Danforth gift stores that’ll please everyone on your list
Once you’ve finished stuffing yourself with moussaka and spanakopita, it’s time to go gift shopping. The Danforth has an eclectic mix of shops offering great gifts for everyone on your list.
Gifts From The Earth
320 Danforth Ave, Toronto ON M4K 1N8This store stocks exactly what its name suggests: gifts that come from the earth and focus on the link between people and where we came from. You’ll find crystals, jewellery, dream catchers, incense, oracle cards, books, statues and First Nations products — all of which are top quality and will look gorgeous for years. Best of all, the prices are so reasonable you‘ll be tempted to pick up everything in sight.
La Di Da Boutique
128 Danforth Ave, Toronto ON M4K 1N1Shopping for gifts doesn’t have to mean trekking from store to store to satisfy each age group, especially when there’s one store that caters to everyone. La Di Da carries what seems like everything, from baby booties and swaddle blankets to jewellery charms and coin purses. And the high quality puts the store miles above kitsch.
Nharo
543 Danforth Ave, Toronto ON M4K 1P7This Danforth Avenue shop is named for Botswana Kalahari Bushmen, with products reflecting its African heritage. Inside, you can find African stone sculptures and woodcarvings, fair trade minerals, gems and jewellery, artifacts, musical instruments and much more. Through careful decoration, the shop avoids feeling like a cheesy tourist stop and instead becomes a magical place where you can spend hours looking at everything on display. Nharo also works with schools and charitable organizations to raise money for Africa.
Ten Thousand Villages
362 Danforth Ave, Toronto ON M4K 1N8With over 30 locations across Canada, Ten Thousand Villages has a reputation for stocking ethically sourced fair trade products and works with organizations interested in keep artisanship alive. It’s all but guaranteed that you’ll find items here you can’t get anywhere else, like metallic reindeer sculptures, gorgeous handcrafted earrings and nifty accessories to keep you warm when winter rolls around.
Treasure Island Toys Limited
581 Danforth Ave, Toronto ON M4K 1P9Warning: this charming store is filled with so many toys, there’s a very good chance you’ll be distracted from your gift-buying mission. The big pirate ship in the middle and various play stations set up around the store also don’t help to speed up the gift buying process if you’ve brought a little one along. Still, once you pull yourself away from all the cool toys, you’ll find the perfect gift in no time.
IQ Living
542 Danforth Ave, Toronto ON M4K 1P8This store was created just for the homemakers, cooks, bakers and design gurus on your gift list. It features tons of knickknacks, gadgets, accessories and tools for the home, ranging from simple things like shower curtains and clocks to deluxe items like Henckels knife sets and cast iron cookware. It’s also the kind of store where you don’t need a solid idea before you go in, just a bit of time to browse and get inspired.
