Spring cleaning

Another great success!
For the second year in a row, our local Clean-up Day was a huge success. Mountains of trash were gathered up as businesses and residents cleaned up the lanes, yards and hidden little corners where this stuff collects.
You can see how big the piles were at Spruce Street and at Amelia in these photos.
The BIA together with the Don Vale Cabbagetown Residents Association organized this drive. The guys from our BIA crew polished up the laneways and then swept the collection areas after the trucks were finished.

Film Festival Fundraiser
The Stonegrill on Winchester is home this weekend for the first Cabbagetown Short Film & Video Festival fundraiser. It happens on Sunday, April 29 from 2 to 5 pm, at 51B Winchester Street. See some movies, meet your friends and experiment with the fine food that the Stonegrill has to offer.

The Sale is Happening Right Now
Last week, we told you about the Eclectisaurus sale at 249 Gerrard Street East. Details are now available: 50% off on vintage textiles and clothing, 35% off on jewelry, hats, scarves, belts and shoes, 25% off on vintage glass, ceramics and kitchenware. Plus savings of 15% to 50% on furniture, art, prints and lighting. Don’t miss it.

“We’re Funny That Way”
Heather Mackenzie from Big Momma’s Boy organized our restaurants to support “We’re Funny That Way” at Buddies in Bad Times Theatre. This gala is a giant fundraiser on behalf of gay and lesbian causes across the country. Our restaurants have catered it twice and Heather reports that this year, “It was a huge success … everybody was raving.”
Thanks to Big Mamma's Boy, Ben Wicks & Left Door, Brass Taps, Chapter Eleven, Cranberries, House on Parliament, Margarita’s, Peartree and Stonegrill.

Forsythia Festival
In just one week, the 36th annual Forsythia Festival kicks off in Riverdale Park at Sumach and Winchester Streets. Sunday, May 6 at 10:00 am. The Parade marches off to Wellesley Park at 10:30. Face painting, picnic food, fire trucks, karate, and highland dancing are among the highlights.

Kids Soccer is a Cabbagetown Tradition
The Cabbagetown Youth Centre needs community support for its evening soccer league. Community sponsorship has enabled children who would otherwise not have the opportunity to participate in an evening soccer league. Approximately 300 children participate every year in four age groups (there are 4 teams in each group.) You can support them with one payment or a series of smaller installments. Call June Charles, the Coordinator at the CYC at 416-960-1032.

Have you ever wondered?
How do we get so many posters glued to poles, newspaper boxes and storefronts? Well, these pictures show two fine young people doing the deed on Saturday afternoon. While the rest of us were cleaning up the street, they decided to add to the clutter.
No doubt, their cause is worthy. But what kind of bad judgment leads them to cover every flat surface available on the street? When asked, they could only reply that the government would pay to take them down.
If you know someone in the teachers’ union, CUPE, the CAW, the Labour Council or any of the other endorsing organizations, please ask why their group supports this sort of thoughtless damage.

The Mayor’s Clean-up day
The Parade – it’s going ahead!
Two anniversaries
and two great sales

Read below for more …

Our second annual
Mayor's Clean-up Day
9:00 am to 1:30 pm
Get rid of your unwanted trash – clean up your backyards, lanes and all your other hidden places.
Throw out everything!
Take your trash to one of our four convenient drop-off spots:
Amelia & Parliament (southeast corner)
Carlton & Parliament (southeast corner)
Spruce & Parliament (northeast corner)
Gerrard & Ontario (southwest corner)
Just leave it there. During the day, garbage trucks will haul it away. It’s easy – and best of all – it’s free.


Don’t forget –
The Cabbagetown Short Film & Video Festival
is holding a dazzling event:
Sunday, April 29, 2 to 5 pm
Stonegrill on Winchester
51B Winchester Street
$10/ticket
You’ll see great movies, bid on wonderful items at the silent auction and enjoy lots of food, drinks and good company. Be sure to join us.


This week marks special anniversaries for two of our favourite merchants.

Healthy Whey
has been here for a year. They’re celebrating with a wide range of special discounts on selected items.
Drop in and see what they’ve got:
250 Carlton Street, (416) 850-9375


Anyone who’s visited Eclectisaurus at 249 Gerrard Street East knows just how charming this lovely store can be. They have a great web site at http://www.eclectisaurus.com/ where you can see their regular lines. It’s an anniversary there as well and they’ll have plenty of bargains among their “art, antiques and brocante.” Their sale starts on Wednesday, April 25 and continues to Saturday, April 28.

It’s happening – the annual Grand Parade for the Cabbagetown Festival has been scheduled by our Board of Management to kick off our events on Saturday, September 8. This year’s parade will be different – it’s a community day. Start thinking about costumes for your kids, a banner for your club and cabbage decorations all around. We want to get back to our roots – so the Parade is yours.

JavaVille – still no news. Hang in there and we’ll tell you what’s happening as soon as we know anything. In fact, we may even print a few rumors.

Give us your news reports for Cabbagetown

Every week, the Old Cabbagetown Business Improvement Area will post notices of coming events around Cabbagetown. We welcome announcements from our own businesses, neighbourhood residents groups, churches, clubs, libraries and community groups.

What's here this week?

• Mayor's Clean-up Day
• Cabbagetown Film Festival
• Three new restaurants
• Great barbeques
• JavaVille Update.

Keep reading for more...

Mayor's Clean-up Day - Saturday, April 21
Following our success in 2006, we're back again to clean up the lanes, parking spots, back yards and hidden nooks and crannies. You can drop your unwanted litter at three locations along Parliament Street: Amelia & Parliament, Carlton & Parliament and Spruce & Parliament. Free pickup is handled by the City of Toronto
Exact times will be posted soon.

Cabbagetown Film Festival
Fundraising Retrospective Screening
Stone Grill, 51 B Winchester Street
Sunday, April 29, 2 to 5 pm
This great annual event is launching off on its own this year. After fifteen years as a partner with the BIA, the Festival is now an independent, registered non-profit group.
And like all new creatures, they need money. So they've organized a fundraising afternoon that can't be missed... a screening with a silent auction. Ten dollars gets you in the door for an afternoon packed films, asilent auction and lots of other Cabbagetown people. Plus great food and drinks in the beautiful Stone Grill.

Three New Businesses
Have you tried our new restaurants?

Piccolo is a beautifully renovated room in a familiar location at 226 Carlton offering a great Italian menu and a well-selected wine list.

Stone Grill at 51B Winchester Street is a stunning new room in the amazing Winchester building. Their menu and wines are already creating a buzz in Cabbagetown.

Saigon Hot Pot on Parliament south of Wellesley is a welcome new addition offering good Asian food at very reasonable prices.

Barbeques for every need!
Home Hardware can provide everything for your summer barbeque menus. Whether you're doing up a huge steak or a tiny shrimp, they've got a Broil King that's just right for the job.

So, what's new with JavaVille?
Don't know yet - but when we do, it'll be here.