I was not planning on posting on baby clothing but a couple of my friends didn't know about Zara Baby and Zara Kids so I guess I have no choice but sharing that with you...
So yes, Zara has clothes for babies, including small babies. However, Zara Mini (that's how they call the line for small babies) is available at Yorkdale only and it's really worth a trip. I guess it's like everywhere else the section for girls is twice as big as the one for boys but you can find nice stuff for both and you could almost dress your baby up like yourself!!! without paying the high price. Clothes are affordable there and I find the sizing pretty accurate.
You will be happy to know that not only do they have clothes but they also have accessories such as shoes and bathing suits.
In Toronto, the stores at Eaton Centre and Yorkdale have stuff for babies but nor Queen Street West or Bloor Street (and remember Yorkdale has free parking so whatever you will be saving on parking you can spend it on clothes!!). Yorkdale also has a pretty cool nursing room with sofas.
I try not to go there too often because I would buy something different each time and we all agree to say that most of the time babies don't need anything!!!
Items are average prices (you may pay $30 for pants and $10/$20 for a shirt, sorry not sure about prices for girls stuff) and they get new stuff all the time.
In other words, highly recommended!!
Thursday, July 23, 2009
Wednesday, July 15, 2009
le Select Bistro
Cocorico!!! You may not know what that means and that's fine but French people (I am part of it and I am not sure if it's a good thing or not) use that Cocorico to say "hey! Look, this is cool and this is french" and I would like to use that little word for le Select Bistro, a typical french brasserie located at 432 Wellington street (at Spadina). I believe it is one of those old places in Toronto but they moved into this new location only a few years back. You will never find it by chance but apparently everybody in town knows about it....
Anyways, le Select Bistro is a nice place for brunches (dinner is also very good but I haven't experienced with a baby yet). You get the french atmosphere (the good side of it!!), french food and a beautiful patio. If you read some of my previous articles, including the post about Sassafraz, you will notice that I am a big fan of croque monsieur and the one at the Le Select Bistro is dellliicciioouuss... It comes with a salad or french fries I believe.
The cold mixed meats platter with ham, pates and french "cornichons" has a real flavour of France...
Dishes are nothing fancy, they are just traditional french dishes that French people like to share between friends when they want to have a good time. The bouillabaisse and choucroute are also good choices depending if you are looking at calories or.... not (but definitely not for brunch)!!
And prices are just right and actually pretty cheap compared to other french restaurants.
And as for the mommy friendly side of it I am not sure as I didn't have to use any baby stuff but I know for sure that the staff is really friendly.
A good address you may want to share with your girlfriends. For more info, you can visit their website at http://www.leselect.com/ but you should note that they are several steps to get down to the washrooms. On the other side, it is located in a tiny quiet street, they have a few free parking spots and lot of space on the patio and the dining room to accomodate your stroller(s).
Anyways, le Select Bistro is a nice place for brunches (dinner is also very good but I haven't experienced with a baby yet). You get the french atmosphere (the good side of it!!), french food and a beautiful patio. If you read some of my previous articles, including the post about Sassafraz, you will notice that I am a big fan of croque monsieur and the one at the Le Select Bistro is dellliicciioouuss... It comes with a salad or french fries I believe.
The cold mixed meats platter with ham, pates and french "cornichons" has a real flavour of France...
Dishes are nothing fancy, they are just traditional french dishes that French people like to share between friends when they want to have a good time. The bouillabaisse and choucroute are also good choices depending if you are looking at calories or.... not (but definitely not for brunch)!!
And prices are just right and actually pretty cheap compared to other french restaurants.
And as for the mommy friendly side of it I am not sure as I didn't have to use any baby stuff but I know for sure that the staff is really friendly.
A good address you may want to share with your girlfriends. For more info, you can visit their website at http://www.leselect.com/ but you should note that they are several steps to get down to the washrooms. On the other side, it is located in a tiny quiet street, they have a few free parking spots and lot of space on the patio and the dining room to accomodate your stroller(s).
Jacadi... Baby Clothing
This little phrase is a well known game for kids in France. For the purpose of the game it would become Jacques a dit... (Jacques has said) and you would be able to add any actions at the end of it, such as Enfile tes chaussettes (meaning put on your socks). Kids just love it. But Jacadi is also a french brand for baby clothing and that one, moms just love it:)
When I was pregnant I found out that Toronto has 2 Jacadi stores (one downtown in the Hazelton/Whole foods mall on Avenue Road and one at Bayview Village North of Sheppard) and I was so excited that we went baby shopping there plenty of times. They mostly have clothes from new borns to 12 year old kids but also accessories (bathing suits, hats, shoes, socks, etc...)and furniture for baby rooms. The collections are more of a classic style and colors are no more than light blue, pink, white, beige and for "mad" Jacadi fans a little bit of red!! As per the bedding and the furniture, you pick your collection and you get anything you need or want (vocabulary is so rich that we can use 2 different words for the same definition:) from that same collection.
One downside: prices. They are pretty high compared to other brands so you may want to go there for a special occasion or when they have sales.
Both locations offer free parking and if you spend more than $1000 (that sounds like a lot of money but cribs, strollers or car seats are expensive anywhere) you get a $50 coupon.
Something I like about that store is the large choice of clothes they carry for boys.
And to wrap it up, one trick: if you are pregnant and you don't know what you're having, you can purchase anything you want in advance from 2 different collections as long as prices are the same, pay for it (obviously) and they will keep items from those 2 collections on stock for you (that's what we did with the Chateau collection and it worked out pretty well) and when your little wonder is finally here, you can just go and pick up your stuff.
Unfortunately you cannot buy online in Canada but you can always take a look at the catalogue at http://solution.poptract.fr/Jacadi/120000600059/109/ and then drop by for a great shopping experience.
I don't want to be mean but when I go back home (in France) I get the same stuff for 50% less!!! Hope you will like it anyways!
When I was pregnant I found out that Toronto has 2 Jacadi stores (one downtown in the Hazelton/Whole foods mall on Avenue Road and one at Bayview Village North of Sheppard) and I was so excited that we went baby shopping there plenty of times. They mostly have clothes from new borns to 12 year old kids but also accessories (bathing suits, hats, shoes, socks, etc...)and furniture for baby rooms. The collections are more of a classic style and colors are no more than light blue, pink, white, beige and for "mad" Jacadi fans a little bit of red!! As per the bedding and the furniture, you pick your collection and you get anything you need or want (vocabulary is so rich that we can use 2 different words for the same definition:) from that same collection.
One downside: prices. They are pretty high compared to other brands so you may want to go there for a special occasion or when they have sales.
Both locations offer free parking and if you spend more than $1000 (that sounds like a lot of money but cribs, strollers or car seats are expensive anywhere) you get a $50 coupon.
Something I like about that store is the large choice of clothes they carry for boys.
And to wrap it up, one trick: if you are pregnant and you don't know what you're having, you can purchase anything you want in advance from 2 different collections as long as prices are the same, pay for it (obviously) and they will keep items from those 2 collections on stock for you (that's what we did with the Chateau collection and it worked out pretty well) and when your little wonder is finally here, you can just go and pick up your stuff.
Unfortunately you cannot buy online in Canada but you can always take a look at the catalogue at http://solution.poptract.fr/Jacadi/120000600059/109/ and then drop by for a great shopping experience.
I don't want to be mean but when I go back home (in France) I get the same stuff for 50% less!!! Hope you will like it anyways!
Wednesday, July 8, 2009
Hair of the Dog Neighborhood Pub in the Village
No surprise that Hair of the Dog at Church and Maitland is not the ideal place for us, mommies. The patio is great with some shade and the menu offers lot of variety. However this is a smoking patio and it can be pretty busy and lively at night. During the day it is still pretty busy so definitely a great place to go but when you're planning to go with your girlfriends, ask your husband to babysit... I am sure he will agree and if you need to convince him just tell him it is a simple neighborhood pub in the Village and that they have affordable prices. And if you still want to go with your stroller, prepare yourself not to get much space for it but other customers are always willing to help and baby friendly. See menu and more info at http://www.hairofthedogpub.ca/.
The restaurant room is pretty dark so again it might not be the right place for a baby.
The restaurant room is pretty dark so again it might not be the right place for a baby.
Tuesday, July 7, 2009
Lusso Restaurant and Lounge on Harbourfront Toronto
How great it must be to enjoy a nice hot summer when we're on mat leave! Oh right we're in summer but where is the sun then? Anyways the weather is depressing enough so let's talk about those great patios where we could go if there was some sun... Lusso, owned by the Fornaio chain, is one of them. You won't miss it as it is, in my opinion, the prettiest patio on Harbourfront and it offers a beautiful view on Toronto islands, the ferries and the lake. Again not the ideal place for babies but the staff will be happy to help. However those nice tables and benches on the upper patio are not really appropriate for strollers so you will have to stay on the lower deck.
As per the food, lots to choose from, including healthy dishes like a tomato with vegetarian stuffing. The caprese (tomatoes + mozzarella) is nothing italian but the chowder is well served with real shrimps and seafood.
And if you go on a chilly day they have those pink blankets to cover you up and keep you warm. Toronto may not have the best harbour front in the world and everybody knows that but Lusso is a good place for lunch or cocktails and dream, about those past days where we could spend hours and hours on a patio, before your baby wakes up and reminds you that those days are over!!
I am not sure if they have their own website yet but you can take a look at their sister website http://www.ilfornello.com/
As per the food, lots to choose from, including healthy dishes like a tomato with vegetarian stuffing. The caprese (tomatoes + mozzarella) is nothing italian but the chowder is well served with real shrimps and seafood.
And if you go on a chilly day they have those pink blankets to cover you up and keep you warm. Toronto may not have the best harbour front in the world and everybody knows that but Lusso is a good place for lunch or cocktails and dream, about those past days where we could spend hours and hours on a patio, before your baby wakes up and reminds you that those days are over!!
I am not sure if they have their own website yet but you can take a look at their sister website http://www.ilfornello.com/
Sassafraz Restaurant in Yorkville Toronto
Sassafraz is well known in the heart of Yorkville for whatever you want: brunch, lunch, dinner or martinis. But their patio on Cumberland street is the right spot to see and to be seen! I am not going to say that the place is baby friendly as there are steps everywhere and no changing table but the staff definitely is. They will be happy to accomodate and make some space for your stroller (the little corner on the west end of their patio is pretty convenient). There might be a little bit of a line up but you're in Yorkville so that's the least you can expect:) I didn't have dinner in a long time there but martinis and drinks are always well prepared and if you go by yourself cars and people walking by will keep you busy.
If you want to go there for brunch I would highly recommend the croque monsieur. It is not on the menu anymore but you can ask and I am sure they will do for it. They did for me. The other nice thing about the brunch on Sundays is the jazz band (in the dining room though) but that was before the economic downturn so I am not sure how often they have it now:).
Their website is at http://www.sassafraz.ca/Sassafraz.aspx.
Sit back, relax. You're in Yorkville so put on your high heels and sunglasses...
If you want to go there for brunch I would highly recommend the croque monsieur. It is not on the menu anymore but you can ask and I am sure they will do for it. They did for me. The other nice thing about the brunch on Sundays is the jazz band (in the dining room though) but that was before the economic downturn so I am not sure how often they have it now:).
Their website is at http://www.sassafraz.ca/Sassafraz.aspx.
Sit back, relax. You're in Yorkville so put on your high heels and sunglasses...
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