Sixty multi-generational artists are showcasing their skills at the DDO Fine Arts and Crafts Holiday Market held at DDO’s beautiful Community Centre Building. Spread out over 2 floors, you can wander the four rooms and also ogle the Artists’ Association of Dollard’s annual exhibition. Make sure you make it to the top to enjoy the view from the heated outdoor rooftop terrace, l’Étoile filante, with a menu of holiday-themed drinks.

Admission to the Holiday Market and all events is FREE along with free parking and coat check

Wend your way through the tables of goodies including: jewelry (Silver Dragon), floral arrangements (Zu Zu), accessories (Elie’s Bows and Lulu’s Lanyards), woodworking (Fraser and Son and John McCracken), body and skin care (Savonnerie Le Chat Noir Nu), ceramics (Pot de Crème) and gift items (Meraki and Artisanat Noha), along with pet products, photography, stationery, paintings, pieces from the Beaconsfield Quilters’ Guild, and holiday decor. Sheep and goats from Microferme Retour au Source help out too as humans craft wool dryer balls, soaps and natural wool right from the source.

Handcrafted edible treats go from decadent to wholesome like Zano Macarons, La Tarterie, Gluten Free Dreams, Bals Provisions, Lab à Mémé, and Chocolat comme ça.

Last year I spotted leather jewelry and card cases, wooden bowls and boards, winter hats and gloves, chocolate, fur ponytail bands, crystals, pottery, pet bows and bowties (okay for humans too), mosaics, soap, paintings, small human sculptures, jewelry, wall sayings, Christmas decorations, baby gifts, button and bead art.

After you walk around the main level’s two rooms, don’t forget that hiding in the back is a windowed Craft Cafe with snacks from Boulangerie Mira. On the second level, you can peruse two more rooms and then look for a doorway which leads to the heated terrace with wide views.

Don’t shop online this year; Head out to support your neighbours and buy their artistic wares in this welcoming atmosphere situated in a beautifully designed building. Some vendors even give a percentage of their sales to good causes. Here, creative passions are shared and livelihoods supported directly (instead of large chain stores). There’s something for everyone in the family – even you!

Location: Dollard des Ormeaux Civic Center 12,001 boul. de Salaberry, DDO
corner: Lake Rd
Dates: Sat & Sun Nov 11 & 12
Hours: 10-4
Wheelchair accessible; public transportation nearby
web site: https://centreartsdollard.com/holiday-market
contact: Special Events Coordinator, Megan Bradley: 514-684-1012 ext. 220 | mbradley@DDO.qc.ca

The outside of this store has an old-timey neighborhood feel, and inside it reaffirms what shopping used to be and what it can be if you come here. It’s a hardware store (some plumbing, gardening too) with old-timey personalized service. Imagine that! No more wandering aisles wondering what you need.

They sell Benjamin Moore paint – with a difference. There’s always an experienced eye to help you select your colours.  In order to complete the decor of your room, you can go through wallpaper books and order blinds and shutters- with a guiding hand if you need it. My favorite Richelieu hardware is here and of course all the supplies you need to do the project. There are two locations to serve you.

Locations: 441 Beaconsfield Blvd, Beaconsfield H9W 5Y1
Tel: 514-695-3389
Hours: Tues-Sat 9-4
3460 boul. des Sources, D.D.O. H9B 1Z9
Tel: 514-421-1454
Hours: Mon-Fri 8-5, Sat 9-4
www.hubhardware.ca

Now is the right time to Kondo-ize your closets, garage, office or pantry by making the space more beautiful, more efficient and more functional. Closets by Design can simplifying your life by maximizing your space. They design, build and install custom closets, garage cabinets, home offices, laundry rooms, pantries and more. Right now, until December 31st take advantage of a 50% off promotion.

Schedule a free no obligation in-house design consultation.  The experts will take detailed measurements and will explore endless storage possibilities with you. They’ll guide you to the best choices possible taking into consideration your budget, style and preferences.  Once your system is designed, the work will begin at their state-of-the-art facilities. Each unit is built to your specifications and a professional team will install the units quickly and neatly.

Closets by Design can help you build the perfect closet storage solution no matter how cluttered your space is, taking your custom closet to the next level with gorgeous shelves, drawers and trim in a variety of finishes.

Closets by Design has built a reputation for integrity as an industry leader in customer service and satisfaction and pride themselves in offering the best value in the industry.

Location: 4747, rue Bourg , Saint-Laurent, QC H4T 1H9
corner: Off of Montee de Liesse
Tel: 514 – 631-6777
Hours: Mon – Fri 9-5
Sale: Til Dec 31st
www.cbdmontreal.com
info@cbdmontreal.com

If you are planning to spruce up your home for the holidays, decorating with wallpaper is a fun way to give a different feel to a room, bring in a unique pattern, or create a stunning feature wall.

Empire  knows a thing or two about wallpaper. They have a huge range of wallpaper designs and the largest in-house stock of wallpapers in the province for you to choose from.

Empire Wallpaper and Paint has beautiful new collections in stock; This shop has been the one-stop shop for all your interior decorating needs for over 50 years. They have so many options, carrying some of the most desired catalogs from around the world: Arte, Candice Olsen, Carl Robinson, Casadeco, Caselio, Cole & Son, Eijffinger, Elitis, Hohenberger, Joanne Fabrics, Kenneth James, Omexco, Ralph Lauren, Ronald Redding, Sanderson UK, Thibaut, Tres Tintas and Zoffany.

They offer an enormous variety of blinds: Applause honeycomb shades, Design Studio Roman shades, Designer roller shades and screen shades, Duette Architella honeycomb shades, Hunter Douglas Blind Collection, Luminette Modern Draperies and privacy Sheers, Nantucket window shadings, Natural Elements blinds, Parkland Genuine wood blinds, Pirouette window shadings, Provenance woven wood vertical drapery and woven wood shades, Reveal with MagnaView. Since they are an official Hunter Douglas Centurion retailer, expect to find continuing Hunter Douglas promotions. They have dozens of types of window treatment with either manual or motorized control systems.

Whether you’re decorating your bathroom, living room, bedroom or just an accent wall Empire has a wallpaper to suit your style. Looking for the newest design trends, the perfect color of paint to complement a room or blinds to decorate your windows, they have it all – with expert consultation and unmatchable prices.

Location: 3455 Park ave, Montreal QC H2X 2H6
corner: Sherbrooke
Tel: 514-849-129
Hours: Mon-Fri 8-7, Sat 9-5
empirewallpaper.com
FB: http://on.fb.me/106Jdz7

Closets by Design was here way before Marie Kondo was organizing us.  Simplifying your life is what they have always done. And til the end of June you can get 40% off and $250 worth of accessories.

For a complimentary design consultation, just contact Closets by Design and they will send a talented designer directly to your home. The experts will take detailed measurements and will explore endless storage possibilities with you. They’ll guide you to the best choices possible taking into consideration your budget, style and preferences.

They design, build and install custom closets, garage cabinets, home offices, laundry rooms, pantries. Once your system is designed, the work will begin at their state-of-the-art facilities. Each unit is built to your specifications and a professional team will install the units quickly and neatly. With their wide selection of finishes, accessories and hardware, you will get the customized look you have always dreamed of.

For a complimentary design consultation, just contact Closets by Design and they will send a talented designer directly to your home. The experts will take detailed measurements and will explore endless storage possibilities with you. They’ll guide you to the best choices possible taking into consideration your budget, style and preferences. Once your system is designed, the work will begin at their state-of-the-art facilities. Each unit is built to your specifications and a professional team will install the units quickly and neatly.

– Custom Closets: Each variety of closet systems will maximize your space and create a closet which helps organize not only your clothes, but also your life.

– Garage Cabinets: Think about transforming your garage into your workshop, garden center or arts and crafts room – all with plenty of storage space.

– Home Offices: Closets by Design created a line of innovative and effective office systems in a variety of styles and finishes to match your unique needs.

– Wallbeds: Maximize the use of your space with a foldaway designbedT system. Customizable, multi-functional and ideal for small spaces, designbedT offers a creative space-saving solution for any home.

– Laundry Rooms: There are numerous options to organize this room better, including long and short shelving, a variety of places to store cleaning supplies and items to compliment your laundry room needs.

– Pantries: The value of quick access to items in your kitchen is priceless, making meal prep quick and efficient. Their attractive pantries are developed to streamline cooking and cleaning with easy-to-reach shelves for easy-to-find items.

Closets by Design has built a reputation for integrity as an industry leader in customer service and satisfaction. They strive for and build quality, beauty, and commitment into each piece constructed and can easily meet everyone’s different household budgets.

Location: 4747, rue Bourg , Saint-Laurent, QC H4T 1H9
corner: Off of Montee de Liesse
Tel: 514 – 631-6777
Hours: Mon – Fri 9-5
Sale: Til June 30th
www.cbdmontreal.com
info@cbdmontreal.com

Strut over to Cote St-Luc to catch an over-the-top performance of Cabaret by the Cote St-Luc Dramatic Society. As artistic director, Anisa Cameron remarked, This play is “an important piece which is relevant today.”

The plot is based on a novel by Christopher Isherwood and playwright Joe Masteroff’s story, and centers around a nightclub, the Kit Kat Klub, in 1930’s Berlin. While the fun life reigns inside, the Nazi uprising swirls outside. A performer at the club starts a relationship with an American writer who wants to write a book and has shown up in Berlin looking for a room. The star of the show, though, hands down, is the zealous Master of Ceremonies who commands all the action.

You must get over to see Craig Dalley’s performance as this Emcee. His suave, sexy, funny performance and professional stage presence carries the show. It is rare to give a top shout out to a Choreographer, but Alexa Gourd’s sensual, evocative, electric choreography allows the strong cast to strut the stage with an air of insouciance – and as precise as if they were on Broadway.

It’s fun to see the musicians playing, since even they are having a great time. Benjamin Kwong, Musical Director, is smiling and jiving through the whole show. The score and sound effects are right on. Loved it that John Kovac, playing Herr Schultz (really well!), is back in the theatre after 40 years. It’s never too late to return to your passions, and isn’t it wonderful that community theatre is here for us – especially one as good as this one.

Producer (and Mayor of CSL) Mitchell Brownstein pointed out that “in the theatre we can learn about people who are different, and that different people count.” Also that “we must be vigilant” and that the play “sends out a message of hope in the world if you try to make a difference, and that individuals can make a difference.”

He mentioned the Holocaust Education exhibit in the Cote St-Luc library during the play’s run. It refers to Righteous Gentiles, diplomats of many countries, who saved countless Jewish lives. The exhibit is a joint effort of the Montreal Holocaust Museum and Israeli Foreign Affairs led by Consul General of Israel for Quebec, David Levy.

Production Manager Jordana Dobski noted that the play (unlike the movie) makes the story of the boarding house owner, Fraulein Schneider, and her relationship to the Jewish fruit vendor a major plot line. Dobski says, this “un-acceptance of the others” is a lesson learned, and should be respected today.

So a shout out goes to teachers and schools out there who are reading this. The Cote St-Luc Dramatic Society is opening their doors during the day on Fridays for Matinees for students to witness and learn from Cabaret (14+ suggested).

So many lines in the show give warnings about things which are still happening today (think Bill 21?):

“One can no longer dismiss the Nazis” “They will take nothing away.” “Why can’t they leave as alone?” “Live and let live.” “What does politics have to do with us?”

The strong takeaway is that you have to make choices when you see injustice. What would you do?

Location: Cote St-Luc Library, 5801 Cavendish Blvd, Côte Saint-Luc, Harold Greenspon Auditorium
Dates: May 30-June 16
Price: regular admission $35, students and seniors $28
www.csldramaticsociety.com

Now, while you are stuck inside, you start to dream about how you might reno your home. Should you change the floor? the fabric? the blinds? If you really want to go ahead with this and it’s too overwhelming a thought, help is at hand. You can even put your feet up and call for their free shop-at-home service.

Tapis Decor Chantilly has been open since 1983, offering one-stop decor shopping for both home and office, in one location, at competitive prices. You can sit back and let their in-house designers walk you through every step, or feel free to go in with your own ideas or your own designer.

For flooring, they sell the gamut from carpets to laminate floors, solid hardwood to engineered wood, linoleum and marmoleum, as well as PVC strip wood and tiles. They also carry a huge array of window coverings from well-know manufacturers, custom-made drapes and bedding, wall coverings, ceramics and more. They supply and install all of their products; their installers are certified and experienced, and they are RBQ licensed.

– Flooring: Laminate floors from names like Alloc and Kronotex. Marmoleum sheet goods are anti-bacterial and perfect for health care or just for healthy environments. Expect a huge array of vinyl tiles such as Armstrong and Amtico, LSI and Centiva, Mondo tiles and Plynyl woven flooring. There are all kinds of special rubber, which is perfect for your home gym or recreation center. From materials for computer rooms (anti-static), lobbies, corridors, elevators, bars, airplanes or any other application, it’s all here.

– Carpets: Wall to wall, area rugs and runners, in all shapes and custom sizes for residential or commercial, in wool or synthetic, from Shaw, Mohawk, Beaulieu, Couristan, Momeni, Louis de Poortere and others.

– Blinds and Window Coverings: High end custom window coverings from such well-known brands as Hunter Douglas, Maxxmar, Altex, Faber, Shade-O-Matic and more. If you need them, they sell motorized blinds and black-out coverings.

– Fabric: They carry Robert Allen, Kravet, Joanne, Rosedale, Avant-garde and more, in silks, satins, velvets, chenilles, leathers or other types of fabric. They employ their own seamstresses and upholsterers to create decorative valences, headboards, draperies or other ideas you may have.

It makes life very easy when you can choose all your products in one place.

Location: 707 Lucerne Rd., T.M.R.
Tel: 514-388-6060
www.decorchantilly.com

If you’re looking for sleek, sophisticated women’s fashion to be holiday ready, head over to Raffinalla’s Pre Boxing Day Sale.

Don’t miss their Door Crasher special:  vibrant print Perfect Fit Pant at only $25. Discover for yourself why the best fitting #perfectfitpant is so popular,  designed with front tummy tuck panels and stretch fabric for a comfortable and flattering fit.  Make their smart styling and smooth, dressy fabric your choice for perfect fitting pants. Pants are available in petite, plus, and tall, ensuring every woman gets her perfect fit.

Snag a wide selection of women’s apparel samples and overstock (all sizes available) selected well-tailored, contemporary sportswear, pants, coats, belts and scarves. You can’t miss with discounts of up to 80% off in the Liquidation Room, with jackets, tops, pants, skirts at $25 to $75.

Location: 9200 Meilleur, suite 400
corner: Chabanel
Phone: 514-327-4477, 514-979-4764
Dates & Hours: Wed – Sun, Dec 12 – Dec 16, 2018
Hours: 10 – 5pm – Private appointments welcome
Metro: Station Cremazie, Bus 146
raffinalla.com

With the holidays right around the corner, Raffinalla is offering a sleek pair of perfect fit pants designed to slim down the silhouette and make you appear one size smaller. Buy them in the chain link jacquard design and you are sure to be a hit at your holiday party. For 4 days this week you can score them for the incredible price of $35.

At Raffinalla it’s all about the fit. The pull-on #PerfectFitPant and #ComfortFitLeggings are designed with front tummy tuck panels and stretch fabric for a comfortable and flattering fit. From office-wear to something casual for the weekend and everything in between, Raffinalla pants provide a sleek silhouette with endless styling possibilities. Pants are available in petite, plus, and tall, ensuring every woman gets her perfect fit.

Sleek, sophisticated women’s fashion made from the most luxurious fabrics can be yours at this “warehouse” shop. Snag selected well-tailored, contemporary sportswear, coats, belts and scarves. Save big in their liquidation room with tops, pants, skirts at $25 to $75.

Raffinalla: for every day and every occasion. Shop Raffinalla, you’ll #LovetheFit.

Location: 9200 Meilleur, suite 400
corner: Chabanel
Phone: 514-327-4477, 514-979-4764
Dates & Hours: Tues – Fri, Dec 4 – Dec 7, 2018
Hours: 10 – 5pm – Private appointments welcome
Metro: Station Cremazie, Bus 146
raffinalla.com

Decorating with beautiful patterns of wallpaper has become so fashionable again. It’s really hard to find stores that still sell it. Empire Wallpaper and Paint has beautiful new collections in stock; This shop has been the one-stop shop for all your interior decorating needs for over 50 years.

If you are planning to spruce up your home for the holidays, this would be a good time to tackle a wallpaper project. They have so many options: Arthouse frosted wood wallpaper, funky 3D circle wallpaper, modern vibe brick effect wallpaper, crushed foil crystal effect vinyl wallpaper, embossed wallpaper, fine decor fractal marblesque geometric wallpaper and so on.

Even if you are on a tight budget, you can peruse their 2 for 1 wallpaper section with a lot of new patterns as low as $9.99. To all arts & crafts aficionados, they have many wallpaper and fabric books to give away.

Whether you are looking for the newest design trends, some paint to fix up a room or blinds to decorate your windows, they have it all – with prices that can fit any budget. Empire has a huge selection of wallpaper catalogs from around the world.  Their  in stock merchandise ranges from vintage European designs to the cozy cottage favorites, so there’s something for everyone. This is a very welcoming store and their friendly and in-house designer staff are always happy to answer any questions.

Wallpaper brands: Arte, Candice Olsen, Carl Robinson, Casadeco, Caselio, Cole & Son, Eijffinger, Elitis, Hohenberger, Joanne Fabrics, Kenneth James, Omexco, Ralph Lauren, Ronald Redding, Sanderson UK, Thibaut, Tres Tintas, Zoffany

Blinds: Applause honeycomb shades, Design Studio Roman shades, Designer roller shades and screen shades, Duette Architella honeycomb shades, Hunter Douglas Blind Collection, Luminette Modern Draperies and privacy Sheers, Nantucket window shadings, Natural Elements blinds, Parkland Genuine wood blinds, Pirouette window shadings, Provenance woven wood vertical drapery and woven wood shades, Reveal with MagnaView,

Follow their facebook page for other upcoming promotions for the Holidays.