Drake General Store: Souvenirs you'll actually want

Have your friends ever come back from vacation with a token souvenir for you, like a magnet? And you end up tossing it aside after thinking "I'm really glad they thought of me ... but this is the 40th magnet of somewhere I've never been."?

Well, the gift-giving buck stops here in Toronto. The Drake General Store downtown carries gifts with a cool spin on 'Canadiana'. It pokes fun at the idea that Canadians canoe down rivers, and hunt bears all the time.


Very old-school, no?

 Myself and Ish were excited as soon as we stepped in. I would love to gift (or gift to myself) some of our favourite items from the Bathurst+King location:

For the jewelry lover:

Where are we going? - Compass necklace, $32.

Cocks flying south, you know, just because. - by Jaime Sin in Toronto, sterling silver, $220.

Antlers on your finger. - by Biko, $26. (Linn'a favorite.)

For the foodie:

I really wish I had some in the bowl. Yum! - Poutine bowl, $24

Totem pole stacked salt and pepper shakers - by IMM in Toronto, $40

And the papa version:

Totem bowl -- 1 of 4 stacked, $105

Hoarding maple syrup - from Frankville, Ontario, $8 to $24

For going to the cottage with your buddies:

Bring your stash - by Jonathan Adler, $90.

Lumberjack plaid - Motor Robe blanket, $105.

For close, personal fun:

"Shut your mouth and take off your clothes." - Mercy cards, $20.

Lingerie designed and sewn in Toronto. Wide range of sizes up to E - by Fortnight Lingerie, $34~

Graphic, strapless bathing/body suit - by Cheap Monday $55 Jeans - by Levis and Opening Ceremony $225.

For yourself, the traveller

Where shall we explore? - Gigantic Maps, $40+

For those who love fascinating finds - Pictorial Webster's Dictionary, $42

Ask locals to draw you a map, record what you saw out of the train window. - I Was Here, $19.95 (Ishy's favorite)

Snap a photo and see a slideshow of Canadian landmarks through the pin hole - $4

Scratch off where you've been to reveal the map's colors - Map, $28 (Jen's favorite)

But most importantly, get a map to help decide where your next adventure will be, including who and what you'll bring along with you.

Thanks to the Drake General Store for opening your store to us, and Melanie from the DGS for being a welcoming host! And did you like the awesome pictures above? Linna Xu is an amazing photographer and graphic designer from Toronto. Seriously, she's awesome.

Also, tell us: what's your favourite thing you've received as a souvenir?

Much sunshine and pretty curious,

Jen, Ish, and Linna