The Gems of West Queen West – Part 1

I don’t get to go downtown very often but when I do, my favourite area to explore is West Queen West.  I start my walk on Queen and Bathurst and stroll to Trinity Bellwoods Park.  The stores in this area are so unique.  Lots of artsy stuff, original fashion, lovely furniture stores and lots of great finds for kids.  The things you find here, you won’t find anywhere else.  Stores here open rather late and are closed on the odd day so if you have something specific in mind, best to call ahead to check their schedule.  This is part of a 3-part series so check in for more of West Queen West over the next couple of days.

Click “Continued…” to read about the first 3 stores.

Ella & Elliot

Ella & Elliot (188 Strachan Ave., off of Queen, across from Trinity Bellwoods Park)  is a super trendy store where you will find all the hottest stuff on the market for modern tots.  They carry the Nurseryworks line of furniture exclusively in all of Ontario.  I salivated over this bookshelf and ended up buying a beautiful set of thick pencil crayons that were made in Poland instead.

Polka Dot Kids (917 Queen W.) has a tiny, unassuming storefront.  You could walk right past it and miss this gem.  Inside there are tons of neat things for kids.  Wooden mobiles and toys, stamps, clothing and books.   Everything is…Little.  Different.  Simply adorable.  Most of the items come from Japan…and even the store website is in Japanese.    I bought my alphabet-obsessed son a beautiful set of  letter stamps that come in a small wooden box for $12.  Love it!

The Red Tea Box (696 Queen W.  and this place doesn’t have its own website!) is the place to go with a couple of  girlfriends for a long and relaxing lunch or High Tea.  When you enter, you will find a sweet little tea shoppe and lots of interesting looking pastries.  Walk through the back door, and you will enter a beautiful patio and another indoor sitting area.  It is a precious little place furnished with antique sofas and girly-chique decor.  I didn’t have much luck with the desserts but everything I tasted in the lunch menu was divine.  I especially recommend the chicken curry sandwich made on ever-so-fresh raisin bread.  The menu offers an eclectic and interesting mix of flavours and there are two or three girls who host and create the dishes on the spot which explains the slow pace.  This is not the place to go for a quick lunch.  I promise you will love this place if you have time to enjoy it!  Call ahead to check when they are open though as their schedule varies.