City Guides
Holiday+Planner
Get holly jolly with The Holiday Planner

Get holly jolly with The Holiday Planner

Your guide to the non-denominational, nog-swigging, party-hopping season

By Allison Saunders Dec 7, 2017

Rejected Cineplex holiday trailers

Rejected Cineplex holiday trailers

Lily and the Snowman and A Balloon for Ben were the best of the lot. Here are some pitches that didn’t make the cut for this year’s heartwarming festive ad.
A Holiday DuetTwo best friends, Melody and Harmony, head to the movies on Christmas.

By Tara Thorne and Jacob Boon Dec 7, 2017

How to steal Christmas from a Who near you

How to steal Christmas from a Who near you

A poetic tribute to the grinchiest grinches among us.
Christmas is coming, it just can’t be stopped With trappings and trippings and Christmas tree stuff. From Black Friday to Eve, shopping stores in a frenzy Blasting one type of music for two months too many.

By Lindsay Gloade-Raining Bird Dec 7, 2017

10 places that need gifts more than you do

10 places that need gifts more than you do

’Tis the season of giving, so here’s how you can help the community.
1.

By Rebecca Dingwell Dec 7, 2017

Gonna find out who’s noggy or nice: A blind tasting of seven egg nogs

Gonna find out who’s noggy or nice: A blind tasting of seven egg nogs

Sipping the entire spectrum to save you the belly ache.
Seven nogs.

By Jacob Boon, Tara Thorne and Allison Saunders Dec 7, 2017

What Christmas means to me

What Christmas means to me

Exploring some of the traditions outside of the western, Hallmark-infused idea of the Christian holiday.
Christmas celebrations and the Christian faith are not exclusive to the western world.

By Dina Lobo Dec 7, 2017

Hack your sub-par holiday treats

Hack your sub-par holiday treats

Because even the most unsung desserts deserve a second chance.
Snowballs A strange but wonderful winter-inspired candy, this spongey, coconut rolled mallow ball is a step above the marshmallow Santa, but still basically a blob of pure sugar.

By Allison Saunders Dec 7, 2017

Give it away now: 10 gift ideas for everyone on your list

Give it away now: 10 gift ideas for everyone on your list

Have yourself a very local Christmas.
For the co-worker who's always stealing your favourite mug JAW Pottery mug, $38The Trainyard General Store, 53 Portland Street Sattva Boutique, 2453 Agricola Street For the homesick ex-pat JAMPY baltic birch ornament, $12.50 ($45 for set of 5 designs) jampy.co

By Allison Saunders Dec 7, 2017

Talking points to help you survive the holidays

Talking points to help you survive the holidays

For when things get awkward at the family function
It feels like we’re all in the same boat here.

By Stephanie Johns Dec 1, 2016

Making the case for <i>A Garfield Christmas Special</i>

Making the case for A Garfield Christmas Special

Move over Jingle Cats
So you’ve got your typical holiday binge slate—Charlie Brown, Rudolph, Frosty, all the Dunder-Mifflin holiday party episodes of The Office, a month’s worth of Simpsons Christmas (“Shove this up your stocking!”) and splicing together various movies from their multiple cable viewings.

By Tara Thorne Dec 1, 2016

Homesick for the holidays

Homesick for the holidays

On guilt, loneliness and coping with being a world away from home during the holiday season.
I’m sitting in my room, a sheet of yellow paper resting on my lap with the list of things I need to pack before I go home to Nigeria.

By Sarah Poko Dec 1, 2016

Leftover do-overs

Leftover do-overs

Empty out that growing collection of Tupperware dregs and get creative.
1 Turkey Yes, turkey sandwiches with gravy-soaked bread are delicious, but butter aficionado Emma Adamski (the baker behind Manual Food & Drink Co.) suggests you amp it up with a pot pie.

By Michelle Cameron Dec 1, 2016

The original tin

The original tin

Taking a walk down Quality Street to dissect the residents of the holiday season’s most iconic coffee table treat.
There’s nothing blatantly festive about Quality Street, it’s actually available year-round though for some reason it tastes like a certain time of year.

By Stephanie Johns, Tara Thorne and Allison Saunders Dec 1, 2016

Hot stuff, coming through

Hot stuff, coming through

Warm your frozen fingertips and overwhelm your tastebuds with one of the city’s richest hot chocolates.
DARK CHILI BELGIAN HOT CHOCOLATE This waterfront chocolate-maker and cafe swears by its real Belgian hot chocolate, which comes in a slew of flavours—like dark and white chocolate, peanut butter, mint, even strawberry. Whether you’re piling it high with add-ons (whipped cream is free, marshmallow is $1) or drinking it straight-up, a sugar coma is in your future.

By Allison Saunders Dec 1, 2016

Wrapper of the year

Wrapper of the year

Sometimes what’s on the outside counts, too. Luckily, these local makers and retailers are cut out for the job of perfecting your presents.
Quarrelsome Yeti Weird and wonderful, creepy and cute, Geordan Moore’s whack wrap can make the most boring of gifts (not that you would) extraordinary. Halifax Seaport Farmers’ Market, 1209 Marginal Road; Halifax Crafters Winter Market, Dec 2-4

By Allison Saunders Dec 1, 2016

Stocking market

Stocking market

Give the gift of handmade by stuffing your stockings with some of these local luxuries.
Oh Dina!

By Allison Saunders Dec 1, 2016

New Year's Eve Guide 2016

New Year's Eve Guide 2016

Just because this year kind of sucked doesn’t mean its grand finale has to

By Allison Saunders Dec 24, 2015

The complete holiday sweater guide

The complete holiday sweater guide

Say “Fleece Navidad” with every piece of knitwear on a scale from tacky to tasteful.
Ugly Nothing says Ugly Sweater Party like a stitched-on snowman decal.

By Allie Sweeting Dec 3, 2015

Celebrate with the Holiday Planner

Celebrate with the Holiday Planner

Our annual festive special rounds up sweet treats, warm sweaters, gift inspo and events to help nudge your holiday cheer out of storage.

By Allison Saunders Dec 3, 2015

Season’s readings

Season’s readings

Five must-read books suited for the entire spectrum of your holiday shopping list.
We've got a read on who ended up on your list this year, and we're telling you it doesn't matter—there's a book for that.

By Lindsay Gloade-Raining Bird Dec 3, 2015

I did it all for the cookie

I did it all for the cookie

Manual Food & Drink Co.’s Emma Adamski, maker of our sweet cover cookies, offers up tips on how the wow with your holiday baking.
Emma Adamski's holiday eating traditions include her mom's butter tarts and her family uniform—"buffet pants"—but wacky, hand-crafted sugar cookies? Not so much.

By Allison Saunders Dec 3, 2015

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Vol 26, No 12
August 16, 2018

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