last-minute last-minute shopping guide

fig. a: Monna & Filles Cassis "Le Capiteux"
Monna & Filles has been wowing the crowds at this year's Salon des métiers d'art with their smooth, supple Le Capiteux cassis port from Île d'Orléans. The Salon ends today. You can also find Monna & Filles' l'Isle Ensorceleuse, their crème de cassis, at the Atwater Market SAQ.

fig. b: just 2 parts of a set of cocktail tools from Couleurs
Why bother getting retro knock-offs for your kitchen, dining room, or bar when you can get the real things at places like Couleurs?

fig. c: Guimauve Maison from les Chocolats de Chloé
Les Chocolats de Chloé is known for their exotic filled chocolates, but their chocolate bars and chocolate-covered homemade marshmallows are a little less precious, a little more down-to-earth, and just as fantastic.

fig. d: Moleskine Berlin City Notebook
Moleskine does it again. 2007 saw the release of their new series of City Notebooks, complete with maps, pouches, appendixes on "Measures and Conversions" and "International Sizes," and sections for "Notes and Thoughts," "Places, Legends, and Recipes," itineraries, restaurant tips, and other urban ephemera. You could get the brand-new Montreal City Notebook, but with dozens of European and North American cities to choose from, let yourself wander. Why not Berlin? What better place to keep that closely guarded list of currywurst stands you've been compiling? Available at Nota Bene on Parc Ave.

Salon des métiers d'art, Place Bonaventure, through December 22.

Couleurs, 3901 St-Denis, 282-4141

Les Chocolats de Chloé, 375 Roy E., 849-5550

Nota Bene, 3416 ave. du Parc, 485-6587