Newsflash: I’ve found new shopping turf in Bloor West.

The Bloor strip between Runnymede and High Park has been nothing but a shopping wasteland for me — that is, until a recent spring-like jaunt there proved otherwise.

I now see the ’hood as the next up-and-coming hipster hangout for artsy and slightly off-beat retailers. There are quite a few for lease signs in windows and I bet the spaces will be snapped up soon if the recent retail activity is a sign of what’s to come.

And the shops that have popped up of late have managed to adapt to the retail streetscape of lowrise apartment buildings and condos.

Take Cindy Yong of Periwinkle. The home of her new artisan collective is a street level space with apartments over it. Apparently the space hasn’t been occupied for years but the spot is charming, with old-fashioned looking windows and a front door Cindy has painted aqua green.

Yong opened up shop in November 2009 after quitting her day job to focus on her own line of handmade jewellery called Cupcake. The store is a venue for artisans who don’t have a retail outlet and who may wish to complement, or perhaps end altogether, their participation in the exhausting craft show circuit.

There are about 50 designers and crafters represented, mostly from Toronto, and the goods are diverse — everything from soaps and jewellery to art, pillows, apparel, lamps and furniture.

They say watches are not being bought by the younger generation, but one peep at the Swatch-like designs of Toronto’s May 28th and I have a feeling Blackberry addicts will snap up these tickers as a fashion accessory. Each watch face sports an original pattern and the wristband is either elasticized fabric or a whimsical chiffon, $39–59.

My picks: handmade metal jewellery produced with vintage brass chains by Toronto’s Skarce; tees with “I kissed a ninja because I’m sexy and do what I want” silk-screened on top, $29; and the trendy shredded necklace made of fabric remnants by recycling clothing designer Lipgloss & Black, $39.

There’s also a smattering of imported goods from local entrepreneurs that aren’t bad — some cute one-off fashions out of Asia are trend-driven and most are under $40.

2137 Bloor St. West, 416-551-2553 www.periwinkleonbloor.com

Roller derby culture may be considered somewhat underground, but recent flicks like Whip It have popularized the sport and brought it into the mainstream.

I’m not just saying this because I have a secret desire to don fishnets and skate around a track in tight shorts. Inside the freshly opened Cardinal Skate Co, located in a former tattoo parlour with bars on the windows, I chat with co-owner Alyson. She tells me her biz has shot up since that movie came out.

Alyson has been selling roller derby skates and apparel at roller derby e-shop www.rollerderby.com, and now that Cardinal is open she’s having trouble keeping  skates in stock. I’m told the shop is the only Ontario bricks and mortar store for roller derby junkies so when it opened March 13 teams from far and wide dropped in to try on and buy in the flesh.

Skates start at about $125 but go all the way up to $600 for the fancy kind.

The shop also carries snowboards and customizable skateboards along with skater duds and footwear. Alyson’s other half used to own Common Ground, an indoor skate park and shop in the Toronto area, and the two have joined forces in this hipster sporty culture vulture venture.

2142 Bloor St. West, 416-546-2594 www.cardinalskate.com

Down the hill heading east just past Starbucks I peek into Bark & Fitz, a Canadian-based specialty doggie retailer I hear has also opened recently.

It’s definitely one of the hippest pooch shops I’ve seen, with natural dog food and even an all-natural fresh baked goods counter where Fido can grab a doggie biscotti or other yummies for $1.25–3.

The cement floors add a hip industrial vibe and no doubt help if poochie has an accident on the way to the grooming room.

I have felines, alas, but that doesn’t prevent me from imagining my kitty-poos wandering around in the skinny knit black dog sweaters with white skull on them, $40 each.

There’s a hoard of doggie gifty items, notecards and more utilitarian items like leashes and such.

1959 Bloor West St. West, 416-916-6207 www.barkandfitz.com