If you’re anything like us, you’ve been watching helplessly as the days pass you by, vowing to finish up your holiday shopping “first thing tomorrow.” We see you and have you covered! Forget the 12 days of Christmas—or whatever tradition you celebrate: Here at The Coast, we’ve got your back with a dozen last-minute local gift ideas to give you inspiration and help you think outside the box (store).
1. Give the gift of good hair at Maneland.
Before or instead of going to a holiday party, book a pay-what-you-can haircut with sweet Steph at Maneland on Portland Street in Dartmouth. It’s important to feel special this season. — Lauren
2. Get fancy with a tasting-menu dinner at Dear Friend Bar.
Early parent life being what it is, I don’t get out all that much these days. But I would absolutely leave the house for dinner at Portland Street’s Dear Friend. After hearing about it for the past two years, my wife and I made it out for the first time in late November and tried their six-course tasting menu. I’m not a big spender by habit—I come from a long line of Mennonites, and we are a famously stingy lot—but at $50 per person, it’s one of the best deals in town if you want to feel fancy. (Mennonites love a deal.) If you’re more the type to share a few things off the menu, try the fried squash: It’s just the right amount of crispy and has all the umami you need. — Martin
3. Grab a must-read book from Bookmark or Agricola Street Books.
The world is a messed-up place, so this Christmas, I’m giving my friends and family the power of knowledge. After being told many times to “stop being so weird about cars at parties,” I’ve decided to share with them books I’ve read that have made me this way, books like Killed by a Traffic Engineer by Wes Marshall, Human Transit by Jarret Walker, Inclusive Transportation by Veronica O. Davis, and Strong Towns: A Bottom-Up Revolution to Rebuild American Property by Charles L. Marhon, Jr. — Matt
4. Thrift a unique gem at Brilliant Boutique.
There’s nothing worse than when you get a new dress for Christmas from a big chain store and then you wear it out for New Year’s Eve and you run into like three other people with the same dress because, you know, supply and demand. Spare your loved one that awkward moment by buying them a pre-loved treasure at Brilliant Boutique Consignment Shop. Located in what was originally a beautiful Victorian home on Birmingham St, this place has amazing pieces by some iconic designers that are always in mint condition. Plus, the people working there are super nice, know their stuff and will be happy to help you find the perfect gift. — Julie
5. Make any kid smarter with a toy from Discovery Centre.
Yes, it’s a museum, but the Discovery Centre has all kinds of really cool gifts that are both fun and educational to help the little one(s) in your life explore! From ORB colour-changing sensory foam to a dinosaur glow-in-the-dark puzzle, think outside of the screen this year. Plus, while you’re there, why not grab a membership as a stocking stuffer for unlimited access to all of the cool events happening all year round? — Lauren
6. Treat your sports-lover to a Halifax Tides match this spring.
Women’s soccer has never been hotter in Canada. Four years after the Canadian women’s national team claimed Olympic gold in Tokyo, the country’s first-ever professional women’s league is about to kick off its inaugural season—and we’ve got front-row seats. The Halifax Tides are one of eight founding clubs of the Northern Super League, spearheaded by Canadian soccer legend Diana Matheson. And if the game-day atmosphere is anything like the Halifax Wanderers’ home matches—and there’s every indication that it will be—it’s bound to be a party. The Tides made big waves when they announced long-time Canadian women’s national team goalkeeper Erin McLeod as their first-ever signing. The NSL is expected to start action in mid-April. Single-game tickets aren’t on sale yet, but season tickets are already up for grabs. — Martin
7. Treat a friend to a meal out on Justin Trudeau’s dime. Well, your own dime.
Since the federal Liberals are giving a populist tax break in a desperate attempt to hold onto power, the next two months are the perfect time to buy children’s clothes, wine and beer or—my pick—have a coffee or a meal with a friend to catch up. As a rural resident of the HRM, I sometimes struggle to choose places to treat friends who live in town. For this, I genuinely find The Coasts’ Best of Food and Drink awards helpful in finding the best things to eat or drink at any price point. I’m looking forward to checking out the places in the Caribbean section, like the new and now award-winning Palm Tree Kitchen & Bar as well as a personal favourite, Caribbean Bliss. — Matt
8. Bring nature indoors with an arrangement from Props.
Located in the Hydrostone, the good people at Props Floral Design always deliver creative, non-traditional bouquets that are sure to wow. From the “Lil’ Evergreen” bouquet to the “Holiday Trio,” they have a variety of size options and price points to fit your budget. Props sources almost exclusively local flowers, so what’s in the fridge is always changing and that means whatever you choose is sure to be unique. — Julie
9. Give the gift of steak.
And legs, breasts, wings, loins and t-bones all season long, by picking up a gift card at a place nearby where the meat is actually affordable: Gateway Meat Market. They hardly ever close. The uniforms are perfect. The prices are unreal and it’s a thrill to watch them spin the meat onto shelves—you’ll see what I mean. — Lauren
10. Go used-book shopping at Otis & Clementine’s.
I’ve never been to Istanbul, but I’ve heard it’s a wonderful place for cats. Bookstores, too. On winter doldrum days in Halifax—those bitter-cold, blustery February days that seem to be our Faustian exchange for Nova Scotia’s blessed autumns—I’ll let my mind wander to those bazaars, imagining the tabbies, ragamuffins and Anatolians wandering between stacks of paperbacks. Or I’ll head to Otis & Clementine’s, my favourite used-book store in Halifax, where there are two certainties: There are resident cats, and there are shelves upon shelves of books, ranging from recent releases to pulp classics. All for bargain prices. What’s not to love? — Martin
11. Buy your favourite cyclist the gift of road safety.
For years now, my wife’s been banging on that speed limit signs are useless because everyone drives the speed a road is designed for. But when she watches city council meetings she’ll constantly hear city staff tell councillors that the vast majority of what keeps us safe on the roads is the fact that drivers follow all the rules of the road. But with one of these things, I can build up a database of real-life data that will likely demonstrate that everyone speeds all the time, proving that enforcement is not at all effective and that our roads are dangerously designed. That’s why, for Christmas, I’m getting a radar… for my wife… for my bike. — Matt
12 Accessorize with a bag (or jewelry or a hat) from Biscuit.
If you’re going to venture into Biscuit General Store on Gottingen Street, make sure you schedule enough time to lollygag and look at all of the fun tchotchkes they have on display. This place is such a nice alternative to fast fashion and the hellscape that is the mall. They have a cool selection of handbags to complete any great fit: For a dressier occasion, I love the Ruth Handbag (in silver) and for a more casual vibe, go for the Daisy Crossbody. If you can’t find a gift at Biscuit, I truly don’t know how to help you. — Julie
This article appears in Dec 19, 2024 – Jan 31, 2025.