LeVack Block

Rated this place:

88 Ossington Avenue, Toronto, ON, M6J 2Z4

Bust a move: Right in the middle of the Ossington strip, the front part of the LeVack Block is a pretty space, with exposed brick walls and big windows. In addition to drinks, they also offer simple menu items like pizza. When you head to the back there’s less emphasis on the décor (save for the giant thumbs up sign!) but you’ve got a great space for dancing. The music changes depending on the evening. They also do a weekend brunch.

• favourite thing(s) at this place:
• fun bar/dance spot

Urban Essential

Rated this place:

175 King Street East, Toronto, Ontario, M5A1J4

Essential finds for the modern home: Urban Essentials is one of my favourite home stores in the city. Not only because it stocks reasonably-priced, good quality furniture, but also because it is owned by the sweetest, most helpful couple. The store offers a wide range of products from pictures, to side tables, to vases, to sofas. Don’t be fooled by the relatively small size of the store. There’s lots to see and plenty more available from their catalogues. Everything you order arrives quickly and they carry a number of condo-sized pieces. Its good value for your money and items purchased here stand the test of time.

• favourite thing(s) at this place:
• good quality furniture

Hardware Furniture Inc.

Rated this place:

760 Queen E, Toronto, ON, M4M1H4

Not your typical hardware store: Hardware is a beautiful home furniture store in Riverdale that sells furniture made from reclaimed and upcycled items. So everything in the store has a wonderfully worn, storied appearance and tons of character. Many of the items are large, ideal for a bigger open-concept loft or house. Although, they also have some smaller decorative items that would work in almost any setting. There is a range of prices, although many of the pieces are (not unexpectedly or unreasonably) on the higher end. They often have an especially good selection of tables and mirrors. Hard to pass by without stopping in for a look!

• favourite thing(s) at this place:
• reclaimed and upcycled items

Pavilion

Rated this place:

739 Queen St W, Toronto, ON, M6J1G1

Hip urban home décor : Pavilion is a great place to find contemporary furniture for living rooms, dining rooms and bedrooms. The store is large and has an excellent selection. Make sure you give yourself enough time to see everything! The furniture is displayed well, helping you imagine how the pieces will look in your own home and also providing a good source of decorating ideas and inspiration. In addition to the larger items, Pavilion also stocks linens and smaller accessories. If you need help, the staff are all very knowledgeable and helpful. Prices are reasonable, given the design and the quality of the products.

• favourite thing(s) at this place:
• hip furniture

Kosoy & Bouchard

Rated this place:

651 St. Clair Avenue West, Toronto, Ontario, M6C1A7

Dreamy, delicate ceramics: Kosoy and Bouchard ceramics have to be seen in person to be truly appreciated. Their line consists of lovely, delicate bowls and platters in a range of sizes and shapes. Most items have patterns reminiscent of lace or latticework imprinted directly onto them, giving them a unique sensibility. Colours range from an antiqued white to pale shades of blue and green. Dreamy! They make the perfect pieces to build a room around, or to give as a special gift. In addition to ready-made items, they also offer pottery classes. And they have a line of glass pieces and do custom work on request.

• favourite thing(s) at this place:
• delicate ceramics

Chatelet

Rated this place:

717 Queen Street West, Toronto, Ontario, M6J1E6

Sweet and sparkly interiors: Chatelet is a home décor store that stocks a great selection of sweet, feminine items. If you’ve got a bit of magpie in you and love things that sparkle, this is the ideal stop for you because they carry an extensive collection of mirrored dressers and tables. They also offer a number of other girly-inspired items—everything from pretty dishes decorated with Paris-inspired designs to toile-covered chairs. Plus, they stock larger pieces like settees and armoires. In addition to the products they carry, the store offers interior design services and custom sewing. I love the duvet cover they made for me. And if you can’t go in person you can also shop online at www.chatelethome.com.

• favourite thing(s) at this place:
• girly interiors

Langdon Hall

Rated this place:

1 Langdon Dr, Cambridge, ON, N3H4R8

Relaxing weekend getaway: Situated in a grand old country estate on a large property, Langdon Hall is prefect for a relaxing weekend getaway. Located in Cambridge, it’s far enough away to feel like a mini-break from the city without being too far a drive. It boasts a great spa, award-winning restaurant, beautiful grounds, lovely big dogs and perhaps the most comfortable beds ever. The “Cloister” rooms are the prettiest and most reasonably priced. Ask for one with a fireplace and/or patio. Makes for a great girls’ getaway or mother-daughter weekend. Also has more affordable mid-week specials, if you’re looking for a deal. Book early on long weekends.

• favourite thing(s) at this place:
• spa weekend

Horseshoe Tavern

Rated this place:

368 Queen St W, Toronto, ON, M5V2A2

A night at The 'Shoe: The Horseshoe has been around since 1947, which makes it one of the best “if these walls could talk” places to see a band. You could try and list all the famous bands that have performed on the stage at The Horseshoe, but it might be easier to list all the famous bands that haven’t played here. Okay, that’s a bit of an exaggeration, but you get the point. The Horseshoe always has a great mix of new talent and old favourites. And it is the perfect place to go if you think all live music venues should be a little gritty … in a good way.

• favourite thing(s) at this place:
• Live Music

Tap Phong Trading Co

Rated this place:

360 Spadina Ave, Toronto, ON, M5T2G4

Never know what you might find: You typically find stacks of plastic tubs and other large household items outside Tap Phong, which makes it one of those places you might initially pass by, not realizing the treasure trove inside. But if you do make your way through the front doors, you’ll be glad you did! Tap Phong is one of those stores where you can go in for one thing and leave with ten more. It’s a great spot to get reasonably priced plain white plates and platters and it also stocks everything from bamboo steamers to industrial sized pots. Plus, it offers a good selection of reasonably priced Asian ceramic dishes. A fun way to spend an afternoon browsing and buying.

• favourite thing(s) at this place:
• plates and platters

National Film Board Mediatheque

Rated this place:

150 John St, Toronto, ON, M5V3E3

Not-your-average Hollywood blockbuster: NFB Mediatheque is (ironically) located just across from a giant theatre that shows all the latest Hollywood blockbusters. A trip to NFB makes a fun and different way to spend an afternoon/evening and it’s a great alternative to your typical movie date. Whether you chose to watch one of the thousands of on-demand movies at their digital viewing stations on the main floor or see a scheduled screening upstairs, NFB offers lots of thought-provoking films, from shorts to documentaries. Great for stimulating interesting conversations. Their calendar of events is available online at http://www3.nfb.ca/mediatheque. Or you can visit their online screening room at http://www.nfb.ca.

• favourite thing(s) at this place:
• alternative movie night

Hotel Le Germain

Rated this place:

30 Mercer Street, Toronto, ON, M5V 1H3

Contemporary urban hotel: Stylish, well-appointed rooms and a central location always make Le Germain a hit with out-of-town guests. It’s equally appropriate for friends from college and family members. If you book early and/or look for an online deal and you can get some pretty reasonable rates too. The rooms have a clean, crisp boutique hotel feel—with nice bedding, dark wood and Aveda products in the bathrooms. A yummy continental breakfast is also included. In addition, Le Germain also offers some theme packages that can be added on to a room, such as a relaxation theme package and a Valentine’s Day package. For an additional fee, guests can also bring their dog, which can be a welcome bonus for out-of-town visitors.

• favourite thing(s) at this place:
• hotel

Gilead Cafe

Rated this place:

4 Gilead Place, Toronto, ON, M5A 3C9

take-out for one: For those times when you want a delicious and healthy take-out lunch but you’re in a rush.

Toronto Islands

Rated this place:

Toronto, ON

Fun summer day tripping: Just a short ferry ride away, Toronto Islands are the perfect place to laze away a warm summer afternoon. What is there to do there? Tons! You can rent bikes, have a picnic, wander around, wade in the water, play frisbee golf, see the farm animals, go for drinks at The Rectory Café, do all of the above … or nothing at all! Ferries depart frequently from the ferry terminal at the foot of Bay. Note that there are three different possible stops for the ferry (Hanlan’s Point, Ward Island and Centre Island) so make sure you know where you want to go and you get on the correct boat.

• favourite thing(s) at this place:
• mini trip

Dream in High Park

Rated this place:

Toronto, Ontario

Dreamy outdoor plays: You know it’s summertime in Toronto, when Dream in High Park returns for the season! Starting at the end of June and running until the end of August, the Dream typically consists of lighter Shakespearean fare—from Much Ado About Nothing to A Midsummer Night’s Dream. Even if you weren’t a Shakespeare fan in school, you’re likely to find yourself converted! Bring some blankets and a picnic dinner and arrive well before the show’s 8 p.m. start for the best seats in the house (or in this case, outdoor amphitheatre.) Makes a great summertime event with a date, friends or family. The entrance fee is pay-what-you-can, with a suggested minimum of $20.

• favourite thing(s) at this place:
• outdoor play

Art Gallery of Ontario

Rated this place:

317 Dundas St W, Toronto, ON, M5T1G4

Cheap art date: The Art Gallery of Ontario is always a good for a first date because there’s no end of conversation starters, especially now with the great Frank Gehry redesign and transformation of the building. And on Wednesday evening’s there’s free admission from 6:00 - 8:30, making it a great cheap date! If you’re having fun and want to extend your visit, you can always follow up your tour of the gallery with a drink or a bite to eat in Frank, the AGO restaurant. On days other than Wednesdays, it still makes a reasonably priced date, with adult entry prices of $18 ($10 for students.)

• favourite thing(s) at this place:
• cheap first date

Aritzia

Rated this place:

280 Queen W, Toronto, ON, M5V2A1

Latest clothing trends: Aritzia is a great one-stop-shop for picking up all the current trends. They stock everything from clothes to purses to scarves to boots. The prices are generally mid-range, with a few higher priced items mixed in. Overall, it’s good value for your money since you can typically get more than one season out of your purchases before they go out of style. Aritzia is especially good for their wide selection of jeans and cute tops for the weekend. Every year they have tons of great deals during Boxing week, but dressing rooms can be hard to come by, so make sure you know your size in advance.

• favourite thing(s) at this place:
• one stop shop

MAC Cosmetics

Rated this place:

363 Queen Street West, Toronto, ON, M5V2A3

Kiss and make up: MAC is a great line of quality make-up at reasonable prices. Products include everything from lipstick to foundation, and they also have a wonderful line of make-up tools, like eyelash curlers and brushes. MAC is especially famous for its great lipsticks, particularly colours like Twig which are almost universally flattering. And they come out with regular limited edition sets that get snapped up quickly because of their cute packaging and all the great product combinations they contain. In addition to the cosmetics themselves, one of the great things about MAC is the fabulous make-up artists in their stores, who take the time to help you find the right products for you. Plus if you return 6 empty MAC make-up containers, you get a free lipstick. How sweet a deal is that?!

• favourite thing(s) at this place:
• free lipstick

Lileo

Rated this place:

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

The source for cozy weekend clothes: Lileo is the perfect store if you don’t want to sacrifice style for comfort. It carries ideal clothes for all sorts of weekend adventures: brunches, the movies, lounging around home, meeting friends for drinks, and so on. Their selection of denim is fantastic and they also carry some dressier items and accessories. Lileo has a wide range of labels, often ones that are difficult to find elsewhere in the city and are typically ahead of the fashion curve. As a bonus they have a small café at the front of the store, in case all the shopping leaves you hungry!

• favourite thing(s) at this place:
• cozy weekend clothes

Trampoline Hall at Sneaky Dee's

Rated this place:

431 College St., Toronto, ON, M5T1T1

Quirky lectures in a relaxed environment: Trampoline Hall occurs on random Mondays in the upstairs of Sneaky Dee’s. Each Trampoline Hall event includes three different speakers, discussing topics ranging from the outrageous to the bizarre. Past topics have included: train hopping, Norwegian Death Metal culture, the word “like” and many, many, more. Almost as good as the unusual “lectures” are the nachos and guacamole that Sneaky Dee’s serves. A fun, cheap night out with friends. Sign up at www.trampolinehall.net to find out about upcoming events. Purchase your tickets in advance at Soundscapes or be prepared to line up early for rush tickets the evening of the event.

• favourite thing(s) at this place:
• quirky entertainment

Kiehl's

Rated this place:

2518 Yonge Street, Toronto, Ontario, M4P2H7

Great products for over 150 years: Founded over 150 years ago, Kiehl’s has stood the test of time. They carry an extensive selection of excellent products—everything from face cleansers, to shampoos, to body scrubs. And they have specialty products that help with conditions ranging from acne to aging. The products are made with high quality ingredients and the friendly and knowledgeable staff are always happy to provide samples so you can “try before you buy.” In addition, you can return your empty containers to Kiehl’s and they don’t do any animal testing so you can feel good about your purchase. Best bet for Canadian winters: the Superbly Restorative Skin Salve.

• favourite thing(s) at this place:
• free product samples

Heel Boy

Rated this place:

682 Queen Street West, Toronto, Ontario, M6J1E5

Cute shoes!: A few years ago there was a TV commercial in which several pairs of shoes followed a woman home from a day of shopping. I harbour a fantasy that the same thing will happen to me after a visit to Heel Boy! Whether you’re looking for dancing shoes, casual kicks for the weekend or winter boots, Heel Boy has an excellent selection of brands and styles. And their footwear is reasonably priced enough that you’ll still have money left over for brunch at one of the many nearby restaurants on Queen. Sample brands include Ted Baker, Kenneth Cole and Matt & Nat.

• favourite thing(s) at this place:
• cute shoes

Covet + Crave

Rated this place:

789 King Street West, Toronto, Ontario, M5V1N4

Clothes to covet: Covet + Crave is a self-described “premium denim and t-shirt boutique.” They carry a well-edited selection of denim styles and lines (everything from J-brand to Rich & Skinny.) Their equally well-edited selection of t-shirt includes items by Daftbird and Local God. And they stock other products like Hunter Boots and dressy tanks by Ella Moss. The wonderful owner Kim, is great at helping you find the right item for your needs and body type. And they’re open till 7 on Tuesdays and Wednesdays and 8 on Thursdays and Fridays, so you can pop in after work. They get lots of new stock in regularly so be sure to check back frequently.

• favourite thing(s) at this place:
• great jeans and tees

Shop NYLA

Rated this place:

1011 Yonge Street, Toronto, Ontario, M4W2K9

Shop NY and LA in Toronto: You know how there are some giant stores that you go into and can’t find even one thing you like? Well Shop NYLA is the exact opposite. Although it is tiny, they always have a seemingly endless selection of desirable pieces. If I had to sum up the style of the items carried by Shop NYLA in a few words, I’d describe them as “great basics with a twist.” The pieces they carry are always perfectly fashionable and in-the-now without being “trendy”. It’s a bit removed from major shopping areas, but well worth stopping by for a look. Prices and brands reflect it’s location near Rosedale.

• favourite thing(s) at this place:
• fashionable essentials

Mill Street Brewery

Rated this place:

55 Mill Street Building 63, Toronto, Ontario, M5A3C4

Suds and more: On weekends, Mill Street offers tours of its brewery. While you wait for the tour to begin, try some samples in the retail store at the front of the building. Then move on to the brewery itself (still inside the main building), learning from one of the knowledgeable and entertaining brew masters all about how the various types of Mill Street beers are made. If you want to extend your visit, you can follow up the tour with a meal in the pub. Makes a fun and different way to spend an afternoon with friends. Also works well as a Father’s Day gift.

• favourite thing(s) at this place:
• unconventional tour

LCBO Wine Appreciation Classes

Rated this place:

10 Scrivener Square, Toronto, Ontario, M4W3Y9

Learning about wine: The Summerhill LCBO (and other locations) offer a number of great wine appreciation classes for novice wine tasters, including a general class, an old-world wine class and a new-world wine class. Each class is four weeks long and provides a great overview of its topic. Makes a good introduction to wine and is a fun thing to do with a friend. Classes sell out quickly so be sure to sign up early. For more experienced wine tasters, the LCBO also offers single-day tutored tastings. Plus they run other tasting events (like single malt scotch tasting and beer & cheese tasting) and demonstration cooking classes (like a fish class and a classical Indian food class.) See http://www.lcbo.com/learn/winescourses.shtml for full details.

• favourite thing(s) at this place:
• wine class