Well, if all the snow covering the city is any indication, it’s safe to say that we’ve officially entered the wintery holiday season and we all as a community, ask ourselves the same question: “What the *BLEEP* kind of a gift am I going to get this person?”
Hey, it’s okay! It happens to all of us and with so many stores and services out there, it’s tough to figure out what the perfect gift might be for any person in your life. But luckily, Old Town Toronto has your back with a few ideas for some thoughtful, stylish, and even tasty gifts!
Food
Nothing is quite as thoughtful as a lovely food basket with a bunch of fantastic goodies a loved one can enjoy over the holidays. And when it comes to food-filled gift baskets, the folks at George Street Diner don’t do things halfway! Along with their regular Irish breakfast and gift hampers, they have some wonderful Father Ted-themed boxes that include the Father Ted Basket, which is a lovely Irish breakfast set, and the monstrous Father Jack Basket which includes a grand selection of all two boxes plus two cans of Guinness and a bottle each of Bailey’s, Jameson, and some bubbly. Want to stick to just snacking? They have a box for that too!
And for something on the fancy side, Terroni is back once again with brilliantly curated holiday gift boxes featuring the artisanal foods of Terroni, Sud Forno, Spaccio and the best selling handpicked products from La Bottega di Terroni. From a simple Panettone Artigianale and Peperoncini Piccanti to boxes filled with Terroni’s most beloved staples and delicious snacks for your own party, you’ll be sure to find some amazing high quality nibbles for the food lover in your life.
Health
While winter is usually the time for hibernating, keeping active and even wanting to push yourself to be more active can be a great thing! Do you have a friend who dreams of running a marathon? The Running Room offers online coaching programs for the speedster in your life, with 10-12 week options along with 18-week programs that fit with your schedule!
Or if your loved one would rather be more flexible and one with the universe, our friends at BeHot Yoga are offering an intro package for new clients of five classes for $75! Such a gift will get them on the hot yoga path in no time!
Pets
If we’ve learned anything from our previous posts on stylish and fashion-forward dogs of Old Town Toronto, it’s that pets are especially adorable when they’re wearing something nice. Even the cutest puppy can be even cuter by a well-thought-out colour of leash. So with that Pet Valu on Front and Princess is definitely the place to get your pooch looking good. From lovely collars and matching sets to colourful leashes and seasonal sweaters, they’ve got it all.
But goodness, what about the most important thing for your pet?? Of course I mean TREATS and FOOD. Global Pet Foods is one of our favourite spots, with a wide variety of excellent quality foods and tasty treats that will make your pet feel as loved as they are.
Shared Activities
The past two years have really brought in a lot of perspective for us and have allowed us to really treasure the time we have with the people that mean a lot to us. So while gift baskets and wrapped presents are wonderful, sometimes the joy of a shared experience can be an incredible gift on its own.
Luckily, Old Town Toronto isn’t short on things to do! You can enroll in couples cooking classes at Cirillo’s Academy or deepen your appreciation of food with a George Brown course. Have a bestie spa day at 6ix Tips Nails & Spa. You can have your minds blown away by entering the Museum of Illusions on Front Street or take in some culture by catching one of the breathtaking art exhibitions at Feheley Fine Arts. And if you’d simply like to take in a show, the Canadian Opera Company and the Canadian Stage are both in for an exciting 2022 season.
Gift Cards
Hey, no judgments, it can be hard figuring out what to get someone and if you’re feeling unsure it’s good to know that there are reliable options out there like gift cards.
Gift cards are the perfect, most frequently available option if you want to give the gift of some of the best Old Town Toronto experiences. Want to treat them to a high-class dinner? Mercatto has a gift card for dine-in or online options. Are they lovers of good local beer? C’est What has virtual gift cards on their site! Or perhaps you’d like them to relax a bit? Bahn Thai Spa has prepaid cash cards that can go towards any service.
