For the guy who loves grooming
A proper haircut and shave can feel like a real indulgence. Glassbox Barbershop, winner of NOW’s 2017 Readers’ Choice for best barber shop and men’s salon, mixes traditional barbering and modern men’s hairstyling. At Barber & Co, beer trims and hot shaves can be enjoyed with a cocktail in hand (there’s a small bar tucked away in the back). Whatever his style, treat the dapper dude in your life to a gift card to either spot over the holidays.
($20-$65, Glassbox Barbershop, 338 Harbord, glassboxbarbershop.com $20-$60, Barber & Co, 89 Ossington, barberandco.com)
For the friend who’s watched everything on Netflix
Shopping for a nerd who has binged it all and complains there is never anything good on Netflix? Clearly they need another streaming service. Shudder is devoted to horror, suspense and thrillers, while Fandor is all about art house and has a huge selection of Canadian films.
(Shudder.com, $50/year Fandor.com, $90/year.)
For the eco-chic pal
Organic food co-op Karma, which started in the early 70s, is getting into the holiday gift basket game. For those who want to reduce their footprint, there’s the kitchen-and-bathroom-focused #ZeroWaste Starter Kit, which comes with a one-month trial membership. The foodcentric Best of Karma option is the priciest ($105) and has a three-month trial.
($55, Karma Co-op, 739 Palmerston, karmacoop.org)
For the music lover
Art of Time Ensemble fuses high art and pop culture in concerts that span every genre. Get into the holiday spirit with To All A Good Night 3, its annual concert of diverse wintery tunes and readings from December 14-16, or buy tickets to one of four spring shows. If you miss the TSO’s annual performance of Handel’s Messiah, start 2018 off with a series of Mozart concerts. Gift certificates to the TSO make a thoughtful holiday gift, and for classical music enthusiasts, there’s always the option of purchasing a year-long subscription.
($25-$64, Art of Time Ensemble, artoftimeensemble.com $52-$113, Toronto Symphony Orchestra, tso.ca)
For the budding theatre critic
Soulpepper has loads of holiday-themed shows to get you into the seasonal spirit, from the classic A Christmas Carol to family-friendly Peter Pan. Its 2018 season promises something for every theatre lover: productions of Amadeus and Animal Farm as well as concerts inspired by the 1920s. Canadian Stage isn’t doing any holiday-themed productions, but the 30-year-old company has loads of cutting-edge theatre, dance and music performances in the new year. Tickets and season subscriptions can be purchased online.
(Tickets starting at $20, Soulpepper, soulpepper.ca tickets starting at $39, Canadian Stage, canadianstage.com)
For the brewmaster
Of course you can wrap a few tall boys and toss ’em under the tree (here are Toronto’s 24 best indie beers), but a gift voucher for one of Beer Lovers’ Tour Company’s hoppy events will create much longer-lasting memories. Gift certificates can be redeemed for themed tours that include Toronto breweries, chocolate and cheese pairings, and more.
($149, Beer Lovers’ Tour Co., beerloverstour.com)
For the art enthusiast
A membership to the Art Gallery of Ontario, whose collection includes over 90,000 works, will never grow old. Plus, the highly anticipated Yayoi Kusama retrospective arrives in spring. What better time to spoil the art lover on your list with an annual membership that yields unlimited free visits and other benefits? If dinosaurs and cultural relics are of interest, gift a membership to the Royal Ontario Museum. Benefits include unlimited free admission, shopping and dining discounts and exclusive previews.
($45-$145/year, Art Gallery of Ontario, 317 Dundas West, ago.ca $112-$161/year, Royal Ontario Museum, 100 Queens Park, rom.on.ca)
For the cinephile
We all know that one friend who spends every weekend at the movies. Wouldn’t they be thrilled with a membership to the TIFF Bell Lightbox? Members get discounted screenings as well as access to the Toronto International Film Festival presale. And for the documentary buff, annual memberships to the Hot Docs Ted Rogers Cinema include free popcorn!
(Starting at $49, TIFF Bell Lightbox, 350 King West, tiff.net $38-$359, Hot Docs Ted Rogers Cinema, 506 Bloor West, hotdocscinema.ca)
For the person who has everything
Sometimes, the best experiences are the ones you can give others. Charitable organizations like Oxfam provide gift giving options at every price point for those in need. For example, buy a chicken, sheep, goat or donkey to help a family struggling with food security. Bicycles, school books and safe drinking water are also options.
($15-$175, Oxfam, unwrapped.oxfam.ca/)
For more gift ideas at every price point, visit NOW’s Holiday Gift Guide 2017.
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