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

Community 54 has T-shirts (Image: Fraser Abe)

The place: On Queen West, right beside Wrongbar and across from the never-without-a-lineup Grand Electric, this menswear import from New York City’s Lower East Side specializes in nostalgia in all forms. From the iPod dock that looks like a giant boom box to the old-school video games (no Golden Tee here, just consoles that remind you of your misspent youth in arcades) and the wall of snap-back hats, virtually every item in the store hearkens back to the days of Dance Mix and your first Ace of Base tape.

The stuff: Those video games, like Terminator 2, Wayne Gretzky Hockey and—our personal favourite—NBA Jam, are all available for purchase ($1,095 to $2,695) or playing a friendly match. Towards the back, preppy vintage selections like Ralph Lauren button-ups, Tommy Hilfiger plaids and even a striped vintage Alexander McQueen jacket ($400, originally retailed for $4,000) mingle with new items like Community 54–brand T-shirts, Eh Life apparel by Trung Hoang (part-owner and the man behind Think Contra), and a staggering number of snap-back flat-brim baseball caps ($40 to $60). Since the store is small and new, very few items are shipped (sometimes just one in each size), so you can be guaranteed that whatever item you buy won’t be seen on every other dude at Cold Tea later that night. Even the pieces of furniture—sturdy, industrial pieces like a vintage sewing machine table and wooden display tables—are for sale.

The shoppers: Walk-in traffic from the ever-gentrifying neighbourhood (though it’s far removed enough from The Drake that it’s not all ladies in Uggs and Canada Goose guys), nostalgia seekers, vintage game enthusiasts, and bros from all walks of life—not just street wear aficionados and hipsters, the store promises.

Our favourite things: Punchy and graphic cityscape prints by artist Glenn Michael (naturally, the nostalgic view of Toronto still features the Sam the Record Man sign); a limited edition Members Only jacket (yes, they’re back) in buttery-soft leather ($775)—the three remaining in the store are the last three in Canada; a Japanese North Face jacket (cut slimmer than their North American cousins) for $495; and a steely grey Starter baseball cap made in collaboration with Goodwood ($40).

Community 54, 1275 Queen St. W., 416-901-4342, community54.com.

Chosen owner Melissa Ball and her cosmic change room (Image: Erin Simkin)

The place: Chosen, the latest shop in what seems like a mass opening of new vintage stores, has opened up above menswear boutique Ruins. Melissa Ball has finally found a home for her wares in this long, loft-like space overlooking Queen Street West—she once hosted a popular group vintage sale called The Chosen Ones at the 107 Shaw Gallery before spending a year sharing space with Silver Falls and Lab Consignment. Now her retro neon sign is alight and she’s ready to clothe Toronto’s ever-growing ranks of discerning vintage shoppers.

The stuff: Quality, budget-friendly pieces abound, with most stock priced under $100. The space feels decadent, with healthy doses of rock ’n’ roll and Oscar Wilde–inspired pieces, but the flamboyance is balanced by a large selection of sophisticated tailored items. All the greatest hits from the ’80s and ’90s are here: a velvet-collared plaid shirt-dress, a cherry-red double-breasted frock, a retro black and white polka-dot skirt, and a pair of plaid tweed trousers (all are suitable for work and play). “And there is a lot of black,” Ball laughs.

The shoppers: Smack in the middle of West Queen West, the shop has brought back the faithful followers of The Chosen Ones—watch musicians pull for their next gig, or art gallery employees find the perfect piece for their next opening. Neighbourhood folks and tourists also come in and end up leaving with an armful of sensible separates, such as one of the many silk blouses available in a dizzying array of patterns.

Our favourite things: Red silk T-shirt ($24); tasseled leather pochette ($18); men’s Beatle boots ($60); ’40s Darby porkpie hat ($85); crochet-trimmed linen sundress ($58); Salvatore Ferragamo snakeskin buckle loafers ($52); and a hunter-green wool cape ($150).

Click on to take a tour of Chosen »

Chosen, 960 Queen St. W. (upstairs), 647-802-7704, chosen-vintage.com

The temperature is dropping, to a point where as much as we’d love to continue going sockless and wearing fall-weight jackets, we’re starting to clue in that we need mittens, hats and sweaters. When it gets this cold, we like to think about clothes that are cozy and warm, and because the holidays are right around the bend, we thought we’d add nostalgia to our list of wintry demands. We spotted this Hudson’s Bay Company retro logo sweatshirt, which is soft, warm and comfortable, and frankly, sometimes we don’t require fashion to be much more than that. $14.99 (originally $29.99).

The Bay, 176 Yonge St., 416-861-9111, thebay.com

Dress like a movie character (Image: H&M)

H&M’s designer collaborations are often hilariously divisive, because fashion stalwarts don’t necessarily like luxury brands being “tainted” by fast fashion, while young, considerably less wealthy men and women love them for bringing out cool-looking clothes for 0.1 per cent of big brand prices. This time around, we can skip the fashion industry griping and usher in a wave of “not canon” criticism on online fan forums, because H&M’s latest collection—available at the Eaton Centre, Yorkdale and Bloor Street H&M locations as of December 14—is inspired by The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo’s Lisbeth Salander. Trish Summerville, costume designer for David Fincher’s film adaptation of the novel, is responsible for the collection, and it is, as expected, black and grey. We love the tiny rucksack, basic Henley and variety of graphic Ts, and the worn-in denim jacket with leather sleeves is fairly covetable too. We’re just not sure we could squeeze into the leather pants. What we are certain of is that there’ll be a surge of pretend cyber-punk hackers roaming the streets come December. Check out the entire collection in a gallery after the jump.

Check out H&M’s The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo collection »

Club Monaco’s Men’s Shop, 157 Bloor St. W. (Images: Kevin Naulls)

The place: Club Monaco has launched its new menswear section at the iconic Bloor Street location. The stairs down are lined with real books with the spines facing inwards and a tough rope banister (watch your hands, we got a little scratched up), leading to a study that looks like something Hemingway would feel right at home in—rough hewn-wood floors, nautical ropes and classic menswear abound.

The stuff: The big new draw is a collection by A Continuous Lean’s Michael Williams and designer Aaron Levine called Made in the U.S.A. (yes, they know Club Monaco is formerly Canadian, too). Slim-fitting suits sold as separates ($395 for a blazer, $245 for pants), ties in silk, chambray and wool ($89.50) and oxford shirts ($139.50) sit amongst hand-picked items like Tanner Leather goods (all vegetable dyed), Canadian-made Aether shirts and Mark McNairy for Bass shoes.

The shoppers: Urban dandies waiting for J. Crew to open a men’s shop in Canada will find plenty to coo over—the entire section looks like something we’d see on any sartorially minded flaneur. Being on the major shopping strip of Bloor can’t hurt, so expect a lot of families, weekend brunchers and ladies who lunch to wander in. Men with their mind on the bottom line will also find a good selection of affordable pieces; this is still Club Monaco, after all.

Our favourite things: We loved the sweatshirt in heather grey with a Henley placket ($89.50), the hooded duffle coat with plaid lining ($389) and the Fair Isle sweater ($169.50) with a reverse knit that makes the stitching look more abstract.

Casa de Campo and Holt Renfrew present resort 2012 (Images: George Pimentel)

Last week at the Bellair suite in the Hazelton Hotel, luxury resort Casa de Campo and Holt Renfrew threw a small soiree to preview the resort collections that will be rolling out from November to January. Barbara Atkin, vice-president of fashion direction, spoke about how appropriate each item could be for trips to Aspen and watching games on the polo field, instead of, say, referencing Whistler (or even Blue Mountain) and maybe a sport like hockey or lacrosse that actually could be relevant to people who live in Toronto. Of course, this is resort wear, which means escaping to destinations where a bikini replaces a parka and, for a couple weeks every year, assuming an identity of someone who follows the sport of polo (or perhaps does vacation in Aspen—no Mount St. Louis Moonstone ski-lift passes for you). The Row was a standout, pairing a soft and airy striped dress with matching socks and a pair of black oxfords, and we loved a cat-print shirt dress from Victoria Beckham. Check out the many new resort looks from Victoria Beckham, Marni, Lanvin, The Row, Stella McCartney, Oscar de la Renta and more in a gallery after the jump.

Stella McCartney’s Hawaiian shirt with striped shorts was a much more elegant take on something that is traditionally acquired from Tommy Bahama, while Marni showed prints and colour, as Marni does—our favourite was a blousy black top with a graphic-print short skirt. Although the looks ranged from young to old, some pieces seemed much too tailored and stuffy for what most people might imagine to be a resort look. Lanvin’s tweed dress with a frayed hemline and sleeves looked nice (if not a little like a carpet sample), but we couldn’t imagine any woman not being uncomfortable under the hot sun wearing it.

Check out the new resort looks available at Holt Renfrew »

Gaspard, 913 Queen Street West (Image: Erin Simkin)

The place: With a prized spot opposite Trinity Bellwoods Park, a huge storefront window to let the sun in and an impeccably edited selection of elegant European lines, Gaspard feels like an old-school shop from a tree-lined Parisian street of yore. Check out our tour of Gaspard in a gallery after the jump.

The stuff: Owners Jennifer Halchuk and Richard Lyle have pulled off managing a successful, long-running Canadian line with their Mercy label, going strong in the wholesale market since 1994 (Japan loves the label’s timeless lines and quirky patterns). After recoiling from years of retail horror stories and a gruelling search through 40 different spaces all over the city, the pair finally opened Gaspard this fall to sell Mercy alongside other French-approved items, like Les Prairies de Paris separates, Indress frocks, Peter Ascher print scarves, Jamin Puech bags, Roberto Collina knits, Lorenza Gandaglia handbags from Italy and jewellery by New Yorkers Jane Hollinger and Gillian Steinhardt.

The shoppers: The occasional youngster wanders in due to the proximity of White Squirrel Coffee Shop, but it’s more the in-the-know 30-, 40- and 50-somethings looking for flattering pieces that last who drop by after stocking up on madeleines at Nadège. “We sell that Parisian silhouette,” says Lyle. “If you want volume, come here.” Case in point: a young-at-heart 70-year-old recently snapped up a gorgeous black wool Le Prairies de Paris long-sleeved shift, complete with sassy little pockets. At Gaspard, it’s all about the details.

Our favourite things: Cobalt plaid mohair Mercy swing coat ($620); Le Prairies de Paris gray raw-silk blouse ($290); navy zip-up jumpsuit ($360); leopard-print pony-hair flats ($310); La Botte Gardiane calf-high boots ($375); and Jamin Puech studded pochette ($410).

Take a tour of Gaspard in our gallery »

Gaspard, 913 Queen Street West, 416-546-7480, gaspardshop.com.

Welcome, Joe! (Image: JJ Thompson)

The place: When the strip west of Queen and Portland burned down nearly three years ago, rumours swirled about what retail outlet would take its place. Of course, a mixed-use development popped up, and yet another of the city’s woefully unattractive condo developments was born (ahem, Bohemian Embassy). Though the exterior is an eyesore, Joe Fresh, an even-cheaper-than-H&M store, is a boon to all those that had to schlep all the way to Joe’s other huge location on Lake Shore.

The stuff: With winter fast approaching, there are plenty of coats to be had, like a faux-shearling and faux-suede black bomber ($69), a down-filled coat that shines like polyester ($99) and a faux-shearling and faux-leather vest ($49). The coats aren’t Joe’s best, save for one duffle with oversized Buffalo check in cream, white and black. Joe has holiday-season fashion nailed, though, with fringed black miniskirts ($39), black sheath dresses in textured fabric ($49) and sequined skirts ($39), all of which can be accented with the unbelievably cheap tights ($6–$8) in every colour and print imaginable. There’s stuff for guys here, too, like the never-out-of-style oxford shirts ($39) in white and pale blue, cashmere V-necks in muted colours (there are two kinds of grey and two kinds of beige) or more vibrant ones, like eggplant, kelly green and peach. We didn’t love the whiskering on the faded grey jeans ($39), but their heavier-weight denim in deep blue is an absolute bargain (also $39).

The shoppers: Joe Fresh devotees (there are many—their fashion week show was the most well attended all week), Queen Westers and ladies tired of seeing their very expensive dresses on seven other girls at the party (though we expect the same will happen this holiday season, but you only paid next to nothing, so what does it matter?). Joe even promises to bring their runway looks to the store, so those that coveted this season’s collection will be in luck come spring.

Our favourite things: The shoes are spot on, like women’s shiny, golden brogues that look like Doc Martens meets Duckie Brown ($79), booties appropriate for the harsh Canadian winter that look like hiking boots with a menacing heel ($79) and men’s Sorel-type boots ($69) that could go from shovelling snow to shovelling food at some unmistakably hip resto-bistro-speakeasy. We also loved the Fair Isle sweater with a reindeer ($69) and the stocking stuffer–appropriate fleece hats, scarves and gloves ($9 for a set), men’s Ts ($5–$6), and sunglasses ($14–$19).

Take a look inside Joe Fresh’s newest Toronto store »

Kid Culture is full of whimsy (Image: Caroline Aksich)

The Place: Kids (and even their parents) are romanced by this whimsical children’s boutique from owner Clare Raman, who is still in the process of designing an interactive play area for tots at the back of her rectangular room at 2986 Dundas St. W. There is currently a miniature picnic table, along with puzzles, colouring books and animal figurines to keep children entertained while their siblings try on clothes. Even without a glut of toys luring the under-six set into the store, kids have been coming with mom and dad for a look at the wares in this schoolroom-inspired space. Vintage school desks, chairs and globes aren’t usually kid bait, but when it looks like the prankster from The Cat in the Hat switched the floor with the walls, they’re kid magnets—Raman has ingeniously used wall-fastened furniture as shelving.

The Stuff: Lifelong Junction resident Raman is a local girl who likes local stuff, so she carries only, you guessed it, local goods—everything on offer is both designed by Torontonians and made in the city. The selection of ankle-biter attire is wide ranging, with clothes designed for boys and girls from ages zero to 12. The Candi Factory shirts with a 504 King streetcar print are perfect for the urban planner in training, and for those who don’t want to say goodbye to summer, Things Aren’t So Terrible skirts ($30) come in bright colours and fun patterns such as gingham, polka dot and Dr. Seuss-style lizards. Aside from munchkin garb, Raman carries funky plush toys that she makes herself, pillows by The Blushing Maple and feline-themed stickers ($4) and bags ($25) designed by illustrator Cathy Peng.

The Shoppers: Young Junction families who have sought refuge in this artsy community for its quiet, tree-lined streets and still reasonable rent.

Our Favourite Things: Raman’s own brand of children’s clothing, Buttercup Days (the name took its inspiration from a poem by A. A. Milne—of Pooh Bear fame), is adorable, and if Buttercup Days rings a bell, that may be because Raman had a store by the same name in Mirvish Village in the ’90s. Back then she was focusing solely on creating up-cycled jewellery, which she also wholesaled to La Cache. Our favourites of the Buttercup Days line were Raman’s pint-sized ’60s-era coats made from a combination of new and vintage fabrics—all of the coats ($120) and dresses ($65) come with a little plush friend in the pocket. Again, adorable.

Does not apply to alien-related gatherings in parks (Image: Grant Hollingworth)

Last week, the city denied a permit to the group GoTopless, which had planned an event at Ashbridges Bay Park on Sunday to mark National Go Topless Day, where women are encouraged to be—you guessed it—topless. So instead, the organization decided to take to the streets in protest, marching through the city sans shirts. We thought the city seemed a touch prudish by rejecting the group’s original overture, but apparently women must be “properly attired” in parks and other public spaces, despite the 1996 Ontario Court of Appeal verdict that gave women the right to not wear tops as they please.

The National Post has the details:

In 1996, the case of Guelph activist Gwen Jacob led the Ontario Court of Appeal to rule that going topless is not, in and of itself, an indecent act. Ms. Brisebois believes GoTopless was denied a permit to bare breasts at Ashbridges Bay because the city of Toronto doesn’t understand the laws. “There’s no bylaw that governs toplessness, that’s a criminal code matter,” responds Bruce Robertson, acting executive director of Municipal Licensing and Standards, adding that while it is legal for women to go topless on the streets of Toronto, parks bylaws require appropriate attire. “You can’t be naked. Women can’t be topless. Unless you’re on that one stretch of beach where it’s ‘clothing optional.’

The Post also asked the strange but bizarrely appropriate question—is this about toplessness, unidentified flying objects or freedom (unlike the Toronto Sun, which went with a 10-image slideshow of bare chested men and women)? And the answer is probably all of above: GoTopless is the Canadian branch of an American organization tied to the Raelian Movement (a group founded by Claude Vorilhon, who believes all life on earth was designed by highly intelligent extraterrestrials that designated him a messenger). Frankly, we’re not sure which part is weirder: that women are allowed to be topless everywhere except the city’s parks or that the weekend protest genuinely had something to do with aliens.

• Topless activists march through the streets — but avoid the park [Toronto Star]
• Topless protect in T.O. [Toronto Sun]
• Where and when you can go topless in Ontario, and what it has to do with UFOs [National Post]

(Image: Maja Hajduk)

Plain white T Bargain Bespoke suit Custom shirt Espadrille Raw denim Summer loafer Sun hat Sunglasses

(Image: Maja Hajduk)

Espadrille
Chasse Gardée
1084 Queen St. W., 416-901-9613
Britney Spears loves Los Angeles shoe designer Jeffrey Campbell’s skinny-wedged, all-one-piece-of-black-leather Pixie, and Lady Gaga, well, she prefers the Gaga, inspired by her. But Campbell’s edgy shoes have also earned a devoted following among non-celebrities, who like the look and price. At Chasse Gardée, Campbell’s new taupe Tick Espadrille merges his now-trademark soaring platform heels with the season’s demand for wicker and straw. The casual staple is suddenly badass. $145.

(Image: Christopher Stevenson)

Summer loafer
Uncle Otis
26 Bellair St., 416-920-2281
Uncle Otis and Swims loafers go together like Otis Redding and vinyl. For both the Yorkville store (named after the King of Soul) and the Norwegian footwear designer, the name of the game is upscale casual cool, apparel in the style of soul music. Swims is known for galoshes and recently started making loafers out of mesh and rubber. They’re water-resistant and relaxed enough for sitting on the dock of the bay, but stylish enough for getting the hell up and going someplace fancy too. $160.

(Image: Carlo Mendoza)

Sunglasses
Spectacle
752 Queen St. W., 416-603-0123 (plus two other locations)
Some of us love vintage sunglasses for the quality—mineral-glazed, scratch-resistant lenses and sturdier, heavier plastic frames—but the real appeal lies in shades you won’t see on anyone else. The most coveted at the moment are by Austrian designer Cari Zalloni, whose Cazal designs garnered an ’80s cult following. (“Snatchin’ Cazals” was a hit hip-hop single in 1985.) At press time, Spectacle had exactly one pair of vintage Cazal 867s. In perfect condition, they’re the ideal complement to asymmetrical haircuts and hemlines. $1,050.

BEST HOME GOODS BEST FASHION BEST FUN BEST DINING BEST TASTY TREATS BEST FOOD BEST DRINKS BEST HELP CITY MAP

By Rachel Heinrichs | Photography by Sandy Nicholson

Last year I turned 30, broke up with my long-term boyfriend and moved into a tiny apartment for one. The domestic vision I’d had for my future—marriage, a semi-detached fixer-upper, kids with endearingly arcane names, homemade pie—dissolved overnight. When I tried to reformulate a picture of my future, alone, my imagination failed. Usually when I’m lonely or stressed out, I run. I’ve been running non-competitively for 10 years. It eases my anxieties more effectively than anything else I’ve tried: psychoanalysis, yoga, eBay buying sprees, binges on HBO series, even anti-depressants. When I run, for one blissful unmeasured hour, my brain stops spinning.

But after the breakup, I was having trouble getting out the door. I’d stare at my bare feet dangling off the edge of the bed, with the intention of putting on my socks and shoes, and find a reason to crawl back under the covers and watch another episode of Friday Night Lights. My running shoes went six months without feeling the warmth of human feet, during which time the ills normally staved off by running crept back into my life: insomnia, anxiety, the loose-fitting pants I store in the back of my closet.

It was during my hiatus from running that everyone I knew seemed to take up the sport. If you head out to High Park or the Beach boardwalk on a Sunday afternoon, or just look out your window right now, you’ll see them—gaggles of breathless runners chatting away or bopping headphoned heads, playing an unspoken game of one-upmanship that’s partly athletic and partly aesthetic. Or maybe you are one of them—an excessively hydrated, neon-clad, chisel-calved urbanite with a marathon on your mind and a bounce in your step (but not too much bounce, lest you strain your knees).

Friends of mine who once jogged casually a couple of times a week were suddenly amateur marathoners, and they were all too eager to tell me about it. At cocktail parties they’d regale me with the triumph of their latest barefoot race, extol the benefits of deep massage foam rollers for aching muscles and show me the settings on their new GPS watches (one friend carries hers in her purse, just in case she needs to fit in a run, or a conversation about a run). I had never talked about running because if you are a non-runner, you don’t want to hear someone prattle on about her cardiovascular supremacy; it’s like listening to vegans talking meat ethics at a barbecue. Obviously things had changed.

Acquaintances started pelting me with well-intentioned imperatives: “You should join a running group,” or “You have to sign up for a race,” or “The sense of accomplishment when you cross the finish line is amaaaaazing.” Their descriptions of the marathon experience rang with the reverence of new converts. Supporters will lionize you with Magic Markered signs, I was told, strangers will shout your name at the top of their lungs (it’s written on the bib you wear on your chest for this purpose), volunteers will bestow medals upon you, and your friends will marvel at your will power. It’ll change your life, they promised.

La La La Human Steps; the iconic Brick Works smokestack; Boyz II Men’s Wanyá Morris

1. LA LA LA HUMAN STEPS
This Québécois contemporary dance troupe, which celebrates its 30th anniversary this year, is known around the world for founder Édouard Lock’s beautiful, adventurous choreography. For the final production of CanStage’s 2010–2011 season, Lock combines two Baroque operas—Purcell’s Dido and Aeneas and Gluck’s Orfeo ed Euridice—into one inventive piece, Untitled. To June 1. $22­–$99. Bluma Appel Theatre, 27 Front St. E., 416-368-3110, canadianstage.com.

2. TAKE OFF YOUR CLOTHES
This clothing swap has more going for it than just a sassy name. We really can’t think of a better venue for budget-conscious style mavens who are looking to revitalize their wardrobes with brand-name and vintage pieces for less than the cost of lunch. And it can even be a family affair: in addition to clothing, shoes and accessories for the ladies, there are also offerings for men and children. May 27 and 28. $15. Trinity Bellwoods Community Centre, 155 Crawford St., 647-342-6521, theswapteam.org.

3. SQUARE PARTY (FREE!)
This concert and video presentation is an audio-visual extravaganza designed to thrill even the most composed AV nerds. With musical performances by Kids and Explosions, The Wooden Sky and DJ TLO, this is the unofficial kick-off of this year’s Worldwide Short Film Fest (which runs from May 31 to June 5), but we think it’s a worthwhile event all on its own. May 29. Yonge-Dundas Square, worldwideshortfilmfest.com.

4. TAN DUN: WATER AND PAPER CONCERTOS
Chinese composer Tan Dun creates music that’s for “listening to in a visual way and watching in an audio way.” You’d be forgiven for wondering what that even means, but luckily, we have the answer. Just for starters, “instruments” include the titular paper (here in the form of feather duster–like contraptions), big bowls of water and cardboard mailing tubes. Talk about a contemporary spin on classical music. May 26 and 28. $32–$141. Roy Thomson Hall, 60 Simcoe St., 416-593-4828, tso.ca.

5. JOHANNA SKIBSRUD (FREE!)
By now, even the latest of late adopters will have read Johanna Skibsrud’s Giller Prize–winning The Sentimentalists, even taking into account that slight publishing house–induced delay in getting copies to readers. This means there’s no reason at all to miss Skibsrud’s talk about the book at this free meet-and-greet, which features a Q&A and book signing with the author. May 28. North York Central Library, 5120 Yonge St., torontopubliclibrary.ca.

6. BOYZ II MEN
We don’t care what kind of music you were into in the early 1990s; Boyz II Men are responsible for some seriously timeless jams—“One Sweet Day,” “I’ll Make Love to You,” “Motownphilly.” Even though they’re down one member (Michael McCary left the group in 2003 due to health problems), we’re pretty sure this concert will be just like old times—and we mean that in the best possible way. May 27. $45. Kool Haus, 132 Queen’s Quay E., 416-870-8000, ticketmaster.ca.

7. DOORS OPEN TORONTO (FREE!)
Essentially a sanctioned peep show for the architectural set, Doors Open allows visitors to take a peak inside almost 150 of the city’s most impressive and mysterious buildings. Some highlights include the historic (and normally private) Arts and Letters Club on Elm Street, the recently redesigned Toy Factory Lofts in Liberty Village and the Evergreen Brick Works—all you have to do is show up at the front door. There’s also a number of talks, concerts and guided tours taking place at various buildings. May 28 and 29, Various locations, toronto.ca/doorsopen.

8. MANHUNT (FREE!)
It’s hard to believe it’s been going for so long, but fun-loving Torontonians have been meeting up once a week for the past eight years to play a rousing game of manhunt, a variation on tag where players who get caught team up to be “it.” First-timers may only want to commit to the first game, which runs from 8:45 to 9:30 p.m., but there’s also a second game, and afterward, participants forgo the bar in favour of other blast-from-the-past games, including freeze-tag and octopus, at a nearby playground. May 27. Edwards Gardens, meet at the corner of Leslie St. and Lawrence Ave. E., manhunt-toronto.org.

(Images: La La La Human Steps, Édouard Lock; Brick Works, Loozrboy; Morris, Luis Avilesortiz)

From Montreal to Toronto, Stacey Zhang seeks to outfit sassy nine-to-fivers (Image: Adam Moco)

The place: Independent retailers have struggled to stay in business on Queen Street east of Spadina, as most have been left cowering in the shadow of retail giants like French Connection and Zara. In a long-vacant space along this stretch, Montreal designer Stacey Zhang has opened a new location, hoping to lure her Toronto online customers and new fans with the shop’s airy high ceilings and Sex and the City colour palette.

The stuff: Budget-friendly, Canadian-made nine-to-five garb with a twist and day-to-night pieces are Zhang’s specialty. A plaid Peter Pan-collared button-up shirt-dress ($165), a graphic-print jacket with an oversize belt ($175), a sheer black short-sleeved button-up blouse ($125) and a gathered white Oxford ($125) all seemed perfect for spring.

The shoppers: Precocious and professional 20-something and adventurous 40-something women looking for work-appropriate clothing that’s neither boring nor typical of a chain store.

Our favourite things: We think the standard work uniform of skirt and blazer can be quite boring, which is why we like that Zhang is bringing some sass to separates and standard-issue frocks. We recommend taking a risk with purple and beige linen harem pants ($145), a convertible dress altered by a nautical-rope pulley system ($148), a dramatic gingham-print raincoat ($215) or a black cropped jacket with zip-off sleeves ($175). Finally, it seems there’s a new remedy to ward off the matronly siren song of a local Talbots.

Stacey Zhang, 292 Queen Street West, 647.346.2889, staceyzhang.com