Holiday Gift Guide

B4 A S U P P L E M E N T T O T H E W I N N I P E G F R E E P R E S S - W E D N E S D A Y, D E C E M B E R 5 , 2 0 1 8 289 GARRY ST | 204.977.8267 | @BLACKSMITHPARLOUR HAND & FOOT TREATMENT | WAX HAIR REMOVAL | PREMIUM SPIRITS | PRIVATE PARTIES WELCOME ENJOY A PREMIUM SCOTCH WITH YOUR CUSTOM HAND & FOOT TREATMENT IN OUR LICENSED UPSCALE MEN'S SALON. BOOK YOUR APPOINTMENT ONLINE: WWW.BLACKSMITHPARLOUR.COM FOR THE MAN WHO HAS EVERYTHING GIFT CERTIFICATES AVAILABLE ONLINE 40 Years a s W i n n i p e g 's Potter y Galler y 778 Corydon Ave. (204) 475-8088 www.stonewaregallery.com Check our website for our extended Christmas hours. Artist Teagan Walker Artist Kevin Stafford Artist Alan Lacovetsky Artist Anne Fallis Elliott SANTA IS AN OLD PRO AT MAKING A LIST AND CHECKING IT TWICE. BUT IF HE NEEDS A FEW NEW IDEAS, TOYMAKERS AND RETAILERS ARE HAPPY TO HELP. SOME OF THE TOP PICKS OF THE SEASON: SHOW THEM THE MONEY There are so many editions of Monopoly, you could have one for every member of the family, including Fortnite and Pond Hockey editions. This year's hot pick has no houses, just hotels and a whole lotta perfidy. Monolopy for Cheaters rewards players for skipping out on rent and robbing the bank — but there are consequences. If you get caught, you might not just go to jail, you could end up handcuffed to the board. SPY GAMES Toad Hall Toys is the place to find everything from puzzles, games and magic tricks to whoopie cushions and joy buzzers. For the intrepid kids on your list, smuggle in a KidzLabs Spy Science kit ($18.95), so they can share secret messages with their BFFs, with invisible writers, X-ray notes and codes. A Secret Decoder activity book ($7) is ideal for solo spy missions, with 18 pages of codes and mysteries to solve. Decoder wheel included, for ages 7 and up. GOING MOBILE Hot Wheels are always, well … hot. But there are some new cars on the block at West Coast Kids. A deluxe Vilac vintage car (about $170) will provide hours of riding fun for little drivers — and it will look good in the living room, to boot. A wood Magnetic Racer will provide some hand-powered zoom for a lot less – about $16 — and it has magnetic points so kids can pull it apart and snap it back together. MOVIE STARS Movie tie-ins from Marvel include a massive Black Panther collection of action figures and Vibranium-powered accessories, including a jet vehicle, battery-operated FX claw and a NERF gauntlet like the one Shuri wears, complete with two NERF darts. Prices range from $10-$30. For adults into role play, there's even a Black Panther helmet with battery-powered light effects, retailing for an adult-size price of $99.99. Frozen's Elsa and Anna are still the coolest sisters in animation, and there are plenty of Frozen toys and accessories to stoke imaginations, such as a Fashion Anna or Crystal Glow Elsa, retailing for about $15. For Harry Potter fans, LEGO has created a deluxe Hogwarts Express ($100), along with a full range of kits from $25 up to $130 for the elaborate Hogwarts Great Hall. There's also a magical thinking version for imaginative players — a classic 221-piece LEGO bricks box that will set you back about $20. INTERACTIVE ANIMALS If you can't have a real live pony or puppy, robotic toys might be the answer for kids ages 5 and up. The Zoomer Playful Pup ($130) comes when you call, shakes a paw and rolls over, and it loves a good belly rub. Bonus: No pooper scooper required. The Hatchimal craze is a hard act to follow, but this year's answer should fill the bill. HatchiBabies ($50) have similar elements of surprise — you don't know if it's a boy or a girl until it comes out of the egg, and each one comes with a high chair and surprise accessories. Kids can feed, tickle and snuggle it to get a response. And then there are Lil' Gleemerz ($25), gremlin-like creatures with eyes that glow and rainbow tails that light up in different colours when they're happy or sad. They react to touch, talk and play games, and they'll wrap their tails around their owner when they go to sleep. Presumably, you should not get them wet, or feed them after midnight. Spy games, robotic pets and HatchiBabies, deluxe LEGO box sets and action figures from favourite movies like Frozen and Black Panther are sure to keep the kids' imaginations engaged during the holiday season and beyond. Experience one of the most exclusive dining adventures in the world at Dan's Diner, a brand new, remote culinary adventure beneath the northern lights. Dan's Diner Remote Culinary Experience ($349) Available at Frontiers North Adventures dans-diner.com 204-949-2050 Whether you go luxury or economy, wheels are always hot.

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