Bambino is a baby store on the West Island that is hiding in a graystone house on Gouin Blvd. You can expect one on one service to help you select what you need or want. All the baby necessities are available: cribs starting at $199, strollers (Graco and Perego), gliders, cradles, car seats, cotton sheets and bedding, drawer liners and Kushies products. Don’t be afraid to negotiate when it comes to price.

Locations: 10412 Gouin Blvd, Roxboro at Commercial Center (514-683-9364) and 6572 Papineau (514-729-2901) and La Prairie, 554 ch. St-Jean.
Hours: Mon-Thurs 10:30-5:30, Fri 10:30-8:30, Sat 10-5, Sun 12-5
bambinofurniture.com

A handy neighborhood fix-it shop is a rarity these days, especially one that has opened up in the last few years. This one on the West Island can fix so many things: TV’s, DVD’s, stereos, car radios, old radios, fax machines, vacuum cleaners (sell bags), toasters, tea kettles, hair dryers, clocks, watches and even jewelry (costume and real). They offer free estimates. The best deal here is the watch battery replacement for $4.

Name: Fix “R” Us
Location: 4791 boul. des Sources at Anselme Lavigne
Hours: Mon-Fri 10:30-6, Sat 10:30-3

The piano department of the L’ecole des petits chanteurs is selling off over 60 pianos. This is the first I have heard of their sales. There will be new and used pianos.

Tel: 514-276-3333 for appointment
Dates: May 2-4

St. Lawrence Textiles (you can they have been around a long time by the way they spell their name) has taken warehouse space in Ville St. Laurent (they had been up North). They are currently having a sale of samples, balances of stock and discontinued styles for baby and children’s clothing in lines that wear well – Baby’s Own, Creme de la Creme, Cora and Solzsun.

Location: 6869 Henri-Bourassa Ouest
Corner of Felix Leclerc
Tel: 514-387-7373
Dates: April 24th – May 10
Hours: Mon-Fri 9-6, Sat 9-5

In the new section of the Plaza Pointe Claire, there is a pet food store called Pitou-Minou which specializes in high-end brands as well as frozen food, and treats of course. However, every Saturday the shop is a stage for the local animal rescue operations: Animatch, Steri-Animals and Rabbit Rescue where they offer adoptions of dogs, cats and rabbits

Location: 245F St. John’s Blvd at Highway 20
Phone: 514-694-2152
Dates: Saturdays

Susan Portnoy is a professional organizer who has the ability to bring a sense of order and calm to your life. Now who wouldn’t want that? Susan has gathered a team of nine people who can achieve this in many areas of your life.
We met at Sunrise, a new beautiful assisted living facility in Dollard des Ormeaux ((4377 St. Jean Blvd. Tel: 514-620-4556) where she gave a talk on her latest area of expertise: Seniors’ Relocation Services. Yup, if downsizing to a condo, apartment or retirement home has you all in a jitter, this miracle lady can help you sort out what you have in order to determine what can be sold, donated, or moved to your new home, and then she takes care of all the parts of this downsizing. She can even “stage” your home so you’ll get a better price for it.
Other organizing services offered by her team: Concierge service, Computer organizing, Photo organizing, Garage makeover, or complete Organizational Makeover of your stuff or your rooms: kitchens, bathrooms, home offices, playrooms, storage rooms and office cubicles. This is one person we all need in our lives.

Organized Success
Phone: 514-733-1533
web: www.organizedsuccess.com

This is one sale I’ve never been to but would like to hear some feedback if any of you attempt it – the prices really seem terrific. This is a Mega Vente Surplus d’hôtel from Sheraton, Hilton, Delta, Holiday Inn, etc. Hotels constantly refresh their rooms and have to get rid of the old furnishings somewhere, hence this sale. Their e-mail states that there are more than 10 000 items for sale:

80 19″ Magnavox TV’s 39$
100 5-pc. oak bedroom sets (originally 1500$) 75$
King beds 145$
50 commodes 3 drawers, 2 doors 49$
Oak TV armoire 175$
Wooden bar 275$
Couches 50$ à 135$ , Sofas-beds 100$ à 175$ , Tub chairs 25$ à 45$,
Bedcovers 15$ à 25$, draperies 15$ à 37$ le
300 Feather pillows 4$
Lamps 15$ à 25$

Days: Tuesdays and Thursdays 9-4
Appointments: By e-mail give them 3 possible times for you to go. You will get a response including the address in Montreal East to go to. Include your phone number and perhaps a list of your needs. (sounds very mysterious to me…)
Lucie Therrien l.therrien@videotron.ca

By joining in parties or making personal appointments, buying a cocktail dress or gown (sizes 2-20) can actually be fun – and inexpensive, about 70% off. With the owner guiding you through the choices (or ordering what you need), you can score aa BCCG, Bari-Jay, A.B.S. , Laundry, Anne Klein, Evan Picone, Kasper, Scala or Betsey Johnson creation. Even bridal gowns can be purchased for about $70-$160. An extra is that her Mom is an expert seamstress who can adjust them all.

Tel: 514-428-5907
Hours: by appointment
www. homeofdesignerclothing.piczo.com

Alberto Ferrini is a local wholesaler who will let you come up to his factory and pay bargain prices ($149-$229) on men’s suits (sizes 36-52), dress pants, shirts, some ties and winter overcoats. There are “executive cuts” for the harder-to-fit gentlemen. You might bump in to a Calvin Klein or Ralph Lauren label here too.

Location: 9697 boul. St-Laurent at Port Royal
Phone: 514-448-4876
Hours: Mon-Fri 12:30-5, Sun 11-5

Though it may not seem popular to you, Ginette Vendone opened up this knitting shop a year and a half ago, and things are just bustling along here. The shop feels like you are at a cozy knitting circle. Sure they sell natural fibers, sewing supplies and give knitting and sewing lessons but they also have segued into felting for clothing, bags, scarves and slippers. If you’ve ever thought you might want to learn these traditional crafts, this would be a good place to start.

Location: Effiloche, 6252 St-Hubert St
Corner: Beaubien
Phone: 514-276-2547
Hours: Tue & Wed 11-7, Thurs & Fri 11-9, Sat 10-5, Sun 12-5