McGill University Book Fair has been a reader’s paradise since 1971! More books than you could ever imagine all in one place, perhaps 40,000 – paperbacks, hardcover, art, encyclopedias, children’s and more, all $.25 and up. All of the proceeds are used to support McGill scholarships. Since its inception, the Book Fair has raised over $1.5-million. In 2010, the annual Book Fair donation to the University was $75,000.

Since they no longer have a chairman and their volunteers are aging, this will be the very last one. Unless someone out there wants to take up the cause?

Redpath Hall, 3459 McTavish
corner: Sherbrooke
Tel: 514-398-6800 or 514-398-5000
Dates: October 18: 1-9;  Oct 19 &-20: 9-9
www.mcgill.ca/bookfair

Oberson is selling off demo skis: twin tip K2Press Volkl Ledge, 4Frnt Clik! for $249.95 (reg $459) for 2 days only, this Sat and Sun. Ride Manic boards are $299.95 (reg. $429.95).

Another bargain at Oberson is the yearly junior ski rental for $59.95 (plus $10 installation fee). If you spend $250 on the 2011-2012 winter garment collection, ask for your $50 gift card.

Oberson, the biggest ski store in Quebec has invested in the amazing Wintersteiger machine – there are only three in North America. You no longer have to worry if you waited for the last minute to get your skis or snowboards tuned up.  From October thru April, there are “no-wait” tune-ups ($34.95, $49.95).

When you shop here, if  you stay to the left side you can find snowboard packages as low as $199.95, and ski & bindings packages can be $299.95. Many brands of ski wear (Descente, Karbon, Phenix, Spyder, Bonfire, Orage) from last year’s collections and ends-of-lines are here too.

The right side of the store offers this season’s goods at this season’s prices. In the Spring there’s streetwear (Roxy, Quiksilver, Oakley) and in-line skates (Rollerblade, K2, Reebok, as low as $59.99), soccer (Adidas, Umbro, Puma) and bikes.  Snowboards can be tuned up.

Location: 1355 boul. des Laurentides, Laval
corner: boul. St-Martin
Phone: 450-669-5123
Hours: Regular plus Sun 12-5 Sale Dates: Sept 24&25
Other location (deals mixed in with new): Dix30 Brossard,  8025 boul. Taschereau o. (450-462-4040).
www.oberson.com

On Wednesday night, October 5th at 7 pm, I will be giving a talk (along with my husband, Stan Posner) about another book we write called, “Drive I-95: Exit by Exit Info, Maps, History and Trivia” which is a travel guide about how to drive South along the US East coast all the way to Florida. Here is a synopsis:

“Road trips are back and to help those who travel up and down the East coast, Drive I-95 is a new style of guidebook which combines colorful easy-to-follow pictorial maps and fun stories.

Look ahead exit by exit to see which motels (with toll-free numbers), gas stations, restaurants, campgrounds, 24-hour pharmacies, radio stations or radar traps are there.

This husband and wife share stories: history on I-95, museums, trivia, towns to explore or places to run with the kids and pets. These can be read for entertainment during the drive, and may entice motorists to stop, stretch their legs and discover someplace new.”

If you are planning a trip South this year, we can help you make the drive more fun.  I love to meet my smart shopping fans.  You must register to attend.

See you there.

Location: Roxboro Library,110 Rue Cartier, Roxboro, Quebec H8Y 1G8
corner: Boul. des Sources
Compulsory registration
Phone: 514 684-8247
Courriel: Isabelle.langevin@ville.montreal.qc.ca

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If you want to really score well in golf, tomorrow is the very last day of a $750,000 worth of golf inventory. Clubs are as low as $1.99, 10-pc sets are $150, drivers start at $20. There’s tons of tops and jackets (sizes XS-3XL) for $2.50, Ashworth Bermuda shorts for $10, long sleeve shirts, water resistant jackets and golf vests for $5, Dri-fit shirts for $7.50 and Sunice tips for $25.

Three stores are closing their doors. Brands they have been selling off: Taylor Made, NikeGolf, Calloway Golf, Ping, Titleist from the 2009/2010 season. Now it’s 50% additional discount on the all ready low prices.

Locations: 4910 Jean-Talon o., Kirkland, 16869 boul. Hymus (near St-Charles), Laval, 3619 autoroute 440 Ouest (in the Marche 440).
Date: ends Aug 28
Hours: 10-5

Archambault has a piano sale each August  After you have stepped through the Art Nouveau portals of Montreal’s oldest (1896) and largest music emporium, head to the second floor, where you’ll discover the grand salon piano department which is Quebec’s largest piano store. This year the sale will also be held at their store in the Mega Centre Ste-Dorothee.

Some pianos from their regular stock gets sold: perhaps Hallet and Davis (Baldwin), George Steck or Perzina from Germany and then they clear the Yamaha pianos from camps at Orford and Lanaudiere.  They have only been used for about 6 weeks.

There are about 50 used and new pianos both in uprights and grands. All come with a 10 year parts and labor guarantee and delivery is included.

500 Ste. Catherine St. East
corner: Berri St
-or- Ste-Dorothee, 520 Megacenter Ste-Dorothee
exit: boul. Samson on hwy 13
Phone: 514-380-1833 or 514-849-6201
Dates:  til Sept 5
Hours: Monday to Friday 9:30 a.m .to 9 p.m., Saturday 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Sunday 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
www.archambault.ca

If you or your kids have a song in your heart and would like to learn to play an instrument, why not take a look at the West Island West Island Music Academy? They are having an Open House on August 20th and 27th. In the flyer below, there is a coupon for a free 30-minute trial lesson.

Barbara Ovadia has devoted her career to the field of Music Education over the past 35 years.  She has worked as a Music Specialist at several local elementary schools. Besides that she founded and directed Broadway Theater, a local children’s theater group for 10 years.

Joel Ovadia. the Musical Director has spent the past 10 years teaching guitar, piano, bass and drums to students of all ages. He graduated from Vanier College and Concordia University with degrees in Music. Joel also worked for several summers at McGill University’s Garage Band Camp, taking the groups on tour throughout Quebec and has appeared on several independent releases as a guitarist, bassist, keyboardist, drummer, producer and engineer.

So between the two of them, they have covered the gamut from rock band to show tunes and can teach you the kind of music that you might want to learn.

Location: 61 Place Frontenac, Pointe-Claire
Tel: 514-505-6606 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting 514-505-6606 end_of_the_skype_highlighting Fax: 514-375-1054
Dates and Times  of Open House: Aug 20 & 27: 10-5
info@westislandmusicacademy.com
www.westislandmusicacademy.com

The granddaddy of all the crafts stores in Montreal (since 1952) keeps getting bigger, with everything you would need for your projects. Just was in there and found a section for 3-D cards: the embroidery ones and the glitter ones too and even coloring books for adults

The rest of the shop is full of supplies for:  drawing, painting, quilling, card-making, tole painting, stencilling, origami, faux finishes, chocolate molding, candlemaking, beading, rubber stamping, lettering, scrapbooking, knitting and needlework, fimo, soap making. There’s crafts for kids, adult coloring books, fabric paint, model cars and planes, ribbons and books to learn it all. Courses are given in many areas: painting on silk, 3-D cards, candles, soap, stained glass, jewelry and more.

Location: 4146 Ste-Catherine est
corner: Pie IX
Tel: 514-527-3456
Other locations: St-Hubert, 1651 Boul. des Promenades; Laval 3932 Autoroute 440 o (514-527-3456).
www. loiseaubleu.com

Schwartz’s The Musical was such a success (added 2 weeks to the original run), that they have brought it back this summer for another 3 weeks from July 20th to August 7th.  Schwartz’s smoked meat sandwiches will be sold on Wednesdays (July 20, 27, and August 3) and Thursday July 21, from 6:30-7:30 PM.

The show is a must for any Montrealer as Bowser and Blue and Bill Brownstein have written about all our dirty little secrets and in jokes. Loved the repartee using Metro station names! John Dinning’s set is one of the stars of this show with its luncheonette counter piano, talking walls, hidden window to Toronto and “cross on the mountain” roof.

The imaginative use of actors boggles the mind. The stage direction is awesome as they come in and go out as different people, sometimes it seems, at the same time.

Bowser and Blue’s score, always with creative wordage, is now available to take home so you can appreciate the subtleties of their humor. You can sing along with the original cast to all the great songs, including: Why is Saint-Lawrence called the Main?; It’s my fault; They kicked us out, The Promise and of course, Schmutz

So if you missed it the first time around, make sure to order tickets for yourself or for visiting guests this summer –  and have a truly fun afternoon or evening.

Location: Centaur Theatre, 453  St. Francois Xavier
Phone: 514-288-3161 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting 514-288-3161 end_of_the_skype_highlighting
Dates: July 20-Aug 7
www.centaurtheatre.com

Bass Pro Shops, is a grown man’s candy store. They have announced that  they will be opening an outdoor superstore at Lac Mirabel. The store will offer outdoor enthusiasts 3 acres of shopping for equipment and clothing for hunting, fishing, hiking, biking, backpacking, wildlife viewing, camping, outdoor cooking and more. A gift and nature center will also serve up a wide variety of outdoor-related items from lamps and dishes to bird feeders and furniture.

As well, an expansive boat showroom will feature Tracker, Nitro, SunTracker, Grizzly, and Tahoe boats and a boat service center will also be available.

At the Bass Pro shops I have been in, the decor is to take the outdoors and bring it indoors. The lobby could be a massive log and rock room made to feel like a hunting lodge. You can immerse yourself in departments for: fishing (rods, reels, lures), fly fishing (Penn, Shimano, G-Loomis), hunting (from camo to ammo), golf (try it out on the driving net or putting green), boating, archery (indoor range), camping, a footwear department and an indoor boat show.

The rest of the family might be able to enjoy a waterfall, aquarium, trout pool, an indoor shooting range, wildlife exhibits and historic photos and memorabilia. Some of the stores have a fresh fish market and fish  restaurant.

We all travel eventually, and there are some interesting items that can make the trip more pleasurable – this store has all the gadgets you may need and specialty travel clothing. Besides a huge selection of luggage, including rolling backpacks and duffels (Briggs & Riley, Kipling, Eagle Creek, Rimowa, Delsey), there are various kinds of money stashers, toiletry and packing organizers, USB adapters,  travel pillows and blankets, carry-on liquid sets in clear bag, compact appliances, electricity converters and mini electronics (mini mice, ear bud splitters).

You can secure your luggage in your hotel room, on the train, plane terminal or anywhere you need it while you travel with a TSA approved cable lock. There’s 48 inches of PVC covered steel cable to keep your gear safe and the combination padlock is easy to reset. The 4mm steel shackle is ideal for locking zippers too ($15.50).

66 Laurier ouest
corner: Clark
Tel: 514-271-5058
Hours: Regular plus Sun 12-5
www.jet-setter.ca