To Market We Will Go

To market, to market to buy a fat pig
Home again, home again, jiggity jig
And if you should have fun with the kids on the way
That’s a good kind of family outing, we say…

This fall, we discovered that you don’t need to be a foodie or a trendster to enjoy a family outing to Kensington Market, one of Toronto’s oldest and most famous neighbourhoods (it’s a national historic site in fact), nestled just west of Spadina Avenue’s busy Chinatown. So get started with our savvy tour—it’s a fun weekend outing all year ‘round.

To start, park at the Kensington Garage Green P on St. Andrew Street, just west of Spadina, which puts you in stroller distance of the heart of the market. Then, to get tummies full and kids content, head across the street for a yummy dim sum lunch at the Bright Pearl Restaurant. You’ll find the huge bright room at the top of the building (note elevator access is available for strollers) full of young, old, families and Chinese locals (so you know it’s good and authentic). The food comes fast, always a plus when kids are dining, as you just choose what you want off the roving carts. The noise and buzz of the restaurant (it seats 350) is sure to drown out any normally unwelcome noises your family might be making!

After lunch, head west down St. Andrew and then north on Kensingon to Baldwin, for a walk around the market’s colourful buildings and storefronts. The variety of stores and exotic ingredients make for an educational experience for the kids. The produce stores sell fruits and vegetables you don’t normally find in your local supermarket (typically at lower prices too).The spice and nut stores have a selection from the most exotic places in the world, and the fish stores (there are several on Baldwin but we like New Seaway at 195 Baldwin) display a huge variety of whole fish, right from the sea. Kids can meet the friendly fishmongers and learn that fish does not come in a plastic wrapped styrofoam tray.

Going west on Baldwin to Augusta, you’ll find the style center of the market. Bungalow (273 Augusta Avenue) is a great source for new and vintage clothes and furniture, and Blue Banana Market (250 Augusta Avenue) is an artisans’ market, with hundreds of different sustainable/fair trade/organic items under one roof, and a really fun candy section (if you need a bribe…we’re certainly not above one once in a while).

Make your way back to the car, stopping for a coffee or hot chocolate—they have a mind-boggling selection of beverages—at cozy Moonbean Coffee Company (30 St. Andrew), and the outing is complete (it always is when you have coffee). And you’re ready to head home for naptime.

As you can see, we’re keen on Kensington.

Bright Pearl Restaurant
www.brightpearlseafood.com
(416) 979-3988
346-348 Spadina Avenue

Bungalow
www.bungalow.to
(416) 598-0204
273 Augusta Avenue

Blue Banana Market
www.bluebananamarket.com
(416) 594-6600
250 Augusta Avenue

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