East End Arts is encouraging you to shop and support local businesses and creators this holiday season in east Toronto and beyond!
There’s no doubt that it’s been a rough year for everyone, notably local businesses and creators who have been forced to close their storefronts for the holiday season due to recent Covid-19 restrictions in Toronto and other hotspot regions. And so, with the 2020 holidays just around the corner, now we all need to think a little harder about the gifts that we’re buying, and where we’re buying them from!
Of course, the team at East End Arts has been busy thinking about all the ways we can still support local artists, creators, businesses and organizations from our local communities, and how we can offer our support and money to those who will appreciate it and need it the most this season. From Leslieville to GreekTown, to Riverside to The Danforth, we have so many amazing neighbourhoods in east Toronto, all with a plethora of local businesses to support.
And so without further delay, here is our 2020 Local Holiday Gift Guide! We hope you love it as much as we do, and that you find some unique gift ideas for your holiday shopping! We know that the pandemic may alter our holiday preparations and gatherings this year, but we also know it won’t stop the spirit in our communities to show some #EastEndLove and #SupportLocal!
-LOCAL GIFT BASKETS & KITS-
- Holiday Gift baskets from Riverdale Hub featuring locally produced goods and artisanal products! Order yours online at www.riverdalehub.ca or here.
- Gift Baskets, Gift Boxes and Bottle Shop from Good Cheese! They are open through lockdown, offering curbside service, pick up and delivery (all M1-M9 area codes). Visit and order at www.shop.goodcheese.ca
- Curated Care Packages from Gotamago made up of all Canadian-made gifts, which can be sent directly to the recipient with a gift message! Order online at www.gotamago.com
- Bake At Home Subscription Boxes from Soul Chocolate featuring some of the best chocolate on the planet. Visit and order online at www.soulroasters.com
- Wine & Meal Kits from Gare de l’Est (inside Crow’s Theatre)! Visit and order online at www.gdlbrasserie.com
- Build a Gift Box (including the 2020 is Bananas Gift Box) from The Penny Paper Co! Visit and order online at www.pennypaperco.com
-LOCAL ART PRINTS & CARDS-
- Art Prints, Cards and Apparel from Secret Planet Print Shop! Currently offering local pick ups Thursdays-Saturdays, 2pm-6pm. Visit and order online at www.secretplanet.ca
- Greeting Cards & Stationery from Queenie’s Cards on the Danforth! Visit and order online at www.queeniescards.com
- Art Prints and Frames Art from Workshop Gallery! Curb side pickup and drop off for framing is available. Visit and order online at workshopgallery.ca
-MUSIC & BOOKS-
- Vinyl Records (and some local coffee and scones) from Press Vinyl Cafe! To check out the vinyl collection and order online, visit www.quarantunes.me
- A collection of perfectly curated books for your special someone from Queen Books on Queen East! To view and order online, visit www.bookmanager.com/queenbk/
- Books Galore from Book City (with two locations to choose from in east Toronto – Danforth Avenue & in the Beaches)! Open for curbside pickup and deliver. Visit online and order at https://shop.bookcity.ca
- Vinyl and Merchandise from Tiny Record Shop! Open for curbside pickup, Tuesdays-Sundays, 12-6pm. Visit online and order at www.tinyrecordshop.com
- Enjoy a variety of French books for young children from Children’s French Book Corner! Currently offering curbside pickup at 2205 Danforth Ave. Visit and order online at www.childrensfrenchbookcorner.com
-GOODIES FROM LOCAL MAKER SHOPS-
- Art pieces from local artists and artisans from Arts on Queen! Open for curbside pickup Mondays – Sundays from 10-6 for curbside pick up. Their windows are rearranged to showcase a wide variety of work, and photos of available pieces can be found on Facebook & Instagram.
- Local Pieces of Art from Blue Crow Gallery (Paintings to Pottery)! Online sales will be via email (info@bluecrowgallery.com) and phone (647-427-2400), while the available pieces for sale will be posted on their Instagram and Facebook Page.
- A large variety of handmade, Canadian and/or independent maker gifts from Scout (Leslieville location)! To view and order online, visit www.iheartscout.com
- Support your local makers through the Leslieville Flea’s Virtual Holiday Market! Follow them on Instagram; check their feed each morning to see who will be taking over their stories that day; there will be a max of 3 vendors per day, Sundays – Wednesdays, now until December 9.
- Stationary, Apothecary, and other Pretty Things from Collected Joy! Order all your goodies online at www.collected-joy.com
-LOCAL MAKING KITS-
- Grab a Ceramics to Go set from The Clay Room! Order some ceramics and paints from their website, and have some fun at home. Visit www.the-clayroom.myshopify.com
- Buy some At Home Art Kits (Clay Character Kits to Winter Crafts) from The Make Station! Visit and order online at www.themakestation.ca
- Art Kits, Activity Books are more from Create Art Studio on the Danforth! Visit online and order at www.createartstudio.ca/shop-main
- Virtual Paint Night Kits from Fresh Paint Studio! Delivery and pickup options are available. Visit www.freshpaintstudio.ca for more info.
- Electronic and Robot Kits for kids from Little Robots Friends! Currently offering free home delivery for residents of East Toronto. Visit online to order www.littlerobotfriends.com/collections/all
- Glass in a Box Home Kits from Verbeek Studios! Currently offering delivery or curb-side pickup. Visit online at www.verbeekglass.com
-GAMES, PUZZLES & MORE-
- Puzzles, Games & more from Old’s Cool General Store! Open 9-6pm, seven days a week (deemed an essential business because they offer grocery). Visit at 250 Westlake Ave or online at www.oldscoolgeneralstore.com
- Game Collectibles & more from from Face to Face Games! Open for curbside pick up and “literal window shopping”. Visit at 1398 Danforth Ave or online at www.facetofacegames.com
- Games and Puzzles for Kids from The Swag Sisters Toy Store! Visit and order online at www.theswagsisters.com
- Games, Arts & Crafts from Treasure Island Toys! Open for curbside pickup and delivery. Visit & order at www.treasureislandtoys.ca
-VINTAGE TREASURES-
- Find some unique vintage clothing from East Toronto’s Coffee & Clothing! Currently offering curbside pickup and free delivery available in Toronto. Visit and browse online at www.coffeeandclothing.ca
- Shop Vintage Baby products and others at Good Intentions on the Danforth! Currently offering free next-day delivery in the GTA on orders $20+, and curbside pickup. Visit www.shop.goodintentionsto.ca to order.
- Find some unique vintage clothing from Gadabout Vintage Clothing! Currently offering curbside pickup. Visit www.gadaboutvintage.com
-MORE EAST TORONTO FAVOURITES-
- A Vintage Puzzle, Front Door Concession Stand Treats & a Gift Card from Fox Theatre! Visit and order online at www.foxtheatre.ca/events
- A gift card for some delicious Empanadas, Arepas and more from Poma Rosa, voted Toronto’s favourite Latin American restaurant. Visit and order online at www.pomarosa.ca
- A gift card for some delicious food, and other great finds in the General Store of Lazy Daisy’s Cafe, one of Toronto’s favourite cafes! Visit and order online at www.lazydaisyscafe.ca
- E-gift cards and some pints of lockdown survival ice cream from Wong’s Ice Cream! Visit and order online at www.wongsicecream.com
-ART FROM LOCAL EAST TORONTO MAKERS & ARTISTS-
- Unique colourful crayon gift pieces from local East Toronto artisan, Say it with Crayons! Visit www.etsy.com/ca/shop/SayItWithCrayons
- Fun merchandise pieces from local East Toronto artists Trixie and Beever! Visit and order online at https://www.bbj.ca
- One of a kind watercolour sports paintings from local East Toronto artist Mike Nguyen! Visit www.etsy.com/shop/mikenguyenart
- We encourage you to check out our 2020 East Toronto Artist Spotlights on our Instagram Page to discover more local artists and artisans that you can support and order from this holiday season!
-ART SUPPLY STORES-
- Order all your Beads for Jewelry Making (or get a gift card for someone else to) from BeadFX! Order online at www.beadfx.com
- Get some great art supplies and stocking stuffers from Midoco Art & Office Supplies! Curbside pickup is also available. Order online at www.midoco.ca
- Explore unique art supplies and gift ideas from Above Ground Art Supplies! Currently offering delivery, curbside pickup, over the phone personal shopping and more. Visit www.abovegroundartsupplies.com
-OTHER GIFT SHOPS & MORE-
- Find some beautiful pottery, art, throws and knits from The Irish Design House! Visit and order online at www.theirishdesignhouse.com
- Find unique gifts for the home from Moss Garden & Home! Currently offering curbside pickup and delivery. Visit and order online at www.mossgardenhome.com
- Find a unique collection of high-quality mineral specimens, spiritual items, & more from Gifts from the Earth! Currently offering curbside pickup and delivery. Visit online at www.geologicgallery.com/store/shop-all/
- Unique gift items from La Di Da Boutique. Free local delivery for orders of $50 or more. Visit and order online at www.ladidaonthedanforth.com
- Find unique lifestyle fashion items from Good Neighbour on Queen East! Currently offering curbside pickup, deliveries, virtual shopping and more. Visit online at www.goodnbr.com
*Banner image by Erik Mclean