EY Tower upside down trees. In space carved out of old deco Concourse Bldn, high concept trees reflect murals by Group of Seven’s J. E. H. MacDonald salvaged from old lobby. Peak Christmas surrealism w absinthe in the eggnog, slim cigarette holders in every stocking & electrostatic decadence. 14/10

Toronto Reference Library tree. Government tree division. Like a library toilet, a library tree works hard. No book-tree gimmicks here, just a canonical tree but for the flamboyant star reminding of centre of universe location: Yonge & Bloor. Centre stage more important than a slack cord. 🤌🏼 13/10

Chinatown Centre tree + Christmas universe. Tree itself raised on plinth of presents demonstrates abundance agenda fidelity. Outward looking snowman, bear, & deer indicates an ecumenical, if secular, openness while the soldier regards this hyperreality with a baudrillardian gaze. Epic. Total. 13/10

TD Centre trees. Cones of light in a Mies van der Rohe grid. Thick steady light resists urge to use animated LEDs. Less really is more at Christmastime. The restraint continues to the bottom where there is no room for presents, a reminder that banks take & make money, they don't give it away. 11/10

Royal Conservatory of Music tree. OG McMaster University building (1881) + KPMB addition (2009). Tree negotiates the palimpsest in between new & old with classical nods (candles) & all mod cons (lights). Modest Victorian skirt an echo of McMaster’s Baptist origins. 13/10

The @masseycollege.bsky.social Tree. An extravaganza of a natural tree in Cda's greatest building (Ron Thom 1962). Soaring 14ft, its feathered plumage & tasselled bottom garland brings this graduate college comfort & joy in the time of exams, final paper writing & the slog of endless marking. 14/10

High Park Toronto public library branch free. Government tree division, Carnegie library category. So cozy it doesn’t need lights, just books & a step stool. Paper ornaments appropriate for library. No pulping here save for the fiction. 12/10

Chelsea Hotel (nee Delta Chelsea) book tree. More abstraction, literary category. Spines face inwards allowing for advent calendar reveal potential. Called "Tree of Many Stories" it's built w post-renovation scrap wood & lost & found books. Mid hotel goes all in w rest of lobby, a triumph. 13/10