Good Stuff Cheap

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

Where to Get Good Stuff Cheap | 2012

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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The Dish

From the Print Edition

January 16, 2012 | 5:00 pm

6 Comments

Where to Get Good Stuff Cheap 2012: a pimped-out sandwich, the ultimate bargain gourmet meal

Where to Get Good Stuff Cheap | Sandwiches

Waldorf chicken salad
Bannock
401 Bay St., 416-861-6996
The excellent sandwiches at Oliver and Bonacini’s new downtown Canadiana spot Bannock epitomize the high standards and unfussy elegance of big brother Canoe, at grab-and-go prices. A savoury Waldorf salad—the classiest vehicle for mayonnaise and chopped chicken—arrives on a perfectly buttery, flaky croissant.

Check out three of the city’s most pimped-out sandwiches »

The Dish

From the Print Edition

January 16, 2012 | 3:00 pm

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Where to Get Good Stuff Cheap 2012: bar snacks that are as lip-smacking as they are cheap

Where to Get Good Stuff Cheap | Posh Nosh

Gourmet junk food
Toca Bar
181 Wellington St. W., 416-585-2500
Done up in corporate neutrals and colonized by Seven Sisters partners, the Ritz-Carlton bar serves the kinds of cocktails that come with lotus root garnishes and elderflower infusions—and cost $16 each. Sounds steep until you factor in the freebies delivered with the drinks: sticky, maple-glazed bacon, pan-fried capers and corn nuts. It’s gourmet junk food that’s impossible to stop eating, which is okay because the bartender replenishes the supply without judgment.

Check out three bar snacks that are a deliciously good deal »

The Dish

From the Print Edition

January 16, 2012 | 1:00 pm

6 Comments

Where to Get Good Stuff Cheap 2012: 14 foodie finds, from family-style feasts to cut-rate craft beer

Where to Get Good Stuff Cheap | Food

Family-style dinner
The Queen and Beaver
35 Elm St., 647-347-2712
The Sunday feasting menu at Elm Street’s authentic British pub is aptly named: for $22 a person, chef Andrew Carter will brine a loin of Ontario pork for two days before slowly roasting it and presenting it whole, bones included, for the head of the table to slice and serve. A bevy of seasonal sides—like golden beets, roasted root veg, mashed potatoes, heirloom carrots and green beans—is included, along with homemade apple sauce. Reservations are required by Thursday to give the kitchen time to prepare. Minimum five people.

Check out all 14 foodies finds after the jump »

The Goods

From the Print Edition

January 13, 2012 | 4:45 pm

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

Where to Get Good Stuff Cheap | Sweat it Out

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.

Check out all four exercise regimens »

The Goods

From the Print Edition

January 13, 2012 | 4:15 pm

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

Where to Get Good Stuff Cheap | Help

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.

Check out all 10 services, from pooch bathing to upscale alterations »

The Goods

From the Print Edition

January 12, 2012 | 5:05 pm

14 Comments

Where to Get Good Stuff Cheap 2012: 14 fashion finds

Where to Get Good Stuff Cheap | Fashion

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. Check out our 14-item fashion guide to living the good life for less »

The Goods

From the Print Edition

January 12, 2012 | 4:05 pm

2 Comments

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

Where to Get Good Stuff Cheap | Kids

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.

Check out three pieces of kids’ clothing that are both cheap and chic »

The Goods

From the Print Edition

January 12, 2012 | 3:00 pm

1 Comment

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

Where to Get Good Stuff Cheap | Beauty

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.
Check out three products that allow you to live the good life for less »

The Goods

From the Print Edition

January 12, 2012 | 1:05 pm

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

Where to Get Good Stuff Cheap | Happy hour

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).

Check out these four essential items for 60 minutes of low-cost boozy revelry »

The Goods

From the Print Edition

January 12, 2012 | 12:00 pm

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

Where to Get Good Stuff Cheap | No reservations

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.

Check out five items you need for the coolest, and most affordable, home-cooking experience »

The Goods

From the Print Edition

January 12, 2012 | 10:30 am

4 Comments

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

Where to Get Good Stuff Cheap | Home

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.

Check out our 17-item home guide to living the good life for less »

The Goods

April 28, 2011 | 2:32 pm

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Once again, Vaughan Mills Centre provides free transit to and from shopping trips

It seems no one wants to be at the Vaughan Mills Centre at night (above), but by day it is a tourist hotbed (Image: Vaughan Mills)

For those who live in downtown Toronto, the Vaughan Mills Centre may seem like a world away (it’s near Highway 400 and Rutherford Road, which isn’t exactly BIXI-accessible), but from May 1 through Sept. 30, the shopping mall will be shipping tourists and car-less Torontonians to Vaughan Mills via a relaunched gratis shuttle service from Union Station.

Bracelets for the service can be obtained on a first-come, first-served basis at the City Tours and Attractions desk inside Union Station. The shuttle departs at 10 a.m. and returns at 3 p.m. or departs at 1 p.m. and returns at 6 p.m. (we’ve done the math and that’s four hours of shopping, which is pretty much hitting the limit). We suggest checking out Holt Renfrew Last Call and the newly opened Betsey Johnson, or waiting for the standalone Joe Fresh location scheduled to open in mid- to late May.

The Goods

Good Stuff Cheap

March 21, 2011 | 2:17 pm

1 Comment

Sales and events roundup: Canadian Spa Week deals, 60 per cent off Fred Perry, Mykita trunk show

FASHION AND BEAUTY

GOTSTYLE
Save $50–$100 on a modern suit after trading in one of your never-worn boxy numbers. Proceeds from sales will go to dressyourbest.ca. March 15–April 10. 62 Bathurst St., 416-260-9696.

GOTSTYLE
Gotstyle has listed all of their straggling pieces at 70 per cent off their original price for their end-of-season sale, but quantities are limited. March 15–27. 62 Bathurst St., 416-260-9696.

JESSICA JENSEN
Handbags are always an expense, but Jessica Jensen’s upcoming sample sale lists up to 80 per cent off on all items (final sale). March 24–26, Thurs 12–8 p.m., Fri and Sat 12–6 p.m.. 639 Queen St W, Suite 404.

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The Goods

From the Print Edition

January 13, 2011 | 3:33 pm

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Where to Get Good Stuff Cheap

The recession might be over. The dollar is flying high. But we’re still feeling conflicted about money. Spend conspicuously and you’re either a heroic economy booster or a reckless squanderer. Admit it: your lingering frugality is fighting your inner lust for stuff. The solution? Think like Rob Ford (just the tightwad part) but live it up like a robber baron. Our annual guide to the city’s best bargains offers 200 ways to do it.

By Fraser Abe, Kate Daley, Alanna Davey, Andrea Ford, Carley Fortune, Patrick Fothergill, Rachel Heinrichs, Signe Langford, David Lawrason, Maryam Sanati, Courtney Shea, Amy Verner and Victoria Walsh

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