Shopping in Toronto
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Japanese Paper Place
Lanterns, beautiful stationery and ornately decorated paper in thousands of varieties adorn the shelves of the Japanese Paper Place, where workshops and events are often held. Prices are high, but so is quality – many sheets are made by hand and are one-of-a-kind.
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Cabaret
Retrophiles should be sure not to miss this exquisite shop, which features an impressive selection of vintage wear. A fanfare of lace, brocade, tulle and top hats is organized by color and, given the mint condition of each piece, up for grabs at very reasonable prices.
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The Naked Sheep
Stitch 'n' Bitchers and knitting grannies alike will find yarn, knitting and crochet accessories and other crafty things at this bright, friendly store. Classes are taught here almost every night and all are welcome to make use of the couches to hang out, sit and knit!
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Made You Look
A vibrant marketplace for local jewelers, trinkets and treasures in dozens of styles – including glass beads, contemporary metals, and delicate gold – are displayed here. Many more can be viewed in each designer's look book, and custom work is available.
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Kiehl's
If it's reminiscent of an old apothecary, that's probably because Kiehl's originated in 1851 and has stayed the same in many ways. The label's famed no-frills bottles of face, hair and body potions are legendary amongst beauty connoisseurs – and justifiably so.
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Annie Thompson Studio
The motto of internationally famous designer Annie Thompson, 'Personality is a terrible thing to waste,' flows into the artistic and unique designs of her clothing, handbags and backpacks in this Queen West staple. Canadian-designed jewelry is available here too.
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Bungalow
Vintage-loving guys and gals can search this spacious shop for used clothes and furniture, as well as freshly made designs. The uncrowded, well-organized racks are a nice change from many of Kensington's cramped digs, and there's a good selection of vintage boots.
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Tilley Endurables
Known the world over, this Canadian company produces some of the finest, toughest threads imaginable. All Tilley's signature hats, which have been worn by everyone from famous explorers to royalty, as well as many of their clothing lines, are guaranteed for life.
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Fleurtje
Expect the unexpected at Fleurtje – including funky kids clothes and made-to-order vegetarian bags designed by the owner. True to its motto ('Come in and see what Canadians can do'), all featured designers are from Toronto, Montréal and the Maritimes.
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Beguiling
Need a comic book fix? Beguiling is the kind of crowded, mixed-up place that Robert Crumb would drop by (in fact, he once did). Be mesmerized by original ’zines, indie comics, pop culture books, limited edition artworks and posters. Check the website for events.
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C-Pub
Search through the new imports from Hong Kong and Japan here and you might stumble across a pair of jeans or a handbag you'd find on Queen West with a far smaller price tag. Though prices are low, watch for quality – some bargains are too good to be true.
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Soundscapes
If you're struck with the need for bluegrass or spoken word in the wee hours, head here. Good prices, lots of local and rare finds and concert tickets are specialties. You'll also find listening booths, books, mags and DVDs on music, and friendly staff.
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Exile
Exile's endless maze of vintage gear is much older than it looks…but after you get lost amid the disco balls and yellow walls holding leather jackets, cowboy boots, furs and costume rentals, you might start to forget what year you're in, too.
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Polka Dot Kids
For a breath of fresh air and an answer to Nintendo overload, browse through cheery Polka Dot for a refreshing array of old-fashioned, all-natural wooden toys, knitted and linen booties, and patterned lunch boxes that hearken back to simpler times.
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Show Room
Five thousand pairs of jeans are housed on both levels of this lofty space, many of which can be seen on the finely toned rears of LA and European hipsters. Show Room's fitting rooms are bar none and pretty much any cut or size of denim is on site.
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Boomer
Edgy menswear of a more forward than traditional variety line the racks of this exclusive boutique, where cooler-than-thou salespeople gladly guide dedicated followers of fashion through a sleek selection of suits, sports jackets, coats and denim.
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Arctic Nunavut
Carved Inukshuk figurines, Taloyoak dolls, Inuit handicrafts and Arctic-related books, music and DVDs are all sold here. Proceeds go toward the Nunavut Development Corporation, supporting artisans from Canada’s Aboriginal-run territory.
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Grassroots
In the Annex. One-stop shopping for all things earth-friendly, Grassroots carries environmentally sound household items galore – even hemp coffee filters and organic bed linen are available here. It's also a used battery drop-off depot.
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Touched by an Angel
This shop's array of colors and textures of yarn is so fantastic, you'll want to take up knitting (if you haven't already). Refreshingly affordable hats, handbags, scarves, footwear and jewelry await you as well, mostly designed by the owner.
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The Tin Taj
Every square inch of wall and ceiling in this colorful shop seems to be home to some whimsical tin delight. Wares come from all over the world but this is definitely a place for unique Canadian memorabilia, reasonable prices and lots of fun.
reviewed
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Fastball Sportscards
If it's signed Maple Leaf hockey jerseys, original Walt Disney art and stereographs, sci-fi collectibles, rare 20th-century sports cards or autographed photos you're after, this is your place. Make sure to talk shop with the friendly owner.
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A Different Booklist
Caribbean and African literature lines the shelves of this cheerful bookstore, as well as a line of dual-language books for children (in English and Urdu/Portuguese/Swahili/Serbian, and many others). Course textbooks are available too.
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Suspect Video & Culture
A local favorite, Suspect specializes in rare and foreign videos and DVDs, from cult horror to kung-fu. Graphic novels and horror mags also stock the shelves, and there's more to be found at the store on Queen St West.
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The Cookbook Store
You won't see a selection of Canadian-authored cookbooks like this elsewhere, and will probably find yourself among chefs who peruse them on their lunch breaks, along with European cookbooks and magazines from the UK and Australia.
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Parentbooks
With reading material on everything from autism to sexuality, this is the place for parents and parents-to-be to find resources and information in a welcoming atmosphere. There are also books and language CDs for kids themselves.
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