I like antique stores. They’re interesting. Unlike your main street shops, they have unique items you won’t find anywhere else, and I have to admit – I do like searching for a bargain, even if it means I have to sift. I find the times when I do find something worth purchasing much more rewarding, like whatever I’ve found is a little prize for myself for being so darn wily and persistent. Since these very special times are rare, shopping at vintage/antique/secondhand stores serves as a built in check and balance against my intrinsically haphazard spending desires. This suits me.

I was out and about on Queen West in Toronto recently where there is an abundance of antique shops. They’re worth going to, if only to look at the little treasures, because prices can tend to be a bit steep at these joints where they know what they have is one-of-a-kind (I’m talking fullsize medical body posters from the 60’s, old-school sports equipment, crazy fabrics and lamps – similar to that leg lamp in what was that movie called?).

On the other hand, my favourite shop on Queen West was much more reasonable in terms of prices and a delight to browse through. It is called the Painted Table. You can tell the owners are much more selective about what they bring in, and although it is a crowded space, it is delicately arranged and there is subtle attention to detail. If you do go, please don’t buy the big red mirror on the wall when you first come in because I call first dibs!

P.S. What’s up with these baby doll parts in a bowl? I have no idea! Yet another weird and wonderful image from the antiques world.