Lise Watier, our very own famous Quebec cosmetics queen, has semi-annual clearance sales of last year’s discontinued lines or slightly damaged packages of makeup, perfumes, and skin care products. The sale lasts 2 days on 2 or 3 weekends in a row. It will usually be held again in November. Stock up for the year! (well maybe 1/2 the year). You can sign up to be notified of future events by e-mail at www.lisewatier.com

Location: 5600 Cote de Liesse Rd.
Phone: 514-735-4959 X 840
Dates: March 28: 9-5,  Mar 29: 9-4, Apr 4: 9-5, Apr 5: 10-4
www.lisewatier.com

There is no excuse not to visit my home town of New York City now that Amtrak is putting it on sale. Up until March 30th, 2009, you can hop onboard the train and pay only $75 for the round trip. This is a special round-trip weekend fare and it is valid Fridays through Mondays. If that wasn’t good enough, each adult can take up to two children between the ages of 2-15 for only $38. Reservations must be made at least three days in advance.

In case you haven’t heard, Mayor Bloomberg wants to turn Broadway into a pedestrian mall between the Broadway theatre area right down to Macy’s on 34th street. Sounds like fun, let me know if it happened when you visit.

Location: between Montreal and New York City
Tel: 800-USARAIL
Dates: weekends up until March 30th, 2009
amtrak.com

Started in 1972 with a co-op concept, this sporting goods store now has over 2,000,000 loyal members ($5) and very high customer satisfaction. An an environmentally conscious business, the store uses geothermal energy, radiant heating and cooling, and a natural ventilation system, cutting energy use by at least 50%. The expansive 2 floors are a busy supermarket of anything you might need for cycling, canoeing, mountain climbing and hiking (from skis and kayaks to waterproof MP3 players), clothing and gadgets. Half of its goods and 70% of the apparel is house brand merchandise .You can rent equipment like canoes, backpacks, tents, snowshoes, cross country skis, etc. Check out the online gear swap where you can sell used items

Location: 8989 de l’Acadie, Marche Centrale
corner: Boul. Metropolitain
Tel: 514-788-5878
Hours: Mon-Wed 10-7:30, Thurs & Fri 10-9, Sat 9-5, Sun 11-5 (Summer Mon-Wed 10-9)
mec.ca

For amateur and professional magicians or anyone who just likes to have fun, visit this 34-year-old magic shop and choose from a wide range of tricks and equipment which you can pick up and examine. Perfect Magic can put together a beginner’s magic kit made up from professional tricks, which makes a great gift. An adult beginner’s course is given to learn technique, presentation and close-up magic. Teaching Books and instructional DVD’s are available. You can even rent a ragtime piano player here to liven up your show.

Location: 4755 Van Horne, Suite 100A, Snowdon
corner: Victoria
Tel: 514-738-4176
Hours: Mon-Fri 10-5, call for weekend appointments
www.perfectmagic.com

We’re very lucky here in Montreal to have such a diverse selection of musical productions – organ, jazz, wind instruments, choirs, strings, electro-acoustic and, of course, opera and full orchestra, many for FREE!

At La Chapelle Historique du Bon Pasteur, there are four FREE concerts in January and 8 in February. Even if your pockets are empty, your soul can be filled with music.

100 Sherbrooke est
corner: boul. St-Laurent
Tel: 514-872-5338
(put yourself on e-mail list for their e-calendars or look in newspapers)

In the US, lots of restaurant chains offer curb service. You call in your order ahead of time, drive there, and there is either an outdoor window or someone who will bring your food out to you. I am amazed that this service hasn’t reached our frozen north. If the storekeepers really want to encourage us to come out and buy in the worst weather, or street conditions, then this could be a way to go.

Kiehl’s, since 1851, has been a venerable NYC purveyor of fine quality skin and hair care preparations. Situated in Manhattan, known for parking problems, I’m not surprised that they are the first downtown store that I have come across that offers this service.

The company’s simple packaging and outstanding results, have incurred over a century of loyal fans. The Creme de Corps, a custard-like body lotion, is a perennial favourite. New products come out in response to overwhelming customer demands and after rigorous testing. One, the Blue Herbal (appeared in 1964) gel cleanser, magically zaps pimples, and the lip balm has SPF4. Men too can shop here and try the aloe or mint shaving creams as well as cleansers. There’s 13 shower scents, like coriander and cranberry, and even baby has a line too.

In a salute to the owner, each store has a motorbike to oogle. Besides the curb service, mail order is available.

Location: 760 Ste-Catherine ouest
corner: McGill College
Tel: 514-788-4226
Hours: Regular plus Sun 12-5
www.kiehls.com

Perhaps, you’ll be finding yourself with a little bit more of down time over the holidays and would like to unwind with a great movie. Despite the big franchise video rental stores swarming the city, Boite Noir has managed to not only retain its clientele but grow to 4 stores by focusing on classics, foreign movies, art films and of course, the new releases. If it’s hard-to-find DVD’s you want, then this is where you should start.

Locations: 376 Mont Royal est (514-287-1249); 380 Laurier o. (514-277-6979); 42 McGill St., Old Montreal (514-844-8727).
Hours: 11-11

Crescent Auctioneers are clearing out a variety of sports clothing and equipment this week. Golf clubs (Titleist, Nike, Cobra, Callaway), golf bags (Titleist, Ping, Nike, Callaway), Men’s and women’s fashions at 75% off (Lacoste, Greg Norman, Mexx, Fairway, Greene, Hugo Boss, Adidas, Puma, Burberry, Tiger Woods, Nike Golf), footwear (New Balance, Asics, Footjoy, Addidas, Ecco) and New Balance, Asics and Champion exercise wear too.

Besides all that there’s furniture up to 90% off (dining room sets, paintings, area rugs, tables), women’s cashmere coats from $100 and kid’s snowsuits (18 mos.-toddlers) from $12 and hats, scarves and gloves too.

Location: 5085 Jean-Talon Ouest
corner: Mountain Sights
Hours: Regular

JRC Toy Warehouse is the only place in town I have found that offers amazing deals on toys and it only happens once year so you have to come now, between October and December to take advantage of it. When this toy warehouse opens to the public the deals are up to 70% off. Name brands from Fisher-Price, HannahMontana, Mattel, Hasbro, Bratz, Little Tikes, Cars, High School Musical, Mega Bloks, Vtech, Spiderman, Dora the Explorer, Go Diego Go, Melissa & Doug, Spinmaster, Polly, Step 2 and Barbie have been found. Books are priced from $1 & up, there’s puzzles, crafts, building toys, educational things, baby stuff, plush toys and more.

Location: 5589 Royalmount at Devonshire
Phone 514-342-6979 X 26
Hours: Wed 10 – 5, Thurs & Fri 10 – 8, Sat & Sun 10 – 5
December M – F 10 – 10, Sat & sun 10-5
www.jrctoys.com

Homegrown company, Mega Bloks is having a warehouse sale in their new MegaBloks clearance store. Besides their well-known snap together bloks, they also sell arts and crafts under the Rose Art brand, mngnetix building sets, wagons, trucks, Robotrix, King Arthur castle, Triazzle puzzles, Mickey Mouse clubhouse, High School Musical and Hannah Montana crafts and Board Dudes. There will be some doorbuster liquidated items, some liquidated stock and then some regularly-priced products from this year’s lines.

Location:4505 Hickmore (old Eaton warehouse)
corner: Montee-de-Liesse
Tel: 514-333-3339
Sale Dates and hours: Thursday & Friday Dec 18th & 19th from 1-8
Store Hours (all year): Fri 12-8, Sat 10-4
www.megabrands.com