Come As You Are

Rated this place:

701 Queen St W, Toronto, ON, M6J1E6

Sex shop: This shop is very woman-positive, with female staff, and an atmosphere that allows you to be curious without feeling self-conscious. the staff here are really knowledgeable and friendly, and it's a really interesting place to have a browse. they also have interesting and creative workshops. check the website for online shopping and more info: http://www.comeasyouare.com/index.cfm?&language=E

• favourite thing(s) at this place:
• Sex Shop

Elixir Organic Spa

Rated this place:

766 King St. West, Toronto, ON, M5V1N6

Green esthetic services: This place is the first completely synthetic-free spa in Toronto. they offer a wide range of services using all natural products. even their nail polish is free of harmful chemicals. try one of their aromatherapy facials - heaven. or check out all the other treats on offer at http://www.elixirspa.ca/

• favourite thing(s) at this place:
• Green Esthetic Services

Community Bicycle Network

Rated this place:

761 Queen St W #101, Toronto, ON, M6J1G1

Green transport: A great complement to public transit, for the price of a season pass ($30 student/low income, $50 regular, or $75 friend of bikeshare) you can pick up a fully equipped road bike for your use any time you need one, from any one of a number of toronto hubs, and drop it off at any hub when you are finished. it's a great way to get around town with minimum impact and maximum fun. to find out more or find a hub near you check out http://communitybicyclenetwork.org/?q=bikeshare

• favourite thing(s) at this place:
• Green Transport

Hurricane's Roadhouse Restaurant

Rated this place:

963 Bloor St W, Toronto, ON, M6H1L7

Sports bars: This little local joint is a great place to watch sports on tv. which i don't actually do much of, but i still know this place is a favorite of many. it's got a great neighbourhood feel, some pretty stellar karaoke nights, decent food, and cheap drinks. and the crowd is surprisingly cool.

• favourite thing(s) at this place:
• Sports Bars

Rivoli-Cafe & Club

Rated this place:

334 Queen St W, Toronto, ON, M5V2A2

Bar food: Not only is the Riv a cool bar, complete with regular live events, pool tables, and a good feel even when it's just you, your drinks, your friends and the stereo - not only is it cool just like that, but the food is actually good too. It's kind of a combo of pan-Asian (isn't everywhere these days?) and creative pub grub, with lots of creative snacky nibbles. Definitely a step above the usual bar eats.

• favourite thing(s) at this place:
• Bar Food

Trinity Bellwoods Park

Rated this place:

1053 Dundas St. W., Toronto, ON, M5H2N2

Park, Romantic spot: I love the curb-to-curb grass.

I know, it's a park, full of kids and dogs and frisbee-o-philes. But there's nothing better than laying around in the warm grass on a sunny day with someone worth making out with.

• favourite thing(s) at this place:
• park
• Romantic Spot

Sneaky Dee's

Rated this place:

431 College St, Toronto, ON, M5T1T1

Cheap drinks: Well, because they're cheap. all the time.

• favourite thing(s) at this place:
• Cheap Drinks

Soundscapes

Rated this place:

572 College St, Toronto, ON, M6G1B3

Indie music store: These purveyors of finer CDs and all the tix you'll ever need for local entertainment, have my vote every time. great staff, great vibe, great selection.

• favourite thing(s) at this place:
• Indie Music Store

Future Bakery & Cafe

Rated this place:

483 Bloor St. W, Toronto, ON, M5S1Y2

Cheap breakfast: I love the warm and bustling atmosphere of this place. It's just right when you want just a casual brekkie. They've got all the standard options, served up in big portions, all day long, for really reasonable prices. And if you're a student I think you can get one of about 20 breakfast options for 3.95, including a drink. Score.

• favourite thing(s) at this place:
• cheap breakfast

Magic Oven

Rated this place:

788 Broadview Ave., Toronto, ON, M4K2P8

Healthy pizza, Tandoori potato pizza: They have all these great whole grain crust alternatives, including non-wheat options. and lots of dairy free cheeses. and even if you want more standard pizza, they have a great selection of pizzas and wonderful toppings to choose from.

Tandoori paste, sliced potatoes, cilantro and cheese prove that Indian and Italian can come together with kick-ass results. even better with chicken, if you're into that.

• favourite thing(s) at this place:
• Healthy Pizza
• Tandoori Potato Pizza

Value Village

Rated this place:

3130 Dixie Rd, Mississauga, ON, L4Y2A6

Cheap fashion: It's a mecca of good finds, if you have the patience and the inclination to look hard, and try things on. I don't always have those qualities, but on the right day, with a good friend, it's a lot of fun to hit up the value village and see how much goodness there is to be found for very little in the dinero department. if you can sew - so much the better. limitless potential to remake.

• favourite thing(s) at this place:
• Cheap Fashion

Fresh from the Farm

Rated this place:

350 Donlands Avenue, Toronto, ON, M4J 3S1

Green butcher: This Mennonite-run shop has wonderful hormone- and drug-free meats, as well as all kinds of home baking, canning and freezing, dairy products and other great stuff. all from the local area. all in season. you can even order ahead online and pick up! these are some high-tech mennonites! http://freshfromthefarm.ca/products.htm

• favourite thing(s) at this place:
• Green Butcher

Jamie Kennedy Wine Bar, Restaurant

Rated this place:

9 Church St., Toronto, ON, M5E 1M2

Green restaurant: This place produces sublime dishes made as often as possible from locally grown/produced ingredients. Jamie Kennedy is a Toronto pioneer in efforts to draw attention to the benefits of sourcing more food locally and eating in season. Mmmmm. Slow food. From a farm near you. Delicious.

• favourite thing(s) at this place:
• Green Restaurant

Trampoline Hall at Sneaky Dee's

Rated this place:

431 College St., Toronto, ON, M5T1T1

Cheap entertainment: This nearly monthly series of lectures given by people who are not professionally expert in the subject matter is like the most fun you can have for $5. curated with care, with original sets designed each time, well-selected mostly-toronto soundtrack courtesy of carl wilson, and MCed by hilarious misha glouberman, this is a night out worth trying. www.trampolinehall.net for info on upcoming performances.

• favourite thing(s) at this place:
• Cheap Entertainment

Diesel Fitness

Rated this place:

99 Spadina Ave, Toronto, ON, M5V3P8

Gym ambiance: Of course you want to go here to work out! You walk in and it's like you just showed up at the party. Have some juice, meet the d.j., check out the beautiful people, admire the art, and - oh yeah - have a great workout too! eucalyptus steam anyone?

• favourite thing(s) at this place:
• gym ambiance

Dynasty

Rated this place:

131 Bloor St W #200, Toronto, ON, M5S1R1

Dim sum: Everything is delicious, and i love how bright and sunny it is, with all the windows looking over bloor yorkville.

• favourite thing(s) at this place:
• dim sum

Fusaro's Kitchen

Rated this place:

147 Spadina Ave #108, Toronto, ON, M5V2L7

Grilled chicken panino, Salad: There's no foolin' around at Fusaro's - they want you to "eat eat" as bad as your own Nona. Portions are generous, quality is high, and, resultingly, line up is long. But don't let that stop you - things move fast on the fresh food assembly line. This sandwich (the "Otto") is stuffed to overflowing with more than a whole grilled chicken breast, roasted peppers, lettuce, provalone and basil mayo. It's two meals. Both of them good.

This salad is soooo good. you can choose all kinds of delicious antipasto-style toppings, like all kinds of marinated and grilled veggies, as well as fresh veggies, cheeses and i always get the grilled chicken breast. that plus some of the homemade bread they throw in - yummers.

• favourite thing(s) at this place:
• grilled chicken panino
• salad

Preloved

Rated this place:

881 Queen Street West, Toronto, ON, M6J 1G5

Recycled fashion: Okay, what i really wish is that i had the sewing machine skills to remake old tshirts and sweats into stuff this cool on my own. but i don't. so i'll buy it from these experts in re-do.

• favourite thing(s) at this place:
• recycled fashion

Red Pegasus

Rated this place:

628 College St, Toronto, ON, M6G1B4

Gift/novelty shop: They've got great cards and really neat stuff for gifts. very niche books, funky housewares, novelty items that are actually cool, tshirts, hats and bags, and really great jewellery. worth a browse.

• favourite thing(s) at this place:
• gift/novelty shop

Bloor Cinema

Rated this place:

506 Bloor St W, Toronto, ON, M5S1Y3

Indie cinema: It's small and cozy and retro in a way that just makes movies better. I don't really like negotiating the maze of overpriced snackfood purveyors and umpteen viewing rooms at the big multiplexes. I like the carpety kitsch, balcony option, and intimate feeling of a small cinema like my neighbourhood Bloor.

• favourite thing(s) at this place:
• Indie Cinema

Vidal Sassoon Salon

Rated this place:

37 Avenue Rd, Toronto, ON, M5R2G3

Cheap haircut: The Creative or Classic cut and colour days (by appointment and consult only) are a great way to get a top-notch hair cut and colour for about $25. Don't worry - though you're in the hands of students, they're not beginners- the people taking these training courses (under the tutelage and supervision of the best of Vidal Sassoon's colourists and stylists), are seasoned stylists/colourists from other salons. Mine had 20 years of experience. They're just updating their skills with some new techniq

• favourite thing(s) at this place:
• Cheap Haircut

Boom Breakfast & Co

Rated this place:

808 College St. W., Toronto, ON, M6G1C8

Brunch line-up, Brunch spot: Though no one likes to wait in line, they bring you breakkie snacks for sustenance to get you through! mmmm. waffles with powdered sugar! fresh muffins! are you sure my table's ready? 'cause really, these people behind me can go ahead. as long as you've got more of those waffles.

If you don't mind a line-up, this place is great. but wait - last time they brought sugar-dusted fresh waffles to line lizards, so how cool is that? good busy breakfast bustle, good peeps, great coffee and lots of menu variety while still doing everything well. from to-die-for grilled veggie salad to smoothies to all the brunchy standards - yum.

• favourite thing(s) at this place:
• brunch spot
• brunch line-up

Grassroots Environmental Products

Rated this place:

408 Bloor W, Toronto, ON, M5S1X5

Green household products, Winter gardening workshop: Whatever you need to live with less impact, this Toronto institution has got it. cleaning products, body care products, garden items, ethically produced clothing, housewares, and more more more. have a browse and find one or two ways to live greener with ease.

Where else can you learn all the ins and outs of hydroponic sprouting, starting seedlings for spring, growing season extension, composting at home, and all this other great stuff, with a community of other folks interested in optimal health and sustainable eating? Fun and foody and green!

• favourite thing(s) at this place:
• Green Household Products
• winter gardening workshop

Fresh Collective

Rated this place:

692 Queen Street West, Toronto, ON, M6G1E7

Indie fashion collective: This collection of local fashion/jewellery/accessory designers always comes up with the most creative and unique stuff.

• favourite thing(s) at this place:
• indie fashion collective

Hardboiled Inc.

Rated this place:

82 Nassau Street, Toronto, ON, M5T1M5

T-shirt designer: I love the fun designs. apparantly they solicit lots of different designers to come up with the art for their products. i like the cuts of the shirts as well, and how they usually mirror the front design in some small eye-catching detail on the back. very cool. You can find them all over the city at various collectives and boutiques.

• favourite thing(s) at this place:
• t-shirt designer