Sometimes even makeovers need makeovers. Remember Tonic Salon Spa? After 20 years in business, it has relaunched as the Tonic Aveda Lifestyle Salon and Store. The salon has two brand new locations in the Plateau. You can find them on Rue Saint-Denis at Rachel and Avenue du Mont-Royal Est at Christophe-Colombe. Meanwhile, Aveda has turned the original Tonic on Saint-Laurent into its flagship Quebec store and academy.

4177A, Rue Saint-Denis, 514-289-2549 and 1110, Ave. du Mont-Royal E., 514-528-5410, tonicaveda.com 

PHOTO: CORRADO CARUSO

Every year, the Festival TransAmériques (FTA) presents some of the best artists from the international dance and theatre scenes. This year, FTA strikes again. The festival starts tomorrow and runs for just over two weeks. Shows range from free (Sylvain Émard’s contemporary dance event) to $95, with performances all around the city. This year’s festival focuses on Montreal productions like Onde de choc, Ginette Laurin’s latest work; Children + A Few Minutes of Lock with Louise Lecavalier; and Frédérick Gravel’s brilliant Tout se pète la gueule, chérie. Some international highlights include Toneelgroep Amsterdam’s take on three of Shakespeare’s Roman tragedies and Sonia, a delightful drama from the New Riga Theatre. Also not to be missed are Merce Cunningham’s Nearly 90², the only Canadian date on the dance company’s final tour, and Wajdi Mouawad’s 11-hour trilogy Le Sang des Promesses.

From May 27 to June 12, fta.qc.ca

PHOTO: JAN VERSWEYVELD

Can’t choose between a restaurant or a wine bar? About to just give up and go to bed? Let us help. Introducing Accords, a new resto-wine bar in Old Montreal. Here the only tough decision is the “Accord/Discord. “ What’s that, you ask? Well, after choosing your main, the sommelier will suggest two wines to complement your dish: one classic pairing (the accord) and one less conventional (the discord.) Think rib-eye steak with a red Bordeaux, or ...a rosé champagne?

 212, rue Notre-Dame O., 514-282-2020, accords.ca 

PHOTO: CC

Enfant terrible and provocateur Dave St-Pierre is back in town to present his latest solo show, Bibelot. The Montreal-based choreographer, whose most recent dance performances shocked the local and international art scene, created a slightly more intimate work that introduces itself as something “fragile and useless”. Remember the delicate movements of the naked performers in Bare Naked Souls and A Little Tenderness for Crying Out Loud!, desperately looking for love and affection? In Bibelot, Dave St-Pierre strikes again and raises questions about identity, sexuality and human emotions, while revisiting the history of our bodies and using his own as a canvas. Bibelot will be performed at Tangente, a creation centre dedicated to contemporary dance, where you can also catch Warning from Mandala Sitù, a work for four dancers with a choreography conducted by Dave St-Pierre.

From May 20-30 at Tangente, 840, rue Cherrier, 514-525-1500, tangente.qc.ca

PHOTO: DAVE ST-PIERRE

A giant topographic map of Mount Royal made from layers of burnished Quebec maple forms the front desk at Victoria Park, a wellness centre (think gym, spa and organic market) in Montreal. Robert Hoppenheim, who led the design with architect Pierre Thibault and artist Mathieu Gaudet, sweat the small stuff – using repurposed wood from a Quebec barn to build the yoga studios, art work from locals like Peter Hoffer and river rocks from the St. Lawrence River to line the white oak boardwalks. The overall effect? A calming, urban retreat with a heavy note of Canadian nostalgia.

376 Victoria Ave., Montreal, Quebec, 514-488-7722,
vicpark.com 

Montreal already has a plethora of events happening throughout the year, but Elektra is one of the craziest, wildest festivals in town. Dedicated to the digital arts, Elektra proposes five days of live performances: from laser projections to experimental music concerts. Guest artists include local talent like Herman Kolgen and Jean Piché, as well as renowned international artists from Japan, Germany and the Netherlands. Do not miss Edwin van der Heide’s Laser Sound Performance, an immersive experience that will transform Usine C into a nervy digital playground for three consecutive nights. Just expect the unexpected; Elektra is always renowned for featuring edgy stuff you’re not likely to see anywhere else.

From May 5-9, various locations, elektramontreal.ca

It used to be that if you wanted to get your hair cut by Sheldon (and trust us, everyone did) you’d have to know someone who knew someone, but now – with a Facebook page, a website, and lots of buzz, the best-kept beauty secret in the plateau is going public. As creative director, Sheldon Gerbrandt has teamed up with MBA Frieda Ginsberg and together they’ve opened this elegant salon: a tasteful space that combines the sophistication of French Vogue with the fun (and mischievousness) of an afternoon cocktail. Call for an appointment with Sheldon or one of their other stylists: they’ve all been hand-picked, and they’re all sheer genius. 

4433 boulevard St. Laurent, 514-544-2211 
salonbelleepoque.ca 

What Kids hate spinach and Brussels sprouts, right? Well, if you’re looking for new ideas to warm them up to healthy eating, then you should definitely check out Les Épinards, a new bistro that makes fresh lunch boxes for children. Why Grown-ups will also find tasty eats, since Les Épinards is open for lunch from Monday to Saturday. They have a lovely selection of imported wines by-the-glass and beers from microbreweries that will be the perfect match for your rainbow trout served with lemon sauce, asparagus sauté and mushrooms.

35, ave. du Mont-Royal E., 514-657-4110, lesepinards.ca

What A new cute little shop located on Bernard Street, just a few steps away from Clark, filled with vintage stuff and beautiful miscellanea. Why The owners are from Corsica and they brought with them a collection of pretty things, including lamps, furniture, pillows, typewriters and globes. Style LABO also has exclusive imported objects from Europe and Japan that you won’t find anywhere else.

122, rue Bernard O., 514-658-9910, stylelabo-deco.com

What The ice-skating rink of Montreal’s Quays in the Old Port is now open. Why There’s no better way to make the most of the cold than ice-skating in Old Montreal, right in front of the Bonsecours Market. When you’re done, just walk a few blocks west and enjoy a drink at Vauvert, the Hotel St. Paul’s restaurant, which was part of our Top 15 Hotel Bars in Canada. They hold Bubbly nights every Thursday; you can try out a lovely selection of different champagnes, or have one of their amazing cocktails.

Quays of the Old Port’s Ice-Skating Rink, until March 7, 2010, 1-800-971-PORT, quaysoftheoldport.com
Vauvert, 355 McGill St., 514-876-2823, restaurantvauvert.com