This new Yorkville womenswear boutique focuses on trendy, current pieces from the world's fashion capitals (New York, L.A., Paris), but strives to stay within an affordable price point. Unabashedly feminine, you'll find delicate silks, lots of colour, and various Toronto exclusives, as well as a small stock of consignment pieces.

Read my profile of Craft and Guile in the fashion stores section.

The best DIY spots in Toronto offer something for everyone--whether you want to learn how to make a fascinator, build a bike, learn to silkscreen, master knitting, or even those looking to learn the basics of film. In short, everything you need to be well on your way to Etsy stardom.

This new restaurant and cafe on Bloor St. has a former chef from Lucien in the kitchen, and a range of soups, sandwiches, salads, baked goods, and smoothies--all aimed at serving up healthy fare from breakfast to dinner. You'll find delectable treats from Circles and Squares Bakery, antibiotic and hormone-free deli meats, and freshly-baked breads from Ace and St. Johns Bakery.

Read my review of Black Rabbit Cafe in the restaurants section.

Just open near Yonge and Bloor this new burger joint boasts a range of classic and gourmet burgers on house-made buns, as well as homemade gelato. It's only natural, then, that they offer up what might be the city's first gelato burger (yes, it's what it sounds like) and are seriously considering adding alligator and bison burgers to the menu as well.

Read my review of Capitano Burgers & Gelato in the restaurants section.

This new shop in Parkdale is the brainchild of two longtime partners--one is a florist, while the other crafts waxed canvas and leather bags. Curious what such a marriage of minds would yield? A stock that includes printed pillows and tea towels, bath and body products from Montreal's Dot and Lil, all manner of bags, and beautiful terrariums in an array of sizes. They also provide floral arrangements for occasions and weddings, and a letterpress in their open studio area that's available for rental, with letterpress workshops coming soon.

Read my profile of Crown Flora in the design section.

The top 10 cookie companies in Toronto work hard to make goods that are guaranteed to whet your appetites from cafe displays around the city; rare is the day when I'm able to resist the allure of a sugar-or-chocolate-chunk speckled cookie. Whether your particular weakness is decadent chocolate, festive cinnamon, or a simple, beautifully-executed shortbread, these cookie companies have you covered, and many of them even have proper storefronts or open-to-the-public bakeries, as well as selling pitch-perfect espresso-partners to cafes and restaurants.