Presenting Toronto Neighbourhoods: Cabbagetown
Cabbagetown's history began in the first half of the 19th century, when thousands of Irish immigrants settled here after fleeing the potato famine in their home country. Due to their difficult situation, they grew cabbages on their front lawns so they wouldn't have to buy much food, which is how this district came to be known as Cabbagetown. The neighbourhood flag, a green cabbage on a white background, can be seen flying, usually bestowed on a home or shop owner for architectural or design excellence.
The Cabbagetown neighbourhood was once described by the New York Times as "containing the largest collection of Victorian homes in North America". Most of Cabbagetown's houses were built in the second half of the 1800's. A large number of them have been restored to their original beauty, with delicate iron fencing, carefully mown lawns and beautiful gardens, under the watchful eye of the Cabbagetown Preservation Association. Made up of local residents, the Association helps to make sure that all Cabbagetown renovations and new developments are in keeping with this historical neighbourhood.
Cabbagetown's main recreational centre is Riverdale Park, at the corner of Winchester and Sumach. This park is the home of Riverdale Farm, once the site of Toronto's very first zoo and now an actual working farm in the heart of the city. Children from the entire city are taken here to be introduced to older agricultural concepts and experiences. The Farm offers pathways through wooded areas, ponds, and butterfly-herb-vegetable-flower gardens. Cows, donkey, horses, goats, chickens sheep, pigs, ducks, turkeys, rabbits, geese, and cats may be seen along the way in barns and outdoor paddocks. As well as demonstrations of daily chores including animal feedings, cow and goat milking, egg collection, and horse grooming, there are also many annual events, day camps, programs for toddlers & children. Riverdale Park also contains sports fields and serves as an access point to the Lower Don Recreation Trail. It's definitely one of the most popular parts of this neighbourhood.
The 'Old Cabbagetown' shopping district on Parliament Street features many one-of-a-kind shops and an excellent palette of restaurants. Examples of great shops are Planet Aid at 480 Parliament and Posterity Graphics at 523 Parliament, and Mi Casa (238 Carlton, close to Parliament). Experience fine food at Daniel et Daniel on Carlton, slum it at the Ben Wicks pub on Parliament, and party hard at Pope Joan, Toronto's ladies' hangout, at 547 Parliament. The Carlton Street shopping district is very similar to Parliament Street, but on a smaller scale. Cabbagetown also has retail pockets on Gerrard Street, Sherbourne Street, and Wellesley Street East.
Cabbagetown's biggest outdoor garden, Allan Gardens, is located at the corner of Carlton & Jarvis. Greenhouses and a glassed-in botanical garden provide a tranquil setting year round in which wedding photographs are commonly staged. It is especially exciting over the Christmas holidays, when the tropical gardens feature a holiday flower show.
Cabbagetown is located close to Toronto's Gay Village, which is located around the intersection of Church & Wellesley Streets. is home to Canada's largest gay community and offers a full slate of entertaining things to see and do year-round. The area is packed with cafes, restaurants, gay-oriented shops and a vast array of bars and hot nightspots that cater to an irresistibly seductive mosaic of orientations, cultures, ages, shapes and sizes. Toronto filmed Showtime's series Queer as Folk in the Village.
To read the rest of the series, please visit the Toronto neighbourhoods guide.
About the Author: Julie Kinnear Toronto realtor has been helping people to find their new homes for 15 years now. Check out the Toronto Neighbourhood Guide where you get detailed information about all the neighbourhoods' important places and free-time activity opportunities.
More articles by Vanda
Print Article | Download PDF | 133 views | Aug 10 2007
|
|
