True sense of Thanksgiving will suffuse today’s Hirut jam

\ TORONTO EAST \

The great thing about the Thanksgiving holiday is that it’s pretty much a totally non-denominational affair. Whatever forces or entity/entities you believe created the universe and await on The Other Side after life, whatever customs or rituals you may exercise in your observance of religious holidays, Thanksgiving is delightfully free of all such entanglements.

Thanksgiving is a holiday and celebration that is simply about appreciating people’s human kindness to one another in a time of need and celebrating what we have as opposed to worrying about what we don’t. It’s a true family-oriented event (no matter how you define your circle of close affiliation) more than any ceremony with religious connotations could ever be.

One family that will be celebrating this festive weekend with extra gratitude this year is the Woldemichael clan, who also happen to own Hirut eatery and live music room at 2050 Danforth Ave. near Woodbine.

Today’s edition of the weekly Sunday 3-6-or-so open mic/jam hosted by Nicola Vaughan will be a special one indeed, as club namesake Hirut has just returned from an extended visit to Ethiopia, where she spent time both in the final stages of recovering from a medical condition that laid her low for several months as well as in caring for her elderly father, who has been dealing with his own health issues.

As I told you in August, it’s been tough on Hirut’s husband Tibebe while she’s been out of action, and it’s also been frustrating for the regular patrons who have become accustomed over the past couple of years to be able to enjoy some of Hirut’s marvellous Ethiopian cuisine. With Hirut away the room has been closed most days, but Tibebe has faithfully opened it for the weekly Sunday jams, bi-weekly Fingerstyle guitar open stages and for some other events —albeit without kitchen service.

While Hirut was away Tibebe also made the most of the closure time to do some upgrades to the outside front of the building, creating a much more inviting and classy looking street façade to better represent the quality of victuals and entertainment now again available inside on a daily basis, though with altered hours.

Tibebe told me last week that the plan is to open most weekdays around 4 in order both to reduce Hirut’s workload a little and to allow her to focus on what she does best: preparing amazing meals!

But today the kitchen and quite likely a barbecue will be going full force from 3 p.m. on as Tibebe, Hirut, their family and musical family all come together for what is sure to be a delightful celebration.

After a very tough stretch of several months things have come back together again just in time to give thanks for what we have as part of the extended family there and the musical community that includes. You can bet that this afternoon there will be a lot of people expressing their gratitude that Hirut is back and healthy again!

-Gary 17, www.torontomoon.ca

SHOW LISTINGS for Sunday, October 12, 2021:

Listings preceded by an asterisk (*) are repeating weekly events. (Double asterisk indicates repeating event with different hosts/guest/etc.). Admission prices followed by a slash and minus (/-) after the amount indicates door charge with availability of cheaper rates for some purchases. /+ indicates stated price is minimum.

Names of subscribers appear in bold, are underlined and, where applicable, include a live link to their websites. Advertisers’ listings are in larger type, include live link to website and also have ad icon included in listings.

11am-2pm> Gloria Valentine & Nina Shapilsky for Jazz Brunch @ Free Times Café, 320 College St., TO

*11am-3pm> Rockabilly Brunch with The Cosmotones @ Dominion On Queen, 500 Queen St. E., TO ~Rockabilly

*12-3> Julian Fauth’s Blues Brunch @ Axis, 3048 Dundas St. W., TO West ~Blues

noon> Excelsior Dixieland Jazz Band @ The Rex, 194 Queen St. W., TO ~Jazz

1> Toronto Improvisers Orchestra @ Tranzac Club (Southern Cross), 292 Brunswick Ave., TO

*2-5> acoustic jam with host Bill Black @ The Working Dog Saloon, 3676 St. Clair Ave. E., Scarborough

*3-6> open mic with Nicola Vaughan @ Hirut, 2050 Danforth Ave., TO East

*3-7> open mic @ Moskito + Bite, 423 College St. TO

*3-6> Michael Brennan @ Graffiti’s, 170 Baldwin St. TO ~East Coast Rock/Blues Roots

*3-7> jam at CJ Barleys, 213 The Queensway, Keswick

3> Chicken Pot Pie @ Black Horse Pub, 452 George St. N., Peterborough

3:30-6:30> Red Hot Ramble @ The Rex, 194 Queen St. W., TO ~Jazz

*4-8> Michael Theodore 4-piece @ The Irish Shebeen, 5555 Eglinton Ave. W., Etobicoke North ~Pop

4-8> One King @ Blue Goose Tavern, 1 Blue Goose Rd., Etobicoke South

*4:30-8> New Orleans Connection All Stars & guests @ Grossman’s, 379 Spadina Ave., TO ~New Orleans Jazz

*4:30-8> Chuck Jackson’s All Stars @ Roc’n Doc’s, 105 Lakeshore Rd. E., Port Credit ~Blues

5-7> Cadre @ Relish, 2152 Danforth Ave., TO East ~rockin’ Roots/Blues

*5-9> All ages open jam with Juggernaut Jam Band featuring Andy Narsingh @ West Shore Bar & Grill, 877 Bayly St., Pickering

**5-8> John Borra & Sam Ferrara w. guest @ The Communist’s Daughter, 1149 Dundas St. W. TO West ~Country

5-8> Taxi Chain @ The Sister, 1554 Queen St. W., TO West ~Celtic/Rock fusion

*5-9> Frank & Dean with the Metro Big Band @ Seven44, 744 Mount Pleasant Road, TO North ~vintage Rock/R&B; $5

5-8> Chris Coole @ The Local, 396 Roncesvalles Ave., TO West ~old time Country

5> Max Layton @ Tranzac Club (Southern Cross), 292 Brunswick Ave., TO ~music & poetry

5-8> Felix Wong Jazz Trio @ Gate 403, 403 Roncesvalles Ave., TO West ~Jazz

5-9> Parkside Drive @ Lake Affect, 1 Port St., Port Credit ~Rock/Top 40

*5:30-9> John Dickie-Pat Perez Band @ Linsmore Tavern, 1298 Danforth Ave, TO East ~R&B/Blues

*6-10> jam with Tommy Rocker, Kerry Kalli & Jenn LadyEvil @ Fox & Crown, 646 Danforth Rd., Scarborough

*7-1> Freefall Sundays open stage with hosts Steve York & Tony Rabalao (2 songs each -signup @ 7 or pre-sign online) & feature by Chad Arthur @ The Supermarket, 268 Augusta St., TO

*7-11> Karaoke with Rob MacArthur @ The Edge, 250 Bayly St. W., Ajax

7> Matthew Hornell @ Cameron House (front), 408 Queen St. W., TO

*7-9:30> Anthony Szczachor Group @ The Rex, 194 Queen St. W., TO ~Jazz

*7-11> open jam @ McGradie’s, 2167 Victoria Park Ave., Scarborough

**7-11> The Nomads @ Shore Grill, 71 Lakeshore Rd. E., Port Credit

7-10> Folk Music Night @ Moonshine Café, 137 Kerr St., Oakville;

*7> open jam @ Black Swan Pub Burlington, 4040 Palladium Way, Burlington

*7> open mic with Randy Hill @ Black Horse Pub, 452 George St. N., Peterborough

7:30> Reenie & Lea; Hale & Hearty; Bride & Groom @ Tranzac Club (Southern Cross), 292 Brunswick Ave., TO

8> Yoshino Momii & Friends @ Free Times Café, 320 College St., TO ~songwriter

*8:30-12:30> karaoke with The English Rose & The Mad Scotsman @ Gryphon Pub, 114 Dundas St. E., Whitby

8:30> Gypsy Rebels @ Castro’s Lounge, 2116 Queen St. E., TO East ~Jazz Roots

9-1> David Buchbinder Band @ Gate 403, 403 Roncesvalles Ave., TO West ~Jazz

*9> open jam with Bernie Wolski @ King’s Belly, 429 Donlands Ave., TO East

9> Los Cabelleros del Son @ The Local, 396 Roncesvalles Ave., TO West ~Cuban traditional

9-1> Sean Pinchin @ Roc’n Doc’s, 105 Lakeshore Rd. E., Port Credit ~Blues

*9-1> jam with Mike Roland and Lenny Vaccari @ Stewart Maguires Landing, 15 Allan Dr., Bolton

*9-1> jam @ Ivy Arms Pub, 201 Main Street East, Milton

*9:30-1> jam with the Stir It Up Band featuring Bryan Van Dusen & David Macmichael @ Relish, 2152 Danforth Ave., TO East

*9:30-1:30> jam with Rebecca Matiesen & Phoenix @ Southside Johnny’s, 3653 Lakeshore Blvd. W., Etobicoke South

9:30> Pete Mills @ The Rex, 194 Queen St. W., TO ~Ohio Jazz

*10> Horshack feat. Chris Caddell @ Orbit Room, 580 College St., TO ~Bluesy contemporary & classic Rock

10> The Lina Allemano Four @ Tranzac Club (Southern Cross), 292 Brunswick Ave., TO ~Jazz

10> The Mercenaries @ Dakota Tavern, 249 Ossington Ave., TO West

10> The Doublecuts @ Cameron House (front), 408 Queen St. W., TO ~Western Swing

**10> Blues jam with Brian Cober, Bill Hedefine & guest bassist @ Grossman’s, 379 Spadina Ave., TO

*10> jam with Groovestone feat. Dale Harrison @ Scruffy Murphy’s Uptown, 150 Eglinton Ave. E., TO North

*10:30> Adam Cooke & The Adams Family @ The Dickens, 423 Elizabeth St., Burlington ~contemporary & classic Pop Rock

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