POP ROCKS: Pop-up shops have been de riguer for years and, with the recent appearance of two more brief consumer encounters on the local landscape, it appears guerilla retail is here to stay. First out of the gate (the store opened Easter Monday) is the latest incarnation of The Latest Scoop (206 Carrall St., TheLatestScoop.ca), a perennial pop up born from the global travels of Debbie Nichol. Beloved by a bevy of in-the-knowers from the citys tonier hoods, this is Scoops first foray into Gastowns hotbed of haute hipsterism. Nichols latest haul of trendy wares is heavily weighted towards finds from Indonesia, Bali and Vietnam and features large-scale home décor items (think carved armoires and solid wood pieces) as well as the latest in fashions from L.A. and assorted baubles. You have until May 31st to check it out. And take a lesson from us: if you fall in love with something, buy it on the spot because chances are there isnt another one in the back. We learned that one the hard way. On the funky side of things, Mount Pleasant is about to get even more like its name suggests with the May 3 opening of Ion Magazines second pop-up venture. The Ion Pop Up Shop (196 Kingsway) will see statuesque stunner Rachel Zottenberg, formerly of Grace Gallery, curating the revolving art shows (starting with the delicious, candy-filled work of Your Piñatas Meaghan Kennedy), while the shop part of the pop up will carry select vinyl from local musicians, T-shirts by Revolt, Some Product, and IONs own line, Limited Edit[ION].
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