Blog

mrs huizenga junction

Mrs.H. — Sun, 11 Jul 2010 19:36:20 +0000

so here it is then, the culprit behind the lack of clever posts by team huizenga. this is 387 keele and it will be the home to the second installation of the mrs huizenga empire-fondly known as mrs huizenga junction.

this building was erected in the mid eighteen hundreds and has been home to an endless smorgasbord of business and individuals in the last hundred and fifty years. most recently and perhaps ingloriously it was home to a rather unsavoury bunch of characters that didn't seem to need much sleep.dundas and keele is down one booze can crack house and up one surprisingly attractive building now that the six dumpsters have come and gone....

although roncesvalles will always be our home we must admit the junction has stolen our hearts and we are so very grateful for the warm welcome from our new neighbors . we hope to open the doors so you can come for a peek by early august-stay tuned for the green light !

sally field, i get it now.

Mrs.H. — Sat, 24 Apr 2010 13:21:31 +0000

this past week i started getting calls and emails congratulating me on the shop's inclusion in the upcoming toronto life magazine.

it is nice -after almost five years -to know that my happy plodding pace is starting to pay off. i have always felt that word of mouth is the best advertising but to have something in print that will challenge that theory feels a bit like evolution ....... bring it on babies !

The Roncesvalles Guide: Our 25 favourite eating and shopping destinations along Parkdale’s Polish drag

Mrs. Huizenga

Catherine Huizenga’s consignment shop is strewn with second-hand clothing, furniture and knickknacks—making it eerily like our grandma’s attic. It’s easy to spend an hour here browsing through the old children’s books, postcards from the early ’70s and jewellery.
Open since: August 2005.
It items: A framed print of a blank family tree from the ’70s caught our eye, ($90) as did a $50 Mad Men–era Remington typewriter.
Mrs. Huizenga, 121 Roncesvalles Ave., 416-533-2112, mrshuizenga.com. Tu–W 10–7, Th–F 10–8, Sa 10–6, Su noon–6.

Floral Madness

Mrs.H. — Sat, 17 Apr 2010 14:58:18 +0000

These floral chairs, oh man. Yesterday me and Patti were talking about how much we love them, and how they are the perfect chair for porch lounging-chilly beer in hand, of course! So much spring goodness at Mrs H right now, you should come over and check it out. See you soon! -R

-

Mrs.H. — Sat, 27 Mar 2010 17:57:37 +0000

Who knew such a thing existed in this world? You can have your ornate, embellished 1960s lamp and matching side table all in one! New things in the shop this week that you may want to have a peek at: 1960s dining room set, vintage ouija board(someone please come and buy this because it spooks me!), gorgeous 1950s & 60s dresses, chaps!, a tray full ofunique shells & more. It was a good week.

-

Mrs.H. — Fri, 12 Mar 2010 19:57:00 +0000

Seriously. If you are a fan of vintage jewellery, you need to get to the shop stat! A selection of the finest sparkly and shiny things made their way into the store this week, and if I do say so myself, they are glorious. And while you are here, be sure to take a look at the vintage tortoise shell sunglasses with the rhinestones. They are so good!

-R

A Saturday Hello

Mrs.H. — Sat, 27 Feb 2010 15:13:56 +0000

Good morning Huizenga lovers! This is my first post here on the ol' blog. Mrs H has been so kind to allow me a weekly Saturday post! And I had plans for my first post, oh yes. I wanted to show you all the lovely, worn-in, well seasoned leather pieces that are floating around the shop. But, in a not so strange twist, my camera refuses to connect to the computer. It is most definitely a lo-fi loving space, this Huizenga one. So you will just have to come in to see the most perfect Roots purse, or the greatest golden coloured Frye boots, or the softest 1970s maroon handbag. That's just the way it goes. Oh, and who am I? Robyn here...who you may recognize from her role as Saturday worker. Or maybe not. Anyways, see you next Saturday! (Hopefully we'll get the technologies in order, and I will have some cool pics to show as well.)

-R

frozen in time

Mrs.H. — Mon, 22 Feb 2010 19:55:48 +0000

being a luddite can make blogging quite challenging as technology and i do not always see eye to eye.

the entire concept of computer removes the tactile, which is such the charm of a room full of moments that have passed. how does one convey the sensation of discovery through an electrical screen ?

i am not sure, but i suspect this particular tone of blue - a frozen plant on the front stoop no less - has as good a chance as any words i may pull forth.

visit the shop next time you are in high parkdale, let me know if the blue seems accurate.

oh cheeses

Mrs.H. — Mon, 08 Feb 2010 19:53:22 +0000

toronto finds itself smack damn in the middle of the most glorious february in memory. sidewalks are clear the clouds are fluffy and blue skies all around. people in other parts of the country may feel they dislike us even more than usual. we don't mind.

the lovely days have afforded us a lush crop of characters up and down the avenue. around noon on any given day a flock of seniors from Copernicus retirement lodge (at the base of roncesvalles) swoon and careen their way to fresh berries and some kale. the smoking man sits continually drinking zywiec and ever expanding at a remarkable clip, the man who ate himself. a sprinkling of new babies, and young children now toddlers learning to fall on the avenue. it is my microcosm, my speck of the universe, we have always lived in the village.....

the construction has been put to rest for now. the shop is bright and cheerful and never fails to delight or surprise me. the treasures people leave in my care push all the right buttons. french ivory drop earrings carved as if the finest bone. purple ankle boots sporting a giant lavender bow.a stained glass window with deep tones of green and rust. yellow fluevog wedges just needing a dance floor. and cheese. mind you i bring that in, all this glory aside it is still february and if you are ever going to eat too much cheese the time is now.oh cheeses.

your chocolate is in my peanut butter

Mrs.H. — Mon, 11 Jan 2010 20:21:23 +0000

as we scamper off into the head winds of january the shop is deep in a construction zone. every day brings new challenges for the fine citizens of roncesvalles. many of the local school children have picked up some spicy new words from the workmen who have dropped their workplace down all over our avenue . they shout at each other to be heard over the machines and drills creating eddies of confusion and chaos. i have learned some interesting new theories about workplace politics which i won't harangue you with right now, suffice it to say if you can't say anything nice you shouldn't say anything at all...

mrs huizenga feels more like a haven than ever. we have lightened up the room for the new year and stripped away the extra weight that christmas brings with its first world quantities. we have secured new treasures and touchstones for modern times and some damn fine looking skirts. looking into the shop one sees a constantly rotating snapshot of eras and stylish thoughts. looking out the front door i can't help but replay the old reese's peanut butter cup tag line again but tailored to my environment- you got your workplace all over my workplace no you no you no you.........the future lies ahead and we shall go boldly. wanna come ?

you can't take a gun to a snowball fight

Mrs.H. — Mon, 21 Dec 2009 21:12:57 +0000

i wish you the merriest of seasons, hopefully featuring, but not limited to.... a small child to hold your hand, family heirloom recipes, fine scotch whisky, tears at the sound of carols from your past, a good soul to laugh with and joy randomly popping up when least expected.

i wish you a good toboggan run, a sleep in session that ends the drought of dreams, silly canapés and dr. seuss.

but most of all i wish you peace and contentment, for all the days of your year. i know you would never take a gun to a snowball fight, not you.