Q: I love your show on CJAD and your website. I am looking for a sun lamp….I have a friend that suffers from seasonal depression. I was told that the sun lamp therapy really helps. Any idea where in Montreal, I can buy this?

A: Union Lighting and Home, 8150 Boul. Decarie has the most extensive lighting selection in the city. You can try calling them and asking if they have it or can order it (it’s not a sun lamp, it’s for seasonal affective disorder).

This family company has been in the lighting business since 1914. Changing with the times, they’ve evolved, still selling all kinds of standing, hanging (mini chandeliers and colored crystal), recessed, track, desk (baby candelabra) and outdoor lighting fixtures, but now have added self-service aisles of bulbs, switches and shades.

From there it was on to fans, address plates, ceiling medallions, door and bath hardware, occasional furniture, mirrors and  kitchen accessories. They offer a 14-day no hassle return policy, a repair department and free gift wrapping. Crystal chandeliers have lifetime guarantees – bring them back for full credit towards a new one.

With their Prix Garantis , if you find the same item elsewhere or in a flyer for a lower price within 60 days, they will refund you the difference. Follow the yellow footsteps to the left rear of the store for their liquidation section.     www.unionltg.com

It’s just a little walk upstairs to Willy’s Handbag Repair. The woman who runs this little repair depot can do all kinds of interesting fixes and I was surprised to learn that (like Houdini?) she can open combination locks!

The rest of the time she can replace zippers, locks and wheels on luggage and repair fabric and vinyl luggage. Tricks she has learned (the shop has been open over 48 years) allows her to fix handbags, tote bags, straps on strollers and jeep windows.

5456A Westminster, suite 206, Montreal Ouest
corner: ch. Cote St-Luc
Tel: 514-481-8446  514-481-8446
Hours: Tues-Fri 10-5

After all the cooking for the holidays and New Year’s Eve parties, your stove is probably a bit messy right now. What better place would know about cleaning appliances, than an appliance repair shop?

At Centre de Pieces et Services DB, on their counter by the cash, they sell Weiman cooktop cleaner in two sizes for $5.99 or $10.95. Right next to that, is Sany stainless steel cleaner for $10.95 and that’s it.  Sany is a Quebec product so that’s even better.

In this parts store, around for 20 years, you can find the piece you need for most major brand name (GE, Maytag, Frigidaire, Roy, Gibson, Kelvinator, Amana, Whirlpool, Jenn-Air, KitchenAid, LG, Inglis, Kenmore, Nutone, Venmar) appliances to do it yourself of use their repair service.

Parts are in stock for refrigerators, washers, dryers, ranges, microwaves, freezers or dishwashers up to 5 years old and you can buy a few here too.

Some small appliances (mixers, irons, coffee pots, toaster ovens, processors, vacuums) by Sunbeam, Oster, Breville, Black & Decker, Krups, Tefal, Bionaire, Electrolux, Broil King and Eureka as well as their parts are sold and are reparable here.

Locations: 8000 Pie IX, Montreal-Nord (514-374-4500); Laval, 3300 boul. St-Martin O. (450-680-1333).
Hours: Mon-Fri 8:30-5:30, Sat 8:30-1
www.piecesdb.com

Q: Love your website. Do you know of anyone that repairs snowblowers either shops or home service? Need help…..

A: There is an entire 20-page section in my book Smart Shopping Montreal for Repairmen. Under “Sharpening” you will find: Jean Guglia & fils at 10,344 Boul. St-Laurent. They sell and fix snowblowers as well as many other tools. They must know what they are doing as they have been open for 58 years. http://jeanguglia.com/

Pharmacies are always open the latest on Christmas Eve so if you really get stuck at the last last minute, head for one of them. In the Pharmaprix flyers I have seen: perfume, a micro-derabrasion system for a home facial, cameras, a Sony docking station $99, kids’ acoustic guitar, Minnie Mouse alarm clock, gourmet chocolates: caramel shortcake or almonds and cranberries, a pet bed, a gingerbread house kit, and … the slinky.

Dix Milles Villages is a fair trade shop, a member of  World Fair Trade Organization, sells artisan-crafted accessories, home decor and gift items from 31 countries around the globe from this shop and through Festival Sales. The income helps unemployed artists pay for food, education, health care and housing. Started by one Mennonite woman, Edna Ruth Byler in 1946, nowadays thousands of volunteers work in the 100’s of member boutiques.

Locations: 4128 St-Denis (514-848-0538); 5675 Monkland (514-483-6569); 290 bord du Lac (514-428-0450).
www.tenthousandvillages.ca
www.dixmillevillages.ca

Boxing Sale Madness starts now at this huge liquidation of name brand products for both family clothing and household products and furniture.  And how about this – before Christmas – all Christmas decorations are 60% off of retail.

Perfect right now for playing in the snow are the children’s 2-piece snow suits for only $24.99 and children’s winter coats for $24.99. Women aren’t left out either as imported boots are there too for $39.99.

There’s a toy explosion with names you know: Crayola, Barbie, Caillou and Pillow Pets ($9.99).

In the furniture section, you can score on TV’s by LG and Samsung and then some tables, chairs, dining room sets and mattresses (queen size only $299).

For holiday cooking or gifting, a Cuisinart stand-mixer is $249. The Cuisinart 14-cup food processor/ robot culinaire [model fp-14dcc] reg. $399 is selling for $239.99. The Cuisinart 12 cup-food processor/robot culinaire [model FP-12DCC]. reg. $339.99  is $199.99.

Branded clothing  for young and old by Billabong, The North Face, Bonfire, Columbia, Oakley, ripzone, Oneill, Helly Hansen and Lucky Brand blue jeans are there. Baby clothing is all priced below wholesale – kids t-shirts and thermal underwear.

This is a temporary sale and due to space restrictions, additional inventory, (which is all current merchandise) will arrive daily. All discounts are priced well below wholesale.

Location: 7155 Transcanadienne O. V.S.L. H4T 1A2 – Facing Transcanada Hwy on Service Rd.
Tel:  514-339-5997
Metro: Cote Vertu
Hours: Mon-Wed 10-6, Thurs & Fri 10-8, Sat & Sun 10-5

Whoever is looking for restaurant grade quality for cooking and baking might want to head to Tzanet. It has always been a popular shopping destination for hotels and restaurants, so why not see for yourself? 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 who produces bakeware with a non-stick surface, which releases easily and cleans 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 this 37-year-old family busines, to find something wonderful for cooking in your kitchen or for a gift for someone else’s. Your tummy will thank you.

You may still visit them now at their present location; They will be moving around the corner in January. You can go back and see their new home.

Location: 9600 Boul. l’Acadie
corner: Louvain
Tel: 514-383-0030
Hours: Mon-Fri 8-6, Sat 8-5
www.tzanet.ca

Holiday means family but family means something beyond those people who are related to you. Family also means community. When you do your holiday shopping, this year more than others, it is important to think of your Montreal family and the people whose income depends on you supporting them – and not someone in a faraway factory.

Shopping right here for things made right here is a win-win proposition for Montreal. These mostly small (often family) stores generate income for them and more money (in taxes) to improve our own city. Spending your money here helps keep stores open here and families living here. Shopping in our own city keeps the world greener by not having to ship goods by planes, boats and trucks.

At Il EtaitDeux Fois objects and accessories are designed from recycled materials, mostly by Quebec artists. Creative handbags might be made from inner tubes, seat belts, soda pop pull tabs or records. Clocks are made from hub caps, bowls made from candy wrappers, coasters from LP record labels, 45 RPM records turn into clocks and picture frames are from computer keys.

Gift items galore can be scored from the tires made into belts, cutlery turned into magnetic hooks, record album covers into notebooks, bike gears into candle sticks and bracelets or the planters made out of newspapers.
Location: 4539 boul. St-Laurent
corner: at Mont-Royal
Tel: 514-692-6149.
Hours: Tues & Wed 11-6, Thurs & Fri 11-9, Sat 11-5, Sun 12-5

The next shop is a marriage of two local-oriented businesses; One, Coccinelle Jaune, offering up gifts and Folle Guenille, locally-designed clothing. In the front there are finger puppets, cat rugs, re-cyled records made into chip dishes, 50 collections of jewelry, and flattened wine bottles which you can use as serving trays.

In the rear, 25 local designers are showcased, some who are just starting out and some who are quite established. The  women’s clothing ranges XS-XXL and covers the wardrobe from tops, pants, skirts and dresses to coats.
Location: 4236 Ste-Catherine Est
corner: Pie IX
Tel: 514-259-9038
Hours: Mon-Wed 11-6, Thurs & Fri 11-8, Sat & Sun 11-5 
www.folleguenille.com   www.coccinellejaune.com

At L’Arterie, everything is made in Montreal. Either you can buy from the 50% that is the friperie (men and women) or from the 50% that is hand-made crafts. So shop for the vintage look jeans, tops, skirts and windbreakers, or buy the jewelry, soaps and hand-made animal creatures.

This is the place to head to for vegan shoes made with micro fiber that imitates leather. Local designer clothing: Valerie Dumaine, Annie So, Eve Lavoie and Josianne Perron can be bought here.
Location: 176 Bernard Ouest
corner: Esplanade
Tel: 514-273-3933
Hours: Tues-Fri 12-6, Sat & Sun 11-5 
www.arterieboutique.com

Here’s an original gift idea that could get all of the family playing together. Canada Billiard and Bowling sells pool tables which convert into dining room tables. So you do not have to have extra room for this fun activity. For gift ideas, you can have fun with air hockey or ping pong tables, shuffleboard, dart boards and soccer games.

Around since 1973, pool tables have come a long way since then. I liked their modern white and chrome one. Pool cues run $35 – $39.95 for a 1-piece model and $59.95 – $2,000 for 2 pieces. Besides the pool tables and accessories (like lamps and chairs), they sell Epco bowling balls and Dexter bowling shoes.

Location: 4050 boul. Industriel, Laval
corner: boul. Dagenais
Tel: 450-963-5060
Hours: Regular
www.canadabillard.com