"the village is getting pretty high-end as well."
It's been expensive for quite a while now - there are very, very few areas below 96th that are not high-end these days.
There's a real estate agent on the east side of Sullivan just south of Bleecker who sometimes has good deals in the village (my friend got a studio on West 4th for $1200/month, which - absurdly - is a bargain). There's an old motorbike in the storefront window. Trivia: Richard Gere lives in one of the exceptionally old townhouses across the street, which apparently were built to house some of Washington's troops.
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"Wizards of Ossington"
Creative, funky shops, cafes and galleries have sprung up on a previously obscure street.
DAPHNE GORDON
LIFE WRITER
Apr. 30, 2005
www.thestar.com/NASApp/cs...4640111057
Ossington is the new Queen.
"Even a year ago, if you said you were going to open a book store on Ossington, people would have thought you were crazy," says Tim Hanna, who saw the street's inner beauty and opened Babel, a used book and CD shop, six months ago.
"I love this stretch of the road," he says of the section of Ossington between Queen and Dundas Sts. W., where he and several other retailers have set up shop over the past few months, transforming the area from an unnoticed thoroughfare for cars to a funky and friendly little retail strip that invites shoppers to stroll.
"It's a bit rough around the edges, maybe," he says, looking out the front window of his shop. "But because of the gentrification of Queen St., people are feeling nostalgic for the old Queen St., the way it used to be. Rents have quadrupled on Queen. It's done; it's impossible to do something there. It's fun to go the other way," he says, noting the strange lack of north-south streets in Toronto with commercial zoning.
Indeed, the neighbourhood's reputation has suffered in the past. Its proximity to the Queen St. site of the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health Services, as well as a 2003 shooting at a karaoke bar that was linked to gang activity didn't exactly encourage the foot traffic that helps create a healthy shopping area.
A few pioneer retailers, such as clothing designer Deborah Korosec of Studio Gang, had been toughing it on the street for years. But when a large condo development started taking shape on the east side of Ossington Ave. last year, other retailers began noticing the area's potential.
Over the past year, several stores, art galleries, bars and restaurants have opened on the street. A theatre (Alley Theatre Workshop, 12 Ossington Ave.), a dance studio (MBS Performing Arts Institute, 100A Ossington Ave.) and a yoga studio (Yoga- Space, 148 Ossington Ave.) have also helped build buzz.
Now there's a real feeling of neighbourhood on Ossington. The shop owners, many of whom work in their stores daily, seem to know each other and enthusiastically refer shoppers to other hot spots on the street.
There's still improvement to be done, says Wynter Rosen, who, along with three friends, recently opened Sugarpants (63 Ossington Ave.), an eclectic emporium that sells a little bit of everything from art to ice cream.
Rosen is lobbying to have Ossington cleaned up. She has applied for a government grant that will allow her to hire a student to paint murals on large walls in the neighbourhood. It's part of an attempt to fight graffiti, a problem that has plagued the area for years.
She's also lobbying City Councillor Joe Pantalone for other improvements, including more street lights and better sidewalk cleaning.
In the meantime, there's a real feeling of discovering a hidden gem when shopping on Ossington. Personal service, reasonable prices and lots of parking make it a boon to browsers on a sunny Saturday.
But if you take a tour of nouveau Ossington on a weekday, be sure to call ahead, since many shops in the neighbourhood keep irregular hours.
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"Where to eat"
Choice goes from organic to fries And there are drinking spots, too
DAPHNE GORDON
LIFE WRITER
Apr. 30, 2005
www.thestar.com/NASApp/cs...alogin=yes
There's no lack of yummy spots to stop for a snack on Ossington Ave.
Get Real! (135 Ossington Ave.) is one of the yummiest. With a café selling beans and brew from Kensington Market's mecca for the dark stuff, Ideal Coffee, plus a selection of organic and wheat-free baked goods, it's become the noshing spot for the many granolas who visit the neighbourhood to take classes at nearby YogaSpace (148 Ossington Ave.)
With a few small tables for lingering over coffee and a short menu of healthy salads and sandwiches, Get Real! is a great place to stop for a high-energy snack during a shopping trip to the neighbourhood.
While you're there, pick up a few items to take home from among the selection of organic groceries and take-home food, many of them made locally.
There are lots of other choices.
Portuguese delis have been outposts on Ossington since long before its recent renaissance. At Venezia Bakery (114 Ossington Ave.), creamy custard tarts (85 cents) are the order of the day. The nearby Columbia Bakery (188 Ossington Ave.) offers tuna, chicken and egg sandwiches for $3 each. Served on chewy Portuguese buns, they're the perfect on-the-go snack.
If a substantial meal is what you're hankering for, the Crooked Star Lounge (202 Ossington Ave.) is the place for a midday stop. Burgers, fries and other pub food make up the menu, and the décor is English pub crossed with urban lounge. Sunday brunch is served à la Coronation Street and in the evening, watch for live entertainment by the likes of local blues and country singer/songwriter Andrew Penner.
If a straight-up drink is required after maxing out the credit card, Sweaty Betty's (13 Ossington Ave.) will provide. A funky little hole in the wall with a friendly vibe and a cute bartender who admits he couldn't make a fancy mixed drink if his life depended on it, SB's is the hangout of choice for artists and musicians who can't afford the new Queen St. W.
For takeout, try the Rua Vang Golden Turtle (125 Ossington Ave.), a clean and friendly Vietnamese joint with killer pho for less than $5. It's been given the thumbs up by the pickiest eater I know, Toronto Star food editor Jennifer Bain.