My First Visit
I heard about Old’s Cool General Store at 250 Westlake Avenue in East York from my brother-in-law who knew it was right up my foodie alley!
We went over last December to check it out. Can you ever tell by the wan winter light in the above photograph.
Outside the store you could see this RESIST guerilla yarn art which for me was so exciting! I had read a book on this subversive creative project and here it was outside the store. It was already living up to its name… So cool!
I was going through a retro food phase and picked up this Peanut Butter Cap’n Crunch which was just as ridiculously awesome as it sounds.
I had also been on the hunt to find Pop Shoppe Pop, the Lime Ricky in particular and my brother-in-law thought the odds of finding it here were good and he was right!
Summer Visit
Then on Old’s Cool General Store Facebook Page I saw that they had Death In Venice Gelato! I had tried their Blackberry Earl Grey Gelato when I was with a friend on Queen Street and it was fantastic so I was enticed to visit once more.
They also had Central Smith Ice Cream from Peterborough. So many options!
The Hike
First I took myself for a long hike.
Under bridges, along a river and was surrounded by green. Sometimes I forget how much green there is in Toronto in the summer.
After I shot this photo another man biked past me. Steering with one hand and making a business deal with the other. OMG, so Toronto!
The Ice Cream
Now it was the first actually warm day in the city and I knew where I wanted to go.
By this time I had not just fallen in love with the store but with their philosophy from following them on social media:
“…we want to live rich social and cultural lives within our community…”
They hold book readings and truly believe in creating a boutique community centre. I was immediately welcomed and felt at home when I introduced myself at the store.
Seriously, this is a foodie nirvana! Fresh baked goods and just about every treat you can imagine.
Oh it was so hard for me NOT to buy Whatchamacallit! It is on my list and if I was not already in the mood for ice cream I would totally have bought it. I needed to cool off!
Ice cream, essential oils, treats…
I was so determined to get the Death In Venice Gelato…
But then I heard about Central Smith Ice Cream Peanut Butter Chocolate Ice Cream.
Yeah, I was a goner. That was the one!
Absolute perfection! Creamy, rich, delicious… OMG, so good! The perfect brunch after a long hike.
Third Visit
So yes, I may be getting a little obsessed with Old’s Cool General Store, I admit it.
And I don’t care. Did you know I am obsessed with copper?! Copper measuring cups!
And measuring spoons??? Oh how I ached to buy them but no, that was not why I was here.
OK I wasn’t there for a unicorn corkscrew either but isn’t it the coolest?!
The Travel Straw Set
Once again I found out on Facebook some excellent intel! They had a travel straw set and look how tiny it is! It was only $9.99.
I bought it and it fit perfectly in my little purse! I had a silicone one but it was so flimsy. I could not even stir my iced coffee with it and it is useless in frappuccinos.
Not only does this one come with its own carrying case, the straw AND the cleaning brush are telescopic!
Isn’t that amazing?!
I brought it out with me twice now and it works like a charm and even has a protective nozzle on top!
Summer Changes
I am going to be moving to a temporary home in less than two weeks and am trying to live as much life as I can before the chaos begins. As well as learning how to let go of my old life and embrace the ever-changing new one I am living now.
Having Old’s Cool General Store as a home base with amazing people and products and reminders of the past and treasures of hopefully my future helps keep me going. Yes, sometimes I have ice cream for breakfast because life is hard but elephant grass that grows well above my head in this urban landscape reminds me that life is miraculous and anything can happen.
I will continue moving forward, flowing with this river of change I am swimming in now. Life is an adventure. I am going to enjoy each bite of it as I can. Damn the brain freeze.
It sort of reminds me of one local stores, Under the sun. Never know what one finds but I have to say the items in there can be a little pricey.
But usual once a week I go and have a cup of coffee.
Coffee is on
That’s great you have a similar store where you are too Dora! It’s always nice to have a spot to enjoy a coffee in.
Oh, Pop Shoppe Pop! I used to buy that stuff by the crate load in Winnjpeg! Fill a plastic crate with pop, take it home, drink it and then bring back the crate and empty glass bottles! Environmentally conscious, if not nutritionally.
And, speaking of the environment, love your travel straw set! What a great idea!
Oops! Hit return instead of tab and turned into a freaky little monster!
Same here Debra! My dad would buy it for our birthday parties and yes, first sign of recycling ever. Thank you! Yes, trying to save the planet one less plastic straw at a time.