Schools who had rented pianos are now finished with them.  Music companies take them back and sell off the stock of these gently used instruments to us.  This is a good opportunity for you to get a good piano at less than full price.

Coming up, pianos (from Vincent-d’Indy) are being sold by Italmelodie but are not located at their stores.  You must call for an appointment (514-276-3333) so there will be someone to assist you in choosing an instrument for your particular needs and pocketbook.

The hundred or so uprights, grand and digital pianos by Yamaha, Kawai, and other brands have been used at CEGEPs and schools, and are from trade-ins at their store. If you miss the sale, you can shop at their store

To buy a used piano: 514-276-3333
Sale dates: Aug 5-8
www.italmelodie.com

Those in the know have been going up to Papillon Blanc at a certain time of a certain day to scoop up their deals. Nowadays they are announcing sales so another Spring sample sale is on. Women who like made-in-Canada Pucci-like print and slinky tops and dresses, this is the moment to grab them as prices will be up to 70% off.

Location: 7250 Mile End, suite 502
Phone: 514-276-3763
Dates: Thurs & Fri  May 6 & 7
Time: 3-8
http://papillonblanc.com

Lieberman Tranchemontagne is a hotel linen supplier who will sell you some durable lines. Flat sheets in white are available by the dozen. Look for Futurelle and Wonder fleece blankets (queen $22.95) and other blankets, bed bug-free mattress covers, facecloths, towels (usually white), Dolche and Bianca combo feather/polyester pillows and duvets and white terry bathrobes (around $50).

They manufacture the Lieberspun line of tablecloths, so you buy leftovers or can have one made-to-measure in polyester blue, green, ivory and perhaps other colors. There are cloth napkins to match, chef coats, restaurant uniform clearance items or shower curtains.

Location: 653 Hodge, Ville St. Laurent
Corner: Montpellier
Tel: 514-259-3500
Hours: Mon-Fri 8:30-5,
www.liebermantranche.com

The EVEology clothing collection is less about following trends and more about creating one’s own personal style rather than just jumping onto “what’s hot”.  The clothing focuses on everyday glam looks which combine fashion, function and the attention to detail.

Most interestingly, it is designed and sorted by body type so you can easily choose which pieces will make you look the best.

You can view the clothing at www.eveology.com and then go in locally to try them on and buy (sizes mostly 6-18 but some come in 4 or 20). This week there will be an open house and you do need to RSVP. Otherwise, please call for appointment time. If you bring a friend, you can receive a 10% discount. Early birds might be able to reserve sample pieces at 30% discount.

Elisabeth Hamacher has been selling this way for years and is great at helping you select a wardrobe to suit you.  Shopping here is like having your own personal dresser.

Tel: 514 684-0370
fashionista@acn.net
www.eveology.com

Tomorrow  on CJAD 800AM, you can listen to  me  on the Tommy Schnurmacher Show. This is a call-in show for an entire hour. We’ll be talking about Valentine’s Day shopping and more. Those of you with those important shopping questions, this is your chance to have me answer them.  If you miss the show you can always write to me here at my website.

Location: CJAD 800AM
Time: 11-12 noon
Date: Wed Feb 10th

At Distributeurs Ian, a landmark Chabanel building spot, you’ll find a mixture of family clothing and household items. For cold Montreal nights, they sell flannel and polar fleece therapeutic bedsheets at only $30 a set ($50 for queen). The coral fleece ones are like a fuzzy blanket.

The rest of the store is filled with an assortment of baby items (up to 24 mos.) at really reasonable prices: crib sheet sets, 2-piece outfits,  pajamas. You’ll also find some table cloths,  towels, bath mats and luggage. For the ladies’, some nightgowns, and then men’s pajamas, shirts, jackets and socks and undies for all.f

Location: 111 Chabanel West, suite 102
corner: Clark
Phone: 514-383-1589
Hours: Mon-Fri 9-6, Sat 9-5

The following list came from the Montreal Viking Club which printed this list in 2008 of  where to buy and/or rent cross-country ski equipment around Montreal.

New equipment:

- Norway Nordic (514-457-9131) in Ste-Anne-de-Bellevue
- André Jac Sport  (450-622-2410) in Laval
- Atmosphere chain (514-365-1286)
- Boutique Courir (514-499-9600) located downtown and Longueuil
- La Cordée (514-524-1106) in downtown, Laval,  St-Hubert
- Louis Garneau 2000 (450-677-1339) theme store in Longueuil
- Mountain Equipment Co-op (514-788-5878)
- Le Suroît Cycle et Ski  (450-455-0328) in Vaudreuil
-  Le Yeti(514-271-0773) is downtown

In the Laurentians:
- Boutique SRS (450-226-7821) in Morin-Heights
- Swisski (819-326-4077) in Ste-Agathe

New and used equipment:
- Play-it Again Sports chain (514-484-5150)
- Sports Aux Puces  (450-688-9001) Laval, Rosemere

For ski boot repairs:
Cordonnerie Monkland at 5630 Monkland (corner Oxford) in NDG
or just ask in your neighborhood shoe repair shop

article from www.vikingskiclub.ca/en/newsletter/2008-12.pdf

If you’re up late-ish, I will be offering up some more tips on where to find last minute gifts live on CTV News tonight. I’ll be mentioning Le Panier, 300 Lakeshore Rd. in Pointe Claire (portable luggage weigher, yak trax,  elephant poo paper, Big Shnoz tissue dispenser, magnetic bandaid for car boo-boos), and then Kidlink, 5604 Monkland Ave. for toys, games and books for everyone (see my other shlog about them).

For truly last minute, run over to your nearest pharmacy. You’d be surprised at what you might find there: charger stations, digital picture frames, wine openers, Habs stuff, juice extractors, Wii games, and my personal favorite at Pharmaprix: e-plates: license plates where you can dial in a message from a remote inside your car and it appears on your license plate.

Location: CTV News Date and Time: Dec 22, 11:30 pm

Kidlink is a fabulous store kids’ stuff as they concentrate on award winning toys and games, music and video, arts and crafts. There are gifts for newborns, journals and toys with long term value, and it all comes with free gift wrapping and excellent customer service. The owners know everything in the joint and know exactly how to help you select the right toy for the right kid.

(Photos on bottom)

1- Hex Bugs $14 www.hexbug.com by Innovations First. It’s mini 2X2″ robotix creatures which reacts to sound & light. It has sensory antennas and is sensitive to touch. It walks and crawls on its 6 legs. As soon as it touches something, it reverses. You can control it by whistling, clapping or aiming a flashlight   Ages 5 & up

2- Kiss Naturals $20-$25 www.kissnaturals.com This is a local NDG mom and dad company and the product is made locally as well. It’s a line of kits with natural ingredients: make your own lip balm, bath fizzies, natural soap or solid perfume. $1 goes to St Justine Hospital or MontrealChildren’s Hospital  Ages 6 & up

3- Gobblet Gobblers $24.99 www.blueorangegames.com For 2 players, this is a quick 4 min. game like tic tac toe. However, you use pieces of 3 different sizes which are. You can gobble up a bigger one that is on a space you need. It’s fast to learn and fast to play. Won tons of awards. Ages 5-10

4- Smart Ass Game $33 www.areyougame.com Family trivia game for 2-12 players. Each player guesses 1) who am I 2)what am I 3) where am I 4) Hard Ass by a series of clues. Anyone can jump in as you all solve it at the same time. If you blurt out the wrong answer,  you are out. Ages 12 & up

5 -Zipfy $39.99 www.Zipfy.com A freestyle mini luge for snow that is Canadian engineered but made in the US. It comes in 6 colors. First luge for little kids.  Safe, easy, feet first, there’s a lever to control directions with leaning. It’s light to carry and won lots of awards. Ages:  5-adult up to 250 lbs

6- Jishaku $24.99 www.playjishaku.com. It’s the Japanese word for magnet and was invented by an engineer. This is a strategy board game which uses brain power, not luck. It works on magnetic interaction.Each player places a magnetic stone on a bumpy board. It is important how it is placed as each is trying to get rid of their stones. The magnets are repelled and attracted by force fields so you may wind up with other player’s pieces if you do it wrong. Ages: 8 to adult. 2 players & up.

7- Hugg- a-planet world globe $31 www.huggaplanet.com Round pillow made out of stuffed cotton. On it is the political world map. Point is to care about mother earth.

Kidlink
Location:5604 Monkland at Oxford
Tel: 514-482-4188
Hours: Mon-Fri 10-6, Sat 10-5