Urban Green: 1BodyBar

If you haven’t noticed, Queen West has turned into quite the looker these days.

But the development period that the University/Spadina corridor has undergone over the last decade has come with many losses of equal significance. Lavish & Squalor aside, independent shops like Vice and Buckler have completely disappeared. Gorilla Monsoon (not that anyone I know ever hungout there) is now a wasteland for corporate hamburger juice, and in general, nothing all that hip has happened around that space since the Bombshelter changed its name.

Pretension and capitalist-shaming aside, shot bottles remain served with a side of sneakers at So Hip It Hurts and undoubtedly the fall Fryes will fly out the door at Get Outside, so all is not lost  in the world (yet). But in the pockets of what we’d today call the West Edmonton Mall of Ontario, exists a blissful pursuit of small business with a twist towards the underground.

1BodyBar. Pleasant in style and in location. It’s stacked above one of Canada’s greatest fashion landmarks, and is giving Queen West a nudge towards the progressive. The full service salon/spa has taken nothing for granted so far. From the cleanest foot basins in town to the hightop nail bar, the pampering comes both pristine and affordable. The Staff are an armory of civility. The message: come into my home.

A week later, my gelcure manicure is still entirely intact and I’m meddling with the idea of going back to reload a lot sooner than initially planned. Whether it be for the hospitality or the simple moment of peace, 1BodyBar is the perfect pit-stop to your busy afternoon in the city. With a full line of eco-friendly nail products, they’re giving the average uptown appointment a surefire run for its money.

Nubar manufactures innovative and high-quality nail products that are 100% non-toxic and formaldehyde free. Maybe it’s because I’ve been buying Essie and O.P.I for so many years, but this was a real eye opening experience for me.  Like the aforementioned brands the colours are rich and the formula is smooth, but the #UrbanGreen in me wont settle for anything shy of an attempt at sustainability in the lacquer that choose.

Give it a go. And let 1BodyBar put the right kind of beauty back on the Queen West scene.