Stone House Catering knows that excellence lives in the details and they understand that whether you are hosting an intimate dinner party or an extravagant gala for thousands of people, you’ll want your event to be exceptional and memorable. On Wednesday March 28th 2012 at six pm in The Fermenting Cellar which is the home of Distillery Events and Stone House Catering opened its doors to the public in a free exhibition.

Peter Somers was the event designer, and his team at Contemporary Furniture provided all the furniture and décor. 5th Element Events contributed to the décor with the gorgeous floral arrangements, and added ambiance through their extensive lighting design and audio accompaniment. Aaron Kaufman, the Creative Director at 5th Element Events, worked tirelessly all day and stayed right to the end to make sure everything went off smoothly – his crew helped wrap up the attraction at 10pm. Check out the 5th Element Facebook page as it has become a good repository of information about the 2012 CSEME Trade Show in Toronto.

5th Element Events is based in Markham Ontario. Aaron’s creative energy comes complete with a sharp team of sophisticated young people with great taste. Here are three very creative young ladies who helped engineer the atmosphere at this event.

Corporate functions can be many things. A thank you story or celebration of everyone’s hard work after a successful year. They could be happy occasions to mark a transition of leadership, business management consulting. Mixers and social events yield valuable opportunities to “pump up the troops”.

Sushi Chef John Lee is a Zen 9 Sushi Master but he moved too quick for my camera. He is a master at preparing excellent food for simple meet-and-greet cocktail receptions, or as part of a larger food service team. John tells me that quality food service its own reward. He feels good after working hard and making exquisite food. A well-orchestrated corporate attraction can impact a company’s overall performance, and the positive effects of one good party can be felt for years. People are important, and showing them that they are appreciated not only gets attention, it builds your brand, customer loyalty and employee retention.

Andrew Winnik and his partner (employer) stand by the propane units that Caledon Propane Inc provided for the industry event.

These flame boxes are much more social than the usual overhead heater coils, and the light is great for pictures. They are very safe and somewhat mystical additions to parties and gatherings that want to make outdoors in Canada’s winter climate more social for smokers and party goers who want to stare at the stars, streetlights or skyline or scenery as the case may be.

Chef Timothy J Navkar Miles from Pure Spirits Oyster House at The Distillery Events ‘Industry Party’ . Here he is shucking four or five different varieties of oysters – very tasty.

Three friends and neighbours from 33 Mill St Pure Spirits Condominiums. These people are event industry professionals. The man in the center is Fabio Cavaggioni who is a Versace Authorized Distributor to Canada, alongside his wife Maria and friend Lilly.

A sharp dressed man waits for friends in a nearby food line.

Steve and Anna from ENGINE art gallery, which is a staple showcase here in The Distillery District’s thriving art scene

DJ iKhan and Anthony Andrews from Party Cinemas, which is an advanced video dance party solutions company that’s as dynamic as the founders. Both these guys have extensive backgrounds in large scale event planning and audio visual experience design. They know what attendees want, and how to let participants relax and have a good time.

When booking an event with Distillery Events you can expect superior standards of quality throughout every aspect of your event, with no detail left to question. The Distillery has become the premiere site to hold an event in Toronto for many reasons, beginning with the truly magical setting. One of Ontario’s hottest tourist attractions, The Distillery District is an internationally acclaimed 13-acre village of brick-lined streets and dozens of vibrantly restored Victorian Industrial buildings.

Margot Bowen and Heather Elder are glimpsed enjoying cocktails at one of the many tables that lined the center of the venue. These ladies did a wonderful job representing the Canadian Tourism Human Resource Council at the event, and they explained to me how the CTHRC addresses labour market issues and promotes professionalism in the Canadian tourism sector. Collectively, council members work on behalf of 174,000 businesses that make up the sector. CTHRC brings together tourism businesses, labour unions, associations, educators, and governments to coordinate human resource development activities in support of a globally competitive and sustainable Canadian tourism sector.

Kristy Dennison, Manager of Events & Sales at Distillery Events, with Rema Gouyez @RemaGouyez the author of the Burgandy Book Blog. Other title sponsors included Advance Tent Rental who provided the front tent access for coat check and tenting to the back of the Fermenting Cellar to house our clearing station. Chairman Mills contributed with all rentals of glassware, china. Its good business practice to host the world and invite influencers to come visit, share ideas, and network for new endeavours. This is how Distillery Events rolls out a party!

The showroom features the collective designs of 10 FTA members including Lara Bazant, a jeweler who shares the space. FTA member Sarah Kear believes the Distillery is an ideal location for Fashion Takes Action to take off from: “It’s got character, history, tourist traffic,” she says. “It’s a destination in itself.” Kear is one of several passionate volunteers devoting her time to spreading the message of Fashion Takes Action. “We aim to change the way we create and consume fashion,” she says. “If people think eco fashion is just about expensive organic cotton, they’re wrong, because there’s lots of ways to reduce your fashion footprint.” She cites buying vintage, buying long-lasting, quality items and reducing laundry as three ways to start.

FTA took this message to Fashion Week, holding Covet Their Closet, a clothing swap of designer label proportions. Participants of the event were asked to swap lightly used locally made or designer garments for new pieces; the result was a hit event that raised awareness in a fun, engaging and useful way.

FTA’s founder, Kelly Drennan, has high hopes for the future of the organization but is focusing now on integrating FTA into the community through fundraisers, sales events and grants applications. The Showroom, which is open from 10-5 on weekdays or though appointment by telephone, is holding a Spring Arrival Sale Event on April 3 and 4 for which winter stock will be marked down 30-50% and spring merchandise 10%. Many of the designers will be present on April 4; the sale event runs until 9 p.m. both days.

Calder started working on the series in November 2011 and the works were completed in rapid succession. To achieve fluidity and capture the essence of movement, Calder painted several coats of the same scene, slowly at first, then faster and faster for the second and third coats and finally with extreme rapidity on the final touches. The result is in turns peaceful and disturbing; a series of landscape paintings that encompass the tricky task of representing the elements of the natural world believably.

Born in Normétal, a small mining town in northern Québec in 1949, Calder studied painting at the Montreal Fine Arts School and then at the University of Québec. The geographical locations of the paintings in his Of Fire and Water series are varied: physical, imagined, or revisited in Calder’s mind. “Some were from a trip to the East Coast,” he says. “Some are from memories of when I was young.” His work Rapide blanc I is a river he remembers fishing in with his father as a child.

Calder paints in the studio, though he often creates preliminary pencil sketches outdoors. “The difficulty in this series was to make water look transparent,” he says of his biggest challenge creating these works. The focus, then, was on replicating visually nature’s process of flux. “I use [fire and water] in paintings as opposite movement,” says Calder. “What I like about fire is you can see the wind through it. There is a lot of movement.”

The gallery’s bartender served special cocktails in addition to wine in the spirit of the show at last night’s opening. The first, water, consisted of Water (1 Part HPNOTIQ Liqour, 3 parts white cranberry juice and  one squeeze of lemon on the rocks) and Fire (A shot of ice cold Sortilège Maple Whisky in an ice cold glass).

Of Fire and Water/De Feu et D’Eau is showing until March 11, 2012. Several of the paintings have already sold; two, interestingly enough, to an insurance company specializing in coverage for natural disasters. Calder is currently considering another exhibition after his run at Thompson Landry, but will return to his teaching job as a professor of Visual Arts at the University of Québec in the Outaouais.

There’s no denying that the neighbourhood is a romantic and picturesque backdrop for lovers, but there’s no need for singles to stay away either; the Distillery has something for everyone if you know where to look–Valentine’s Day included.

From The Potting Shed, left, fashions arrangements that mix simplicity with classic elegance, seen in their Christmas wreaths, popular in the 2011 holiday season.

Today the Distillery is home to a thriving Arts Community and Tech Community and so it plays host to a wide variety of educational, motivational and inspirational public events. If you live in downtown Toronto or close enough to make the trip, you’ll want keep on an eye on what’s happening here, and that’s easy to do on Twitter. Here are some of the strongest and most informed local voices,

@DistilleryTO The Distillery Historic District in Toronto

The first and best place to find out what’s going on is to check the Distillery District website and blog wherein you’ll find a list of upcoming Distillery District attractions and documents and photos chronicling past, present and future events. If you run a business down here and you’re hosting an event it would certainly behoove you to email the site administrator and pass on the details so your occasion can be promoted on site and on the Distillery District Facebook page(s).

If you have an active twitter account and would like to be added to this index please email the Rob AT smojoe DOT com. We have a mission to grow this community for our mutual benefit and to help everyone out there share in its goodness.

@EngineGallery Engine Gallery

An incubator for emerging talent in Canada, ENGINE Gallery helps established painters and visual artists of all descriptions grow a larger and more dedicated patronage. The ENGINE Gallery Blog profiles famous artists that have displayed their art works in the 1500 sq ft. of main floor exhibition space. Everything hung here looks quite impressive at night and during the daytime the canvas and sculpture is nicely illuminated by ambiance lighting created by 15 ft floor to ceiling windows that are well shaded by Locust trees at the westernmost extension of Distillery Lanes. Located directly below the Pure Spirits condo building, I come here regularly during the summer to mingle and sip (free) wine, digest powerful visuals and conduct stimulating conversation with smart sexy people.

ENGINE Exhibitions and art openings showcase Contemporary Canadian artists and usually feature original works of art from domestic geniuses and freshly imported minds from abroad. Established in 2003, ENGINE was one of the premier galleries to develop the Queen West Art District in Toronto, and has now found a permanent home in the Historic Distillery District, where it is becoming known as a major player in the Canadian Art Scene.

@Balzacs Balzacs Coffee House in The Distillery District

Centrally located in the middle of the complex, Balzacs Coffee House is the hub by which most residents orientate themselves every morning. Balzac’s Coffee is a moderately priced casual cafe that features a sunny outdoor patio with French marble pedestal tables and bentwood wicker chairs. Inside what was once the former pump house building is today a European style café / coffee house setting with a marvelous black and white tile floor under an enormous Queen Anne style gilt wood chandelier. Sixty year old paintings and prints, antique coffee cans and vintage tin signs frame the bean grinders and confectioneries available under glass on the wide marble counter beneath the staircase that leads to a seating area above. Coffee baristas use a variety of stainless steel appliances to serve fresh roasted coffee in just about any size and description imaginable. The venue commonly hosts uncommon attractions and their twitter feed is full of odd insights into the daily happenings and events at the Distillery District.

@Lenzr Lenzr Corp

Self appointed documentarians, the hip staff members who preside over Lenzr photo contest communities really do have their ears to the cobblestones in terms of knowing about upcoming events and cool promotions, TV shoots, book signings, dance rehearsals and theatre auditions being held at the Distillery District. They seem to know and tweet the pertinent details days or weeks before other residents hear the rumours. They start the rumours. Maybe this is because Lenzr is located right above the DHD headquarters, or because of the gregarious nature of Rob Campbell and his coworkers at Jib Strategic, a boutique advertising agency in Toronto. The two organizations work together four times a year to produces their quarterly tech speaking series known as the Search and Social Rank Symposium that gathers together the Distillery’s brightest web innovators, speakers and authors to discuss the ‘weird science at the intersection of search engine optimization and social media marketing’.

@spiritspure Pure Spirits Restuarant in Toronto

The interior Pure Spirits restaurant is one of the most venerated spaces in Toronto. Nearly one hundred years ago, when temperance societies and prohibition ruled America, it was from this very room that the whiskey barrels began their clandestine journeys across the lake and around the world. Today people come for the ambience and amazing food, particularly the fresh fish and oysters. The 28-seat long bar provides ring-side seating and spectating as oyster- shuckers satiate their audiences. Private booths with wooden benches line the exposed brick east wall under curious blue lamps shades. Outside there exists what many peoiple describe as the “Best Patio in Toronto”. Its just large enough to host the entire cast and crew of a Hollywood feature film, yet small enough to have its own intimate personality. The Pure Spirits’ patio is extremely visually striking; the red-brick walls of the nearby buildings are the backdrop for flowering plants and green tables tables shaded by cool white umbrellas.

@somachocolate SOMA Chocolate in Toronto

Every morning at sunrise the pungent aroma of roasting chocolate hangs in the morning air above the cobblestone lanes of the Distillery District. One visit confirms the accolades; SOMA Chocolatemaker provides exceptional quality product in an engaging atmosphere. Having the process on display and providing “tasting notes” adds to the feeling of contributing to the chocolatemaker’s art.

These people are unique culinary artists, and their medium sized event space and market should be seen as another facet of the Distillery District artisanal tasting experience. Follow Soma Chocolatemaker on Facebook to get insights into the ever changing chocolate flavoured attractions at this unique art gallery.

@Boiler_House The Boiler House Restaurant in The Distillery District

Exposed brick & beams, soaring ceilings and seating on two levels make The Boiler House restaurant a very popular event venue, especially during the Toronto International Film Festival when the place is booked solid for photo shoots and wrap parties. Just about every weekend there’s something extraordinary happening here and the Boiler House summer patio at night is simply breathtaking and rivaled in beauty only by the Pure Spirit patio next door. This is a premier Winterlicious venue and contains more than its share of unique culinary delicacies. The restaurant can comfortably accommodate hundreds of diners with plenty of room for a musical orchestra in an elevated terrace section of the unusual shaped room.

@StirlingRoom The Stirling Room

Just inside the front gate of the Distillery District complex, in the bottom of Bldg 36 there’s an elegant, upscale lounge with a sophisticated atmosphere for young professionals. The Stirling Room showcases Toronto’s best DJ’s and most eligible elites. The lounge offers the ideal setting for a slightly louder style corporate and social event. Inspired by Victorian Gothic art and architecture, the interior of this nightclub is a marriage of contemporary design and historic themes that combine to create a unique and intimate experience. In here the Distillery District’s exposed brick, large wood beams, and original plank flooring are showcased by metallic light fixtures. At the back of the hall, there’s a baby ground piano that has been converted into a DJ booth. Stirling Room prides itself by catering to a wide clientele through themed events, a variety of guest DJ’s and independently promoted nights. It is the ideal venue to suit all of your event needs including a night out to relax and have fun.

@MillStreetBrew The Mill Street Brew Pub

Halfway down Tankhouse Lane, on the east side of the complex The Mill St. Brew Pub already has a long tradition of hosting memorable events. A favorite lunch spot and after-work hangout for the many internet technology business types in the area, this restaurant is down to earth and friendly, and is actually the oldest business in the Distillery District. The pub opened in October 2006 in the tank house where the original Mill St brewery had begun operation in late 2002. The venue is part functioning brewery and part restaurant and the two are separated by transparent Plexiglas panels that gives the impression of dining in a working factory – well not really but you can occasionally catch the scent of fermenting grains and copper bottom cookers brewing up delicious fresh beer for immediate consumption. There are plenty of events here all year round because of the cozy patio and fresh beer and the bright natural sunlit interior with large windows and high ceilings, skylights and wooden beams.

@pikto Pikto Gallery in The Distillery District

Famous for custom photo finishing services, including world class photography b0oks. Pikto Gallery offers a cool exposed brick and wood beam interior gallery space dedicated to the best of the best in photographic arts. The organization plays host to several annual events that regularly feature internationally renowned and emerging photographers, who seem to provide inspiration for all caliber of camera owners, local residents and visitors from abroad. Pikto Gallery shows and services have been featured in national newspapers, magazines and on television.

Keep an eye on the Pikto Facebook page for contests and interactive challenges for worthwhile prizes.

@Soulpepper Soulpepper Theatre Company

The Young Centre for the Performing Arts is the home of George Brown College and Soulpepper

http://www.soulpepper.ca

http://www.soulpepper.ca/performances.aspx

Anastasia Taylor-Lind, an English/Swedish photographer based in London, UK, is the 2011 winner of Pikto’s Top Pick Photo Contest. Her winning series, The National Womb, was featured in the New York Times Sunday Review on the weekend. Taylor-Lind’s intimate photographs explore Nagorno-Karabakh’s “birth encouragement program”, a government program offering cash to couples–in increasing increments–for every time they procreate. Men and women are paid roughly $780 to wed; the aim is to re-populate the region which was left in ruin following the 1991-1994 war.

Taylor-Lind has won a gallery exhibition at Pikto, as well as $5,000 to put towards the show. Now showing, the series runs until February 29, 2012.

Please join Pikto in the Distillery District for the opening reception of The National Womb on Saturday, January 21, 2012, from 6 – 10 p.m.

My name is Susan Mozaffari – I’m a Ryerson Fashion student living in The Distillery District of Toronto and tweeting my daily adventures as @LustInLilacs Anyone following me in late December would know, I had nothing to do on New Year’s Eve 2011.

Then ‘Charley’ messaged me and gave me purpose. He had a proposition – he asdked if would be willing to donate my night to posterity. I accepted what turned out to be an intriguing mission; I was to go out (alone) with a point and shoot camera and document the scene inside four Distillery District restaurants on this historic last evening of 2011. I was programmed to record everything that I saw and experienced, alongside my original pictures, on this blog.

My 2011 New Year’s Eve in the Distillery District, by Susan Mozaffari

I started off at Archeo at around 10:30 pm. It was unseasonably warm outside this year and I was dressed in tights and a leather skirt which I imagined would suit my journalistic objectives, and still be stylish in all venues on site. Yet when I entered Archeo I felt oddly out of place. It was upscale elegance.

Archeo is famous for casual fine dining in a perfectly charming atmosphere. The wooden beams and translucent divider-screens inside the exposed brick interior make it a unique setting. At 10:30 pm on New Year’s Eve it was occupied with trendy couples dining romantically or socializing over the restaurants’ well known gourmet pizzas and pastas. And it occurred to me then that Archeo would be the perfect place to start NYE for a young couples. The place has a cool vibe, a nice light atmosphere to have a relaxing dinner and get caught up before the fun starts. And the smell of the room adds to the comfort – it smalles like fresh bread and pasta dinners which is comforting and appetizing too. There was no special menu for the night, but the Sweet Potato Pansotti was attractively priced at $15.00

The Boiler House Restaurant at New Years 2011

When I was certain nobody was looking, I slipped through the passage by the washrooms and made my way into the Boiler House restaurant next door. This restaurant was doing a buffet dinner special $150 a ticket and it was dark in there and smelled like roast beef. As I walked upstairs and took in the view it seemed like the only light source was the tea lights on the tables.

The Boiler House restaurant is known for decadent steaks and thick slices of roast beef served with good wine or spirits. I could see the signature buffet set up downstairs and I spied my favourite roasted vegetables, three different types of meat, and some really yummy looking deserts. I met Mathew Rosenblatt here, dining with his wife and a Toronto dentist, but it was so dark in that room that even with my new camer’as powerful flash I was unable to get a decent picture of him or the group.

A three piece jazz band was playing in the upstairs corner, filling the room with complex music. Aileen the hostess informed that the live band would only be playing through the supper, or until 11pm. After that a DJ would take over for the run up to midnight. As I watched the upstairs tables were being cleared away for dancing. Aileen said the Boiler House and The Archeo Staff would be getting together for a toast at 12am. She said, “This is my first time working new years eve, I wasn’t sure what to expect, but everyone is so nice here, I’m having a pretty good time tonight.”

Pure Spirits Oyster Bar on NYE 2011

Unlike the other restaurants in the Distillery Historic District, this place was really quiet. The space was practically empty, except for the oyster bar, where Oyster chef Anthony is serving couples who hunched around the main attraction – the oysters. Pure Spirits has truly great selection of east and west coast varieties. But you can get that here anytime of the year.

Travis, the executive chef served a New Years Special seafood platter for $100.00 – one night only. That meal includes two glasses of wine, king crab, whole lobster, BC GALLO mussels, prawns, seed scallops, fried calamari, and half dozen natural oysters. He also told me they have on special $1.50 oysters, every Tuesday.

The Fermenting Cellar on New Years Eve 2011

With only about forty minutes left to midnight, I finally found the party. As soon as I rounded the corner of Building 5, pushing past the crowd of smokers outside beyond Tapos, I spot the line-up and the stern looking bouncers guarding the doors. They are checking tickets and opening the door for paying customers. The tickets are $90 each and I couldn’t get one if I wanted to – they are sold out.

So I stood off to the side for a spell. When the door was open I could see people laughing and dancing and hear the loud music echoing inside the cavernous interior. The room was absolutely filled to capacity many well dressed couples, – women in dresses and men in tuxedos or more colourful trim suits. I really wanted to get in there and dance, and this was the expression on my face when the burly bouncer asked ‘Who are you looking for?” And for some reason I said Jack Daws. I don’t know why I said that. Is that even someone’s name? I think I read it on a coat earlier, but the bouncer said immediately “Oh I know Jack. Tell him I said Hi”. And the big guy held open the door for me to pass. He laughed and wiggled his fingers in a wave as I passed, incredulous, through the open portal and into the party inside.

And this party was fun!

I would relive the next four hours over and over again if it were possible. Every minute was pleasure. On NYE 2011 the Fermenting Cellar was done up like a dance club atmosphere, in old style warehouse.

My senses were jammed with loud music as soon as i walked in the door. DJ M kutz was here spinning the perfect mixture of 80′s music like Micheal Jackson’s Billie Jean and more modern dance beats.

Translucent neon colored snow flake light projections splashed along the concrete walls and across the tops of people’s heads on the dance floor. All around the sides of the room were sectional couches and chairs set around low white tables festooned with booze, mix, glassware and garnishes. Some tables also had heaps of fruit, cheese, pickled meats.

Serving the booths were several preppy waiters dressed in three piece black suits with black bow ties and vests. As I watched they served trays of mini burgers, shrimp and chicken skewers on shiny metal platters. There were two huge bars, one at each ide of the room, set up for the rest of the patrons, and they were well staffed so the lineups weren’t too bad.

Just before twelve o’clock there was a brief countdown, and paper confetti was dispersed over the crowds at the stroke of midnight. I kissed a very attractive boy and danced with him for another two hours. It was magical.

Christmas Spectacular at the 2011 Toronto Christmas Market, Dec 2 – 18 in the Distillery Historic District located at 55 Mill St in Toronto.

Judges are currently deliberating over the top ten of 307 submissions entered in the Distillery District’s Toronto Christmas Market photo contest. Here are some of the best shots, in this author’s humble opinion… sadly these favourite pictures are NOT found in the top ten images index.
Toronto Christmas Market2 by Avexus

Christmas Market! The Ferris Wheel by alphacenturia

Sponsored by the Distillery District and made possible by Lenzr.com, a serial photo contest website, this photographic challenge is a pictorial tribute to the wonder and cheer that a European style Christmas Market brought to the City of Toronto on this holiday season.

There shall be prizes awarded! Three prizes will be awarded in fact,
First place will receive a $250.00 cash prize!
Second place will receive a $250.00 restaurant gift certificate,
And third prize will be awarded a $100.00 gift certificate.

The Distillery District’s panel of judges will make their announcement on January 1, 2012, on the Lenzr.com blog and here on thedistillerydistrict.com.

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to all from the Distillery District in Toronto!

Frank, also known as ‘Frankie Flowers’, is well-known throughout the city for his expertise in both skies and soil. He will be hosting the opening ceremonies of the Toronto Christmas Market tonight beginning at 6 p.m.

Join Frank, Steven Page, and other special guests for live performances, shopping, and more as Lowe’s Toronto Christmas Market at the Distillery District officially commences!

The market, set to run from Dec. 2 – Dec. 18, is Toronto’s most elaborate outdoor celebration of the holidays. There will be carollers, beer gardens, hedge mazes, Santa’s elves, live music performances, mulled wine, vendors on the cobblestone streets and thousands of twinkling Christmas lights.

The Distillery District is a great place to shop at any time of year, and the one-of-a-kind shops that reside year-round in the neighbourhood have plenty of stocking stuffers, seasonal treats and unique gift suggestions on offer. Here are some of this season’s hottest gift ideas at the Historic Distillery District:

Stopping for a cup of perfectly brewed Balzac’s coffee is a must while you shop the Distillery, and if you’re shopping for a coffee-lover, Balzac’s has over a dozen coffee bean varieties to choose from.

Balzac’s also has a holiday gift bundle on offer for the 2011 holiday season. Seen here with Grace, this bundle includes a half pound of Balzac’s beans, a Balzac’s Christmas card, and a Balzac’s mug. A perfect solution when you’re stumped for gift ideas.

Corktown Designs has a wide selection of present potential, from inexpensive stocking stuffers like pine scented candles or decorative sticky notes to contemporary jewelry designs.

This striking pop tab clutch ($50), was made in Brazil and is a great example of the conversation-starting merchandise that Corktown keeps in stock. A perfect place to start when shopping for a statement piece.

That’s not a french press in the foreground, it’s the Hot Chocolate Maker/Frother, expected to be a big seller this season.The pop-up Bodum shop in the Distillery has a lot of items in the $40-50 price range, and Soma, located just around the corner, conveniently makes and sells the best hot chocolate in the city.

Distill gallery showcases the works of over 100 emerging Canadian artisans. This small space packs a powerful punch; Distill is a trendsetter, popularizing items like owl pillows and Toronto-themed charm bracelets.

These glasses by Artech Studios ($20 ea.) are made from reworked beer bottles and feature the labels of many local breweries. A perfect stocking stuffer for the beer drinker.

Speaking of beer, the Distillery’s own Mill St. Brewery has a fresh batch of barley wine for 2011. This traditional winter brew ($11.95) originates from England and has a malty flavour accented with hints of dried fruit and toffee. This long-aged brew also has a long shelf life, so you can buy a couple and store–why not? You may find yourself craving another taste of 2011 in ten years!

Perhaps the most extensive gift emporium in the Distillery, Bergo Designs has gift ideas ranging from $1.50 – $6, 000. From watches to stainless steel purses to photo albums made out of bent up California license plates, this is a store where you’ll be able to find something interesting for men, women and children.

“Turn a metal can into this walking, wobbling, bug-eyed robot,” reads the box of the Tin Can Robot ($18). Bonus: it’s made with recycled materials.

From the Potting Shed (formally known as The Vintage Gardener) has been busy with holiday wreath requests. Their 2011 wreath designs are a simple and understated–yet stylish–take on the traditional Christmas wreath ($75).

From the Potting Shed also carries candles from St. Eval Candle Company in scents like bergamot and nettle or thyme and mint. These traditionally-made candles come highly recommended by the Potting Shed staff.

A Taste of Quebec, adjacent to the Thompson Landry Gallery, has everything you need to host a decadent holiday party.  Specializing in artisan cheeses, terrines, oils and other delicacies, A Taste of Quebec is Toronto’s source for the very best terroir products of Quebec. Its worth discussing the business of selling things to shoppers at Christmas and what the consumer expects from retailers in this historic venue. Several business management consulting gurus have expressed their beliefs that the venue should remain strict about selling traditional, historic and culturally significant items that are true to the 1800s experience imparted by the Victorian Age buildings and monuments and art. What do you think? Should the district become more of a museum or an amusement park? items

Pick up a ready-made sugar pie ($10.50) or tourtiere ($24) for your winter gathering, or a jar of Maple’s Peaches Jam ($9.63) for the foodies on your list.

Shopping for a special lady? A statement piece (purse or jewelry) from Hoi Bo should do the trick. This chain with leather tassels ($110) is a quality piece which can be styled into countless incarnations.

The medicine pouch necklace ($130) is another stunning, one-of-a-kind piece.