We’re not even out of November but that hasn’t stopped thoughts of holiday magic from encroaching on the public consciousness. Let’s take a look at what’s happening right now.
Get your gift ideas! Holiday gift guides are exploding from every corner of the internet. Nobody has time to dive in and explore all of them, so we’ve narrowed it down to the two absolute best; Toronto’s beloved food blogger Mike Takasaki‘s The Plate Cleaner, and the New Yorker’s Helen Rosner. These two guides emphasize food and foodies and they cover every eclectic, offbeat, fun and funky possible gift you can imagine. All that’s left is for you to figure out who you’re buying for.
a string of sausage candles are featured in Rosner’s New Yorker gift guide.
A new phenom has swept through the city in recent years; the holiday themed bar. Picture your favourite bar, now picture it covered in Christmas wrap and tinsel! You get the idea.
The Thirsty Elf pop-up bar in the Royal York.
Little Sister spends most of the year as an Indonesian-Dutch culinary hot spot, but turns into the Java Jingle Holiday Bar from now until 2024. Project Gigglewater does a particularly beautiful job transforming into the Giggly Christmas Bar, while the mezzanine level at the historic Fairmont Royal York transforms into The Thirsty Elf. Full roundup can be found here.
Holiday markets are already opening across the city and getting out to explore them now is a great way to beat the crowds come December. Particularly the Distillery District’s Winter Village which is one of the most popular destinations in Toronto for holiday shoppers seeking out a little bit of Christmas magic.
the Distillery’s Winter Village
The Toronto Botanical Garden has a Holiday Open House this weekend. Have you explored the TBG yet? Now’s your chance. The open house and market takes place this Saturday and tickets are free but you need to register here.
And finally, who doesn’t love a craft fair in a church? Enter St Luke’s Christmas Bazaar! The annual tradition was paused by the pandemic, so this is their first market since 2019. Head to St Luke’s Anglican Church in Oakville. Expect a bake sale, silent auction, a quilt draw and a tea room.
Now if all that has put you in the mood to start stringing popcorn and untangling lights, we are happy to report that the Garden Centre is fully stocked with Christmas trees. Come on by!