Time for Tea

I am not a coffee drinker. I can’t stand the smell of freshly brewed coffee, especially first thing in the morning. I don’t like anything coffee flavoured, OK, I do like Coffee Crisp. When I say I don’t drink coffee people assume that it’s because of the caffeine and then they start to ramble on about how tea has way more caffeine than coffee. As soon as I tell them I don’t like either the taste or the smell, they immediately clam up.
I’m a tea drinker. I take it strong, hot and with a decent amount of skim milk in it. I enjoy different varieties of tea, but not herbal ones. Green tea is fine from time to time and I have to be in the mood for Earl Grey.
Say Tea has something to make any and all tea drinkers happy. Most of the tea they sell (their own brand) is loose leaf, but they do offer some bagged tea. Most recently they have been offering ‘Tea to Go’, which just means you can buy a single cup of tea to enjoy during or after your visit.
I try to visit their Bloor Street West location at least 3-4 times a year to stock up. On my most recent visit their front window was decorated in a Teddy Bear’s Picnic theme with two huge stuffed bears sitting at a picnic table “having tea”.
Of course, any store that sells tea usually sells tea accessories/accompaniments and Say Tea has a great selection of these. Amongst the tea pots, tea cups, mugs, tea strainers, miniature tea sets and tea cosies you will also find preserves, gourmet cookies, fancy sugar cubes, chocolate covered caramels, greeting cards from Warm Fuzz Cards, and teddy bears. They also had a few items I'd never seen before. Check out the Bodum cosies and cup wraps by Honeysuckle Cottage Sales (and their travel tags).
I like that you are able to buy sample packages so you can try a few teas out without having to invest a lot of money and then find out you don’t like them. Say Tea has their own brand of bagged tea in sample packs - 5 bags for $1.50 or you can get 10 bags of Taylors of Harrogate tea for $3.50. They also carry boxes of bagged tea by Barry’s and T of H’s Yorkshire Gold (my fave!) They also have a lovely selection of Rooibos teas you should try.
Oh yeah, as I was paying for my purchase I noticed they are now selling coffee. Let's hope it doesn't take over.
located at 2362 Bloor St W and 2496 Yonge St

Jolanta Interiors

You will find gourmet kitchen wares, unique glassware and contemporary home accents in this small but well stocked store with a European flare. Jolant Interiors is an authorized Alessi dealer, carries Lampe Berger and is the sole distributor of Universal Stone. They have a great selection of amber rings and their silver jewellery is 20% off right now. Before you get to the jewellery though, you have to make it past the wall of kitchen gadgets such as olive spoons, seafood forks, ladels, peelers, pitters and the item that caught my eye - the tea bag squeezer.
The colourful aprons with matching oven mitts and pot holders would make excellent house warming gifts. Their bakeware section is small but well stocked. Their pineapple upsidedown cake pans are on sale for $29.95 (regular $45.95) and they turn out six mini pineapple-shaped cakes. There's a lot to look at in this quaint store, but if you take your time you'll find little gems like the glass frog and butterfly magnets for $0.75.
located at 2368 Bloor Street West (www.jolantainteriors.ca coming soon)

Quipus Crafts

Jewellery, Home Accents, Pottery, Furniture is what it says on the Quipus Crafts sign, but they sell much more than that. The silver jewellery is beautiful and so are the amber earrings. This is a great store to pick up unique or whimsical gift items. Some of the itmes that would make great gifts are lamps, hooks and necklace holders with dress and purse themes, business card cases, wind chimes, placemats and napkin holders, and my favourite - GelGems. While gift shopping, make sure to treat yourself to a colourful, hand crafted tote bag or purse.
Don't forget to check out their patio in the back for cute garden itmes.
located at 2414 Bloor Street West

Old Fashion Fun

Polka Dot Kids carries toys of a different kind for infants and toddlers. Nothing you purchase from this store will require batteries. What will you find? Arts and crafts style mobiles, toy food made from colourful fabrics (such as pancakes & doughnuts with sprinkles), animal stamps and ink pads, a small selection of books and wooden toys. They do have a small rack of clothing as well as bibs, booties and bags. Little ones will love the cute, plush animal rattles and musical animals by Trousselier Paris (after clicking on the link, scroll down to the giraffe rattle). But my favourite items were the bumble bee and cow by Wheelybug.com. What could be more fun then riding around on your own little bug mobile?!
917 Queen St West

Free Movies

Beginning Tuesday June 26th, free movies are being shown at Yonge & Dundas Square. The theme this summer is Futuristic Flicks. Everything from the 1956 classic Forbidden Plant to The Minority Report. Movies start at sunset so bring your lawnchair, lots of snacks and enjoy! Free movies will run from June 26th until August 28th. Check out http://www.ydsquare.ca/ to see what's playing each week.

ENDS

ENDS is a discount clothing store that is always an adventure. Some days you walk away empty handed, other days your arms are so laden down with great deals you can barely see your way to the check-out counter. They carry a large selection of women's clothing but some of the best deals can be found in the men's "section". Occassionally they will have a rack or two of children's clothing. Right now is a great time to pick up summer essentials. Some of the deals on women's items - Jantzen two piece swimsuits sizes 12 and up $9.99; golf shirts $5.99, Levi's capris $11.99, tank tops for $5.00, Hush Puppy anklet socks pkg of 6 for $9.99.
In the men's department - golf shirts $3.99, t-shirts $1.99, short sleeve shirts $1.99, Misty Mountain skater shorts $19.99, assorted other shorts $12.99; Perry Ellis sport jackets for $59.99!
Some other good finds: Haviana flipflops $12.99; girls bathingsuits $6.99; good quality bath towels $9.99.
1930 Queen St E (and other locations)
PS: don't forget to check out their store 2 doors down that carries women's designer label clothing at reduced prices.

Books Magazines Vidoes

BMV is the place to go for gently used books, DVDs, comic books and magazines; and yes, they do carry movies in VHS format. You can pick up paperbacks for as low as $3.99 and DVDs start at $8.99. Not all of the books are second hand, there’s a large number of over-runs, but the books that are second hand are in excellent shape and most of them look like new.
Their selection of books ranges from fiction and chic-lit, to history, art and self help. Upstairs is where you will find shelf upon shelf of sci-fi and comic books as well as children’s books. This is an excellent place to buy reasonably priced DVD box sets of such popular TV shows as The Sopranos, Six Feet Under, Sex and the City, Stargate SG-1 and many more.
2289 Yonge St, north of Eglinton
(other locations: 10 Edward St & 471 Bloor St W)