It feels like we’re all in the same boat here. The family gets together for the holidays and immediately chucks all social cues and conventions out of the window. Prodding personal questions? Snide passive-aggressive remarks? Blunt non-sequiturs? Rude comments about your weight/parenting abilities/marital/occupational status? Any discussion whatsoever of the oppressive garbage fire that is today’s […]
Holiday Planner
Posted inLifestyle
The original tin
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. But these days it’s as common a Christmas ornament as a poinsettia, decorating office front desks and grandmothers’ coffee tables, a perfect afterthought gift and guaranteed conversation starter. So as an ode […]
Posted inLifestyle
Hot stuff, coming through
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 […]
Posted inLifestyle
Wrapper of the year
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 Dartmouth Clothing Company The witty Dartmouth lovers at Dartmouth Clothing Co. put an extra layer of nostalgia on […]
Posted inLifestyle
Stocking market
Oh Dina! Christmas flower crown $46.90 (also check out Christmas DIY crown kit!) ohdinaflowercrowns.etsy.com Breast Friends Broad City sweatshirt Big Pony, 2168 Gottingen Street $60 Field Kit candle Made in the Maritimes 5527 Young Street and 1595 Bedford Highway fieldkit.etsy.com $12/$16 Power Promotional Concepts pin Kept, 75 King Street and Bodega Boutique, 104 Portland Street $6 […]
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Leftover do-overs
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. Her go-to is to transform turkey stock into a rich velouté with a little white wine, root vegetables and some herbs. Load up […]
Posted inArts + Music
Measha Brueggergosman celebrates Christmas in Halifax
It’s coming on the holidays, and while some are putting up reindeers, others are planning a quick last-minute trip to Norway and touring the Maritimes with a preschooler and infant in tow. Though she’s touring her Christmas album (named, simply enough, Christmas), opera and classical singer Measha Brueggergosman says, “I’m not a big Christmassy person, […]
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I did it all for the cookie
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. A cook, not baker, by nature, Adamski is one-half Manual Food & Drink Co. (the other half is her other half, Sonny Adamski), maker of some of the most beautiful, artistic desserts in […]
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The complete holiday sweater guide
Ugly Nothing says Ugly Sweater Party like a stitched-on snowman decal. Your best bet is to raid the local thrift store for this one—and keep the sizing generous, for maximum turkey consumption. Put Me On Consignment 1526 Queen Street Festive For a (slightly) less obnoxious look, opt for a print like plaid in a colour […]
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A visit from St. Nicholas bae of Christmas past
’Twas the night before Christmas and all through the house, your nostalgia was stirring, your new fling had no pulse. With Adele turned up high, your makeup on point, you flew from your house with only one goal in sight. “I’ll find my old lover,” you joyously cried, “tell them I called at least a […]
