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 […]
Holiday Planner
3 Festive Drinks to Toast the Season With
1 While on vacation in Vermont, Morris East‘s Katrina Roberts was inspired by a dessert topped with candied pine. “It awoke so many wonderful memories for me that I quickly set about designing a cocktail using pine,” says Roberts, who also made the (local) pine and blood orange syrups that make this mix complete. The […]
10 Ways to Stuff a Stocking Right
1 Naughty and nice folks deserve a drink of Java Blend’s Lump of Coal Holiday Blend. This mix of beans from Guatemala, Ethiopia and Sumatra compliments all things rich but won’t break the bank. Java Blend Coffee Roasters, 6027 North Street, $13/pound 2 The Marshmallow Fun Company’s (totally a thing) Marshmallow Stryker can shoot mini-mallows […]
5 Very Special(ish) Network Television Holiday Spectaculars
1 30 Rock, ”Ludachristmas” 30 Rock mostly killed it with guest stars (sit down, Hayek) but no one was deployed with such mischievous glee as Broadway dame Elaine Stritch, playing Jack Donaghy’s mother Colleen. As the TV gang prepares for Ludachristmas (not just because Liz Lemon parties are mandatory), Colleen sets about ruining Christmas for […]
10 Things You Have To Do This December
1 Geeks vs Nerds Holiday-Themed Show GvN’s first Christmas show in five seasons is bound to be the best gift you get this holiday season. They’ll start off with a few easy two-minute debates—socks vs educational gifts, holiday CC bill vs naughty list and Rudolph vs Frosty—followed by the big guns, Superman vs Santa Claus: […]
16 Ways to Give Back, For Real
1 Pierre’s Alley Cats Since incorporating in 2007, PACS has been working to ease the suffering of Halifax’s stray and feral cat populations. The Society established and cares for the feral cat colonies at the CFB Halifax dockyard using their trap-neuter-return model, as well as providing food, shelter and veterinary care for stray and feral […]
6 Unbelievable Christmas Traditions
1 Mummering “I remember mummering at my grandparents’ house in St. Mary’s Bay, Newfoundland,” says local comic Brian Aylward. “People from the community piled into the kitchen dressed in drag. Everyone would try to guess who was who. There was live music, dancing and lots of laughter.” First recorded in 1819, mummering (or mumming) in […]
It’s the Holiday Planner 2013
Check these seasonally-inspired lists and you’ll be feeling festive in no time. Even you, Grinchy.
Mall Santa secrets
I’m sitting in the Santa Room. It’s a two-by-four metre box containing hanging rank-smelling Santa costumes, eyebrow makeup, a mirror, a few water bottles and a bottle of Febreeze. I’m sweating profusely, only partly due to the layers of North Pole gear and the insulating white wig and beard combo I’ve just put on. I’m […]
Gifts that give
The 12 days of Christmas can’t contain all the fun that’s about to come at you. Breaking the holiday mould—read: a book for Uncle Steve, a puzzle for Grandma and beer for your younger brother—is a new frontier in gift-giving. It’s groundbreaking stuff, people: gifts that actually keep on giving. Self-improvement is the name of […]
Bottle service
I used to think giving booze as a gift was a bit of a cop- out, until I realized what a creative outlet it can be. Inspired by tips from Premier Wine and Spirits’ (1535 Dresden Row) ever-helpful Dave Clair, here’s list of liquid gifts made for sharing. Clair likes to give liquor because it […]
Wrap star
1) A free and easy wrapping paper replacement? This very page, friends. After you finish reading this article, it’ll make some mighty fine wrapping material, and Coast covers and comics make for even more attractive prezzies. Tip: make your own bow, too—the one pictured was made using the cover of last year’s holiday planner. 2) […]

