Twenty kids from the Cabbagetown Youth Centre will carry the Torch when it travels through the Toronto area next week. Their route covers a portion of the Newmarket area next Friday.Of course, Newmarket isn’t really part of Cabbagetown.
So, to launch the kids on their exciting journey, the CYC is hosting an Olympic Relay Team Breakfast on Friday December 18 from 8 to 9:30 am (2 Lancaster Ave, behind the Parliament Beer Store.) This is our chance to wish them well for their great day. The youth who will represent the CYC were selected because of their commitments to active lives and Olympic values. It’s a real honour for all of us to have these young people carrying the Torch for part of its journey across Canada.
By the way, the CYC is in the middle of serious renovations. They need some support from all of us at this time. So when you come to the breakfast, bring your wallet and make a nice donation to the Centre so they can continue their outstanding work on our behalf.
Speaking of carrying the torch …
Do you believe this picture? Gerry Gold from Barracuda says he had the special thrill of being a torch bearer last summer during a visit to Harbourfront. He said it was a once in a lifetime experience.
Or was it?Sometimes, when he’s not racing with a torch, Gerry has great bargains in his beautiful shop. At the moment, he has bronze bookmarks on sale - perfect stock stuffers for a reader in your family. Barracuda (527 Parliament)
Simmons Flowers
Ginny, Merion and Tina are very busy this week preparing the floral presentations for the latest dinner party at the Lieutenant-Governor’s. Simmons Flowers (540 Parliament) have long been suppliers for him and they’re making sure now that all his Christmas and seasonal events are beautifully decorated. They can give you just as much care and attention for your home and for your gifts to friends far away.Soup has a sale
Saturday it's happening - the annual Christmas craft sale at Soup (6031/2 Parliament, just north of Cranberries). There are lots of goodies for everyone – Branch Out! greeting cards, handmade ornaments, Allie Oop bags, jewelry, knitted wares, silk screened clothes and bags, paintings, fun buttons, Green Thumb salve and much much more. This year’s sale takes place on Saturday, December 12 from 10 am to 4 pm. Don’t miss it.Our pets love us at Christmas
Matt is right at home among the waves in the new Fish Department at Menagerie.At Menagerie Pet Shop (549 Parliament), there’s a whole new row of freshwater tanks in the Fish Department. After twenty-five years, those guppies finally have new homes. Apparently, when they removed the old tanks, there weren’t any surprises. No hidden money or old newspapers. In this store, it’s a surprise when there are no surprises! While you’re there admiring these finny wonders, wander into the Cat & Dog Department and pick up some Orijen or Acana food - it’s on sale until December 15.
Dorothy has the treats, so Bosley and Boston are paying close attention.Meanwhile, at Pet Valu (240 Carlton), there’s a whole wall of cat and dog toys that your pals will love to find in their stockings on Christmas morning.
At Hair Lift Group (503B Parliament), Sophie and Randy stand back while Romeo greets the customers
And just next door at Sharon’s (503 Parliament), Jessie gets a well-deserved hug from SharonRick McCarthy at Jet Fuel
Rick is right at home at his Jet Fuel spot beneath his own paintings.Rick is a Cabbagetown’s artist whose work now spans over fifty years. You can see samples of his art hanging on the walls at Jet Fuel (519 Parliament). His show, entitled “Flowers”, began with a highly successful party on December 3 and continues there until December 30. For more info, click here and go to his attractive and easy-to-use website: http://www.rickmccarthytheartist.com/
Maggie Cassella & Lea DeLaria at Big Mamma’s Boy
For a two-week stretch, Maggie and Lea will appear at Big Mamma’s Boy (554 Parliament) presenting their latest variety show collaboration, You Better Watch Out. It’s on Thursday, Friday and Saturday (December 10, 11 & 12 and December 17, 18 & 19) with showtime at 9 pm and then on Sundays (December 13 and December 20) for a matinee at 5 pm. $50 includes the show and a three-course organic dinner; $25 for the show.Cranberries Christmas
Once again, Cranberries (601 Parliament) has unveiled its Christmas dinner menu and as always, it’s a wonderful meal. This year’s three-course dinner is a prix fixe at $24.99. You can enjoy butternut squash soup or a salad, then go on to roast turkey with all the trimmings served up with seasonal veggies, mashed potatoes, gravy and cranberry sauce (of course) and finish your meal with apple pie and ice cream. There will be two seatings (5 and 8 pm). It’s always a crowded event so book now: (416) 925-6330.This week at The Epicure Shop
Patty is pleased to have Cendrillon, The World’s Best Cheese, back in stock and to continue her great offer on Summerfresh Dip (buy one, get one free). Her sales of Christmas gift baskets are now in full swing and she’s offering all of them with “No tax”. This week’s specials include balsamic vinegar and virgin olive oils in decorative bottles – usually $12.99 each, on sale at $8.99. 473 Parliament.Additions and subtractions
We’ve got new postal boxes. Thanks to Canada Post – these look interesting, they fight graffiti and posters and they add considerable charm.
But we’ve subtracted the garbage disposal bins. Remember those dingy square things covered by lots of advertising and little holes at the top with doorways that snapped down on your knuckles? They’re toast. In the normal scheme of things, something new would arrive in their place. But not yet. Maybe soon. It’s gratifying to see that we’ve still got clean sidewalks. Thanks everyone for resisting the temptation to toss your stuff into the ghostly remains of the old cans.
