Bombarded by pics of post-rehab Lohan we occasionally forget that life extends beyond the borders of Tinseltown.

Get a powerful dose of reality at the World Press Photo exhibit presenting the best photojournalism of the past year. See 2009 winner Pietro Masturzo’s image of discontented Iranian voters on an evening rooftop, casualties of drug wars in Colombia, and George W. Bush’s last days in office.  While many are haunting, there are lighter moments like the extreme skateboarder flying over a 27-meter mega ramp and the determined face of a 99-year-old table-tennis player in full swing.

Will Lindsay’s pout make the cut next year? Only time will tell.

World Press Photo 10, until October 3, Just for Laughs Museum, 2111 St-Laurent Blvd., Montreal, 514-845-4000, www.worldpressphoto.org

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

After a season of stripping down we’re pretty excited to cover up those tan lines.

For fall we’re filling our closet with military-inspired pieces from Only’s first downtown boutique at Place Montreal Trust. The Danish brand carries comfy stylish clothes that are fabulously affordable. We’ll pair the caviar Sergent Wool Campaign coat ($119) with slouchy grey Lala chinos ($45). Or, an eggplant Tower PU bomber jacket ($85) with blue-wash stretch jeans ($49) and kick-ass army boots.

March on.

Place Montreal Trust, Metro Level, 1500 McGill College Ave., Montreal, 514-289-5391, www.only.com

Le Maître Chocolatier’s Nada Fares compares her creations to a “little black Chanel dress.”

So luxe are her dark chocolates that Bombardier stocks them on its private jets. Handmade from premier cru cacao they come in scrumptious flavors ($2.25 each) like white chocolate with real organic lemon, caramel with fleur de sel (based on a recipe from grandmama) and ‘Mon Petit Quebecoise,' a blend of peanuts, praline and Maldon Sea Salt. Upstairs you’ll find a cozy salon where Hotel St-James sends guests for high tea served in bone china with freshly baked scones and mini-macarons ($32 per person). 

Classy and classic, just like la robe.

Le Maître Chocolatier, 1612 Sherbrooke St. W., Montreal, 514-544-9475, www.lemaitrechocolatier.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

Chef Normand Laprise’s Brasserie T! is not only fab food but pure design genius.

Set in a simple rectangular box in the new Quartier des Spectacles, the skylights and floor-to-ceiling windows cast pretty glows on all who enter. The menu is simpler than Laprise’s Toqué! but no less yummy. We started with fried cheese ($4) followed by perfectly salty La Quercia cured ham ($12) (made by Ohio Amish) and rich Coquille St. Jacques ($20). There’s no liquor license yet so sweeten your tooth with a Big Band mocktail ($8) made with pineapple, vanilla and coconut. And come winter, the outdoor terrace will be turned into a mini skating rink.

Now that’s thinking outside the box.

1425 Jeanne-Mance St., Montreal, 514-282-0808, www.brasserie-t.com

Two months after giving birth, Gisele was posing on the beach in a bikini. Then there's us mere mortals.

To look long and lean in our own sandbox, we love the Essentrics Workout, a stretching regime used by Olympic and NHL athletes for strength, speed and tighter bums. Now creators Miranda and Sahra Esmonde-White have opened their first downtown studio. Nestled in a historic coach house with exposed brick walls and lockers from California Closets, you might spot Vanessa Hudgens striking a pose, or skater Joannie Rochette practicing hip stretches at the barre. Sign up for private sessions (from $65) or an inch-busting bootcamp ($120/month).

Bundchen, beware.

3431 Stanley St., Montreal, 514-989-0236, www.essentricsstudio.com

Whether you’re in it for pure sport or sheer pleasure (read: fit foreign boys), football fever is everywhere.

We’re showing our true colors in a limited-edition shirt from Umbro’s World Champions Collection (from $40). Artists from past winning nations have created seven funky designs that scream Ole, Ole, Ole. Ninteen-fifty champion Uruguay features a hand-drawn dripping effect, while Italy’s image by Tanino Liberatore looks like a '70s rock god.  And Bob Eine’s red lion, crown and castle crest on England’s jersey?

To that we say, Goaaall!

At Three Monkeys, Les Cours Mont-Royal, 1455 Peel St., Montreal, 514-284-1333, www.threemonkeys.ca

Other than feeding a craving for Thai food, we haven’t shopped Le Faubourg for years.

But now the opening of StyleXchange’s new flagship store is bringing us back to our old haunt.  We readied our SS 2010 wardrobe with a sweet Mackage leather bomber jacket ($595), a studded LBD by Minkpink ($99), and our fave JBrand 901 jeggings (on sale to boot).

Who needs spicy Pad Thai when you’ve got fashion this hot?

StyleXchange, 1608 Ste-Catherine St. W., Montréal, 514-937-5601, www.stylexchange.com

See photos from the grand opening on our Editors' Diary.