It’s hard to find clothes for the big guy in Montreal; This family-run business’s 92 year commitment to ending the struggle of dressing the hard-t0-fit man makes it the destination to shop the latest in men’s big & tall fashion.

From underwear to outerwear, they make it easy for you with their vast assortment of name brands. Fashions to fit any occasion you can find everything, including suits (to 70), in famous brand names like Chaps, Nautica, Report, Arrow, Pelle Pelle, Tommy Hilfiger, Hathaway, Axis and Columbia. They sell running suits, jeans (to size 78), dress and sports shirts (to size 8XL), dress pants (to size 80), corduroys (to size 66), belts (80), swimsuits and winter coats (to size 8XL)..

Now’s the time to hurry in to M.H. Grover because regardless of height, shape or particular clothing requirements, M.H. Grover will have you looking great in comfortable and stylish clothing with the best prices around.

Location: 4741 Wellington St., Verdun QC H4G 1X2
corner: 3rd Ave
Tel: 514-769-3771
Sale dates: until Jan 28, 2018
Metro Stop Station Verdun / Station de l’Eglise
www.groversbigandtall.com

So you’re stuck in, in freezing weather. You have lots of time on your hands, so perhaps it’s a good moment to get excited about a small reno project – perhaps re-finishing a piece of furniture? Circa 1850, is  small local shop which has been in the paint and varnish business since forever.

I went shopping for a bra at  Jelena Styles Lingerie (JSL) in Decarie Square because the personalized service makes it so pleasant and the sales people actually help you to figure out what is best for your body type.

So I was delightfully surprised to find out that they also sell bathing suits. At this time of year it’s hard to find them in Montreal. It’s a win win situation because if they know how to fit bras, they certainly can help you with bathing suits too. And they know their brands really well.  Tyr is really popular for women who like to swim for exercise as it is   chlorine and salt water resistant. With Amoena breast forms can be fit in.  Alia and Nygard offer suits with tummy control, and some even have flirty skirts  There’s some tankinis with either bikini bottoms or shorts or skirts. The saleswomen can show you how to take those flowing cover-ups and tie them in different ways.

Of course, when you return to Montreal from your beach vacation, and it’s freezing, they can sell you Merino wool pantyhose or stockings to keep your very very warm.

The rest of the little shop is chock full of an extensive bra collection including names you know along with exclusive lines. The certified fitters offer very personalized service. It’s a good idea for women considering breast reduction, augmentation or reconstruction to make an appointment for a fitting prior to surgery.

Jelena Styles Lingerie (JSL) sells high quality European lingerie at affordable Canadian prices. All the designs are produced with excellent fabrics and offer you comfort and elegance, bringing joy to every woman. JSL also carries in stock: bridal bra collections and bra for nursing mothers. Bras range in size from 30A-44 H, with or without underwires.

Location: 6900 boul Decarie ( Carre Decarie ) Suite 218 H3X 2T8 / Google Maps: http://bit.ly/21jRg65
corner: rue Plamandon
Tel: 514-303-1911
Hours: Regular plus Sunday
Metro: Station Snowdon, Station Plamondon, Station de la Savanne
www.jelenastyleslingerie.com
email: info@jelenastyleslingerie.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

What can you say about a museum when the 7-year-old you are with stops in her tracks at the entrance because she’s in awe of what she sees? Imagine you are walking thru a video screen of Canadian nature: the aurora borealis, crystals, wheat fields or fire. The museum has been completely re-done, with only two of the all-time favorite exhibits remaining – the crazy kitchen (it’s still so fun watching the video monitor of “drunken” people trying to walk through) and those majestic steam locomotives.

Visiting with a group of kids with an age range of 4-13, all of them were entranced for over 5 hours. Even though it was a busy weekend day, it rarely felt crowded, since there were so many corners to get lost in. One you may not find was a favorite – go past those hulking locomotives and around a corner to look for the soundproof Sounds of Silence room. Nearby, behind those trains, are movable touchable displays called Sound by Design.

The 13-year old liked the wearable technology and how it made the great outdoors easier to enjoy. He got to test a hockey helmets ( you get to whack one with a hammer) and perused the development of beekeepers’ gloves.

At Into the Great Outdoors, I was entranced by the land-water car owned by a family who needed it to drive/float to their chalet on an island.  Though the Zoom room was noted for ages 0-8, all of the kids had fun there – especially on the climbing wall with its secret smells and in the wind tunnel. The 4 year-old was in there for hours. We even saw couples on dates walking around in there with silly grins on.

Medical sensations was scary to one of the young girls, but they enjoyed manipulating facial features and guessing what the colorful patterns were which were captured by microscopes and telescopes.

The Exploratek room is near the cafe. Here the kids can gets creative and build buildings, create tube tracks or work with a robot.  The museum helps you keep costs down by making sure there are tables and cozy couches if you want to bring your own lunch, We’d suggest you do this, sinces the line for hot food in the cafe  moved slowly. There was a good selection of healthy foods.

A few times a day there are live demonstrations – we got lucky and saw one on pyrotechnics, including a rocket firing. Three-Two-One blast-off to this interactive fun learning museum.

Location: Canada Science and Technology Museum, 1867 St Laurent Blvd, Ottawa, ON K1G 5A3
Telephone: 613-991-3044 or toll-free: 1-866-442-4416
Hours: May 1 to September 1: Open daily; September 2 to April 30: Closed Mondays
https://ingeniumcanada.org

Les Delices La Frenaie has five locations – east, west, south and Laval, so they’re easy to get to wherever you live. They have been a fixture in St-Leonard for years and you can find just about any kind of cake you could want.

Come here for: Bacio, Key Lime Cheesecake (15 others), Frutti di bosco, Dulce de Leche, Orange or Walnut pound cake (16 others), Limoncello, Heavenly Berry and Milky Way in 8″ or 10″ sizes (this can serve about 20). Some can be ordered 36 hours in advance for more than 20 people.

Sandra’s newest favorite is the understatedly named, Fruitcake. Imagine a Strawberry Shortcake made with an assortment of fresh fruit. It is light, whipped creamy, and not overly sweet.

The best deal is the apple, lemon, chocolate chip, or cinnamon marble cakes. I really like the amaretti biscotti. Trays of pizza (tomato, white, all dressed and vegetarian) can be ordered.

Locations:  8405  Lafrenaie at Jarry (514-324-8039); Rosemere, 199F Cure-Labelle (450-430-4222); 58A boul. Brunswick (514-542-4242) at boul. des Sources; 51 Westminster Ave N, Montreal-West (514-312-2253); 1276 Dollard, LaSalle (514- 363-8776); 8245 boul Taschereau, suite B12 Brossard (450-462-4000).
Regular Hours: Mon-Fri 6-5, Sat 6-2
www.lesdeliceslafrenaie.com

It never fails to surprise me how you can shop in discount stores in Montreal and get better, much better service than in regular retail stores. Jeans, Jeans, Jeans is the ultimate in service. To start with, if you drive there, they have always taken care of your parking (either paying for your meter or paying for a nearby lot) and now there is even a Car Jockey to park it for you!

At this outlet, looking at the huge selection of the latest brands and styles is overwhelming.   However, after you tell the knowledgeable sales team (who have been there for years) what kind of jeans you are looking for, they narrow the selection down for you – and bring it to your dressing room! No time is wasted as they will only select what you are looking for and before you know it, you are wearing the most comfortable jeans, in the style you want, in the color you want in exactly your correct size. They have brands which run 00-56. They know which ones will stretch afterwards and give you washing and drying instructions.

Next they take them over to their seamstress who will hem them for Free while you are putting your clothes on. Where are you ever going to get this kind of service in a mall?

And as if that wasn’t enough, the prices are always discounted. You can find a list of brands on my site:  http://smartshoppingmontreal.com/store.php?s=14  So gather your holiday gift money and head right here.

Location: 5575 Casgrain  H2T 1Y1
corner: St-Viateur
Tel: 514-279-3303
Hours: Mon-Wed 9:00-5, Thurs 9:00-9, Fri 9:00-6, Sat, Sun 9-4
As of Jan. 8th Closed Tuesdays
Metro Stop: Station Laurier / Station Rosemont
www.jeansjeansjeans.ca

Boxing Week is the time to head to Denim Kings to re-fresh your jeans department. Prices will be an extra 25%-60% off for:  Rudsak, Pajar, Moose Knuckles, Kuwalla Tee, Soia & Kyo, Arctic North, Vitaly, Levis, Kollar, G-Star Raw, Joe’s, one teaspoon, EPTM, Palladium, The Tribute…

Both sexes can add  sweaters, boots, coats and accessories to their wardrobes and these reduced prices.

Location: 8575 St-Laurent, Montreal H2P 2M9 / Click for map 
corner: de Liege
Tel: 514-750-3288
Dates: Sept 28 – Oct 8, 2017
Hours: Mon-Wed 11-6, Thurs & Fri 11-8, Sat 11-5, Sun 12-5
Metro: Station Cremazie
www.denimkings.com

JRC toy warehouse is  open to the public until Xmas Eve (3pm) with their toy liquidation sale. This is your last chance to grab something for the holiday and take advantage of their incredible deals of up to 70% off on all kinds of toys.

Name brands from Alex Toys, Barbie, Crayola, Fisher-Price, Hasbro, Hot Wheels, Leap Frog, Lego, Little Tikes, Mattel, Mega Bloks, Melissa & Doug, Playskool, Spinmaster, Step 2, The Orb Factory and VTech.

Books are only $1 & up.

They accept debit, Visa Mastercard, but no cheques. There will be no exchanges or refunds, as all sales are final.

Location: 5589 Royalmount
corner: Chemin Devonshire
Metro: Station de la Savanne
Google Map: http://bit.ly/1RUJlsh
Tel: 514-342-6979
Times: Sat -Wed 10-5, Thurs & Fri 10-8 and Christmas Eve 10-3 (Oct closed Mon & tues)
www.jrctoys.com
email: info@jrctoys.com

For anyone, a cool gift might be the “upside-down” umbrella which closes without water dripping on you or your car. There’s a big display of everything lavender. You can always buy Montreal’s favorite humbugs (now in different flavors), or someone might enjoy their own 5-year-old cheddar or their homemade fudge.

Le Panier won the title of best gift store in Canada so this store worth a trip from anywhere. The huge shop is chock full of gourmet food, kitchenware,  and gifts at prices mostly under $25. You will not walk out empty-handed when you can choose amongst the jewelry, jams, hot sauces, kitchen gadgets, wearables and much, much more

If you can’t decide, there are ready-made gift baskets or custom-made ones too.

Here’s some ideas:

Michael Design – shea butter soaps, handwash and lotions

Wine Bag Totes – Carry the wine in an insulated pretty handbag

Louis Sherry New York chocolates – in beautiful keepable metallic tin boxes

Mighty Mug – This mug won’t fall over – EVER – can be used near a keyboard without worries. $19.99

Grumpy Butcher’s Maple Bacon – Hand made here in Montreal  in small batches from local Quebec pork farmers

Mike’s Hot Honey – Spice up all kinds of food $14.99

Wrendale pottery –  adorable mugs with kittens, owls, ducks,

Big selection of teapots  

Willow Tree Figurines    

Location: 274 Bord du Lac, Pointe Claire
corner: de Lourdes
Tel: 514-695-7038
Hours: Regular plus Sun 10-5
www.thepanier.com