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 Posted: Thu Dec 07, 2006 11:00 pm Post subject: SHOPPING IN CANADA (TORONTO) |
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SHOPPING IN CANADA (TORONTO)
Shopping in Toronto can be a kaleidoscopic experience. The haute-est international retailers -- like Prada, Chanel, and Gucci -- compete for attention with discount emporiums like Honest Ed's. Megastores dominate the landscape, yet boutiques are blossoming. And while foreign chains stake claims in shopping arcades and malls, they stand shoulder to shoulder with homegrown talent.
The result of this chaos is a cornucopia of shops that fits a wide range of budgets and tastes. The bad news: While window-shopping is a laudable pastime, don't fool yourself that it will stop there . . . just be careful not to break the bank!
The Shopping Scene
While you may want to investigate the impressive array of international retailers, it would be a mistake to overlook the locals. If your passion is fashion, don't overlook Canadian labels such as Mercy, Lida Baday, Ross Mayer, Misura by Joeffer Caoc, Crystal Siemens, Brian Bailey, Mimi Bizjak, Wolves, Linda Lundstrom, and Comrags.
Toronto also has a bustling arts-and-crafts community, with many galleries, custom jewelers, and artisans. Some of the best buys are on native and Inuit art. Artwork can be imported into the United States duty free.
Stores usually open at around 10am from Monday to Saturday. Closing hours change depending on the day. From Monday to Wednesday, most stores close at 6pm; on Thursday and Friday, hours run to 8pm or 9pm; on Saturday, closing is quite early, usually around 6pm. Most stores are open on Sunday, though the hours may be restricted -- 11am or noon to 5pm is not unusual.
Almost every establishment accepts MasterCard and Visa, and a growing number take American Express. Many retailers accept U.S. cash, and the exchange rate tends to be favorable, especially downtown in the Eaton Centre area.
Shopping A to Z
Antiques--Toronto's antiques scene has exploded. Throw a stone in any direction, and you're bound to hit an Edwardian console or at least a classic Eames chair. For fine antiques, head north from Bloor Street along Avenue Road until you reach Davenport Avenue, or walk north on Yonge Street from the Rosedale subway station to St. Clair Avenue. Another top area is Mount Pleasant Road from St. Clair Avenue to Eglinton Avenue. For less pricey finds, head west on Queen Street to the Bathurst Street area.
Fashion--Let's get this out of the way first: Toronto has all of the requisite big-name European boutiques along Bloor Street West between Yonge Street and Avenue Road. You'll find Louis Vuitton at no. 110; Gucci at no. 130; and Chanel, Prada, and Hermès bundled together at The Colonnade shopping arcade at no. 131.
Vintage--Toronto has a truly great vintage-shopping scene. It spans the high and low points of the price spectrum. Want a pristine Chanel suit? Or a frothy chiffon concoction from the 1950s? Or maybe a now-classic rock-band T-shirt from the 1970s?
Wine--In Ontario, Liquor Control Board of Ontario (LCBO) outlets and small boutiques at upscale grocery stores sell wine; no alcohol is sold at convenience stores. The best deals are on locally produced wines -- especially the ice wine, a sweet dessert wine that has won awards the world over. There are LCBO outlets all over the city, and prices are the same at all of them. The nicest shop is at the Manulife Centre, 55 Bloor St. W. (tel. 416/925-5266). Other locations are at 20 Bloor St. E. (tel. 416/368-0521), the Eaton Centre (tel. 416/979-9978), and Union Station (tel. 416/925-9644). See www.lcbo.com for information about products and special in-store events.
Vintages stores have a different name, but they're still LCBO outlets. Check out the one at Hazelton Lanes (tel. 416/924-9463) and at Queen's Quay (tel. 416/864-6777).
Fresh Perspective
Let's say you're pressed for time, and you want to hit a single store that will let you shop for truly distinctive clothing and giftware. Get yourself to Fresh Collective, a designer-run collective at 692 Queen St. W (tel. 416/594-1313; www.freshcollective.com). You will find cool designs by local up-and-coming labels -- and you'll be able to talk to the people who made them, because they staff the store themselves. The focus is primarily on designs for women (sorry, guys), but the eclectic offerings, at any given time, will also include baby togs and jewelry.
Special Sales
Most shops hold postholiday sales, but savvy locals have also penned some don't-miss special sales into their calendars. Locations are often scattered around the city, so call each store for details and exact dates.
May: The Fashion Design Council of Canada hosts a clearance sale of top-name Canadian designer wear at the Design Exchange, 234 Bay St. tel. 416/977-6184.
July: Many retailers host semiannual sales that cut prices by as much as 50%. Some of the best are at The Art Shoppe, 2131 Yonge St., tel. 416/487-3211; Holt Renfrew, 50 Bloor St. W., tel. 416/922-2333; and Elte Carpet & Home, 80 Ronald Ave., tel. 416/785-7885.
October: The Old Clothing Show & Sale should really be called the New and Old Clothing Show, because there's almost as much new clothing here as vintage wear. Exhibition Place; tel. 416/410-1310.
November: Fine china and crystal retailer William Ashley's annual warehouse sale is one of the season's most eagerly anticipated events; call tel. 416/964-2900 for information. The One-of-a-Kind Craft Show & Sale brings about 400 craft artists under one roof at Exhibition Place, and the prices are often better than you'll find in shops; call tel. 416/960-3680. The Fashion Design Council of Canada hosts another designer clearance sale this month, in case you missed the one in May .
Major Shopping Areas
Downtown
Chinatown -- It's crowded and noisy, but don't let that put you off. Sure, there's the usual touristy junk, like cheapo plastic toys and jewelry, but the real Chinatown has a lot more to offer, including fine rosewood furniture, exquisite ceramics, and homeopathic herbs. Just don't try driving here: This is traffic purgatory and best navigated on foot.
The Eaton Centre -- Okay, you're short on time, but you still want to fit in all your shopping. Head to the Eaton Centre. With more than 300 shops -- including Browns, Danier, Birks, Nine West, La Vie en Rose, Femme de Carriere, Eddie Bauer, Banana Republic, Mendocino, Laura Secord, H&M, and Indigo -- you'll be sure to find something.
Queen Street West -- Queen Street West, between University Avenue and Bathurst Street, is rich with boutiques for both fashion and housewares, though there are a lot of familiar names thrown in the mix. Locals complain that this neighbourhood isn't what it was before The Gap moved in, but it's still a great stomping ground for fashionistas in need of a fix.
The Underground City -- Subterranean Toronto is a hive of shopping activity. While you won't find too many shops down here that don't have an aboveground location, the Underground City is a popular place in winter and with those whose schedules don't allow them out of the Financial District.
West Queen West -- Playing down its grittier roots, this hot new neighbourhood has got the reputation for cutting-edge fashion that Queen Street West used to enjoy. The city has dubbed it the "Art & Design District." Starting at Bathurst Avenue and running west a few blocks past Ossington Avenue, this is where you'll find an incredible array of fashion talent, art galleries, and great new restaurants.
Midtown
Bloor West Street -- This strip of real estate, bordered by Yonge Street to the east and Avenue Road to the west, is where most of the top international names in fashion set up shop. If you're in the mood to see what Karl Lagerfeld is designing or to pick up a glittering bauble from Cartier or Tiffany, this is your hunting ground.
Yorkville -- A far cry from its days as a hippie hangout and commune in the 1960s, this is now one of Toronto's best known -- and most expensive -- shopping neighbourhoods. Little alleyways crisscross the streets, giving Yorkville a romantic, old-fashioned appeal. The shops here tend to be small boutiques that specialise, say, in beaded handbags or fine handmade papers. Bistros and cafes abound, giving rise to Yorkville's other pastime: people-watching. |
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