Holiday Planner

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

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: […]

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 […]

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 […]

Check these seasonally-inspired lists and you’ll be feeling festive in no time. Even you, Grinchy.

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) […]

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 […]