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West Queen West Art & Design District
As
artists move farther west on Queen Street to more affordable quarters
between Bathurst Street and Gladstone Avenue, so too do the independent
and experimental art galleries and the clothing shops showcasing funky
Canadian designers. The abundance of antique and used furniture, trendy
kitchenware, and offbeat and vintage clothing shops guarantees
interesting finds .
Street sign, West Queen West Art and Design
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Queen Street West
Artists
after cheap rent settled among the textile shops along Queen Street
between University Avenue and Bathurst Street in the early 1980s.
Galleries and shops bursting with art, hip clothing, handcrafted
jewelry, and home-decor items followed. These days, chains such as
Montreal-based Le Chateau, The Gap, and Banana Republic have a definite
presence as well. -
Kensington Market
This
chaotic enclave is a true gem. Once a Jewish market, the predominant
ethnic flavor is now Portuguese and West Indian, with strong hints of
Asian and Hispanic. The many food shops reflect this, stocked as they
are with cassava, cornbread, pulses, cheese, salted cod, and spices.
Fruit and veggies are some of the freshest – and cheapest – in the city.
The waft of incense and strains of Reggae will lead you to the dimly
lit secondhand clothing stores, many with a goth or hippie flair,
nestled in Victorian houses . -
Queen Street East
Lovers
of vintage clothes, radios and vinyl, and furniture from the 1960s and
1970s – some from well-known designers – will have a shopping fest along
this eclectic stretch. Perhaps inspired by their trendy retro design
neighbors, modern home-decor shops and interior design firms are also
making this area home .
Shop window, Queen Street East
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Yorkville
Clustered
in this upscale district, choice boutiques and fine art galleries offer
everything the well-heeled and -monied traveler desires. Even the local
mall, Hazelton Lanes,
harbors luxury shops such as a Rolls Royce dealership and Whole Foods
Market, which tempts with mouth-watering but pricey prepared foods to
fill the picnic basket.
Shop window, Yorkville
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Chinatown
You
may think you’re in Hong Kong as you browse along Spadina Avenue and
Dundas Street, speculating on the use of exotic ingredients such as
dried shrimp and the odoriferous durian fruit, or eyeing the dizzying
array of Chinese housewares, knickknacks, and herbal medicines on offer.
A terrific place to find unusual souvenirs at low prices .
Fresh fish, Chinatown
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St. Lawrence Market
Considered
by gastronomes around the globe as one of the world’s best markets, a
visit here is reason enough for food lovers to travel to Toronto. A huge
selection of meat, fish, cheese, and produce, as well as handcrafted
gifts, make for a one-of-a-kind experience. Vendors pushing food samples
and buskers add to the dynamic atmosphere; frequent special events and
festivals liven things up even more. When you can’t carry another thing,
visit the free parcel check on the west side of the lower level,
outside. -
Bloor Street
Bloor
Street between Church Street and Avenue Road is lined with
international designer boutiques: Gucci, Tiffany’s, Hermès, Chanel, and
Max Mara, as well as excellent homegrown stores. Drop by fine jewelers
Birks; William Ashley China, a top-notch china and glass store; Holt
Renfrew, a small department store specializing in high-end clothing; Harry Rosen
, a superb men’s clothing store with impeccable service; and the Roots flagship store, offering quality leather and sportswear.
