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Don’t be dragon your feet!

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TORONTO

A big shout-out to Dr. Sheldon Cooper! Not just the character on The Big Bang Theory, one of my most favourite sitcoms on TV, but to the real Dr. Sheldon Cooper, a really nice dentist who lives right here in the city, and whose practice is on Bathurst St. (at Steeles Ave.) Thanks very much for the awesome pens, Dr. Sheldon Cooper, and for putting a smile on my face!

Well, for everyone who missed out on the recent New Year’s celebrations, you have the Chinese New Year to look forward to — parties all over town, in malls, and restaurants carrying specific dishes celebrating this event.

To celebrate, one of Toronto’s most highly acclaimed Chinese restaurants, Lai Wah Heen, in the Metropolitan Hotel, is ringing in the Year of the Dragon with a limited time celebratory menu and special dim sum.

Lai Wah Heen is featuring special lunch and dinnermenus available for nine days starting Jan. 20th. In addition, themed a la carte items will be available, including a masterful “life-like” dim sum creation by Master Dim Sum Chef, Terrence Chan. This limited-time Supreme Dragon dim sum features a dumpling filled with lobster, which in Chinese is called a “dragon prawn”, along with shrimp and water chestnuts served in a light lobster broth.

“New Year is a very important celebration in Chinese tradition. The Year of the Dragon is particularly significant with all the qualities represented by the dragon, so it is one we want to celebrate in a unique way,” said Canson Tsang, director of Chinese food and beverage operations, Lai Wah Heen.

If you’re looking to get in some Chinese New Year’s celebrations along with excellent shopping, why not head out to Mississauga’s Square One, where preparations are underway for Gong Xi Fa Cai! — good luck, happiness and prosperity — taking place this Sat. Jan. 21, starting at 11 a.m. in the Centre Court.

Bring the whole family and enjoy amazing performances, traditional ceremonies and Chinese New Year food sampling. There will be the traditional lion eye-dotting ceremony and dragons and lions dance, plus at noon, a dragon’s parade through Square One. It’s a full day full of celebrations — plus tons of terrific shopping, too!

I reently stumbled upon this really neat, family-run restaurant with my two girlriends — it’s like a beautiful gem in this nondescript strip mall on Weston Rd., north of Sheppard. Called Panino Cappuccino, it’s home to some mighty fine Italian fare — but when the chef’s mom is in the kitchen, you know the food’s going to be like homemade, taken up a notch or two. We tried Italian spring rolls — spring rolls stuffed with prosciutto, bocconcini cheese, roasted red pepper and basil, served with a balsamic reduction.

They have grilled 12-oz. striploin with vegetables and potatoes for only $23 — rack of lamb for $26, a large selection of pastas and pizzas. Closed Sundays for functions, this place is open at 10 and closes late any other day.

  • PANINO CAPPUCCINO, 3218 Weston Rd. 416 741-4646 Mon-Thurs, 10 a.m. to 10 p.m., Fri, - Sat. 10 a.m. to 11 p.m. Paninocappuccino.com.

Just in time for comfort food snacking, check out the scrumptiously delicious Almost Perfect food shop, which brims with all sorts of favourites in frozen and fresh food. This company has been around for years and is a food-lover’s discount depot (there are several locations to choose from.) They carry a huge assortment of frozen, refrigerated and grocery products and name-brand products at fantastic prices. Right now for January, you’ll find name-brand granola bars, only $1.47, rising crust deluxe pizza only $2.97, name brand apple juice, only 57¢ and lots of other great deals. I checked out the location on Sheppard Ave.; check out the web page for the addresses in Oshawa, Ajax, Peterborough, Whitby and Trenton.

  • ALMOST PERFECT FROZEN FOODS AND MORE, 1150 Sheppard Ave. W. (west of the Allen Expressway) Mon.-Tues., 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.; Wed.-Fri., 9 a.m. to 7 p.m.; Sat., 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.; Sun., 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Almostperfect.ca

Danier Leather big warehouse shop in the west-end is offering up some mighty fine deals — just recently you’ll find savings up to 50% off the retail on a variety of coats, jackets, skirts, gloves, hats, and a very awesome selection of accessories. Good day to buy gloves! Great supply of briefcases, wallets and lots of other interesting goodies.

  • DANIER LEATHER FACTORY OUTLET, 2650 St. Clair Ave. W. (east of Scarlett Rd.), 416-762-6631, Mon.-Fri. 10 a.m. to 9 p.m., Sat. 9:30 a.m. to 6 p.m., Sun. noon to 5 p.m. Danier.com.

If the recent winter blast has you pining for spring, head on out to Plant World. This place is an institution — I remember shopping there when I was a teen — with an incredibly extensive category of products. Now is a good time to hunt down those beautiful hyacinths, but definitely visit as the company is having major savings on the rest of their beautiful seasonal items. In fact, a visit to any plant or flower shop really helps fill you with joy!

  • PLANT WORLD, 4000 Eglinton Ave. W. (just east of Royal York Rd.) 416 241-9174 Plantworld.net. Open seven days a week.

If you haven’t been to Yorkville for a while, now’s a good time to visit — lots of great shops, and it’s a great place for people watching. One place to visit is the famous Over the Rainbow shop, home to an astonishing array of high-end, name- brand clothing, particularly the jeans. The company is currently blowing out items at up to 50% of the retail and tons of goods are available. Name- brands include 7 For All Mankind, True Religion, J Brand and more.

  • OVER THE RAINBOW, 101 Yorkville Ave. south side, Mon-Wed, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sat. 10 a.m. to 7 p.m., Sun, noon to 6 p.m. Rainbowjeans.com.

SleepCountry, that name for a good night’s rest, is offering an exclusive warehouse sale for one day only this coming Saturday, at four specific locations. Here’s your chance to save big on 2011 floor models and clearance items, including overstocks, demonstrators, mix and match and more. There’s also savings on pillows and linens. Name brands include Tempur, Serta, Sealy, Kingsdown and more.

  • SLEEPCOUNTRY Warehouse Sale, Sat. Jan. 21, 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Four locations: 140 Wendell Ave. North York, 416 242-4774; 1349 Sandhill Dr. Ancaster, 905 648-9471; 210 Willmott St. Cobourg, 905 373-0750; 3600 White Oaks Rd., Unit #5, London, 519 691-0886; Sleepcountry.ca.

Lundstrom is the name behind beautiful designer wear and there’s a huge winter blowout warehouse sale taking place this weekend and a few choice weekends in the next few months, featuring savings up to 90% off the retail on gorgeous clothing in sizes 2-24. You’ll find everything you need including coats, day-wear, classic evening wear and great gift ideas, with new merchandise being added. Please check sale dates carefully.

  • LUNDSTROM WINTER BLOWOUT WAREHOUSE SALE, Jan. 21-22, Feb. 25-26, March 24-25; 255 Wicksteed Ave. (right at the end of Wicksteed near Eglinton and Laird), 416-696-2818, Sat., 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Sun., 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Do you have a tip for Strictly Savings? Email me at rita.demontis@sunmedia.ca. Listen for further deals weekend mornings with host Larry Fedoruk and technical producer Justin Ecock on Newstalk 1010; (Newstalk1010.com).

 

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