We’ve compiled another list of Cabbagetown’s local sales!  Let’s see what businesses are offering and what events are coming-up this month:   Cycle Solutions Tune-Up In addition to Cycle Solution’s spring stock, they are now accepting appointments for bike tune-ups ($50 +parts).  Returning customers will be placed on a priority list for their first two years.  While in-store, be sure to check out the latest helmets, lights, and accessories, as well as the innovative electronic shifting systems for road bikes.  Visit Cycle Solutions at 444 Parliament or give a call at (416) 972-6968 to book a date for your bike’s …

The arrival of spring has inspired many Cabbagetown businesses to promote their local sales.  Here are some of the sales beginning this week: Menagerie Be sure to visit Menagerie before the end of April to take advantage of their winter gear clear-out.  Save 20% on Canada Pooch Jackets and Muttluk Boots, or treat your dog to a nice DIU bath for only $10.  The shop is located on 549 Parliament and is opened 10:30am-7pm Monday to Friday, 10am-6pm Saturday, and 12pm-5pm on Sunday. Kendall & Co The first phase of renovations is now complete at Kendall & Co.  In the …

It’s that time again…tax season is upon us and here’s what we’re going to do about it. Important Dates March 31st – Deadline for any 2012 penalty tax owing on excess RRSP contributes April 1st – Last day to file a Canadian Income Tax Return Should You Do This Year’s Taxes on Your Own? Having someone do your taxes for you can be expensive.  Hiring an accountant to help with your return could cost anywhere from a few hundred to a few thousand dollars.  But now that the CRA is encouraging Canadians to file taxes online, people can do their …

Café Olya It looks as though Cabbagetown has a trendy new addition.  Earlier this month, Café Olya moved shop from Newmarket on to Parliament Street, just south of Wellesley.  Residents of the neighbourhood are ecstatic to welcome this cozy café to the community. Café Olya’s “Strong Coffee and Delicate Pastries” are unparalleled.  As a micro-bakery, owners Mike Tasso and Olyana Zhuke truly prove their might in the kitchen as they unveil new-baked goods weekly.  Using ingredients from Riverdale Farm and Evergreen Brick Works, the café likes to keep things local and home-made.  Something to appreciate: fresh batches are made daily …

A Call for Volunteers The annual Forsythia Festival is quick approaching!  On Sunday May 5th prepare to join hundreds of cheerful residents in Wellesley Park for an event filled day.  The parade will begin at the corner of Sumach and Winchester Street at 10am and the festivities will last until 3pm.  In order for this year’s event to run smoothly, the Cabbagetown Residents Association is looking for a few more volunteers.  Even if you can only spare one hour of your time, the community will be extremely grateful.  If you are interested in helping out at this year’s Forsythia Festival, …

Here is a list of Cabbagetown sales going on this week: Church Street Winery The lovely Church Street Winery, located 420 Parliament Street, has announced its closure.  Devoted wine-makers lament this news but are urged to participate in the final sale taking place this Saturday and Sunday. There will be great deals on a variety of fixtures, appliance, and accessories that will make great additions to any home or business.   Injeanius Jackets Mark GleberzonCabbagetown`s Sarah Cook has launched her new website.  Her famous recycled jean jackets, fur-trimmed jackets, and other second-material clothing will be available to order once again.  …

The early 1900s instilled a renewed interest in the past. As more families could afford to buy homes, people began to notice an absence of modern architecture in the cities. To fix this problem, architects looked to the past – they began to borrow styles from history and revive them to fit modern times. One particular historical period many architects felt inspired by was the reign of the Tudors (1485-1603). Because this era led directly into the Early Renaissance, the Tudor Revival style is often also referred to as Elizabethan or half-timbered. Since the Tudor Revival was largely popular for …

In Cabbagetown, the most prevalent architectural style is the Bay and Gable, a variation of the Victorian home.   These homes were initially designed for narrow downtown lots and can be identified by the following features: A three-sided bay with tall windows that extend the first two stories A roof with a pointed gable Gingerbread trimming Two-toned brick work The Half and Double Bay and Gable A common alteration of the Bay and Gable has a bay window that spans only the first floor.  The benefit of this design is that the balcony porch can be used across the entire …

During the 18th century reign of George III, architecture in the United Kingdom went through many changes.  In the first half of the century, a traditional “neo-classical” form was developed and introduced by Andrea Palladio.  By the 1850s however, an architect by the name of Robert Adam revolutionized this style and proposed a simpler, purer construct.  Both of these forms, as well as many others, are considered great variations of the Georgian. In America, the Georgian style underwent less change.  Prior to the Revolutionary War, Americans referred to this form of architecture as Colonial (after the war, the proper term …

The Working Man’s Cottage, also known as the Worker’s Cottage, was the most common style for homes in Canada during late 1800s.  These structures were made simple, efficient, and economical, built to reduce the unsanitary conditions that the working class had been subjected to during the industrial revolution.  Most often, the Working Man’s Cottage would be a one story house, divided into many rooms, under one steeply peaked roof. In Ontario, the Working Man’s Cottage, or just the Worker’s Cottage, closely resembled the Gothic through the use of finials, shutters, bay windows, and etched glass transoms.  With this said, many …