LOCAL NEWS
A big Olympic weekend for Jazz and Sydney
Sydney Payne’s team on their Olympic women’s-eight boat won a silver medal on Saturday. They battled the Romanian boat for most of the race but in the final stretch, the Romanians pulled ahead. It’s the second big medal for this remarkable team - they had a gold in the previous Tokyo Olympics. We’ve been following them for a couple of years and it’s been amazing to see the hard work and dedication that they’ve devoted to their sport. Many thanks and congrats to each team member. (Photo: Kelly Rogers)
The Cabbagetown flag
Anji Shukla, Jazz’s mom, took our flag to Paris. Here it is in the Stade de France on Jazz’s race day.
And then in the Canada Olympic House with Sydney.
And with Jazz in a post-Olympics trip to Turin Italy.
Your ideas are welcome about the Esso gardens
Volunteers at the garden (Parliament and Amelia) have been clearing away the weeds and undergrowth. Check it out - it’s possible to see through the garden area and to see the old garden fixtures that were once installed but were later hidden by the wild growth. The people sitting on the wall on Parliament have been enjoying the improvements and they’re keeping the area cleaner. People passing the site are regularly asking what the plans are for the future. If you have a suggestion about the possible uses for the gardens, send an email to Chris. It’s time now to start thinking.
Congrats Danny
We never knew that Danny Marks is a good ole country boy. But last weekend, he was the headliner at the new Picks & Bricks country festival in the Distillery.
Canary District clean-up
The Canary District Neighbourhood Association is organizing a street clean-up day. Saturday August 11, 10 am to noon. Bags, gloves and trash grabbers will be supplied. Meet at The Aviary (484 Front East).
Moss Park clean-up
Local neighbours will join police officers from 51 Division along with members of Don’t Mess with the Don to clean up Moss Park - laneways, power washing, graffiti removal and hazardous waste removals. Cleaning materials will be provided. There’ll be a community bbq in Moss Park afterward. Meet at 227 Ontario, Sunday August 18, 11 am to 1:30 pm.
The Fair Share Market
Dixon Hall is again organizing a Fair Share Market. It’s an affordable farmers’ market with seasonal local produce as well as imported staples. Choose an assortment of pre-selected produce and pay what you can. Pay the $5 minimum or the $20 market rate. There’ll also be entertainment, hot food and refreshments. Thursdays, August 15 and 29 and September 12 and 26 from 3 pm. Outdoors at 190 Carlton and indoors at 188 Carlton.
Cabbagetown Farmers’ Market
It’s time now for fresh fruit and veggies. Ellie from the Market staff has posted a list of the goodies that we can expect in August. It’s the peak season for the best local produce. Warner Farms from Beamsville is back until October with fresh cherries, plums, peaches, pears and apples. Check out the Market’s Facebook page to see the weekly updates and news. Riverdale Park West (Sumach and Winchester) (Photo: Cabbagetown Farmers Market)
Corktown’s Underpass Farmers’ Market
The market (29 Lower River) opens very Thursday from 4 to 7:30 pm. This week, an impressive list of over forty vendors were offering their stuff. For this week’s updates, click here.
Another roofers scam
Carly has posted a Facebook warning about this guy. He’s using a really fancy postcard - for some reason, that’s a typical scammer’s technique.
Wildlife in Cabbagetown
Kelly O’Sullivan posted this remarkable photo on Facebook of a very young fox having its breakfast on a Spruce Street lawn.
CABBAGETOWN FESTIVAL EARLY NEWS
Cabbagetown Art & Crafts Show
The jury has selected 170 exhibitors in a dozen categories for this year’s show. The website lists them by category and by names so you can find your favourites easily. This year’s poster features a piece by Tamara Soto, an award winner in the 2023 show. And don’t forget - volunteers are needed to help on Friday September 6 to Sunday September 8. If you want to be a part of the show, email Gerald FitzGerald with your contact info.
Cabbagetown Short Film Festival
Gina has selections for the Festival from ten countries - Canada, Norway, Netherlands, Palestine, Spain, Turkey, Ireland and Switzerland. It happens on Wednesday September 4 at the Winchester Street Theatre (80 Winchester). Tickets are now on sale - $20 for the live screening event on September 4 and for the virtual event from September 5 to September 7, $15.
Blair’s Run
The organizers have opened the gate and they’re ready for a flood of runners and volunteers. The run happens at 9 am on Sunday September 8 at the corner of Carlton and Parliament - it’s an exhilarating experience with your neighbours, your kids, your dog or even your spouse. It’s a fundraiser for the BGC Toronto Kiwanis (101 Spruce) - including the Cabbagetown Youth Centre (2 Lancaster). Volunteer teams will cover their streets getting donations - last year, over $53,000 was raised. There’s an online registration page.
St James Town Festival
Vendors and volunteers are invited to join the Festival. It takes place on Saturday September 7 from 1 to 7 pm in the green space north of Wellesley and Ontario. If you’re interested, send an email to the organizers.
Cabbagetown Festival volunteers
The big street festival along Parliament and Carlton will happen on Saturday September 7 and Sunday September 8. Planning is already underway to make this year’s event one of the best ever. The Cabbagetown BIA is asking for volunteers. It’s fun and volunteers are an important part of it. For students, there’s a chance to add the credit to your resume and to earn hours toward your community service requirements. And there’s a free lunch! Get all the info and the volunteer links online here.
YOUR ANNOUNCEMENTS
Judy Steed's Mindfulness/Meditation sessions - ongoing for 15+ years - are welcoming new participants on Zoom. Mondays at 7 pm or Thursdays at 10 am, lasting one hour, $5 per session. Incorporating Buddhist mind training practices and neuroscience. Also, Judy offers Zoom exercise classes with Pilates mat work on Sundays at 10 am, with deep relaxation at the end. One hour, $5 per session. For more info and to enrol, email Judy.
COMING EVENTS
In Colour Tours
Jadon is conducting a free tour of Cabbagetown at 2 pm on Saturday August 10. It’ll be small group to help navigate narrow lanes and crowded courtyards. This tour is normally sold to international guests. Meet at the plaque outside the Castle Frank subway station. It covers about 4 km over 2.5 hours. Please register in advance - check out the info online.
Bend it Like Beckham
The August selection for Soulpepper’s community movie. Thursday August 15, 1:30 pm and 7 pm. Free. Discount prices on beer and wine. Seating is first-come, first-served and registration is required due to limited space. For more info and registration links, click here.
Muddy Mornings
Drop in to Allan Gardens every Monday morning in August for a family event for your kids ages 3 to 8. Learning stations will highlight agriculture and nature. 10:30 am to 12:30 pm in the Children’s Conservatory & Edible Garden (19 Horticultural Ave). PWYC - suggested donation $5 per child.
Picks & Bricks Country Festival
The Distillery presents live music every day. Special events include doggie dress-up contests (every Tuesday from 7 to 9 pm), specialty foods (in the Pure Spirits Saloon and the Trinity Food Truck), roping cattle contests (Thursdays from 7 to 9 pm), mechanical bull riding (Thursdays from noon to 8 pm) and line dancing (Fridays from 7 to 9 pm). And don’t miss Whisky Wednesdays and the best pie contest. Events will continue to Monday September 2. It’s all free. For more info, click here.
Taste of Regent Park
The weekly market in the Big Park (Dundas & Sumach). Every Wednesday evening, 5 to 8 pm until September 4. Enjoy local vendors, healthy foods, entertainment and cultural food vendors
IN THE MEDIA
The Lower Don River trail
The trail that goes south along the Don River from Pottery Road to Corktown Common is closed for repairs. The work started last year and it’s proceeding much more slowly than first announced. The trail will continue to be closed until July 2025. Mahdis Habibinia has written about the project for the Toronto Star. (Photo: Jack Lakey, Toronto Star)
THEATRE NEWS
Soulpepper (50 Tank House Lane, Distillery) is staging The Big Easy, an original concert about the music of New Orleans. August 1 to 18. For details and contact info, click here. (Photo: Dahlia Katz)
SHOPPING NEWS
Medicare Drug Mart
Medicare (599 Parliament) is moving. On August 30, it’ll close and on September 3, it’ll reopen at 151 Wellesley E at Homewood.
Beading workshop
Timeless Collective (574 Parliament) is hosting Lala with a beading workshop. Every Saturday in August from 10 am to noon. It’s great for kids ages 5 to 12. Send an email to Lala to register.
Eclectisaurus online auction
Leslie is again offering an online auction of her mid-century and postmodern furniture, lighting, art, glass, ceramics, jewellery, clothing and textiles. 60 lots are available. They start at $1 and there are no reserve bids. The bidding is open now until 8:30 pm on Wednesday August 14. Click here to reach the auction site.
Kendall & Co
Here’s a vintage chair that’s part of a family’s antique heirloom collection. It’s been skillfully reupholstered in a vibrant pattern-centered velvet fabric. Kendall & Co suggests that you can “breathe new life into your vintage heirlooms with Kendall & Co’s vibrant fabrics and unparalleled upholstery craftsmanship.” For more info, click
here. 514 Parliament.
Cultural bazaar
Every Friday from 3 to 8 pm until September 6, there’ll be a cultural shopping experience on Regent Park Boulevard. Local crafts, henna, jewellery, clothes and food.
RESTAURANT NEWS
Epos Coffee
A new coffee shop has opened at 290 Gerrard E, just west of Parliament. It’s Greek themed with strong interior decor on beautiful white walls. The patio at the front is a shady, relaxed place to watch people passing along Gerrard. There are 16 coffees on sale now - frappuccino and iced coffee are the current favourites. A variety of pastries and sandwiches are also available. Open from 6:30 am to 6:30 pm.
Decoy
Second anniversary weekend - August 16 to 18. On Friday August 16 at 7 pm, it’s Eric Douglas, John Richardson, DJ Riff Finder General and DJ Double Denim. The ping pong tournament opens on Saturday at noon and continues on Sunday afternoon. At 3 pm on Saturday, Big City Jerk Food. At 6 pm, Barker & Meadows perform live outlaw country. On Sunday from 3 pm, it’s DJ Bobby Maxwell and DJ BassKase.
WEEKLY CALENDAR - CLUBS & PUBS
THURSDAY AUGUST 8 TO SUNDAY AUGUST 18
For contact info about these clubs and restaurants, see the list at the bottom of this page.
THURSDAY AUGUST 8
Distillery Picks & Bricks
3 pm, Live music with The Jamie Oliver Trio
Noon to 8 pm, Mechanical bull riding
7 pm, Roping cattle contest
Decoy
9 pm, Joel Harbans on tenor sax and Michael Grossman on guitar
Old Flame Brewery
7 pm, open mic with City Love and Tito’s BBQ
FRIDAY AUGUST 9
Distillery Picks & Bricks
3 pm, Live music with The Jamie Oliver Trio
7 pm, Line dancing lessons
Alice’s Place
Karaoke night.
Bisou
4 to 8 pm, tapas night
Decoy
10 pm, DJ Charlie Costello
Mill Street
8 pm, Friday nights with Humble Mike
Old Flame Brewery
7 pm, live entertainment with Mark Villamor
Super Bargain
10 pm, DJ Shamz
SATURDAY AUGUST 10
Distillery Picks & Bricks
1 pm, Live music
5 pm, Live music
Wing House
5 to 7:30 pm, Michael Caplan’s Porch Songs
Old Flame Brewery
2 pm, Jordan Arnott
SUNDAY AUGUST 11
Distillery Picks & Bricks
1 pm, Live music
5 pm, Live music
The Aviary
11:30 am and 1 pm, Jazz brunch with a live band
Super Bargain
3 pm, Paint nite
MONDAY AUGUST 12
Distillery Picks & Bricks
3 pm, Live music
Stout Irish Pub
7 pm, Headscratchers Trivia
TUESDAY AUGUST 13
Distillery Picks & Bricks
3 pm, Live music
7 pm, Doggie dress-up
The Aviary
7 pm, Bird Brain Trivia
The Golden Pigeon
4 pm, $2 oysters
7 pm, Live music on the patio
Stout Irish Pub
7 pm, Headscratchers Trivia
WEDNESDAY AUGUST 14
Distillery Picks & Bricks
3 pm, Live music
7 pm, Whisky tastings
F’Amelia
Wine Wednesday bottles over $100 at half price
Old Flame Brewery
6:30 pm, Trivia night with District Pizza
Stout Irish Pub
7 pm, euchre night
THURSDAY AUGUST 15
Distillery Picks & Bricks
3 pm, Live music
Noon to 8 pm, Mechanical bull riding
7 pm, Roping cattle contest
Decoy
8 to 9 pm, Nate Ahmad
Old Flame Brewery
7 pm, open mic with City Love and Tito’s bbq
FRIDAY AUGUST 16
Distillery Picks & Bricks
3 pm, Live music
7 pm, Line dancing lessons
Alice’s Place
Karaoke night.
Bisou
4 to 8 pm, tapas night
Decoy
Second anniversary weekend
7 pm, Eric Douglas, John Richardson, DJ Riff Finder General and DJ Double Denim
Mill Street
8 pm, Friday nights with Humble Mike
Old Flame Brewery
7 pm, liv entertainment
Super Bargain
10 pm, DJ Shamz
SATURDAY AUGUST 17
Distillery Picks & Bricks
1 pm, Live music with The Stardust Duo
5 pm, Live music with Mike Chianelli
Decoy
Second anniversary weekend
Noon, ping pong tournament
6 pm, Barker & Meadows perform live outlaw country
Old Flame Brewery
3 pm, live entertainment with Tito’s BBQ
Wing House
5 to 7:30 pm, Michael Caplan’s Porch Songs
SUNDAY AUGUST 18
Distillery Picks & Bricks
1 pm, Live music with Stardust Duo
5 pm, Live music with Shania Twin
Decoy
Second anniversary weekend
Noon, ping pong tournament
3 pm, DJ Bobby Maxwell and DJ BassKase
Old Flame Brewery
2 pm, live entertainment
Super Bargain
3 pm, Paint nite
The Aviary
11:30 am and 1 pm, Jazz brunch with a live band
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
Decoy Bar - 370 Queen E
Distillery - Mill Street and Parliament
El Catrin - 18 Tank House Lane, Distillery
Epos Coffee - 290 Gerrard E
Golden Pigeon - 424 Parliament
House on Parliament - 454 Parliament
Johnny G’s - 478 Parliament
Keating Channel - 2 Villiers St
La Gloria Mexican Coffee - 453 Parliament
Mill Street Brew Pub - 21 Tank House Lane, Distillery
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
