Eaton Centre's new Christmas decorations

Gentle giants are visiting the Eaton Centre during Christmas time. 

Spread around the place, six 2-storey high deer dress up the shopping centre for the holidays. Everywhere you look, you're bound to see at least one of them. See-through and covered with small white lights, they elegantly fill the space.

In the centre of the mall, a tall modern tree is a big hit with all the teens admiring its changing colours and photographing each other next to it. (The new tree replaces the sparkling tree Swarovski had treated us with in the past few years. For a Swarovski tree, you'll have to go to Yorkdale Shopping Centre.)

What about Santa?
Don't look for Santa amidst the deer. They've moved him to the 27th floor (access from Level 3 near Roots). To attend their FREE Story Time with Santa you must pre-register on their website. The activity last between 30 to 60 minutes. They don't offer a picture service. Bring your own camera.

More Christmas-related posts from Nathalie Prezeau.

The Bay Christmas windows

Tonight, I walked by The Bay at Yonge and Queen and had a chance to admire once again the beautiful Christmas windows of The Bay (look for the windows with red awnings).
Soooo pretty! And to put us in the mood, they come with speakers playing Christmas music.

A few years ago, when we could not visit our family in Montreal for Christmas, we went downtown on December 25, expecting to find it empty. It was not! 

I found out:
1) that there were many families hanging between The Bay and Nathan Phillips Square
2) that the Eaton Centre remains open even when the stores are closed to allow those riding the subway to get out (so we got to admire the centre's decorations on December 25)
3) that the skating rink of Nathan Phillips Square is open on December 25, rental booth included 
4) that we could get a hot chocolate near the square.

There used to be a Timothy's at Bay and Yonge, it's been replaced by the restaurant Bannock, with a casual café counter. There's also a Starbuck's on the south-west side of that corner.

More Christmas-related posts from Nathalie Prezeau.