Tucked in a quiet little street in the heart of the Plateau neighbourhood, Nadia G’s studio welcomed us with a symphony of delicious smells. Josh, the producer, was wearing an awesome t-shirt in hot pink; he gave us a quick tour of Nadia’s pimped out kitchen, which at the moment was all decked out in red and green. The Bitchin’ Kitchen crew was in the midst of filming their Christmas Special, included in a string of brand new episodes for season number two – airing November 2 in the U.S. on The Cooking Channel, and a bit later on Food Network Canada.

Small and compact (with nicely cut biceps, I might add), Nadia’s larger-than-life on-screen persona is pretty much in sync with her easy-going off-screen demeanour. In other words, she’s really that cool. Dressed in a green shift dress, perfect ringlet curls, and gold stilettos, she looked one part naughty cherub and two parts sexy Santa’s elf, if such a thing exists.

Unfortunately, I didn’t get to meet Panos, the Greek fish monger or Hans, the show’s shirtless eye candy, but, yes, I did get to chat with the domestic diva herself, as well as knock knuckles with her triple-finger Bitchin’ ring, and share a grrl power high-five.

We received so many awesome questions for Nadia on Facebook, it was hard to narrow it down. Plus she gave so many fantastic (and hilarious) answers that it was a challenge to edit the priceless footage. Some good outtakes included Nadia’s favourite place to eat poutine (she likes Le Canard Liberé) and her exhaustive last meal menu should she ever be on Death Row, of which I quote, “It’s my last meal, I think I should be allowed to have more than one dessert, no?”

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On Sept. 1, 2011, the proud Montrealer made his world premiere of Gaia, a series of photos he took whilst hanging out (or floating around) the International Space Station. Sixty of his best shots are now displayed outdoors in the first-ever exhibition along the Promenade des Artists, a new public space sandwiched in the Quartier des Spectacles near the soon-to-open Adresse Symphonique.

Gaia means “Mother Earth” in Greek – I heard it means simply “Earth” in Aztec culture, so somebody please let me know. It is also the middle name of one of Laliberté’s kids. But basically it gets its meaning from the fact that all the photos were taken by Laliberté while floating in the high heavens and looking down (or up?) at our planet. If you can’t get enough of these images, you can take them home with you, albeit in a smaller book-size format. The full-colour tome also entitled Gaia is available for sale on-site at the One Drop booth (corner of Jeanne-Mance and de Maisonneuve, Wednesday to Sunday from noon to 9 p.m.), or at most major bookstores in the city. All proceeds go to One Drop and Fondation Desjardins, which work to raise awareness on water and the “threat to humanity created by shortages of drinking water.”

Said Laliberté, “When I gazed at Gaia – the Mother Earth of our ancestors – from above, I saw her fragility in relation to the universe, but also her great strength in relation to humanity. She has inspired in me the desire to live and have given me the will to take good care of her… I humbly share Gaia, for the very first time, with the people of Montreal.”

Printed on weather-proof vinyl on massive sheets of aluminum, the slightly hypnotic, highly abstract photos take on an installation feel, contrasting with their urban surrounding. You can roam the Promenade des Artistes 24-hours a day (the area is closely monitored by security). Plus there are fancy night-lights that allow you to discover each photo up-close any time of day, even while the rest of the city is sleeping.

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THE DETAILS

The Gaia Exhibition: Photos by Guy Laliberté, Promenade des Artists, September 1 to October 10, 2011

One Drop

Fondation Desjardins

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The 2011 edition of the comic convention is being hosted at Place Bonaventure on September 17 and 18. There is so much happening this year for comic book buffs and general enthusiasts that it’s certainly an event not to be missed. The two day convention seems to have covered all the party time bases with panel discussions, screenings, a meet and greet with Stan Lee, a Star Wars: The Clone Wars exclusive premiere, a masquerade, some card tournaments and, to top it all off, artists will be available to do on-the-spot sketches of your favourite comic book heroes.

Aside from guest appearances by bona fide living legends, Comiccon will also give convention goers the opportunity to see some highly coveted cars that are more famous than most people. To name a few, the original Bat Mobile and the DeLorean from Back to the Future will be here in Montreal for you to drool over. Finally you can also compare The General Lee from Dukes of Hazzard with young Luke Skywalker’s Landspeeder, which is a pretty sweet ride.

If that’s not enough the Quebec Imperial Fortress will be making an appearance. Aside from having an excellent website, the Quebec Imperial Fortress is a group of people and Star Wars enthusiasts who own high quality imperial costumes and grace public events dressed like storm troopers. To enrich the experience, the real R2D2 from the Star Wars movies will also be zipping around. With the storm troopers and R2D2 all you need to do is squint your eyes and you’ll probably feel like you’re living in Return of the Jedi.

Not only will there be comic book legends like Stan Lee be hanging out and signing autographs but you can also look forward to professional wrestlers like Sgt Slaughter and Rick Martel, lately of the Arrogance cologne fame. All this and world-class comic book artists will be in attendance.  Trust me, these are the droids you’re looking for.

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THE DETAILS

Montreal Comiccon, September 17-18, 2011

Place Bonaventure, 800 De La Gauchetière Street West

Photo Credit: Regard Hagard

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The JPG exhibit premieres here in Montreal and will subsequently travel to Dallas and then San Francisco. But why not come here during the summer, Montreal’s most seductive season? And why not see the made-in-Quebec exhibit in the city where it was born. There’s no other designer on the planet as creative, talented and provocative as Mr. Gaultier. A talented, homegrown team has put together the ultimate showcase of a most enchanting career – thus far. I know, I’m gushing.

Some key observations: The first novelty that guests encounter are the talking mannequins – which you just have to see to believe. Second, JPG’s illustrious portfolio spanning 35 years is not displayed chronologically but by theme, more specifically “boudoir, skin deep, punk cancan, urban jungle and metropolis”. Third, rooms are painted black, and as such lend a slightly eerie (in a good way), surreal ambience. A midsummer night’s dream, indeed.

In another unusual twist, Montreal will also welcome a massive parade in Gaultier’s honour on July 16, starting at the Museum and culminating at Quartier des Spectacles, where a JPG-fest will ensue. I heard that the honouree may show up to checkout the hoopla, but that hasn’t been confirmed as of yet.

I’d also like to add that, for those who want a bit of Gaultier to take home with them, there’s a catalog jam-packed with JPG photos, historical tidbits and celebrity anecdotes that’s available exclusively at the museum. More fashion-inclined shoppers can also pick up the classic mariner shirts at the MMFA gift shop or across the street at Holt Renfrew. So you’ll be able to have your stripes – and wear them too.

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THE DETAILS

The Fashion World of Jean Paul Gaultier: From the Sidewalk to the Catwalk, June 17-October 2, 2011

Montreal Museum of Fine Arts, 1380 Sherbrooke Street West, (514) 285-2000

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Chef Boulud picked the city’s most high-profile address for his new restaurant. After opening in 1912, the Ritz-Carlton was for decades the Grande Dame of Montreal hotels. It’s been closed since 2008 and the unveiling of its new look, in-house Tiffany & Co. store and 130 rooms and suites is anxiously awaited.

In its heyday, it’s where Hollywood starlets and heads of state chose to stay, and where the local high society held their glitzy balls. While never known for extraordinary cuisine, the hotel restaurant made a name for its afternoon teas – a beloved tradition – served in an unbeatable setting: a flower-filled outdoor patio with a duck pond in the center.

The patio and duck pond will return when the space reopens as Maison Boulud. “Only now am I realizing the importance of those ducks to this town,” admits Boulud, half-jokingly. The chef has made frequent trips to Montreal over the last decade, usually to go to the F1 race (he’s a racing fanatic and roots for Ferrari) and eat at as many restaurants as he can. “I know that there are amazing ingredients and amazing talent.” From now on he’ll be in town often, researching local eating habits – Joe Beef is one of the first places he wants to try.

While he hasn’t figured out a menu yet, Boulud plans to use as many local products and suppliers as possible, counting on his chef friends Normand Laprise (Toqué!) and Martin Picard (Au Pied de Cochon) for tips. Farm-raised venison and porcelet (piglet) are sure to be featured. As for the place itself?

“It’ll be upscale casual. Upscale because it’s the Ritz-Carlton and casual because I don’t want to open a fancy restaurant. I feel at home in Montreal, where people embrace and enjoy good food, and I think I can add something to this tradition.”

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Montreal’s own enfant terrible officially opened his eponymous boutique last Wednesday on picturesque Saint-Paul Street in Old Montreal. If you’re not from around these parts and don’t know much about this Gagnon-fellow (yes, he’s the one with the thick black glasses), his much-anticipated runway shows at Montreal Fashion Week have become social calendar events, packing the Marché Bonsecours to the rafters with cult admirers. And don’t even get me started about the after-parties.

So, last Wednesday’s event not only celebrated – finally – a permanent and easy-to-find spot where one can splurge on Denis Gagnon’s clothes, but also attracted a flashy, who’s who of the local fashion world. In addition, the slick new space introduces a more accessible prêt-à-porter collection that’s decidedly less pricey than the more haute couture stuff, but no less avant-garde. Personally, I have my eye on a sassy little striped number… BTW, another one of my fetish faves, designer Travis Taddeo, also has select pieces from his collection hanging alongside Gagnon’s frocks.

Literally an underground shop, the retail hotspot shares an entrance with adjacent Galerie Soho; and then shoppers are invited into the sleek white space via stairways into the subterranean space – where else can you find dressing rooms with fringe curtains? Denis Gagnon’s atelier is also located down there, so even if you couldn’t make the official opening, you can still rub elbows with The Man the next time you come down for a visit.

THE DETAILS

Boutique Denis Gagnon, 170B Saint-Paul West

Nearby: Next door at Le Petit Hotel, the lobby doubles as a chic café, a choice nook to grab a hot coffee while your credit card cools down.

Photo Credit: Sebastien Roy

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The first episode of The Borgias, directed by Neil Jordan (The Crying Game, Interview with the Vampire), just premiered on Showtime, with Jeremy Irons playing the power-hungry paterfamilias, Rodrigo Borgia, and Montreal actor Arnaud as his son, Cesare Borgia.

Arnaud is already a recognizable face here in Montreal, having already appeared in several Quebec TV shows and Xavier Dolan’s Cannes-award-winning debut, J’ai tue ma mere. But certainly, The Borgias is his big break—the first episode is as gorgeous as a tapestry and as blue as The Sopranos, and that probably means it’ll be a hit. Showtime has been selling the series as a replacement for The Tudors, only with sexy Italians instead of pasty-faced Brits. But for Arnaud, The Borgias’ rollicking 2-hour debut full of sex, murder, and Papal intrigue makes perfect sense.

“It always bothers me when I read reviews that say Neil is ‘sexing up history’,” says Arnaud. “Sex and violence is totally a part of that story and I don’t think it’s (gratuitous). If you think about it, most of what we know about The Borgias comes from what their enemies said,” he continues. “And I think those [dark] impulses are closer in human nature than we like to think.”

Montreal hangouts

In Montreal, posters for The Borgias are everywhere, so much so that Arnaud says he’s now getting recognized even more than before, though he doesn’t think he resembles his version of Cesare Borgia: “They made my skin darker, and I’m wearing a long wig….which is fine with me. I’ve always wanted to be an actor, but not to be famous. I want to live my life.”

When he’s not in L.A., Arnaud haunts his Montreal hood, including some of the spots he name-checks below.

Shopping: I don’t really like shopping for clothes, but I do like one place, Les Étoffes on Saint-Laurent. It’s a really small boutique and I really like what they have for men- their clothes are classy, different and unique, and not too flashy. I don’t like to show off with my clothes. And it’s hard to find men’s clothes that are masculine, but not H & M.

Restaurant: Au Tarot has the best couscous ever! It’s really cheap and really huge and I usually have leftovers for three days. La Montée de lait, it’s so super busy all the time, I can’t think how it could become more busy. But it’s good!

Bars: I’m not really a club person, I prefer dive bars and neighbourhood spots. Waverly Bar that just opened in Mile End is good. I kind of love Buvette Chez Simone, but mostly on weekdays because it’s so busy.

Neighbourhoods: I like Mile End a lot, it’s near where I live. And I like St-Henri and Griffintown, I like up-and-coming neighbourhoods. I like Outremont for a walk- you can wander from Parc to the park.

Parks: If you want to go for a long walk or a hike, the Mountain is cool. I like small parks too, like Joyce park in Outremont. I used to go there a lot when I was a kid. When I was a child it seemed so huge, I thought there was a giant mountain and a forest in there. Then, when I went back as a grown-up, it’s just a small park, really. But very nice.

Guest Blogger: Melora Koepke

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If you loved my first post about Celebrity-Spotting, here’s round-up number two. If you have anything to add to this list, send me an email [info@patriciagajo.com] and let me know. You may get your own 15 minutes of fame in a future post…

RESTAURANTS: Well, we all know what Ethan Hawke did in Montreal when he was still married to Uma Thurman. A certain bartender at the Globe (whom shall remain nameless – if you don’t already know her – because we protect our own) got more than a great tip, if you know what I mean… Robert DiNiro, Ben Affleck and George Clooney have also been known to dine at this St-Laurent hotspot, but I can’t confirm if they got lucky too.

Domestic Goddess Nigella Lawson was spotted enjoying a meal at Martin Picard’s Au Pied Du Cochon restaurant. Something tells me she had the poutine with foie gras. And Nana Mouskouri celebrated this past Valentine’s Day at Le Renoir (at Sofitel) with her hubby. I also heard that Justin Bieber had dinner at supperclub L’Orignal, though everyone that works there seems to deny it. When I interviewed fashion designer-cum-hotelier Georges Marciano not too long ago (he now owns and lives at L’Hotel), he told me he likes to have an early dinner at L’Appartment.

Montreal Canadiens’ fans may be interested to know that Andrei Markov has checked out the terrasse at Pois Penche more than once, P.K. Subban (pictured above with my pal Lolitta) brunches at Eggspectation (both places are on de Maisonneuve ouest), and I recently saw Mike Cammalleri at Le Filet. What a charmer!

A Montreal Buzz colleague also saw Johnny Depp from her Mile End apartment window entering Milos restaurant. (She’s a writer, too, so spends a lot of time looking out of windows.) Surprise, surprise, he was wearing all black and a fedora. Said colleague also informed me that she later learned that his partner in crime Vanessa Paradis was with him.

SHOPS AND SERVICES: Last November Jean Paul Gaultier shopped (solo!) at Era Vintage in Little Burgundy. Shop owner Elaine Lavaille (pictured with JPG above) said he chatted and gave style advice to another shopper, who didn’t recognize him. “He was like my assistant in a way!” says Lavaille, explaining that someone in Paris had told Gaultier about her boutique. He picked up things for his friends, asking for “something special, something with an idea or personality.”

For that tan he sported in 300, Gerard Butler went to Bronzage Extreme Solar Lounge (5619 Parc Avenue, Mile End), along with a slew (300?) of cast members. Two more quick tidbits here: Angelina Jolie got a tattoo at Adrenaline on Sherbrooke Street West and Penelope Cruz was spotted shopping at Roots on St-Catherine Street.

HOTELS: Classic French beauty and Chanel face Carole Bouquet stayed at Sofitel. Drew Barrymore was a guest at Hotel Vogue. But Montreal’s most memorable hotel visit may always be the late and great Elizabeth Taylor with Richard Burton (pictured above) on a break from filming Cleopatra, whom she married in a luxurious suite at the Ritz-Carlton– and the rumour goes the lovely violet-eyed superstar ordered a witness for her wedding ceremony from Room Service. Fancy that.

NIGHTLIFE: Mad Men cast member, Montrealer-turned-LA-transplant Jessica Paré graced Beaver Hall with an appearance at Papillon Rose (1071 Beaver Hall, Old Montreal). Recent Grammy winners Arcade Fire are (were?) regulars at Sala Rossa, Sparrow, and a certain Mile End restaurant that I have sworn not to divulge.

The aforementioned colleague (she’s a veritable girl about town) has also seen two more big screen stars. First, Cate Blanchett at Copacabana. I quote: “I was enjoying some adult beverages at Copa and saw a woman who looked like her, but she was in a dive bar and had really, really short hair. I didn’t think Cate Blanchett would be slumming it with the locals. I thought maybe it was just the gin talking so I didn’t tell anyone I was with – until the next day when I read online that she was in town for I’m Not There. Anyway, she looked like a diamond in the rough.”

Second, Kirsten Dunst at Green Room (a.k.a. Salon Vert). Here’s another juicy quote: “I bartended there for a while. One night I was cleaning the bathrooms and a drunk girl I barely knew was complaining about this guy that she was sleeping with who only called her after last call. A slurred voice from inside a bathroom stall chimed in. It was a blanket generalization about how men suck or something. Then, the girl stepped out and it was Kirsten Dunst. I guess it was around closing time because last call came and Kirsten asked us if she and some friends could keep drinking in the bar after hours, but my boss said ‘No.’ He had to see a lady instead.” All this to say, Montrealers may take note of visiting celebrities, but we do have our priorities in check.

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Photo Credit: Jake Gyllenhal, Jake-Weird, Liz Taylor- The Canadian Press/AP

The post CELEBRITY SPOTTING IN MONTREAL appeared first on Tourisme Montréal Blog.

Corno‘s large, vibrantly-coloured paintings are carried by Galerie AKA in Montreal.  Her work is also sold in New York, Hong Kong, Singapore, Paris and London at the Opera Gallery. Corno paints sensuous bodies and huge faces with sexy lips. Her work is bright and very ‘street’, full of raw energy. She just published her first book, Cornographie, which details her life of painting and some wild moments in Manhattan.

She took a moment to chat with us when she was in town for her cool show on until the middle of May at the Galerie Lounge TD on Saint-Catherine Street.

Who are you? I am an artist. I have been painting for 30 years. It is my passion, and my destiny. I can’t imagine not painting.

Who are some celebrities who own your work? Well, I can name a few, such as Sylvester Stallone, Lionel Ritchie and Domenico Dolce (Dolce & Gabbana).

What do you miss most about Montreal? Even after 20 years away, I still miss my friends.

What is your favourite part of Montreal? I love that there are so many green spaces in this city.  My favourite is Outremont Park, and I think I read there is a tango festival in the parks this summer. I hope I am in town for that.

When you are here, what is your favourite restaurant? Montreal restaurants are still amazing! I love to find the new ones when I come back to the city. My favourite is still l’Express on St-Denis. I love its Paris bistro feel – and of course, the food.

What is your favourite 5 à 7 place? I always stay at the Sofitel when I am in town.  So I tend to go downstairs to le Renoir just off the lobby. I love it as a bar and also as a 5 à 7 place before the night starts.

Which boutiques do you like when you shop in Montreal? I always head down to St-Paul in Old Montreal. The boutiques there have elegance and eccentricity – so I can choose!

What Montrealer would you like to meet? I would love to meet Arcade Fire.

What galleries do you go to when you are in Montreal? I always take the time to visit the MAC.

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DETAILS:

Galerie Lounge TD, 305 Saint-Catherine Street West, 2^nd floor

Galerie AKA, 51 Saint-Paul Street West

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Photo Credits: Corno Photo by Ludwig Ciupka pour Agence Tuxedo Boutique, Galerie AKA: Corno, Rush, diptych, 2010, mixed media on canvas & Corno, Face with Black and Fluorescent Yellow, diptych, 2010

The post MEET A MONTREALER: CORNO appeared first on Tourisme Montréal Blog.

The who, where, and why you might care.

A few days ago after a few late night cocktails at Barroco Restaurant (312 rue St-Paul ouest) in the Old Montreal, gal pal Mary* and I moseyed over to Le Papillon Rose (1071 côte du Beaver Hall) to fete our buddy Josh’s birthday (forever 39, right darling?) Josh – despite being PR man for Hype energy drinks – is a decidedly laidback dude. Mary, then, was a perfect study in contrast when actor Owen Wilson walked through the doorway and she shrieked, “Owen Wilson!” (In her defense, it was a very ladylike shriek; I don’t think everybody noticed.)

Much after the fact, I learned that Mr. Wilson had taken in a Habs’ game at the Bell Centre the evening before – which explains the Canadiens shirt he had on under his jacket – before chilling out at Le Vauvert (355 rue McGill) for drinks. When we spotted him the next night, he was arriving from semi-subterranean supperclub L’Orignal (479 rue Saint-Alexis). On the following Saturday, I heard that O.W. and his entourage went cycling around the Old Port of Montreal; he on his own bike, the others on public Bixi rentals.

If by now you are wondering why does all this matter? Well, frankly, you can just give up on this blog post right now. American celebrities, you see, are common here in Montreal thanks to our local filmmaking industry. And when they go out to play in our quaint little city, for some it’s the next best thing to actually hanging out with the A-list crowd – if that’s your thing. Going out where famous people go can be a way of getting close to those we admire, idolize or obsess over – without trespassing into stalker territory. Isn’t this why Lennon fans make pilgrimages to the John and Yoko Suite at the Hotel Queen Elizabeth, or why the Celine Dion-obsessed add the Notre-Dame Basilica to their bucket list? It’s why I’m buying a new Habs shirt and will wear it with newfound pride: Owen and I will have that detail in common.

Anyway, if I had you at “Owen,” this blog just gets juicier. (FYI: His movie credits include Wedding Crashers. Did you not love that movie?) While I can’t claim to have seen all these cooler-than-thou celebrities myself, I like to store these “facts” in my brain as if I did. Read on for more Montreal star sightings.

THE DETAILS

RESTAURANTS AND BARS

Bono at Café Méliès
3520 boulevard St-Laurent,
Plateau

Lewis Hamilton and Nicole Scherzinger at L’Auberge St-Gabriel
436 rue St-Gabriel,
Old Montreal

Dustin Hoffman at Beauty’s Luncheonette
93 avenue du Mont-Royal ouest,
Plateau

Ben Stiller at Holder
407 rue McGill,
Old Montreal

Robert Pattinson and Kristen Stewart at Club Chasse et Pêche
423 rue St-Claude,
Old Montreal

Jake Gyllenhaal and Isabel Lucas at Garde Manger
408 rue St-Francois-Xavier,
Old Montreal

Halle Berry (and model boyfriend Gabriel Aubry – whom since their breakup has apparently moved back to Montreal and has been spotted all over the Plateau neighbourhood) and Johnny Depp at Da Emma
777 rue de la Commune ouest,
Old Montreal

HOTELS

Brendan Fraser at Auberge du Vieux-Port
97 rue de la Commune est,
Old Montreal

Samuel L. Jackson at Place d’Armes Hotel & Suites
55 rue St-Jacques ouest,
Old Montreal

Matt Damon, George Clooney, and Brad Pitt at Hotel Vogue
1425 rue de la Montagne
Downtown

Janet Jackson at Opus Hotel
10 rue Sherbrooke ouest,
Downtown

Bryan Adams at Hotel Le Germain
2050 rue Mansfield,
Downtown

Cate Blanchett at Hotel St-Paul
355 rue McGill
Old Montreal

Madonna at Hotel Le Crystal
1100 rue de la Montagne
Downtown

Mick Jagger and Chris Martin (separately) at Hotel St-James
355 rue St-Jacques
Old Montreal

Axel Rose at Marriott Chateau Champlain Hotel
1 place du Canada
Downtown

NIGHTCLUBS AND SUPPERCLUBS

Owen Wilson at Le Papillon Rose 1071 côte du Beaver Hall,
Old Montreal

Georges St-Pierre at Med Grill
3500 boulevard St-Laurent,
Downtown

John Cusack at Le Vauvert
355 rue McGill,
Old Montreal

Paris Hilton and Lindsay Lohan at Bains Douches (formerly Tribe Hyperclub)
390 rue St-Jacques ouest,
Old Montreal

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