I dislike malls (although for full disclosure, I admit that I often make a point of visiting malls whenever I travel to cities abroad, because they paint an interesting picture of local norms. So to avoid being a hypocrite, I suppose I will point you towards the Eaton Centre or Yorkdale Mall, if you are interested in doing the same).
That said, I really prefer shopping at thrift or consignment shops if I can help it. The thrill of the find, playing a part (however small) in reducing waste by avoiding new production, and paying less rather than more are all great reasons to shop consignment. One such shop that has become a regular destination for me is the Common Sort.
Common Sort has three locations: one at 760 Queen St E in Riverside, one at 1414 Queen St W in Parkdale, and one at 444 Bloor St W in the Annex. I haven't yet been to the one in the Annex, but I prefer the one in the Riverside over the Parkdale location. The store has a nice atmosphere, is well-organized and thoughtfully curated (as opposed to being a hot mess like the typical thrift store that will accept pretty much anything), and I've found plenty of unique pieces for work and play at totally reasonable prices. And it's just a cool, community-oriented space in a chilled-out neighbourhood that is worth a walkabout in and of itself.
Find your way with 145 Insider Tips from our Local Spotters
"Brickworks Ciderhouse": one of the new hot restaurants to open on Queen St. East in Toronto. They offer a cider flight and my favorite Brickworks burger!
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"GB Hand Pulled Noodles" Toronto is a small Lanzhou-style restaurant. The noodles here form the base of all the main dishes and are pulled in front of you.
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"Irish Design House" is the coziest of finds for men & women! It's a fabulous place to buy authentic cable knit sweaters. They come straight from Ireland!
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"The Half House" in Toronto is literally just a row house whose half was sold off and demolished. The other half has been left there in good condition...
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"The Dakota Tavern" is a live folk/bluegrass venue in Toronto that doubles as a dive bar. The basement bar really takes me back & everyone is welcome here.
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"Après Wine Bar" in Toronto is a fairly new addition to West Queen West that specializes in natural wines. Lovely space, chill vibe, amazing wines!
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"Lady Marmalade" in Toronto is a top brunch spot. It's modern, extremely airy with tall bright windows and has no wifi! Try their 'Build your own Benny"!
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"Cote de Boeuf" on Ossington Street in Toronto is as charming as it gets. It's a butcher & specialty food/lunch stop by day and wine/dinner bar by night...
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"AAA Bar" is a dive bar combined with a Texan-style BBQ. Not the place for a fancy-shmancy cocktail, but for some grungy beer, bourbon and yummy, hot food.
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Riverdale Park is the best place to go tobogganing or sledding in downtown Toronto. It's not for the faint of heart but it's so rewarding!
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"The Bentway" in Toronto is what's become of the neglected space below this elevated road. It has humanized the former dead zone with public spaces...
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"Ed's Real Scoop" is hands down one of the best ice cream shops in Toronto! Their highlights are their seasonal summer fruit flavours...
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145 Insider Tips from our local Spotters
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Escape the Crowd & Travel Slow 🐌
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✓ 145 Insider Tips