more recently with the Artists’ Network of Riverdale.

LOCAL NEWS

Community meeting with All Saints Church

Cabbagetown South Residents and All Saints Church (315 Dundas E) are inviting the community to a meeting to learn about the work that the Church does at the corner of Sherbourne and Dundas. Saturday February 24, 10 am.  The topics will range across the realities of homelessness, the resources in our community and introductions to the staff from All Saints and the H2H Crisis team.   

Thanks Chef Sonam Pontsang

Sonam is the chef at Momo Ghar (568 Parliament).  He’s also been busy this winter cooking and distributing meals for people in need.  Check out the Cabbagetown BIA’s Facebook page to see his work on Family Day, giving out a curry and rice dinner.  It's his fifth time this winter.  He wanted to provide a hot meal during the coldest part of February.  Drop in to his restaurant for a good meal in a lovely room.

Parliament Street on the Cusp

The Cabbagetown Preservation Association is holding a public meeting that will look at the future of Parliament Street development.  The speakers include a senior executive from Daniels, a senior architect and an experienced heritage advocate.  Tuesday February 27, 7 pm, Winchester Street Theatre (80 Winchester)

Congrats for successful events

La Gloria Mexican Coffee (453 Parliament) held its first anniversary party last weekend.  By all accounts, it was a great event.

The Lunar New Year was celebrated by a large crowd at Allan Gardens Children’s Conservatory (160 Gerrard E) on Monday.

Brownies and cookies were combined into scrumptious snacks by the Friends of Regent Park.  They were served at the Family Day Skate at the Rink (480 Shuter) on Saturday.

The new Don River

Waterfront Toronto reports that the new mouth of the Don River has now been flooded and raised to the level of Lake Ontario.  The photo shows the river (right) and one of a series of wetlands (left).  It’s a major step in the creation of Villiers Island. You can view the story of the new river mouth at Waterfront Toronto’s Instagram site.

Tents in Allan Gardens

Councillor Chris Moise’s Dashboard still shows the statistics about the tents in Allan Gardens from February 2 so there’s no new data to provide here. Our weekly report has been a regular feature but it will have to end here until more recent data is provided on the Dashboard.

ANNOUNCEMENTS

Our Announcements are available to anyone who want to reach out to the community.  Email your message and an appropriate photo (in jpeg format). It’s free and your Announcement will run for two weeks unless other arrangements are made. 

Holiday in France

Mary Spence Thomas has a beautiful house in France that’s available for vacation rentals this summer.  It’s in Castelnau-de-Montmiral, often referred to as one of  the most beautiful villages in France and it’s a wonderful base for exploring the surrounding bastides and vineyards.  Check out all the photos, details and rental info online.  Please note that there’s a new email address for the house.

COMING EVENTS

Book launch at Stout

It’s being billed as a “belated book launch” at Stout Irish Pub (221 Carlton).  Join Chris and Bri Mitchell to celebrate their book, “Travel the World around You.”  Families are welcome.  There’ll be snacks, pop and beers for those who want them and books to be autographed for you. Saturday February 24, from 2 to 5 pm.

Party in your parka

On Saturday February 24, the Distillery is having a party from 1 to 7 pm in the Apres Ski theme that’s happening each weekend.  There’ll be slope side sips, fireside treats and family-friendly fun. Music by Diana Chan McNally.  Seats are “first-come first-served.” 

Playground Cafe reopening

Playground will reopen on Saturday February 24.  It closed in mid-January for a complete renovation.  According to its Instagram, it’ll be a totally new space with curated art exhibitions and collaborative events.

Volunteers are needed

Sign up now to be a volunteer at Hidden Gardens & Private Spaces - the Cabbagetown garden tour. It’s happening on Sunday June 2.  You’ll be assigned to a garden to talk with the tour visitors.  It’s a great experience. For more info about the tour, click here.  And click here to volunteer.  By the way, if you’re proud of your garden and want to show it at the tour, click here to tell the organizers.

SHOPPING NEWS

Biophilia

A celebration of human connection to nature at Labour of Love (233 Carlton) from February 29 to March 30.  On opening night Thursday February 29, Farzad Hariri and Bamdad Malikia will stage a musical performance at 7 pm at Labour of Love.  Lawrence Bernstein’s photographs and Elham Hazfi’s art will hang there throughout the exhibition events.  In March, four artists - all from Cabbagetown - will each hold events to highlight their art.  Lawrence Bernstein will lead a walk through Cabbagetown on Saturday March 2 from 2 pm to discover the best techniques for meaningful photography.   To learn more and to register, go to Eventbrite.

Vacation time

St Jamestown Steak & Chops (516 Parliament) will be closed for a vacation until Monday February 25.  

THEATRE NEWS

The Globe & Mail has selected Universal Child Care at Canadian Stage as a Critic’s Pick. Soulpepper and Native Earth also have new plays currently on stage or coming very soon.  These listings and more are online here. 

RESTAURANT NEWS 

Whisky and oysters

These are the fun guys holding this fun event.  The House on Parliament (424 Parliament) is holding an oyster shucking and Talisker single malt Scotch whisky tasting.  Thursday February 29, 7 pm.  

Spiritleaf Cannabis

Enjoy mocktails and charcuterie on Saturday afternoon at Spiritleaf (238 Carlton).  Thursday February 29, 5 to 10 pm.  They'll be hosting a series of fun events there over the spring and summer.  Rouma is the operator and owner at Spiritleaf along with her family. This event is part of their effort to contribute to Cabbagetown’s community. Check out their website for their products, sales and business hours.

Night People

The Aviary presents Vinyl Nights - full of the best soul, funk and reggae.  The Funky Ginger and Ron Jon are the DJs doing the spinning.  Thursday February 29 from 8 pm.

Apres ski weekends

Apres Ski experience in the Distillery on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays from 1 to 7 pm.  Open until Sunday March 31 in Trinity Square. Happy Hour all day on Fridays.  DJ every Saturday from 5 to 7 pm.  Seats are available first-come, first-served. Free.

Cyril’s soup

Cyril’s back after his New Year’s break and he’s making Moroccan vegetable stew.  His juice is tropical cold-pressed papaya, orange and pineapple.  Soup - $3.50 per cup for 3 to 9 cups and $3 a cup for ten or more.  Juice - $9.50 for two cups.  Deliveries on Saturday February 24.  Please email him to place your order.

WEEKLY CALENDAR - CLUBS & PUBS

THURSDAY FEBRUARY 22 TO SUNDAY MARCH 3

For contact info about these clubs and restaurants, see the list at the bottom of this page.  

THURSDAY FEBRUARY 22

Old Flame Brewing

8 pm, Open mic with Landon

FRIDAY FEBRUARY 23

Super Bargain

10 pm, DJ Shamz

Old Flame Brewing

7 pm, live music

Distillery

1 to 7 pm, Apres Ski Weekend and all-day happy hour

SATURDAY FEBRUARY 24

Old Flame Brewing

7 pm, live music

Distillery

1 to 7 pm, Diana Chan McNally, DJ and Apres Ski Weekend

Stout Irish Pub

2 pm, “Travel the World around You” book launch

SUNDAY FEBRUARY 25

The Aviary

Jazz brunch

Distillery

1 to 7 pm, Apres Ski Weekend

MONDAY FEBRUARY 26

Stout Irish Pub

7 pm, Headscratchers Trivia 

TUESDAY FEBRUARY 27

Stout Irish Pub

7 pm, Headscratchers Trivia 

The Aviary

7 pm, Bird Brain Trivia

The Golden Pigeon

4 pm, $2 oysters

7 pm, live jazz

WEDNESDAY FEBRUARY 28

Old Flame Brewery

7 pm, Trivia night

Stout Irish Pub

7 pm, euchre night

The Aviary

7 pm, Euchre Socials 

8 pm, Karaoke night

The Vibrational Apothecary

7:30 pm, traditional West African drumming classes with Amadou Kienou

THURSDAY FEBRUARY 29

House on Parliament

7 pm, oysters and Talisker Scotch whisky tasting.

The Aviary

8 pm, Night People with DJs The Funky Ginger and Ron Jon.

Old Flame Brewing

8 pm, Open mic with Landon

Distillery

1 to 7 pm, special Leap Year Apres Ski Weekend

FRIDAY MARCH 1

Super Bargain

10 pm, DJ Shamz

Old Flame Brewing

7 pm, live music

Distillery

1 to 7 pm, Apres Ski Weekend and all-day happy hour

SATURDAY MARCH 2

Old Flame Brewing

7 pm, live music

Distillery

1 to 7 pm, DJ and Apres Ski Weekend

SUNDAY MARCH 3

The Aviary

Jazz brunch

Distillery

1 to 7 pm, Apres Ski Weekend

Super Bargain

3 pm, Paint nite

CONTACT INFO

Alice’s Place - 554 Parliament

Aviary - 484 Front East

Bisou - 350 Berkeley (at Gerrard)

The Vibrational Apothecary - 243 Gerrard E

Cranberries - 601 Parliament

Distillery - Mill Street and Parliament

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, Distillery

Momo Ghar - 568 Parliament

NJ Lounge - 507 Parliament

Old Flame Brewery- 45 Tank House Lane, Distillery

Playground - 492 Parliament

Stout Irish Pub - 221 Carlton

Super Bargain - 441 Parliament

Wing House - 420 Parliament