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

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

Need a long weekend beach read? Herewith, our editors' favourite summer page turners.

Summer Sisters by Judy Blume
If Are You There God? It's Me, Margaret was your pre-teen bible, pick up Blume's more mature novel, Summer Sisters. It follows two best friends from grade school to their 30s and blends adolescent whimsy and angst with some very grown up topics. (PS: Check out Judy Blume on Twitter). $10 at Amazon.ca
Maria Tallarico, Managing editor

Angelina: An Unauthorized Biography by Andrew Morton
Members of Team Jennifer will enjoy sinking their teeth into. But we’d never diss Angie—why mess with a gal with a knife collection? $16 at Amazon.ca
Marianne Wisenthal, Montreal editor

The Recessionista by Alexandra Lebenthal
"Too Big to Fail Goes to the Beach," is how New York Magazine's Jessica Pressler described Alexandra Lebenthal's hot summer debut novel, The Recessionistas. A fabulously juicy read. $19 at Amazon.ca
Athena Tsavliris, Toronto editor

Juliet, Naked by Nick Hornby
From the author of High Fidelity and About a Boy, Nick Hornby’s Juliet, Naked is the author’s latest look at what happens when love, parenting and relationships get in the way of life. The story of a washed-up musician also deals with one of Hornby’s favourite subjects: music. $21 at Amazon.ca
Malwina Gudowska, Calgary editor

One Day by David Nicholls
Expressed in snapshots of the same day spanning twenty years, this tale of two opposites, Dex and Em, who connect just before graduation, go their separate ways, yet stay in touch, sucked us in right from the start (perhaps because it begins with the pair bantering and snogging). $13 at Amazon.ca
Joy Pecknold, Vancouver editor

Fresh from DJing shows at last week’s Festival Mode and Design, The Tanuki Project has launched its trippin’ debut album.

During live shows, the Montreal-based electro-rock band creates an intense audio-visual experience with a video director projecting visual images set to the hypnotic live music. Now we can recreate the experience at home with Playground for Everyone that includes 52 minutes of downloadable visual material.

The rhythmic drumming and trip-hop beats had us strutting around the house like it was our very own catwalk.

$7.99 on iTunes.

Edward and Bella’s relationship might be intense but Mr. Will Shakespeare invented doomed teenage angst.

Experience tragic romance under the stars with Repercussion Theatre’s post-modern production of Romeo and Juliet. This year Shakespeare-in-the-Park has been given a slightly hipper twist with a rapping Romeo and female Benvolio. And for costumes, designer James Lavoie combines contemporary fashion with period pieces.

Bring your own blanket and watch out for vampires.

Romeo and Juliet, at various city parks until August 22. For times and locations go to www.repercussiontheatre.com, admission is free but do bring a non-perishable food item.

Maybe it’s the heat but we’ve missed those MTV misfits.

While waiting for Jersey Shore to hit Miami revisit favorite moments from Season One ($13.99 on iTunes). Get fashion tips from J-Woww, see Snooki’s self-defense moves, and learn the fine art of creeping from The Situation. And if that isn’t enough to feed your fix, the Jersey Shore Soundtrack ($9.99 on iTunes) features singles by Enrique Iglesias, Ludacris and Pauly D himself.

Just don’t forget to switch over to Mad Men when your pals come calling or you’ll become a social grenade.

Jersey Shore Season 2 premieres July 29 (7 p.m. PDT/10 p.m. EDT) on MTV Canada, www.mtv.ca

Fashion in the food court? Yes indeed.

Gearing up for its 50th anniversary, Place Ville Marie has launched a retrospective celebrating our city’s schmata past. Grouped by decade from 1850 to today, Montréal and Fashion: So Many Years, So Much to Show features massive images of stylish Expo 67 hostesses, iconic Gazette fashion editor Iona Monahan, a display of vintage bras (including the first push-up!) and a stunning fur-trimmed aubergine robe by designer Michel Desjardins.

Pad Thai on a tray has never tasted so chic.

Until October 29, Place Ville Marie, McGill College and Mansfield St., Montreal, 514-861-9393, www.placevillemarie.com

Facebook or face time? Smartphone or land line? Always connected or catch me if you can?

Take our quick-and-easy one-minute technology survey and be eligible to win an HTC Legend smartphone courtesy of Virgin Mobile.

Just please don't call screen us….

Start our Lifestyle and Technology survey here.

We’re into looks but we’re also into books.

With iPads and Kindles taking over, we think it’s time to celebrate the paperback. Out of Print’s literary-inspired t-shirts ($28) feature classic (but sadly discontinued) book covers like a first edition of Ayn Rand’s Atlas Shrugged, 1962’s Lord of the Flies and The Hound of the Baskervilles in turquoise v-neck. We like that ladies shirts are slim-fitting and made from soft distressed-cotton and for each shirt sold, a book is donated to kids in Africa.

Book smart indeed.

www.outofprintclothing.com

The King and Queen of jolie laide couples, Jane Birkin and Serge Gainsbourg, had a chemistry that was palpable.

It all began on the set of the 1969 film Slogan that launched several sexy duets and an 11-year affair. The satirical romp tells the story of a philandering director who falls for a doe-eyed English rose on a visit to Venice. Birkin won the role opposite her future lover despite not speaking a word of francais.  It all ends badly of course (on screen and in life) but just think, if it wasn’t for Slogan there’d be no Birkin bag. 

Quelle horreur!

$17.99 at HMV stores, www.hmv.ca