Attention Gamblers’ Anonymous

Patty Junior at The Epicure Shop (473 Parliament) is again launching her annual Coffee Contest. Just go into the store and fill up a bag of coffee. If it weighs exactly one pound (454 grams), then it’s free. Yes – it’s possible to do this. We speak from experience. Patty’s selection of Reunion Island coffees makes the contest worthwhile, even if you end up with 453 or 455 grams.
Epicure devotees know that Patty’s Breakfast Sandwiches are a real deal as well. She’s added another one to her menu – her Original Festival Sandwich, full of peameal bacon and grilled onions on a bun, $4.99. Previously, it was only available at Festival time but now it’s a regular, year-round offering. While you’re there, ask about Maple Farmer’s bacon and peameal bacon – both with no added preservatives.

Mi Casa has a sale
Lighting, furniture and art are among the lines being offered at incredible discounts (from 40 to 70% off). There are lamps from $40 and a glass and chrome Corbu dinette set for $399. Mi Casa provides free delivery for customers in the neighbourhood. 238 Carlton.

Congratulations are due …
To the Stonegrill (51B Winchester). Writing in his blog, Engaging Service, Samad Shirazie has lavished considerable praise on Cabbagetown’s Stonegrill. Check it out here: http://engagingservice.blogspot.com/2010/01/stonegrill-on-winchester-review.html

To Omi (243 Carlton). Two nice awards have arrived. In NOW Magazine’s Best of Toronto 2009, Omi has won the Best Sushi category. Well-deserved recognition. Omi is also a recommended restaurant in Toronto Life’s 2010 Eating & Drinking Guide.

Winterlicious is back
And two of our restaurants are taking part in this popular citywide food festival. It started on January14 and will run through mid-February. Reservations are definitely recommended.
JAMCafe (195 Carlton) has a $25 special three-course dinner on offer. The menu includes soup or your choice of an appetizer, four entrée choices and three dessert selections. Look for ‘licious items like muscovy duck breast salad, elk osso bucco, pan seared salmon and chocolate torte. For the full menu, click here: http://www.jamcafe.net/menu JAM opens at 6 pm and is closed on Mondays. (416) 921-1255.
Provence Delices (12 Amelia) has a $20 lunch and $35 dinner. There are vegetarian selections on both menus. Elie’s fine touches are obvious. You can see the Winterlicious menu and the recommended wine pairings at http://www.provencerestaurant.com/winterlicious.pdf (416) 924-9901.

Save this date
On Sunday January 31 from 2 to 4 pm, four Cabbagetown groups are again sponsoring an all-candidates’ election debate. This is your chance to meet and size up the people who want your vote in the provincial by-election in our area. Our thanks to the Cabbagetown Youth Centre for agreeing to host the event at 2 Lancaster, behind the Parliament Street Beer Store.
There will be speeches, a question-and-answer session and a supply of brochures so you’ll come away knowing each candidate’s ideas, background and abilities.
The vote takes place on Thursday February 4 – just days after our event.

New hours
Yeti Law (215 Carlton) now has extended hours to 8 pm on Wednesday evenings to provide more convenient times for people who want to see her after work. Yeti’s practice is focusing on forward planning with wills and estate planning, power of attorney and real estate. New clients are welcome. Visit her website at http://www.yetilaw.com/ Normal daily hours are 8:30 am to 4:30 pm.

JAMCafe hosts another wine tasting
Wines from Les Clos Jordannes are featured at JAM’s next tasting. Seven wines from two vintages are paired with Av Atikian’s hors d’oeuvres. Meet the winemaker. Friday, January 22, 6 to 8 pm, $45 per person. Reservations are recommended – these tastings sell out! (416) 921-1255. 195 Carlton.

Online flyers
Check out the right hand column on this Newsletter and you’ll see a link called Cabbagetown Online Flyers. This link gives you access to three regular weekly catalogues – each one updated and full of special offers - from Home Hardware, Luciano’s No Frills and Shoppers Drug Mart. We’ll keep this link permanently on our Newsletter so you can conveniently plan your shopping at these stores. For a sample, check it out here: http://cabbagetownflyers.blogspot.com/

Lennie’s Health Service Centre
Speaking of flyers, Carole Buss has her January flyer available now in store (489 Parliament). It lists the “Health First” line of vitamins and protein powders. Pick up a copy at the front counter and watch for updates each month.

Parking
Six spots are available at 205 Carlton Street. You can access them easily off the lane. For details, inspections and arrangements, call Allen at (416) 995-3399.

It’s a New Year
We’ve had some solemn moments over the past year and now it’s time to pull them all together here.

Of course, we’re talking about T shirts and flags. These may be common sights here at home but to thrilled onlookers around the world, they’re prized souvenirs. And this Newsletter is the place where you’ll find every juicy detail about this hot trend.

For high spots, who can beat Christopher Dew on top of Africa’s Mt Kilamanjaro?

And then there’s Pompeii in Italy,

the south of France,

the Rockie Mountains

and the Gatineau.

In Melbourne Australia, a man and his dog are slaves to coordinated outfits.
Of course, for straightforward glamour and fashion glitz, there’s the Cabbagetown parade. But, to be brutally honest about it, if the guy in the middle ever expects to be mayor, he’d better upgrade to a proper Tee shirt.

Our tribute to the year’s fashion triumphs must include our “thanks” to the women who started it all –

Yes, the Tee shirts are the design creation of Chris Kiraly (middle) from Blink Blink who wore hers to a winetasting in the Okanagan.

and Lindsey Reidt who slaved away in the BIA office for the summer of 2007.

And no review would be complete without heartfelt thanks to Brenda who cheerfully models our latest designs.
But this ain’t the end of it. At the moment, schemes are afoot to flaunt our flag and strut our stuff in Peru and Argentina. We have a flag that we hope to see flying soon in Norway and we know of another dedicated traveller and fashion hound in Australia. Stay tuned in 2010 for these late-breaking news stories.

On a much more serious note
We continue to mourn the loss of three great friends of Cabbagetown, three people who each made a huge contribution to our lives.
Peggy Kurtin was a driving force toward the preservation of Cabbagetown’s heritage character. If we are, as we claim, one of the largest enclaves of Victorian architecture in North America, then a great deal of the credit for saving and maintaining this character belongs to her.
Barrie Cheval worked for the City of Toronto. She was widely recognized for her personal strength and her commitment to a better City. And she was an outstanding neighbour, a resident of Cabbagetown’s Alpha Avenue.
Carl Orbach was a pioneer in the business community on Parliament Street. His enthusiasm and energy turned every chore into a fun-filled adventure. The first Board meeting for our BIA was held at his house and he stayed active until his death, thirty five years later.
We’ll miss them all and we’ll enjoy their gifts every day as we go about our lives here in Cabbagetown.

The Epicure Shop

It’s January and we’re staying home. So Patty wants to lure us out of our cosy living rooms and into Epicure (473 Parliament). She’s having a sale. Not bad. Specifically, she featuring German cookies and small stollen – buy one, get one free. And her Baba Ghanou and Humus are on sale – buy one and get another, the same size, free.

More Wine at JAMCafe
Wines from Les Clos Jordannes are being featured at JAM’s next tasting evening. Seven wines from two vintages are being paired with Av Atikian’s hors d’oeuvres. Meet the wine maker. Friday, January 22, 6 to 8 pm, $45 per person. Reservations are recommended – these tastings sell out! (416) 921-1255. 195 Carlton Street.

Bargains at Number 9
Number 9 Studios (222 Gerrard St E) have several January specials on offer. Book your time in their professional recording facilities and save 10% off the regular price. All CD and DVD duplication runs are now 15% off the book rate. If you need assistance with graphics or web design, video editing or DVD authoring, prices on all creative services are reduced by 10%. Check them out at http://www.number9.ca/

Crime Report
Not really. It's a safety report – just a quick vignette.
On Tuesday, I was walking home with my latest purchase from the LCBO tucked under my arm. Suddenly, a man (who frankly looked a bit down on his luck) tapped my shoulder, excused himself for startling me and handed me a can of beer. It had fallen out of my bag.
He just walked off without a word. I was too surprised to react. I should have told him, of course, “finders keepers” and thanked him for his honesty.

Robbie Burns at The Ben Wicks
Robbie Burns Day at the Ben Wicks (424 Parliament) features an iPod selection of unforgettable Scottish tunes. No haggis. Apparently, their 2010 supply has been stranded in Scotland by the snowstorms currently ravaging the continent.
During the Cabbagetown Festival, bagpipers stop at the Wicks for a concert and a quick drink. This is an irresistible photo – apart from its Scottish references, it has nothing else to do with this topic.
Ditto.

New Year’s Eve in Cabbagetown

From your friends in the Cabbagetown BIA - best wishes for all of your plans for 2010. May the coming year bring you and your family happiness and prosperity.

Visit our fine restaurants on New Year’s Eve

Ben Wicks Restaurant & Pub

424 Parliament Street
Dinner is available from 6 pm to 10 pm.
Live DJ from 9 pm to 1:30 am
Reservations will guarantee a table: (416) 961-9425. No cover charge.
At The Wicks, you can order from our regular menu or make your selections from our special New Year’s menu: two courses from our New Year’s menu are $29, three courses are $39 or the full four-course dinner is $49.
First-course appetizers include Caesar salad with garlic bread or roasted beet salad. For your main course, we have roasted halibut or herb strip loin roast. For your dessert, there’s lemon ginger crème brulee or Guinness chocolate cake and ice cream. Our grand finale is a midnight cheese and fruit plate.

Big Mamma’s Boy
554 Parliament Street
Dinner is available from 5 pm to 3 am.
Live DJ and New Year’s Eve party
Reserve your table at (416) 927-1593.
Big Mamma’s Boy is holding an old fashioned party just for you. Enjoy our three-course, all-organic and gluten free dinner for $29.95 or order your meal from our regular menu. DJ iPOD (bring your own and we’ll play 15 minutes for your personal dancing selection) is spinning after dinner and counting down the seconds to midnight.

Brass Taps
221 Carlton Street
Dinner from 4 pm to late!
New Year’s Eve at Brass Taps is party time. Order your dinner from our regular menu and enjoy yourself while midnight rolls in. No cover charge.

The Cobourg
513 Parliament Street
Open for our regular hours from 5 pm to 2 am
Tonight, we’re inviting our regular customers and new friends to visit us and enjoy a quiet drink, a party among friends and a chance to wish everyone well for the New Year. Cheese trays and pates available.

House on Parliament
454 Parliament Street
Dinner is served from 5 pm to 11 pm
Reservations accepted at (416) 925-4074
We’ve prepared a special menu for your New Year’s enjoyment. Appetizers include cheddar and squash soup, sweet onion and gorgonzola tart or tartar of beef tenderloin, salmon and tuna. For your main course, make your choice from beef Wellington, pistachio and herb crusted rack of lamb, or roasted Chilean sea bass. Desserts from our special New Year’s Eve selection. Each item may be ordered individually or you may enjoy a three-course meal at $45.

JAMCafe
195 Carlton Street
Dinner is served from 5:30 pm to 10 pm, $80 five-course prix fixe.
Party from 10 pm to 3 am, $35 per person.
Reservations available at (416) 921-1255
At JAM, you can come for a party or for a complete meal.
Our Party starts at 10 pm and includes two glasses of bubbly and hors d’oeuvres.
Dinner includes our New Year’s special five-course, prix fixe meal. Start off with lobster bisque or smoked lobster ravioli. For your second course, enjoy tempura Lake Erie pickerel with an organic sprout salad. Your third course is foie gras and terrine of Ontario quail and figs followed by an “Intermezzo” lemon sorbet. Your fourth course is loin of Ontario elk with dauphinoise potato, Swiss chard and wild chanterelles. Dessert features creme brulee and dark chocolate torte.

PearTree
507 Parliament Street
For reservations and information, call (416) 962-8190
PearTree is one of Cabbagetown’s established favourites – a place where friends regularly gather for a comfortable and satisfying evening. This year, we’re offering our three-course New Year’s Eve dinner for $24.99. Our appetizers include salads, soup and seafood. For our main courses, we have steak, sea bass, salmon, chicken chasseur, spinach ravioli and Cajun jump fry. For dessert, you can select carrot cake, chocolate mousse cake, cherry cheese cake, strawberry rhubard pie, pecan pie or apple pie.

Provence Delices
12 Amelia Street
Two seatings: 6 pm and 9 pm
Three course prix fixe at $45
For reservations, please call (416) 924-9901
Provence Delices is one of Toronto’s most charming French restaurants and in the winter with two fireplaces, it’s especially cozy. This is an elegant spot to enoy your New Year’s Eve dinner. Our three course dinner opens with your choice among four appetizers: carpaccio of seabream frisee, oysters, beet salad or duck fois gras. Main courses include fresh pan roasted Mediterranean dorade, duck confit, steak tartar or roasted rack of lamb. For dessert, you can choose tarte tatin, marquise au chocolat, or crème brulee.

Stonegrill on Winchester
51B Winchester Street
New Year’s Eve Party from 5 pm to 3 am
For reservations please call: (416) 967-6565
Two seatings are available: from 5 to 8 pm ($70) and from 8 to 10 pm ($99). Each meal includes a three-course dinner and a bottle of red or white wine. The second sitting adds two tickets for a rail or tap beverage plus champagne for our midnight toast. For those who only want to enjoy our entertainment and the midnight toast, the cover charge from 10 pm to midnight is $35 which includes two drinks and the midnight toast.

Open on Christmas Day
These stores and services are available for you on Christmas Day. Please note that the hours for each location differ and many of these stores will open from mid morning to late afternoon.

Esso Gas, 581 Parliament

Cranberries, 601 Parliament
Tim Horton’s, 581 Parliament
Tim Horton's, 537 Parliament
Pizza Pizza, 560 Parliament
Sun Flower Café, 450 Parliament
Wing Machine, 443 Parliament

Jamestown Milk, 592 Parliament
Parliament Smoke, 609 Parliament
Fairway Variety, 520 Parliament
Corner Discount, 491 Parliament
Jenny’s Convenience, 401 Parliament
Stanley’s Smoke, 237 Gerrard
Seaton Grocery, 222 Gerrard
J&S Variety, 184 Carlton

Santa loves ice cream...
Listen kids, forget the cookies. Santa really rewards people who leave him some ice cream. He visited Sweet Creamery (521 Parliament) last Saturday just to get a head start on dessert.

The Sing-a-long at the Ben Wicks

Last Sunday’s sing-a-long featuring the Sterling Brass was a boisterous success. Eric Morse showed up and brought his camera so we have some good shots of the afternoon’s frolic. 424 Parliament.

Last minute goodies
We’ve got lots of stocking stuffers available this week. No doubt, some of you have been super-efficient and your work is all done and your packages are all wrapped. For the other 99% of us, here are a few hints.

Sharon (503 Parliament)...

...has a lot of new stock for your last minute shopping frenzy. On Sunday from noon to 4 pm, she’s holding her pre-Christmas sale featuring fun jewelry, sweaters, animal hats and leather gloves.

Mi Casa (238 Carlton) ......is full of beautiful goodies. It’s hard to know which ones to mention. There are, for example, beautiful Vent du Sud tablecloths and napkins on sale.

Unistar (517 Parliament) ......is heaven for the computer whiz. This little gem, a Microsoft mini-cam, is yours for only $49.
More tips further down the page.

The Big News
The Olympic Torch came to Cabbagetown this morning and it was quite a show. In fact, three different shows.
The main event was the torch relay itself. Parliament Street was part of the early morning route stretching from Front Street north to Bloor. People lined the street including some near us who had come from all across Toronto to cheer one of the runners, one of their co-workers.
When the relay arrived, the road was chaotic. There were police cars, buses and big trucks ahead of the flame. Police on bikes kept the crowd on the sidewalk. Coca-Cola (a major sponsor) had spectacularly decorated trucks. They gave away free bottles of Coke including one with a glow-in-the-dark design. Another sponsor, RBC, had flags for the spectators and a cheering section on their truck. Small buses ferried runners who had done their route and others waiting for their assignments.
Out of all this mayhem came one distinct figure in a white costume carrying the flame. It was a very moving moment. And then, whoosh, they were past and gone.
The Cabbagetown Youth Centre staged two more torch events. On Thursday night, they celebrated the relay. The highlight of the evening was the appearance of the actual torch, coming to the CYC right after festivities at City Hall.
On Friday morning, the CYC held a special breakfast to extend best wishes to their team of relay runners. After the breakfast, twenty kids from the CYC went by bus to Newmarket where they each carried the torch. They were chosen as part of a special program sponsored by Coca-Cola. Each relay runner represented part of the CYC’s activities (dance, martial arts, boxing, sports) and each one was chosen because she or he had shown a dedication to fitness, to volunteer work and to the community.

Plum presents…
One of our newest restaurants, Plum (226 Carlton) has started jazz evenings. The Dave & Levi Trio present “le jazz hot”. Two time Juno winner David Fowler (piano) joins Urban Music Award winner Levi Collins (vocalist) and stand-up bassist Alfred Gertler. The final performance happens on Friday December 18 from 8 to 11pm. By the way, early reviews about Plum are very enthusiastic – great Italian food at reasonable prices in a beautifully decorated room.

Epicure Shop Specials
Patty keeps selling lots of her Gift Baskets for the Christmas season. They come in all sizes and each and every one is Tax Free. Her store is full of other seasonal specials – mincemeat tarts and pies, homemade shortbreads and gingerbread.. She’s got Summerfresh Dips on special sale: buy one and get one free. Candy-filled mugs are $4 each or two for $7.50. 473 Parliament

More tips for your last minute shopping…
Both Menagerie Pet Shop (549 Parliament) and Pet Valu (240 Carlton) have big displays of treats and tricks for the pet in your life. Take them with you (they won’t know what you’re up to!) Maybe even give them a chance to have a preview sniff or a taste test. Nobody freaks out in these stores.

Christmas presents from the City
New garbage bins are now arriving along our streets. They’re tubby and silver with a special foot pedal that opens the slots where your litter is deposited. Opinions about their beauty and svelte shape vary across a range of reactions.
There is one intriguing question being discussed widely. How long will that foot pedal survive? Will it just wear out? Will the snowplows wing it off? Perhaps it may even endure the full twenty year lifespan of the container. Wags are said to be setting up betting pools.

Sweet Creamery has Santa
On Saturday and Sunday from 2 to 6 pm, Santa will be relaxing beside the gelato and chocolate mocha. He’ll probably enjoy a traditional Christmas lunch - soup and a panini. Boys and girls of all ages are invited to drop by and sit on his lap while discussing Christmas lists. 521 Parliament.

The Sterling Brass at Ben Wicks
After seeing Santa on Sunday, get down to the Ben Wicks (424 Parliament) for the 8th Annual Christmas sing-a-long. You’ll enjoy wetting your whistle and then belting out a few favourite carols as the Sterling Brass provide their inimitable accompaniment. This is always a fun event and somehow, Robert and David make this comfortable pub even more welcoming and Christmas-y. Sunday, December 20th, 3 to 6 pm.

Flowers for the holidays
Cabbagetown is blessed with lots of stores selling beautiful seasonal flowers.

Simmons (540 Parliament)... ...is one of our most established shops. Merion will prepare a magnificent decoration just for your home.

At Parliament Smoke Shop (609 Parliament)... ...miniature Christmas trees are available at $7.99.

Across the street, Jamestown Milk (592 Parliament)...

...has poinsettas at $6.99

Fairway Market (520 Parliament)......has a beautiful display of assorted Christmas blooms inside their front window.

Soup’s on – again
The Soup sale at 603 1/2 Parliament (just north of Cranberries) proved to be a great success last week and so they’re keeping their space open until New Years to present works by their in-house artists and crafts people. Greeting cards, handmade ornaments, Allie Oop bags, jewelry, knitted wares, silk screened clothes and bags, paintings, fun buttons and much more. Call for an appointment and enjoy a private viewing away from the rude bustle of anxious shoppers. (416) 534-4567, bling@blinkblink.to

Christmas donations needed

The Yonge Street Mission (Gerrard) does remarkable work in our community and across downtown Toronto. They provide hot meals and hope to thousands of people each year and in this tight economy, the need is even greater. That’s why they’re asking for your help. A gift of $20 or more will provide that hope to people trying to turn their lives around. For more information, https://secure.e2rm.com/registrant/donate.aspx?EventID=42063

Organic clothing Holiday sale
Me to We (224 Carlton ) is an agency of Free the Children. They specialize in sweatshop-free manufacturing and eco-friendly materials. 50% of the profits from their operations are donated to Free the Children.
On Saturday, December 19 from noon to 3 pm, their shop is open and their clothing is available at great holiday prices.

It’s turkey time…
And Christmas sales are rolling in at St Jamestown Steak & Chops (516 Parliament). Mark wants to remind you that he has lots of other choices in stock for delicious, slightly non-traditional meals: hams, prime rib roasts, beef tenderloin and rack of lamb.

2009 Annual General Meeting
Last Tuesday, the BIA held its AGM in the Dr Joseph Rizal Hall at the Filipino Centre (597 Parliament). This is a very well-equipped facility and the staff worked hard to ensure that our event went along smoothly. Cranberries (601 Parliament) provided our finger food – they’re right next door and everything arrived on schedule and was presented in appetizing displays. If you’re looking for a place for a meeting or a party, call (416) 928-9355. We recommend it highly. Happily, the meeting went like clockwork. The business and the 2010 budget (complete with a reduction in our membership fee) were approved by the membership. Marsha and Lucy from justbecuz made a presentation about marketing and focusing the Cabbagetown Festival.
Of course, a highlight was a presentation by Cabbagetown’s own George Smitherman. We are non-partisan but George is a member of our BIA and as such, he holds a warm spot in our hearts. We appreciated this chance to wish him well on the long trail toward next year’s election.