There’s something wonderful about the smell of fresh coffee brewing. Coffee aficionados won’t settle for good coffee when it could be great and it’s the coffee beans which creates the biggest effect on flavor. This is where Cafe Union comes in. Since they have been in the coffee business for over 100 years they know coffee.  This family business is always at the forefront of importing a diverse variety of beans to roast and blend and then to sell it to Montreal consumers and restaurants.

Their focus has been on the coffee bean, and roasting technique and especially the customized blends for customers in order to produce that perfect individual taste. That’s where you come in. So you get to work with them to blend your own flavor profile. Wow.

Beans are imported from many countries, and each one is roasted based on their roasting profile in order to reach their optimal taste when ground and brewed, a process that is exclusive to each bean. And the expertise of the team at Cafe Union ensure that the end result is a bean that yields a cup of coffee that is rich and flavorful, and reflects the delicious taste the bean was meant to give.

Cafe Union offers unique coffee beans from all over the globe, and also have an impressive assortment of Union Specialty Blends including their Joe Beef Montreal blend. They also offer a selection of Fairtrade and Biocertified beans.

They sell espresso machines (Gaggia, Saeco, Rancilio, Pavoni, Mokita, Breville, Quick Mill and Jura) and teapots, too. This location also features a repair depot. Any commercial or domestic espresso machine by Gaggia, Rancilio, Pavoni, Saeco, Mokita, Jura or Quick Mill can be brought here for overhauls and servicing.

Go in in person and enjoy a fresh cup at the counter or check out their convenient order online service.

Location: 148 rue Jean Talon O, Montreal QC H2R 2X1
corner: rue Waverly
Hours: Mon-Fri 8-5:30, Sat 9-4
Metro: Station Jean-Talon/Station de Castelnau
Tel: 514 273 5555
cafeunion.com
info@cafeunion.com

Around this time of year, Allan White of Inspectopro, says there are a few things you should be looking at in your house to avoid problems in the future:

1. Keep basement windows clear of ice and snow obstructions. If the worst happens, these windows may be your only escape route to the outdoors.
2. Make sure that runoff from melting ice and snow has somewhere to go once the thaw period arrives; ideally a catch basin or storm drain
3. The pattern of melting snow and ice on the roof surface can be a good indicator of areas of heat loss. No expensive infrared camera needed!
4. Verify against the formation of ice dams and icicles. Although they may look pretty, they are indicators of attic ventilation problems and heat loss problems. Needless to say, a falling icicle, if large enough, can cause a lot of damage to property or people below.
5. Check the eavestroughs (“gutters”) for physical damage which might have been caused by winter ice dam and icicle formation
6. Check for cold air draughts around the home, and mark them so that you can take appropriate measures to correct the problems. Unfortunately, some repairs (such as caulking) can only be applied in warmer weather, and without marking the draughty spots you may not remember where they were when attempting repairs several months later.
7. If you have thermopane-glazed windows and see condensation or frost between the inner and outer panes (not always obvious in the summer months), the glass is due for replacement.
8. If you can wipe condensation off the indoor side of the windows, you are over-humidifying the home
9. Batteries for smoke detectors and fire detectors should be replaced annually (i.e. Jan 1^st or July 1^st). Operation of these devices should be tested monthly.
10. Be sure that your home’s drainage system is functioning. If you have a sump pump, make sure it is capable of functioning in advance of the thaw period
11. If you have a combustion furnace (i.e. oil or gas) or a combustion hot water tank you should have a functioning CO detector in the home.
12. If you have an air exchanger, it should be in use (i.e. winter mode). The same for the central humidifier, if you have one.
13. Be sure that potable water piping is not at risk of freezing and bursting
14. Garden hose faucets, if not of the self-draining type, should be fully opened outdoors, with the indoor shutoff valve being turned fully off, if not already accomplished.

With an Engineering degree, this 25-year certified building inspector (independent of real estate agents) can inspect your property before a purchase or sale of a house or when you need an inspection for a problem.

Home buyers should choose a home inspector with as much care as they choose a doctor, particularly since there is no regulation, either federal or provincial, which governs the industry. Contrary to popular belief, home inspectors are not members of a professional order, and anyone (even you!) can call themselves a building inspector.”

Your house is the biggest investment you will ever make so you want to get a most qualified person. With Inspectopro’s years of expertise, White can find what less experienced inspectors would not recognize; He has experience in looking for small clues which might lead to big problems. Houses can be checked out in the Greater Montreal area and in cottage country too.

Phone: 514-696-6685
www.inspectopro.com

We’re spending a lot of time this year buried in our nests trying to keep warm. What better way to accomplish that than with a fluffy light but toasty warm duvet. And I know where you can buy one at a great price too.

Ungava Duvet is located in the heart of downtown in a building right off the Main, selling well-made high quality duvets at low prices. They do special constructions, create made-to-measure sizes (even for cribs),  feather beds (or hypo-allergenic ones) and can even restuff your old duvet.

Better quality futons (1.5 cu. ft. density foam) are made here too, as well as futon covers, bases and bolsters.

You can buy pillows (goose down, feather, wool, silk) or wool mattress covers, and even silk duvets. Egyptian cotton sheets (600 thread count), bamboo sheets and silk bedding are sold, and ready made curtains too. This is the place to go to for lots of choices of duvet covers.

Since this is a family-owned company, they really care about their customers and what they sell – and provide expert service.  And they’re doing something right, since all those customers keep coming back year after year, since 1981.

Location: 10 Pine St. W. suite 112, Montréal H2W 1P9
corner: boul. St-Laurent
Tel: 514-287-9276 or  1-800-363-3533
Hours: Mon-Wed 10-6, Thurs & Fri 10-8, Sat 10-5
http://www.duvetsungava.com/
info@duvetsungava.com

Jay at Talon Tire taught me that the state of your tires is one of the things that might save your life in a quick stop situation. Since this is quick stop season, or skidding or spinning season, make sure the ones on your car are the best you can have.

Talon Tire is an independent tire dealer which has been in business since 1971, and specialize in quality tires for passenger cars, SUV’s, vans and light trucks. It is one of the few tire shops that has been approved by the consumer watchdog organization, the Automobile Protection Association.

They are not just order takers – their staff has knowledge of a wide range of tire applications, and monitors the latest technological developments and trends in tire manufacturing. They can answer and questions about tires to help you make the right choice.

Some of the good reasons to buy your tires from them:

– Wheels are fastened on your car by first hand-threading the nuts and then hand-torquing them to manufacturer’s specifications. When needed, you will be able to remove the wheels without frustration – No warped brake rotors or stripped threads or marred wheels.

– Even if they install only one tire, they check and adjust all your tire pressures.

– Their repairs on flats are permanent and safe, since they use only quality chemical patches applied from the inside of the tire. Repairs done from the outside, without inspecting for internal damage, are only temporary, and can result in an eventual blowout.

– Their tire and wheel balancing is state-of-the-art. It’s so uniquely accurate that consumers residing several hundred kilometers away go there to resolve their vibration complaints and leave with a smooth comfortable ride.

– Your “Mag” wheels are safe with them, as they use only the highest quality nylon-coated balancing weights. They won’t change the plastic finish of your wheels or cause corrosion like regular lead weights.

Special tires can be bought here too. Talon Tire sponsors and supports grass roots Motorsports in Canada, and offer a wide range of competition tires. To help keep a cherished classic car on the road they stock over 20 sizes of hard-to-find vintage tires.

– There is no commission, so their staff won’t propose a more profitable tire when it’s not the right choice.
– There are no hidden extras in their price.
– Their road hazard guarantee provides a replacement tire based on the price you paid, and NOT on a higher suggested retail price which increases every year with inflation.

They offer a two month or 1,500 mile / 2,000 kilometer free trial period for every tire that they recommend for your car and driving needs. If you don’t like them, they’ll refund you 100% of the purchase price.

Talon Tire makes buying the right set of tires easy.

Location: 2607 Diab St. Ville St-Laurent, QC H4S 1E7
corner: rue Bois Franc
Tel: 514-337-0833
Hours: Mon-Fri 8-6
http://www.talontire.com/

There are hats, mittens, scarves and fur-trimmed capes but my new favorite thing at Dubarry Furs, is the luscious knitted fur scarf that you can see me wearing in the photo below.

Shopping in Old Montreal with snow dusting the Victorian buildings really gets you into the old-fashioned Christmas mood. Dubarry’s shop is in a beautiful exposed brick and stone atelier there.

The lovely husband and wife team are happy to help you in choosing ready-to-wear or custom-made jackets, hats and coats and especially the popular capes with fur trim. They also sell cashmere and Alpaca wear with and without fur trim and shearling jackets.  The family is able to maintain low prices by doing all the work themselves.

Don’t forget you can also bring in your old furs for an expert evaluation and to receive advice on the endless possibilities to revitalize the garments. They will gladly guide you when turning a older coat into something fashionable and wearable – they even have water resistant reversible ones. Trade-ins are accepted toward the purchase of a new coat.

Repairs, cleaning and storage are all available here. They have always been known for the quality of their products and their personalized service.

Location, 206 St-Paul Ouest, Old Montreal
corner: St-Francois-Xavier
Tel: 514-844-7483
Hours: Tues-Fri 10-6, Sat & Sun 11-5 & by appointment
www.dubarryfurs.com

Q: I have 2 pillows on my couch that are down-filled and they need to be re-down-filled. Do you know of any places that I can go to and have them re done?

A: Right on my web site (or in my Smart Shopping Montreal book) you will find the friendly family company: Ungava Duvet.  http://smartshoppingmontreal.com/store.php?s=18  Been around for years and they really know their feathers and do this all the time. Wonderful place to shop..

The Automobile Protection Association has given the thumbs up sign to The Car Inspector –  a gentleman who does mobile car inspections.

Wherever the car is that you are thinking of buying, in a driveway or on a lot, he comes to you and does a complete inspection, including an ultrasound of the body.

You might want to use this service to verify a car before warranty expiration, after a repair job (to make sure it was done properly), before purchasing a used car, before selling (either to reassure potential buyers or to see if it’s worthwhile changing cars), as a pre-trip checkup or just to reassure yourself that it’s free of safety or mechanical problems.

This mobile vehicle inspection is quite complete and here are some of the things that are verified:

– An electronic body verification, to determine if the vehicle has been repainted, involved in an accident or rebuilt covering the the body panels, windows, floor, frame and structure.
– The motor and transmission, steering, brake, air conditioning, and electrical systems
– The brake wear, tire wear, drive-shafts and differentials, as well as suspension and steering components
– Everything inside including all electrical and manual controls, switches, gauges and indicators as well as the odometer, to see if the indicated mileage corresponds with the condition and wear
– Finally a road test is done to check the handling, braking, transmission and instrument operation
– The inspection is done on site in about an hour, Monday to Friday and costs $120 (base price plus traveling)

Tel: 514-890-5000

We are so happy to look out of our windows at the happy Spring sunlight. That’s when we really notice our blinds and shades.

Clean window blinds and shades will brighten up any room decor.  Fenetre Deco does ultrasonic cleaning and repairs of all types of blinds, from 1″ aluminum horizontals to the higher end Silhouettes and Luminettes, and has one of the most extensive blind parts inventories in greater Montreal.

Ultrasonic cleaning is one of the safest and most thorough cleaning processes used in the cleaning industry today. The blinds are placed with a cleaning solution in large water-filled tanks, which use vibrating sound waves to loosen the dirt. Prices start at $15 per blind, and there is a minimum of $75 for a service call. Regular ultrasonic cleaning also helps improve the indoor air quality of offices and homes for a healthier environment.

They also sell many types of blinds and drapery and provide shop-at-home service for Hunter Douglas, Shad-o-matic, Sol-r, Levolor, Altex, wooden and PVC shutters, Sohji panels, roller shades, etc. Who better to suggest which blinds to purchase than the company which not only knows what new blinds look like, but also observes how they endure 2, 5 and 10 years later.

Keep your blinds and other window coverings in tip-top condition by having them serviced by the reliable experts at Fenetre Deco.

Tel: 514-364-2020
Hours: by appt
fenetredeco.com
Email: info@fenetredeco.com

Cafe Union has been a family business for over 100 years! Why not support our  Montrealers by spending your money and keeping money right here in town. Not only do they sell coffee but you can mix your own blend. If your machine is on the fritz, don’t panic, they can fix them too.

Cafe Union is a coffee wholesaler who roasts the coffee right here, but you can buy retail too. You can choose one type of bean or blend from amongst the espresso, melange maison (regular and strong), Kenya, Panama, Columbia Supremo, Fair Trade, decaf and Swiss washed decaf. They were here way before the trendy coffee shops as coffee lovers have loved this Montreal institution since 1910

Those who like flavors can buy Bavarian chocolate, Irish cream or hazelnut vanilla or one of the 53 flavored syrups(vanilla, hazelnut, caramel, etc.). Coffee related products like iced cappuccino, Chai latte concentrate now line the shelves.

Free delivery is offered for 5 pounds or more. They sell espresso machines (Gaggia, Saeco, Rancilio, Pavoni, Mokita, Breville, Quick Mill and Jura) and teapots, too.

It was a natural extension for this store to start a repair depot. Any commercial or domestic espresso machine by Gaggia, Rancilio, Pavoni, Saeco, Mokita, Jura or Quick Mill can be brought here for overhauls and servicing.

Location: 148 rue Jean Talon O, Montreal QC H2R 2X1
Corner: rue Waverly
Hours: Mon-Fri 8-5:30, Sat 9-3
Metro: Station Jean-Talon/Station de Castelnau
www.cafeunion.com
info@cafeunion.com

You are stuck in the house and have time to assess all those niggling things that need fixing. But where do you go to get them repaired?   Fix R Us is a handy and friendly West Island neighborhood fix-it shop with 30 years of experience under their belt.

They offer free estimates and here’s an idea of some of the magic these guys with golden hands can perform: