You’ve got boxes  or shelves of books (or CD’s or vinyl) and don’t know what to do with them. You don’t have the heart to throw them out.  There are places you can donate them, and one is McGill University. Every Fall, McGill University has a gi-normous book fair to raise money for projects in the school. This year it will be held on Oct 16-18.

If you have books, CD’s or vinyl in good condition, they want them and need them. And if you are in the West Island and don’t want to fight the orange cones to get downtown, you can easily drop them off nearby. You can call or e-mail to find out where.

Tel: 514-421-0804
e-mail: bookfair.alumni@mcgill.ca
Dates of Fair: Oct 16-18

Empire Auctions will pay you on the spot for any silver or gold you bring in to sell to them. Look in your jewelry box for broken bracelets, tangled chains, orphan earrings and that gaudy necklace from the 80s. Now is a good time to change all that sparkle into hard cash.

Rummage through all the drawers in the bedroom, dining room and kitchen for tea sets, flatware, serving pieces, gold coins, cigarette cases, silver bars or even gold teeth.

For silver, look for a stamp which says 800 or 925 which indicates that it is real silver.

Empire will weigh everything and make you an offer per gram. They list their prices daily on their website. When I wrote this, these were the prices per ounce:  gold: $1435.64,  silver: $ 17.79 and platinum: $ 967.50

Don’t forgewhileWhile you are going there, don’t forget they also buy: antiques, diamonds, paintings and sculpture, rare wristwatches and pocket watches, Persian rugs, furniture, crystal, memorabilia, rare automobiles, porcelains, rare coins, stamps, vintage toys and model trains, and much more.

Location: 5500 Pare, Ville Mont-Royal
corner: boul. Decarie
Tel: 514-737-6586 or 514-737-5343
Hours: Mon-Fri 10-5
www.empireauctions.com

In 2014 Casper  which had branded its name for its “outrageously” comfy mattresses, was introduced in Canada  I’m not sure how people buy mattresses online, as to me, it’s one of those purchases where I must lay down (for a good 20 minutes) and make sure it’s the right “fit” for me.

I have in the past (and have heard from other people too) bought a mattress that was way too hard. I chose a “hospital grade” mattress supposed to be good for your back and last a really long time. I made sure it was a company that gave you a trial period so I could return it – and I did. Others just have had to spend more money to put all kinds of fluffy tops on them to try to correct the mistake.

So back to Casper. They have opened up Le Chalet Casper where they give you the opportunity to try out their products (pillows, bedding, bed frames) in person. They’ve showcased them cutely in little “chalet-like” houses.

Nicole Tapscott, Senior Director and General Manager of Casper Canada says, “Le Chalet Casper is designed as an oasis for people to relax as they would in a summer chalet to escape the city heat and bustle. We encourage visitors to touch, feel and experience our sleep products in an environment that will leave them with the feeling of a life well slept.” I agree that you have to experience a mattress before buying one.

You can buy at the shop or have your purchases delivered.

Location: 4367 St-Denis
corner: Marie-Anne
Hours: Wed-Fri 10-8, Sat 10-7, Sun 11-6
Dates: closes July 22

Q: I have 2 pillows on my couch that are down-filled and they need to be re-down-filled. Do you know of any places that I can go to and have them re done?

A: Right on my web site (or in my Smart Shopping Montreal book) you will find the friendly family company: Ungava Duvet.  http://smartshoppingmontreal.com/store.php?s=18  Been around for years and they really know their feathers and do this all the time. Wonderful place to shop..

In the past, Ardene has been the go-to shop in malls for inexpensive accessories and then it branched out into inexpensive clothing.

So at their huge warehouse sale, you can find
– for $5 – dresses, denim shorts, sweaters, sweatpants, PJ sets, and even boots
– for $4 – handbags, tops, t-shirts, shorts, skirts
– for $3 – tank tops, swimwear, leggings, PJ pants, bras, sandals, heels, wedges, and even sneakers
– for $2 – hats, beach bags, scarves, winter knits (ugh in this heat?), flats, slippers
– for $1 – belts, flip-flops, straw hats, leg & arm warmers

You can buy with cast, Interac, Visa or Mastercard.

Location: (the old Loblaws) 300 ave St-Croix, Ville St-Laurent H4N 3K4
corner: Maisonneuve
Hours: Wed-Fri 10-9, Sat & Sun 10-5
Dates: til July 29
Metro: du College
www.ardene-warehouse-sale.ca

Many of us enjoy a light read to while away a lazy summer afternoon. At the Hudson Village Theatre, you don’t even have to read to have fun – you can just listen and watch as four women meet, mingle and moan – and become a family of friends.

The director, Ellen David, takes this (Jessie) Jones (Nicholas) Hope (Jamie) Wooten delightful script and gently guides the dynamic quattro of actors as they learn “what is holding you back from one’s past and self-imposed limitations towards a compelling future”.  This could be any one of us.

The performers David chose are as well cast and strong as the four sides of a square. Randa Covington (Jane Wheeler) has defined herself by her work, and doesn’t know how to re-define herself beyond that. She tries to hold on to her safe proper business countenance, but is weighed down by feeling second best in her family. Marlafaye (Lisa Bronwyn Moore) gets the classic “dumped for a younger woman” part, so feelings of anger and rejection are keeping her from moving forward. “I swear the older you get the harder it is to jump start a new life”, she says.

Dot (Kathleen Fee), the oldest of the bunch, has just lost her husband, the only man she has known, and with whom she had planned to retire. She has no idea how to figure out what comes next. Her subtle acting is deliciously wonderful as she delivers many funny zinger lines. Paula Costain as Jinx moves and talks with the right zippy attitude to convince them, as their new “life coach”, to go (as David says)” beyond their comfort zone to a brave new world where they eventually find themselves”. Jinx reminds us that her older sister (now incapacitated with dementia) taught her that “it’s the happy in life that counts”.

The set by Jean-Claude Olivier is a comfortable porch, so the women have an informal place to gently and liquidly reveal their sagas. As this is a “Sipping Society”, drinking props (by Lea Robertson) were a fun challenge due to the many iterations of serving different kinds of alcohol. Marlafaye once toasted, “Girls, here’s to living single and drinking doubles”.

There were more costume changes than you would expect (by Elisabeth De Medeiros), creating a fashion show which helped define the scenes and the forward movement of their lives.

Jamie Wooten, one of the playwrights, was a writer for The Golden Girls, so the quality of their patter and the giggly one-liners is in the same genre of that hysterical show.  When Marlafaye sees Randa’s house for the first time she opines, “Yeah, sure is a pretty place. Everything’s so neat and clean. I’m not like that. Instead of cleaning my house, I just turn off the lights”.  When Randa comments on drinking mead, “This really isn’t so horrible”, Marlafaye responds, “The very words I said on my wedding night”. Marlafaye also says,  “Sex is like a brownie – when it’s good it’s really good. And when it’s bad….it’s still pretty good!”.

Andrea Romaldi, the artistic director writes, “friendships are our lifelines and support structures. Good friends cheer us, challenge us, bewilder us and irritate us, but ultimately they support and help us grow into our best selves”. Head out to Hudson and lift a glass to friendship.

Location: 28 Rue Wharf, Hudson, QC J0P 1H0
Phone: 450- 458-5361
Dates: til July 22
https://villagetheatre.ca/