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This Ain’t the Rosedale Library

THIS AIN’T THE ROSEDALE LIBRARY 483 Church, 416-929-9912 Rating: NNNNN


As progressive as we queer folk are made out to be, the Church Street strip is remarkably status quo when it comes to retail ops. The same handful of shops have been hawking lube and muscle Ts for years. After 21 years selling counterculture books and magazines in Boystown, This Ain’t the Rosedale Library is barely holding onto twink status. But while the rest of the neighbourhood revels in its retro rainbows, TATRL’s catalogue is a window on modern gay and lesbian life.

There are stacks of Oscar Wilde and beefcake art books and juicy reads like Diana Cage ‘s Girl Meets Girl dating tome and Village Voice columnist Michael Musto ‘s La Dolce Musto chronicling his adventures with New York’s haute society and 90s club kids. Mags include newsstand regulars along with alt titles like Out , the Advocate , Diva , Curve and local feminist rag Shameless . Read the kiddies Harvey Fierstein ‘s The Sissy Duckling .

The bargain books section at the back of the store is loaded with volumes discounted by at least 50 per cent. This Ain’t the Rosedale Library picks: Sky Gilbert ‘s Brother Dumb (see review, page 97 ) is bound in a Catcher In The Rye-style cover, $26.95 indie fashion journal Worn (www.wornjournal. com) is on its third DIY design issue, $6.95 a collection of greeting cards by Andrew Wang collages double groom suits and rainbow flag martini glasses out of patchworked paper and textiles, $6.

Look for : An upstairs event space that hosts art shows and readings.

Hours : Monday to Thursday 11 am to 10 pm, Friday and Saturday 11 am to 11 pm, Sunday 1 to 9 pm.

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