LIFESTYLE

You can tell when winter, and more specifically the Christmas holidays have arrived when winter festivals start popping up all across Canada. Some have been running for many years, yet each year new ones start appearing. Starting today The Aurora Festival in Toronto at Ontario Place makes its premiere, and its a beautiful way to spend an evening out with the family.

The Scotiabank Giller Prize has been handed out for 25 years, recognizing excellence in Canadian fiction. Not only does the recipient win the award, but they also get a cash prize of $100,000.00. Last night author Esi Edugyan took home the award for her novel Washington Black, which happened to be the second time she had won it.

Toronto’s newest attraction feels like something you would find in Niagara Falls Clifton Hill area. It’s the Museum of Illusions, and inside you will find many photo opportunities and games to play that will trick your brain into seeing something that’s not entirely true.

It used to be that when you got together with friends to play a game of cards, you opened a new deck (or an old one that’s been used many, many times), and played the old standbys like poker, euchre, rummy or one of the other many possibilities out there. Things have changed though, and now there are many different unique cards games you can have a blast with. Here are some of the latest you may want to give a try.

Although you may be a city kid at heart, you can always soak up the serenity and calm of the countryside at the upcoming Royal Agricultural Winter Fair 2018. The annual winter fair returns to Exhibition Place in Toronto on November 2, and runs until November 11. Just like every year before, this year’s farm festivities are set to include the Royal Horse Show. The equestrian event is set to feature 1,000 competitors and elements of dressage, show jumping and indoor eventing.  

If you are wondering where to head for All Hallows’ Eve this year, there are plenty of options besides a night of watching scary movies at home. For those who are more adventurous and want to venture outside of the typical house party, a spooky Halloween fest can help you get into the mood to party the night away. Here’s what to do, whether you are based in Toronto or Montreal.  

With temperatures quickly dropping, it’s officially time to curl up in front of the fireplace with a cozy quilt and the perfect read. Whether you are staying in for the weekend or simply enjoying a night in, the ideal book can help make those peaceful autumn hours at home pass by much faster. Just in time for plaid scarves and toasty mugs of hot chocolate, we’ve curated a few exciting new tomes for you to pick up right now.  

  Vancouver, one of Canada’s prettiest cities, is also known to have some of the dreariest weather. Avoid the seasonal affective disorder by keeping your spirits and energy levels high and check out our list of indoor activities. From cooking classes to yoga to go-karting, we have an activity for every age group and personality. […]

    Sleep is extremely important for one’s mental and physical health. Getting less sleep than your body needs can negatively affect your health, energy, productivity, emotions, and even your weight. Many of us run around on very little sleep and caffeine fueled energy to get us through the day without considering the toll on […]

  If you are currently on a health kick or looking to add some greens into your diet, but don’t have the time to cook, these are some of Canada’s go-to healthy restaurants. From zucchini noodles to vegan meat-free options, to nut cheeses, there’s a restaurant that has something to fit every health craze out […]

  For all of the Canadian music buffs, this fall promises to be a good one as it’s jam packed with tour dates. A plethora of iconic musicians have tour stops scheduled in multiple cities in the great north over the next few months. Whether you’re into rap, pop, country or any other genre of […]

  This year, the Toronto International Film Festival, TIFF for short, will take place from September 6th – September 16th. During this period of time, Toronto will be overflowing with celebrity star power. If you’re not one of the lucky few to get a red carpet pass, you might be wondering where you can accidentally […]

  If you’re in your mid to late 20s, many of your girlfriends are most likely starting tying the knot. With weddings come bachelorette parties. These big pre-wedding blow-outs can quickly become repetitive and unoriginal. How many Vegas booze fests or Nashville bar hops before it’s too many? We’ve come up with some underrated activities […]

Photo: ihalokrunch on Instagram   Lately, it seems like every other restaurant is adding a charcoal infused dish to their menu. Why?  For one, it makes for interesting snaps. Try walking into an ice cream parlour serving charcoal-infused ice cream without spotting someone taking a selfie with their inky black frozen treat. It’s nearly impossible. Charcoal […]

  Photo: shangrila_van on Instagram   Treat yourself to a spa day or weekend getaway at one of the many lavish spas located within and around Vancouver, B.C. We all need some rest and relaxation now and then. Why not indulge in massages, beauty treatments, sauna sweat sessions and more as you decompress from your […]