Tart Boutique - Deliciously Sexy

Yesterday, our family was wandering around one of our favourite places in the world - Granville Island.  We go there to stock up on fresh fruit, vegetables, pasta and seafood. We go to buy Riley strawberry gelato. We go to watch the performers juggle and sing and mime. We go to look at fine art. We go for the fabulous coffee. And we go to get pooped on by the seagulls and pigeons that swarm the place. (Riley was the target this trip.) It is, without a doubt, one of the finest places to experience the joy of living.

As we meandered around, I noticed that a new store had opened up. The name of the store caught my eye because it had been recommended to me by a friend when it was at another location. Since it used to be located in the heart of downtown Vancouver, I had not yet had a chance to visit it but had carried the business card around in my wallet for months. Then, voilla, there it was relocated to Granville Island!

I sent Eric and Riley to check out another part of the island while I perused the place. I have to say that it was the most delightful “adult” store I have ever entered. Tart Boutique barrages the senses with elegance, sophistication and sensuality. Their tag line - deliciously sexy - truly captures the essence of the store. The boutique has products which range from classy cuff links for men, to stylish hats, to beautiful clothing, to corsets.

And of course, they have bedroom toys as well. However, the toys are all sculpted to look like works of art. (I know - it is amazing that someone finally figured out how to bring pleasure without looking like a body part.) The boxes which line the shelves are white with the brand name displayed - a far cry from the stereotypical packaging which has a picture of a busty woman on the front.

In fact, the place is so classy that a child could easily enter the store and leave with her innocence completely intact. Not that you need to take your kids - in fact, the experience will be much more pleasurable if you leave them at home. But the fact that they are welcome, because the goods of the store are so tastefully and discreetly displayed, speaks volumes for the boutique.

So often, when looking through “adult” stores, it is impossible to escape the seedy feeling. It is true that some stores are doing better at reaching an audience that wants to be sensual without being sleazy. However, Tart far surpassed the competition. In fact, they are in a league of their own.

So, if you are visiting Granville Island, I recommend that you pay them a visit. I certainly will be going back!