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Best Of Toronto
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By: Christopher Turner
Attention book lovers... It's not hard to find a great bookstore in this city! Take a walk through any neighborhood and you’re bound to stumble across a wonderful local bookstore. While everyone’s favorite national chain Indigo can be found in most of the shopping centre's there is still much to be said for being able to walk into a locally owned bookstore, and take your time to leaf through the books both new and obscure.
Here is our selection of the top ten bookstores in the city!
 The Cook Book Store
850 Yonge Street
(At Yorkville Avenue)
(416) 920-2665
1-800-268-6018
http://www.cook-book.com
Monday to Wednesday: 9:30am - 7:00pm / Thursday and Friday: 9:30am - 8:00pm
Saturday: 10:00am - 6:00pm / Sunday: 12:00 - 5:00pm
Attention all "foodies" this is the place for you. Open 7 days a week, just two short blocks north of Bloor Street you will find Toronto's fave cook book shop that will have the gourmet's heart fluttering. Think of it as a specialty shop for the home chef featuring thousands of culinary and wine titles from the uber-popular to the obscure. All titles are organized by subject so shoppers can wander through everything desserts if that's their fancy. Plus be on the look out for your fave culinary celebs. If they are not shopping there they are making an appearance and signing books.
 Glad Day Bookshop
598 Yonge Street
Suite #A
(416) 961-4161
(877) 783-3725
http://www.nicholashoare.com
Monday to Wednesday: 10:00am - 6:00pm / Thursday to Friday: 10:00am - 8:00pm
Saturday: 9:30am - 6:00pm / Sunday: 12:00 - 6:00pm
While Nicholas Hoare may be a bit on the small side there is no denying that this elegant bookshop is a gem down on Front Street. Located in a lovely 19th century building, book lovers can look through a tremendous selection of stimulating books (predominantly British) on every topic imaginable. The staff is incredibly knowledgeable and the store has a wonderful ambiance with gorgeous wooden shelves that tower throughout. Plus you’ll love when you find the fireplace and the big comfy chairs in the centre of the store. This is what a bookstore should look like.
Pages Books & Magazines
256 Queen Street West
(416) 598-1447
http://pagesbooks.ca
Monday to Friday: 9:30am - 10:00pm / Saturday: 10:00am - 10:00pm
Sunday: 11:00am - 8:00pm
Pages, one of the oldest "indie" bookstores in Toronto, is another great alternative to the mega bookstore chains. The popular Queen Street book stop may be known for its funky décor but it's popular because of the amazing selection of interesting books. Through the aisle you are bound to find tons of small press literature as well as topics you won't find at your mainstream book shops. Hot topics include: LGBT lit, feminism and activism. Whatever you're looking for expect to get engrossed in a book on your journey through the store. The best part about Pages is they consistently sponsor readings, lectures, screenings and live performances. In the fall of 2003 they even created their own programme This Is Not a Reading Series... Probably the coolest on-going literary events in the city.
 Spoken Word
350 Bay Street
(416) 368-1027
1-888-776-5362
http://www.spoken-word.com
Monday to Friday: 8:30am - 7:00pm / Saturday: 10:00am - 5:00pm
Sunday: 12:00pm - 5:00pm
Be warned that this shop sells nothing but books on tape or CD. Think of it as a veritable emporium of audio books, carrying titles on virtually any subject. In fact they actually house North America's largest audio book inventory with over 25,000 titles for purchase or rental. There's all kinds of fiction and comedy titles, plus more obscure ones on all sorts of subjects. Perfect for anyone who needs something more than the radio to listen to on long drives.
Theatre Books
11 St. Thomas Street
(416) 922-7175
1 (800) 361-3414
http://www.theatrebooks.com
Monday to Friday: 10:00am - 7:00pm / Saturday: 10:00am - 6:00pm
Sunday: 12:00 - 5:00pm
Every Theatre student and actor in the city knows this one... But Theatre Books welcomes everyone not only the ardent fans of the Theatre. The three-storey bookstore in Yorkville has been around since 1975 and over the years has grown to into an impressive stop for book lovers and theatre lovers. This is the one-stop-shop carrying books on all aspects of theatre production, as well as opera, dance, television, film and filmmaking.
This Ain't the Rosedale Library
86 Nassau Street, Kensington Market
(Formerly at 483 Church Street)
(416) 929-9912
http://www.thisaint.ca
Monday to Thursday: 11:00am - 10:00pm / Friday to Saturday: 11:00am - 11:00pm
Sunday: 1:00pm - 9:00pm
It's been open since 1979 and has played an important role for all independent bookstores in Canada. Formerly located in the Church and Wellesley neighbourhood, it moved to Kensington Market in May of 2008. It is a general interest that really tries to promote local writers, small press publications, LGBT content as well as traditional and non-traditional fiction and poetry. The happening Gallery from Church street is gone but this is still a hotspot for workshops, readings and lectures.
Toronto Women's Book Store
73 Harbord Street
(416) 922-8744
http://www.womensbookstore.com
Monday to Wednesday: 10:30am - 6:00pm / Thursday to Friday: 10:30am - 8:00pm
Saturday: 10:30am - 6:00pm / Sunday: 12:00pm - 5:00pm
Toronto Women's Bookstore is the popular non-profit feminist bookstore that can be found in the east end of downtown. Browsers can find titles that celebrate women's literature and even sign up for one of the numerous workshops offered through TWB. Look for a wide selection of literature on minorities, feminist works, political issues, lesbian topics and literary criticism. Chairs and pillows that are scattered throughout the small space create such an incredible cozy atmosphere you'll want to curl up with a book and stay for a bit.
Type Books
883 Queen Street West
(416) 366-8973
http://www.typebooks.ca
Monday to Friday: 10:00am - 8:00pm / Saturday: 10:00am - 6:00pm
Sunday: 12:00pm - 5:00pm
The youngest pick on the list is Type Books located on Queen Street West, near Trinity-Bellwoods Park. The little independent bookstore has instantly become one of the most talked about places in the city. With perfect reason... It's just a cool place in the west end that offers a great selection of books and the friendliest staff around. All in all it is a Queen West dweller's dream and a book lovers dream.
 World's Biggest Bookstore
20 Edward Street
(416) 977-7009
http://www.chapters.indigo.ca
Monday to Saturday: 9:00am - 10:00pm / Sunday: 11:00am - 8:00pm
Sadly it is no longer the world's largest book stop... But it is pretty big, there are a ton of books and everyone loves it. Founded in 1980 the World's Biggest Bookstore is now part of the Chapters/Indigo family chain. It's known throughout the city for its incredible selection of books found on classic orange shelves throughout the massive two floor building. Basically, if you're looking for something this is more than likely where you will end up finding it. An added plus, this book emporium stocks arguably the widest selections of international magazines in the city.
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