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. Make your life easy and channel your inner Oprah this holiday season: “You get a book, and you get a book, and everybody gets a book!” It’s one-stop shopping at its […]
Holiday Planner
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Independence holiday
In September of last year, I entered some search terms into an app called Skyscanner. Travelling from: Halifax. Travelling to: New York. Departure date: December 23, 2014. Return date: December 30, 2014. The price it spat back at me: $332.96 For years, I’d been working up the courage to leave at Christmas. My parents split […]
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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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It’s the ho-ho-Holiday Planner
‘Tis the season to go shopping, listen to crappy music, navigate an endless list of frosty fun times, over-do it on the egg nog lattes, wish for snow to fall and then curse it as soon as it arrives. We’ve got the answers to all of these seasonal struggles—plus a special look at the local […]
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Christmas albums that don’t suck
Sleigh-fulls of Christmas albums have been released since the capitalization of the holiday in the 1950s, which has resulted in some truly terrible records. Like in 2012, Scientologist John Travolta and Olivia Newton-John put out a creepy X-mas cringe-fest, and this year, Hootie (Darius Rucker) came Home for The Holidays with pure country Christmas crap. […]
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Mingle belles—how to dress for the holidays
Office party Biscuit General Store, 1661 Argyle Street If you want to wear a holiday colour, it’s best to keep the other pieces as neutral as possible. You want a look that says, “I am acknowledging this holiday” as opposed to, “I watched Elf before dressing today.” Pair your best black boot with a simple […]
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Rappers unwrapped
CAM SMITH This is going to sound so corny but when I was in high school I documented every day of December in a notebook and gave it to my then-girlfriend. Here comes the icing on top of the cake—I left Christmas Day blank and included a pen so we could fill it in together. […]
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Oh snow you didn’t
Ice crystals, better known as snowflakes, make for a whimsical winter tale—but this is one fable founded in cold hard fact. Apart from perpetuating Canadianisms and a subconscious love of holiday commercialism, snow is complicated, close to home and, of course, icy cool. “It’s a story of many facets,” says snowflake specialist Kenneth Libbrecht, professor […]
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The nog whisperer
Egg nog is a weird and wonderful thing. Basically a drinkable custard, the milk-sugar-egg mixture—which, in carton form, contains a serious lack of eggs—traditionally exists mostly as a way to make drinking spiced rum at all hours of the day acceptable, and more recently to transform the traditional latte into a religious experience. But it’s […]
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Twelve days of holiday events
1 Xmas Hamper Edition of Grab That Dough Don’t be a holiday drag, celebrate the season with everyone’s favourite queen, Mz. Vicki! Come out to the festive edition of Grab That Dough at Menz Bar (2182 Gottigen Street). This gay old time features a silent auction, X-mas gift giveaway and variety show. Performers entertain the […]
