We love all manners of gift wrapping, and the reusable fabric gift wrap and bags from Ficelle et Baluchon stopped us in our tracks at the Christmas One Of A Kind show. It’s gorgeous, reusable and feels like the kind of wrapping you want to keep forever. This fabric wrapping looks just like paper: Handcrafted fabric gift box with floral pattern, perfect for special occasions. Ficelle et Baluchon is a high-end, eco-minded Canadian brand creating fabric gift bags, reversible wrapping fabrics, furoshikis and reversible fabric envelopes. Their pieces are vibrant and beautiful like traditional paper wrapping but built to last, which makes them cost-effective over time and perfect for anyone trying to cut down on waste without giving up on something pretty.

There was something really special about kicking off the 50th anniversary of the One Of A Kind Show by getting hands-on with Market Candle Co. Instead of just browsing, we actually had the chance to create something from scratch, which made us appreciate the heart and skill behind the work of more than 800 artisans who fill the show each year. We were set up at our own little station with a lineup of essential oil testers, each one more tempting than the last. Choosing a blend felt a bit like choosing a mood.

Flirty Pineapple is a Toronto-based Canadian hair accessory brand that fits the vibe for the Winter One of a Kind Show. Beautiful, size inclusive and made to last, they make everyday pieces that actually get used and loved. We are kicking off our highlights of the 2025 Winter One of a Kind Show with them because we are forever obsessed with the perfect scrunchie. Their huge glorious burgundy one holds all my hair, doesn’t pull and is sooooo luxe and pretty. I have been wearing it for hours and no headache.

If you are looking for something festive to do this weekend, the Canadian Pacific Kansas City Holiday Train is making its annual Toronto stop this Saturday night at 750 Runnymede Road. The train will pull in at 8:30 p.m. and stay until 9 p.m., bringing its bright lights, live music and community spirit to the neighbourhood once again. The Holiday Train is a cross country tradition that runs from November 19 through December 21, travelling across Canada and the United States to raise money, food and awareness for local food banks.

If you are trying to figure out the real Christmas tree price in Toronto, you are not the only one. As the holiday season picks up, people across the city are looking around to see what a fresh tree will cost and where to find the best value. Real Christmas Tree Prices in Toronto for 2025 Recent coverage in Ontario points to higher operating costs for growers, which has pushed prices up. Most buyers in Toronto can expect to pay anywhere from 80 to 300 dollars, depending on the size and type of tree.

Doja Cat brings her Tour Ma Vie World Tour to Toronto tonight at Scotiabank Arena. The tour kicked off on November 18, 2025 in Auckland, New Zealand, and it’s her biggest run yet, built around her fifth studio album, Vie, which came out in September 2025. Toronto hasn’t seen her since December 2023 when she played The Scarlet Tour. oronto Fans can expect a full arena production and a setlist that mixes new material with her biggest hits like "Paint The Town Red" (scroll down). Shows on this tour have included tracks like “Cards,” “Kiss Me More,” “Get Into It (Yuh),” “Gorgeous,” “Take Me Dancing,” and “Woman,” along with Vie songs such as “Acts of Service” and “Lipstain.” The tour began in New Zealand and will wrap up on December 1, 2026 at Madison Square Garden in New York.

If you have ever wandered along Dundas Street West near Little Portugal, you may have noticed a calm face looking out from the side of a building. It is a tall and quietly striking mural by Pablo Gomez, The piece is called “Portuguese Fisherman,” and it feels right at home in a neighbourhood shaped by generations of Portuguese families. The mural stretches across the side wall of 1357 Dundas Street West. The fisherman stands in warm tones of red and gold, framed by cool waves that seem to rise around him.

Longo’s has arrived at 1061 The Queensway, officially opening on November 19. It has been a long time since a new grocery store opened in this part of Etobicoke, so having this one now up and running is a welcome addition. The site east of Islington has been under construction for quite a while, and it is nice to finally see the finished result.

It’s almost time for Santa! Toronto is getting ready for one of its most beloved holiday traditions. The Santa Claus Parade returns this Sunday, Nov. 23 at 12:30 p.m., starting at Christie Pits Park at 750 Bloor Street West. If you plan to head out for the festivities, here is a rundown of what to expect on parade day, including the Santa Claus Parade route, where to watch, and the long list of road closures you will want to keep in mind. Toronto’s 121st annual Santa Claus Parade is a huge production and the city gears up for it every year.

If you’ve ever found yourself heading to a holiday gathering and wishing a decent host gift would magically appear in front of you, Farm Boy is one of those places where everyday groceries are actually special enough to gift. High quality, delicious items that make it easy to look prepared even when you’re rushing out the door. The Italian Trio deli pack is an easy place to start. The mildly spicy salami is the perfect complement to the salty, aged prosciutto. To round things out, there’s a delicate provolone with a slightly sweet and sharp finish.

When you work long hours on productions you can't rely on there being an outlet to plug in your smartphone. And when your phone is your book, your TV, your email, your socials, basically your whole life, you want that backup power ready and waiting. The other day on set I noticed a colleague watching a vertical show during a break. Her phone was propped up in the cutest little holder and I thought it was just a stand. Turns out the stand was actually a power bank. Her phone was sitting there charging while she watched TV.

It’s a good week when it ends with ordering a One Up from Revolver, our most beloved pizza place that somehow gets better every time. And if you love their pies as much as the rest of the city does, here’s some great news. Revolver is hiring at all locations, and a brand new spot is headed to Leslieville. They’re bringing on new team members across the board and are looking for pizzaiolos, front of house staff, and prep team members. If you have experience and want to be part of a busy, well loved Toronto pizza shop, they’re asking applicants to DM them with experience and an email address.

From the opening of the hotly anticipated new Costco last year at Islington and the 401 to the new Business Centre in Mississauga to closely watching every tweak to the Costco food court menu, we have a bit of a passionate sidequest going when it comes to all things Costco. So when some new holiday updates rolled in, we were more than happy to share them, especially since the parking lot is already more bananas than usual this time of year. The massive U.S. retailer is rolling out a few changes for the holidays, and here’s what to know.

Heron Restaurant is a quietly upscale spot in the Kingsway with an inviting, comfortable atmosphere and a focus on simplicity. The kitchen works with seasonal Canadian ingredients and regional flavours, creating dishes that balance rustic warmth with a more refined touch. They also offer a monthly tasting menu that shifts with whatever is fresh, so there’s always something new to try. Heron is from the same team behind Bramble Gastropub, and it has that same neighbourhood feel. It’s an easy place to settle into, especially on a chilly night, and the food suits the mood in a really comfortable way.

It’s getting chilly out there, so we’re digging into our summer archives to remind ourselves there are just a few more months until Toronto warms up again. Remember those bright August days when the city felt like an outdoor gallery? Here’s a throwback that might add a bit of colour to your November mood. If you passed by Cowley Abbott Fine Art on Dundas West this summer, you couldn’t miss the bold portrait installed right at the front of the gallery. Nestled across from the AGO, it was a showstopper. It marked the kickoff of their August art auction events and showed how the gallery likes to bring art out onto the street, literally.

We’re always looking for the best samosas in Toronto, and Bombay Frankies ended up being a great stop. The chain focuses on Indian street-style food, and while their frankie rolls get most of the attention, the samosas are genuinely worth trying. They’re crisp on the outside, nicely spiced inside, and just solid overall. We also ordered the pakoras, which were light and well-seasoned without feeling too heavy. And because it seemed fitting, we picked up a Thums Up. If you haven’t had it before, it’s an Indian cola that tastes similar to Coke but with a bit more kick.

If you’re looking for a holiday event that offers more than the usual festive routine, Toronto indie-pop and alt R&B artist Yalene is bringing something special to Typist Studios and Coffee on Sunday, December 14 at 7 pm. Her new show, Holiday Misses and Kisses, leans into gratitude and reflection, creating a space to look back on the year before heading into a new one. This concert follows her spring event, The Unburdened Sessions, which brought together young adults from across the Greater Toronto Area. That gathering was all about reconnecting, healing, and letting go of what no longer serves you.

It was much smaller, less busy (and free) when we first went over a decade ago, but there’s something about that magical Christmas tree that still makes The Distillery Winter Village the most epic, sparkly holiday market in Toronto. Toronto’s original and world-famous Christmas market transforms the historic cobblestone streets of the Distillery District into a festive wonderland. Expect twinkling lights, carollers, Santa and his elves, endless photo ops, cozy seasonal food and drinks, and unique gifts from local artisans. It’s the perfect spot to soak up the magic of the holidays — and take in Canada’s most iconic Christmas tree.

This early snow wasn’t exactly welcome, but now that it’s here we’re leaning into the festive mood it brings. For us that means getting ready for the Christmas drive-through light shows, starting with Magic of Lights. Magic of Lights is coming back to three Ontario cities as part of its North America-wide travelling drive-through holiday event. This year you can take in the displays at Wesley Clover Parks in Ottawa, Fanshawe Conservation Area in London, and Springwater Provincial Park in Barrie. And you can enjoy it all without leaving your car.

Burton Cummings and Randy Bachman are heading out on tour together as The Guess Who for the first time in more than twenty years. The news comes after the pair wrapped up a long trademark dispute with former members Jim Kale and Garry Peterson, which had kept them from using the band name on stage. For years, they performed classics like American Woman and These Eyes as Bachman Cummings instead. Now that the trademark issue is settled, they’re celebrating with a 2026 Canadian tour that starts May 26 in Moncton. The schedule includes major stops across the country, including Toronto (May 30) Winnipeg, Calgary and Edmonton.

I walked into Costco to buy bacon last week and as usual ended up with a wonderful random find… a pair of the Kirkland ladies’ shearling boots. Costco Uggs. I’ve been thinking about a new pair of actual Uggs, but when I saw these for forty dollars and noticed they’re made with 100 percent shearling, I had to pick them up. They look pretty much identical to the classic Uggs making them a solid Uggs dupe at Costco, which lately has been the only place I have time to shop…

Walk through Dundas and Bathurst and you’ll spot a bright mural of a cartoon-style character gripping an oversized skewer. It’s bold, funny, and impossible to miss. The mural is by Toronto-based artist Chris Perez. Here he is in front of the mural: Perez was born in 1990 and studied Drawing and Painting at OCAD University. His work usually leans toward abstract painting, gesture, and movement, with influences from street art and graffiti. He often explores identity through abstraction and uses latex, acrylics, and spray paint in his practice. This mural is more character-driven than much of his portfolio, which makes it a fun find in the neighbourhood.

Toronto’s well loved shipping container market is getting ready for its seasonal glow up. Holiday Hills is coming back to STACKT Market on November 14, and the whole place is about to look and feel like a winter festival right in the middle of the city. The season opens with an evening ceremony that brings in the Great Canadian Dueling Pianos, a pianist duo who always put on a fun show. There will also be a giant tree on site for the first night, setting the tone for the weeks ahead.

If you’ve noticed the fresh yellow signage at 2247 Bloor Street West, you’re looking at the future home of Yolks Breakfast, a new breakfast and brunch spot set to open on Friday November 14th, 2025. Yolks began in 2012 as a bright blue food truck in British Columbia and has spent the past 13 years growing into a beloved local favourite, now with three locations in B.C.

If you were on The Queensway on Halloween, you might have seen a new mural coming together on the side of Bamboo Tattoo. We passed by while Paul Glyn-Williams was still working on it, and even at that unfinished stage the colours were already hard to miss. The finished wall is a tribute to the Toronto Blue Jays facing the Los Angeles Dodgers in the World Series. Glyn-Williams, known on Instagram as @sumartist, painted a sharp, focused Blue Jay staring down a Dodgers cap with “Still our Champs” across the background.