Q: Je cherche un endroit a Montréal, si possible, pour faire réparer un verre de cristal Waterford.

A: Mr Fixit, 4652 boul. Decarie, Snowdon can certainly fix that. Whenever something old breaks and you’re wondering “where do I go with this?”, this is the place to head to. Repairs and restoration to china, crystal, antiques, lamps, paintings, clocks, carved stone, ivory, alabaster, marble, soapstone, porcelain, bronze, silverware and objets d’art (gold leaf and papier mache too) are cheerfully taken care of.  www.themrfixit.com

For the last 27 years, this friendly shoe shop has been offering ladies’ (sizes 5 – 11) fashion shoes and boots at fair prices with helpful personalized service. For the next 3 days, they are offering $20 off all winter boots.

They have a really large selection of  waterproof winter boots in names you know: La Canadienne, Blondo, Pajar, Valdini, Henri Pierre, Aquatalia,  Rieker, Hush Puppies, Martino, Toe Warmers, Cougar, Bastien, Infinity, AquaDiva and Nival.

Location: 3357 boul. des Sources, D.D.O.
corner: Boul. Brunswick
Tel: 514-684-1775
Hours: Regular plus Sun 10-5
Sale Dates: Dec 13 – 15

Q: Hi Sandra, we are going to a wedding in Europe. Any ideas on where to get a Canadiana gift? Thanks so much, your book and site are my standbys for info!

A: Everything possible Canadian can be bought in shops on St-Paul Street in Old Montreal. Start at Place Jacques Cartier and walk west. There are many shops there, some artisan run, some souvenir-y. More unique items are in the shops inside Marche Bonsecours, east of the Place.

You can also buy aboriginal art at Galerie Le Chariot, 446 Place Jacques Cartier or Indianica on St-Paul. Good ideas for Holiday gifts. And don’t forget the Hudson’s Bay blankets, etc. sold at La Baie.

Q: In one of your columns you recommended a store for flooring, particularly wood flooring on the South Shore. This was about seven or eight years ago. I would like to contact this store but cannot find or remember the name. Can you help me? Would certainly appreciate it if you can.

A: Of course I can help. I’ve made it easy on my site. All you had to do was go to my web site www.smartshoppingmontreal. In the upper left hand corner, click on Household. Then scroll down to either Flooring or Wood Flooring and you would have found: Lanctot Floor Design Center. They are a 100+ year old family business and wonderful to deal with. Here is the link to all the details on my site. Tell them I sent you. http://www.smartshoppingmontreal.com/store.php?s=53

Right at our very doorstep, we are lucky to have a genuine Amerindian store – no “made in Orient” items here. Everything from dream catchers, headdresses, moose bone jewelry or Sante Fe Zuni jewlery, painted turtle shells, tomahawks, moccasins, snowshoes, rugs, leather vests and sheepskin coats and hats, or gloves, to Six Nations and Inuit soapstone carvings and prints, are handcrafted, manufactured and sold by the First Nations’ People. Attached to the store is an art gallery with even more Native artwork.

Location: Old Malone Highway (Main Street), Kahnawake
Tel: 450 635-7771

Twenty top designer brands of jeans will be clearing at Denim Kings. At this holiday sale held at their store, you can expect to pay up to 70% off retail.

Q: We are sourcing inexpensive pashmina shawls . A are you able to recommend a wholesaler we can contact?

A: This is a good possibility. Not far from you is Gem Entrepot, 72F Brunswick Blvd., DDO.  “This wholesale business has two halves. On the left side is where it started out, selling wrapping paper (bridal, Xmas, baby), bows, waxed, cellophane and parchment paper, zip lock and fabric gift bags. On the right side it segued into pashmina shawls, purses, jewelry, hair accessories and scarves. Bonbonnieres and fund-raising campaign products are available.

Mens and ladies leather gloves $12
Select scarves 2/$10
Infinity scarves – Buy one, get one half off
Parchment baking paper sheets 500/$25
Wax or parchment paper rolls $2
Wrapping paper for all occasion starting at $1
Assorted zipper bags starting at $3/100 units
Nitrile protective exam gloves $9/100
Personal therapeutic massage machine $135

Location: 72F Brunswick Blvd., DDO
corner: boul. des Sources
Tel: 514-685-4218
Hours: Mon-Thurs 10-3
www.gementrepot.net

In Tzanet’s new location, we finally have a huge organized spacious warehouse for all the serious cooks in foodie Montreal. Take advantage of the $10 coupon below which you can apply towards purchases of $75.

Whoever is looking for restaurant grade quality for cooking and baking should look no farther. It has always been a popular shopping destination for hotels and restaurants, so why not see for yourself and visit them? They even have a test kitchen to try out restaurant equipment like commercial models of fryers and grills.

Every cooking and baking need is met with name brands like Kitchen Aid, Cuisinart, Good Grips gadgets, a big selection of quality knives by Victorinox, a huge variety of dishes by Dudson from England, Arcopal from France and professional quality stainless steel pots and pans.

They sell Chicago Metallic Bakeware, a 100 year-old company which produces bakeware with a non-stick surface, which releases easily and clean-ups up effortlessly afterwards. It’s the preferred choice of bakers who understand quality and design, but who also want professional-grade durability. Bakers and cake and cupcake decorators will also love the 50 ft. wall of Wilton products.

Why not buy fast food trays or cutting boards in different colours to match any decor, 3′ pepper mills, tipped glass candy jars, call bells, oval stainless platters, cocktail shakers, oil table lamps, many sizes of pizza pans, strainers, whisks, a single serving teapot, booster seats or bamboo steamers? And if you need them, there’s a section of second-hand equipment like dishes, mixers, tables and chairs, etc.

Head out to Tzanet, a 37-year-old family business, to find something wonderful for cooking in your kitchen. Your tummy will thank you.

Location: 1375 Louvain
corner: boul. l’Acadie
Tel: 514-383-0030
Hours: Mon-Fri 8-6, Sat 8-5
www.tzanet.ca
Facebook: http://on.fb.me/1bjGZdD

Buying organic food has become a huge growing business. Club Organic is more of a wholesaler who will sell retail, so you can save money. See the notice below for their holiday celebration.

Food items bought at this store can be traced back to the farmer who produced them, as these products are certified by Ecocert Canada, an international regulatory network. For nearly two generations, Club Organic has been a company which encourages organic farming.

You can shop without a membership, but for a $30 membership you can buy ground beef, chicken, butter, flour, beans, grains, dates, pasta, oil, nuts, etc. at a discount. They are a complete grocery store.

On regular shopping days, the more you buy the better the deal: a $1-$99 order will yield a 3% discount on your bill, $100-$299 is 5% off, and $300 and up will get you 7%. However, for this one day only, members get 10% off.

Location: 4341 Frontenac
corner: Marie-Anne
Tel: 514-523-0223
Hours: Mon-Wed 9:30-6, Thurs & Fri 9:30-8, Sat 9:30-5, Sun 12-5
www.epiceriebiologique.ca

Q: I need a food basket for the travelers who have come for a funeral. I don’t know anyone who does these?

A: Right on my web site, for you to find was Le Panier http://www.smartshoppingmontreal.com/store.php?s=25 which has been doing food baskets for about 20 years. “This basket company lives in a huge gift store which is chock full of gourmet food items, kitchenware and gifts. Baskets are easily assembled from the jams, hot sauces, condiments, Rogers chocolates, etc”  If you needed a Kosher one, in my book, there’s Cornucopia, Tel: 514-276-4712   www.cornucopia.ca