Maxwell’s Clothiers is a family run business from Hong Kong who twice a year (since 1961), in March and October, rents a banquet hall in Ruby Foo’s Hotel and then for another 3 days downtown. I have visited their elegant showroom in Hong Kong to see how the shirts and suits are made.
They make it easy for us to shop as they fly here and bring their expertise to us with a team of tailors who can fit men and women for custom-tailored suits, jackets, pants, overcoats and shirts. For 3 custom-made cotton shirts, it’s only $135 plus tax and shipping (about $25). Suits go for $395 – $495 and orders take 10 weeks to arrive. A local tailor has been hired to do any little alterations that may be necessary. No appointments are necessary – just show up and bring your friends.

Tel: 23666705, 23666658 Fax: (852) 23699175
e-mail: maxwell@maxwellsclothiers.com
Locations and dates: Ruby Foo’s Hotel, 7655 Decarie Blvd.
Tel: 514-731-7701
Dates: Mar 20-23
and Le Centre Sheraton, 1201 Boul. Rene-Levesque W.
Tel: 514-878-2000
Dates: Mar 24-27

It is a sign of the times when a restaurant offers a “pay-what-you-think-it’s-worth” deal. At the Taverne Crescent, these lunch-only deals are comprised of 3 appetizers and 4 main dishes. The menu is on the placemat and changes daily. There is a suggested price but when your bill comes, it is up to you to decide the amount you think you’d like to pay. Co-owner George Pappas heard about the idea happening in London. You can imagine what it does for his accounting – no computerized bills are possible – it’s back to pen and carbon paper. Score one for the Luddites.

Location: 1433 Crescent St.
Tel: 514.845.1888
Hours: Lunch time, Mon-Fri 11-3
www.tavernecrescent.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

I’m not sure I believe this as I just had my husband empty out his vinyl albums and dragged 4 crates of them to a second-hand store to sell. Time spent: 1/2 hour there and back twice = 2 1/2 hours of my time and got a grand sum of $3 for the records the store wanted.
However, supposedly if you have any of these you could get some dough for them: Beatles, Frank Zappa, Rolling Stones (Decca), Velvet Underground, Can, Kraftwerk, Faust, Soul 45’s and Funk albums, original jazz albums, heavy metal, Public Enemy’s you!, Bum Rush The Show, Raising Hell by Run D.M.C., De La Soul, Roots reggae ( Mango), Second Edition by Public Image Limited, The Happy Mondays’ Pills ‘n’ Thrills and Bellyaches or early releases of Canadian bands.
In my Smart Shopping Montreal book, I have a section on Second-hand music stores, so you can gather them up and go on a selling spree (buy try not to buy other stuff when you are there).

To check sales histories of your albums, you can check them out on: www.popsika.com

Finally Montreal is going to get its first Bulk Barn at Le Marche de l’Ouest. Those of you who, like me, just like to buy the quantity of what we need and not a whole jar or bag or whatever, will love the variety of what you will be able to buy by-the-pound or by-the-pinch here. If you’re trying out a recipe for the first time, you can buy just what you need of the ingredients – no need to waste food if you’re family isn’t thrilled with your new concoction. The place will be packed with pasta, beans, rices, spices,  soup bases, flours (gluten free too) muffin and bread mixes, assorted sugars, jams, honeys, nut butters, dried fruits from the four corners of the world and on to bird seed, dog biscuits. And you probably won’t be able to leave without a secret small scoop of your favorite candy.

Location: 11600 de Salaberry, Dollard des Ormeaux
corner: boul. des Sources
Tel: 514-685-0183
Date: End of January, Beginning of February

Men don’t get a fair shake when it comes to quantity of men’s clothing stores so it’s news when a fine one opens its doors here. Up in Laval in the newish Centropolis area, in the upscale Francois Cote shop, Baumler has opened its first in-store boutique in Canada. Well know labels such as: Feraud Paris, Stones, Bogosse, Saint Hilaire, Tombolini, Fiume, Enrico Fiori, Gran Sasso, Lauren, Perry Ellis, Jaques Britt, Nanibon and Calvin Klein line the walls as well (and some go up to large sizes too).
Some opening prices were: wool and cashmere jackets (reg up to $895) $299, 4-season suit in 100% cold wool (reg up to $1395) $599, wool and cashmere winter coats in a choice of colors for $495, Nautica 4-season 100% wool, permanently pressed suits $395, Calvin Klein or Ralph Lauren jackets or blazers (reg up to $495) $195, Robert Smith short or 3/4 imported lamb leather coats (reg up to $495) $399. Maybe now, there might be some sales with even better numbers.

Location: 140 Promenade-du-Centropolis,
Laval Tel: 450-689-1111
www.francoiscote.com

Astro is a company I include in my Smart Shopping book for its shoemakers’ supplies. When I do research, I go into some stores thinking I’m going to be bored and then I’m shown such cool stuff.  Asto has just brought some of their excellent trade products into the mainstream under the Solos label and you can buy them at Jean Coutu pharmacies.

If your feet are cold these frigid January days, then you can just pick up some Arctic Solos insoles which have a layer of aluminum to insulate your foot against the cold ground, fibers to absorb perspiration and an active carbon filter to neutralizes unpleasant odors. If you think the aluminum will be too hot for your feet, they have real leather insoles (won’t curl up on the ends like the cheap ones) which have an active carbon filter layer to absorb yucky smells. Then there’s the Aloe Vera liner in which natural plant extracts not only cushion but pampers your feet as well.

Locations: Jean Coutu pharmacies
Tel: 800-663-6345
www.solosfootcare.com

After the holidays and you take stock of the china, cutlery and crystal glasses used, you might find that you are missing or have broken a part of your set. A hint from me (I count them, the day after a party and if something is missing, someone has to do the dirty task of looking through the garbage bags; Every single time we have found the missing scoundrel there. If you wait til later in the week, the garbage is gone, and these things are expensive to replace – don’t ask how I know).
I recently met the PR Manager from Replacements, LTD whose flyer claims that they have the “World’s Largest Inventory” of old and new china, crystal and silver.

The company was started in 1981 by Bob Page and is not here in Montreal but located in Greensboro, NC. Besides the china, they also collect stoneware, glassware, stainless, and collectibles. The facilities are the size of 7 football fields so there’s room for an inventory of 13 million pieces in more than 300,000 patterns, some over 100 years old! They of course add items to their site daily. They get an incredible amount of calls – up to 10,000 each day. So there’s a lot of people out there who’ve run into the same problem as you. Need cash? – There’s a lot of people selling their sets too.

Phone: 800-737-5223 (REPLACE)
www.replacements.com

It’s not even Christmas but I’m already doing interviews about Boxing Day. Today on the drive home show on CBC, our national radio station, I will be sharing my views on what to expect this year.

Location: CBC radio 88.5 FM
Date and time: Dec 24, 5:40 pm

Astro is a company I include in my Smart Shopping book for its shoemakers’ supplies. When I do research, I go into some stores thinking I’m going to be bored and then wham – they have such cool stuff that I get wowed. Asto has just brought some of their excellent trade products into the mainstream under the Solos label and you can buy them at Jean Coutu pharmacies.
Do you know how those starlets walk around on those high heels all those hours without the pain? The answer is “foot cushions“. These are little clear gel pads that are worn under the ball of the foot which prevents those burning sensations when you dance the night away. The gel cushion line is extended for flip flop wearers and there’s a line for “diabetic feet” (or yours) with gel toe rings, metatarsal cushions, toe separators and bunion protectors.
Next, they’ve come out with Solos self shine cream to zuzz up your shoes for the big night out next week – or – to get your boots back in shape after all this slush and snow. You don’t have to get polish and a sponge, then a cloth to shine and then a spray to finish. Just whip out the applicator from the top, dip into black, brown or neutral and then paint your shoes. Wait a couple of minutes and voila. Don’t forget to tip the shoe shine boy.

Locations: Jean Coutu pharmacies
Tel: 800-663-6345
www.solosfootcare.com