A Cabbagetown Stroll
Morning
Begin your day with an espresso at Jet Fuel, 519 Parliament St. After your caffeine jolt, turn right and walk north to Wellesley St,
then turn right again and walking east to take in the charming
Victorian architecture. Note the strange animal and face carvings on No. 314. Explore the lanes running northward, including Wellesley Cottages,
a courtyard tucked behind the street with seven gabled cottages. As you
come to the end of Wellesley St, spend a few moments wandering through Wellesley Park, enjoying the view across the Don Valley.
Backtrack to Wellesley St and turn left onto Sumach St, its charming houses classic Cabbagetown. Note Second Empire-style No. 420–422, built in 1886, and the English cottage style of Nos. 404–408. Turn left at Winchester St; Necropolis Cemetery, Toronto’s oldest non-denominational graveyard, will be on the left. Peek into the chapel to admire the stained-glass windows.
Afternoon
For lunch, head back along Winchester St to Parliament St, turning left to Carlton St, where you’ll find the Town Grill at No. 243.
After lunch, continue to meander the area’s compact streets – Metcalfe, Salisbury, and Sackville – before walking east to Riverdale Park and its
Riverdale Farm
. Across the street from the park’s northwest corner is cute Winchester Café, dispensing refreshments through a side window.
St. Lawrence Market
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South Market
Opened
in 1844 as Toronto’s second City Hall, this building had a police
station on the first floor and a jail in the basement. Today it houses a
thriving public market – and some of the tastiest, freshest meats,
cheese, produce, and breads around.
South Market
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North Market
Buy fruits, vegetables, and herbs directly from those who grow them. Organic items and home-baked treats, too.
Outdoor vendors, North Market
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Outdoor Stands
Sprawling
on the sidewalks outside the North Market, these produce and flower
stalls only add to the boisterous atmosphere of market Saturdays. For
the best selection, arrive early in the morning.
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Toronto Dollars
Trade
Canadian money at the South Market booth for Toronto Dollars, an
alternative currency accepted by many market merchants. Ten percent of
each dollar used is donated to local projects.
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Montreal Bagels
Locals
love St. Urbain Bakery’s dense, chewy buns, in the South Market. The
bagel-cooking method – boil then bake in a wood-fired oven – hails from
French-Canadian city Montreal.
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Alex Farms
A
cheese lover’s paradise, in South Market, selling every kind of cheese
imaginable, from French cantal to the most pungent of blues. Good
raw-milk cheese selection.
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Buskers and Craft-Sellers
Lively
street action is part of the charm of market Saturdays, as buskers
entertain and craftspeople ply their wares outside both the north and
south buildings.
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Peameal Bacon Sandwiches
Quintessentially
Canadian, and perfect to fuel up for the day, the kaiser buns at South
Market’s Carousel Bakery are stuffed with salty, peameal-encrusted pork.
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Market Gallery
Artifacts
and photographs of Toronto’s history are exhibited in free, themed
shows, in the old council chamber tucked on the second floor of the
South Market. See the market from a different perspective, through the
large window looking out onto the floor.
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St. Lawrence Hall
Just
north of the market, at Jarvis and King streets, is this magnificent
Victorian building, a carved stone and cast-iron gem. Built in 1850 for
grand public gatherings, it is now used for private functions.
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Several pay-parking
lots are near the market; the two closest are on Jarvis St south of
Front, and on Market St south of the Esplanade
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Shopping East
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Sophie’s Lingerie
Lingerie,
especially for fuller figures – from top designers such as Lejaby and
La Perla, in a wide range of colors and sexy designs. Expert fitting.
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527 Danforth Ave
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416 461 6113
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The Cook’s Place
Copper
pots, trendy gadgets, silicon baking forms, Japanese knives – this
store has everything the gourmet cook needs or desires.
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488 Danforth Ave
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416 461 5211
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Carrot Common
Lovers
of organic foods and natural body care shop happily here at this
17-store complex dedicated to eco-friendly products. Recharge with a
sampling of the delicious prepared foods on offer here.
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320 & 348 Danforth Ave
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416 466 2129
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Soma Chocolate
A
store for the chocolate cognoscenti. Sample the divine confections or
try a cup of steaming Mayan hot chocolate, redolent with spices.
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55 Mill St, Bldg 48
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416 815 7662
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Lileo
A
fashion, wellness, and self-discovery store. Yoga togs, Ayurvedic body
lotions, handbags, books, CDs, and limited-edition running shoes. A
juice bar with a raw-food menu helps keep shoppers’ appetites at bay.
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55 Mill St, Bldg 35
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416 413 1410
Lileo
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Applause
Audiophiles
lust after the high-end components sold here. Owner and sound-guru Rob
will also give you a square deal on the used equipment.
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758 Queen St E
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416 465 7649
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Ethel
Elegant
teak buffets and dining tables, glass and acrylic coffee tables, and
other nifty pieces from the 1960s and 1970s, at reasonable prices.
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1091 Queen St E
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416 778 6608
Ethel
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Festoon
The
husband and wife team behind this quirky home decor and gift shop are
well travelled, and it shows. Find unique and playful treasures from
around the world.
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1101 Queen St E
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416 461 4495
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Kristapsons
Pacific
salmon, cold-smoked on the premises using a secret recipe, is all
you’ll find in this store – but what a find. Those in the know claim it
ranks among the world’s best.
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1095 Queen St E
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416 466 5152
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Henry’s
Everything
a photographer needs, from the latest digital cameras to vintage Leica
lenses, and necessities such as film, batteries, photo paper, and a
quality developing service. Knowledgeable, helpful staff.
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119 Church St
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416 868 0872