(Image: Carlo Mendoza)
When everything from computers to pickup trucks is getting the eco treatment, it’s startling to think that the fresh-cuts at your local florist aren’t actually very green—not with all the unsustainable farming methods and unfair trade practices and greenhouse gas–burning transportation involved. But the most recent floral trend to hit Toronto is environmentally friendly bouquets, all locally grown tulips or eco-certified calla lilies or wild hosta leaves. They come in lush, overgrown arrangements that look like they were plucked straight from a backyard garden—because, ecologically speaking, they might as well have been. Bouquets from $50. Sweetpea’s, 163 Roncesvalles Ave., 416-537-3700.
The Triumph Thruxton is a screaming mass of curves and chrome and undeniable retro cool—the amped-up automotive equivalent of a straight razor shave. It looks like the famous café racers of the 1960s, a direct descendant of the kind James Dean and Steve McQueen rode (or at least straddled for photo ops). And while it looks great, its styling cues—skinny wheels, low-rise handlebars, minimalist body—are built for speed. The 865cc eight-valve DOHC parallel twin engine is big and loud and capable of taking you from Dark Horse to Dark Horse in unheard-of time. Then again, this bike will also elicit lustful stares parked in front of said cafés on a sunny afternoon. Riding it is just a bonus. $10,799. Ride Motorcycles Toronto, 7730 Islington Ave., 905-851-8000. 
Trying to combat the rain—or the cold half-snow that passes for April rain—with a flimsy corner store umbrella is a futile endeavour. Which is why we’re happy to report that traditional full-size umbrellas are making a comeback. The best of them is the English-made Swaine Adeney Brigg, carried by both Prince Charles and that dude from The Avengers. Note its hand-carved oak handle (also available in chestnut, bamboo and Malacca), adorned with a gold collar; its high-tensile steel ribs, strong enough to carry a full-grown woman from rooftop to rooftop; and its ample canopy of durable nylon that promises to keep you Sahara dry. $579. Betty Hemmings Leathergoods, 162 Cumberland St., 416-921-4321.
Good food comes at a price. For dedicated kitchen design geeks, that price is $18,000, which is what it costs to own Aga’s newest cooker, a 970-pound cast-iron behemoth dubbed Total Control. It operates like a traditional Aga—using stored, radiant heat to produce constant cooking temperatures and therefore tastier, juicier food—with a high-tech twist. This one can be switched on and off in a matter of minutes or programmed to turn on automatically at a certain time. And if that doesn’t make your mouth water, this will: an iPhone app for long-distance preheating is in the works. The Aga Shop @ Grange Toronto, 150–154 King St. E., 416-943-0242.
