torontolife.com » From the Print Edition

The Thing: a crunch-free way to look good at the gym (i.e. a new, splashy, luxe bag)

Toronto Life Staff — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 15:30:33 +0000

New Year’s resolutionists are, right now, laying down several months’ salary on a gym membership they already know they won’t use. Despite the year’s caloric transgressions, a hefty investment often isn’t enough to get one’s oversized ass out of bed and on the treadmill. But splashing out on a new, luxe bag might be better motivation—because unlike the post-holidays figure carrying it, a nice duffle begs to be shown off. This one, a limited edition in cobalt-blue leather, is big enough to hold workout necessities without crowding the locker. And if the whole gym thing doesn’t work out after all, it’ll also make a great overnight bag. $480. M0851, 38 Avenue Rd., 416-920-4001.

(Image: Liam Mogan)

The Chase: a couple finds an east end pad with room for a granny suite in the basement

Monika Warzecha — Fri, 20 Jan 2012 16:00:30 +0000

By Monika Warzecha

The Buyers: Johnny Williams, a 36-year-old bail supervisor, and Christiann Holweck, a 33-year-old operations manager at Foresters, a life insurance company.

The Story: Three years ago, Williams and Holweck bought their first place together, a two-bedroom bungalow at Victoria Park and Gerrard. Not long after, Holweck’s mother, Mildred, relocated from Ottawa to be closer to her family—and settled in the couple’s basement apartment. The arrangement worked fine for a while, but single-floor living started to feel cramped. Williams and Holweck, who were ready to start a family, decided it was time to trade up. They wanted a move-in-ready place with two storeys, three bedrooms and a finished basement suite. “Lots of basements are fine to rent out,” says Holweck, “but this was for my mom! It had to be more than just decent.” They also wanted to stay in the east end. The couple set a budget of $500,000 and began a search that would take them to roughly 100 homes in just over six months.

OPTION 1
Georgina Gate (near Warden and St. Clair). Listed at $529,900, sold for $515,000.
This three-bedroom townhouse, with a yard and finished basement, was almost perfect but slightly over the couple’s limit. They decided to wait until after the open house to see if any other offers were on the table, hoping they might snag a deal. The strategy backfired, and the place was snapped up by less cautious bidders.

OPTION 2
Midland Avenue (near Danforth). Listed at $499,000, sold for $465,000.
This four-bedroom split-level had recently been updated. But it was slightly outside their ideal area, and it felt a bit sketchy—lots of houses with Beware of Dog signs, hardly any green space and less-than-stellar graduation rates at local schools. They didn’t want to own the most expensive house on the block, so they walked.

THE BUY
Haslam Street (near Birchmount and Danforth). Listed at $499,000, sold for $488,000.
Williams and Holweck loved the neighbourhood, with its many parks and its up-and-coming vibe. “There’s a lot of new development. People are buying bungalows and building up,” Williams says. This four-bedroom house had a new kitchen with granite counters and a huge master bedroom. Everything they wanted had been done—except the basement, which was unfinished. But the ceilings were high and there were big windows. The couple decided they could convert the space themselves—so they bid low at $450,000. They eventually went up to $488,000, which left them enough money to reno the basement after moving in.

(Image: couple by John Cullen)

Where to Get Good Stuff Cheap 2012: our guide to living the good life for less

Toronto Life Staff — Tue, 17 Jan 2012 21:00:14 +0000

One problem with living here is how easy it is to part with a loonie. The temptations—exotic cocktails that cost as much as a gourmet locavore dinner, gourmet locavore dinners that cost as much as a designer dress, designer dresses that cost as much as a German sedan, etc.—multiply by the minute. Even our cheapskate mayor couldn’t resist upgrading his business cards with gold filigree. The safest way to avoid following in Greece’s footsteps is to swear an oath to cheapness: never buy full-price, always be on the lookout for a bargain, and haggle when appropriate. Here, our annual shortcut guide to the good life for less.

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By Andrew D’Cruz, Matthew Hague, Rachel Heinrichs, Emily Landau, David Lawrason, Jason McBride, Mark Pupo, Peter Saltsman and Courtney Shea.

Where to Get Good Stuff Cheap 2012: four exercise regimens that will help you drop pounds, not dollars

Toronto Life Staff — Fri, 13 Jan 2012 21:45:30 +0000

Spynga
Spynga South Studio
1415 Bathurst St., 416-588-7796
Work up a sweat while improving your inner chi at this hybrid exercise class that combines a high-intensity spinning workout with the restorative benefits of yoga. An introductory offer of two classes for $20 means you can sample the goods for a steal.

Yoga
passporttoprana.com
The ultimate membership for the nomadic yogi, the passport entitles users to one free class at each of 36 Toronto yoga studios, and it lasts a year. The cost is just $30, meaning if you can make the time, you could bring the per-class rate down to 83 cents (and turn your body into a temple while you’re at it).

Squash
St. Lawrence Community Centre
230 Esplanade, 416-392-1347
Play the game of Bay Street big shots without the posh prices at the St. Lawrence Community Centre, operated by the city’s parks and rec department. Courts cost just $6.50 per player, which is less than the price of parking at some private racquet clubs. Book early (up to a week in advance is allowed), especially on busy winter weeknights.

Boxing
Bloor Street Fitness and Boxing
2295 Dundas St. W., 416-535-2699
The city’s most authentic boxing gym—it’s home to the same ring in which Muhammad Ali battled Rocky Marciano in Times Square—is also the cheapest. A monthly membership of $49 includes 24/7 gym access, daily boxing and unlimited classes (pilates, kick-boxing, hip hop) for exercise buffs of all kinds.

By Andrew D’Cruz, Matthew Hague, Rachel Heinrichs, Emily Landau, David Lawrason, Jason McBride, Mark Pupo, Peter Saltsman and Courtney Shea. (Images: Jess Baumung)

Where to Get Good Stuff Cheap 2012: 10 services that help you live the good life for less

Toronto Life Staff — Fri, 13 Jan 2012 21:15:30 +0000

Best dance class for Gaga wannabes
Lindsay Ritter Dance
National Ballet School, 400 Jarvis St., 416-817-5460
Learn to vamp like a music video star in Canada’s best pop-jazz classes—basically modern dance with a few kicks and turns thrown in. Artistic director and instructor Lindsay Ritter emphasizes what’s new and hot in her 90-minute classes, where so-you-think-you-can-dancers learn a routine set to the biggest pop hits (including Lady Gaga’s “Born This Way”). All sessions are drop-in and just $14 each, which means you’ll have plenty of extra money to buy that meat dress you always wanted.

Best Beckham hair
Vidal Sassoon Academy
37 Avenue Rd., 416-920-1333
The classic Sassoon cut is a graduated bob—sleek, sophisticated and pricy (between $78 and $110). Cut costs without snipping style by serving as a human teaching tool at the salon’s Toronto academy, where tress tamers are schooled in the Sassoon ways. Teaching sessions generally last between two and three hours, so be prepared to plant your butt for a little longer than usual. Pass the time plotting how to spend all the money you saved. Haircut $19.

Upscale alterations
Stychin’ Tyme
2502 Yonge St., 416-485-6970
For 20 years, the dressmaker, seamstress and tailor Penny Bedford has been doing Gucci-calibre work for Gap prices, which explains her devoted following of frugal fashion plates. Services run from the basic (hemming from $15) to the more involved. Bedford, who trained in men’s tailoring in England in the ’60s, is a master at altering men’s suits, making her the go-to person for the post-Atkins Bay Street crowd.

Eyebrow expert
Avalon Esthetics
541 College St., 416-963-9093
Most hair maintenance can be handled with a pair of tweezers, but to do the bushy brows of the season right, you’ll want to consult a professional. Joanne Sabatini at Avalon salon uses wax to blast unruly unibrows and shape arches. The service is less than half the price of big-name salons, which is a good thing, because growing in those over-plucked, early-millennium-Drew-Barrymore-style brows may take more than one visit. Eyebrow waxing $10.

Pooch bathing
Soggie Dog Company
1054 Queen St. E., 416-406-2626
Leslieville’s canine-to-human ratio is among the city’s highest, so it makes sense that the east end ’hood has myriad puppy primping options. To get the best bang for your buck, try the Soggie Dog’s DIY wash service, which offers top-of-the-line washing products and equipment for use in a comfortable setting. No cleanup required means you can wash and go, or drop an extra $10 to outsource dog-washing duties to one of the pros on hand. DIY wash starts at $22.50.

Louboutin rejuvenation
Nick’s Custom Boots and Shoe Repair
169 Dupont St., 416-924-5930
Urban winters will do a number on your runway-worthy footwear. But before dropping triple digits on a new pair, try taking last year’s model in for a professional cleaning with the city’s shoe makeover master. Boots are treated with a chemical desalting agent and stain remover, then polished, conditioned and sprayed with a protectant to prevent—or at least postpone—this winter’s beating. $20 and up.

High-speed Internet
TekSavvy
teksavvy.com
Technological life can be complicated and costly, which is why it’s so nice to find a no-brainer: cheap and easy high-speed DSL wireless service. TekSavvy is a sort of wholesale service provider, offering more bandwidth for less money than the retail giants. That’s especially key for anyone using a computer as a TV-slash-movie-theatre. A $60-per-month Rogers plan limits free downloading to 100 gigs per month, and with the average Netflix movie screening at about five gigs, watching the final season of Desperate Housewives could cost you more than just your self-respect. $47.97 plus a one-time $99 start-up fee buys you a more-than-sufficient 300 gigs per month.

Junk removal
Junk-Out
416-253-7533
If your basement is beginning to resemble the Island of Misfit Appliances, it’s probably time to call in a professional. To save money, avoid the big billboard names—Henrique Vieria of Junk-Out will get rid of your unwanted drywall, dishwashers and other discarded stuff for between $350 and $400 per 14-cubic-yard bin. Running a small business with low overhead means he can charge a whole $100 less than crap-clearing Goliaths.

Emergency plumber
Adrian Plumbing
416-880-1029
Master plumber and former Mr. Rooter employee Adrian Heji can undercut his old employer thanks to lower operational costs (he’s the labour) and minimal overhead (he owns a truck). Call him ’round the clock for toilet installation (starting at $120, compared with Mr. Rooter’s $200-plus), leaks, drain problems and pretty much any piping disaster, as well as home heating issues and malfunctioning furnaces. Service is prompt, professional and plumber’s-crack free.

Snow tire storage
Tire Source
141 Queen St. E., 416-362-1235
Stressing about where to store those winter tires when the freezing season finally lets up? (It will let up, right?) Avoid tucking them away in your garage, your basement or, if you’re a condo dweller, your living room. These may sound like good ways to save a buck, but tires kept improperly (where unwanted moisture can get inside them) can quickly lose the qualities that made them so pricy in the first place. Plus, they tend to be covered in road grime. Instead, drop and store winter wheels at the centrally located Tire Source. Removal and full off-season storage for $120, which is as cheap as it comes.

By Andrew D’Cruz, Matthew Hague, Rachel Heinrichs, Emily Landau, David Lawrason, Jason McBride, Mark Pupo, Peter Saltsman and Courtney Shea. (Images: Jess Baumung)

Where to Get Good Stuff Cheap 2012: 14 fashion finds

Toronto Life Staff — Thu, 12 Jan 2012 22:05:59 +0000

Tote
Studio Biba
2583 Yonge St., 416-921-6780
It used to be considered a travel bag, but over the past couple of years, Longchamp’s iconic Le Pliage nylon tote has become an everyday standard—celeb fans include Pippa Middleton, Katie Holmes and Rachel McAdams. Studio Biba at Yonge and Eglinton offers a deal on the sturdy, chic shoulder bag, selling it in a range of colours and sizes for as low as $99.

Fur
Act Two
565 Mount Pleasant Rd., 416-487-2486
If you want to dodge both an ethical land mine and an astronomical Visa bill, vintage fur is the way to go. Inga Welsman, at her Mount Pleasant consignment shop, sells luxurious mink, lynx and fox on the cheap. A sumptuous full-length espresso-brown Birger Christensen mink coat in mint condition is a steal at $1,400 (it would have sold originally for 10 times that price), and a sleek, sandy ermine goes for about $400. Adorable rust-coloured mink capelets and stoles ($100 to $200) recall Izzy Camilleri’s recent runway looks.

Maxi-coat
Lorne’s Coats
101 Spadina Ave., 416-596-1058
A sweeping full-length coat is the logical complement to the season’s maxi-dress. Plus, it brings a touch of drama to drab winter months. Lorne’s,
a fashion district mainstay, carries a number of options in every colour and silhouette, such as military style, A-line and fit-and-flare. A 100 per cent cashmere camel belted trench from Cinzia Rocca is marked down to $745 (the line sells for $1,000 to $1,600 at Bergdorf’s and Bloomingdale’s), while in-house styles stitched from Italian cashmere-angora blends run between $300 and $400.

Vintage couture
Thrill of the Find
1172 Queen St. E., 416-461-9313
In Mireille Watson’s tiny shop in Leslieville, high-end labels like Chanel and Givenchy are marked down by as much as 80 per cent. Among the treasures: a beautifully draped Jacques Heim couture cocktail dress from the late ’50s ($425), a wool Christian Dior suit from the ’40s ($300) and Hermès and Schiaparelli silk scarves ($100 to $200). Don’t miss the back room, where Watson keeps some of her hidden gems, like a ’60s mint-green column gown by Roger Frères for $325 and majestic Pauline Trigère coats for under $300.

Knits
Line Knitwear Sample Sale
15 Apex Rd., 416-929-3300
John Muscat and Jennifer Wells’ luxe pieces, woven from custom wool blends, are the most stylish knits in town—cable tunics, crocheted dresses and colour-blocked wraps are as cozy as they are sophisticated. Line usually sells for around $150 to $350, but sample sales from parent company PYA Importer every November and May offer up to 90 per cent off retail. Sign up at pyaimporter.com to get notified of future sale dates.

Boots
B2
Yorkdale Shopping Centre, 3401 Dufferin St., 416-787-5022
Don’t expect the urban woodsman to forgo his flannel—or shave his beard—anytime soon. The still-fashionable look embodies the artisanal predilections of our age. It’s also surprisingly pricy to get just right. Fortunately, B2 can help get him off on the right foot; these vintage-look leather work boots are a dead ringer for the hipster-prized, Minnesota-based Red Wing footwear—at two thirds the price. $168.

Sports coat
Gotstyle
62 Bathurst St., 416-260-9696
Retro patterns and textures—velvet, corduroy, tweed—are enjoying a revival, but this season’s plaid wool model by Gotstyle, with its distinctly contemporary cut and lining, will fit in at a King West dance club, and it costs half the price of the designer equivalents on Yorkville’s racks. Okay, it looks a lot like your grandfather’s jacket, but did your grandfather don blue suede elbow patches? $595.

T-shirts
Artik
314 Adelaide St. E., 416-815-7770
Finally: your dodgeball team can get the uniform it has always wanted. The print and embroidery company Artik offers 100 per cent cotton jersey short-sleeved American Apparel T-shirts on which you can have any custom design or logo printed. Buy a minimum of 12 and get shirts in a variety of colours for $14.85 each. The more you buy, the cheaper they get: 500 shirts are less than 10 bucks each.

Peacoat
Stollerys
1 Bloor St. W., 416-922-6173
This throwback shirting store is the elder statesman of Bloor Street: a stalwart purveyor of fedoras, plaid scarves and umbrellas. But head downstairs and it’s a fluorescent-lit cornucopia of winter jackets, the peacoat chief among them. Look for the store’s Canada-made house brand, which offers a cashmere-wool-blend coat that’s surprisingly slim and modern fitting. At $695, it’s already a hell of a bargain for a cashmere jacket, but come ready to buy and there’s usually a deal to be made.

High-tops
New Balance Toronto
1510 Yonge St., 416-962-8662
When you’re shopping for shoes, it helps to have a cursory knowledge of brand pedigree. PF Flyers—part of the Converse-led retro sneaker trend, but more handsome and less ubiquitous—are a subsidiary of running shoe giant New Balance. That means the best place to find them is the NB store, where the black high-top versions are regularly as cheap as anywhere else in the city. And because they’re coming straight from the source, old versions are liable to go on sale faster and more frequently than anywhere else. $80.

Merino tights
Precious Creations
341 Spadina Ave., 416-593-0297
The tights-as-pants movement just won’t die. In the name of fashion, women of all ages forgo the comfort of jeans or cords even in winter, thighs separated from the biting wind only by a thin layer of nylon. Enter merino wool tights—hardly a revelation, but sure to keep your legs cozy. Precious Creations, a small Chinatown boutique, sells Mondor tights for a good $10 less per pair than you’ll find anywhere in Yorkville. $24.

Ski wear
Sporting Life
2901 Bayview Ave., 647-788-3580
A good ski jacket can cost as much as—or more than—a pair of skis. For a less expensive alternative, check out Sporting Life’s Bayview Village location, which is home to an impressive array of cast-offs and holdovers from previous seasons, all marked down by as much as 70 per cent. (And really, the multicoloured waterproof shells characteristic of the sport don’t change all that much from year to year.) Because it’s still Sporting Life at heart, they’re all top-of-the-line models from brands like The North Face, Spyder and Descente, never used and only marginally dated. A Descente jacket, originally priced at $840, goes for $335.

Leather gloves
Rudsak Sample Sale
141 Tycos Dr.
There are two things one should never buy retail: toilet paper and leather goods. For the latter, Rudsak is one of Canada’s best designers, especially when it comes to gloves. Wait for one of Rudsak’s two annual sample sales, where everything is upwards of 70 per cent off. It’s worth suffering cold fingers this winter if it means holding out for a deal this good in the spring. Sign up for an invitation at rudsak.com.

A-line dress
Robber
863 Queen St. W., 647-351-0724
While runways are dominated by heavily structured shifts, asymmetrical cut-outs and drop-waisted caftans, the traditional A-line remains the more practical choice. The Toronto designer Philip Sparks’s micro-check cotton shirt-dress, complete with waist-cinching belt, is universally flattering and as good for the office as it is for a dinner date. On sale for $495, it’s as cheap as it is versatile.

By Andrew D’Cruz, Matthew Hague, Rachel Heinrichs, Emily Landau, David Lawrason, Jason McBride, Mark Pupo, Peter Saltsman and Courtney Shea. (Images: Liam Mogan, except boot and glove)

Where to Get Good Stuff Cheap: Bundled, winter-defying kids’ clothes that match stylishness with handmade durability

Toronto Life Staff — Thu, 12 Jan 2012 21:05:56 +0000

Parka
Planet Kid
87 Roncesvalles Ave., 416-537-9233
Multifunctional clothes are easy on the budget—and extra fun for little kids. This cozy, stylish hooded winter parka from 7 A.M. Enfant becomes a full bunting bag with just a couple of quick snaps. Available in lilac and navy blue.

Toque
Kol Kid
674 Queen St. W., 416-681-0368
Handmade hats rarely sell for less than the cost of a wool sweater. Cate and Levi’s adorable, reclaimed wool toques keep the heat in and let your tot’s inner bunny (or puppy or monkey) out.

Hoodie
Mini Mioche
795 Queen St. W., 647-348-5883
This tiny store turns out kids’ basics that are miniature versions of grown-up attire, at pint-sized prices. The colourful elbow patches on this made-in-T.O. organic cotton fleece hoodie are sure to meet the approval of the most sartorially minded toddler.

By Andrew D’Cruz, Matthew Hague, Rachel Heinrichs, Emily Landau, David Lawrason, Jason McBride, Mark Pupo, Peter Saltsman and Courtney Shea. (Images: Liam Mogan)

Where to Get Good Stuff Cheap 2012: professional-quality beauty and grooming supplies at bargain prices

Toronto Life Staff — Thu, 12 Jan 2012 20:00:53 +0000

Shampoo
Beauty Supply Outlet
1568 Yonge St., 416-929-6533
While salons might charge exorbitant sums for a wash and cut, they make their real money selling product. The Beauty Supply Outlet isn’t technically wholesale, but salon-quality Goldwell shampoo sells for several dollars less than anywhere else. $14 for 300 mL of Goldwell Rich Repair.

Shaving cream
Toronto Barber and Beauty Supply
100 Dundas St. W., 416-977-2020
This is where the pros get their goods (in fact, some products are strictly off-limits without a salon licence). We recommend a tub of J. M. Fraser’s shaving cream, a Canadian-made barbershop favourite, for it’s thick lather and citrusy scent.

Cosmetics
MAC/Estée Lauder Warehouse Sale
905-470-7877
This giant warehouse sale is unequivocally the best place to stock up on makeup. The catch: it’s technically open only to MAC and Estée Lauder employees and their friends and family. If you can score a ticket (they’re often available on Craigslist), it’s more than worth the trek out to the Markham Fairgrounds.

By Andrew D’Cruz, Matthew Hague, Rachel Heinrichs, Emily Landau, David Lawrason, Jason McBride, Mark Pupo, Peter Saltsman and Courtney Shea. (Images: Liam Mogan)

Where to Get Good Stuff Cheap 2012: everything you need for a cost-effective happy hour

Toronto Life Staff — Thu, 12 Jan 2012 18:05:03 +0000

Mixing glass
BYOB
972 Queen St. W., 877-989-8980
The classic Japanese Yarai mixing glass is large enough for making two cocktails at once, and its heavy glass frame looks good—but it’s infinitely more durable than similarly stunning crystal pieces (and infinitely less expensive, too).

Rubber caps
Good Egg
267 Augusta Ave., 416-593-4663
Burger Bar’s Brock Shepherd, a craft beer devotee, designed these ingenious, colourful silicone rubber caps. Good for keeping your half-finished brew fresh, or for preventing you from mixing up your PBR with someone else’s.

Cocktail recipe book
Type
883 Queen St. W., 416-366-8973
Whether you’ve made a million mojitos or you’re still struggling to get your rusty nail just right, every bar needs a good bar guide. See Mix Drink is one of the most elegant available—in precise, witty, colourful infographics, it details how to make 100 classic cocktails.

Ice tray
BYOB
972 Queen St. W., 877-989-8980
Some drinks just demand giant ice cubes: they melt more slowly and are a cheap way to class up any bevvie. The flexible food-grade silicone Tovolo tray, available in several colours, turns out six perfectly square two-inch cubes.

By Andrew D’Cruz, Matthew Hague, Rachel Heinrichs, Emily Landau, David Lawrason, Jason McBride, Mark Pupo, Peter Saltsman and Courtney Shea. (Images: Liam Mogan)

Where to Get Good Stuff Cheap 2012: what to cook with when you cook at home

Toronto Life Staff — Thu, 12 Jan 2012 17:00:21 +0000

Pasta maker
Consiglio’s Kitchenware
1219 St. Clair Ave. W., 416-653-6622
Forget the pricy attachments for your KitchenAid Stand Mixer. To make genuine fresh pasta alla nonna—the rich, soft, eggy kind that’s the star of the dish instead of a mere sauce conduit—you want a stainless steel, made-in-Italy hand-crank device by Imperia.

Cast iron pan
Cayne’s Housewares
112 Doncaster Ave., Thornhill, 905-764-1188
Home cooks not blessed with a lovingly seasoned, hand-me-down cast iron skillet should head to Thornhill kitchen mecca Cayne’s, where made-in-the-U.S.A. pans by Lodge invariably sell for much less than at any downtown shop. $30 for a 12-inch skillet.

Coffee siphon
Green Beanery
565 Bloor St. W., 416-588-7700 ext. 249
French presses can be too sludgy and countertop espresso machines too expensive. The best compromise is a coffee siphon. The old-school glass devices, with their steampunk chemistry set looks, brew incredibly rich, smooth coffee.

Global knife
Tap Phong
360 Spadina Ave., 416-977-6364
Anthony Bourdain gave Global knives a much-deserved shout-out in Kitchen Confidential. The Japanese steel blades are elegant and durable. Tap Phong, the Chinatown kitchen supply treasure trove, consistently has the best prices. $110 for an eight-inch chef’s knife, and one is all you’ll ever need.

Pepper mill
Degrees Kitchen Store
2588 Yonge St., 416-484-8222
Those beautiful, wooden Peugeot pepper mills might be objects of home cook gadget lust, but the Unicorn Magnum, an unassuming black plastic number, is consistently rated higher by those in the know for its wide grind range and extraordinary pepper output.

By Andrew D’Cruz, Matthew Hague, Rachel Heinrichs, Emily Landau, David Lawrason, Jason McBride, Mark Pupo, Peter Saltsman and Courtney Shea. (Images: Liam Mogan)

Where to Get Good Stuff Cheap 2012: how to decorate your home for less

Toronto Life Staff — Thu, 12 Jan 2012 15:30:39 +0000

Edison bulbs
Eclectic Revival
3075 Dundas St. W., 416-766-5500
When LEDs and compact fluorescents became the norm, decor radicals opted for replica Edison bulbs—the low-tech lighting equivalent of a turntable. The bulb’s distinct amber glow is produced by fragile carbon filaments; it’s a warmer, softer light than the tungsten coil on an incandescent emits. They’re becoming easier to find—Restoration Hardware carries them now—but the city’s cheapest source remains the vintage lighting store Eclectic Revival. $15 each.

Condo sofa
Morba
665–667 Queen St. W., 416-364-5144
Charles and Ray Eames, the Pop-era furniture icons, designed the Sofa Compact in 1954, but it seems like it was always destined for the tiny living room of a CityPlace tower. The couch is as slim and elegant as a runway model, and it floats airily on a pair of chrome legs. While the original is still produced by the premium manufacturer Herman Miller, modish furniture source Morba offers a made-in-China knock-off for less than half the price. $1,699.

Desk
Queen West Antique Centre
1605 Queen St. W., 416-588-2212
In a typical week, the Queen West Antique Centre has a handful of bargain desks—futuristic Italian tables from a bankrupt start-up, or vintage partners’ desks in handsome oak. Occasionally, rummaging through the vast inventory will reveal something fantastic, like an authentic Herman Miller Airia desk with walnut millwork and a gleaming white top—a barely used leftover from a retail photo shoot, going for $1,200 less than they sell new. $995.

Coffee table
Smash
2880 Dundas St. W., 416-762-3113
Glass tops and wenge slabs are so 2002. The vogueish coffee table in every shelter magazine now is a reclaimed industrial weighing cart—usually made of slats of lacquered hardwood atop two sets of iron wheels. Park it beside a low-slung felt sectional to nail the eclectic artist look. The Junction curiosities store Smash has stacks of these tables, some in need of a light dusting. $250.

Bathroom accessories
Ginger’s
95 Ronald Ave., 416-787-1787
The faucets and fluffy towels at Ginger’s can be pricier than a mortgage payment. But at the rear, semi-hidden, are discount tables of last season’s onyx toothbrush holders, nickel-plated towel rods, vanity mirrors and other baubles that will instantly transform the lowliest WC into a boutique hotel spa.
From $4.

Knobs and pulls
Addison’s
41 Wabash Ave., 416-539-0612
When everyone has the same granite and Shaker cabinet kitchen, there’s nothing more important or more frustrating than the hunt for distinctive hardware. And depending on how many drawers you have, it can get expensive. Addison’s, the museum-like plumbing and decor artifact store, has boxes and boxes of reclaimed doorknobs, cabinet pulls and latches—in nickel, chrome, vintage glass, brass and the occasional bright red ’60s powder-coated steel—starting around $7 each. They’re a bargain, especially for a one-of-a-kind patina.

Room divider
Industrial Storm
1106 Queen St. W., 416-955-9888
Industrial Storm elevates the humble room divider with exquisite materials (bubinga wood, gold leaf) and impeccable craftsmanship (mortise and tenon corner joints, as opposed to IKEA’s patented pegs and staples). All their pieces are made to measure, which makes them incredibly expensive—and they never have proper sales. But for those willing to forgo the truly custom experience, discontinued floor models can be significantly marked down. On a recent visit, a three-panel shoji-like screen, with handmade paper in a mahogany and redwood frame, was reduced from $3,200 to $2,560.

Home theatre
Sound Designs
55 Mill St., The Cannery, Bldg. 58, ste. 101, 416-364-4800
Sound Designs carries some of the city’s most high-end AV equipment at decidedly high-end price tags (witness the $140,000 home theatre system on display). Carrying the best and most up-to-date inventory requires quick turnover, which means frequent markdowns. So while early adopters may be willing to pay full price, more patient electronics addicts can score generous discounts. A rimless, 46-inch Samsung 3-D TV, which first hit stores in 2010, was recently discounted from $3,200 to $1,800 (at the time, less than at chains like Best Buy or 2001 Audio Video).

Indestructible luggage
Evex Luggage Centre
1911 Dundas St. E., 905-238-7900
Briggs and Riley suitcases have the seemingly immortal resilience of Joan Rivers, but thankfully none of the glitz—each piece is minimally embellished and impeccably designed. Evex Luggage Centre, in a dingy Mississauga strip mall, offers a wide selection of pieces at wholesale prices: a 20-inch four-wheel carry-on retails for $470 but here is $100 less.

Custom bookcase
The Pine Store
248 King St. E., 647-435-0194
Doug and Jim Howie’s tiny, ramshackle store has the jumbled feel of a suburban yard sale. It’s easy to miss among the mammoth, lustrous furniture showrooms on King East, but it’s worth finding because the custom, Mennonite-made pieces are almost IKEA cheap. A three-by-eight-foot solid pine bookcase, built with Ontario-grown wood and finished in one of six handsome stains, is $350 and can be ready in four weeks.

Wooden toys
Mastermind Warehouse Sale
mastermindtoys.com
For toy-crazed tots, Mastermind’s annual warehouse sale, usually held the last week in May, is almost as exciting as Christmas morning. Parents and grandparents (and overzealous aunts, and birthday party guests—really, everybody) should also get excited about the discounts: the latest additions to a Playmobil or Thomas the Tank Engine collection can cost up to 70 per cent less than retail. Look for an announcement on the website.

Crystal chandelier
Lighting Originals
109 Cartwright Ave., 416-781-7232
The stretch of Cartwright Avenue just east of Caledonia is lined with places hawking discount chandeliers, but those at Lighting Originals stand out for their superior quality: most of the crystal is sourced from Europe and is of the highest quality (30 per cent lead content). Regular prices aren’t low, but discount tags always hang on a certain percentage of the merchandise. One week, a five-foot-tall chandelier (the kind that might hang in a glam double-height foyer), was $9,995, down from $11,995.

Farm pendant
Universal Lamp
121 Cartwright Ave., 416-787-8900
Describing a house as barn-like is no longer a euphemism for trashy—the urban country look is hotter than a shirtless Ryan Gosling (well, almost). Craftmade’s bronze pendant light wasn’t reclaimed from a century-old barn, but it’s just faux-tarnished enough to fool the most discriminating house guests, and it’s infinitely more in vogue than that halogen track lighting you’ve been meaning to replace. At $105, you can afford to buy a matching set.

Patio furniture
InsideOut
1280 Castlefield Ave., 416-782-2700
During the winter months, when most Torontonians get cold just thinking about being outside, almost all of InsideOut’s Castlefield showroom goes majorly on sale. Keep an eye out for its selection of trendy resin wicker furniture (it looks like wood but it’s actually plastic). A clean-lined, three-piece sectional, with cream-coloured, mildew-resistant cushions on a black and brown wicker frame, costs $2,995, down from $3,699.

VOC-free paint
The Zero Point
1590 Queen St. E., 416-602-6586
Leslieville’s The Zero Point specializes in environmentally friendly, VOC-free and ethically produced paints. They’re manufactured with renewable energy and come with sustainably harvested stir sticks. Of the different brands available, YOLO, which is clay-based and comes in a vast array of colours, is the most affordable, averaging $60 per gallon (similar brands can push $85).

Discontinued wallpaper
Primetime Paint and Paper
299 Queen St. E., 416-703-9846
For anyone with big ideas and small rooms, discontinued wallpaper (maybe one with a bold, rococo-inspired flower pattern) is the most affordable option. Riverside’s Primetime carries odds-and-ends rolls (each one is 11 yards, which is typically enough to cover 45 square feet) from brands like Graham and Brown, York and Provincial for $30 (their regular merchandise averages $170 for the same coverage). Just don’t mess up the application—the catch is that the same pattern won’t be available again.

Fabric
Robert Allen
170 Bedford rd., 2nd Flr., 416-934-1330
For one day each summer and fall, Robert Allen’s Designers Walk showroom, normally off-limits to anyone but discerning decorators and retailers, has a doors-open sample sale. Discontinued banners (three yards by 54 inches) are discounted from about $200 to $10 each; bolts of overstocked silks, linens and embroidery are $10 per yard. Unfortunately, sewing lessons aren’t included. The next is sometime in July.

By Andrew D’Cruz, Matthew Hague, Rachel Heinrichs, Emily Landau, David Lawrason, Jason McBride, Mark Pupo, Peter Saltsman and Courtney Shea. (Images: Light bulbs, sofa, knobs, toy by Liam Mogan; TV by Carlo Mendoza)

The List: 10 things the star of Gerry Dee: Sports Reporter and the new CBC sitcom Mr. D can’t live without

Toronto Life Staff — Tue, 03 Jan 2012 19:00:07 +0000

1| My alma mater
I spent 13 years at De La Salle College, first as a student and then as a gym teacher. It was a great job to have when I was pursuing comedy. I could take time off for gigs, and eventually I took a leave of absence that I never returned from. I plan to send my kids there, too.

2| My BioSteel
It’s an electrolyte drink developed by Matt Nichol, the former strength coach for the Leafs. A lot of high-level athletes are drinking it now instead of Gatorade. I drank it when I was filming my sitcom and working 14-hour days.

3| My running route
I run up the hill near my house (the big one at Wilson and Yonge) twice a day. It’s a pretty tough hill—it takes 10 minutes, and it makes me feel like I’ve accomplished something.

4| My Infant of Prague
I’ve had this statue of Jesus as a child since I was five or six. My mom would always tuck it into my bag when I moved or went travelling. I’m not an excessively religious person, but this figurine helps me remember my Roman Catholic faith.

5| My sauna
When you have two kids under five running around, it’s nice to be able to shut the door and sit alone for 10 minutes. It clears my mind and my pores at the same time.

6| My Callaway golf clubs
I started playing when I was 12, and I’ve competed at the provincial and national levels. I belong to the National Golf Club of Canada in Woodbridge. What can I say, I’m addicted.

7| My daughter’s bear
My younger daughter is two years old, and without her teddy bear she is very unhappy. If she’s unhappy, my wife and I are unhappy. We always have to know where it is. We tried to order another as a backup, but we can’t seem to find an identical one.

8| My sweet fix
I always like to finish meals off with a treat. A chocolate chip cookie does the trick. I can usually stop at just one, unless they’re homemade—then one cookie becomes five quickly.

9| My Greens Plus
I don’t eat cooked vegetables. I use this powdered drink instead. I do make my kids eat greens though, and they always complain that Daddy doesn’t have to eat them. I tell them that I drink my veggies, which they find even more disgusting.

10| My steak habit
I’m a big Keg guy. I worked there for 10 years. I go two or three times a month—every time I’m in another city, I’ll check to see if they have one. They even hooked me up with a discount card because I go so often. I usually get the filet mignon with peppercorn sauce.

(Images: John Cullen)

The Thing: The Settlers of Catan, Toronto’s current cardboard fixation

Toronto Life Staff — Tue, 03 Jan 2012 17:55:00 +0000

A time-tested antidote to winter-onset agoraphobia
Photography by Shanghoon

The Settlers of Catan board can be arranged differently every time it’s laid down

Last year, Toronto got Snakes and Lattes, its first dedicated board game café. Skeptics called it a flavour of the month, nothing but a passing trend. A year on, it’s expanding. And it’s only one of dozens of cafés and bars around town that have a selection of games hanging around for their nostalgic, broke and pseudo-ironic clientele. In cold, dark January, that’s something we can get behind. Board games are everything wintertime entertainment should be—cheap, social, warm and familiar. We suggest picking up a copy of the city’s current cardboard fixation: The Settlers of Catan, a German game with a cultish following (you can’t throw a set of dice in Snakes and Lattes without hitting a group of overgrown kids playing it). The object of the game is for players to build settlements in a fictionalized world. Think of it as a pacified, agricultural blend of Risk and Monopoly. If you drag the game out long enough, it might be spring by the time it’s finished. $45. Mastermind Toys, 639 Mount Pleasant Rd., 416-440-0111.

The List: Ten things Blue Rodeo frontman and Canadian rock icon Jim Cuddy can’t live without

Toronto Life Staff — Fri, 09 Dec 2011 17:30:18 +0000

Photography by John Cullen

1| My skates
I play a lot of hockey. It’s amazing that at my age I still get thrilled about skates, but I do. These ones are by Graf, and they’re customized to my feet.

2| My Gretsch
It’s a 1948 acoustic on long-term—maybe permanent—loan from Colin Cripps, who’s in my band. I got it from him 14 years ago and used it to write my first solo record. Since then it’s become my go-to guitar for writing.

3| My talisman
I bought these Tibetan prayer beads when my wife and I were in China for the 2008 Olympics. We got all wrapped up in the commercialism of the Games, and then we went to this rural place near the Great Wall that was beautiful and calm and run by Tibetans. The beads remind me of that tranquility.

4| My wedding ring
I never take it off—even to play hockey. My wife and I got married in ’84 when we were living in New York. We bought rings from a gold dealer near Times Square. They probably weren’t shockingly expensive, but they seemed it to us because we were totally broke.

5| My Dopp kit
In the late ’80s Blue Rodeo played a protest benefit for the Stein Valley in British Columbia, which was in danger of being logged. Someone there was selling this smoked deerskin bag—the smoky smell only faded in the last year or two. I keep my shaving things in it.

6| My go-to poets
Every time I start writing songs I read poetry. I like the beauty of Leonard Cohen, the ruralness of Alden Nowlan and the plain language of Al Purdy. I’ve read these books a hundred times each. It’s like reconnecting with old friends.

7| My neighbourhood hangout
The Detroit Eatery on the Danforth is a great family-run diner. You always see people you know there, and you can get all the gossip from the neighbourhood. The food is reliably good. My favourite day is Thursday, which is vegetable soup day.

8| My boom box
I’ve had this one for six or seven years. It’s busted on one side, so only one speaker works, but it’s great for recording demos. Digital recording is too clear—it makes things sound like a lonely guitar in a big empty room. Boom boxes and cassettes crush the sound and help me imagine what it’ll be like with a band.

9| My gig boots
They were made by a shoemaker in the neighbourhood: Nasser Vies. He replicated a pair I bought 15 years ago. I’ve never been able to indulge in a lot of rock star stuff—I mean, we’re not that big—but having custom boots is amazing.

10| My wine collection
For our first 10 years as a band, we were awash in beer. Eventually I thought: I never want to have another frickin’ beer again. So the road manager and I decided to try wine. We bought a bottle and a wine magazine and sat in the back of the bus with our plastic cups trying to taste the flavours. I now have a good-sized collection. My favourite is a 1996 Barolo.

Great Spaces: Two fixtures of the charity ball scene buy a party house to rival any event venue

Victoria Webster — Tue, 06 Dec 2011 15:30:27 +0000

By Victoria Webster | Interior photographs by Michael Graydon

Max Gotlieb, a partner at Cassels Brock, and his wife, Heather, have lived together in Forest Hill since 1984. Though they spent much of the past two decades renovating their family home in the area (the couple jokes that they had a construction crew in their employ full-time), there was always another house on Heather’s mind. For years, she passed one of the neighbourhood’s most stately Georgian revivals while shuttling her three kids to school, and she dreamed of one day living there. It went on the market only once, briefly, in all those years, long before the Gotliebs were ready to move. Heather feared she had missed her chance. But in 2006, she and Max started talking about finding a larger space, and, miraculously, her dream house was up for sale. The place was massive—9,500 square feet—and perfect for entertaining, but outdated: the third floor had never been upgraded and was still laid out as servants’ quarters. They hired the developer Joe Brennan to update the house, completely gutting the upper floors. He also punched out the back to facilitate flow and add an additional 1,000 square feet (Max says the cost of buying and renovating was “many, many millions”). The Gotliebs don’t consider themselves philanthropists (“I’m not Peter Munk,” says Max), but they attend several fundraisers a week—and host many themselves, including large receptions and grand, expansive dinner parties. After all, they now have a home where they can entertain 200-plus people at a time—which is exactly why they bought it.