Vitamin Daily

For a bit of fall fun, take yourself on a long weekend to Manhattan, the city that never sleeps.

do
Whether it’s your first trip or your fifth, launch your big apple adventure with a stop at the sleek NYC Information Centre. Use interactive touch-screen maps to get local celeb recommendations or create itineraries that can be emailed to your phone. 810 Seventh Ave., New York City, www.nycgo.com

shop
We squealed with delight upon discovering vintage-inspired dresses (from $178) at James Coviello. This girlie boutique on the LES carries soft floral numbers that hint at a time when swingy skirts and hourglass figures were the very definition of subtle sex bomb. 70 Orchard St., New York City, 212-695-0842, www.jamescoviello.com

sleep
The four-poster beds are divine but you won’t want to sleep at the new Gansevoort Park Avenue. More midtown chic than its Meatpacking sister, it has six bars, a heated roof top pool and spacious rooms with step-out balconies. Order cocktails and nibbles from your assigned iPod GPS and staff will track you down on any floor. And for trips around town, dial up the hotel’s chauffeur-driven Porsche Panamera. How 21st century. Rooms from $325, 420 Park Avenue S., New York City, 877-830-9889, www.gansevoortpark.com

eat
We love Sachiko’s On Clinton for traditional Kushiage made from crisp, panko-breaded beef, chicken or veggies served on skewers ($24/10). Sit in the back garden or in view of the restaurant’s striking David Hockney collage. If you’re lucky, Sachiko herself might bring out a bottle of sparkling Nama Sake from behind the bar. 25 Clinton St., New York City, 212-253-2900, www.sachikosonclinton.com

Catch one last outdoor concert before summer flies the way of the Canada Goose.

The Montreal Symphony Orchestra is launching its 2010-2011 season with a free open-air event featuring music by Strauss, Stravinski and Gershwin. An homage to Haiti, the show takes place in front of the MSO’s future l’Adresse Symphonique home with narration by Quebec writer Dany Laferrière and performances by Luck Mervil and Cirque Eloize. 

That all sounds fab but we’ll be focused on the sexy flip of Kent Nagano’s hair as he waves the baton.

7 p.m. September 2, on the Parterre of the Quartier des Spectacles, Montreal, 514-842-9951, www.osm.ca

We love re-stocking our fridge while re-vamping our wardrobe, but sometimes we need some fashion focus.

Joe Fresh's new 14,500 square-foot freestanding Studio is a jewel to behold. Housed in the stately Jean-Talon train station, it carries women’s, men’s and kid’s togs that had us feeling decidedly single-minded. We spotted a grey silk blouse ($39), matching mom-and-daughter motorcycle jackets ($49/$29), black stretch capris ($16), and a delicate pink lace bra ($16).

Put them all together and we’ll be multi-tasking in style.

Joe Fresh Studio, 395 Jean Talon St. W., Montreal, www.joe.ca
See photos from the store opening today on our Editors' Diary.

A new season calls for an adult attitude to lunch.

We’re kicking off the ‘school’ year with a natty lunch kit ($32) from UK designers black+blum. Made from BPA-free plastic, the lime-trimmed bag comes with a watertight container that divides into two bowls (for hot and cold), utensils, a sauce-dipping pot and healthy recipe book. Even better, the waterproof tote opens up to create a placemat or mini blanket that’s perfect for long lunches in the park.

Sure beats the Scooby Doo number we had in grade school.

www.iddko.com

Some people prefer their sushi hand-rolled. We like ours a little bit twisted.

Our heads were spinning after tasting Noa’s unconventional sushi-fusion, including the savoury Big Mak (modeled after its fast food namesake) with beef, mustard, tomatoes and a slice of cheese ($13). We adored the 5 Stars roll, served freshly fried with fish tartare ($12) and sushi pizza on a crispy crust topped with mozzarella ($15). Sipping gingery Saketinis ($12) on the South Beach-style terrace, we concluded we were never that keen on sticking with tradition to begin with.

That’s just how we roll.

Noa Sushi, 3509 St. Laurent Blvd., Montreal, 514-903-4439, www.noasushi.com

The "put your shoes on" tango just got a whole lot easier.

Modeled after its hip adult line, the kids Fall 2010 line of Native Shoes are super comfortable, casual and colourful (Hollywood Pink, Pencil Orange, and Gossip Purple are just a few of the punchy hues). Laceless and ultra light, we love that these too-cute sneakers are easy to slip on and off.

Well, as easy as it can be to get a 4-year-old to put his shoes on.

Kids shoes $35, Junior shoes $39; available at Young and Fabulous, 200-1700 Sprucewood Ave., Lasalle, Ontario, 519-962-8530, www.youngfabulous.com and Antisocial, 2337 Main St., Vancouver, 604-708-5678, www.antisocialshop.com

We’ve got travel-sized versions of our lotions and potions, but post-plane spills are dampening our wanderlust.

Our beauty bag is as dry as a long-haul flight since we discovered Just In Case from Mini Kittour. Designed in California, this leak-proof line of travel containers (from $6) does just as promised, and more. Lotion bottles are squeezable, sprays work 360 degrees with locking lids to prevent seepage and jars are ergonomically designed so you can reach every last drop of Crème de la Mer.

Bon voyage.

At 1-877-658-5487, www.minikittour.com

TIFF might have the star power of Matt Damon and Nicole Kidman, but we’ve got auteurs au but.

The 36th edition of the Montreal World Film Festival will screen 430 films from 80 countries, including Louis Bélanger’s much-anticipated fest opener Route 132. Our picks include the world premiere of Pete Smalls is Dead by indie director Alexandre Rockwell (9:30 p.m., August 28), Christine Cristina, the directing début of Italian diva (and Bernardo Bertolucci muse) Stefania Sandrelli, and a master film class taught by French actor Gérard Depardieu (September 6).

See, Montreal Cannes too!

August 26 to September 6, tickets from $10, 514-848-3883, www.ffm-montreal.org

When it comes to décor, we hate being hemmed in.

Home accessories boutique Buk & Nola seamlessly blends bohemian-Brit and Cali-cozy with scandesign and shabby-chic. We spotted nature-inspired Danish wallpapers (from $135/roll) and fern-print linen napkins ($42) beside a high-gloss Queen clock ($55) and Dachshund napkin holders (6/$30). We adored the in-house line of floral hanging lamps (from $40) and earthy pepper mills ($68) made from fallen Ontario tree branches.

Like what you see? Sign up for the personalized budget-conscious décor service that includes an inspiration board of swatches or full makeover of your space.

Buk & Nola, 1593 Laurier Street E., Montreal, 514-357-2680, www.buknola.com

Finally we’re one step closer to having the skin of a dewy English rose.

British-born Steam Cream is a vegan lotion ($19) made from locally and ethically sourced ingredients like oatmeal infusion, orange flower water and lavender oil. We love that it’s multi-purpose (great on face, body and hands), lightweight (so no goopy residue) and comes in charming re-usable tins (perfect for all our baubles and beads).  Our fave? The Rita Hayworth inspired pink-and-black snakeskin design.

God save the cream.

At Murale, 1 Place Ville Marie, Montreal, 514-875-1593, www.murale.ca