Tour It Tuesdays • Queen West

This week I'll be bringing you to Queen Street West, my first neighbourhood in Toronto. I was very lucky to reside in the "hippest part of town" at the time which has now turned into an outdoor shopping mall. The walk to Kensington Market and Chinatown and even nightlife was super convenient and everything was always open. It's not for me now since it was so easy to spend on eating out with all the choices but I am glad I got a taste of that. Some of my favourites are still there despite the ultra gentrification of the area and skyrocketing rents. My reason for moving besides that I couldn't afford it anymore? Not being able to get out of the front door because homeless people turned it into their sleeping quarters. Sad.

Where to eat:

Black Bull

298 Queen St W

This place is repeatedly crowned as Toronto's Best Patio and it is. You'd only wanna go here in the summer though, for people watching mostly, since it's quite dingy inside.

Cafe Crepe

246 Queen St W

I've loved this place since it opened because I love crepes. I don't think anybody else sells crepes which is why I think they're doing so well.

East

240 Queen St W

I thought I was going to spend an arm and a leg when I ate here but such was not the case. This place was actually affordable and good. Lovely ambiance too.

Fressen

478 Queen St W

One of my top places to eat and hang out. This vegan restaurant pushed me to eat less meat because meatless in the form of their tempeh dish tasted THAT good. I miss this place.

Java House

537 Queen St W

My favourite place on earth. Seriously. I don't mind eating inside or outside. I eat breakfast, lunch or brunch here when I'm in the area. The servers are always friendly and it's super cheap!

Niche

626 Queen St W

I ate here with a friend a couple of years ago and loved it. I even bought some strawberry popcorn tea to take home with me because it was so yummy.

Rivoli

334 Queen St W

Another place to eat out on the patio and people watch. A variety of food to choose from and all oh so good.

Shanghai Cowgirl

538 Queen St W

I wanted to have my birthday here one year because it's a place with good food and good people in an awesome place.

What to do:

The Ballroom

145 John St

Just went here with the kids and friends recently and it was so much fun but I'm biased because I love bowling. Super overpriced but it does have awesome food, servers and atmosphere.

The Rex

194 Queen St W

I loved walking in here (most of the time alone) and catching an impromptu jam with beer in hand. One of my favourite places to hang out and listen to free live music.

Where to shop:

Black Market

256 Queen St W

This place is kind of a hit or miss for me sometimes. I guess it depends on what you like. It can be a little overpriced but there's still some gems to be found.

Get Outside

437 Queen St W

My favourite shoe shop ever. They have everything I love at a good price.

Groovy

323 Queen St W

If you don't find it at the above shop, they may have it here. I love this shop too.

Malabar

14 Mc Caul St

If you need an awesome costume, you'll find it here. Seriously. If you've never been here, go. It's quite an experience.

Moog Audio

442 Queen St W

I bought my headphones that I love here. My brothers love them too. They still have them.

Peach Beserk

507 Queen St W

This place was across my apartment and I always loved how colourful it is. It you love Betsey Johnson dresses, you'll love this store.

Silver Snail

367 Queen St W

I buy my graphic novels and vinyl toys here. I love this place. It gets nerdy but that's what I love about it.

So Hip It Hurts

323 Queen St W

The guys here are so nice. Buy your Nixon watches here and your skater stuff too.

Tribal Rhythm

248 Queen St W

My favourite vintage shop ever. I've bought countless hats and clothes here. I am in love with this place.

So there you have it, folks. Do you have any favourites that I missed? Also, I may have to move this to Sundays. I thought I would start Tell It Tuesdays to let you in on some mom stories and stuff. Would you like that? Wow, two posts this week and I cleaned the house! Yay! Have a good weekend y'all!

Toronto Tuesdays • Beaches

Sorry I'm a day late, folks. Today I wanted to bring you to the Beaches (or the Beach as it has recently been officially changed to). As the name implies, it's a quaint little neighbourhood by the beach. When I first came to Canada, we used to rollerblade on the boardwalk for hours on end. I never stepped foot on Queen Street East though which I discovered years later and upon seeing it, fell instantly in love. I lived in two apartments, one on top of Whitlock's and the other in a two floor apartment above a nail shop. I walked to work which was either two or five doors down. I loved my job and I loved the people I met there. That location is now closed but I worked at Vespa/Motoretta in the Beach :) Go visit their location in Little Italy! The parks, library and of course the beach was perfect for the kids. The following is a list of my favourites on the strip. It's a short one but still good I hope. I couldn't remember a lot of the businesses I frequented since it's been a while but please go and check it out for yourself. There are always new shops opening up and I'd love to know your favourites. Oh and let me know if that organizing store on the corner is still there. I liked that place and can't remember what it's called.

Where to eat:

Beacher Cafe

2162 Queen St E

Good place for breakfast, brunch or lunch. Just don't get the caesar salad because apparently, it's not that good.

Bow Thai

1970 Queen St E

Love this place for lunch. The pad thai never lets me down.

Dufflet

1917 Queen St E

This just opened when I left but I have been gorging on Dufflet pastries through a family hook up since forever and if you haven't had any yet, WHAT IS WRONG WITH YOU?! Just kidding ;)

Garden Gate

2379 Queen St E

Also affectionately known as "The Goof". I was so happy when I finally got to eat here. It's a favourite among locals and a food destination for tourists. Chinese food never tasted so good.

Where to shop:

Ends Clothing

1930 Queen St E

I found some deals at this place and not just on clothes.

What to do:

Bikram Yoga Beaches

1911 Queen St E

Dana, the owner, is the best. Seriously. I love Bikram and miss it so much. It's intense but it's for me.

Toronto Tuesdays • Leslieville

As promised, I am bringing you the first ever of my Toronto Tuesdays series profiling a different neighbourhood each week from the city I love. If you know me or follow me on twitter, you've heard me wax poetic about Leslieville. I lived there a few years ago in three different apartments. The first one on top of a prolific restaurant named Edward Levesque's Kitchen. Then I moved to the one next to it (same landlord) the next year. There was a rooftop patio where you could hang out and look at the CN Tower. Then I moved in to an apartment above Mercury Espresso Bar right across from a Value Village (dream come true, really). I made the most amazing mom friends as well as non-mom friends and if given the chance to move back, I would do it in a heartbeat. I haven't been back in awhile but I do have a good friend that just bought a loft there and she hasn't been complaining so I'm confident that the area is still more or less the same. One website that I frequented before and during I lived there was The Free City of Leslieville which looked at the architecture of housing projects in the area (there were a lot). My children's daycare was in the Woodgreen building where they fed homeless people and helped low income families as well as people with mental health issues. Some people might not like the idea of that but I thought it was important for my kids to see it and know that living in a community means helping each other. We were walking distance to a library, supermarket and a community centre with a pool. We were a 15 minute streetcar ride from the downtown core as well the beach. Life was perfect but as a young single mother who was going through some very stressful things, I couldn't do it on my own. I needed my family so I moved back in with my parents with my sons in tow in 2008. The gentrification was starting when I left although there are still a lot of local businesses thriving and I am happy to share them here based on my experience. Enjoy your virtual tour of Leslieville!

Where to eat:

B&B Fish & Chips

1116 Queen St E

Best fish & chips. Really. Well, this and Reliable (see way below).

I couldn't decide. The other one was closer to me after. And prettier.

Edward Levesque's Kitchen

1290 Queen St E

I'm not biased here. I Swear. Edward is really nice.

And the food is really good. Go for brunch.

Gio Rana's Really Really Nice Restaurant

1220 Queen St E

There's no sign for this place. Just a big paper mache nose.

That's why it's also known as "The Nose". Go here for dinner. It's so good.

Joy Bistro

884 Queen St E

I like eating here for lunch. Brunch upstairs is also quite good.

I like it there better. Come for Summerlicious or Winterlicious.

Leslie Jones

1182 Queen St E

Another favourite lunch destination. Best salad I ever had.

Love eating inside or outside. I really miss this place.

Mercury Espresso Bar

915 Queen St E

Again, not biased. They make the best coffee.

And I love the people that work there. Say hi to Matt for me!

OK OK Diner

1128 Queen St E

Best breakfast or brunch diner. Lovely in the summer.

Go sit in the patio. Nice people work there too.

Queen Pita

1276 Queen St E

Best falafel in the CITY. And it was two doors down.

I was very lucky. Go and decide for yourself.

Reliable Fish & Chips

954 Queen St E

They were on HGTV's Restaurant Makeover. This place is lovely.

Good food. Good peoples. Best Fish & Chips too.

Sweet Bliss

1304 Queen St E

When these guys opened up shop, they made the neighbourhood smell better.

Get your baked goods here. Nice and fresh on a weekend morning.

Toast

993 Queen St E

Formerly Hello Toast. This was my favourite brunch spot.

I loved taking the kids here. The servers were amazing.

The Tulip

1606 Queen St E

This place is almost Beach Territory but check it out. It's lacking in ambiance

but if you love steak and you're cheap, this is the place for you.

The Upper Crust

1008 Queen St E

My favourite place to take the kids for lunch.

Nice people and reasonable prices for food.

Where to shop:

Baby on the Hip

969 Queen St E

I was so happy when this place opened. It was the only kid store in the area.

I bought them a picasso board book and a knitted zebra rattle. Still have them.

Doll Factory by Damzels

1122 Queen St E

I adore this place. Not because I've been supporting them since their Clothing Show

days as Damzels in this Dress but because Kelly and Rory are really awesome people.

Gadabout

1300 Queen St E

This shop has lots of treasures for you vintage enthusiasts.

You will get lost in here for a few hours.

GUFF

1152 Queen St E

Lots of vintage furniture and accessories.

I bought a teak mid century lamp here for twenty bucks.

Nathalie Roze & Co

1015 Queen St E

My favourite place to buy gifts. This place sells lovingly handmade items.

If you're looking for something unique to give, you'll find it here.

Where to window shop:

Ethel

1091 Queen St E

I love mid century modern so I love walking in here to see what they have.

I can't afford anything but I still like the stuff. And the dog. But maybe it's not there anymore?

Machine Age Modern

1000 Queen St E

I've never actually walked in the store because it's too intimidating

but they had annual yard sales and I found TONS of great deals.

So there it is, your personal tour of Leslieville. I hope you enjoyed it and I urge you to check it out in person. Let me know if I left anything out. I know that there are a lot more new (and some old) businesses that I have yet to check out. I also couldn't find links or remember the names to some of my old favourites such as the cajun place and that place where I liked to buy jeans. I think some places even closed down? Kubo, are you still there? Maybe I'll update when I'm there again. I'm positively sure it'll be different but maybe I'll find some new favourites!