Espresso + Vinyl = Sublime!

Peruse a selection of electronic music message boards (particularly North American ones) and you might be led to believe that the once mighty record (be it 12" or LP) has been relegated to the dustbin, a quaint relic from the past.  With digital music pushing even CDs to the background in the audio media hierarchy, the statement "yeah, I still play records" is generally met with some combination of astonishment, amusement and incredulity, akin to informing someone you still watch movies on a VCR.  Of course, the truth of the matter is quite the opposite, with vinyl still enjoying healthy sales and play in Europe and often usurping CDs in popularity in the Canadian market.

Toronto is dotted with stores that sell vinyl, with some supplying DJ gear, while others retail books and CDs alongside wax selections that range from the delighfully eclectic to "didn't I see this for 25¢ at my neighbour's garage sale last week?".  Veering fully toward the former, Rez Shelly's Sublime Café comes straight out of a conversation I had with friends who had recently returned from Italy, where it seems that record stores and espresso readily go hand in hand.



It hard to say what will grab your attention upon first entering the café.  Visually, Sublime is a model of simplicity and tastefulnes - works from various local artists line the walls, and though the main room is somewhat long and narrow, there's a decided sense of openess, with warm lighting and close-knit seating encouraging conversation with fellow patrons.





Heading toward the bar to place an order for either a meticulously poured espresso, coffee, tea or a healthful smoothie, attention sways to the aural, passing row upon row of thoughtfully collected vinyl, most of which garners play on the house system, which consists of (you guessed it...) a Technics SL-1200 MKII turntable and a vintage Marantz amplifier.  On our visit, we heard a variety of Jazz and Blues, some pop (Whitney Houston, thrown down without a hint of sarcasm) and an entire album from the late, great Wesley Willis.





While Shelly's collecting habits lean heavily toward classic-era Jazz, Blues and Soul, crate diggers with a yen for dance tracks won't feel left out, with a wide (and from what I've been told, expanding) selection of Disco, 80s, House, Electro and World music nicely rounding off the assortment.  Pricing is fair, depending largely on the quality and rarity of the purchase, and as Shelly is constantly on the lookout for people who are unloading their collections, fresh arrivals make return visits to Sublime a must.

Sublime also hosts (mostly daytime) live music and DJ-based events, primarily on weekends, and the café comes equipped with another Technics 1200 and a high end Rane mixer to ensure top notch sound quality.  (We've also been told there's room for a PivotTechno event at Sublime sometime in the near future - stay tuned!)

Now in its second year of operation, Sublime is a welcome addition to Toronto café culture and a boon to espesso afficianados and vinyl collectors alike!



Sublime Café is locate at 219 Augusta Avenue, in the heart of Kensington Market.  They can be reached by email at info@thesublimecafe.com or by telephone at (416) 732-0431.