LOCAL NEWS
Another roofing scam
New contact number for the police
If you’re calling about an emergency, still use 911. For non-emergencies on a mobile phone, call *877 and on a landline, call (416) 808-2222. Typical “non-emergencies” includes a crime that has happened and isn’t underway, dangerous driving that you’ve witnessed, and extra information for a report that you filed previously. There’s an online reporting service at tps.ca/report.
Corktown’s free tree giveaway
The Corktown Residents & Business Association is organizing a tree giveaway. The selection includes tree species - White Oak, Sugar Maple, White Spruce, Paper Birch, Pin Cherry and Downy Serviceberry. Shrub choices are Ninebark, Round-Leaved Dogwood, Black Chokeberry, Red Elderberry, Purple Flowering Raspberry and Bush Honeysuckle. All are native trees and shrubs. The deadline to register your request is Wednesday September 3. The delivery date is Saturday September 20 at the Sackville Playground (420 King E).
Roaming performers
The Cabbagetown BIA brings performers to Parliament, Gerrard and Carlton every weekend over the summer. Watch for the musical artist Benny Sanders from 4 to 7 pm on Friday and singer/songwriter Holly Clausius from 4 to 7 pm on Sunday.
CABBAGETOWN FESTIVAL - SEPTEMBER 5, 6 & 7
Cabbagetown Short Film Festival
Gala screening on Wednesday September 3 and virtual online screening September 3 to 6. Fifteen short films from new and experienced film makers. Gina Dineen notes that, “Films include Drama/Comedy/Documentary from Canada, Russian Federation, France, Croatia, Spain, Italy, Turkey, India, Cuba and Cabbagetown!” This is always a fun event to kick off the Festival weekend. For tickets and a detailed list of films, click here.
Blair’s Run
Sunday September 7. Get your team together from your street and compete for the prizes as best fundraisers, best runners and more. The big 2 km run that takes you through Cabbagetown’s scenic streets is scheduled for Sunday September 7. Registration is now open - click here for more info.
Cabbagetown Art & Crafts Show
Friday September 5 to Sunday September 7. This year, 160 artists are displaying their work at the big art and crafts show in Riverdale Park West (Winchester and Sumach). Stroll through the park, shop for your favourites and enjoy music by Duncan Hopkins and snacks from the food vendors. There’s fine art, ceramics, metalwork, glass, woodworking, textiles and more. The show’s impressive website has pictures of the artists’ works, location of their booths and links to their personal websites.
Congrats to Courtney Downman
Courtney is a Canadian glass artist, an instructor and the Artist-in-Residence at Mississauga’s Living Arts Centre. She’s the inaugural winner of the new Craftsperson Award of merit. The prize is partnered by the Arts & Craft Show and Craft Ontario.
Winners of the show’s awards from 2024 are back again - Andreas Kratschmer, first prize in woodworking (Booth 55), Terry Raininger, second prize in fibre arts (Booth 126) and Sabina Fenn, third prize in painting (Booth 2). For info about these artists and other award winners, click here.
Take a lawn sign
It’s new this year - the Art & Craft Show has nifty lawn signs. Email Gerald to get yours.
Cabbagetown Festival on Parliament Street
Saturday September 6 and Sunday September 7. It’s a family-friendly celebration along Parliament and Carlton. Local restaurants will have outdoor patios that are perfect places to watch the passing crowd. There’ll be DJs, street performers, artisan stalls, craft beer and food specialties. Carlton Street becomes a kids zone.
The Grand Opening is a cabbage cutting ceremony. It happens at 11 am on Saturday at the corner of Carlton and Parliament. The Closing Parade winds down Parliament Street from Gerrard to Wellesley at 6:20 pm on Sunday. Free.
St James Town Festival
1 to 7 pm, Saturday September 6. A day full of entertainment, music, games and food. It all happens in the open space at 200 Wellesley
FOR YOUR BODY
Morning Yoga at Soulpepper
Friday 9 am. Start your day with morning yoga to wake up your body, your breath and your senses. Every Friday morning until August 29, Young Centre (50 Tank House Lane). Please register here, pay what you choose.
Bollywood dance classes
Soulpepper (50 Tank House Lane) has organized Bollywood classes. Suitable for beginners and for people with all ranges of experience. Every Wednesday until August 27, from 6 to 7 pm. The last one for the season happens on Wednesday August 27. Free/pay what you choose. Register here.
IN THE MEDIA
502 to 508 Parliament
Rosie DiManno summarized the slow renovation of these Parliament Street homes in her weekend Toronto Star column. Although she is clearly irritated by the pace of the work, she gives the responsible agencies a chance to explain it. (Photo: Bernard Well, Toronto Star file photo)
Festival news in blogTO
The Cabbagetown Festival had a favourable story in blogTO - no doubt a handy promotion for the event. Click here to read the story. (Photo: Cabbagetown BIA)
Agak Agak Kopitiam
Leah Rumack wrote about Agak Agak (253 Gerrard E) in the late July issue of Toronto Life. She describes its Singaporean menu and introduces Jeanne Chai and David Burga, its owners. (Photo: Agak Agak)
COMING EVENTS
Movies at Stout
Weekly free movie nights at Stout Irish Pub (221 Carlton). The lineup features family movies - bring your kids. On Sunday August 24, it’s “The Princess Bride” and on August 31 it’s “Back to the Future”. There’s free popcorn. Sundays at 5:30 pm. Please contact Erin to save your spot - (647) 344-7676 and erin@stoutirishpub.ca
Danny Marks
Danny’s back at Castro’s (2116 Queen E) on Saturday from 5 pm. He claims, “It’s got more music lovers inch for inch than anywhere!”
Taste of Regent Park
Artisans, food vendors, community groups and live entertainment. The market continues to September 3 in The Big Park (Dundas and Sumach).
Farmers’ markets
Don’t miss the season’s best fruits and veggies. Each market is bustling and full of good food.
Cabbagetown Farmers Market - every Tuesday, 3 to 7 pm, in Riverdale Park West (Winchester and Sumach). Tomatoes are arriving and they’re marvellous. Holly Clausius is performing this week. For more details, click here.
Underpass Farmers Market - every Thursday from 4 to 7:30 pm in Underpass Park (29 Lower River Street). Vendors have apricots, peppers, celery, garlic, tomatoes, green and yellow beans, raspberries and peaches. For weekly updates, click here.
Allan Gardens Saturday Farmers Market - every Saturday from 10 am to 2 pm. In the Children’s Conservatory (160 Gerrard E ). There’s lots of info on Facebook.
SMALL EATERIES WITH YUMMY FOOD
Viet Bites
Vietnamese desserts, banh mi and sweets are offered at this modern, clean little takeout. The food is delightful. I really enjoyed the grilled pork banh mi on a fresh homemade bun. Reasonable prices. 246 Gerrard East. Visit Lily’s Instagram page here.
A real Mexican breakfast
La Gloria (453 Parliament) is serving a real Mexican brunch every day. Click here to see its menus and hours.
Momo Ghar
Located on the lower level at 568 Parliament, this delightful little restaurant serves momos and delicacies - juicy dumplings, spicy sauces and bold Nepali flavours. Click here to see more about it.
Tales after dark
Every Friday, Epos (290 Gerrard E) hosts a candlelit mystery dinner with each guest a part of the story. Enjoy some tapas and sip a complimentary drink. $35. Click here for more info.
RESTAURANT NEWS
Third anniversary at Decoy
Decoy Bar (370 Queen E) is celebrating its anniversary for three days on August 22, 23 and 24. On Friday, there’s a bbq, a Nintendo duck hunt tournament and DJ BassKase. In Saturday Eye Ball is live and DJ Double Denim. On Sunday, it’s Mama Dub Caste.
Opera Cabaret at The Blake House
Cassandra Warner is back with another music-filled evening at The Blake House (449 Jarvis). She’ll be singing a romantic selection of French classics. Her previous four appearances here have been sold-out performances. On the outdoor patio, Tuesday August 26, 8 pm. Tickets are $30 - click here to get yours.
Wine tasting at Fusilli
Another interesting evening at Fusilli (531 Queen E). Sicilian wines are paired with a four-course dinner. It’s a small room so early reservations are recommended - call (416) 214-5148. 7 pm, Wednesday September 3. Check out their regular menus here.
Happy hour at Bisou
Fridays and Saturdays from 4 to 7 pm. Bisou (350 Berkeley at Gerrard) has a 20% discount on bakery and food items, no corkage fees, $12 cocktails and cheese specials. Antony is the DJ.
Karaoke at Alice’s Place
Every Friday night from 9 pm, the room is full of music at Alice Place (554 Parliament).
WEEKLY CALENDAR - CLUBS & PUBS
Here’s your list, day by day, of events and specials in our clubs and pubs for the next ten days. For contact info, see the list at the bottom of this page.
THURSDAY AUGUST 21 TO SUNDAY AUGUST 31
THURSDAY AUGUST 21
Distillery
1 pm, Summer Music series, MINT
5 pm, Summer Music series, Astral RIDDIMS
Mill Street Brew Pub
7 pm, Music Trivia with Quizmaster Jess
Old Flame Brewery
7 pm, open mic with City Love
Super Bargain
8 pm, All vinyl, all night
FRIDAY AUGUST 22
Distillery
1 pm, Summer Music series - Mike Kerr
6 pm, free line dancing
Alice’s Place
9:30 pm, Karaoke night
Bisou
4 pm, happy hour with DJ Antony
Decoy
Third anniversary with a bbq (5 pm), a Nintendo duck hunt tournament (8 pm) and DJ BassKase
Epos
7:30, a candlelit whodunit dinner
Los Gyros
Live music
Old Flame Brewery
7 pm, live entertainment - Freddy on guitar
Zero Cocktail Bar
8 pm, Cocktail class
SATURDAY AUGUST 23
Distillery
1 pm, Summer Music series - Duende
5 pm, free Latin dance lessons with Araguacu
Bisou
4 pm, happy hour with DJ Antony
Decoy
Third anniversary with Eye Ball (10 pm) and DJ Double Denim
Los Gyros
7 pm, Mariachi Luis Maldonado
9 pm, DJ Emilio Hrndz
Mill Street Brewpub
Noon to 4 pm, live music
Old Flame Brewery
2 pm, live music with Anna Chang
SUNDAY AUGUST 24
Distillery
1 pm, Summer Music series - Carlos Morgan
5 pm, Summer Music series - Kaje
Decoy
5 pm, Third anniversary with Mama Dub Caste
Old Flame Brewery
2 pm, Cala-Bashment Back yawd bbq
Stout Irish Pub
5:30 pm, Sunday movie night - The Princess Bride
MONDAY AUGUST 25
Distillery
1 pm, Summer Music series - Simon Williams, pianist
5 pm, Summer Music series - Kai Thee, violinist
Stout Irish Pub
7 pm, Headscratchers Trivia
TUESDAY AUGUST 26
Distillery
1 pm, Summer Music series - Disco DJ
Blake House
8 pm, Opera Cabaret with Cassandra
Stout Irish Pub
7 pm, Headscratchers Trivia
WEDNESDAY AUGUST 27
Distillery
1 pm, Summer Music series - Melanna Orr
5 pm, Summer Music series - Eric Bolton
Cafe Zuzu
Atomic burger pop-up
F’Amelia
5 pm, Wine Wednesday
Golden Pigeon
8 pm, Trivia with Rachelle Lauzon
Old Flame Brewery
7 pm, Trivia night
Stout Irish Pub
7 pm, Euchre night
THURSDAY AUGUST 28
Distillery
1 pm, Summer Music series - Chis Platt
5 pm, Summer Music series - Astral RIDDIMS
Cafe Zuzu
Atomic burger pop-up
Mill Street Brew Pub
7 pm, Trivia with Quizmaster Jess
Old Flame Brewery
7 pm, open mic with City Love
FRIDAY AUGUST 29
Distillery
1 pm, Summer Music series - Jerry Lager
6 pm, free line dancing lessons
Alice’s Place
Karaoke night.
Bisou
4 pm, happy hour with DJ Antony
Epos
7:30, a candlelit whodunit dinner
Los Gyros
Live music
Old Flame Brewery
7 pm, live entertainment with Kanye Luna
Zero Cocktail Bar
7 pm, Cocktail class
SATURDAY AUGUST 30
Distillery
1 pm, Summer Music series - Eric St-Laurent + Science Fiction Cumbia
5 pm, free Latin dance lessons
Bisou
4 pm, happy hour with DJ Antony
Decoy
9 pm, Mage Tears and Angel Apricot
Los Gyros
7 pm, Mariachi Luis Maldonado
9 pm, DJ Emilio Hrndz
Mill Street Brewpub
Noon to 4 pm, live music and DJ with brunch
Old Flame Brewery
2 to 6 pm, live entertainment with Brodie Bell
SUNDAY AUGUST 31
Distillery
1 pm, Summer Music series - Krystle
5 pm, Summer Music series - Nova Sounds
Los Gyros
12:30 pm - Ment-I-Druak sing-a-long brunch
Old Flame Brewery
2 pm, live entertainment with Zach Erickson
Stout Irish Pub
5:30 pm, Sunday movie night - Back to the Future
CONTACT INFO
Alphabetical lists for restaurants in Cabbagetown, Canary District, Corktown, Distillery and Regent Park.
Cabbagetown
Alice’s Place - 554 Parliament, (647) 931-9088
Bisou - 350 Berkeley (at Gerrard), (437) 971-7150
Blondies - 419 Parliament, (437) 341-1555
Butter Chicken Factory - 560 Parliament, (416) 964-7583
Chew Chew’s Diner - 186 Carlton, (416) 323-0068
China Gourmet - 235 Carlton, (416) 515-0088
Church’s Texas Chicken - 537 Parliament, (416) 519-3846
Desi Bit3S - 568 Parliament, (416) 928-9731
Epos Coffee - 290 Gerrard E
Falcha Fusion - upstairs, 568 Parliament, (416) 926-9141
F’Amelia - 12 Amelia, (416) 323-0666
Gushi - 296 Gerrard E (at Parliament), (437) 241-1710
Hakka Bistro - 398 Parliament, (416) 944-3033
Hakka & Jerk - 296A Gerrard E, (647) 643-5405
House on Parliament - 454 Parliament, (416) 925-4074
Jet Fuel - 519 Parliament, (416) 968-9982
Johnny G’s - 478 Parliament, (647) 368-3877
Ju Sushi Bar - 383 Dundas E, (416) 594-0383
Kibo - 533 Parliament, (647) 352-3788
Kingyo Fisherman’s Market - 51B Winchester, (647) 748-2121
L’Avenue - 583 Parliament, (647) 368-8008
La Gloria Mexican Coffee - 453 Parliament, (647) 806-6383
Luis H - 556 Parliament, (416) 964-1000
Madras Curry - 178 Carlton, (416) 323-0000
Maya Bay - 252 Carlton, (416) 924-8989
Mikaku Udon Bar - 229 Carlton, (416) 323-0033
Momo Ghar - 568 Parliament, (416) 920-8224
My Pandan Cake - 246 Gerrard E, , (416) 276-6698
New Retro - 193 Carlton, (416) 519-8511
New Town - 413 Parliament, (437) 777-8260
Noushe - 200 Carlton, (416) 466-9595
Pastor Tacos - 245 Gerrard E, (647) 687-1175
Phosome - 482 Parliament, (416) 551-6395
Pisac Peruvian Bistro - 195 Carlton, (416) 515-0989
Playground Cafe - 492 Parliament, (437) 799-5248
Poopathi Mess - 585 Parliament, (416) 923-4243
Rayah - 505 Parliament,
Red Cranberries - 601 Parliament, (416) 925-6330
Saigon Pai - 446 Parliament, (416) 920-8424
Salt & Tobacco - 521 Parliament, (647) 348-2993
Shalom Ethiopian - 587 Parliament, (416) 964-7271
Souvlaki Express - 484 Parliament, (416) 637-6777
Stout Irish Pub - 221 Carlton, (647) 344-7676
Super Bargain - 441 Parliament, (416) 266-6471
Tasso - 540 Parliament
Tender Trap - 580 Parliament, (416) 920-5147
Thai Room - 243 Carlton, (647) 352-8424
The Golden Pigeon - 424 Parliament, (416) 392-1039
The Vibrational Apothecary - 243 Gerrard E
Urban Thai - 415 Parliament, (416) 513-1020
Wing House - 420 Parliament, (416) 968-0294
Wing Machine - 443 Parliament, (416) 961-1000
Zakkushi on Carlton - 193 Carlton, (647) 352-9455
Zero Cocktail Bar - 223 Carlton, (416) 920-9376
Canary District
barBurrito - 464 Front E, (416) 601-1777
Cherry Street BBQ - 275 Cherry, (416) 461-5111
Fuel+ - 469 Front E, (416) 306-6480
Keating Channel - 2 Villiers, (416) 572-0030
Region - 475 Front E, (416) 864-0800
Souk Tabule - 494 Front E, (416) 583-5914
SukhoTHAI - 460 Front, (416) 777-2092
Corktown
Banknote Bar - 474 Adelaide E, (416) 367-7327
Berkeley Cafe - 262 The Esplanade, (416) 825-0504
Decoy Bar - 370 Queen E
East Coast Donair - 314 Parliament
Figs - 344 Queen E, (416) 913-7205
Fusilli - 531 Queen E, (416) 214-5148
Gusto 501 - 501 King E, (416) 477-5647
Impact Kitchen - 573 King E, (416) 306-1986
King Solomon & Queen of Sheba Ethiopian - 360 Queen E, (416) 368-9002
Ladybug Wine Bar - 514 King E, (437) 222-0142
Lisbon Hotel - 19 Lawren Harris Square
Mengrai Thai - 82 Ontario, (416) 840-2754
Signature Bar - 320 Queen E, (416) 996-6004
Reyna - 354 King E, (416) 546-3155
Sumach Espresso - 118 Sumach, (647) 351-3833
The Rosebud - 498 Queen E, (647) 531-1388
Wood 900 Grill+ Bar - 372 Queen E, (416) 363-1571
Distillery
Arena Coffee Bar - 15 Tank House Lane
Arvo - 17 Grist Mill Lane, (647) 352-2786
Balzac - 1 Trinity St, (416) 207-1709
Boku Japanese - 42 Gristmill Lane, (416) 368-8686
Brick Street Bakery - 27 Trinity St,
Cluny - 35 Tank House Lane, (416) 203-2632
Eataly - 21 Trinity
El Catrin - 18 Tank House Lane, (416) 203-2121
Jardin Kitchen & Juice Bar - 28 Gristmill Lane, (416) 203-2363
Madrina - 2 Trinity St, (416) 548-8055
Mill Street Brew Pub - 21 Tank House Lane, (416) 681-0338
Old Flame Brewery- 45 Tank House Lane, (416) 360-1209
Pure Spirits - 17 Tank House Lane, (416) 361-5859
Scooped by Demetres - 46 Gristmill Lane,(416) 988-2482
SpiritHouse Toronto - 16 Trinity St, (416) 948-9926
Young Centre Cafe - 50 Tank House Lane, (416) 866-8666
Regent Park
Cafe Zuzu - 555 Dundas E, (416) 815-2660
Liberty Pizza - 657 Dundas E
