Kensington Market
words Elayne Laken shutter Zack Medicoff
There is no doubt the face of Kensington Market is changing rapidly. Renowned for years as a subculture refuge for punks and hippies, this area is on the verge of transforming into yuppie-town. No longer only a place to buy fresh produce, cheese and meats, and vintage clothing, new upscale boutiques, restaurants and bars have made this area the new go-to spot for urban hipsters in the city.
 Bungalow
273 Augusta Avenue/416.598.0204/www.bungalow.to
Retro-chic modular furniture and reconstructed modern vintage clothing gleam through their window display. A 3,000-square-foot warehouse is set up as a very organized boutique, where everything is colour-coded in an open-concept setting. In addition to classical vintage finds like T-shirts and pre-worn distressed denim, you can also find unique in-house designs created by a resident seamstress, suit jackets with prints, and funky belts from Montreal-based designer, Brave. The evolution of mod makes shopping for vintage feel like couture, where you no longer have to sort through piles of junk clothing for hours.
SuperMarket
268 Augusta Avenue/416.840.0501/www.supermarkettoronto.com
Former owners of the ultra-funky College Street Lava Lounge have transposed themselves to become the hot new spot in Kensington Market. This diverse fusion restaurant offers dishes like the popular braised oxtail and veal shank with lemongrass topped with Thai basil, to tapas-style sharing dishes like grilled chimichurri calamari and sweet potato chips spiced with chipotle and sea salt. Feel like surfing the net while having an after-work snack? Bring your wireless laptop too, and ask your server for the password. On weekend evenings, the venue gets packed full of well-dressed people sipping drinks inside or on the outdoor patio. On “do-right Saturday” nights you will hear DJ Fase on the decks, rated one of Toronto’s finest, spinning a mixed bag of hip hop, funk, and classic soul. Dine, dance, and discover this unique oasis of coolness hidden inside hippie-town.
D-Lovely
202 Augusta Avenue/416.593.9095
Who said Kensington was all about vintage clothing? Not anymore! The latest in men’s and women’s streetwear from GAS, Penguin, GSUS and Criminal Clothing is now available in the neighborhood. This smallish boutique is tucked away at the corner of Augusta Street and Baldwin Street. It is not easy to miss with its big glass window display that clearly sends passersby a Queen-Street vibe. Stocked with clothing that attracts an urban downtown crowd, Kensingtonites equally flock here to mix their vintage finds with a pair of upscale designer jeans. Heads-up from co-owner Diana Kraus: the latest import to hit the shelves is a line called “Apartment” from Columbia featuring big brass and pewter cowboy belt buckles.
The Embassy
223 Augusta Avenue/416.591.1132
Looking for a friendly neighborhood bar where you can dress casually, kick back and relax? Just reaching its first year anniversary, The Embassy attracts a mixed crowd of locals and in-the-know lounge lizards to its retro ’70s-like setting with exposed brick walls and an antique piano that gets played by random visitors. The drink menu is minimalist with the owners’ philosophy of making classic drinks simple and well. You will find a more interesting selection of Canadian beer with Mcauslan, Wellington Unibrew and Neustadt microbreweries on tap. Their busiest night is Friday, with the sounds of indie rock, Brit pop and psychedelic music blaring through the joint. Saturday nights attract fans of upbeat jazz, funk and dub music. There is also a stage at back where funk and indie rock bands play, and on the first Wednesday of every month, you can hear bluegrass with Henry Faberge and the Adorables.
Urban Herbivore
64 Oxford Street/416.927.1231/www.fressenrestaurant.com
Pure Intent
64 Oxford Street/416.466.3237/www.pureintent.ca
Not just another flavourless organic restaurant and juice bar, vegetarians or anyone looking for a healthy fix can enjoy delicious freshly made salads, soups and sandwiches, all made daily on the premises. Owner Stephen Gardner who launched the legendary vegan spot Fressen on Queen Street West has opened this new grab-and-go restaurant where you can take jars of hummus home, or grab a quick bite for a modest price like $7 for a sandwich with tax included. Want to learn how to cook organic healthy food? Urban Herbivore has the classes. While in the vicinity, visit adjacent neighbours Dana Lerman and Jenna Morrison at Pure Intent, a yoga and naturopathic therapy centre. Drop in for a class in hatha, hip hop, belly dancing or African rhythmic movement. You can also book appointments for acupuncture, Thai massage, shiatsu, and aromatherapy.
|
|
|
