Anarchism and Fauvist Sunglasses: Leslieville in Words and Pictures

We here at Vanity Fare are sitting on a secret as stale as a Coffee Time muffin. (To which I say, perfect, something else to add to my dry cleaning bill). Although we’ve been staking out the area for ages – garbed in balaclavas and army fatigues, a box of Timbits standing by in the glove compartment – we’ve failed to cover the hottest It spot in the city. That’s right, we’re talking about the new queen of Queen Street, Leslieville. Everyone’s writing about it these days, dontcha know. So before the band wagon races off without us, we’re jumping on it like Tom Cruise Oprah’s couch. Maniacal laughter appreciated, but not required.

How does Leslieville fare, you ask, patting yourself on the back for your puny, er pun-y wit? Personally, I’m just excited that people are talking about something in the east end without the words “drive-by” or “homicide” in the same sentence. (Don’t worry Scarlem, I’ll always love you. No matter how many times I get mistaken for a prostitute walking down Kingston Rd at 8am on a Sunday). While Leslieville does live up to its concurrent reputation as the new yuppie central – think babies in gold snow pants and a disproportionate number of dogs dressed in sweaters and booties – don’t think it’s been entirely gentrified. There are still divey bars, greasy all-day-breakfast spoons, and homeless men stalking the streets yelling “Fuck Ireland!” (“Is that what he just said?” I turned to Allison. She shrugged.) In the window of the Mercury Organic Espresso Bar I even spied an Angry Young Man reading The ABC of Anarchism.

Before anyone goes Molotov cocktail-happy, however, take a peak inside Telegramme Prints, a wonderfully colourful shop full of art posters and lithographs. Is that a bird or a plane? No, it’s a Latin American film poster from the 60s.

Most of the smaller posters are $25, a fair price for colour so bold even the fauvists would need sunglasses. Forget the Mayan Riviera, just park yourself in front of one of these babies and it’ll be Family Day before you know it.

Leslieville, in other words, is the homemade vegan date square to Queen West’s stale Coffee Time muffin. Jump aboard; there’s always room for one more on this wagon.

- Andrea