Bloor West/Roncesvalles (Little Poland)
beauty/spas
Sukha Spa
294 Roncesvalles Ave. 416 207-9100
Along with the always-popular massages, facials and such, this serene spa (tucked away in a converted Victorian house) offers reiki, aromatherapy, an organic chocolate sugar scrub, ayurvedic treatments and esthetic essentials like waxing, tinting, and manicures. For the adventurous, there’s an O2 session: $20 gets you 20 minutes of oxygen inhalation, straight up or with a little added “flavour.”
$ to $$$$
California Sun Spa
2198 A Bloor St. W. 416 762-7772
This old-school salon, staffed almost entirely by eastern European esthetics pros, is a treat for the gal who likes her pampering without pretense. For those heading south for vacation this winter, consider the full-body exfoliation and self-tanning combo. For the adventurous, there's the list of slightly mysterious body treatments to choose from, including the Yonka facial and mud treatments.
$ to $$$$
accessories/clothing
Frock
97 Roncesvalles ave. 416 516-1333
Sure, Frock is stocked with, well, frocks. But the real deals in this shop are the fab accessories. Look for hats by Deluxe, cool belts in metallic and leather, jewellery by Glo in geometric designs, undies by Squeezed (don't miss the Betty Boop and Spider-Man prints) and funky resin bracelets in 60s and 70s shapes and colours. Bonus: The Frock Head Salon has recently opened in the bright basement so book a cut, colour or highlights priced from $40 up. Talk about convenient.
$ to $$$$
Trixie
2313 Bloor St. W. 416 762-0084
Recent renovations have added a saucy hint of bordello to this western fashion outpost. Amidst swags of red velvet drapery, Classy Girl tees and tanks, tweed corsets, denim minis, pants and sweaters by Dex and Buffalo, Fidelity army jackets and jeans by Second Denim, Mavi and Dish. Walk right to the back and discover a cute collection of boots and shoes by Guess, Steve Madden, Kenzie and Puma.
$$ to $$$$
décor/lifestyle
Soapscope
297 Roncesvalles Ave. 416 588-8621
It smells like a different (delicious) shop every day. That’s because
the store’s soap-making workshop is at the back of the space, leading
to a delectable and really, really strong scent of whatever hand-made potion they’re making that day. Could be soap, bath bombs, shower gels, face creams or body lotions in any of 40 scents including seashore, Zen, burst, cappuccino, lily and more.
$ to $$
Mrs. Huizenga
121 Roncesvalles Ave. 416 533-2112
It’s like someone scoured 500 yard sales, ditched the broken dustbusters and kept all the cool stuff. You’ll find crystal hanging room dividers, real granny shoes, cuter-than-they-sound crocheted purses, vintage books, albums, espresso sets, jewellery boxes, melamine dinner ware, globes (for playing “find the countries that don’t exist today”) and oddball keepers like a stackable ant farm.
$ to $$$$
food
Granowska’s Specialties
175 Roncesvalles ave. 416 533-5775
This family-run shop was the official pastry provider for (Polish) Pope John Paul II on not one but two of his trips to Canada, which must say something about the a) quality and b) authenticity of the baking. Stop by to sample poppy seed strudel, cheesecake and a traditional pastry called a paszki— like a jelly doughnut, but way better.
$
Legend: $ = Under $20 $$ = $20 to $50 $$$=$50 to $80 $$$$=$80 to $100
