With the Olympic torch relay in the news, we’re beginning the build up to the excitement of the Olympics which, of course, began in Greece. If you want to capture a bit of the flavor of Greece, perhaps you might want to pick up some sweet Greek desserts, and in doing so maybe you will absorb some of their Greek passion.

I lived in Greece for over a year after graduating from University, in a little village northeast of Athens. I got the shock of my life one Spring morning when I woke up and found hundreds of men in shorts with numbered T-shirts running past my balcony. This was, of course, the real “Marathon run”,  named for the town it started in near where I was living.

The run was started in 1896 at the modern Olympics held in Athens, in memory of man named Pheidippides, who in 490 B.C. supposedly ran the 26 miles (42,195 meters) to Athens to announce the victory against Persian attackers around Marathon. After uttering, “Rejoice! We conquer”, he unfortunately collapsed and died.

Greek Orthodox Easter is this weekend, so the bakeries below will be chock full of treats. If you want to pick up some authentic Greek sweets, please remember to say “Efcharisto (ef-gar-eestow) poli” for “Thank you very much” to the storekeeper who helped you.

Boulangerie Nouveau Samos, 4379 St. Laurent Blvd. at Marie Anne. Phone: 514-845-8033. Hours: Mon-Wed 7-8, Thurs-Sun 7-9. After more than 43 years serving the Greek community with their daily fix of breads (kouloura, karveli), this shop welcomes you, too, to enjoy the taste of Greece. Start with the spinach and cheese pies, but don’t forget to ask for toulombas, the bougatzes (flaky custard), karidopita (spice cake), melomakorona (honey) and gourambie (almond).

Boulangerie Patisserie Serano, 4136 du Souvenir at Mercantile, Laval. Phone: 450-681-7684. Hours: Mon-Fri 9-10, Sat & Sun 8-10. The names of the breads (karveli, couloura, horiatiko) and pastries (paksimathakia, kourambiethes, bougatses, frandsola, tifropites and of course, baklava) may be hard to spell or pronounce, but it’s easy to point to what you want, and even easier to feel when it deliciously slides down your throat. The pastries are made of chocolate, vanilla, almond, honey, walnut or pistachio nuts.

Patisserie Ambrosia Boulangerie, 4657 Samson Blvd. at 100th Ave., Chomedey. Phone: 450-686-2950. Hours: Sun-Fri 8-10, Sat 8-10:30. Tucked into the corner of the shopping center for 11 years, this Greek pastry shop catches your eye immediately with the koutaliou, colorful jars of fruits (sour cherry, fig, quince, grapes) in a honey syrup. The wonton-like diples looked yummy, deep fried with honey walnuts and cinnamon, or try the kataifi filo dough with walnuts, cinnamon and cloves. Traditional breads line the shelves: kouloura (circle with a hole), horigatiko (country bread) and a healthy whole wheat dry bread (good for dipping).

With the advent of computers, we were supposed to have paperless offices. However, you know as well as I that the opposite has happened. We are using more paper than ever, because

- we print pages and pages of hard copy just to “be sure” we have it
- of the mistakes made in setting up pages
- the printer chugs out more info than we really need, since it may go on for many screens, especially on web sites
- we print a small note on a big 8” x 11″ sheet that we used to write on a little scrap of paper

So we are going through reams and reams of laser printer paper.

Next, there has been a backlash against the impersonal nature of these print-outs, and believe it or not, people are beginning again to just enjoy the feel of writing in beautiful notebooks on beautiful paper. I  keep finding stationery stores opening up.

Handwriting, though, is going the way of the dodo bird, as kids in school are not necessarily learning cursive script any more. The concept of putting pen to paper with your own recognizable scribble is something we must begin to save. Think about how nice it was to receive a letter and know who it is from just from the handwriting. Think about how nice it was just to get a letter.

Papeterie Nota Bene, 3416 ave du Parc at Sherbrooke St. Phone:  514-485-6587. Hours: Mon-Fri 11-7, Sat 11-5. Finding a European-type stationery shop, which offers an array of specialty paper – music, story board, white-lined (for faxing and photocopying), gray-lined (easier on your eyes) and notebooks (Moleskin, Fabrica, Japanese expandable ones) – is a real treat. There are pens, even fountain ones, and lots of items from Italy, France, Sweden, Germany, Japan and Switzerland. Look for the interesting city guides that you write yourself, which even have erasable write on maps. www.nota-bene.ca

Essence Du Papier, 4160 St.Denis St. at Rachel St. Phone: 514-288-9152. Hours: Regular plus Sun 12-5. It’s surprising to find luxury paper stores in this computer age. Here you can go from the Saint Gillis’ handmade, Semikolon albums and files in wild colors (lavender, hot pink, taupe, lime), wide lined paper, and Japanese sheets to wrapping paper and scrap-booking supplies. There’s a pen counter (Mont Blanc, Lamy, Faber Castel, Waterman, Visconti, Fisher space pen), journals, party goods and a calligraphy service available. Other location: Ogilvy, 1307 Ste-Catherine o. (514- 844-2666); 1 Place Ville Marie (514-874-9834). www.essencedupapier.com

Au Papier Japonais, 24 Fairmont Ave, at St. Laurent Blvd. Phone: 514-276-6863. Hours:  Mon-Wed & Fri 10-6, Thurs 10-8, Sat 10-6, Sun 12-4. The traditional handmade Japanese washi papers range in price here from $.20 for a tiny square to $200 for one the size of an area rug. You can use the paper for wrapping and buy note cards too, or use it on lamps, doors or windows. The store offers workshops in painting and drawing on their papers, silkscreen printing, making wire-form lampshades, cards, masks, books and boxes. There’s a corner for green tea and teapots.
www.aupapierjaponais.com

Poisson d’avril is “April Fool” in French, so let’s talk about fish today.

Your mother was right much of the time with her eating ideas, and though she probably called fish “brain food”, it is more like “heart” food with its omega-3 fish oils to lubricate your arteries. Nowadays, though, on the fish menu we are way beyond her dry broiled fish or those fish sticks, and now you can grab a fast seafood pizza, enjoy sole stuffed with cheese and spinach or try seafood crepes.

I have eaten fish and seafood since I was an adult (never liked it much as a kid) and was recently surprised to find out that I have become allergic to them. While researching for our “Drive I-95: Exit by Exit Info, Maps, History and Trivia” book, we drove up and down the East coast of the US. This led to many yummy meals of lobster rolls, crab bisque, fried clams, rock shrimp, lobster pie, crab cakes and on and on. I guess I overdosed.

I can’t decide which were the hardest to give up – the delicate salmon made on the barbecue just gently brushed with olive oil, salt and pepper, the shrimp swimming in garlic butter or a bagel with cream cheese and smoked salmon. To all of you, enjoy your fish and seafood meals for me, but everything in moderation please.

Poissonnerie La Mer, 1840 Rene-Levesque East at Papineau Ave. Phone: 514-522-3003. Hours: Mon-Fri 9-7, Sat 8-6, Sun 10-5. This well-known shop has an enormous variety of fresh fish: 15 different kinds of oysters weekly (some from France), dry scallops, rock shrimp, abalone, razor clams, sea urchins, Dungeness crab and Canadian caviar, and they smoke their own salmon. Next month they will be expanding their grocery/take out section, so you can easily grab all that you would need for a quick supper: oyster soup, shrimp/lobster roll, seafood lasagne, lump crab meat for fish cakes, rouille for fish soup and fresh veggies for sides and salads, and cheeses too.

Jean-Talon Fish, 3562 Jean-Talon St. East at 15th avenue, Rosemont. Phone: 514-721-9948. Hours: Mon 9-5:30, Tues & Wed 9-6, Thurs & Fri 9-8, Sat 9-5. If you too tired to prepare dinner and want a change of pace, pick up some of the delicious prepared dishes here. Escargots are 12 for $3.95, 1/2-pound seafood quiche is only $4.55, 16 oz. seafood pie $9.95, or try stuffed sole, their famous 1-lb. salmon pie ($4.95), seafood crepes, lobster bisque or scampis in garlic butter. No preservatives or MSG are used in these homemade delights. Don’t forget – it’s a regular fish store too, so check out the montly specials on the signs outside. This month it is coquille fruits de mer 2/$5.95, 2 lbs of scampis for $45 or 2 lbs. of cooked large (20/30) shrimp for only $17.90.

Gidney’s, 5055 Henri Bourassa Blvd. West at Marcel Laurin, Ville St-Laurent. Hours: Mon-Wed & Sat 9-6, Thurs & Fri 9-8, Sun 9-5. For over 43 years, this fish meister has been carrying the freshest assortment of fish and seafood, but also has prepared fish (salmon pie, coquille St-Jacques, seafood quiche, crab cakes, escargot, seafood salad, salmon roe, seafood lasagne, coulibiac or bouillabaisse broth). They own their own lobster pounds in Nova Scotia and bring them fresh and well-priced right to us. Other location: Marche 440, 3535 Autoroute Laval W. (450-682-2929).

I like the change to the new kind of brides and grooms who are the opposite of the “bridezillas”. There is a whole backlash to the $30,000 price tag for five hours of wedding bliss. These smart kids are more do-it-yourselfers and know where to cut corners. They might have friends take the photos or throw cameras on the tables for everyone to use, hire a band from a university, send e-mail invites or print them themselves on a computer.

When it comes to the wedding gown though, there still is an attachment to the formal flowing dress. However, brides still try to save costs, perhaps by renting a gently used one or by having one sewn inexpensively. They may add a borrowed headpiece, if they can, or find a place to buy all the ingredients and put them together, and they’ve recycled, or at least saved a bundle of money.

Those who buy gowns and don’t want to “waste” them afterwards, or don’t want the cost of the fancy storage-box option, might think about turning them into exquisite pillows for use on their bed, a table runner or anywhere else in the house.

F.F.F. French Feather & Flowers, 6565 Henri Bourassa Blvd. West at Sartelon St. Phone: 514-332-8584. Hours: by appointment only, Mon-Fri 8:30-4, closed 12-1. Bridal headpieces (rhinestone tiaras) can be purchased here at wholesale prices as well as bouquets, garters and ring bearer cushions. There are 1st communion veils, purses, gloves and boas in a dozen colors. Hand made flowers are a big specialty here (for the Cirque du Soleil!). For bridal parties, flowers can be made into headpieces or centerpieces, and the flowers can be created out of your own fabric or out of feathers.

C & M Textiles, 7500 St. Hubert St. at Faillon St. Phone: 514-272-0247. Hours: Monday to Friday 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., Thursday and Friday 9 a.m. to 9 p.m., Saturday 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. For fashion or home decor, they offer it all and in vast inventories. Upon entering, you are assailed by the luscious selection for gowns and bridalwear: guipure, laces, taffetas, embroideries, organzas, silk shantung, tulle and netting. Then there’s silks, woollens, microfibers, linens and sequins. For upholstery and drapery check out the racks of samples from the mills of Europe and the chenilles, velvets, damasks, tapestries, cotton prints, lace curtaining, ultrasuede, outdoor fabrics, blinds & shades, etc. This store has been around since 1947 and everything is well priced. If you haven’t been here yet, it’s about time you came. Other location in Ottawa: 1547 Merivale Rd. 613-727-1547. www.cmtextiles.com

Charlotte Crystal Designer D’Interieur, 5457 Queen Mary Rd. at Earnscliffe St. Phone: 514-369-1441. Hours: Monday to Friday 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. and by appointment. What to do with your wedding gown? Why not turn it into beautiful cushions to gaze upon and always remember your special day. You can save the cushions for a daughter or granddaughter’s room (and have their name or birthdate embroidered on them). Or parts of the gown can be incorporated into a future ring bearer’s cushion. Pieces of lace can be incorporated into a picture frame for your wedding photo too. This creative woman collects beautiful one of a kind needleworks, antique textiles, tapestries and lace and turns them into the most exquisite cushions, chair seat covers, table runners, cloths, duvet covers, drapery and footstools. Design consulting is also available.

I love it when I come across a bunch of stores right near each other that are dandy for shopping in. Sometimes you just need to browse in stores to build up a repertoire for the future. Shopping is not always a “I need it this minute” pastime. And surprisingly, at least two of these businesses will be exciting to the men in the audience.

Three stores in a small strip mall in LaSalle (to find it look for the Toys ‘r Us in the center) caught my attention for this reason. The first one is the newest: Habitat for Humanity ReStore, is a great place to pick up odds and ends for home renovation projects at fabulous prices and at the same time donate money to an amazing cause.

EconoSports is a store I have been following around for years. It used to be on the West Island and now has two homes, one here in the West and one in the East. Good deals on sporting goods is a subject I am often asked about, and there aren’t many, so have a good time here.

The last one is Giggles, a party store that just keeps growing and growing and getting better.

Habitat for Humanity ReStore, 7177 Newman Blvd. at  Senkus St. Phone: 514-907-8991. 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. The profits from this home renovation liquidation store go directly for the construction of decent affordable homes for low income families. The new merchandise sold here is donated mostly by Home Depot to support this Habitat for Humanity mission. Expect discounts of at least 50% off the original white stickers on the: faucets, sinks, paint, lighting, kitchen cupboards, tools, mailboxes, doors, ceiling fans, vents, rugs, tiles and more. www.habitatmontreal.qc.ca

Econo Sports, 7155 Newman Blvd at Senkus St. Phone: 514-595-1221. 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 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. This is the end of the line for goods from the Sports Experts stores (and deals from elsewhere), so all of the sports equipment – skis, snowboards, golf clubs, hockey sticks, tennis rackets, soccer – that you would find there, you might find here. Clothing for some sports like bathing suits, golf shirts, running and hiking wear, ski jackets and shoes and boots for the family, are here too. Other location: 7707 Maurice Duplessis Blvd. (514-494-7772).

Giggles, 7143 Newman Blvd. at Senkus St. Phone: 514-363-9472. 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 p.m., Sunday 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Besides being a full party store and balloon center, the draw here is pre-made loot bag service, or you can create your own from 100′s of low priced toys. Party decor and paper goods are organized by colors or themes – High School Musical, Spiderman, Dora, Cars, Hollywood, luau, casino, etc., but you can still find a whoopee cushion ($1.49), a pin the tail on the donkey ($1.99), costumes, or pick letters to build your own banner. New is the service which can create an edible photo on-a-cake or the cupcake service.

It was a surprise to hit the corner of St. Laurent Blvd. and Mary Anne and find glass windows into an airy new shoe shop. But wait, this wasn’t a new store, this was good old Schreters. Their reincarnation will please all the female shoppers who have been missing out. According to owner, Steve Schreter, he wants all of his shoppers “to have a good shopping experience, be treated very well and to get good value for their money. They should feel happy they walked in.”

This has been the family goal since 1928, and this third generation of owners has been keeping it up very nicely. For three generations of shoppers are still pouring through the doors, walking on the same creaky wooden floors and buying here despite all the big store competition.

The second spot you may not know about for shoes is a manufacturer, Pajar, which has a retail store open only three days a week and is located right in the heart of the Plateau on Mont Royal Ave. between St. Laurent Blvd. and St. Denis St. Expect lots of deals on samples here.

The last one is a newbie, a bit further afield, in Vaudreuil-Dorion. We finally have our first single-name-brand running shoe outlet, like they’ve had in the U.S. since the 80’s – welcome Reebok.

Schreters, 4358 St. Laurent Blvd. at Marie Anne St. Phone: 514-845-4231. Hours: Monday to Wednesday and Friday 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., Thursday 9 a.m. to 9 p.m., Saturday 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Sunday 12 p.m. to 5 p.m. For 80 years, this has been THE place on the Main for men’s and boys’ (even husky) clothing. Now men, women and kids too can think of this as their neighborhood shoe shop (Converse, Nike, Birkenstock, Reebok, Adidas, Ecco, Rockport, Florsheim, Nunn Bush and for flip flops – Reef, Haviana, Flojo’s). Make sure you ask for their footwear loyalty card for $50 off on your 6th pair of shoes (as long as the other 5 were over $50). They carry name brands (like Columbia, Esprit, Point Zero) in everything from suits to jeans and underwear (including non-iron Enro shirts), all for wonderful prices. Women can find some casual wear and undies. They have a large staff who are exceptionally helpful and can pull out really hard-to-find items like suspenders, one-piece long johns, handkerchiefs and even garters for men’s shirts. The store motto, “No hassle money back guarantee”, is quite true. For the summer, come here to fill camp lists and then for school uniforms – this joint is one stop shopping.

Le 103, 103 Mont Royal Ave East at Coloniale Ave. Phone: 514-842-6402. Hours: Thursday and Friday 9 a.m. to 9 p.m., Saturday 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. If you are a ladies’ sample size 6 or 7 or men’s size 8 or 9, this is shoe heaven. Hundreds of samples line the walls, priced from $45 – $95 (up to $145 for boots). This is where the best deals can be had, because if you buy one you get the second pair at 1/2 price. For the rest of the city’s feet, there is a selection of men’s (sizes 7 – 12) and women’s (sizes 6 – 10) shoes and boots that are direct from the factory or imported (Pajar, Stonefly, Kickers, Replay, Poetic, Tru Religion, Licence, Point Zero, Evisu). They are well made, stylish, and priced reasonably. Cash only.

Reebok Outlet, 3100 Harwood Rd, Hudson at Transcanadienne. Phone: 450-424-8649. 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. We finally have a name brand running shoe outlet here like the ones found in the States. This one offers us Reebok and Rockport shoes and Greg Norman apparel. The deal on these last season’s models (men 7-13, women 6-10 and kids) is that you buy one and get the 2nd one for 50% off. If you buy 2, then the 3rd one is free.

You can, if you sniff around, find chocolate candy sold by manufacturers for a lot less than you might buy it for in the stores. Splendid Club Chocolate has been around for years in Snowdon, on Jean Talon near Victoria Avenue. At the beginning, you had to follow your nose up the elevator to its location on the 3rd floor. Honestly, I don’t know how anyone worked in that building with the chocolate aroma wafting through the halls all day long. The depot eventually moved to the ground floor for easier retail accessibility. The prices always were the best here – as low as $8 for a small basket, and gift boxes starting around the same price.

For the past few years, I have had to keep my mouth shut (only in my column – not for the chocolate) about Galerie au Chocolate in Ville St. Laurent, because they were manufacturing for a major wholesale client and didn’t want the word to get out that if you knew about them, you could come in and buy at reduced prices. Finally, they are fully open to the public and have even opened a second Eastern location so everyone on both sides of the city can indulge.

Lastly, Biscuiterie Oscar is a real live candy store. You can stuff your face with all your favorite junk candy and cookies that are sold by the pound and therefore cost less.

Galerie au Chocolat, 8985 Henri Bourassa West at Thimens Blvd. Phone: 514-331-8460. Hours: Monday to Thursday 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., Friday 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. (a few weeks before each major holiday the hours are extended to 5 p.m. daily and Saturday from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. – call to confirm). This has been a secret spot for years, since they were a wholesaler and sold retail only to those in the know. The Belgian chocolate comes in milk chocolate, dark or white and is made in interesting varieties: rice krispie bark, blueberry or cherry clusters, almond rochers, covered pretzels, caramel hazelnut wafers, raisin clusters and expresso wafers (all Kosher), with a decent sugar free section too. You can buy them bagged or beautifully boxed. The best deal is the white box of “seconds” usually found on the counter – same taste, priced less ($14.85 for 850 grams). You can even get free home delivery on the island of Montreal for orders over $75 ($10 if it’s less). Other much larger location (Hours: Tuesday and Wednesday 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., Thursday and Friday 10 a.m. to 9 p.m., Saturday10 a.m. to 5 p.m. – call to confirm): 8503 Blvd. Langelier, St-Leonard.

Splendid Club Chocolate, 4810 Jean Talon St. West, Suite 100 at Victoria Ave. Hours: Monday to Friday 10 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Phone: 514-737-1105. For lovely inexpensive chocolate gifts (even for yourself!), sneak over to this building’s outlet on the main floor for factory direct chocolate (even Kosher). The bargains on caramels, lollipops, pretty baskets from $8-$100, boxed ballotin, assorted boxes and chocolate hollow and solid novelties (seasonally hearts, Santas, bunnies, teddies) are worth making your way over here. Corporate gifts are available by appointment.

Biscuiterie Oscar, 3755 Ontario St. East at Nicolet St. Phone: 514-527-0415. Hours: Monday and Tuesday 9:30 a.m. to 6 p.m., Wednesday 9:30 a.m. to 7 p.m., Thursday and Friday 9:30 a.m. to 9 p.m., Saturday 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., Sunday 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Now that the old-fashioned candy store is a thing of the past, where can those sweet-toothed freaks go for their sugar fix? If you can’t stand wading through aisles of healthy vegetables, protein-filled meats and bone-building milk, head right for this chain, which still maintains the tradition of selling just candies, candies and more candies. Cookies (Viau, Opera, Voortman), boxed chocolates (Neilson, Guylain, Lindt, Cupidon, Poulain, Hershey, etc.), individual chocolates (Turtles, raspberry, cherries, raisins) and sugar-free candy are mostly sold by the pound. Some sugar free and gluten free goodies are stocked. There are good prices on pre-packaged junk food like potato chips, corn chips, cheese doodles, pretzels, fortune cookies, licorice, and much more… Other location: 6356 St. Hubert St. (514-272-8415). www.oscar.qc.ca

It often amazes me that there are stores that sell niche items, and they manage to stay open for years, yet so many people still do not know about them. They stay in business with their loyal clientele coming back for their wonderful service and unique products.

Who would think that there still exists a store that sells only pens and pencils? Peel Pen (oops -La Maison du Stylo Peel) is right in the heart of downtown, by Phillips Square. How politically incorrect these days is it to offer pipes and tobacco? After a century of selling smokes to the public, it doesn’t seem to faze Blatter and Blatter, which has the next generation poised to take over. And if you had a messy renovation job to do at home, where would you go to get a mask to wear or a painting coveralls? Equipement de Security Universel is one of a few stores that sells these types of items to the retail public.

La Maison du Stylo Peel, 1212 Union St. at Phillips Square. Phone: 514-866-1340. Hours: Monday to Friday 9 am to 4:30 pm, Saturday 10 am to 4 pm (closed Saturdays from May to August). For those of you who are still writing by hand and enjoy the feel and flow of a REAL pen, this 55-year-old family business, with thousands of possibilities, is pen heaven. All brand names (Waterman, Pelican, Schaeffer, Parker, Mont Blanc, Caran d’Ache, etc.) are sold in pens and pencils. Gifts can be personally engraved, and there is a repair service to fix that gold pen you got for high school graduation (or any other pen worth saving).

Blatter & Blatter, 375 President Kennedy St at Bleury St. Phone: 514-845-8028. Hours: Monday to Friday 8:30 am to 6 pm, Saturday 9 am to 5 pm. Opened in 1907, this shop has survived all these years, and not only sells pipes, but repairs them as well. Robert Blatter is the artist who makes pipes, and now nephew Patrick is at his side. Peter, at the counter, can show you about 1,000 different pipes or sell you tobacco from all over the world, including Cuban cigars (95% of their stock). Due to current smoking laws, their in-store Friday rendez-vous are now held outside in nice weather. www.blatterpipes.com

Equipement de Security Universel, 6855 St. Jacques St. West at Cavendish Blvd. Phone: 514-369-6699. Hours: Monday to Friday 7 am to 5 pm, Saturday 9 am to 2 pm. What could the ordinary citizen ever want in a business like this? Lots, it seems. How about some protective eye wear, filtration masks, reflectors for your jogging gear, disposable earplugs, first aid kits, shoe treads for ice, fire extinguishers (and refills), PVC and cotton gloves (12/$9.95) or painting coveralls for $9.95. There’s a department for work clothes, rain suits, thermal sox, etc.

Okay, you’re stuck in because it’s cold and piled with snow. Life is not all that bad. You can curl up under a blanket on an easy chair and read away the hours til the sun comes out again. Reading does not have to be expensive if you just get used to shopping in the second-hand shops (and then selling your books back to buy more books, of course).

I’m going to throw a bit of a curve into this subject. Since we are a Province so heavily weighted towards the French language, it would do you good to practice your French reading whilst you while away these hours. A little mental gymnastics is good for the old gray cells.

The following handful of stores can get you started on your quest:

Librairie Bonheur d’Occasion, 4487 de la Roche St. at Mont Royal Ave. Phone: 514-522-8848. Hours: Sunday to Tuesday 10 am to 7 pm, Wednesday to Saturday 10 am to 9 pm (beginning of November to the end of April ), daily 10 am to 9 pm (from beginning of May to the end of October). If it’s used French books you desire, then this shop, with sections on language study, police, literature, psychology, history, cookbooks, art and a lot of magazines, will please you. Look for the sale bin in the front.

Librairie Henri-Julien, 4800 Henri Julien Ave. at Villeneuve Ave. Phone: 514-844-7576. Hours: Tuesday, Wednesday and Saturday 12 pm to 6 pm, Thursday and Friday 12 pm to 8 pm, Sunday 1 pm to 6 pm. This corner shop is up a side street, and is quite neatly stuffed to the ceiling with mostly French books (a tiny bit of Spanish and English) in classics, arts, philosophy, science, erotica, occult, Russia, Middle Ages, 17th-19th century, architecture and antiquarian. Personal requests are handled daily.

La Bouquinerie du Plateau, 799 Mont Royal Ave. East at St. Hubert St. Phone: 514-523-5628. Hours: Daily 10 am to 10 pm. Big, bright and airy are not usual adjectives for a second-hand bookstore, but this one is all three. Mostly French titles are found here, and they cover psychology, art, health, sexuality, religion, war, Quebecois, history and travel. There are also over 10,000 used CD’s. Other locations (more new books): Librairie Marche du Livre, 801 de Maisonneuve East. (514-288-4350); 4075 St. Denis St. (514-288-5567).
www.marchedulivre.qc.ca

Le Colisee du Livre, 908 Ste. Catherine St. East at St. Andre St. Phone: 514-845-1792. Hours: Daily 10 am to 10 pm. About 95% are French titles here, but if you go upstairs there is one wall of English paperbacks. Both downstairs and upstairs about 1/3 of the room is old LP’s, and there are CD’s on the main level. Other location: 1809 Mont Royal St. East (514-521-6118).

I’m not sure what it is about quilting (and I’m afraid to find out), but people who start it become hooked very quickly. Unlike other craft forms, it is not that difficult for a beginner to get good results. Beginners can use bigger pieces and have less seams and less work in order to achieve a beautiful and useful product.

Easy patterns give you all the essential information, like how to cut the shapes, how much fabric you need and step by step instructions. The other option to learn quilting is to take one of the many courses offered by other addicted women..

Yesteryear, women had so many chores, and sewing was one of them. This one, however, allowed them the opportunity to get together to gossip and chat. With our lives so busy nowadays, we need something like quilting to make us stop and get in touch again – with the beauty that can come out of our fingertips and with others whose lives we learn about as we stitch along. In this new/old social form, women get together and relax by sewing the quilts, which either can become practical items used on a bed or as an art form to be hung on a wall.

Quilting is like painting with fabric. It is also somewhat like a jigsaw puzzle in which you have fun cutting shapes and putting them together in a pretty colored pattern. Quilting is not a passing fancy, but an old tradition that is still being passed on.

Calico Cottage Quilt Shop, Rte. 132 East at the Merrick Gas Station, Kanawake. Phone: 450-632-7070. Hours: Monday to Saturday 10 am to 5 pm, Sunday 12 pm to 6 pm. Look for this shop in the back of the lot of the service station. It is worth going there for its pricing policies – $6.50 to $14.30 for the 100% cotton fabric (at least 2,500 bolts). There are books, patterns (some of their own) and fat quarters (18″ x 22″ squares) which people collect until they have enough for a quilt. They sell 110″ fusible backing and the popular Ott-lite, which is used for better visibility while you are quilting (artists and engineers have been known to come in for those too). Each season, classroom courses are offered on all the different types of quilting. Sometimes quilts are for sale too.

Quilte Classique, 63D Donegani Ave. at King St, Pointe Claire. Phone: 514-630-8885. Hours: Monday to Saturday 10 am to 5 pm. Yes, you can get your 100% cotton here, from $10 to $18 a meter, and also your thread, hoops, stencils, batting, books and patterns. You can also sign up for one of the fifteen different kinds of classes, which usually run from Jan-May and then again from Sept-Dec. Classes cost from $30 to $50 just for the instruction, and then double that for all of your supplies, but just think of all the therapeutic value you will receive from your quilting group and your busy fingers. www.quilteclassique.com
La Maison de Calico, 324 Bord du Lac at Golf Ave., Pointe Claire. Phone: 514-695-0728. Hours: Monday to Saturday 10 am to 5 pm, Sunday 12 pm to 5 pm. Walk into this old house and let the decor and handiwork evoke memories of yesteryear. Creative people with itchy fingers who want to learn quilting, smocking, teddy bears, silk ribbon embroidery, applique and even photo transferring come here to take courses and to buy supplies – cotton fabric, quilt kits and even handmade thimbles. There is a bit of giftware for sale: vases, glassware, Mighty Leaf tea, quilts (for babies too) and a bit of lacework. The wonderful aromas come from the tea parlour in the back. www.maisondecalico.com