By Caitlyn Holroyd
Vintage Finds:
I Miss You (63 Ossington Ave.) – Mostly upscale vintage with plenty of affordable pieces and friendly service. http://imissyou.ca
Vintage Mix 1 (186 Ossington Ave.) – Flattering fits and plenty of cute purses and luggage.
Penny Arcade (1177 Dundas St. W.) – Great selection of everything from dresses to glasses, plus a fab $5 bargain rack.
Boutiques we love:
Jonathan + Olivia (49 Ossington Ave.) – Great clothing selection and the new home of Top Shop. http://jonathanandolivia.com
Red Canoe (1356 Dundas St. W.) – This shop stocks cool Canadiana to make you proud. http://redcanoebrands.com
Frantic City (123 Ossington Ave.) – For lovers of used books and rock n’ roll.
Grab a pint:
Dakota Tavern (249 Ossington Ave.) – This saloon-like bar is a great place to catch local bands. Western shirts need not apply (but are welcome attire). http://www.thedakotatavern.com
Red Light (1185 Dundas St. W.) – Small bar with an impressive beer selection and weeklies like Meat Raffle Mondays (yes, they raffle off meat!) and Slow Pitch Thursdays (slow jams).
Opera Bob’s Public House (1112 Dundas St. W.) – Bob-sized pints, great food, and live entertainment.
Unlovable (1415-B Dundas St. W.) – Plenty of cheap beers to choose from and a Star Wars pinball machine to keep you occupied.
The Painted Lady (218 Ossington Ave.) – Great beer selection and a cool laid-back vibe. Open mic Mondays pack the house. http://thepaintedlady.ca
Cheap Eats:
The Lakeview (1132 Dundas St. W.) – Open 24 hours, this diner is always busy thanks to their cheap eats and daily drink specials. We recommend their sweet potato fries served with sweet chili mayo. http://www.thelakeviewrestaurant.ca
Saving Grace (907 Dundas St. W.) – One of the more popular brunch spots in the city, it fills up fast so be prepared to wait. It’s worth it!
Gayley’s Cafe (1424 Dundas St. W.) – Quiet cafe with some delicious straight-up breakfast and lunch options.
Caldense Bakery (802 Dundas St. W.) – Topnotch sandwich and baked goods in the heart of Portugal village.
Golden Turtle (125 Ossington Ave.) – Some of the best pho in the city with plenty of vegetarian options.
Dancing ’till Dawn:
The Ossington (61 Ossington Ave.) – Always a good time with a diverse rotation of nightly parties. Friendship is one of our favs! http://theossington.com
LeVack Block (88 Ossington Ave.) – If you want to dance, the back room here is a sure bet. Fun, carefree vibe.
OurHouse (214 Ossington Ave.) – A little taste of Clubland in the Ossington hood. Danceable tunes and party scene.
People watching:
Ezra’s Pound (913 Dundas St. W.) – Coffee shop near Trinity Bellwoods with a prime people-watching patio. http://www.ezraspound.com
Crafted by Te Aro (135 Ossington Ave.) – Coffee comes with a side of eye candy here. Mmm.