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A few of my favorite places in Toh-rah-nah:

Motoretta
This Vespa dealer is in Little Italy, and carries some cool Euro-scooter-inspired clothing, including stuff by Ben Sherman, Frank Perry, WeSC and Adidas Originals. Little Italy is home to the uber-hipster crowd, and the staff were no exception. Squared glasses and dry-aged denim appear to be their store uniform.

Aunties and Uncles
I was honestly a little intimidated by this restaurant. Also in Little Italy, this was far and away the coolest place I've ever eaten at. All the tables are Formica, the cutlery missmatched, the pictures deliberately hung crookedly, the wallpaper peeling off just so. Everyone in the place looked like the cast of a Wes Anderson movie. And the breakfast was delicious.


Manic Coffee
In the world of coffee, the Clover is the king of machines. Popular in coffee-mad cities like Vancouver and Seattle, the Clover was foisted on Toronto by Manic. It is reported to be the best way to extract the flavors from the coffee, and it definitely lived up to that billing.

Bikes on Wheels
After getting used to riding again, I have the beginnings of a serious obsession with bikes. Especially fixies. They are everywhere in Toronto, and this place had some serious stock. Maybe when I get home...

Kensington Market
Kensington Market is an area of the city that resembles the market I visited in Mexico a couple years ago. It's a strange mix of cool vintage clothing stores, vegetable stands, cheap sunglasses, cheese shops and restaurants. Like Big Fat Burrito. I didn't actually eat there, but this might be the most succinct name ever: there is no doubt what this restaurant will sell you. Just down the street is a small shop where I bought brightly coloured silk scarves for the women in my life.

Paul's Boutique
The owner of this shop is named Paul, so it may not be a total ripoff of the Beastie Boys album of the same name, but it was just as cool. Amps, guitars and keyboards of every imaginable vintage stacked to the ceiling, and walls covered in album covers and gig posters.

Queen's West
As opposed to the more populated and mainstream Yonge Street and Eaton's Center, Queen's West is made up of edgier stores packed together along the street. Each seemed to cater to a strangely specific clientèle. All I know is that this shop had more Chucks than Warped Tour.

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6.5.08. Cropped to 3X5.
6.5.08. Cropped to 3X5, slightly increased exposure.
6.5.08. Cropped to 3X5.
6.5.08. Cropped to 3X5.
6.5.08. Cropped to 3X5.
6.5.08. Cropped to 3X5.
6.5.08. Cropped to 3X5, slightly increased exposure.