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 […]
Holiday Planner
Posted inLifestyle
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 […]
Posted inLifestyle
Alternative holiday film festival
Ted Demme’s 1994 caper comedy, The Ref, is a good place to start. Gus (Denis Leary) is a burglar on the run who takes Caroline (Judy Davis) and Lloyd Chasseur (Kevin Spacey), a dysfunctional married couple, hostage in their home as he hides from cops trolling the wealthy Connecticut town. Davis and Spacey argue so […]
Posted inLifestyle
Gifts for adults in local kids stores
The Adventures of Hergé by Jose-Louis Bouquet, Jean-luc Fromental and Stanislas Barthelemy, $20 An illustrated biography of Georges Prosper Remi, better known as Hergé, the creator of The Adventures of Tintin, from Montreal publishers Drawn & Quarterly. Tintin and his trusty pooch Snowy will be on the big screen later in December with a new […]
Posted inLifestyle
The story of Mills’ holiday window display
For some, ringing in the holidays in Halifax is marked by the first sighting of the forest wake in the Mills window—a tradition that first popped up in the late 1940s. Snow White lies in a woodland tomb as her seven pals weep diamond tears and robotically dry their eyes. The dwarfs are rotund and […]
Posted inLifestyle
What to buy for the occupy
According to their most recent general assemblies, Nova Scotian occupiers are still planning to camp out in Wolfville, and possibly again in Halifax. But there’s still that pesky local park bylaw that prohibits camping. Look no further than The Adventure Outfitters (5187 Salter Street, 481-9826) for bylaw-subverting solutions. TAO carries shiny silver emergency space blankets […]
Posted inLifestyle
Sourcing local holiday meal supplies in Halifax
Appetizers There’s no need for your bland grocery-store cheeses, as Atlantic Canadian artisanal cheeses can hold their own on any board. Jess Ross, owner of Gold Island Bakery, sells Au Fond des Bois’ goat cheeses (aufonddesbois.com) Saturdays in the Halifax Historic Farmers’ Market (Brewery Market, 1496 Lower Water Street, 423-2279). Originally from Belgium, farmers Marina […]
Posted inLifestyle
Santa is the one percent
Masquerading as a benevolent folk hero for centuries, one clever capitalist has us all hoodwinked: Santa Claus is one of them. Witness: He sips brandy and dines on Beluga caviar, reclining in a fur-trimmed smoking jacket while a factory teeming with elves tirelessly handcraft Lego and Barbies. That’s why he’s so jolly. The North Pole […]
Posted inLifestyle
Ecology Action Centre’s gift-givers
We asked the greenest elves, those who work at the Ecology Action Centre, what they’d recommend for gifts this holiday season. Conscientious consumption continued Jennifer West’s tips: ICC cooking classes: Offered throughout the year, cost is $115 for four lessons. 453-5327 or icca@eastlink.ca. | Oceanstone Inn and Cottages* in Peggys Cove, 823-2160, oceanstone.ns.ca | Irwin […]
Posted inLifestyle
How to make gift-giving less of a hassle
Uncle Steve loves the Habs. Aunt Lizzie can’t get enough of Lady Gaga. But what about their boys, your cousins John, Stewie and Seamus? And your brother Larry? And his new girlfriend will be coming home from Toronto with him at the holidays, what do you get her? If these kinds of questions are starting […]
Posted inLifestyle
Greeting cards at the holidays
Dearest Coast readers, both holiday junkies and haters: In case you didn’t know, holiday greeting cards are still a thing. Despite our tendency to lean away from paper by sending mass emails, ecards, Facebook shoutouts and holly, jolly hashtags, the corporate card biz is still doing OK. The roots of handmade messages of good cheer […]
Posted inLifestyle
Share your New Year’s Eve memories with The Coast
Update December 28, 2010:The contest is closed, and Pamela Gray won the bottle of Taittinger in the random draw from all the entries. Congratulations Pamela and thanks to everyone for entering. The booze. The food. The stress. The fun. We’ve all been there, which is we all love New Year’s Eve stories. Good, bad or […]
