CABBAGETOWN FESTIVAL - SEPTEMBER 5, 6 & 7
Cabbagetown Short Film Festival
Gala screening on Wednesday September 3 and virtual online screening September 4 to 6. Fifteen short films from new and experienced film makers. Winchester Theatre (80 Winchester), 7 pm. 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. Blair’s Run is a 2 km run through Cabbagetown’s scenic streets on Sunday September 7. It’s a fundraiser for the Cabbagetown Youth Centre (2 Lancaster) and the Boys & Girls Club (101 Spruce) and donations have started to roll in. Three teams are collecting impressive amounts - the BGCTK Facilities at $6,200, the Carlton Comets at $5,900 and the Wellesley Wanderers at $2,600. In total, over $23,000 has been raised so far. There’s still lots of time left before the big event - get your team together from your street and compete for the prizes as best fundraisers, best runners and more. Registration is now open - click here for more info.
Riverdale Farm Fall Festival
Saturday September 6 and Sunday September 7. A fun excursion for your family into the Farm during Festival weekend. There’s a corn roast on Saturday and Sunday from noon to 3 pm, and a pancake breakfast on Sunday from 9 to 11 am. On both days in the Francey Barn, there are farm demonstrations with goats at noon and sheep at 2 pm and line dancing at 11 am and 1 pm. All day on each day, there are children’s activities and face painting and spinning and weaving demonstrations in the Meeting House. Admission is free.
Cabbagetown Art & Crafts Show
Friday September 5 to Sunday September 7. 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.
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 cabbage cutting ceremony 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.
Festival highlights
Over forty performers will appear on six stages - Wellesley, Carlton, Spruce, Berkeley, Kids Zone and the Indigenous stage. The BIA has produced a handy guide to the Festival’s entertainment schedule and vendors. Click on the links to see all the details.
New this year
The Festival will include the Indigenous Stage featuring storytelling, performances, poetry & demonstrations that honour Indigenous traditions.
Dancing at the Festival
Canadian Contemporary Dance Theatre (509 Parliament) is holding open rehearsals on Saturday and free classes on Sunday in creative movement, primary ballet, jazz and hip hop. Plus you can take advantage of the 509 Dancewear sale and save $50 on all in-person registrations. For details, check out the website.
House party at Ontario
Akasha Art Projects (204D Carlton) is having a two-day house party at Carlton and Ontario during the Festival. From 3 to 7 pm on Saturday and Sunday, there’s DJ YaYa and DJ Mad Martigan spinning Deep House and Techno sounds.
ALMA is a silver sponsor
ALMA has fully furnished, design-forward student living—work lounges, fitness, co-working and outdoor spaces. It’s coming to Cabbagetown at 307 Sherbourne. Click here to learn more.
St James Town Festival
1 to 7 pm, Saturday September 6. A day full of live entertainment, a community marketplace with artisans and handmade crafts, raffles and prizes, play areas with games and interactive workshops, and delicious food. It all happens in the open space at 200 Wellesley and St James Ave. Details are online.
LOCAL NEWS
Cabbagetown community garage sale
This big sale is happening on Saturday September 6 from 6 am to 4 pm at 89 Winchester. All proceeds go to Dixon Hall, a non-profit serving vulnerable communities in Downtown East Toronto. Last year, over $2,000 was raised. You can donate your old items and then stop and shop for new treasures. You’ll find cookbooks, kitchen gear, furniture, décor, clothing, toys, trinkets & collectibles.
Bling sale
Drop in to the big jewellery garage sale at 286 Carlton. Saturday September 6, 9 to 3 pm. It features new and pre-loved jewellery and fashion accessories - earrings, necklaces, bracelets, rings and more. It’s a charity drive on behalf of the Children’s Book Bank and the Cabbagetown Youth Centre. Last year's sale was very busy.
New contact number for the police.
Several people have enquired whether this new number replaces the old non-emergency line in 51 Division. It does. It’s now a city-wide service. 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. There’s an online reporting service - click here.
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
This is the final weekend for the Cabbagetown BIA’s summer project. It brings performers to Parliament, Gerrard and Carlton. Watch for the clown and circus performer Nazli Durak from 4 to 7 pm on Friday and musical artist Emily Misura from 11 am to 2 pm on Sunday.
Danny Marks
Danny showed up at Castro’s (2116 Queen E) last Saturday from 5 pm. You can guess what happened.
Amazing
This huge branch cracked and fell off a tree at Sumach and Wellesley on Sunday night. City of Toronto crews cleared it up quickly and luckily, no damage was done to nearby cars. The remaining stump is hollowed out and still visible. (Photo: Ilya Gridneff)
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. Young Centre (50 Tank House Lane). Please register here, pay what you choose.
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 31, it’s “Back to the Future” and on September 7, the movies will pause for the Cabbagetown Festival. There’s free popcorn. Sundays at 5:30 pm. Please contact Erin to save your spot - (647) 344-7676 and erin@stoutirishpub.ca
Moss Park picnic party
There’ll be delicious bites, drinks, music, activities for all ages, and community. The picnic will be on the lawn at 260 Queen Street East, between the shipping containers and the garden.
Taste of Regent Park
Next Wednesday is the final day for the 2025 market in The Big Park (Dundas and Sumach). Artisans, food vendors, community groups and live entertainment. Click here to see what happens there.
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). The field tomatoes and peaches are marvellous.
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.
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
Falcha Fusion
Falcha Fusion (568 Parliament) offers Nepali and Indian dishes. The Nepali dishes include momos, various samosas, specials like choila and tandooris. Indian meals include familiar favourites like butter chicken, aloo gobi, lamb curries and variety of fish dishes. There’s a 10% discount on all pick-up orders. For menu details, click here.
RESTAURANT NEWS
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 the menus here.
Rayah update
Rayah (507 Parliament) has been closed while repairs are made to several problems that were encountered when it first opened. Wafa notes that rather than experience repeated small closures, the work is being handled in one big burst. Plans are to reopen on Wednesday September 3.
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 28 TO SUNDAY SEPTEMBER 7
THURSDAY AUGUST 28
Distillery
1 pm, Summer Music series - Chris Platt
5 pm, Summer Music series - Astral RIDDIMS
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
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
3 pm, soul food pop-up with Sydney Serving and DJ Oakeve
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
Decoy
3 pm, soul food pop-up with Sydney Serving and DJ Shadow Brown
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
MONDAY SEPTEMBER 1
Stout Irish Pub
7 pm, Headscratchers Trivia
TUESDAY SEPTEMBER 2
Stout Irish Pub
7 pm, Headscratchers Trivia
WEDNESDAY SEPTEMBER 3
Cabbagetown Short Film Festival
7 pm, Gala screening, Winchester Theatre (80 Winchester)
F’Amelia
5 pm, Wine Wednesday
Golden Pigeon
8 pm, Trivia with Rachelle Lauzon
Lisbon
7 pm, Trivia with Quizmaster Jess
Old Flame Brewery
7 pm, Trivia night
Stout Irish Pub
7 pm, Euchre night
THURSDAY SEPTEMBER 4
Mill Street Brew Pub
7 pm, Music Trivia with Quizmaster Jess
Old Flame Brewery
7 pm, open mic with City Love
FRIDAY SEPTEMBER 5
Art & Craft in the Park
Distillery
6 pm, free line dancing lessons
Alice’s Place
9:30 pm, 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 - Floral Park Band
Zero Cocktail Bar
8 pm, Cocktail class
SATURDAY SEPTEMBER 6
Cabbagetown Festival
Art & Craft in th Park
Riverdale Farm Fall Festival
Bisou
4 pm, happy hour with DJ Antony
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 Murray Drive
SUNDAY SEPTEMBER 7
Cabbagetown Festival
Art & Craft in th Park
Riverdale Farm Fall Festival
Old Flame Brewery
2 pm, live music with Sean Bienhaus
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
