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