Have an idea for a story? Let us know! Contact: Brittney MacDonald, Life & Style Editor M1 lifeandstyle@theotherpress.ca Spirits of Christmas » Boozy drinks to put you in the mood for the colder months Alex Stanton Staff Writer W: have it really easy here on the West Coast when it comes to the crisp, cold months of : December, January, and February. My family originates from St. John’s, Newfoundland, where a “snow day” means that the only way to get out of your house is to climb up out of your chimney or jump out a second storey window. There is a very good reason those adorable bumpkins south of the Mason-Dixie line think we all live in igloos and ride dogsleds to work. But if you live in the Lower Mainland and spend most of your winters here, you would find the hilarious stereotypes to be mostly unfounded. One stereotype that I’m happy to say is and always will be a foolproof way to poke fun at Canadians is our love of the drink. From coast to coast, we’re basically the closest the Western Hemisphere has to Ireland in terms of drinking prowess. In Vancouver, you'll probably find some pretentious guys who wear non-prescription glasses drinking fruit flavoured craft beer to raise their hipster-cred. The Yukon is ranked number one in consumption of wine, beer, and spirits, so those guys drink all of us non territory folk under the table. In Newfoundland, they shoot screech and make out with fresh Atlantic cod (don’t ask). If that’s not your thing, don't worry. There’s no need to look like a “cool geek” or get : blackout drunk. Here are a few : drinks to get you feeling positive : about the cooler temperatures: Rye Manhattan '4 cup of rye whiskey 2 tablespoons of : sweet vermouth 2 dashes of Angostura bitters 1 maraschino cherry. It never hurts to start off : any list with a classic, and even : if you've never heard the recipe, : you've surely heard of this drink, : named for the neighbourhood : in New York City. Fill yourself a : cocktail shaker with ice cubes; : pour in the whiskey, vermouth, : and bitters; shake until frosty : (roughly 15 seconds); strain into : a Manhattan glass; and garnish : with the maraschino cherry. Kahlua Hot Chocolate 2. cups of milk 2 tablespoons of sugar 1% tablespoons of : unsweetened cocoa powder Y teaspoon of cinnamon pinch of nutmeg 1ounce of Kahlua The adults-only version : of quite possibly the warmest, : most comforting drink ever : invented. Graba medium : saucepan, combining the mill, : sugar, cocoa powder, nutmeg, : and cinnamon over medium heat : until heated through; remove : from the heat and stir in the : Kahlua, and then serve. If you're : feeling zesty, add some mini : marshmallows or chocolate syrup. Christmas Tree Cocktail 3 ounces of pomegranate : or cranberry juice 2, ounces of gin 1 ounce of simple syrup lime juice from 1 : or two wedges a few fresh mint leaves pomegranate seeds a lime wheel for garnish. In cases where the real McCoy : : is unavailable, this is my favourite : way to rock around the Christmas : tree. It’s also the easiest. Muddle : the mint leaves with the simple : syrup at the bottom of your glass. : Add ice, then gin, juice, and lime : juice. Garnish with a toothpick : through a lime wheel with : pomegranate seeds placed on top. Candy Cane Cocktail : : 3 ounces of Candy Cane vodka : 2 ounces of colourless : Créme de Cacao dash of Angostura 2 6-inch candy canes. Yet another lovely-looking, : lovelier-tasting drink that truly : embodies a beloved tradition of — : : Christmas. A hint of actual sweets : : with your drink never killed : anyone, so chop or blend your : candy canes into a granulated : sugar and rim your glass; add the : Candy Cane vodka, Creme de : Cacao, bitters and ice to a shaker : and shake, then strain it into your : newly sugared cocktail glass. With the colder months : occasionally forcing us to : stay indoors for one reason or : many others, these drinks are : fantastic for those wanting to : havea little fun and get into This issue: (YW #EqualPayDay (Y Cheap yet effective (¥Y Beauty on a Budget And more! the spirit of the season without : completely overdoing it on ; the alcohol. Bring friends and Image via thinkstock : family over for a themed cocktail : party and you'll become the : person to be with this winter. Canada stands with France » Truth behind the ‘Peace for France’ image Brittney MacDonald Life & Style Editor M lifeandstyle@theotherpress.ca esigned by French artist Jean Jillien, who was on vacation at the time of the attacks, this peace sign depicting the Eiffel Tower has become a symbol for the “Peace for France” movement that has swept over social media in the wake of the tragedy in Paris. “IT express myself visually, so my first reaction was to draw a symbol of peace for Paris...from there it seems to have gotten a bit out of my hands,” stated : Jillien in an interview with Time. Despite the image’s success : (over 129,000 likes on Instagram : and over 48,000 retweets from : Jillien’s account alone), Jillien : claims it is difficult to find joy in : the response due to the horror : of the events that inspired the : piece, but he also says that “.. : there’s something positive that : people are coming together in : asense of unity and peace.’ The simplicity of the image Many countries have come : to France’s aid in their time of : need, and French president : Francois Hollande himself has : claimed that the responsible : parties will not go unpunished. This seems of little comfort : to Jillien though, who has : chosen to take up residence : in an undisclosed location : to order to avoid terrorist : backlash. This does not change : the fact that the overwhelming : response to Jillien’s image has : alone lends itself to being a subtle : : rallying cry for people all over the : : world, and many have adopted : the image to express their : support for the French people. generated a lot of monetary support, inspiring donations : for the victims of the events : that killed over 150, numbers : unheard of in France since World : War I according to CNN. Image via treeangle.co