A Day in the Distillery District

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7 places recommended by LisaBorden

Expert Eco-Friendly

Created on Aug 30 2009

This list is only a small cross section of what you'll find in the Distillery District in Toronto - the pedestrain area supports culture & arts, offers great drinks & dining as well as boutique shopping. For tourists and all Torontonians - daytime and nightime, check for festivals and events. They claim that the Distillery is the "hippest address in town", and it's hard to disagree!

Mill Street Brewery

55 Mill Street Building 63, Toronto, Ontario, M5A3C4

Rated this place:

posted Jun 4 2009

ORGANIC LOCAL BEER!: Not exactly family friendly, but certainly fun! Mill Street Organic is a favourite bottle, also available from The Beer Store, but way more fun to see, learn and ask direct at the brewery. Take a tour...but until they add more than organic beer battered fish on the menu, skip the pub and head home, crack open a couple cold ones and celebrate more local organic that's to come...with demand comes supply!

Distill Gallery

55 Mill Street, the Distillery District, Toronto, ON, M5A3C4

Rated this place:

posted Aug 30 2009

Oh Canada!: Distill Gallery is easy to find once inside the pedestrian Distillery District. It is a small store that certainly earns it's title as a gallery...of canadian designed and made art, jewelry, accessories and clothing. There is a definite connection to the products since the staff at Distill can always tell you the story behind the product. Choose unique gifts for yourself or someone else - at any price. Faves of mine included the boiled wool bracelets, a decanter upcycled form a jack daniels bottle, bags made from recycled army surplus and lile eco-happy scarves (so soft!). Now only if they didn't want to wrap every purchase with all that tissue paper. Special note - open until 8pm on Saturday nights.

Fresh & Wild

55 MIll Street, Toronto, ON

Rated this place:

posted Aug 30 2009

Fresh Air on a Wild Patio!: Fresh & Wild has multiple locations, but this bright and clean space in the Distillery District is absolutely beautiful! Although they still carry plenty of neither fresh or wild foods, their organic and fresh selection still qualifies as good...especially since they have a good selection of the very excellent Mapleton's local, nut-free and organic ice creams! Choose anything from in store and enjoy kicking back on their large patio on the quiet pedestrian "streets" in the district.

SOMA Chocolatemaker

55 Mill St. (Building #47), Toronto, Ontario, M5A3C4

Rated this place:

posted Aug 30 2009

Worship Chocolate in Toronto: If you want to eat, drink, shop and breathe chocolate, this is the space in Toronto for you. Choose from bars, truffles and various chocoalte dipped cookies, dried fruits and nuts. Drink their "famous" drinking chocolate. Enjoy a cup of gelato made in their Gelato Lab daily. Watch through their viewing walls as their truffles are made - stand back so you don't make it fog up with excitement! It is apparent that there is a dedication and commitment to being "green" - all disposables are compostable and some of their chocolate is organic, however, disappointingly there are many conventional additions in their artisanal goods, like corn syrup and their staff didn't seem to be able to answer questions about the ingredients. Regardless, choose something (good luck...there is a really big selection!) and once you break into the cellophane sleeve, I doubt you'll make it out of the Distillery District with anything left for "later". You may want to buy more, although your body or your wallet may not agree!

The Fermenting Cellar

55 Mill Street, Toronto, ON

Rated this place:

posted Aug 30 2009

Exceptional Event Venue: In this historically important building that occupies space within the Distlillery District, you will certainly impress your guests. Each time that I have attended an event, the space has looked completely different serving it's purpose from the interior decor to the ease of parking. Qualifying as an "industrial chic setting", enjoy the wooden beams and trusses and stone walls as part as your very casual daytime, to your very formal nightime event.

Brick Street Bakery

55 Mill Street, Toronto, ON, M5A 3C4

Rated this place:

posted Aug 30 2009

Follow the Brick Road!: Don't skip this spot on your way in or your way out of the Distillery District. Brick Street Bakery bakes outsatnding breads and pastries, most with local and organic ingredients - some sandwiches also qualify as scrumptious and organic! The service really needs to be improved - if they served up a smile with their baguettes like they do at their leslieville location, their line ups may be even longer! Grab and go or take a seat on their sidewalk patio and people watch!

Lileo

55 Mill St. (Building 35), Toronto, ON, M5A3C4

Rated this place:

posted Aug 30 2009

Gallery or Fashion Boutique?: Fashion scouting can be done here as many labels carried are unique finds, or just simply ahead of the Toronto fashion curve. One can easily walk the aisles, browse through the racks, unfold garments on the shelves and you would still find "new" things on a second or third, or fourth time through, there is such an extensive selection - make sure you engage knowledgeable and very helpful staff. They have a good and interesting selection of organic and eco fashion, and some locally made goods too. Don't come seeking affordable kids duds or great deals...it's mostly name brands which you'll pay for. Livia juice bar and books will take care of those family members or friends with you who may not otherwise have been so patiently waiting!

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