A weekly Annex touchstone

I’m on the edge of retirement and looking for new routines, especially ones that will get me out of bed before noon. 

I currently don’t work on Wednesdays, and I usually go to the gym in the morning. Recently however, the gym has been replaced by the dentist. 

I’m good with this because I get to lie in the world’s most comfortable chair. Even with my mouth pumped full of Novocain, while my dentist does dental stuff, I’m at one with the chair, so what’s not to like. Going to the gym or the dentist comes with a short walk from my place near Bathurst to Spadina. Sometimes I’ll walk along Bloor or sometimes through the alleyways to the north; other times, I take the parking lot and alleys on the south side. 

On June 2, I received an email reminding me that the first farmer’s market of the year would be the next day, coincidentally a Wednesday. I decided to walk through the market site in the hours leading up to it to see how the magic gets made. 

Officially named the Bloor-Borden Market, colloquially referred to as the Farmer’s Market, I call it the Vegetable Fair, in tribute to a customer of mine and their curious translation from their native language. 

It’s Wednesday, June 3, and for some reason I’ve made my dentist appointment for 9 a.m. I leave my house with time to spare and enter the parking lot off Lippincott street wanting to get the full effect of the transition from urban concrete slab to quaint urban market.

Already the lot is divided in half by a rope and signs letting people know that the market is using the east side. 

There is a lone volunteer at this point, and he’s placing some folded canopy tents at various spots in the empty side; they look like giant white lilies about to bloom. I walk through the lot, exit the other side, and proceed through the alleyways to my dentist’s office.

An hour later, I’m on my way back, and by this time, there are a couple more volunteers, and they’re unfolding the tents. There’s one for the musicians (there’s always some live music), one for the volunteer table, and one or two more in the centre, for a few chairs and tables. I make some mental notes, continue home.

A few hours later, I find myself passing by again, this time on the way to pick up a prescription, an adjunct from the morning’s dentistry. By this time, most of the vendors have arrived and are setting up their own tents. The volunteers from before are now relaxing under their own canopy as the setup continues.  I take a few reference photos and get the stink eye from someone, so I make myself scarce, as I don’t want to be threatened with a bunch of carrots, accused of stealing some trade secrets. I don’t know, maybe there is fierce competition amongst the market merchants or rival markets; either way, I don’t want to cause a scene.

Finally, it’s 3 p.m., and I head back in earnest. The market is now in full swing; there’s already a line up at the fruit and vegetable vendors. People are milling around the sandwich, empanada, and Mediterranean treat stands. 

There are children colouring at the tables under the canopy and dogs being dogs. 

The market includes fish, meat and even flowers and low alcohol beer. Since my mouth hurts, I get myself the best popsicle ever, which proves that this small market has something for everyone. All this and more, every Wednesday until October. 

Go to bloorborden.com and sign up for the email written by the incomparable Terri Chu who gives you a lot more insight into the market and the specific vendors than I ever could. You can also sign up to volunteer or get a lawn sign.

After nearly 20 years of having a neighbourhood market, I love the weekly ritual. Sometimes I’ll get stuff for a number of meals. Sometimes I just go to mingle and be involved in my community; either way, it’s worth a visit.

And if you are looking for a dentist, I highly recommend Dr. Lawrence Freedman and his team at Bloor Dental Health Centre. Yes, this is a shameless plug, but I’ve been told if I can bring in 25 new patients I’ll get a free root canal, whether I need it or not. 

Howard Pressburger is manager of Wiener’s Home Hardware, the beloved and essential retail institution established in 1922.

READ MORE BY HOWARD PRESSBURGER:

• LIFE: Random chat at the side of a curb (June 2026)
• LIFE: At Knifewear it cuts both ways (May 2026)
• LIFE: A tale of two bookstores (Apr. 2026)
• LIFE: Coffee two ways (Feb. 2026)
• NEW IN BUSINESS: Clothing options on Bloor for the fashion conscious(Dec. 2025)
• NEW IN BUSINESS: Delightfully Turkish (Sept. 2025)