F1 drivers in 2013 aren’t burning rubber so much as burning through rubber, and the super tight turns and sharp chicanes of Montreal’s Circuit Gilles-Villeneuve are virtually certain to add a chapter to the controversial tale of the tires at this year’s Canadian Grand Prix…

For the 2013 season, Italian tire maker Pirelli – responsible for supplying all F1 wheel-wear since 2011 – did what would be unthinkable for a maker of regular street tires: they made them softer so they’d fall apart faster. Rapidly degrading tires make for more exciting racing as the quick decline in performance enables more passing and requires more pit stops. (Which not all of F1’s 22 drivers are thrilled about since it impedes their ability to hold a lead.) Pirelli says the tires are tailor-made for twisty tracks like the 4.361 km Circuit Gilles-Villeneuve, which means the hundreds of thousands of elite racing fans who attend the Canadian Grand Prix in Montreal (taking place this year on June 7-9) will be in for a show.

The show, of course, won’t be limited to the blacktop. Numerous celebratory events take place across the city, beginning with the annual three-day Crescent Street Grand Prix Festival. On June 6-8, from 11 am to 11 pm, a blocked-off Crescent Street will be flooded with race fans taking in bands and DJs and other live entertainment. F1 driver autograph sessions and the Pit Stop Challenge (see how fast you can change a tire, pit crew style) are prominent features of this popular – and free – outdoor party.

Less free, but certainly no less fun, is the third edition of The Grand Evening on June 6, a benefit gala established by the Canadian Grand Prix. Tickets are a grand a head, or $25,000 for a table for you, seven of your friends and a bona fide F1 driver. All proceeds from the black-tie formal will be donated to the Canadian Olympic Foundation and to the Fondation de l’Hôpital du Sacré-Coeur de Montréal.

For those who want to mingle with the jet set while enjoying a more Montreal neighbourhood–type vibe, Grand Prix on the Main might be just your cup of authenticity. Upscale eateries, buttoned-down pubs, and trend-setting restos and bars line the sides of Montreal’s renowned Saint-Laurent Boulevard (known to locals as The Main), which will be closed to traffic from June 6-9 to allow for street patios and a lively range of top-shelf entertainment that’ll smoke your tires.

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THE DETAILS

Canadian Grand Prix, June 7-9, 2013

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The Grand Prix du Canada F1 mania begins on the Thursday and Friday when the drivers do press appearances with their sponsors (such as Jenson Button at Harry Rosen and Hamilton Lewis at Birks). The “Peel Paddock” also begins. It’s a free outdoor event on Peel Street, where cars are blocked off between Rue Ste-Catherine and De Maisonneuve. Similar events go down on Crescent and St-Laurent, which are also free of traffic but packed with luxury cars. If you’re looking for instant F1 ambience, these are the places to be.

Pop sex-itude princess Rihanna gave Montreal 2 huge shows on Friday and Saturday night at the Bell Centre and was subsequently spotted all over town with Drake, including at La Mouche and Terrasses Bonsecours (as well as at the track on race day). I also heard that Kevin Garnett, the NBA player, was seen around town.

I had a lovely dinner Saturday night at La Coupole restaurant (inside Hôtel Le Crystal), where California babe Carmen Electra made an appearance with an entourage of bodyguards. I chatted with the glamour gal for a bit and complimented her skintight, hot pink mini that’s featured prominently in the video above. (PS- That yellow beast with the DeLorean doors in the intro is a Plethore Supercar made by Quebec-owned HTT Technologies. Getting into it with my leather mini-dress was not an easy thing to do.)

After a few cocktails on the terrasse and dancing at La Coupole (and a big kiss from boxer Jean Pascal), I headed to nearby Time Supper Club. A mini-stage (one of several) had some very provocative dancers strutting their stuff in front of a mirrored backdrop. It was all very Broadway Chicago but to a dance/house soundtrack. My amaretto sour, by the way, was also a whopping $20. As with hotel and restaurant prices, even cocktail prices were inflated. But I did bump into Ice-T at the door- and he called me “Baby”- so it was all worth it!

Speaking of money, and the extravagant usage thereof, also in town was Virgin head honcho Richard Branson, who held a party on Bota Bota. Tickets were only $500 per head. He was also spotted having dinner another night at Newtown on Crescent. In other celeb resto spotting news, actor Bradley Cooper of Hangover fame had dinner across of a friend of mine- I have eyes all over the city!- at Garde Manger.

Despite plans to hit about 200 more places, I ended the night at Velvet Speakeasy, a very cool underground spot. So many Grand Prix parties, so little time. For one compact weekend, Montreal is the epicentre of jet-setter heaven. If you’re planning on coming to Montreal next year for the races, I’d book my hotel reservations now. No joke.

Photo Credit: Drake/Rihanna: ©Terasses Bonsecours

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On June 11 at Circuit Gilles Villeneuve, watch drivers from all over the world get a feel for the circuit. The next morning will feature qualifying laps and in the afternoon, look forward to the Ferrari Challenge and the Formule 1600, which are the first two races. On June 12, the Formule 1600’s second race kicks off at 8:25am (bit early for a Sunday, don’t you think?) followed by the Ferrari Challenge right after. Then there’s the traditional Drivers Parade at 10:30 and at noon get ready for the definitive Formula One race. Look out for hot shot Sebastian Vettel racing for Redbull, he’s first in the driver standings and has one seriously heavy foot.

But let’s be honest, the Grand Prix is more than just a super awesome race. It’s also a weekend of booze, babes and bottles. The Grand Prix weekend is the crème de la crème of Montreal’s parties and there are several hotspots waiting to cater to your party needs. The best way to get the inside scoop is to check into one of Montreal’s Swanky Hotels: several of them are host to THE parties of the weekend.

For Grand Prix revelry, look no further than the St. Laurent Strip. This year’s race coincides with the St. Laurent Street Sale, June 9-12. This is a magical time of the year, a time when one of Montreal’s main roads is blocked off and the restaurants spill out onto the streets and everyone enjoys the warm nights and drinks in public without getting a ticket. There are several places to eat, drink and carry on during this time. Check out Restaurant Globe for some fine dining and fine dancing, it’s a favourite of professional hockey players and non-hockey players alike. Across the street is Buonanotte, a celebrity favourite known for its beautiful clientele and world class DJ’s- and seriously, the celebrities turn out in record numbers for Grand Prix. Did I mention that they have incredibly hot waitresses? Because I should have. Ivy Nightclub will also be kicking the F1 into overdrive with their Full Throttle Weekend party featuring tons of DJ’s and a great atmosphere.

The other main area for F-1 weekend parties is Crescent Street and if you’re looking for more of a club vibe, why not try Crescent Street’s Light Ultraclub. It’s located in the heart of downtown and is a two-story, two-dancefloor, plenty-party affair replete with a mezzanine. Expect their resident DJs to provide the music for an unforgettable night, but word to the wise: dress code is in effect so dress to impress. While on Crescent, you’ll want to make sure you get into the always-packed Newtown or take a quick walkover to Cavalli, especially for their wild Thursday nights.

But all good parties must eventually and unfortunately come to an end. The official closing party is being held at Muzique, one of Montreal’s premiere nightclubs. On June 12^, head down to Muzique to see the real Grand Prix party. There will be hot shots, glitz, and very attractive people dancing to the beats of DJ PAYCE among others. And ladies get full VIP treatment all night long. What’s not to love?

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THE DETAILS

Grand Prix du Canada, Montreal, June 10-12, 2011

St. Laurent Street Sale, June 9-12, 2011

Globe, 3455 St-Laurent, (514) 284-3823

Buonanotte, 3518 St-Laurent, (514) 848-0644

Light Ultraclub, 2020 Crescent, (514) 288-2888

Newtown, 1476 Crescent, (514) 284-6555

Cavalli, 2040 Peel, (514) 843-5100

Ivy Nightclub, 3556 St-Laurent, (514) 439-1222

Muzique, 3781 St-Laurent, (514) 392-7483

Photo Credit: J.P. Moczulski/REUTERS, Montreal_Bunny

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To date, the Montreal Street Profile series has strolled up Bleury and Parc, across Maisonneuve, Saint-Paul and Saint-Zotique. Up next, we take a walk down Crescent, a downtown street I haven’t spent much time on since being an undergrad… When completing my undergraduate degree at Concordia, I spent many afternoon “group study sessions” on this street. Even then I generally avoided the wildness of Crescent Street at night. It’s just not my thing. But, based on how packed it is (despite being the shortest street we’ve profiled), I’m willing to concede that it is clearly many other people’s thing. Writing about a street you haven’t visited in a while is daunting, so thank goodness that my new colleague Patricia Gajo was on hand to hip me to the fact that, while the old faithfuls remain, there have been some new developments on the street named for the shape it was in 1860…

SHOPS, COFEES AND SUCH

Alessi: The only Alessi shop in Canada features the full range of the company’s high-end designer household wares. If you have to ask if a $200 kettle is necessary, you’ve probably never seen one of theirs. Rouge Nail Bar: Ok, it’s pretty clear that Gajo may have helped me on this one… Matis Beauty Bar: Ditto. La Pendulerie: I’ll give this to Crescent- it does boast one of (if not the only) combination clock and chocolate shop this side of Switzerland. Because of this, they could totally half-ass it, but instead they have the best of both. Go get their chocolate milkshake and chat with the shop’s incredibly personable owner. Nespresso: The shops devoted to the coffee that their namesake machines produce are huge in other parts of the world but are still viewed fairly snobbily over here. And I’m not touching a coffee debate with a 10-foot pole.

FOOD

Boustan: This may not be the most aesthetically pleasing spot I’ll ever recommend but it makes up for it by having what is probably the best schwarma and shish taouk in the city- everyone from the late Pierre Trudeau to LL Cool J agree. Another bonus: open super late. Newtown: Definitely the high-end food stop on Crescent, this spot has recently hired a new well-known executive chef, Daren Bergeron. Soupe Soup: The Crescent street location of this small chain of soup spots consistently produces some of the best soup in the city.

BARS

A quick note here- sure there are some slightly more high-end spots like Newtown and Camp, but come on, if you’re going to go to Crescent, might as well just pick the place that seems the busiest and go for it. But honestly, I’d just like to make one final plea to out-of-town party-seekers: do check out the rest of our Street Profile series before going down to Crescent again… Hurley’s is a great Irish pub that I have actually revisited in my post-collegiate years. Very good Irish-influenced pub food with all sorts of different rooms and tons of darkened nooks and crannies. Mad Hatters: The food and beer isn’t as good here as at Hurley’s, but because of that it’s cheaper and maybe that’s what you had in mind. Sir Winston Churchill Pub Complex: This is basically the centre of all Crescent street activity and it’s packed every night and most afternoons. The best way to explain the vibe is to visit the website and realize that what you have is a pub named after Winston Churchill that boasts an un-Pub-like a soundtrack as one could come up with. Thursday’s: It is important to note that this busy place is not just open on Thursday. That’s all I’ve got.

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