November 7, 2011– With the season to be jolly soon upon us, we’ve scoped out the perfect spots for gifts that will be “Montréal exclusive” the minute you lay eyes on them. Not only are they an excellent antidote to run-of-the-mill, off-the-shelf presents, but they come in all sizes, from cute stocking stuffers to stylish objets d’art.
You may have seen the Nutcracker Ballet, but how many of you have been to a Nutcracker Market? From November 24 to December 4, the Grand Ballets Canadiens will be hosting a Christmas market at the Palais de congrès; a wintry wonderland where bedazzled shoppers can browse for jewellery, toys, Québec-made foods, decorations and more for the holiday season.
Overlapping with the Nutcracker Market is the Salon des métiers d’art at downtown’s Place Bonaventure from December 2 to 22. A holiday shopping staple for thousands of people, the Salon continues to shine the spotlight on unique hand-crafted items in seven different categories: ceramics, wood, textiles, leather and skins, paper, metal and other materials. Whether decorative or utilitarian, you’ll find nothing but one-of-a-kind items.
And things are looking pretty green over at the Biosphère, host to the Recycling Artists Eco Fair, which brings together the wares of 50 exhibitors from December 2 to 4. If you want an environmentally-conscious gift, this is one of the best places to buy it. Don’t forget to hop the metro to get there!
Unique and original is what you’ll get at the Souk@SAT, a Christmas bazaar featuring contemporary creations by some 70 local artists. Big and bold with a bit of everything, the Souk@SAT takes over the entire Society for Arts and Technology (SAT) from December 9 to 11 to showcase the coolest in designer fashion, home décor, kids’ toys, accessories and much more. It’s an ideal place to find clever, stylish gifts in a very, merry atmosphere.
