Timbuktu

In the beginning (the 80s) there was Frida’s: before Pier 1, when Thai food in Toronto was only a twinkle in the eye of patrons of Satay on the Road. Frida’s had beautiful Indian fabrics, elaborate chunky furniture in dark woods, little birds covered with mirrors, funky and classy clothes, incense, little painted boxes, etc. etc.
Frida’s was a favourite haunt of mine as a kid; it was an immense exotic treasure trove that carried a few things I could actually afford. My mom bought the fabrics and cushion covers, and splurged on the occasional outfit. I admired the scarves and overdyed bags, and wished I could have a divan in my bedroom at home.
Frida’s changed hands, was renamed Timbuktu, and then relocated to Yonge a few years back. The basics are still the same — the fabric prints are almost identical (and still very beautiful) and there’s more emphasis on clothing. I wish they still carried the beautiful hand-​blown Mexican tumblers in cobalt blue.
It isn’t as one-​of-​a-​kind as it was 25 years ago, but they have some excellent items.