Okay, the jig is up. I can finally tell you the best deal I have found for having your wedding – or any other major affair that might be coming up. There is a fairly new boutique-style hotel, Hotel Mortagne, in Boucherville which is oriented towards conventions – actually has a side wing for them. The hotel reception area and restaurant decor is very slick and zen-like done in black, white and taupe with red accents. There is an indoor restaurant with circular booths and a covered outdoor eating area with fireplace, bar and visible indoor pool.
They have started to court the wedding market as they have another elegant ballroom (besides the banquet wing) which could open or close sections depending on the number of guests or divide off a chunk if you are having the ceremony there too. There is a wow pie-shaped small reception room (called Pierre Boucher) with curved floor-to-ceiling glass which is perfect for a ceremony or a very small reception. You could also use the entire length of the banquet wing for a ceremony if you want a long long aisle to glide down.
The Wedding menu which includes an alcoholic punch, 3 courses and 2 glasses of wine starts at $45 INCLUDING taxes and tip!! There is a Menu 2 (4 courses) at $49, Menu 3 at $69 (5 courses including STEAK and the cutting of the cake) and Menu 4 at $89 (appetizers with the punch, a sparkling toast, 5 courses and 3 glasses of wine). The bride and groom are also given a spa-whirlpool room for their wedding night. Tell Annie I sent you.
Location: 1228 Nobel St, Boucherville
Phone: 450-655-8981 X 4114, ask for Annie Frappier or afrappier@hotelmortagne.com
www.hotelmortagne.com

Sephora changed the landescape of shopping for skin care and makeup products by taking them out of the department stores or drug stores and setting up shop in malls or on popular shopping avenues. It didn’t take long for other retailers to prepare the battle stations. First up in Canada, Shoppers Drug Mart (Pharmaprix here) finally made it to Quebec with its Murale stores selling you 200 brands like: GOSH, Bare Escentuals, Bobbi Brown, Stella McCartney, Monica, Natura Bisse. As at Sephora, all of the salestaff take lessons in all of the products to help you make a more informed choice.
To take the concept one step further, they offer you an in depth FREE skin analysis which covers wrinkles, pores, pigmentation, hydration as well as your sensitivities. Of course the purpose of this scare report is for you to take your printed  report of suggested products right to the right counters and buy buy buy. Other services offered are a Benefit brow bar for eyebrow shaping and a lip and brow waxing station.

Location: 1 Place Ville Marie
Tel: 514-875-1593

My husband and I wirte a travel book, called “Drive I-95:Exit by Exit Info, Maps, History and Trivia” which is the bible for anyone driving South or North on the Eastern coast of the US from Boston to Maima. On Thursday morning at 8:10 am we will be on CJAD 800AM with Dan Laxer teaching you how to have fun on the drive.
Drive I-95 combines colorful easy to follow pictorial maps and fun stories, which eliminate the trepidation of a road trip down America’s busiest highway.

Travelers look ahead exit by exit to see which motels and gas stations are coming up, where the radar traps are, or where to stop for a good homemade meal. The drive from Boston to Miami becomes more pleasant and less stressful by knowing where to find 24-hour gas stations and pharmacies, campgrounds, 800-phone numbers for motel chains (and which take pets), golf courses and even which radio stations to tune to.

We share stories of the road: history that happened on it, quirky museums worth a visit, Americana trivia, small towns to explore or places to run with the kids. These can be read for entertainment during the drive and may entice motorists to stop stretch their legs and discover someplace new. www.drivei95.com

We were walking to our favorite restaurant in Chinatown (Maison VIP) on Clark St. As we walked south on Clark, from Rene Levesque Blvd, we noticed on sign in the window of a store on the east side of the street. The sign said “Haircuts $5. My husband, the guinea pig, finished his delicious meal, then ran up the street for a cut.

A Chinese woman, in a teensy shop with one chair and a sink area, who spoke very little English (short, long, $5), gave him a pretty decent haircut for that $5. He got some compliments on it today.

Danawares is offering a one week sale of puzzles, games, shovels, tents, stocking stuffers and plush toys with famous names branded on them: Go Diego Go, Dora the Explorer, Pirates of the Caribbean, caillou, Disney and they are licensed for Avatar, Backyardigans, Batman, Cabbage Patch Kids, Caillou, Disney Cars, Disney Princess, Family Guy, Max & Ruby, Simpsons, Spiderman, SpongeBob, Thomas and Winnie the Pooh and more. This is a small space but the prices are excellent. http://www.danawares.com

Location: 7010 Cote de Liesse
Dates at time: December 1st to 7th, Monday to Friday 10 am -6 pm, Saturday and Sunday 10 am – 5 pm.

Once of the classic perfume aromas, Shalimar is being offered up at this one-day Guerlain sale along with L’instant de Guerlain, Samsara, Champs-Elysees, Vetiver, Terracotta and makeup and skincare products. Oh yes, Dior watches will be there too, all at up to 70% discount.

Location: 9430 rue Jean Milot at Ave. Lafleur
Date and times: Saturday, December 1st from 9 am – 5 pm

Just in time for Christmas, Fletcher Leisure Group is having its annual liquidation sale for deals on golf bags (1st and 2nd quality), clubs, travel bags, gloves, towels, umbrellas, golf wear for men and women. There are some sweaters and fleece and winter jackets. You can get on an e-mail or snail mail list at the sale to get reminders or check your publi-sacs in December.

Location:6846 Cote-de-Liesse (corner of Barr Street), Ville St-Laurent
Phone: 514-341-6767
Dates and times: Dec 1st and 2nd 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. and Dec. 8th & 9th from 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m.

All of the stock from the store S/he & Co is being sold off. You can make an appointment to buy: belts, fur scarves, hats, jewelry, watches, handbags, bath accessories, makeup, perfume,skin care, etc. Name brands leftover are Philosophy, Fresh, Bumble and Bumble, Votivo and more. The sale is located in Beaconsfield, and is a cash sale so if you are interested, this is the number to call: 514-830-2101.

If any of you are near a boob tube during lunchtime, I will be appearing (with my husband) on CTV with Todd Van Der Heyden today after 12:30 p.m. We will be talking about our “Drive I-95: Exit by Exit Info, Maps, History and Trivia” book.

If you (or anyone you know) are ever planning to drive South towards Florida, this book has pictorial maps, motels, radar traps, homemade food, 24-hour gas stations and pharmacies, 800-numbers for motels (and ones who take pets), golf courses and radio stations to tune to.

The fun stories about quirky museums, Americana trivia, towns to explore can be read for entertainment during the drive or may entice you to stop, stretch your legs and discover someplace new. www.drivei95.com

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 sales last 2 days on 3 weekends in a row. It will usually be held again in early Spring, perhaps March. 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: November 17th 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., November 18th 9 a.m. to 4 p..m., November 24th 9 a.m to 5 pm, November 25 9 a.m. to 4 pm, December 1st 9 am to 5 pm. December 2nd 10 a.m to 4 pm.