PreeOccupied: Funk at Kensington Market

I am told I have a good eye for things creative and non-ordinary, even antique home décor. And Kensington Market in downtown Toronto is one such place I love going on a lazy afternoon. If not much, I will come back home making “friends” with a world traveler, an art connoisseur, or just another shopper like me.

Kensington is a neighborhood in no hurry. It has the unmistakable old world charm and truly so! Old bungalows have been converted into vintage stores and coffee shops and its one place you can spend hours just looking.

I am usually in Kensington for ethnic Indian/world décor stuff. And yes sometimes I pay Canadian prices for an Indian piece of art or collectible.

But if you love flea markets, Kensington is the place to hang out in. You should not go there pre-decided, but if you like something, you should pick it up and don’t forget to ask for a bargain price. You never know! Sometimes you could get away without paying any taxes.

But if you don’t enjoy shopping around in artsy, hippy neighborhoods, this is not the place for you.

I love the fresh fruits, dry fruits, coffee and sandwiches you get at Kensington. Not to mention the cheese, pastry, meat and fish and bakery stores. This place sure isn’t for the weak-hearted.

My home has some knick knacks from this market, its sheer luck what you may land up with! Its the unexpectedness that is so attractive about this place.

Enjoy the pictures while I sanitize my hands! :-)

The owner of Indo East Trading is a fiftyish man from Kashmir, India. He also has a good collection of Jaipuri bed sheets and spreads.

“Vintage” jeans. Anyone?

You get the cheapest deals here when it comes to local.

The Mexican/Spanish stores are great to just go nutty!

Eye of Shiva is pricey- all Indian stuff from Indian kurtis, cushion covers. Don’t forget to ask the lady to bring down the prices a bit. She may just indulge you.

He had to sit out while his master was in the meat and sausage store :-(

Nepal Handicrafts is run by a Nepalese couple – Doma (from Darjeeling, India) and her husband. The masks are something you should come home with. They might even bring down the price a bit if you are charming.