Fresh By Juice For Life

Rated this place:

894 Queen Street West, Toronto, ON, M6J1G3

Vegetarian Options: the grilled vegetable and pesto burrito + goat cheese is to die for. especially with a side of spiced sweet potato fries. for only $9 you get a massive gluten-free wrap packed with: grilled red pepper, zucchini & sweet potato with pesto, vegan mayo, tomato, lettuce, cucumber, red onion & alfalfa sprouts. for an added kick, choose aged cheddar, asiago, goat or soy cheese for a mere $2. the food is fresh, the service is friendly, the experience is overall fantastic!

Aroma Espresso Bar

Rated this place:

500 Bloor Street West, Toronto, ON, M5S1Y3

Chocolate Croissant: aroma is by far the best place to go for scrumptious sweets and oodles of coffee`s to satisfy your addictions. the chocolate croissants are to DIE for! literally a bar a chocolate is melted inside the most flaky and soft home made dough. this place has such a great atmosphere, with oddly ammusing staff and relaxed customers, it is always enjoyable. the decor is modern yet cozy, with a mini gas fireplace and ultra suede swivel chairs to make you feel at home. drop by for an intimate 4 hour chat, or to finish that term paper you fell asleep writing the night before. who can resist when every order comes with a free mini chocolate bar!

Langton Salon Spa

Rated this place:

201 King St E, Toronto, ON, M5A4T8

Hair stylist: Wow, now i am one of those people who has had gone to the same hair stylist since grade 8 and feels guilty about an appointment with anyone but. after moving to toronto i was hesitant to trust another unfamiliar stylist with this particular undertaking. although i had never been, i read up on langton salon and was pleasantly surprised to discover their flawless reputation. my appointment with joe was amazingly insightful and i even walked out with a purse-sized samples! (cut approx. $75+)

• favourite thing(s) at this place:
• Hair Stylist

Sneaky Dee's

Rated this place:

431 College St, Toronto, ON, M5T1T1

Late Night Nachos: er ... although the first impression of this late night hangout may not instantly strike you as the place to be, for many it soon becomes a regular on their circuit. whether it be for mass amounts of 4am vegan nachos (which you will instantly love but soon regret), or the hungover brunch the next morning, many feel a bond with the curiously magnetic atmosphere. if faux-grafiti, skulls, and desert scene paraphenalia aren't quite "your thing", try one night at sneaky dee's and it might just become it.

Trianon Design Ltd

Rated this place:

247 King St E, Toronto, ON, M5A1J9

Funky finds: This is the place to be for home furnishings with attitude. trianon expertly combines the most modern concepts with an antique flare and pulls it off exceptionally! whether just browsing or finding that special piece, trianon has definitely got an amazing selection to fit your fancy.

• favourite thing(s) at this place:
• funky finds

secrets from your sister

Rated this place:

560 Bloor Street W, Toronto, ON, M6G 1K1

Lingerie Boutique: at SFYS the knowledgeable and passionate staff (thank you Fana!) truely make the dreaded bra shopping experience ... fun, easy, and uplifting (pardon the pun). with 90 million women wearing the wrong bra size in the US alone, it is not an investment to overlook! SFYS carries a remarkable selection of everyday bras, fashion, sports, and nursing bras to fit your needs. After learning your true size, the hardest part will be choosing the prettiest new addition to your top drawer.

Old Spaghetti Factory

Rated this place:

54 The Esplanade, Toronto, ON, M5E1A6

Place to take kids: Built in 1898, this huge old warehouse was converted into a 600 seat restaurant in 1971, filled with a fabulous collection of antiques and truly unique artifacts and is now known as the famous "Old Spaghetti Factory". complete with high ceilings, skylights, antique elevator, streetcar, gift shop, in-house bakery, original stained glass windows from Europe, gas lamps, a 100 year old carousel ... if this is not enough, add great food, affordable prices and fast and friendly service. you gotta go!

• favourite thing(s) at this place:
• place to take kids

Toba Restaurant

Rated this place:

243 King St. E., Toronto, ON, M5A 1J9

Intimate date spot: 'the relaxed, casual atmosphere at Toba makes it an ideal setting for a first or fiftieth date, or a brunch rendez-vous with busy friends.' this quaint dining space has so much personality between the pin up art on the walls and the explosive flavours found in these unique takes on classic recipes. the wine list is decent, with a variety of wines sold by the class or bottle at a fair price. definitely a place to stop when in the king east furniture and theatre district.

• favourite thing(s) at this place:
• intimate date spot

Bier Markt

Rated this place:

58 The Esplanade, Toronto, ON, M5E 1A6

Beer selection: 'located in one of toronto's most historic districts - on the city's original waterfront promenade - the Esplanade Bier Markt remains a place to see and be seen. beginning with a selection of over 100 brands of beer from 24 countries, the european brasserie's culinary commitment is defined by season to ensure exceptional quality.' this is the place that turned me to fruli, the most exceptional belgian strawberry beer (70% wheat beer, 30% strawberry juice)

• favourite thing(s) at this place:
• beer selection

Nova Era Bakery

Rated this place:

200 Geary Ave, Toronto, ON, M6H2B9

Portuguese garlic loaf: Without a doubt the most flavourful garlic bread i have ever had. it is fresh chopped garlic with butter and topped with freshly minced herbs and grated parmesean cheese to add that extra little punch of flavour. for an entire baguette it is under $4 but you better get them while you can, they are a favourite!!

• favourite thing(s) at this place:
• portuguese garlic loaf

Richtree Market Restaurants

Rated this place:

42 Yonge Street, Toronto, ON, M5E1T1

Fresh grourmet sunday brunch: There is nothing like a long walk throught the streets of downtown toronto on a warm summer's day. stopping in at the BCE richtree tops off the afternoon perfectly with their delightfully fresh selections of pasta, panini's, salad, seafood, bbq options, as well as more desserts and goodies than you can imagine. continuing that lovely afternoon stroll may be required to work off this brunch.

• favourite thing(s) at this place:
• fresh grourmet sunday brunch

Shoeless Joe's

Rated this place:

4141 Dixie, Mississauga, ON, L4W1V5

Spicy lattice fries: There is nothing like a grilled sandwich and a side of the best lattice fries to fill you up. in this case i am referring to the grilled vegetable sandwich from shoeless joe's. Portobello mushrooms, green zucchini, Bermuda onions and peppers on naan bread with goat cheese and sundried tomato pesto mayo. mmm im sold, say no more ...

• favourite thing(s) at this place:
• spicy lattice fries

Shopsy's Deli Restaurant

Rated this place:

33 Yonge, Toronto, ON, M5E1G4

Cheap pre-show dinner: Located right across the street from the hummingbird theatre, shopsy's is a great place to have a quick bite before the show and come back after for a drink and live music on the yonge street side outdoor terrace. the menu is full of classic choices and caters to many different tastes (including a number of vegetarian options). it is a great spot for people watching, with incredibly friendly and helpful staff!

• favourite thing(s) at this place:
• cheap pre-show dinner

Williams-Sonoma

Rated this place:

100 Bloor St. W., Toronto, ON, M5S 1M4

Professional-style cookware: Boy, i know where i would do my wedding registry! this is like a paradise for anyone who loves the kitchen or just likes to check out the newest gadget. with over 500 new products for fall i could not be more excited to start my wishlist! if your kitchen is already stocked and you just need some inspiration, definitely check out their website for some mind blowing recipes!

• favourite thing(s) at this place:
• professional-style cookware

Le Saint Tropez

Rated this place:

315 King St W, Toronto, ON, M5V1J5

Casual french restaurant: Being a big fan of appetizers, i tend to gravitate towards the strong flavoured dishes offered at le saint tropez. my favourites are "assiette de légumes marinés et fromage de chèvre" (marinated vegetables topped with goat cheese) and "croquettes de brie" (warm crisp brie, with apple ring and a wild berry chutney) to finish off a fantastic meal there is nothing like a "profiterole au chocolat" (with french vanilla ice cream & hot chocolate sauce) all for under $25.00

• favourite thing(s) at this place:
• casual french restaurant

Elmwood Spa

Rated this place:

18 Elm St #200, Toronto, ON, M5G1G7

Gift idea for any occasion: The elmwood spa is a four storey multi million dollar renovation in one of the most historic buildings in the city. they have tons to offer including: two restaurants, a juice bar, 34 treatment rooms, luxurious change rooms with expanded amenities, and water therapies, including swimming pool, whirlpool and steam rooms. They also have beautiful gift card packages availble (great for any gift!)

• favourite thing(s) at this place:
• gift idea for any occasion

St. Lawrence Market

Rated this place:

92 Front St E, Toronto, ON, M5E1C4

Fresh market: The st. lawrence market is just one of those places you have to go in order to understand the appeal. there are some really great booths with fresh produce, bakeries, gourmet spreads, pre-made meals ... you name it. it is open until 7:30 which is great for last minute dinners. i would highly suggest their eggplant and tomato stacks found in the basement level across from the fruit stand.

• favourite thing(s) at this place:
• fresh market

Second Cup

Rated this place:

1 University, Toronto, ON, M5J2P1

Chai latte: My experience with tazo chai latte's was very limited when i moved to toronto a year ago. since then i seem to have weeded out the fakers and left the art to the barista masters. although starbucks is a close second i will always opt for a cheaper yummier second cup version. my delicious order: regular soy two pump chai latte with added cinnamon and lindt shavings on top. mmm it's like a warm hug. an iced version is perfect for those hot summer days in the city.

• favourite thing(s) at this place:
• chai latte

Sobeys

Rated this place:

1015 Broadview Av, East York, ON, M4K2S1

Quick grocery shopping: Probably the best place to get quick, last minute shopping done. open 24/7 this sobeys is awesome because it is like a mini version with an amazing selection! the organic produce is out of this world and their staff is willing to help if you have questions. for those on the go there is even a booth designated for ready made lunches! it is also only a block from the king & sherbourne streetcar so there is no need to take a cab or hike an hour or two home!

• favourite thing(s) at this place:
• quick grocery shopping

Urban Outfitters

Rated this place:

235 Yonge St., Toronto, ON, M5B1N8

Fashionable fab shopping experience: Oh urban outfitters ... it is one of those places that you just have to visit to understand the true "urban" vibe. uo is the epitome of cute, effortless, practical, city fab style that seems to have caught on within the past year. from beautifully bold bags, to charming antique style jewels to reading anatomically correct picture books in the home decor section ... there truely IS something for everyone! and the music mixes make your shopping experience that much more enjoyable!

• favourite thing(s) at this place:
• fashionable fab shopping experience

Magic Pony

Rated this place:

694 Queen W, Toronto, ON, M4M1G9

Art gallery & toy store in one: Quite possibly the quirkiest store in the greater toronto area. there is nothing like a stop into magic pony to get your imagination going. there is a ridiculous selection of plush animals, rubber figurines of little monsters and a pretty interesting assortment of creative reads. the back of the store is a really serene gallery promoting local talent. if you dont have time to stop in, magic pony is the place to do some window shopping. room #204 by toronto designer Scott Eunson.

• favourite thing(s) at this place:
• art gallery & toy store in one

Rogers Centre

Rated this place:

1 Blue Jays Way, Toronto, ON, M5V 1J1

Sports venue: None other than the home of the blue jays! if you are a mlb fan then this is the place to be, come baseball season. and even if you aren't you can pretend to be a good girlfriend and take the opportunity to work on that killer tan if the roof is open! it is actually a really exciting place to be when there is a good game on (ie. texas rangers) seats are cheap, but food and booze isnt so indulge before you come if you're on a budget.

• favourite thing(s) at this place:
• sports venue

satori supper club

Rated this place:

735 Queen Street West, Toronto, ON, M6J 1G1

Pappardelle pasta: 'located in toronto's queen west art and design district, satori supper club offers a contemporary dining experience that is as colourful as its art-enriched surroundings. a comfortable, zen-inspired interior of natural stone and wood create an ideal canvas for the dining lounge's eclectic crowd. satori supper club's spectacular palette of culinary offerings features world cuisine by executive chef scott mcdonough' it is absolutely beautiful! a fantastic venue for private events!

• favourite thing(s) at this place:
• pappardelle pasta

Solferino Cafe -- CLOSED

Rated this place:

38 Wellington Street East, Toronto, ON, M5E1C8

Fresh gelato: Wandering around st. lawrence one day i came apon this little gem called solferino cafe. to my delight i found the best gelato i have ever experienced! at $3.95 you can get a hefty medium sized cup to fill with one of their 25 flavours made fresh in-store daily ... okay 17 gelatos and 8 sorbettos, but they are still all to die for. my personal fave is ferro rocher and oreo. i will definitely be back someday very soon!

• favourite thing(s) at this place:
• fresh gelato

studio204

Rated this place:

204 Spadina Ave., 3rd floor, Toronto, ON, M5T 2C2

Place for photography & workshops: 'a beautiful studio situated in downtown toronto and a creative space for those working in the fine arts, media, fashion, film and broadcasting industries. the studio offers 2400 square feet of working space with everything you need for a successful shoot, including all the necessary photography and video equipment, a helpful staff and a relaxed environment.' luke is a star, super friendly and incredibly talented!

• favourite thing(s) at this place:
• place for photography & workshops