Firstly I'd like to say that this is one of the best experiences that I've ever had walking into…read moreany store in Ottawa. Today (November 3rd, 2020) my mom and I decided to stop in after driving by and instantly noticing the pretty lady in the sari guiding a couple people around the store. Let me just say it was the best decision. As we walk in we are greeted by the overall amazing zen that seems to fill the store, it's very calming and very uplifting. We were greeted by the lady in the sari who I didn't get her name sadly but she was a complete joy to speak with. She made my mom and I comfortable and answered all of our questions about anything we had. She also gave us a great lesson on the singing bowls and by the end of it we were able to play them (not as good as her lol) we ended up playing a wide array of singing bowls which was very fun and super relaxing, they sound and feel incredible. They also have an awesome selection of crystals, stones, bracelets, malas, incense and anything to align your chakras and help you meditate or cleanse your space/body. Also the scent of the store is so amazing and I wish I could bottle it and wear it as a perfume haha. I also love that they offer samples of any incense and cones for you to try and I love love love that! Especially for when I want to try new incenses without buying a whole box. They also offer very cute free handmade crystal bags made of Indian silks and fabrics when you purchase crystals/stones. I 100% absolutely recommend stopping in, wether you are a pro at using crystals, bowls, etc. or are just curious. It's a magical place that I will be coming back to time and time again. Just wish I knew about this store sooner!!

The Garden of Light is a calm little spirituality shop in Old Ottawa South. Their prices are…read morereasonable and they have a wide selection of beautiful jewelry, candles, incense, cards, agendas, singing bowls, essential oils, books and music. Oddly, their book selection isn't that diverse since it seems they mainly only have books written by Sri Chinmoy. Their music selection is mainly by him too. However, if you're looking for something else but still from that genre, Soul Matters is a couple stores down and Mother Tongue Books is one block north. The service here is sincerely pleasant and I was able to pick up a couple Christmas gifts on my travels too. Definitely check it out if this place sounds like a fit for you or anyone on your Christmas list.

Very fun. In addition to great magazine selection, there's lots of fun (even quirky) gifts…read moreincluding writing related items, gag gifts and baby gifts. Enjoyable browsing through what's there. Need something for a Kris Kringle / Secret Santa exchange? This is your store. Good prices and many price ranges. Staff are great too! Would I recommend: Yes Would I return: Yes

This is by far the best selection of magazines in Ottawa that I have come across…read more It's been an institution in the city for what seems like forever but they're still around because if you're looking for something, no matter how obscure, they seem to have it. The magazines are arranged by category and they cover everything from the home to computing, finance, fashion, celebs and pets and seem to come from every part of the globe. They also have all the major newspapers including a cross section of not so top-of-mind Canadian cities like North Bay. I was there looking for a particular title and although they didn't have it in stock they were going to be ordering it and the salesperson told me the exact day in which I would be able to find it in store which was quite impressive. All that said, whether you're looking for something niche or mainstream Mag & Fags seems to have it all!

I recently purchased a printer/ scanner. I was unsure of…read morewhich model would meet me needs. Steeve, a sales associate spent time comparing features of various models. He provided the wifi upgrade I would need from my internet provider. An excellent shopping experience. Lynn C.

I like poking around Staples. They sell office supplies. This location is in the Fairlawn Plaza,…read moreacross the street from Carlingwood Mall. My most recent visit was for a new computer chair. They have floor models so I wanted to sit in a few to see which was most comfortable. I finally decided on one and advised one of the salespeople which one I wanted to purchase. He took a picture of the tag and said he will check to see if it's in stock. After a while he came back and said they had 3 in stock and so he will retrieve one for me. I saw him climb onto that machine that raises them up so they can access the storage areas near the ceiling. I was pleased to see he strapped himself in (I'm sure their health and safety department is also pleased). I saw him checking several different storage areas. Then I heard him ask another colleague for help. Finally he came back and said there is an error with their inventory system because it doesn't appear that they have any left. He listed some nearby stores that had them, but I wasn't convinced they actually had them and didn't want to make the trip. I'm sure he sensed that, because he offered to order it online for me and get it shipped to my house (free shipping). I can order it myself online at home, but I figured maybe if he did it he'd get some sort of commission, and he already put in so much effort to help me, so I was like ok, sure. He goes to the computer and tries to add the chair to the cart and the system freezes. He tries a few times without success. By that time I was at the store for much longer than I expected or wanted to be. I thanked him for his efforts and said it was ok, I'll just order it at home later. Lol. So 5 stars for the guy who helped me and A for effort for him, but 2 stars for a faulty inventory system and slow/frozen online ordering system. Incidentally, I also really dislike their website, as when you search for things it lists items that are sold out and you can't filter for only available items. I realize their website and systems are not store-specific but rather corporate. However, these issues affect customers' experiences and opinions of the business. I do like Staples in general and would rate them 3 stars overall, but the customer service at this location bumps it up to 4. I also like that there's a washroom at the back of the store. These days I get so much hand sanitizer build up on my hands that it's nice to use some good old fashioned soap and water sometimes. There's lots of free parking in the plaza.

This is one of the nicest gift shops I have seen associated with a museum - wide variety which…read moreincluded books, clothing, ornaments, crafts etc. associated with either the museum itself or exhibits. I picked up a very nice book related to their current temporary exhibit as well as some mementos - everything was well displayed & not overly pricey as far as traditional gift shops go. Staff were knowledgeable about their products and very helpful. Great way to wrap up your visit to the museum!

I must have been in 100 gift shops over my 10 days in Ontario and Québec. Over that time, there…read morewasn't one with better quality items that the Canadian Museum of History (Musée Canadien de l'Histoire) gift shop/boutique. Let's start with the more standard stuff: High quality hoodies, sweaters, t-shirts, hats, mugs, bags, keychains, cards, and lanyards (to name a few) ... most bright red, emblazoned with maple leaves and other famous Canadian locales placed front-and-center. Then there's plenty in French and things that may specifically appeal to the French and French-Canadian. My personal fave is the whole section (with shirts, books, etc.) dedicated to the famed Astérix et Obélix cartoon -- a staple in French humor since the late 1950s. And, of course, the thing that sets this gift shop apart is all the books, bags, t-shirts, posters, jewelry, blankets, scarves, shawls, plush toys, keychains, magnets, boxes, ties, totes, carvings, ornaments, brooches, journals, etc., specifically related to the Museum's exhibits past and present. I can't stress it enough how exceptional a place this is if you want a book on all facets of Canadian history ... both publications by the Museum itself and those seminal works on Canadian history and life. As well, no store I've been to in Canada compares when it comes to carvings, totems, and other items related to the Inuit and First Nations. It's such a great store, I'll say make sure you don't forget to see the Museum itself!!!!

D. Grandeur is a wood furniture and assorted wood-product store on Bank Street just south of the…read moreGlebe. Look, I am not going to lie to you. D. Grandeur is not cheap. But, the furniture they sell is hand-made, solid and - unlike Amish or Mennonite furniture - isn't stuck in that timewarp/country style. There is some pretty cool stuff in there, and it isn't all rickety like the furniture our Swedish friends sell. Beyond furniture, D. Grandeur also sells wall-hanging carvings and decorative masks. The masks are very interesting - but I find masks in general a little disconcerting! You can also find that wooden carved American bald eagle statue you have been looking for.

This little gallery is a wonderful hidden gem. The gallery itself is in a very modest building but…read morethe owner has a fabulous eye for art and the work on display is wonderfully eclectic. The framing side of the business is amazing as well because the owner has so much respect for the work. He brings an artists eye to the framing and always comes up with the best way to enhance the work. I've taken in a lot of work over the past few years and have always been delighted with the results. I took in a funny little piece that I picked up in an Ecuadorian market for a couple of dollars. The piece was transformed by the framing and I am constantly being asked about it.

I don't shop for fabric very often. Actually it's close to never. But, on this particular occasion,…read moreI needed something very specific, and the only place of, other than a specialty packing supply company was C&M. I didn't even know the name of this particular material, but I found a pic of what I needed. Upon entering the store, I was greeted by a friendly staff member who pointed me in the right direction. The person I needed to speak with was with another customer. I was offered a chair while I waited. Once served, she knew exactly what I needed. Brought the roll of material out, measured, cut it, wrote up the invoice. At the cash, the person that initially greeted me punched in the numbers and processed my payment. And then, what happened, will keep me coming back to this store every time I need more material. SHE THANKED ME FOR MY PATIENCE. All businesses need to take note of this. This is how customer service should be.

Decent size store. Half is home dec, half is fashion. It was fairly tidy, though the shop…read moreassistants I came across all smelled of cigarette smoke. The fashion bolts I looked at ranged from $16/m cotton to $100/m wool. They have an excess of shiny, slippery and sheer fabrics, some solid and some nicely patterned cotton sateens, a few flannel/fleece options, lace/cut-outs, linings, and other stuff. I don't recall if they had knits or not. Warning to people under 5'7": you may have trouble reaching fabric on the top shelf in their fashion fabric area. EIther bring a tall friend or be prepared to wait for a shop assistant to help you out. When I went (4 Feb 2013) they were having a 50% off everything sale (with selected bolts at 80% off!) so if you're lucky you'll get there during a sale.

Deborah & David have an eye for large & accent pieces and accessories that will add to the beauty,…read morecomfort, and functionality of your home!!! It is a lovely experience to visit their shop. * Note: post-edit: they've since moved to Roncesvalles Toronto. Visit them there!