When most people hear the nameAlphabet City, they think of the East Village in Manhattan. You know, the former drug and crime infested streets marked A through D which are now home to some of the hippest bar and restaurants in New York. Well, Toronto now has its ownAlphabet City. But instead of a neighbourhood, ours is amonth long arts, ideas and culinary festivalthat promises to challenge everyone to change their thinking about local food and sustainable growth in our rapidly expanding city.

Alphabet City kicks off tonight with a fundraiser at theGladstone Hotelbut the "official" opening dinner is next Wednesday at theDrake. Among the events that I plan to check out include a tour of theOntario Food Terminalnext Thursday, an exhibit showcasing the results of a national street food vending cart design competition at theDesign Exchangeand an exhibit at the CONTACT Gallery (80 Spadina) showing artist Dean Baldwin's photographs of almost everything he ate and drank over the course of a year.

More events listed in Alphabet City'scomplete schedule.

Photo from the Alphabet City web site