Nota Bene

I remember the first time I walked by the Nota Bene store on Avenue du Parc in November, 2004. A series of colorful German-made notebooks with aluminum edges were shown in the display window and I immediately thought “I am going to spend a lot of money here". And sure enough, over the following three years, I did.

* * *

Nota Bene sells an amazing array of imported designer stationery items – mostly of European and Japanese origin. If you're the type who prefers to think with a pen or a pencil in their hands, chances are you're going to love this store.

For note- and sketch-book snobs, there are dozens of high-quality items of which now-ubiquitous Moleskine would probably be one of the least interesting brands (speaking of sketchbooks, my personal preference, since 2004, is Bindewerk). There are also pens, pencils, multilingual organizers, high-quality paper, envelopes, folders and binders (in all possible Japanese and European formats, it seems) and countless curiosity items like giant staples and translucent rulers - all priced within reason (although the store is definitely no Dollarama) and available in different colors for those of us crazy enough to color-code our lives de bout en bout.

The owner, Russell, who mans the store most of the time, will be happy to assist you in English or French (or even German, if you so insist) and his enthusiasm for the products he sells is infectious. Nota Bene (Latin for “note well") is conveniently located on Avenue du Parc, a few steps from Sherbrooke street and a couple of blocks from McGill University.

Papeterie Nota Bene*
3416 Avenue du Parc
www.nota-bene.ca
(514) 485-6587