Discover who your neighbours are and why they love it here so much as we profile the locals who live and work or just merely hang out in the area.
Chris Twerdun is a Leslieville-based health and fitness expert with the drive and tools to transform his client’s goals into attainable milestones. Combining his years as a professional hockey player in the NHL with his training and education — BKin, CEP, and CSCS — Chris has more than 20 years of experience to draw from.
Read MoreWe chatted with Caitlin Sailor about her love of cross stitching and being a part of the east end community.
Read MoreWe checked in with the dynamic duo on how The Leslieville Flea got its start, the treasures unearthed on any given Sunday and what's in store for the 2016 edition.
Read MoreMixed media artist Morgan Jones is a Leslieville local who has been fine-tuning his style for the better part of two decades but only three years ago made it his sole endeavour after leaving a corporate job to pursue his passion.
Read MoreWhen naturopathic doctors Sue Love and Sapna Patel Flower opened Restore Integrative Health in 2012, Leslieville didn't have anything quite like it at the time. You either went to your family physician or a walk-in clinic for whatever might ail you, but there was a void in integrative and complementary healthcare choices beyond the standard check-up.
Read MoreTucked between Pearl Court Restaurant and Chen’s Acupuncture & Herbs in Toronto's East Chinatown sits Andrea’s Gerrard Street Bakery. Given the unexpected location, the bake shop was a hidden gem when it first opened. However, the growth of the area plus the ultimate indulgence of her treats has left Andrea Mut's shop anything but a secret. Famous for her butter tarts and many other handmade baked goods, Andrea has not only established a successful brick-and-mortar for sweet goodies on the east side, but she has helped reform the way institutions, such as Ryerson University, feed the masses.
Read MorePrepped meals, charcuterie, cheese and chocolates — indeed, all four essential food groups are covered off at Sandy Aleksander, the one-stop shop for specialty food in Leslieville. Max Ryan, the impeccably moustachioed face behind the counter, isn't just a culinary expert. He's one of the friendliest and most personable folks in the neighbourhood, and he's just as keen to send you off with one of the shop's scrumptious ready-to-go meals as he is to carry on an eager conversation about the story of cheese and what variesties pair best with cured meats and wines.
Read MoreWhen it opened in the fall of 2012, Hastings Barber Shop had an immediate presence on the neighbourhood that felt like it had been around for years. The cozy shop at the corner of Queen and Hastings quickly gained a following for its laidback, no-nonsense approach to men's grooming. Owner Karolina Conroy is a big part of the shop's immense personality and reputation for quality fades and shaves. She's now brought on a new partner in barber Gary Carroll, and together the duo run point on two locations (the other in Cabbagetown) and keep Toronto dudes looking tight.
Read MoreDave Steadman and Cindy Wilkes live only a couple of blocks from Brooklyn Avenue, the Leslieville street which ends at the front door of their Queen Street restaurant and helped provide inspiration for its name. In nearly two years in business, Brooklyn Tavern has been embraced by the neighbourhood for its superb comfort food as well as its cozy, casual atmosphere. It's the kind of place that's equally suitable for a night out with family and friends or a quiet drink that lends itself to sparking up a conversation with Dave and Cindy, who are as full of warm and colourful stories as the old photographs that hang from the restaurant's walls.
Read MoreHaving had a hand in three businesses on the east side and living in Leslieville going on 10 years, you could say Douglas Tiller knows a thing or two about the neighbourhood. Check out this Q&A with the owner of Hitch, the cozy, dimly lit bar at Queen and Leslie that's become a neighbourhood local since opening in 2013.
Read MoreBased in Leslieville with ongoing projects around the GTA, Julie Reinhart Design is a small, client-focused interior design agency with a passion for sustainability and locally sourced products and craftspeople. Check out her Q&A on why interior design is so important to homeowners and why she loves living in Leslieville.
Read Moregoodhood is #allpointseast #eastsidelove
#eastsidelocal #eastsidetillwedie
GOODHOOD is a community-based blog dedicated to showcasing all things good about Toronto's east side neighbourhoods of Leslieville and Riverside. Sometimes beyond.
