The globe’s most coveted brands—and our own national favourites—are readily available right here in YYZ. Click any of the slideshow images below to view Where Toronto‘s favourite international items for the holiday season.
Styled images with colour backgrounds photographed by Luis Albuquerque. Off-figure styling by Daniel Onori/Plutino Group.
From bookstores to author readings to a thriving literary scene, this city has everything a bibliophile could desire
By Sheri Radford
The central branch of the Vancouver Public Library fills a full city block and sports a living roof. Photo by KK Law
Vancouver International Writers & Readers Festival
Name a well-known author and chances are that writer has appeared at this annual festival in the past 22 years. Among the most celebrated previous guests: JK Rowling (Harry Potter), Salman Rushdie (The Satanic Verses) and Audrey Niffenegger (The Time Traveler’s Wife). This year’s festival (Oct. 19 to 24) showcases more than 100 authors in 67 lively events, ranging from a poetry bash to a literary cabaret to daytime events (some in French) for schoolchildren. It’s six days of heaven for readers.
A Salon with Yann Martel
Spanish-born Canadian author Yann Martel took the world by storm with Life of Pi, a novel about an Indian boy trapped on a life raft with a tiger. His new book, Beatrice & Virgil, is an allegorical tale about the Holocaust. Readers fortunate enough to snag a ticket to A Salon with Yann Martel (Oct. 24), which is a pre-event for the JCC Jewish Book Festival (www.jccgv.com/JewishBookFest), will enjoy a cocktail reception with the master storyteller in a private home. L’chayim!
Vancouver Authors
It doesn’t matter whether an author was born here, moved here or just spent a few years here—we claim them all as Vancouverites, because we know they’re all West Coasters at heart.
• Linda Bailey, Stanley’s Party
• Wayson Choy, The Jade Peony
• Douglas Coupland, Generation X
• Sarah Ellis, Pick-Up Sticks
• William Gibson, Neuromancer
• Nan Gregory, How Smudge Came
• Joy Kogawa, Obasan
• Evelyn Lau, Runaway: Diary of a Street Kid
• Annabel Lyon, The Golden Mean
• Kit Pearson, Awake and Dreaming
• Al Purdy, The Cariboo Horses
• David Suzuki, The Sacred Balance
• Timothy Taylor, Stanley Park
Everything about Kidsbooks appeals to young readers. Photo by KK Law
Vancouver Magazines
You might already be reading local magazines without even knowing it. Adbusters (www.adbusters.org), Modern Dog (www.moderndogmagazine.com) and Nuvo (www.nuvomagazine.com) are all produced right here in Vancouver.
Vancouver Public Library
If the central branch of the library looks familiar, it may be because the distinctive building has popped up in movies and TV shows such as The Sixth Day, The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus and Battlestar Galactica. (Or it may be because architect Moshe Safdie’s striking design evokes thoughts of the Roman Colosseum.) Celebrating its 15th anniversary this year, the downtown building regularly hosts free events such as book club meetings, computer workshops, film screenings and talks. This month, authors Annabel Lyon (Oct. 4), Caroline Adderson (Oct. 5) and Keith Billington (Oct. 26) all discuss their latest releases. To buy books of your own, stop by the library’s annual fall sale (Oct. 21 to 24) and search for a treasured tome among the thousands of used books. Or simply find a quiet corner on one of the library’s seven floors to relax with a novel or magazine.
Kidsbooks
Lively colours and kid-friendly decor fill all three locations of this store, inviting children into the magical world of books. The eager readers on staff each carry around at least a card catalogue’s worth of information in their heads, easily answering questions about which titles a seven-year-old reluctant reader or 11-year-old goth girl or 16-year-old sports fanatic might enjoy. This month, David Wiesner (Oct. 13) and Pseudonymous Bosch (Oct. 14) drop by the West Broadway location to entertain kids of all ages.
Barbara-Jo’s Books to Cooks
If your twin passions are reading and cooking, are you ever in luck. This store is crammed full of books that get mouths watering. In addition to the expected cookbooks and epicurean magazines from around the world, some hidden treasures make slow, thorough browsing a necessity: out-of-print books and other rare finds hide tucked away in the corners, carefully chosen by owner Barbara-jo McIntosh. She’s both a foodie and an author, having
Three floors of reading material galore await in Chapters on Robson. Photo by KK Law
published titles such as Tin Fish Gourmet and Cooking for Me and Sometimes You: A Parisienne Romance with Recipes. Special events in-store this month include a knife skills class (Oct. 2), slow-cooker demonstration with Erik Akis (Oct. 22) and Indian tea with Madhur Jaffrey (Oct. 24).
Chapters/Indigo
Readers flock to Canada’s largest bookstore chain for the in-store Starbucks cafes, the assortment of gift items and—above all else—the huge selection of books, magazines and newspapers. Touch-screen kiosks allow immediate access to a seemingly endless array of titles for sale on the company’s popular website (chapters.indigo .ca)—handy for those whose tastes run more to the obscure and less to the teetering stacks of Stephen King and Nora Roberts novels. Special events at the Chapters on Robson include talks by authors Robert Herjavec (Oct. 4) and R.A. Salvatore (Oct. 16).
Books About Vancouver
Forget the tacky t-shirts and snow globes—books make much better souvenirs.
Douglas Coupland’s City of Glass (Douglas & McIntyre, $24.95) is a love letter to the city, filled with insider knowledge such as how Vancouver is similar to The Simpsons, where “the nakedest place in Canada” is and why the Grouse Grind is better than a singles bar.
Compiled by the Chef’s Table Society of BC, Vancouver Cooks 2 (Douglas & McIntyre, $40) bursts with more than 100 recipes from 70 local chefs, making it an ideal memento for foodies.
Vancouver Then and Now (Thunder Bay Press, $22.95) by Francis Mansbridge explores the city through paired photographs—one old, one new—of prominent locations.
On July 1 our home and native land marks its 143rd birthday. Even if you’re just adopting Canada for the day, these red and white products help you show some patriotic pride.
Clockwise from top left:
>> 100 Photos That Changed Canada book by Mark Reid, $45, Indigo.
>> Maple leaf key holder, $63, Swarovski.
>> Canadian Shield T-shirt, $32.50, Red Canoe.
>> Village Bag International, $158, Roots.
>> xcase Nation carry-on suitcase, $99.97, The Bay.
It’s getting hot, hot, hot! Cool down this weekend with Bajan cuisine along the waterfront before checking out what Toronto has in store for you.
Friday: Pick up yarn, fabric and more at the Textile Museum (photo by Mr. T in DC)
Friday, May 28
Warm weather knocks at your door in true island fashion with Barbados on the Water. Head over to the Harbourfront Centre today and tomorrow for Bajan cuisine, fashion, theatre and live music by Barbadian artists.
Slide on up to Hemingways to celebrate the Yorkville institution’s 30th anniversary. Steak frites are on the menu tonight, or arrive at 2:30 p.m. in order to fill up on corn on the cob, barbecue fare, bar snacks and beer. The festivities culminate with an evening of live entertainment and prizes.
Get your bargaining skills ready because the Textile Museum of Canada’s More Than Just a Yardage Sale is an opportunity too good to pass up. Today and tomorrow, dig up goodies like patterns, yarns, quilt fabrics and other useful craft materials while doing your part to support the museum.
Grab a cold pint at C’est What?. Tonight’s special: sample from a selection of more than 14 cask beers and 30 draughts as part of the brew pub’s annual Spring Festival of Craft Breweries.
Saturday: Browse Old City Hall and many other buildings as part of Doors Open.
Saturday, May 29
Admire architecture and satisfy your curiosity as Doors Open Toronto enables visitors to explore 150 historic and cultural buildings, including Canada’s National Ballet School, Toronto’s Old City Hall, Black Creek Pioneer Village, and the Casa Loma stables and plotting shed.
Striving to eat well? Those with a taste for fresh, local home cookin’ are invited to stop by a farmer’s market and bring their fixin’s to Beach United Church, where Amuse chef Pat Riley offers a lesson on the fine side of cooking. Leftovers will go toward a Sunday lunch for lower-income Torontonians.
Unravel a mystery at Indigo‘s Yorkdale location with Peter Lerangis and Gordon Korman, bestselling authors of the popular 39 Clues books. They let you in on some secrets and follow up the afternoon with a book signing.
Experience the unique combination of steel pan and voice in And Still We Sing…Steel Singin’, the Nathaniel Dett Chorale’s final performance in its 2010 Glenn Gould Studio series.
Sunday: See miniature diorama-like models at AWOL Gallery.
Sunday, May 30
Engage in cosplay events and game shows—or while away some hours perusing the manga library—on the final day of weekend-long festival Anime North.
Beware of side stitches at the World Cup of Comedy, a humorous tribute to the “beautiful game” and its upcoming World Cup tournament. Comedians Ahmed Ahmed, Angelo Tsarouchas, Frank Spadone and special guest Trevor Boris (“Video on Trial”) gather at the Panasonic Theatre for humorous banter, including topics such as—you guessed it—soccer.
In line with this weekend’s architectural goings on, visitors can explore the relationship between people and buildings at AWOL Gallery, where Rose Bianchini and Jason van Horne’s exhibition, titled Neighbourhood Watch, employs creative miniatures to demonstrate how space plays a powerful role in the formation of identity.
Settle into a seat at historic Massey Hall and let comedic actor Eddie Izzard entertain you with his sharp wit and inimitable sense of the absurd.
The growing popularity of tea has spawned a proliferation of specialty shops carrying loose-leaf varieties and such accoutrements as infusers and steepers. Whether it’s a cup for one or a pot for a party, put the kettle on for some black, green, oolong, chai or rooibos.
Clockwise from top left: Perfect Tea Mug, $19.50, David’s Tea; Lenox Chirp teapot, $234.50, William Ashley China; Harney & Sons tin of tea sachets, $9.99, Indigo; glass teapot, $25, Teaopia; Japanese origami tea caddy, $14.95, Tealish.
Swarovski's Cheshire Cat pendant
You don’t have to fall down a rabbit hole to find yourself in the fantastical world of Lewis Carroll’s Alice in Wonderland. On March 5, director Tim Burton brings the book to life with his own gothic twist; his new movie sees Alice reuniting with the Mad Hatter, the Cheshire Cat and the Red Queen 10 years after her original tumble. Inspired by the film, crystal purveyor Swarovski has introduced a collection of whimsical baubles representing the characters and themes of the classic children’s novel, including a Cheshire Cat pendant with black diamond, indicolite and light rose pointiage crystals ($165). If you’re looking for more tributes to Alice and her friends, Indigo carries tea cups and pots as well as an illustrated version of the book, while OPI has four bold lacquer hues with cheeky names like Off With Her Red!, available at Caryl Baker Visage.
Michael Zheng's The Stop. Photo by KK Law
1 The Vancouver International Sculpture Biennale, on until next year.
2 Rediscovering the sweets of yesteryear at The Candy Aisle. PEZ, Big League Chew, Sweetarts, Nerds, Runts, Laffy Taffy—yum.
3 The fact that pretty much every city block contains at least one coffee shop.
4 Watching the annual Polar Bear Swim (Jan. 1) with something—and someone—hot.
5 Lights of Hope (to Mar. 21), raising money for St. Paul’s Hospital.
6 Cheap eats at Hon’s Wun-Tun House.
St. Paul's Hospital's Lights of Hope. Photo by KK Law
7 The Shoppers Drugmart on Davie Street, which is open 24 hours a day.
8 Exploring the centre of the city.
9 Stephen Colbert. He’ll be here next month—whether as the official sponsor of the US speed skating team or as the City of Richmond’s Olympic Oval Ombudsman or even as an Olympic athlete, we don’t know. We do know the host of Comedy Central’s The Colbert Report will make us laugh.
10 Catching a sunlit glimpse of the snow-covered North Shore mountains from downtown, and planning an escape to Grouse.
11 Nala, the seven-month-old (but only recently named) baby beluga at the Vancouver Aquarium. The name is short for an Inuktitut word meaning “surprise gift.”
12 Cheering for the Vancouver Canucks.
13 The clean, crisp winter air.
14 Counting down to the 2010 Winter Games.
15 The World Needs More Canada collection at Chapters and Indigo stores, which includes books by Canadians such as Margaret Atwood and Rex Murphy and accessories such as a red umbrella sporting a patriotic message you can’t ignore.
In a country well known for its literature, Toronto is a particular hotbed of bibliophilia. Pick up these Toronto-centric tomes at one of many bookstores, then peruse the pages at a neighbourhood café.
Type Books
READ Stunt, the 2008 debut novel from playwright Claudia Dey follows sharp-witted Eugenia Ledoux from eccentrically residential Parkdale to the Toronto Islands to what is now the Distillery Historic District, on a search for her capricious father. More local cred: Stunt is published by Coach House Books, a city staple for nearly 40 years.
SHOP Owned by two women with doctorates in Canadian literature—Type Books (883 Queen St. W., 416-366-8973) is an indie success story with three shops across the city. The original Queen Street West location also features a lower-level art gallery, and all locations proudly feature many small-press titles.
SIP Floor-to-ceiling bookshelves add a scholarly touch to the eclectic ambience at Tequila Bookworm (512 Queen St. W., 416-603-7335). The artsy hot spot serves up a variety of caffeinated drinks, sandwiches and huge waffles to fuel your reading session. Weather permitting, grab a seat on the second-storey patio.
(more…)
Michael Zheng's The Stop. Photo by KK Law
1 The Vancouver International Sculpture Biennale (pictured at right), on until next year.
2 Rediscovering the sweets of yesteryear at The Candy Aisle. PEZ, Big League Chew, Sweetarts, Nerds, Runts, Laffy Taffy—yum.
3 The fact that pretty much every city block contains at least one coffee shop.
4 Watching the annual Polar Bear Swim (Jan. 1) with something—and someone—hot.
5 Lights of Hope (to Mar. 21), raising money for St. Paul’s Hospital.
St. Paul's Hospital is all lit up until March 21. Photo by KK Law
6 Cheap eats at Hon’s Wun-Tun House.
7 The Shoppers Drugmart on Davie Street, which is open 24 hours a day.
8 Exploring the centre of the city.
9 Stephen Colbert. He’ll be here next month—whether as the official sponsor of the US speed skating team or as the City of Richmond’s Olympic Oval Ombudsman or even as an Olympic athlete, we don’t know. We do know the host of Comedy Central’s The Colbert Report will make us laugh.
10 Catching a sunlit glimpse of the snow-covered North Shore mountains from downtown, and planning an escape to Grouse.
11 Nala, the seven-month-old (but only recently named) baby beluga at the Vancouver Aquarium. The name is short for an Inuktitut word meaning “surprise gift.”
12 Cheering for the Vancouver Canucks.
13 The clean, crisp winter air.
14 Counting down to the 2010 Winter Games.
15 The World Needs More Canada collection at Chapters and Indigo stores, which includes books by Canadians such as Margaret Atwood and Rex Murphy and accessories such as a red umbrella sporting a patriotic message you can’t ignore.
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Stay, Dine, Do
