The Little Paper

Celebrate the Street

Once again, this December, The Little Paper has offered local business owners the opportunity to tell you about their products and services in our regular Celebrate the Street feature. While this is in no way a comprehensive list, it is an excellent round up of neighbourhood businesses that deserve your support this season. And it’s a great place to get started exploring and supporting the little cities within our vast metropolis. The idea here is to keep the main street spirit vibrant and alive in each of our communities – to ensure that we have neighbourhoods that are walkable, safe, engaging and diverse. The latest toy might cost a buck or so less in a big box store but we have to measure that minor savings against the cost of stress, parking, gas and just plain anonymity. We might also think about the great losses we suffer when our neighbourhood stores and services shut down. If we can’t walk a few blocks and come back with groceries, a birthday present and great new book, our small savings seem pretty expensive. Unlike the perimeter malls and big box stores that draw us endlessly into our cars and out of our communities, our city sidewalks offer what Jane Jacobs referred to as a ballet that “never repeats itself from place to place, and in any once place is always replete with new improvisations.” The Little Paper thanks you for to stepping up to the barre.

CENTRAL & MIDTOWN

Game & Hobby Zone

2 Bloor Street West Cumberland Terrace, Upper Level # M11, Lower Level # L21
 416-413-1511
 gameandhobbyzone@rogers.com
 A relative newcomer to Yonge and Bloor, Game & Toy Zone has educational and family board games, toys, novelties, gift items as well as jigsaw puzzles, and die cast models. Bring in the advertisement on page 11 of this issue and you’ll get big savings exclusive to Little Paper readers.

Gretchen and Co.

424 Eglinton Ave W
 www.gretchenandco.com Gretchen & Co. specializes in fine European children’s clothing in the heart of Forest Hill. Owner Silke Rampf searches the globe for stylish children’s clothing. “Enough cartoons, our kids have style and pay attention to the details.” says Silke. Aside from beautiful designs, you’ll also find a celebrity mom of the month on Gretchen’s blog.

Hatley

2648 Yonge Street 416-486-4141 www.hatleystore.com For almost 20 years Hatley has helped its customers “get clothes to nature” with its 100% cotton apparel & gift items for the whole family.

Oink Oink

352 Eglington Avenue West
 416 322 8255 www.oinkoink.com This uptown toy shop caters to everyone from tots to ‘tweens with their colourful chldren’s clothing and vast array of toys. Find an extensive variety of educational toys from wooden train sets and puzzles to videos and dollhouses.

Petit Pied & Bon Lieu

890 Yonge Street 416-963-5925
 2651 Yonge Street 416-322-6067
 www.petitpied.com
 www.bonlieu.com
 Petit Pied and Bon Lieu are absolute shoe meccas. You can travel uptown to the Yonge and Eglinton location, indulge yourself and your child at Davenport or head west to Bloor Street Village, each location has a large and beautiful selection to choose from.

Secrets From Your Sister


2501 Yonge Street Toronto, On 416482.8007 www.secretsfromyoursister.com
 Several of The Little Paper moms are loyal customers of Jennifer’s Annex location and love that midtown Toronto now has a store of its own. Staff at Secrets know that you deserve to look and feel great and they’ll help you build your wardrobe from the inside out. Start with a one-on-one bra fitting and you’ll be amazed at the difference a great fit can make.


EAST

Bumbleberry Kids

1908 Queen St. E
 416-691-5556
 bumbleberrykids@gmail.com
 Mon-Fri, 10am-6pm; Sat-Sun, 10am-5pm
 Bumbleberry Kids has renewed the best children’s and maternity clothing from the Beach neighborhood. Clothes from newborn to size 8 kids and maternity have been carefully selected to provide high quality clothing for less and store-owner Robin is a friendly and helpful resource in a great community.

Ella Minnow

1915 Queen Street East
 416-698-2665
 www.ellaminnow.ca
 Heather’s delightful little bookstore in the Beach is absolutely charming. From the peaceful Tiffany blue walls, comfy reading nooks and divine selection, Ella Minnow is a charming independent island. Heather curates a stellar inventory and the store features story-telling programs as well a direct route to the wonders of Dufflet next door.

Film Buff East

1380 Queen Street East
 416-465-4324
 www.thefilmbuff.com
 Scott and Donna struck gold a second time with their East End variation on a wonderful West End theme with classic, arthouse, indie, foreign and new release dvds served up alongside informed advice, great ice cream, coffee and desserts.

Midoco

1964 Queen Street East
 416-691-5676
 www.midoco.ca/beach.html
 Midoco’s bright and sunny East End storefront is a mecca for crafters, creators and artists young and old. From serious paints, whimsical art supplies, beautiful papers, ribbon, notebooks, water bottles, bags and so much more, its hard to leave Midoco without an armload of inspiration.

WEST

Accessorize Me

2258 Bloor Street West 416-604-4243 accessorizemeinc@yahoo.ca Accessorize Me has moved to a larger location after years of helping west end women look fabulous from their bijou shop on Beresford. They still offer a wide variety of high fashion jewelry and accessories, but now you’ll have an even bigger selection to choose from.

Baby Kay

29 Joanith Drive www.babykay.ca Anka and her staff carry many popular brands of cloth diapers and accessories – available on the web or in her showroom. Baby Kay is having a huge holiday sale with 15% off all stock and free shipping with a purchase of $50.00 or more.

Diaper-eez

2309 Bloor Street West
 416-604-0916
 www.diaper-eez.com
 Mon-Fri: 10am-6pm, Sat: 10am-5:30pm, Sun: 12-4pm
 Considered the cloth-diapering mecca in Bloor West Village, Diaper-eez offers useful and fun products for the care of expecting parents and their new kids, including cloth diapers, toys, nursing accessories and much more. Susan,the store’s delightful owner, is warm and welcoming as well as an unparalled source of wisdom and support for new (and not so new) moms and dads.

ella+elliot

188 Strachan Avenue
 416-850-7890
 www.ellaandelliot.com
 Mon-Sat 10am-6pm; Sun 12pm-5pm
West end parents Christian and Suzanne Imler opened ella+elliot just over 3 years ago. In a large and bright store just a stone’s throw from Trinity Bellwoods park, ella+elliot offers Canada’s largest selection for the modern baby and now, modern solutions for big kids too as well as professional design services.

Evymama Nursing & Maternity

266 Jane Street (Just North of Bloor)
 416.913.0546
 www.evymama.ca
 10-6 Mon-Wed, Friday & Saturday, 12-5 Sunday, 10-8pm Thursdays.
 Evymama is Toronto’s only breastfeeding boutique, specializing in beautiful nursing bras from A to M cup, fashionable and flattering nursing tops, dresses and designer maternity wear and accessories with a truly extensive selection of cloth baby carriers.

Fit2Dance
Studio

406 Pacific Ave 416-818-8804 fit2danceinc@yahoo.ca Fit2dance is for adults of all levels to find their inner groove! Our dance/fitness fusion is an innovative and engaging way to get in shape. hello sunshine creative baby shop

5 High Park Ave


www.hello-sunshine.com
 Christina and Delko, Hello Sunshine’s owners, know what they’re doing. As busy parents of two small children, they have first-hand experience in choosing clothing, accessories, equipment and furnishings for young families. Hello Sunshine has been an essential destination across from

High Park for over two years!

High Park Martial Arts 3094 Dundas Street West 416-769-9222 www.highparkmartialarts.ca High Park Martial Arts has served the Junction since 1992. Children’s
classes are structured by age groups to better enhance progression,
|presentation and safety.”

Homebake Pizza Company

476 Roncesvalles ave. 416-588-4272 www.homebakepizza.ca Toronto’s first bake and take pizza shop! Cassidy makes gourmet pizzas using only the best ingredients -- many organic, for you to take home and bake. They also deliver! Don’t forget to order your ready to bake cinnamon buns for pick up on December 24th.

Kid-eez

2323 Bloor St. W. Unit #7
 416-763-1100
 Why battle traffic, expensive parking and long lines for dance clothing, shoes and accessories when everything you need is available in this lovely little shop behind Body Language Academeny of Dance in Windermere Court? A bit of a west end secret, Kid-eez is staffed by dance teachers who know how to choose just the right gear for your own little dancer.

Little Bird Fly

2955 Dundas Street West
 647-384-3443
 www.littlebirdfly.ca
 A beautiful open space filled with gently used children’s clothing, toys and shoes. Junction resident and store-owner Amanda has included some funky maternity clothing in the mix, along with a wonderful kids’ play area in the back.

Little Lola and Company

778 Annette Street
Toronto
 416-915-5652
 www.littlelolakidsshop.com
 Victoria is a busy mom with an inspired eye for all things beautiful. Little Lola offers west end families and anyone else up for a visit to Annette absolutely stunning clothing, toys, gifts and design accessories.

Loft Pilates

396 Pacific Avenue
Suite 201 
 416-604-0177 www.theloftpilates.com Loft Pilates offers a wide range of specialty classes such as Fit Pregnancy, Pure Core, Healthy Bones, Total Stability, Stretch and Tone Yoga, Vinyasa Flow, Core Rhythm, Men on machines and more.

All classes take place on the second floor of a bright, welcoming and fully equipped Pilates studio in the Junction.


Melonhead

2100 Bloor St. W.
 416-762-0800
 www.melonhead.ca
 Mon-Fri: 10am-6pm, Sat: 9am-6pm, Sun: 10am-5pm
 Every little girl needs to get her haircut in a pink Cadillac! Melonhead’s two locations on Yonge Street and in Bloor West Village offer parents great choices for haircuts and kids love the sparkle spray, free helicopter rides and parting gifts. The friendly West End location is owned by parents Navaz and Sharmina who offer first-timers a ten percent discount!

The Mercantile

297 Roncesvalles Ave. 416-531-7563 www.themercantile.ca Let Shannon and her staff relieve you of some of your holiday stress with unique gift baskets designed by you! The Mercantile has a welcoming hometown feel with an decadent selection of delicious treats, organic offerings and specialty gift ideas. A must-try – their Christmas fudge!

Midoco

555 Bloor St West
Toronto ON
 416-588-7718
 www.midoco.ca/annex.html
 Midoco’s bustling Annex location is your creative outlet for craft and art projects, parties and supplies. Like her sister in The Beach, the Bloor Street Midoco is constantly inspiring and consistently well and imaginatively stocked.

Petit Pied & Bon Lieu

2390 Bloor St. West
 416-767-8366
 www.petitpied.com 
Bloor West parents were thrilled to see Petit Pied open up in the west end, fulfilling their midtown Toronto reputation for an extensive inventory of high quality children’s shoes (and great looks for moms, as well) to the Village.

Phillipa C. Photography

3063 Dundas Street West 416-766-2838 www.phillipac.com
 Specializing in baby and family portraiture – whether it be in studio or on location, Phillipa aims to capture the true personality of her subjects.

Planet Kid

87 Roncesvalles Avenue
 416-537-9233
 www.planetkid.ca
 When Sara moved Planet Kid from its Queen West location last year, we were thrilled to have her that much closer. Her lovely little store stocks local designs by Red Thread designs, Hankwear, Baby Ben and Kid Brother as well as Little Soles, Stonz, Boggs and Blundstones. Don’t miss local artist Rachel Riordan’s gotta-have-em alphabet prints.

Scooter Girl Toys

187 Roncesvalles Ave
 416-534-2211
 www.scootergirl.net
 Mon-Wed: 10am-6pm, Thu-Fri: 10am-7pm, Sat: 9:30am-6pm, Sun: 10am-4pm
 Located in the heart of Roncesvalles Village, Scooter Girl Toys offers the coolest toys for girls and boys of all ages, including games, puzzles, books & cd’s, clothing, shoes and so much more…free gift wrapping year round! Teré and her staff can suggest the perfect gift for any child – local parents know that there isn’t a birthday party for miles without something hand-picked and truly special inside Scooter Girl’s distinctive striped paper.

Snap Fitness 24-7

183 Roncesvalles Ave
 647-351-7627
 torontohighpark@snapfitness.com
 www.snapfitness.com/torontohighpark
 Your own passcard lets you into Snap 24 hours a day and, starting November 3, Snap will offer low cost child minding on Tuesdays from 9am-12pm and Thursdays from 9am-12pm. Okay, so we are now officially out of excuses.

So Young Mother


www.soyoungmother.com
 So Young Mother (SYM) offers a fresh approach to the life of the modern family with its line of retro-inspired laminated linen lunch boxes, cooler bags, and lifestyle bags.

Sweet Thrills

399 Roncesvalles avenue 416-535-9286 Oaknam and Jenny are the sweetest merchants on Roncesvalles with an excellent selection of British chocolates, chaotic and Pokemon cards, Lego, loot bags and balloons. A great place for Santa to shop for stocking stuffers!

The Toy Space Inc.

106 Bathurst St
 416-203-0792
 www.thetoyspace.com
 Owners Randall and Danielle have cornered the market on fun at King and Bathurst. In addition to helpful staff and a great selection, The Toy Space has ice cream. Kawartha ice cream. ‘Nuf said.)

Toronto Eye Care: Drs. Nolfi,

Paterson & Associates 2425 Bloor Street West, #106
 www.torontoeyecare.com
 Jerry Nolfi & Jill Paterson have been proudly providing excellent eye care in Bloor West Village for 15 years. Family-owned with super friendly staff, Toronto Eye Care is an easy choice for West End families.

Trove

2264 Bloor Street West 416-766-1258 791 Bathurst Street 416-516-1258 www.trove.ca Extended holiday hours: Mon-Fri: 10- 9 pm, Sat: 10-6pm, Sun: 12-5pm, Sat Dec 5: close at 7pm, Sun Dec 6: open at 10am, Christmas Eve: 9am-5pm, Boxing Day: 10am-5pm Trove is a sweet little clothing, footwear and accessory boutique with 2 great Toronto locations – Bloor West Village & The Annex. Bringing together eclectic, stylish items from mostly independent designers, Trove is well-loved by its regulars for being a no-fail destination for fabulous must-have shoes, clothing, purses and jewellery.

Wise Daughters Craft Market

3079B Dundas St. West 416-761-1555 www.wisedaughters.com Mon–Wed: 10am–6pm, Thurs: 10am-9pm, Fri: 10am-7pm, Sat: 10am–6pm, Sun 10am-4pm Wise Daughters Craft Market is a brand new adventure for owner Mary Breen, a crafter whose foremothers have been embroidering, knitting, painting china, drawing, and designing clothes generation after generation. Her own creative daughters continue the tradition. Wise Daughters offers craft workshops for adults and kids and unique, quality locally handmade gifts: home décor, accessories, infant wear, artwork, cards, and much more.