Friday 20 August 2010

Does your dog have a long nose?
Bring your pooch to the Cabbagetown Festival parade. March along happily with other dog owners. Then finish your outing at Pet Valu (240 Carlton) where a special Doggie Beauty Contest will take place. The categories are amazing – the longest nose, the curliest fur, the best dressed, the littlest owner – and the prizes will be mind boggling. You won’t believe your luck!
Festival Parade – 9:30 am at Wellesley and Parliament.
Doggie Beauty Contest – after the parade at Pet Valu, 240 Carlton

The TD Bank opens next week
Anthony is throwing open the new TD Bank’s doors on Monday morning – 8 am to be exact. As you can see in the photo, money is flowing into the branch. There’s already been a stream of people coming to try the front door, so we expect a healthy crowd next week. Several members of his staff have been canvassing local businesses to introduce themselves and extend a welcome. Contrary to urban myth, however, the new bank will not be using that new money as a grand opening giveaway souvenir. Ah well. 493 Parliament at Carlton

Lobsters at Kendall & Co
To honour some wonderful friends who’ve been visiting Toronto and are now on their way back home to Cape Breton, Kendall & Co are presenting a truly remarkable Lobster Rug. It’s made of hand-hooked wool and it’s definitely worth its salt. It’s available exclusively at Kendall & Co (438 Parliament)

Brownies at Epicure
Patty is bringing back her deep discount pricing on her popular brownies – buy one and then get a second one at half price. Plus she has a new shipment from Italy of her ever-popular Buffalo Mozzarella. And her Spanish tortas (very yummy!!! – says Patty) from Seville are also back in stock. 473 Parliament.

Daffodils for Cabbagetown
Last week, we told you about the project that Margaret and Chris have organized to plant hundreds of daffodils around Cabbagetown. It’s a fundraiser with the Canadian Cancer Society. Every $5 gift earns one daffodil bulb. So far, your response has been terrific. They’ve raised over $600 in just one week toward their $3500 target. Here’s a link at the cancer society to give you more information and an easy way to donate. Add your name to the honour roll and watch the thermometer climb. http://convio.cancer.ca/site/TR?px=3705316&fr_id=7410&pg=personal

There’s a summer sale at Sharon’s
Sharon’s summer clearance sale is now underway – her hats, jewellery and clothing are now available at great bargain prices. She’s making room for the Fall favourites that are now arriving. There are Neon Buddha jackets, Pure sweaters, Fresh FX tops and lots more. She also wants us to remind you that she still offers a layaway plan. 503 Parliament.

Eclectisaurus
Leslie is having a 30% off sale of mid-century and antique furniture from Saturday August 21 to Sunday August 29 (from noon to 7 pm, closed Monday and Tuesday). Drop into her store and see the beautiful items that she’s featuring. There’s a De Boers Danish teak table, a mid-1940s buffet, a tubular chrome couch sofa, a chrome and glass coffee table, teak chairs and lots more. http://www.eclectisaurus.com/ (249 Gerrard)

Carlton & Parliament update
The new bank building is getting its finishing touches and its landscaping. The BIA, together with the building’s owner, is using grey granite stone on the boulevard and a darker grey brick in the planter boxes. This treatment will continue down to Broadcast Lane with a third planter box to be built in front of the laundry. The boxes will soon house trees, ground cover and floodlights. Two freestanding decorative light poles will be placed on the boulevard. It’s our hope to repeat this renovation next year on the boulevard on the south side of Carlton.

The National Post salutes Labour of Love
The National Post has just done a terrific article on Labour of Love (242 Carlton). Click here to read more http://news.nationalpost.com/2010/08/13/retail-therapy-labour-of-love/
A couple of weeks ago, we announced that Regina is hosting workshops on gift wrapping techniques. There’s been a small adjustment on the dates – they’ll now be held on Thursday August 26 and Sunday September 5. They’re free and all supplies except the gift wrap are supplied at no charge. (Customers are asked to buy their wrap.) Please drop by the store for all the details – 242 Carlton

Pasta at Provence Delices
Elie is launching a prix fixe Sunday pasta night this week with Franco Agostino. It’ll be held weekly. The menu includes tomato confit with green beans and chives and then pasta pesto, bucatini matriciana, pennette porcini, linguini primavera Nicoise and fettucini Bolognese. And for dessert, there’s fresh strawberries, raspberries and blackberries with white wine, lemon and mint. All of this for only $28. Plus there’s Elie’s usual amazing wine list. 12 Amelia.

Number 9 on the cover of Professional Sound
The top magazine for audio professionals in Canada has written a cover story about George Rondina and Number 9 Studio. You can read the full story here - http://www.professional-sound.com/

Our flag flies over the canal
Once again, proud Cabbagetowners have marched off to a new destination with our flag and Tee shirts. This time, it’s the annual bike ride that a group of Wellesley residents enjoy. They went to Thorold, rode along the Welland Canal and displayed their hometown colours as they traveled. Word has it that the trip included great meals, side trips to wineries and other exotica.

Friday 13 August 2010

The Daffodil Campaign
Margaret Coshan and Chris Hallett (along with the Prospect Street garden committee) are organizing a daffodil campaign for Cabbagetown in cooperation with the Canadian Cancer Society. They plan to raise enough money to plant hundreds of bulbs along Prospect, Rose, Winchester and Parliament. Homeowners and businesses will be invited to plant the bulbs on their property this Fall to make a huge splash next Spring.
Here’s how it works. For every $5 donated, the Canadian Cancer Society will give the committee one bulb. The group will plant them at agreed spots throughout the area. A tax receipt is available from the cancer society. Fundraising will go from now through the Festival and into the Fall. Watch for posters and donation boxes in nearby stores.

We’re happy to report that the wet, hot weather in July and August has created perfect conditions for the new Prospect Street garden. It’s getting well established and starting to fill in nicely. The renovations at the new Butter Chicken Factory, combined with the garden, are making this corner much livelier and more attractive.

Blair’s Run
Blair’s Run is always the opening event at our Festival. The 2010 Run is being organized now. It’s time to think about getting yourself in shape – run, walk or crawl the 3 km course with your family, your dog and your baby. It’s also a convenient opportunity to make your donation to the Cabbagetown Youth Centre. Saturday September 11, 8:30 am, $10 registration, Carlton at Parliament. For more information, call (416) 960-1032.

It’s time to spiffy-up your wardrobe.
As you can see, Kristin looks really good in her Cabbagetown Tee. You can too. Send us an email (doug@oldcabbagetown.com) or call us (416-921-0857) or visit us at 237 Carlton. For just $10, you can have your own personal Tee.

Tourists in Cabbagetown
Last week, we saw Cabbagetown’s local tourist scene personally. Family members visited us and stayed at Toronto Townhouse B&B (213 Carlton). They loved it – they’ve stayed in other B&Bs in Toronto previously but this was their most enjoyable experience. Their room was clean and elegant and they received very friendly service and advice about the neighbourhood. Check them out at http://www.torontotownhouse.com/.
Since it was Sunday, they then went out to the House on Parliament (454 Parliament) for a prime rib dinner and lots more advice from Duncan. On Monday, Allan Gardens and Riverdale Farm were part of their itinerary before they branched out elsewhere in the city.

Anniversary Park in the Festival
As usual, the Yonge Street Mission (280 Gerrard) has a fun-filled day planned for this location. YSM has regularly offered a great Festival program with food, family games and entertainers. Be sure to drop down on Saturday afternoon, September 11, to take part in it.

Labour of Love
Regina reports that the first weeks at her new store have been hectic and welcoming – a good start to her business. She’s scheduling a workshop on gift wrapping for Sunday August 22 and Sunday September 5. Drop by the store for more details. The workshop is free and she will provide the scissors, glue and a ton of fun ideas. Customers will purchase the paper for their projects. 242 Carlton.

Kendall & Co
The windows at Kendall & Co (438 Parliament) feature a variety of their current offerings: twin owl umbrella stands/tall vases resting on a Serengetti buffalo leather recliner, next to a floor lamp of woven twigs. Nearby there’s a mobile of hand-carved wooden swallows returning home to their glass bird cages. Find out more at http://www.kendallandco.ca/

Celebrating Cole Street
In June, Cole Street became the first new road to be opened to traffic in Regent Park in decades. We’ve all seen the new condo at One Cole and the new stores and RBC branch along the street. The Daniels Corporation asked the Coleman-Lemieux dance group to organize dancers and music to celebrate. It was all recorded in a short video called “Dancing down the avenue” by Eric Murphy and Jeff Cipin. Click here to enjoy it: http://youtu.be/jf3xrciggQg?hd=1

Get ready to cook…
Provence Delices (12 Amelia) will launch its Fall cooking classes with an evening of “Cooking with Dough” on Monday August 23 at 6:30 pm. Elie will take you through his lessons with a hands-on approach that emphasizes understanding and fun. For $99, you’ll enjoy his lesson, eat a meal and have a glass of wine. He has a very good web site describing the classes, so click here for more information: http://www.provencerestaurant.com/cooking.html

Friday 6 August 2010

Do you have a dog?
Then come to the Cabbagetown Festival parade. Bring your furry friend, walk in the parade and then enter our special “Best Dog” contest – “Best dressed ”, “Biggest nose”, “Curliest fur” and more. Saturday, September 11 at 9:30 am at Wellesley and Parliament. For more information, call Kelsey at (416) 921-0857.

Congratulations … Caroline Murphy
Caroline successfully rode her bike from Toronto to Montreal in the recent PWA rally. It was an incredible adventure for her and she raised over $8000 for the PWA Foundation. Back at Big Mamma’s Boy (554 Parliament), the garden patio is open. Chef Michael Guenther really enjoys the summer season. He’s cooking with heirloom tomatoes from Sherry (his farmer of choice) and there’s a new wine and cocktail list to complete your meal.

More congratulations … HomeLife Realty One
Linda Thompson has just finished renovating HomeLife Realty One offices (501 Parliament) with additional space for agents and special meeting rooms for clients. To celebrate, agents, staff and guests enjoyed a lovely reception last week with food from Daniel et Daniel and special guests like Andrew Cimerman, HomeLife’s founder. Linda has been very strong supporter of the Cabbagetown community and it’s a real pleasure to watch her business grow and prosper here.

Even more congratulations … Daniel et Daniel
Last Monday, the Toronto Star featured Daniel et Daniel in a detailed article about their on-going success as Toronto’s leading caterer. We, of course, know them well (and secretly blame them for Cabbagetown’s expanding waistlines.) If you missed it, it’s a great story and well worth reading: http://www.thestar.com/business/smallbusiness/article/842932--daniel-et-daniel-s-recipe-for-success

Weekend specials at Organics
Two goodies are on special at Cabbagetown organics for the weekend. Hewitt’s goat milk yogurt in a one kilo size is reduced from $5.99 to $4.99. Quinwow drinks (original flavour, vanilla and chocolate) are available at $3.99 and you can drop into the store to try a free sample. 499 Parliament.

Summer on a stone
Stonegrill (51B Winchester) enjoyed great success during Summerlicious and so they’ve decided to continue their prix fixe dinner as a summer fixture from August 7 to 25. For $39, you can enjoy appetizers (garden salad, mussels, rooter ribs and soup), entrees (beef tenderloin, strip loin, veal, salmon and swordfish – all on the stone – and eggplant, ravioli and chicken supreme from the kitchen) and dessert (lemoncello cake, marble cheese cake, and mango-raspberry mousse cake). This is a great bargain in a beautiful room – don’t miss it.

More goodies at Foxy
Michelle has a “hot” theme for her summer sales at Foxy Boutique (251 Gerrard). She has lots of new inventory, all chosen to make you feel hot wherever you wear it. She’s continuing her 50% off sale on selected merchandise. She’s got summer dresses, shoes, handbags and accessories. You can also check out Foxy on Facebook and join her group.

Buffalo mozzarella at The Epicure Shop
Patty has another shipment of buffalo mozzarella arriving from Italy – just in time to marry up with beautifully fresh Ontario field tomatoes and basil. That’s one of the season’s great tastes. And she’s also stocked up on homemade tarts, pies and cookies. 473 Parliament.

Start thinking about cooking
Elie at Provence Delices (12 Amelia) has just announced his late Summer and Fall schedule for his cooking classes. He always makes his classes fun. He gives participants a love for cooking, planning menus, buying the ingredients and cooking at home. Classes are small and the experience is hands-on. Each class is $99 which includes dinner and a glass of wine (and there’s a 10% discount if you register for 4 or more sessions.) Check it out here: http://www.provencerestaurant.com/schedule.html

Everyone needs a lift
At Kendall & Co (438 Parliament), there’s a really handy stool available at only $15. It comes in green and orange, folds up for easy storage and holds up to 300 pounds.

Cabbagetown at Disneyland
Earlier in the Spring, Shanna dropped by our office to learn more about Cabbagetown. She was here touring Toronto from California and she wanted a flag as a memento of her visit. We asked her to display it somewhere in California that we would all recognize and she certainly has done that for us – here she is at Disneyland. Another proud home for our flag.