Annex Shopping guide

This week we’re featuring the Annex. We attempted to start out in Yorkville, but my how it has changed. It’s funny to think it was once the ‘hippy’ area of Toronto…oh how it has fallen, or risen I guess depending on your view point. Regardless, Yorkville is always an interesting place to look around. There, at the back of a cute Italian coffee shop, we watched the end of a disappointing soccer game, where Brazil was eliminated from the World Cup.

Drowning our sorrows by bike, we headed over to the Annex starting just West of Spadina at Grassroots. Grassroots is a little gem of a store and a great place to check out. Not only is it focused on environmentally friendly products-from cleaning supplies, body products, bedding, clothing and more, they are also committed to searching out local Toronto and Canadian products. This bed featured here was made entirely in Ontario!

The manager of this location is incredibly friendly, helpful and well informed. She informed us that not only can you bring in your old bottles of cleaning supplies to refill with environmentally friendly cleaning supplies, but they will soon be selling refillable environmentally and people friendly shampoos and conditioners! AND the line is Canadian. This was music to my ears as I have been searching for refillable shampoos and conditioners for awhile now!

After leaving Grassroots, we headed just down the street to a little store called the Outer Layer. Not everything in this store is local or environmentally/people friendly, but there are some pretty fantastic brands here. These water bottles pictured tell the story of how many plastic water bottles are purchased in the US each year, and how they end up filling the landfills. The Outer Layer also showcases a line of organic bath and body products. For those of you looking for jewellery, they have many nice lines. My favourite is the BIDO line which is made in Toronto!

Just south of Bloor we visited Trove, a little clothing and shoe store. There we found a few treasures and splashes of Canadian design amongst the rest. Our favourite-the Yoga brand jeans made in Montreal and fairly reasonably priced at $110.

We finished off our Annex tour in Mirvish village on Markham St just one block west of Bathurst and South of Bloor. Markham street is one of my favourite streets in Toronto. At one point Ed Mirvish had applied to tear down the old Victorian homes to create a parking lot for Honest Eds. When he was refused, at the urging of his wife, Anne, he rented the buildings out cheaply to artists, artisans and book dealers in order to help keep the art scene alive in Toronto. While we suggest you enter Honest Eds just to experience the craziness that it is, you probably won't find too many ethical products inside. I do, however, recommend you go to the Wine Rack attached to the building which does supply a few Ontario wines, we suggest the STRUT line:)

Markham St is full of cute vintage clothing and furniture stores, galleries, restaurants and local design. Our favourite place, all be it biased as they were in our fashion show, would have to be the Coal Miner's Daughter. This store features an array of local Toronto and Quebec designers, showcasing both clothing and jewellery. The women who run the store are exceptionally friendly and helpful. The best part is that they design some of the clothing and the jewellery in the store! I couldn't choose a favourite in this store, but every time we have gone in someone we are with has left with something they love!

Next time you are meandering around the Annex be sure to check out

Clothing and Accessories

Grassroots: 408 Bloor St West http://www.grassrootsstore.com/

Outer Layer: 430 Bloor St West http://www.outerlayer.com/

Trove: 791 Bathurst St http://www.trove.ca/Welcome_to_TROVE.html

Coal Miner's Daughter: 587 Markham St http://www.coalminersdaughter.ca/

Food:

For organic groceries and a vegan food bar: Noah's: 322 Bloor St West http://www.noahsnaturalfoods.ca

For delicious Vegan Food: Live Organic Food Bar: 264 Dupont St. http://www.livefoodbar.com/

Perfect Pizza, using local organic whenever possible (they even give you an apple with your bill) Magic Oven: 270 Dupont St. http://www.magicoven.com/

Amazing Coffee and Decadent Snacks (and Wine Nights starting at 5pm Wed-Sat) Ezra's Pound: 238 Dupont St http://www.ezraspound.com/

A pint of local beer at the end your day: Victory Cafe: 581 Markham St. www.victorycafe.ca Butler's Pantry: 591 Markham St www.butlerspantry.ca

Dinner Talk

This past weekend a small group of us sat around my kitchen table. We feasted on a delicious dinner comprised of grilled portobello, sauteed zucchini, tarragon mustard, avocado, tomato and sprouts atop fresh bread, complimented with a side of baked sweet potato fries dipped in a tahini, garlic and lemon sauce (did I mention our other passion is delicious food). Paired with a refreshing glass of local white wine sangria infused with mint, iced tea and berries while listening to Lady Gaga before we went out for Pride. Throughout the course of the meal the talk turned political.
photo credit Zoe Caron

The discussion was focused mostly on climate change, the G8 & G20-specifically protesting, and how to really create change. We were struck by the idea that many of us do not protest or write letters or phone our MP or PM, though one friend did over the course of the night, to express either or dislike or even our agreement. Our thoughts were that perhaps this was due to the fact that most of us don't really see a tangible difference despite all of the ruckus that is constantly raised surrounding political issues.

After all, even for our generation, we have been exposed to countless documentaries, news articles, academic resources and speeches on the unjust ways of the world. We have all this access to be well informed and you think the general outrage would have generated a change in behaviour. Yet no matter what, we seem to constantly bombarded with new accounts of inequality.

Is this simply because we do not believe we have the power to generate change?

This is a daunting question, at least I think so. I mean realistically speaking, protesting, especially in a city like Toronto has almost become mainstream. As Torontonians we have adopted a way of life which revolves around side stepping protests, street canvassers, the homeless and anything or anyone else we may view as a delay on our way out.

Have we become disillusioned and desensitized by all this in your face marketing, both by companies and organizations, that we feel the need to ignore most things thrown our way?
Protests have become a dime and dozen. And while I am not saying that they cannot be effective, as they certainly can, and are an excellent way of creating awareness over an issue. I just feel as though they have gone mainstream. Protests are now staged, routes are planned, people informed. We have become such a nation of order that even in our disorder we organize.

A friend mentioned, between bites of deliciousness, that the French PM stated he was terrified of the French people. They hold their politicians accountable, if they are unhappy they strike or hit the streets. In many South American countries, not that I want to completely generalize but I will, people are much more informed of their country's politics. They see the difference politics makes in their daily life and therefore value their votes and are not afraid to voice their opinions. Perhaps this is because in Canada our range of political spectrum is relatively limited, we have left wing and right wing, but in comparison to many parts of the world our pendulum does not swing wide to either side. Therefore, we don't really feel as though our lives will drastically change depending on whether or not our vote is cast or our voice heard.

It is conceivable that we have become more politically apathetic as we believe our votes don't really make a difference. Nor do our letters or cries of outrage on the streets.

I have yet to figure out if this is true. Who could say how our country would be without protesters, letter writers, or the 59.1% of people who voted in the last federal election?

So we ask you here. What do you think is the best course of action to generate change?
Is it protesting? Writing letters/Making phone calls? Voting? Boycotting companies?
Do you think ethical purchasing is a valid way to create change?
Or do you have another idea...let us know!

Queen West Shopping Guide

We continue to find new ethical fashion shopping options in Toronto and thought we'd begin to share them with you in a weekly segment. Today's post features stores on the fashion famous Queen West. Next week will feature the apparel treasures of another area of the city.

We had a lot of fun shopping. I feel the snapshots speak for themselves. The experience left us feeling very good as we saw so many great designs and interacted with very enthusiastic employees. There were a few highlights that come to mind.

We fueled our energy at T.A.N cafe, the birthplace of our project. The wonderful Marilyn Eng is the owner of T.A.N on Queen West and we suggest you stop in for a delicious refreshment. Not only is she very friendly but everything she sells is of excellent quality. The bean roaster in the entrance gives off the most delicious aroma and is an impressive size and design.


We were greeted by the lovely Adria in 69 Vintage. We couldn't help snapping many photos of attractive clothes that were so reasonably priced.


We had a hoot trying things on at Fashionably Yours. Friendly staff put together all different kinds of outfits for us until we found the right look. There were a number of us trying things on...shoes seemed to be the focus. There are some hot red heels left behind by Anne only because they were not the right size... I suggest you go pick up those size sevens!


It was great to see Megan again, a lovely lady from one of our fashion show contributors, Preloved. Great deals going on in Preloved, including $20 skirts! In the heat of the world cup we found ourselves admiring clothes wilst discussing our team loyalties...and the good looking players.

Good company, an exciting Brazilian soccer match , optimal biking conditions, apparel treasures that cost $20 or less, and a most satisfying meal at Fresh that cost $23 for two, made for a delightful day. We can't wait to experience another neighbourhood next week!

If you're in the Queen West Neighbourhood you should definitely visit!

Delicious refreshments and beverages!
T.A.N Cafe: http://www.tancoffeetoronto.com/

Great deals! 69Vintage:



http://www.69vintage.com/

You're guaranteed an affordable treasure
Fashionably Yours: http://fashionablyyours.ca/

Truly unique and affordable designs!
Preloved: http://www.preloved.ca/

classy selections and great accessories
Meg: http://www.megshops.com/

high end fashion
Thieves: http://www.thieves.ca/small.html