Shannon Echlin Photography

Loved this lunch spot!

I’m a fan of any restaurant where things like beets and avocado are all over the menu. There is a great variety of salads, sandwiches and rice bowls. Above is the Creamy Coconut & Tomato Curry, which was delish and the Sesame Beet & Roasted Mushroom Salad with Chevre which I’ve been recreating at home because it was so great!

There are a million smoothies/juices/shakes to choose from and some very tempting baked goods. If I lived in Leslieville I would definitely be a regular at Pulp Kitchen!

1129 Queen St. E, 416-461-4612

Hours: Monday to Friday: 9am to 7pm - Kitchen opens at 11am; Saturday and Sunday: 10am to 4pm

Posted by Shannon Echlin at 11:46 pm | No Comments | Add a Comment
Shannon Echlin Photography

Lately I’ve been finding that I’m curious about other neighbourhoods. Toronto is a pretty big place and sometimes I’ll go ages without ever leaving the comfort of my area. A couple weeks ago I was invited to bike all the way to the east side to have some dinner in Leslieville. We wandered along Queen Street all the way from Broadview Avenue to Greenwoode Avenue I really loved all the cute restaurants, cafes and antique shops I saw on that walk and decided to go back in the afternoon  a few days later so I could do some shopping and have some lunch. I’ll give you the full tour this week in three parts!

There was one store that totally stood out and if you’re a mom with little ones you will love it! If you are ever looking for the perfect gift for someone elses little guy you will love it too!

Little Peeps is one of the better children’s boutiques I’ve been to in Toronto. Trust me when I say I’ve been to a lot of them!! The first thing I saw when I walked in was Ben Sherman baby clothes (You’ve got to be kidding me! Sooooo cute!!). There is an excellent selection of super stylish clothes and creative toys. The overall atmosphere is warm and light. The owner is very friendly and helpful. Don’t pass Little Peeps by, go in and have a look next time you’re at Broadview and Queen!

Posted by Shannon Echlin at 1:08 am | No Comments | Add a Comment
Shannon Echlin Photography

I guess it’s not such a big deal for me, getting to Friday that is. I tend to have sessions more often than not on the weekends. Lucky for me sessions are often the highlight of my week. A few days ago I spent the morning getting lost in the park with this sweet three year old. If there ever was a girl perfect for illustrating a story book this is the one!

So for those of you counting the minutes til 5 o’ clock  today here is some fun Friday reading. These are few of the blogs that my lady friends have turned me onto and are now my regular places to go when looking for something fun to read or inspiration:

Bryenne

Nicole (warning arty nudity)

Maryanne

Sharalee

Hope everyone has a lovely weekend. It looks like it’s going to be beautiful weather and with Fall creeping up so quickly I feel like I need to savour every last moment of this perfect summer! I’ll be heading to Zine Dream 3 this Sunday.

Posted by Shannon Echlin at 3:56 pm | Show 2 comments | Add a Comment
Shannon Echlin Photography

Not even a year ago I featured Greasy Chicken Face, as you can see here. I loved the artist Kristina Møller’s work so much that I offered her a trade, I took portraits of her beautiful children and she made me a giant bird water colour. It is huge and amazing!

So.. I’ve been following her progress over the past year and what I thought was awesome a year ago doesn’t even come close to what she’s up to these days. I have to say her new stuff seriously kicks ass! There is so much energy and fun in her new work, I don’t just want a big giant bird picture anymore. I want to invite her over, give her a lot of beer and pizza and have her paint the crap out of every wall in my apartment.

You can find more of her work here, and here and you can buy it HERE!!

Posted by Shannon Echlin at 3:25 pm | No Comments | Add a Comment