Nightlife - Blog

Playing Pool in Montreal

Brendan — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 10:27:30 GMT

Over the last several months, I’ve written a lot of posts for this blog about places that serve drinks. I’ve told you about the city’s best terasses (and explained that that is French for “patio”), Irish Pubs and, more recently, where the best places in Montreal are to go bowling. The next logical step, if there is such a thing in the nightlife department, is to tell you where the best places to play pool in Montreal are…

Image Battle Contest

Brendan — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 16:20:33 GMT

Things move fast these days. If you’ve just figured out what an iPOD BATTLE is, forget it. That’s over already. What’s the new “new”? It’s called an “Image Battle” and it’s going on right now at the SAT in Montreal…

Lady Gaga in Montreal

Brendan — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 16:43:06 GMT

When Lady Gaga kicks off her world tour in Montreal on November 27th at the Bell Centre, the world will be watching. In just a few short years, this pint-sized singer has become one of the most famous musicians in the world and this tour will, no doubt, dominate the entertainment media in each one of the 16 cities she plays. As a blogger, I’m fairly confident that I could just write “Lady Gaga” 50 times in a row and this would still end up being one of my most read posts…

Star Wars: May the Symphony Be With You

Brendan — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 11:36:52 GMT

The music from the Star Wars movies has become so well-known that I could write something as ridiculous as “dun, dun, dun, da dun-dun, da dun-dun” and you’d actually know what I was talking about. One huge part of our multi-decade obsession with the George Lucas film franchise is the iconic music that accompanies it and, later this month in Montreal, you’ll get the chance to hear it in person….

Where's the Nightlife in Downtown Montreal?

Brendan — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 14:13:30 GMT

In the summer, Montreal’s downtown core is hopping almost every night of the week. From the Jazz Fest to Just for Laughs to Francopholies, you can basically just wander down and find an evening’s worth of entertainment. But when festival season packs up shop for the winter, most people think that the area’s nightlife scene disappears with it. But, with a little digging, Montreal’s downtown reveals that there’s more going on there after-dark than you might think...

Absinthe at Sarah B

Brendan — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 13:41:45 GMT

Hotel bars seem to renovate at a higher-than-normal rate, though as just one part of a larger space, the changes are often fairly restrained. So when a well-known hotel in Old Montreal, the InterContinental, installed a new bar devoted to absinthe, it caught my attention…

M for Montreal

Brendan — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 12:07:39 GMT

Now in its 4th year, M for Montreal is the city’s ultimate out-of-town musical schmooze-down. Taking place November 19th-21st, it functions as a showcase for international industry folks, journalists and “taste-makers”, whoever that is exactly. But while it will be a mecca for dudes in leather coats, laminates and Blackberries, for the rest of us it simply means 3 great nights featuring some of the Montreal’s best bands…

Where to find Karaoke in Montreal

Brendan — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 17:05:00 GMT

As the video above demonstrates, everyone who lives at my apartment takes karaoke very seriously. Though my colleagues Daniel and Tamy have already taken a stroll down questionable-singing-street, I thought I’d give you an overview of what Montreal’s karaoke scene has to offer the late-night visitor to the city…

Montreal Comedy Stands Up

Brendan — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 10:50:27 GMT

Montreal’s comedy scene is often focused on the summer’s massive international yuks fest, Just for Laughs. But you know that any city that can support that much funny must have a full year’s worth of Hahas in it…

Bodies…The Exhibition in Montreal

Brendan — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 17:34:32 GMT

Bodies…The Exhibition just opened this past weekend in Montreal and runs until January 15. Described as “the science inside you,” this incredible touring exhibition of human bodies that have been dissected and preserved is currently showing at the Montreal Exhibition Centre, located on the 5th floor of the Eaton Centre. If you haven’t seen this unique and highly unusual exhibit before, now’s your chance. I've been before, and I must say, it really is something you have to experience for yourself...

Montreal Canadiens Hockey

Brendan — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 17:46:39 GMT

Going to a Montreal Canadiens hockey game is an absolute must if you’re in town during our less, uh, temperate months. Because, although Montreal has a distinct nightlife scene, nothing is more deeply ingrained into the consciousness of local Montrealers than the ups and downs of their beloved Habs...

Jay-Z Montreal Concert

Brendan — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 14:43:53 GMT

Jay-Z plays Montreal on October 30th at the Bell Centre and, by all accounts, half the city is going to be there and the other half is trying to find tickets. Not only is he one of the greatest rappers of all time, but he’s turned himself into one of the biggest, most important figures in the entire music industry. Jay-Z is coming to Montreal to run this town for the night…

Old Montreal Ghost Walk

Brendan — Wed, 07 Oct 2009 13:04:05 GMT

Halloween, as we all know, has dark pagan roots that have little to do with orange coloured-candy. October 31st was, according to the Celts, the day in which the line between the living and the dead disappeared. What better night, then, is there to talk a Ghost-walk around Old Montreal…

Montreal Halloween

Brendan — Wed, 07 Oct 2009 12:29:46 GMT

Halloween is supposed to be for children. It’s basically about costumes and candy. But adults decided fairly early on that they still wanted both tricks and/or treats on October 31st and Halloween has since become one of the wildest nights of the year. Montreal is no exception…

Bowling in Montreal

Brendan — Tue, 06 Oct 2009 17:10:43 GMT

When Justin Timberlake and big-time producer Timbaland were last in Montreal, word on the street is that the after-party was held not in one of the city’s swankiest nightclubs, but at a place called Sharx. Why would the man responsible for bringing sexy back choose such a place? In my mind, there can only be one reason: bowling.

Party Montreal: October, November, and December

Brendan — Tue, 06 Oct 2009 14:16:40 GMT

The end of Pop Montreal signals, for the most part, the denouement of Montreal’s non-stop festival season. But, as the leaves turn and winter descends upon the city in billowy white flakes, there is still a full slate of things to do. Let’s take a look…

Distroboto: Montreal Art and Music

Brendan — Mon, 05 Oct 2009 15:05:10 GMT

Tina Fey once called Montreal “New York with more cigarettes” and, for a while, a trip to most restaurants and bars revealed the city to be deserving of that tag. But, like any sensible place, Montreal has largely butted out of the smoking in public. But one enterprising organization has figured out how to create something new from the old and, in the process, given you a chance to take home a part of the cities’ vibrant art and music scene…

Roxanne Shante & Clues at Pop Montreal

Brendan — Fri, 02 Oct 2009 12:12:05 GMT

Here’s some video from Pop Montreal of Roxanne Shante and Clues…

Major Lazer and Crookers in Montreal

Brendan — Wed, 30 Sep 2009 16:03:30 GMT

Montreal nightlife has enough nightclubs, DJs and dancefloors to keep you dancing well into 2010. But on October 9th, Metropolis is the only dancetination your calendar needs to be aware of, as Major Lazer and Crookers are coming to town…

Festival du Nouveau Cinema: Nightlife picks

Brendan — Tue, 29 Sep 2009 17:30:52 GMT

The Festival du Nouveau Cinéma de Montréal (FNC) kicks off its 38th edition on October 7th to the 18th. With 48 countries showcasing more than 250 films, many of them in Montreal’s downtown core, there’s something for everyone, no matter your cinematic bent. Since this is a nightlife blog, however, I’ve circled a couple things that would be of interest to people like us…

Pop Montreal: Beyond the Music

Brendan — Thu, 24 Sep 2009 17:46:45 GMT

Pop Montreal attracts a lot of indie-types (I’m avoiding the word “hipsters” because it’s been overused into near meaninglessness). For some reason many seem to spend their time exclusively in the couple blocks between coffee shops on St-Viateur. Not that there’s anything wrong with that wonderful street and its wonderful coffee, but just as Pop Montreal offers so much more than just indie music, so too does the city that hosts it…

Piknic Electronique wraps up big

Brendan — Sun, 20 Sep 2009 18:13:34 GMT

Judging from the crowds this summer, it’s pretty clear that the word on Piknic Electronik has gotten out. The reasons why are pretty obvious- not only do they bring some of the best electronic music to Montreal, but they bring it to a beautiful outdoor setting smack dab in the middle of Sunday afternoon. The PIKNIC season is drawing to a close, so you make sure you get yourself out there soon…

Best Montreal 5-a-7: Part 2

Brendan — Fri, 18 Sep 2009 15:32:12 GMT

A couple friends recently pointed out that my previous post on Montreal’s best 5-a-7s seemed to all be located suspiciously near my apartment. I responded that if that was my main determining criteria, I would have included the 5-a-7s that I regularly throw in my apartment as the workday comes to a close. I also wouldn’t have included that sneaky “Part 1” in the post title. But, point taken. So, in part 2, we stretch our drinking wings a bit (p.s. please don’t drink and fly)….

Montreal gets Black and Blue

Brendan — Thu, 17 Sep 2009 17:03:36 GMT

I was hired to be a nightlife blogger for Montreal because I know the city’s nightlife scene fairly well. I was also hired because if I don’t know much about something specific, chances are I know someone that does. With a scope as wide as “things that happen when it’s dark,” there’s no way I’m going to love all of it. I bring this up because, while it’s not really my scene, the Black & Blue ravedown happening on Sunday October 11th, might be yours…

Pop Montreal Big Ticket Picks

Brendan — Tue, 15 Sep 2009 11:51:17 GMT

Kanye West, Taylor Swift, Lady Gaga…this post has nothing to do with any of those people and everything to do with the real, genuine music coming to Pop Montreal this year. But hey, I won’t tell Google if you don’t…

Polaris Music Prize and Montreal

Brendan — Wed, 09 Sep 2009 17:34:13 GMT

The Polaris Music Prize is an annual music award given out to the best Canadian album of the year. Though Canada already has the Juno Awards, Polaris is special because unlike the industry-centric Junos, it’s given out based exclusively “on artistic merit, regardless of genre, sales or record label.” It has also helped show that Montreal has one of the best music scenes in the country…

Montreal’s Best Irish Pubs

Brendan — Tue, 08 Sep 2009 14:17:52 GMT

The Irish pubs of Montreal are some of my favorite places to experience the city’s nightlife scene. Though this city may be home to a wealth of high-end spots to get fancy cocktails, if you’re looking for a simple, friendly place to get a pint of beer and some great pub food, Montreal has you covered…

Montreal Burlesque Festival

Brendan — Wed, 02 Sep 2009 11:48:46 GMT

I tend to view burlesque as a chance to see beautiful, half-naked women without getting in trouble with your girlfriend. But then again, I’m a bit of a philistine. But Montreal’s 1st annual Burlesque Festival, taking place from September 17th-20th, intends to showcase, for philistines and devotees alike, how much more goes into this unique art form…

Montreal bloggers invade Toronto

Brendan — Tue, 01 Sep 2009 13:11:01 GMT

On Thursday, September 3rd, the Tourism Montreal Bloggers will be in Toronto giving away 9000 Montreal bagels. And some free trips to Montreal…

Pop Montreal and Montreal

Brendan — Mon, 31 Aug 2009 14:56:11 GMT

In a city flush with festivals, Pop Montreal is, by a long shot, my favourite. Not simply because the music they’ve bringing to the city since 2002 is right up my alley (one year I caught almost 40 different acts ), but because they continue to expose people to some of Montreal’s best-kept secrets…

Best Montreal 5-a-7: Part 1

Brendan — Wed, 26 Aug 2009 17:55:42 GMT

Ah, the Montreal 5-a-7, a beloved local tradition that is basically just a “happy hour”. Why is it so popular? Perhaps it’s no more complicated than this: Montrealers are social people who love being out and about, so who wants to wait until late into the evening to meet up with some friends for martinis, cocktails and other great drinks? To help you find out where Montrealers go for their favorite 5-a-7s, I’ve assembled a list of the best in Montreal…

Montreal Poker: Where to Play

Brendan — Wed, 26 Aug 2009 11:22:20 GMT

Poker is the biggest card game in the world and, though Las Vegas is still king, Montreal has become an international destination for poker players of every skill level. Even Cirque de Soleil’s Guy Laliberte is known as a huge fan. From the VIP poker room at the Montreal Casino, to some other spots you may not have heard of, Montreal is holding all the cards necessary to take care of all your poker needs…

Nascar: Racing Back to Montreal

Brendan — Tue, 25 Aug 2009 09:50:58 GMT

With no F-1 this summer, Montreal car racing fans are abuzz with the return of NASCAR in Montreal on Friday August 28-30 at Circuit Gilles Villeneuve. A city that loves cars and partying, Montreal is the perfect place to experience this awesome and unique event…

Party on St-Laurent in Montreal

Brendan — Tue, 18 Aug 2009 21:06:46 GMT

If you want to party in Montreal, St-Laurent is one street that you can’t miss. Known locally as The Main, St-Laurent stretches from Montreal’s Chinatown to Little Italy. In this space, it manages to intersect several very different pockets of Montreal’s nightlife scene….

Stereo Nightclub Reopens in Montreal

Brendan — Tue, 18 Aug 2009 13:24:26 GMT

One of the best nightclubs in the world, Stereo, reopens in Montreal on Labor Day Weekend, Thursday September 3-7. This 5-day party is a Montreal nightlife celebration of dancing that is not to be missed…

Beer Bottle Paradise in Montreal

Brendan — Fri, 14 Aug 2009 15:25:38 GMT

The province of Quebec has over 1600 micro-breweries serving more types of beer than you could drink in two lifetimes. Sure, most people know the French love their wine, but Montreal is getting increasingly obsessed with some of the best beer in the world…

French Music In Montreal

Brendan — Tue, 11 Aug 2009 17:37:00 GMT

With the Quebec Folk Festival (the Internationale de Musique Folk de Quebec) in full swing and culminating with some great shows this weekend, this seems as good a time as any to tell you where to find traditional Quebecois music in Montreal…

Piano bars in Montreal

Brendan — Thu, 06 Aug 2009 17:07:00 GMT

When you think of a piano bar, the line “Play it Again, Sam” comes immediately to mind. You think of guys in tuxedos and gals in cocktail dresses, martinis and cigarettes in hand, serving up requests to the dapper man tickling the keys for dollar tips placed in an over-sized snifter. Given that this wonderful nightlife image comes from decades ago, the piano bar is much harder to find these days.

But there are still a couple places in Montreal where you can spend a couple hours going back in time…

Montreal's Top Terrasses

Brendan — Tue, 04 Aug 2009 16:09:15 GMT

To understand why Montreal is a must-visit destination during the summer (a whirlwind period of music, comedy, arts and culture festivals, an unending night of long dinners, drinks and after-hours merriment), one need look no further than Montreal’s winters. Montrealers, contrary to popular belief, don’t love the cold. They tolerate it- where do you think all that moody art and music comes from? So they reluctantly hole up in their houses and apartments, confident with the knowledge that, come June, they won’t be inside for a second more than necessary.

From this seasonal dichotomy springs the all-out Montreal summer. It is why, on any night of the week, you will see the bars of St-Laurent and St-Denis filled with people. It is why a quiet dinner out becomes an all-evening affair. And it is why, on a sunny day, every patio (known in Quebec as a “terrasse”) in the city is filled from the second it opens until several moments after it closes. Being a city of endless variety, there is a terrasse for every type of occasion, mood, whim and/or fancy. Here then are some of Montreal’s top terrasses...

Music Videos and more at the MACM

Brendan — Fri, 31 Jul 2009 15:06:25 GMT

The MACM, or Musée d'Art Contemporain de Montréal, is normally the domain of my colleague Daviel, whose knowledge of the Montreal art scene towers over my “that’s a pretty picture” style approach to art criticism. There are, however, occasions when the MACM crosses over into the dark realm of nightlife…

Live Music in Montreal

Brendan — Tue, 28 Jul 2009 17:20:34 GMT

Montreal has been a musical mecca since the 1920s, when its famed burlesque and jazz clubs offered audiences something that couldn’t be found anywhere else. Given that this coincided with U.S. prohibition, that “something” may in large part have been “booze”. But the cities’ attachment to live music has never waned and its jazz scene eventually begat the Montreal International Jazz Festival, the largest of its kind in the world.

Fast-forward to the present and, internationally, the city has become known for its electronic music (Mutek is the local fest devoted to the genre) and an indie music scene that has delivered Arcade Fire, Wolf Parade, Malajube and more to the world’s ears. Many of which have played Pop Montreal, the indie fest that has expanded to include a bit of everything. Again the city itself plays some role in this phenomenon: low rent attracts musicians and artists from all over, and the creative bonhomie keeps them here and collaborating. Or maybe it’s just all the attractive women. Montreal is a city that likes to go out, to eat, drink, see and be seen, so you could do worse than wandering around without a plan. But if you’re looking for live music, here are a couple highlights that your ears won’t want to miss...

Osheaga + MEG = Awesome

Brendan — Fri, 24 Jul 2009 16:17:31 GMT

If you’re in town for Osheaga, Montreal has more than enough nightlife stuff going on to keep you dancing before, during and after the massive two-day concert at Parc Jean-Drapeau. From Thursday straight through to Sunday, be it in the city, in a park or even on a boat, Montreal is having tons of fun…

A big part of the reason that Osheaga has taken commanding control of the first weekend in August is their partnership with MEG (Montreal Electronic Groove). Now in their 11th year, this 4-night electronic-of-all-types festival features its own stage at Osheaga, club events, live music showcases, some 5-a-7s and one not-to-be missed party on a boat – a great way to get to know Montreal while having a blast. From late afternoon to early, early in the morning, read on for the run-down…

Top 5 Montreal Festivals you may not know

Brendan — Wed, 22 Jul 2009 15:54:17 GMT

If you haven’t noticed yet from this blog’s coverage of Mutek, Osheaga, Jazz Fest and Just for Laughs, Montreal is a city obsessed with its festivals. The reason is simple: for many cold months, Montrealers are stuck in their apartments drinking red wine and waiting out the winter, so when summer hits, no one is ready to go home until at least October…

Though Montreal boasts some huge, big-ticket festivals like those mentioned above, it also boasts some smaller, yet no less big-time fests. From French music to beautiful lanterns, there’s something happening every night from now until it’s time to put the snow tires back on.

Here are the Top 5 Montreal Festivals you may not have heard of...

Montreal Bachelor Party

Brendan — Mon, 20 Jul 2009 16:11:44 GMT

Montreal Bachelor Party: When a good friend of mine needed a bachelor party organized, there was only one city in Canada that was up to the task: Montreal. Not just because of its incredible Nightlife scene, which has something on the go every night of the week, but because, in general, this is a city that knows how to cram a range of things into a 24-hour adventure…

Sure, Las Vegas is often the bachelor party planner’s first choice, but time after time, Montreal clocks in as North America’s #2. Why? Well first off, you can do everything in Montreal that you can in Las Vegas- from gambling to big name shows- for a fraction of the price. It’s VIP high-rolling that your wallet won’t be ashamed of the morning after. Montreal also has a nightlife scene that has been thriving for decades, and when you mix in Montreal’s old-school European influence with its new-world, cutting edge taste in partying, you have a place that can host a bachelor party with class. Something that Las Vegas has to work a bit harder at…

Tourism Montreal bloggers invade New York

Brendan — Mon, 13 Jul 2009 14:48:49 GMT

Dear New York,

My fellow Tourism Montreal bloggers and I are about to fly into New York to lay some French kisses all over your big apples. We’ll be in town this Thursday and Friday, July 16th and 17th, for a guerilla-style assault on the romantic imaginations and recession-strapped wallets of New Yorkers...

Montreal Nightlife: Baldwin Barmacie

Brendan — Mon, 13 Jul 2009 11:12:46 GMT

For the fourth installment in the Montreal Nightlife video series, I visited Baldwin Barmacie, a sleek and sophisticated bar/nightclub/lounge on Laurier, near Avenue du Parc. I spoke to Baldwin’s Alex Baldwin about designing a place reminiscent of his own living room...

Backstage at Just for Laughs with Mike Paterson

Brendan — Fri, 10 Jul 2009 10:49:17 GMT

Just for Laughs, which takes place from July 3rd to July 26th, has already begun inundating Montreal with hundreds of funny men and women. The hugely popular comedy fest turns this wonderful city into a knee-slapping laugh riot. There is so much going on that sometimes it’s hard to know where to start.

For this reason, I enlisted the aid of one hilarious Montrealer, Mike Paterson, to help you go backstage at Just for Laughs, to find out not only where he’ll be playing and which shows he’s excited for, but where to all the comedians hang out after hours…

Montreal Nightlife: Ginger

Brendan — Mon, 06 Jul 2009 09:19:38 GMT

For the third installment in the Montreal Nightlife video series, I visited Ginger, an asian fusion restaurant with a wild side on Avenue des Pins, near St-Laurent Boulevard. I spoke to Ginger's Jeremy Hufana about the restaurant, as he fielded phone call after phone call from people looking for a reservation...

Drink in Montreal: Bagg Taverne

Brendan — Fri, 03 Jul 2009 16:46:50 GMT

The neighborhood bar is, of course, not just for those that live nearby, though the locals certainly do tend to spend a lot of time there. Neighborhood bars do however always feature a comfortable, unpretentious atmosphere, a friendly bartender or two and a commitment to keeping their drinks reasonably priced.

Bagg Taverne, located in the Montreal neighborhood of Mile End, is just this type of place. Being a person who likes this kind of spot (I think I might have one in every neighborhood in the city), I swung by during their opening night to take a look...

Montreal and Osheaga: Coldplay, Beastie Boys...

Brendan — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 12:18:51 GMT

If you haven’t noticed yet, Montreal is a city that loves its festivals. From the huge (like the Montreal Jazz Festival) to a bit more off the radar (like Les Nuits D’Afriques). So, when a new fest comes to town, it needs to find a way to stand out.

Enter Osheaga, the music festival that launched in 2006, which takes place on August 1st and 2nd. It has two major wildcards up its sleeve: it brings musical acts like Coldplay and the Beastie Boys to Montreal and it’s hosted on Parc Jean-Drapeau, a beautiful outdoor space that seems to have been designed with this very fest in mind…

Montreal Nightlife: Korova

Brendan — Tue, 30 Jun 2009 09:11:10 GMT

For the second installment in the Montreal Nightlife video series, I visited Korova, a great nightclub on St-Laurent Boulevard. I spoke to Korova’s Nick Robinson in his luxurious office to find out more about this no-nonsense bar....

Montreal Jazz Festival: 5 Must-See Montreal Acts

Brendan — Sun, 28 Jun 2009 14:52:21 GMT

There’s no shortage of shows to see during the Montreal Jazz Festival. In fact, trying to see everything you and your ears want to hear is near impossible. What you need, then, is a way to cut through the program and pick out something special…

My suggestion is to start by checking out some of the best Montreal-based musicians that the Jazz Fest has to offer. From soaring piano pop to funky film scores, this year’s lineup proves that the diversity and love for music that helped create the Montreal Jazz Fest is alive and well in 2009…

Montreal Folk Festival on the Canal

Brendan — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 13:47:07 GMT

If you’re looking for some beautiful music in a beautiful setting, the Montreal Folk Festival on the Canal is the thing for you this weekend.

The second edition of this great, one-day-only mini-fest is going down this Saturday, June 27th, on the St-Ambroise Terrace of the McAuslan Brewery, which is nestled on the banks of the Lachine Canal...

Montréal Nightlife: Blizzarts

Brendan — Mon, 22 Jun 2009 15:06:35 GMT

To kick off a series of Montréal Nightlife videos, I decided to start with a profile of Blizzarts, a great bar/nightclub/lounge on St-Laurent Boulevard. I spoke to owner Jon Webb to find out what type of crowd they attract and what are the best nights of the week to show up: Tuesday night is hosted by the infamous Peer Pressure crew, Wednesday night is reggae, dub and dancehall, and Saturday is their Mod Club night of 60s and 70s rock, pop and R’n’B.

I also investigated what exactly goes into a "brojito"….

Music provided by Montréal musician C-P Megarbane

Blizzarts, 3956 Saint-Laurent Boulevard

Montréal’s Just For Laughs Comedy Festival

Brendan — Wed, 17 Jun 2009 19:44:16 GMT

For many people, including me before I moved to Montréal what seems like many moonlit nights ago, stand-up comedy was enjoyed primarily on vinyl that their Dads owned or seen on comedy shows headlined by a big name.

But seeing comedy in person is an entirely different beast. When it’s good, I can think of no better way to spend an evening. I mean, music is fine, but it’s not all that funny. Except for Weird Al. Sort of. When stand-up comedy is bad, which, at local amateur nights, is at least half the time, it’s truly excruciating. Luckily, from July 17th-21st, Montreal is home to Just for Laughs, one of the world’s great laugh fests…

The Montréal International Fireworks Competition

Brendan — Tue, 16 Jun 2009 17:57:22 GMT

Everyone likes fireworks. For some, they enthrall because they use the beautiful night sky as a canvas on which to paint a shimmery, ever-changing masterpiece of colour and light. For others (mainly men and small children), they are awesome because they go boom.

Montréal is a city that loves fireworks. So much so that every weekend from now until the end of the summer, Montréal welcomes the world to its skies with the Montréal International Fireworks Competition…

Facebook picks Montréal’s best Mojito

Brendan — Tue, 16 Jun 2009 17:53:03 GMT

When used properly, social networking sites like Facebook and Twitter allow the individual to plug directly into the collective consciousness. They allow for an immediate, unfiltered understanding of what the world is thinking. At their best, they represent a paradigm shift in how we communicate.

As a self-proclaimed Web 2.0 guru (I see myself as a cross between the Dalai Lama and a robot), I often use social networking to explore some of the world’s most pressing topics. Such was the case when I recently took to Facebook with an important question for the people: Where is Montréal's best Mojito?

A Google Map of Montreal Nightlife

Brendan — Fri, 05 Jun 2009 15:43:44 GMT

If you’re visiting Montréal to come experience our incredible Nightlife scene, there are so many options that it can be hard to get your bearings. You may have come to town with a couple places in mind. You may have, if you’re very astute, handsome and intelligent, been reading this Nightlife blog and gotten a couple ideas for where you want to go. But, if you’re planning to jump around the city a bit, to let the night winds take you where they will, it’s nice to know where all those spots are in relation to each other.

For this reason, I’ve taken the time to make a special Nightlife in Montréal Google map for you to help plan your nights out on the town…

Outremont: Attractive Waitresses and Arcade Fire

Brendan — Wed, 03 Jun 2009 18:03:14 GMT

I love when a whole evening can be had in one small corner of Montreal. Though this is a city easily traversed by bus, metro or bike (and now Bixi), there’s something special to planting yourself and some friends somewhere and seeing what comes…

No corner better fits this description than the intersection of Fairmount and Hutchinson, where the hip Mile End neighbourhood turns into the quietly upscale area of Outremont. This trifecta of fun boasts two of my favorite restaurants and one of my favorite places to see live music…

Dance in Montreal: An Introduction

Brendan — Sun, 31 May 2009 10:51:24 GMT

This may come as a shock to you, but I’m not a big dancer. I think it’s been the years of working as a music critic, where the job entails standing at the back of the venue, often beside the other Montréal music critics and taking in the music and crowd analytically. Or, that’s what I tell myself anyway – maybe I’m just a bad dancer…

But I do recognize that many of you are dance-happy and, though you might not catch me on Montréal’s most happening dance floors, I definitely know where they are…

Mutek Montrealers: Ghislain Poirier

Brendan — Wed, 27 May 2009 12:58:44 GMT

He’s attracted international attention through his remix work (Les Georges Leningrad, Clipse, Lady Sovereign and more) and his albums for Chocolate Industries and Ninja Tune. But Ghislain Poirier imprinted himself on my Montréal music radar after I attended one of his legendary Bounce Le Gros nights, where his distinctive mix of hip-hop, dub, dancehall, baile funk and more collided. At the time, it was a mix of hip-swiveling dancefloor mayhem unlike anything I’d ever heard.

Fast-forward several years, and Ghislain has become one of Montréal’s dancefloor ambassadors, beloved at home and coveted by party people everywhere….

Drink in Montreal: Absinthe at Bily Kun

Brendan — Tue, 26 May 2009 11:00:38 GMT

After an incredible four-hour meal on Mount-Royal at the lovely Au Cinquième Péché, a culinary marathon featuring a seal appetizer and smoked pork served still smoking, it was clear that no ordinary after-dinner drink would suffice.

Only a round of absinthe at Bily Kun was up to the task…

Mutek Montrealers: Akufen

Brendan — Fri, 22 May 2009 15:11:05 GMT

It’s no coincidence that some of the biggest shows at Mutek are being left in the capable hands of Montréal musicians. The same love and support of electronic music in this city that helped make Mutek so popular has also helped propel several local artists to international acclaim.

A perfect example of this funky symbiosis is the man known as Akufen, who returns to Mutek with some new music I can’t wait to hear…

Montreal Jazz Fest: Rock, Rap and Beyond…

Brendan — Wed, 20 May 2009 12:09:44 GMT

A quick look at Montreal’s Jazz Fest line-up reveals that there’s a whole more going on than all that jazz. The fest has always featured line-ups of musicians from all corners of the world, playing every type of music under the sun. This year is no exception.

I’ve gone through the line-up and picked out a couple shows of note…

Mutek Exclusives: ATOM

Brendan — Tue, 19 May 2009 14:07:31 GMT

One of the most eagerly anticipated events of Mutek’s 2009 edition is the North American premiere of Robert Henke and Christopher Bauder’s ATOM. This mind-blowingly ambitious event is being undertaken only in Montréal during Mutek and is basically one of the coolest things I’ve ever heard of: a network of 64 helium-filled balloons which are each connected to a separate sound source. These balloons are then “played” like musical instruments.

A feast for the eyes, ears and mind, ATOM is a show unlike anything you’ve ever experienced before.

Drink in Montreal: Cocktails with Francine

Brendan — Sat, 16 May 2009 17:14:26 GMT

What the Hotel Loews Vogue’s L'Opera Bar lacks in size, it makes up for in Francine. You see, Francine has been the bartender there for 19 years (“I started when I was 15” she told me with a mischievous laugh) and legend has it she makes a mean cocktail.

It was clear that some serious investigation on my part was required…

Drink in Montreal: the 5-à-7 explained

Brendan — Tue, 12 May 2009 17:16:41 GMT

Simply put, a 5-à-7 is happy hour à la Montréal, but everything sounds (and often is) a little classier in French. A 5-à-7 does generally start at 5pm, but many go much later than 7pm, especially if they’re good. They are a treasured after-work tradition in Montreal, though it should be noted that the “work” part is entirely optional. Being a city of a 1000 options, Montréal has got a variation on the early drinks and food theme to fit with whatever mood you find yourself in…

I’ll be covering all kinds of 5-à-7s in the Drink in Montreal series, but to kick it off we spent a little time at Le Local in Old Montréal…

Montreal Jazz Festival: Some Big Ticket Picks

Brendan — Fri, 08 May 2009 12:48:27 GMT

Bringing in more than 2 million fans a year, the Montreal Jazz Festival is the largest event of its kind in the world. It’s a pretty amazing time to be in Montréal: the summer is in full swing, everyone is out and about, and everywhere you go there’s amazing music playing. It’s Montréal at its best.

It’s strolling around the blocked-off streets with a glass of wine and 100,000 new friends watching the biggest free concert you’ve ever seen. It’s sitting down to a show you’ve been waiting to see your whole life. It’s discovering a musician your friends, family and co-workers haven’t even heard of yet.

Music and Beer at Divan Orange

Brendan — Thu, 07 May 2009 14:48:14 GMT

In the summer, there’s no better place to be in Montréal than on busy St-Laurent. One of my favorite spots on The Main, as the street is known locally, is The Divan Orange.

Drink in Montreal: an Introduction

Brendan — Tue, 05 May 2009 12:55:58 GMT

Montreal has no shortage of places to have a drink. On some streets, like St-Laurent or St-Denis, you can’t move more than 5 feet without finding somewhere to grab a beer, enjoy an expertly-mixed cocktail or relax with a fine bottle of wine and some friends.

Mutek and Montreal

Brendan — Sun, 03 May 2009 13:42:10 GMT

This year, Mutek celebrates 10 great years of showcasing some of the world’s best electronic music and culture. In that time, it has become not only one of Montréal’s most beloved festivals, but one of the premiere events of its kind in the world.

I’m a huge fan of this unique event and will have a ton of exclusive tips, picks and profiles on this blog in the coming weeks. To kick it all off, I sat down with Dimitri Nasrallah, the Festival’s Content Manager and International Media Relations whiz. We talked about how the fest began and where it’s going…

In the studio with Plants and Animals

Brendan — Fri, 24 Apr 2009 16:17:09 GMT

In many ways, Plants and Animals perfectly represent the diversity that makes Montreal’s music scene so magical. Made up of one Francophone and two Maritime-expats, this trio formed while taking classes together in Concordia University’s Music Department. Their 2008 full-length debut album, which was nominated for two Junos and the Polaris Music prize, was titled Parc Avenue - a nod to the lively and eclectic street on which most of the group lives.

Recently, a photographer friend and I hung out in the studio as they worked on their new album..

Nightlife at the Museum

Brendan — Fri, 24 Apr 2009 14:55:37 GMT

In Montreal, you can even party in museums. That’s right, on the first Friday night of every month, the MACM (Musée d'art contemporain de Montréal ) opens its doors to a new way of experiencing its sleek interior and impressive contemporary art collection. Keep reading to find out what this night sounds like…

Café Local's Pulled Pork Poutine

Brendan — Fri, 24 Apr 2009 11:08:55 GMT

Café Local occupies prime real estate on the most Mile-Endy of Mile End streets: St-Viateur. The relaxed hotspot is not just perfect for whiling away the early evening hours, it’s home to a signature dish that’s been setting off delicious warning signals on my food radar for a while now…

April Music à la Montréal

Brendan — Sun, 12 Apr 2009 16:46:50 GMT

The month of March may come in like a lion and leave like a lamb, but this April, Montréal’s life at night is going all-lion, all the time...

Music and Food, Montréal-style at Sala Rosa

Brendan — Sun, 12 Apr 2009 13:08:08 GMT

Sala Rosa is a perfect night out in Montréal, conveniently packed into one building.

Meet some friends, have some food and drinks, see some music. No big deal.

Find out why I love it...

Eating late à la Montréal

Brendan — Tue, 31 Mar 2009 11:16:46 GMT

People in Montréal don’t go out until at least 11pm. But, by 12:30am everything, everywhere is packed. And by the time the bars close, people are trying to figure out where the loft party that goes till 6 am is.

In order to keep going, Montréalers need, let’s be honest here, something to soak up all that booze. This list just scratches the surface, but it’s a starting point for late night eats.