Wondering what to do this cold weekend? You can have fun reminiscing and buying if you head to a REAL flea market. This one only has collectibles – not new jeans and undies. There are friendly people in the booths at Marche aux Puces St. Michel where the building has upgraded significantly and is filled with 100 stalls and 2 floors. The second-hand items and collectibles like housewares, lamps, kitchenware, guitars and amps, 60’s retro, vintage radios/sound equipment, records, jewelry (restringing necklaces) and lots of furniture are so interesting to browse through. There’s a snack bar on the premises.

Location: 7707 Shelley St. at St. Michel Blvd., side entrance of 3250 Cremazie Blvd.
Phone: 514-721-7701
Hours: Open all year, Friday to Sunday 9 am – 5 pm.

One of the most popular questions I am asked, is where can I sell my old fur coat? My contacts dwindled down to one and then last month when I went to check up on him – he was GONE. I did some sleuthing around and found him in his new location: Roland Fourrures, 9250 Ave. du Parc at Chabanel St., Suite 312. Phone: 514-845-8852. Hours: Monday to Friday 9-5. Psst, this is the new fur manufacturers’ building in the city, if you want to buy a jacket or coat, look in my Smart Shopping Montreal book to see who is open to the public.

The brakes have been pressed on downloading music a wee bit, because perhaps we have been made more conscious of the loss of income to the artists and therefore feel a bit guilty about doing it.

However, for the student and others with less disposable income, the cost of CD’s has become so pricey – at minimum wage, it could take an entire 4-hour shift to buy one new CD – that I’d like to offer an option.

There is a way to buy CD’s at more reasonable prices than the well-known music retail stores, and that is to shop the second-hand stores for them. We are lucky that we have a “CD street” in town where there are a bunch of stores clustered near each other, so that shopping for them is made easier. If one place doesn’t have what you want, then ease on down the road to the next one.

Mont Royal Avenue, starting just a bit East of St. Denis Street and then continuing East, is the haven where you will find these neat treasure shops. These stores also sell DVD’s, some used books, perhaps vinyl records and even some pre-owned computer games.

You can be less concerned in terms of quality and sound with CD’s – unlike cassettes and vinyl before them, they hold up much better in their second-hand versions.

L’Echange, 713 Mont Royal Ave. East at Pontiac St. Phone: 514-523-6389. Hours: Daily 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. After thirty-one years in the business, this shop is one of the biggest around. You can traverse the three aisles and get deals on the used CD’s and DVD’s (good for jazz, pop, blues, folk, rock and French, classical). There is also a small selection of games for Xbox, Game Cube and Playstation and some French books at half price or less.

Marche du Disque, 793 Mont Royal Ave. East at St. Hubert St. Phone: 514-526-3575. Hours: Monday to Friday 10 a.m. to 9 p.m., Saturday and Sunday 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Rummage through this store with its 10,000 used CD’s, 700 DVD’s and 4,000 new imports to find what you want. Collectors across the country head to the basement here where they can find the biggest selection (perhaps 20,000) of used vinyl, oldies and collectors’ items. You can find some of these also on the main floor.

Le Fox Troc, 819 Mont Royal Ave. East at St. Hubert St. Phone: 514-521-9856. Hours: Monday to Wednesday 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., Thursday and Friday 10 a.m. to 9 p.m., Saturday 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., Sunday 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Neatly displayed alphabetically on two walls, 90% of the store is for CD’s and DVD’s (10% vinyl). Expect some French music, lots of pop and world beats as well.

Le Free Son, 1477 Mont Royal Ave East at Fabre St. Phone: 514-521-5159. Hours: Monday to Wednesday 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., Thursday and Friday 10 a.m. to 9 p.m., Saturday 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Sunday 12 p.m. to 5 p.m. www.freesonrock.com One long and narrow aisle takes you all along the wall of used CD’s and DVD’s, and the other one takes you back to the front with new CD’s. You’ll find used progressive rock, metal, classic rock and francophone music here. Two CD players are available on which you can check out your selections.

In the summer it is easy to be green (despite what Kermit sings), because the pleasure of riding a bike can beat mass transit or riding in cars. The fresh air blowing across your face and the sensation of being in your environment instead of watching it like a tv show from a car window makes bike riding way more enjoyable.

Those who don’t yet own a bike can buy a second-hand one reasonably priced by going to one of the stores below. They make sure the bikes are tip top and in running order. If you pick one up at a garage sale, you don’t know what repairs might be needed or if riding it might even be dangerous (old tires exploding, worn brakes, etc).

If you’re thinking you’d rather buy a new bicycle, but only have a small budget, be aware that the manufacturers of lower priced new bikes may have skimped on quality in order to sell at a certain price point, so they may be made with such things as plastic brake levers or brake mechanisms which break easily. It might be better to aim for a re-built one from a bike shop.

Some tips from the pros about avoiding having your bike stolen:

– Try not to buy one that is too flashy, since those are taken more often

– Don’t lock bikes onto parking signs (like the ones mentioning sector parking), since the signs can be pulled out of the ground and your lock slipped off

– Don’t lock your lock close to the ground, since it is easier that way to break it with a hammer

Recycle Cycle , 5501 de Maisonneuve Ouest at Girouard Ave. Phone: 514-486-2453. Hours: Monday to Wednesday 9:30 a.m. to 6 p.m., Thursday and Friday 9:30 a.m. to 8 p.m., Saturday and Sunday 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.. This business takes quality bike frames and builds them into city bikes which would sport hybrid wheels, 10-speeds, no drop bars and an easier shifting system. The rest of the stock (mountain, racing, cruisers) are used bikes in the $150-$250 range. They can inspect, repair and tune-up (basic one $35) your bikes. If you want to get rid of an old bike, they accept donations. Other locations: Velos Villeneuve, 75 Villeneuve West. (514-282-8356); Bicycles Beaubien, 207 Beaubien East (514-277-2453).

Cycle Pop,1000 Rachel East at Parc Lafontaine. Phone: 514-526-2525. Hours: Monday to Wednesday 10 a.m. to 7 p.m., Thursday and Friday 10 a.m. to 9 p.m., Saturday and Sunday 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. http://www.cyclepop.ca This store usually has a huge stock of used bikes, but the transit strike depleted most of it. However if you want one of their re-built models (average price $125), the best time to catch one is on Friday afternoons or Saturday mornings, as they disappear quickly. Normally about 30% of the store is second-hand, which might be 10-speed converted hybrids, mountain, 60’s retro or old racing styles. All of the used bicycles get new tires and are re-checked and adjusted to be in good working condition. There is a thirty-day warranty for adjustments to the brakes or the gears, etc. (not on parts). You can rent bikes too, and have one tuned up ($24, $44 or $99). Apartment and condo dwellers take note – they store bikes for the winter. In September their spinning classes will begin again. Two interesting services that they offer are helping you map biking circuits and they also organize bike tours in America and Europe.

Doug Anakin Sports, 454 Beaconsfield Blvd. at Woodland Ave., Beaconsfield. Phone: 514-695-0785. Hours: Monday to Wednesday 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., Thursday and Friday 10 a.m. to 9 p.m., Saturday 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Sunday 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Though there are some adult mountain and hybrid models in the $80-$120 price range here, the majority of the used bikes are children’s (starting at $30), since this 43-year-old business has made it a habit of recycling long before it was in vogue. West Islanders are used to coming in to trade in and trade up for the next size in bicycles, skis, and snow boards. How many of you have a garage full of sporting goods which were used only once? Instead of falling into that syndrome, this store will rent you equipment to try out the sport (alpine skis, snow boards, bikes), or you can buy it second-hand and save a bundle. New equipment is also sold. Their new bikes are by Louis Garneau, which are good and reliable and range from $269 to $389.

You can never go wrong buying books for kids for the holidays. If you are overwhelmed trying to figure out which books are suitable for the age of a child, then make it easier on yourself and go to one of the book stores dedicated just for kids.

Livres Babar, celebrating twenty years in the book business, has done so well that last year it opened up a second location in Double Hook’s old home on Greene Ave. Kidlink has been a fixture on Monkland Ave. for thirteen years. The people who own or work in these shops read the books, so they know them well. They are also informed about which ones are popular in each age bracket, because they see which ones are flying out the door.

Other less expensive options for children’s books are the Book Market, a second-hand shop that has an extensive children’s section, and JRC Warehouse, a toy liquidator which offers great clearance prices on books.

By far the hottest activity books of the season according to Kidlink’s cash register, are Taro Gomi’s “Doodles” or “Scribbles”. They consist of gorgeous illustrations by Gomi, a Japanese artist, which are left unfinished with suggestions as to how to complete them. It’s for ages five to ninety-nine.

I asked Patricia Wood, manager of Livres Babar, to suggest some of her favorites. These are just a teensy sampling: In picture books, Lilly’s Big Day by Henkes; for little girls three to six years, perhaps Toot And Puddle:The One and Only by Holly Hobbie. Girls will like Olivia Forms a Band by Ian Falconer, and for boys four to seven, The Hockey Tree by David Ward or Pirate Bob by Kathryn Lasky. Animal lovers from five to ten can read The World’s Greatest Elephant by Ralph Healfer. Older boys ages ten to fifteen enjoy the adventures in Pirate’s Passage by William Gilkerson and for girls you might buy Ingo by Helen Dunmore.

Hania Brooks, an owner of Kidlink picked out: Millie Moo, Touch and Feel by Roger Priddy which is a search and find book. For three to eight year olds, My Bodyworks is a book and CD by Jane and Steven Schoenberg with catchy songs about bones, muscles, heart, etc. Animal Faces by Akira Satoh and Kyoko Toda is for ages four to fifteen. Madonna has another book out, English Roses, Too Good to Be True and the series Artemis Fowl, is up to Book 5: Lost Colony by Eoin Colfer, which would please those nine years to adult.

Penderwicks by Jeanne Birdsall is for girls (and their Moms) ages ten to fifteen; it’s about four sisters. two rabbits and a very interesting boy. Then there’s Ryan and Jimmy: And the Well in Africa That Brought Them Together by Herb Shovellerby. A book with a cute twist is The Fairy Tale Feasts: A Literary Cookbook for Young Readers And Eaters by Jane Yolen and Heidi E. Y. Stemple, with recipes like Cinderella pumpkin tartlets or Snow White baked apples.

Livres Babar Books, 46 Ste. Anne St. at Bord du Lac, Pointe Claire. Phone: 514-694-0380 Hours: Monday to Thursday and Saturday 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Friday 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. This is the kind of children’s book store everyone would like to have in their neighbourhood. With about 45,000 books and the biggest selection in Quebec, it’s full of every award winning book (French and English), sells CD’s of your kids’ favourite singers, and even has a decent choice of educational toys. The staff reads avidly and know what to offer. Check to find out about the monthly events at 3 pm on Saturdays – often touring authors reading from their own books. Other location: 1235A Greene (514-931-0606).

Kidlink, 5604 Monkland Ave, at Oxford St. Phone: 514-482-4188. Hours: Monday to Friday 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., Saturday and Sunday 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Opened in 1993, this book/toy store is oriented towards children. Every level of book, from baby cloth and hardboard to toddler picture books, preschool, step-into-reading books and chapter books right up to young adult and teen books, all the bases are covered here. To keep kids busy there are tons of different kind of activity books like dot-to-dot, cursive writing, math and language comprehension as well as audio books. There some adult books and lots of parenting ones, as well as cookbooks. For the rest of the store, they concentrate on award winning toys and games, music and video and arts and crafts. There are gifts for newborns, journals and toys with long term value, and it all comes with free gift wrapping and excellent customer service.

Book Market, 3343H Des Sources Blvd. at De Salaberry Blvd, D.D.O.. Phone: 514-683-9890. Hours: Monday to Wednesday 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., Thursday and Friday 10 a.m. to 9 p.m., Saturday 9:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. and Sunday 12 p.m. to 5 p.m. These two locations are part of the largest chain of used book stores in North America, and that means lots of children’s books too. With about 1,000 to choose from in both hard covers and soft covers, they will always have relatively recent titles and classics, all in good condition. There’s picture books, first readers, easy readers and often Archie comics, Babysitter Club, Shivers, Animorphs, Hardy Boys and Nancy Drew. Most used book stores don’t bother with magazines, but here they have boxes of them in every subject – sports, tennis, boating, fashion, crafts, home, science and yes, National Geographic. Even better – they will buy back everything they sold you for 20% of the sticker price. 90% of the books are English. Other location: Kirkland, 2935 St. Charles Blvd. (514-694-1546). www.bookmarket.ca

JRC Toy Warehouse, 5765 Pare, Suite 200 at Devonshire St. Phone: 514-342-6979. Hours: Nov. 29^th 10 a.m to 5 p.m., Nov. 30^th and Dec 1^st 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., December 2 to Dec 23^th Monday to Friday 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., Saturday and Sunday 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Dec. 24^th 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Once a year before Christmas, between October and December, this toy (and book) warehouse opens to the public with deals of up to 70% off.. Books start at 2 for $1, and there are sticker and story books from $2 to $10, mostly for ages newborn to five years old. Name brand toys from Fisher-Price, Mattel, Hasbro, Little Tykes, Step 2, Crayola, Playskool, Disney, Mega Bloks, Vtech, Spiderman, Hulk, Bratz, Strawberry Shortcake and Barbie line the rest of the shelves. www.jrctoys.com