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The ultimate 2016 holiday gift guide

The newest, coolest, most perfect gift for everyone on your list (and where to buy it)
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Folksy Bowls

Folksy Bowls

$10.70

each. Instagram-worthy dishes for a breakfast smoothie bowl (or not-so-virtuous helping of ice cream).

| westelm.com
Jackson-Triggs Grand Reserve Entourage Sparkling Brut

Jackson-Triggs Grand Reserve Entourage Sparkling Brut

$24.95

Toast to the season with this crisp, buttery Ontario sparkler—great with oysters on the half shell.

| lcbo.com
American oak-aged whiskey

American oak-aged whiskey

$39.95

Ireland’s most iconic whiskey, Powers Gold Label is triple distilled and matured in American oak casks, resulting in a complex spice and honeyed experience.

| lcbo.com
Drinks: A User's Guide

Drinks: A User's Guide

$24

Toronto cocktail writer Adam McDowell’s how-to book features tips on sipping in style.

| chapters.indigo.ca
DIY STOP-MOTION ANIMATION KIT

DIY STOP-MOTION ANIMATION KIT

$35

This set comes with clay and four backgrounds, and uses a smartphone app to help filmmakers-in-training flex their creative muscles.

| amazon.com
Whimsical colouring book

Whimsical colouring book

$22.50

Part colouring book, part adventure narrative, all fun

| chapters.indigo.ca
Cool Clutch

Cool Clutch

$508

Mola Sasa’s bags are crafted from traditional fabrics, which are handmade by artisans in Colombia. Holt Renfrew, 50 Bloor St. W., 416-922-2333.

| holtrenfrew.com
Cat-lovers' subscription service

Cat-lovers' subscription service

$29.95

and up. This subscription service delivers artisanal feline luxuries, including treats, toys and apparel, once a month.

| thewhiskerbox.com
Fossil x Me to We Watch

Fossil x Me to We Watch

$175

These fair-trade beaded watch bands are handmade by skilled tradeswomen in Kenya.

| shop.metowe.com
SAVE A BIRD

SAVE A BIRD

$25

and up. A donation to the Canadian Peregrine Foundation comes with a very official certificate of adoption.

| peregrine-foundation.ca
KAYTRANADA’S 99.9% ON VINYL

KAYTRANADA’S 99.9% ON VINYL

$30

The Haitian-Canadian’s debut album, with its buzzy, electro-tinged hip-hop bangers, won this year’s prestigious Polaris Music Prize.

| fatbeats.com
Wooden Coffee Scoops

Wooden Coffee Scoops

$30

each. Hamilton woodworking shop Bellowing Timber handcrafts these stout, curvy scoops.

| bellowingtimber.com
An easy-on-the-eyes e-reader

An easy-on-the-eyes e-reader

$129.99

This lightweight e-reader has a 6 Carta E Ink touchscreen that displays an easy-on-the-eyes, print-on-paper look, so you can comfortably read for hours.

| kobo.com
Inniskillin Sparkling Vidal Icewine

Inniskillin Sparkling Vidal Icewine

$79.95

Bubbles add a novel effervescence to Inniskillin’s world-renowned icewine.

| lcbo.com
A mysterious single malt

A mysterious single malt

$199.90

Try your hand at decoding the flavour profile of this mysterious, limited-release single malt: no tasting notes, cask information or age statement. A true test of the senses.

| lcbo.com
Chef-made pet food

Chef-made pet food

$65

Tom&Sawyer makes real food for four-legged friends that’s as tasty as it is nutritious, delivered right to your door. This meal and treat pack for dogs includes the seasonally appropriate “Pawliday Gobbler” Turkey dinner. Tom&Sawyer, 1247 Queen St. E., 647-247-3212

| tomandsawyer.com
Top banana plate

Top banana plate

$16

Donna Wilson’s melamine plate is as cute as it is practical. Hopson Grace, 1120 Yonge St., 416-926-1120

| hopsongrace.com
THE CHIEFTAINS CHAIR

THE CHIEFTAINS CHAIR

$17,980

Finn Juhl’s design is made to order and takes a couple of months to make, so it won’t be under the tree. But trust us: it’s worth the wait. Mjölk, 2959 Dundas St. W., 416-551-9853

| mjolk.ca
Honeycomb pendant

Honeycomb pendant

$225

Ten per cent of sales of this sweet pendant go towards the honey bee research centre at the University of Guelph.

| maisonbirks.com
A pair of pearly studs

A pair of pearly studs

$750

These 18 karat gold stud earrings with a mother of pearl middle were inspired by the hexagons found in beehives.  

| maisonbirks.com
Old Montreal-inspired pendant

Old Montreal-inspired pendant

$575

The design on this pendant is inspired by the patterned ceiling of the first Birks boutique in Old Montreal.

| maisonbirks.com
OCULUS RIFT HEADSET

OCULUS RIFT HEADSET

$849

The Cadillac of VR gaming devices.

| bestbuy.com
An old-school sipper

An old-school sipper

$44.95

A tribute to the first drops of Jameson whiskey, Jameson Crested is a vivid blend of Pot Still and grain whiskies – full bodied, rich and complex.

| lcbo.com
Bird-print scarf

Bird-print scarf

$15

Perfect for accessory-lovers and amateur ornithologists alike

| simons.ca
Fancy flatscreen

Fancy flatscreen

$3999.99

and up. Considered the best TV that money can buy, LG’s splurge-worthy OLED 4K televisions deliver crisp, vibrant colours and impeccable, lifelike image quality even at wide angles.

| lg.com
Deer totem puzzle

Deer totem puzzle

$33.95

This 3-D model works well as an art piece, or a plaything for tots Art Gallery of Ontario, 317 Dundas St. W., 416-979-6648

| shop2.ago.net
Vegan Soap

Vegan Soap

$7.95

and up. Buck Naked’s cruelty-free bars come in lavender-rosemary, cranberry-mint and avocado, among other delicious scents.

| bucknakedsoapcompany.com
SUSPENSION YOGA GIFT CARD

SUSPENSION YOGA GIFT CARD

$25

and up. The Flying Yogi is Canada’s first studio teaching suspension yoga, otherwise known as aerial yoga. The Flying Yogi, 007-245 Carlaw Ave., 647-993-9644

| theflyingyogi.ca
Custom Saya

Custom Saya

$75

and up. Mississauga firefighter Tom McLean makes these sayas—or knife sheaths—from scratch. Jamie Oliver has a few of his custom pieces

| sharpandshinyshop.com
HERSCHEL SUPPLY DUFFEL

HERSCHEL SUPPLY DUFFEL

$150

A classic nylon shoulder bag that’ll work as well for the gym as for a weekend away. Sporting Life, 2665 Yonge St., 416-485-1611

| sportinglife.ca
ESSENTIAL ELEMENTS BY EDWARD BURTYNSKY

ESSENTIAL ELEMENTS BY EDWARD BURTYNSKY

$92

The esteemed Canadian shooter’s landscape photography is as striking as ever in his 2016 coffee-table tome.

| chapters.indigo.ca
Spiced rum (in a bottle worth keeping)

Spiced rum (in a bottle worth keeping)

$44.95

This cold weather-ready spiced sipper comes in a ceramic bottle you’ll want to keep after the last drop has been drunk.

| krakenrum.com
WATERROWER CLASSIC

WATERROWER CLASSIC

$2,221

Help someone blow off steam, House of Cards–style, with a solid walnut, hand-finished rowing machine.

| waterrower.com
Waste-Free Tee

Waste-Free Tee

$44

Nudnik’s stuff is reconstructed from old sweaters and T-shirts that would otherwise end up in landfills.

| nudniktoronto.com
TESLA MODEL 3

TESLA MODEL 3

$46,755

The most affordable Tesla yet is only available for pre-order (and there’s a limit of two per customer).

| tesla.com
REAL JERK HOT SAUCE

REAL JERK HOT SAUCE

$3

each. Bring some of the heat of Drake and Rihanna’s steamy “Work” video into your kitchen.

| thebay.com
Earth-friendly boots

Earth-friendly boots

$165

Cool, designed-in-Vancouver kicks from Native Shoes are made from BPA-free plastics and no animal by-products.

| nativeshoes.com
KWAF x Toronto Life Discovery Pack

KWAF x Toronto Life Discovery Pack

$85

Crammed with artisanal, locally made potent potables (and some chocolate, just because). Also included: A one-year subscription to Toronto Life magazine (or a one-year extension, if you’re already a subscriber).

| kwaf.ca
Travel Shave Kit

Travel Shave Kit

$279

This kit includes a real badger-hair brush and a leather case that was hand-stitched in Italy. King’s Crown, 2901 Bayview Ave., 647-348-1774

| kingscrown1774.com
Sparkling water on demand

Sparkling water on demand

$199.99

With three fizz-levels and an easy-to-use push-button design, sugar-free bubbly bevvies have never been so accessible.

| sodastream.ca
The Great One’s tell-all

The Great One’s tell-all

$35

Wayne Gretzky’s memoir, released this fall, coincides with the NHL’s 99th anniversary.

| chapters.indigo.ca
KEVIN PILLAR’S SOCKS

KEVIN PILLAR’S SOCKS

$11.95

The Blue Jays centre fielder designed this capsule collection with Yo Sox earlier this year.

| yo-sox.ca
Face Wash

Face Wash

$46

Youth to the People’s cleanser lets you have your kale and wash your face with it, too. Jacob and Sebastian, 622 Queen St. W.

| jacobandsebastian.com
Museum-inspired cufflinks

Museum-inspired cufflinks

$159

These stainless steel cufflinks, which come in a luxe velvet and leather box, are inspired by the Museum’s Permanent Collection. Aga Khan Museum, 77 Wynford Dr., 416-646-4677 ext. 7805

| shop.agakhanmuseum.org
Bowie Mug

Bowie Mug

$22

Artist Kate Beaton’s Ziggy Stardust–emblazoned cup is just extraterrestrial enough for early mornings.

| topatoco.com
The Grill of the Future

The Grill of the Future

$7,000

Pellet BBQs are all the rage for a reason—they’re fast, easy to use and seriously good looking. The Bob Grillson model is also controlled by its own smartphone app. Appliance Love, 950 Dupont St., 416-516-9500

| appliancelove.com
Bobbette and Belle's Cookbook

Bobbette and Belle's Cookbook

$35

The venerable Toronto bake shop’s first cookbook looks (almost) good enough to eat.

| amazon.ca
Wooden Toy Donuts

Wooden Toy Donuts

$3.50

each. The faux powdered rounds from Erzi would pass for the real deal in a Timmy’s display case. Ava’s Appletree, 870 Kingston Rd., 416-515-0808

| avasappletree.ca
Doggy bow-tie (and collar)

Doggy bow-tie (and collar)

$25

This tartan tie—and adjustable cotton shirt collar—will have Fido looking dapper for the holidays

| miloclothing.com
CUSTOM CYCLE

CUSTOM CYCLE

$Varies

Toronto’s Mariposa builds bikes—from city cruisers to track racers—to your specifications.

| mariposabicycles.ca
Custom charcuterie stand

Custom charcuterie stand

$100

This mini-display is made from salvaged timber, so no two pieces are alike. Canadian Salvaged Timber, 442 Dufferin St., Unit J, 416-530-1333

| canadiansalvagedtimber.ca
Moleskine LiveScribe

Moleskine LiveScribe

$249

This notebook can be paired with the Bluetooth-enabled Livescribe smartpen (sold separately) to instantly digitize sketches.

| store.moleskine.com
Grass in a box

Grass in a box

$27

and up. Pooch Patch is a square of real grass in a box that dog owners short on outdoor space can put on their balcony or patio (it’s great for pups with mobility issues, too).

| poochpatch.ca
Buzzing Bees

Buzzing Bees

$35

Donating toward Plan Canada’s honeybee program gives a family in need a beehive, which is a sustainable source of income.

| plancanada.ca
RETRO KEYTAR

RETRO KEYTAR

$980

Here’s the perfect gift for lovers of A Flock of Seagulls and Ryan Gosling wannabes—the Canuck heartthrob played one of these in the buzzy TIFF film La La Land. Steve’s Music, 415 Queen St. W, 416-593-8888

| www.stevesmusic.com/keyboards-controllers/keyboards-sound-modules/korg-rk-100s-37-notes-keytar-black?zenid=64tvh7fsg20vq08u0d6g391be5
Brass and Unity bracelet

Brass and Unity bracelet

$599

and up. A portion of the proceeds from these bracelets—which are designed by a Canadian Forces vet and have been spotted on celebs like Channing Tatum—supports Wounded Warriors Canada.

| brassandunity.com
A classic timepiece

A classic timepiece

$295

The distressed leather strap adds a contemporary look to this classic men’s watch, which comes with free engraving.

| maisonbirks.com
Toronto Life's December Foodie Box

Toronto Life's December Foodie Box

$18.95

A package chock full of zesty artisanal finds from local makers, put together with help from FoodiePages.

| foodiepages.ca
Sugar Bowl and Creamer Set

Sugar Bowl and Creamer Set

$40

Bodum’s sleek serving vessels complement the brand’s classic French press. The Green Beanery, 565 Bloor St. W.

| greenbeanery.ca
HIGH PARK CAPYBARAS POSTER

HIGH PARK CAPYBARAS POSTER

$24

Local artist Nicole Burton’s tribute to everyone’s favourite rodents-on-the-run is as 2016 as it gets.

| squareup.com
Canadian-made sparklers

Canadian-made sparklers

$6,900

Sophie sported a pair of earrings from this Canadian designer during the state visit to Washington in March.

| jdj-jewellery.com
EPSOM SALTS

EPSOM SALTS

$18

These made-in-Toronto salts are perfect for a post-gym soak.

| reallygreatgoods.com
An innovative new mattress

An innovative new mattress

$725

and up. Casper’s patent-pending mattress is perfect for everyone (yes, even super weird sleepers).

| torontolife.com
Bone-handled bar set

Bone-handled bar set

$79

A bottle opener, jigger and corkscrew that will bring old-school style to any home bar cart. BYOB, 972 Queen St. W., 647-727-3600.

| cocktailemporium.ca
PUMA IGNITE

PUMA IGNITE

$174

Homegrown R&B star The Weeknd sports these kicks in Puma’s latest ad campaign.

| ca.puma.com
SOYLENT COFFIEST

SOYLENT COFFIEST

$48.50

per month, and up. A superefficient meal-replacement drink and caffeine boost all in one.

| soylent.com
Chef-Approved Meatshare

Chef-Approved Meatshare

$99

and up. This meat share—run by the chefs at Richmond Station—divvies up a side of beef (plus pork and chicken, when available) among 15 happy carnivores.

| westsidebeef.com
Ice Cream Candle

Ice Cream Candle

$11

The best thing about this retro-cone candle: it melts just like real ice cream. Easy Tiger, 1477 Dundas St. W., 647-748-6161

| easytigergoods.com
HAND-CAST BOWL

HAND-CAST BOWL

$32

Artist Stephen Lindsay lines these concrete bowls in silver, gold or copper.

| urbanproduct.ca
Retro Fridge

Retro Fridge

$3,000

SMEG’s retro-chic kitchen appliances come in a Crayola box of colours and have become cult faves.

| thebay.com
stylish HEADPHONES

stylish HEADPHONES

$400

With their leather detailing and gold tint, Sennheiser’s Momentum 2 headphones are perfect for music-loving aesthetes.

| en-us.sennheiser.com
SELFIE ILLUMINATOR

SELFIE ILLUMINATOR

$50

and up Kim Kardashian is obsessed with the Lumee smartphone case, which has a forward-facing set of lights.

| lumee.com
Phillips Automatic Pasta Maker

Phillips Automatic Pasta Maker

$300

Aziz Ansari’s Emmy-winning Master of None used homemade pasta as a major plot device. This machine will dazzle guests without much elbow grease.

| bestbuy.ca
hair dryer of the future

hair dryer of the future

$500

The Dyson Supersonic has three speeds and four temperatures— and looks seriously sci-fi.

| dysoncanada.ca
Robert Mondavi Private Selection Limited Release Bourbon Barrel-Aged Cabernet Sauvignon

Robert Mondavi Private Selection Limited Release Bourbon Barrel-Aged Cabernet Sauvignon

$20.95

A perfect addition to your holiday party, this big, bold coastal California wine is aged in Bourbon Whisky Barrels and pairs well with strong cheeses, charcuterie boards, and hearty, winter-friendly pasta dishes.

| lcbo.com
HOCKEY flask

HOCKEY flask

$38

The Drake General Store’s insulated vessel mimics the colours of rinkside boards.

| drakegeneralstore.ca
WOOD AND GLASS BUBBLER

WOOD AND GLASS BUBBLER

$275

For the stylish stoner, this pipe-bong hybrid from Marley Natural is made from sustainable walnut. Tokyo Smoke, 850B Adelaide St. W., 647-348-6596

| tokyosmoke.com
Sweet Treats

Sweet Treats

$185

The Sweet Danger gift basket from Pusateri’s contains peppermint hot chocolate, salted caramel shortbread and enough chocolate to satisfy even the strongest of cravings. Pusateri’s, 1539 Avenue Rd., 416-785-9100

| pusateris.com
Pepper Grinders

Pepper Grinders

$100

This Danish-designed set comes with pepper­corns from Cambodia, which were introduced to Canada by a Toronto couple.

| drompepper.com
3-D PRINTING WORKSHOP

3-D PRINTING WORKSHOP

$50

and up Loved ones will learn the basics of 3-D printing, and can take home their own designs (like these 3-D printed air plant holders).

| makelab.ca
A very patriotic jacket

A very patriotic jacket

$170

Four dollars from every Peace Collective purchase—including this bomber—goes toward Breakfast for Learning, which provides morning meals for kids in need. Peace Collective, 131 Ossington Ave., 416-546-5877

| peace-collective.com
Theatre subscription

Theatre subscription

$45

and up. Tarragon Theatre’s holiday packages—ranging from single-play gift packs to four-play subscriptions—will satisfy any tier of theatre-lover.

| tarragontheatre.com
Hand-Painted Ceramic Plate

Hand-Painted Ceramic Plate

$70

Artist Laura McKibbon paints rustic scenes, like this log cabin, onto vintage Hycroft dinnerware.

| lauramckibbon.com
TEAM TORONTO TEA TOWEL

TEAM TORONTO TEA TOWEL

$20

Artist Avril Loreti’s homage to the Leafs is more a showpiece than a func­tional item. Brika, 642 Queen St. W.

| brika.com