Where to find alternative magazines in Toronto
Tracking down your favourite specialty publication at traditional newsstands can be a difficult task. Thankfully there are a few independent boutiques around the city that stock unique and obscure glossies from around the world. Put down your iPad and flip through your favourite alternative magazines at these Toronto retailers.
Type Books
883 Queen St W, Toronto ON M6J 1G5Toronto’s favourite indie bookseller — with locations in West Queen West and Forest Hill — stocks a colourful array of fiction, non-fiction and specialty publications for a variety of tastes and interests. Toronto-based Bad Day is an obvious local favourite; the biannual arts and culture magazine has earned a cult following among the city’s creative intellectuals. Indie-pubs like Adult, Lula and The Gentlewoman offer plenty of eye candy while Hazlitt (a print digest inspired by Random Houses’ online portal) blends literary critiques with popular culture.
Swipe Design | Books + Objects
101-401 Richmond St W, Toronto ON M5V 3A8Creative types pick up the latest copies of Communication Arts and Uppercase at this independent bookstore that specializes in graphic design, urbanism and architecture. Many of the titles on display feature awe-inspiring architectural projects and cool advertisements from around the world. Urbanites will love Toronto-based magazine Spacing, which offers an intellectual look at urban affairs and city life. Those with an eye for design will have a hard time putting these publications in the recycling bin.
Presse Internationale Shope
537 Bloor St W, Toronto ON M5S 1Y5Annex-area locals stop in at this Bloor Street newsstand to pick up their weekend reading materials before settling in at one of the nearby coffee shops. The unpretentious shop stocks a wide selection of Canadian publications and imported magazines and newspapers from Europe. Foreign faves include The Guardian from the U.K. and glossy foreign editions of Vogue.
Likely General
389 Roncesvalles Ave, Toronto ON M6R 2N1The shelves at this enchanting Roncesvalles boutique are lined with handcrafted gifts, jewels and letterpress cards from independent artisans. Casual shoppers will be impressed with the array of thought-provoking non-fiction, poetry and alternative publications designed to inspire. Stop by this neighbourhood boutique regularly to pick up the latest copies of small-press magazines like Little Brother, The Editorial, The Paris Review, Paper, Kinfolk and many more.
Blue Button Shop
1499 Dundas St W, Toronto ON M6K 1T6Those who crave the stylish simplicity of Japanese design head to this boutique to find imported clothing brands, accessories and publications. Mature and refined unisex fashions hang on the racks in store and can also be found on the pages of various Japanese magazines. The shop stocks 2nd, Lightning and Popeye just to name a few. Visitors can also flip through a number of other international publications that are hard to find. Step inside next time you’re in the hood and ogle beautiful everyday interiors in Apartmento or catch up with foreign cultural affairs and news in Monocle.
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