(food & fun) Find a kind of satisfaction in the slow advent of spring with fabulous, thoughtfully created food, beginning with a seasonal menu at the FoodLab at the SAT until April 12, and followed up on April 15 with a “Schnitzel & Riesling” food party, full of Germanic flavour and complemented afterwards by an electronic music soiree. And, of course, the famous maple syrup of Quebec is in abundant supply during sugaring-off season, with inspired menus at restaurants around the city, and a full-on sugar shack down at the Old Port at La Cabane. Or simply sink your teeth into one of the best steaks in Montreal.

(sports & laughs) Basketball, comedy and entertainment fuel the Harlem Globetrotters, putting on a show for the whole family at the Bell Centre on April 12 – and of course, the Bell Centre sees hockey season head into spring as the Canadiens play the Flyers on April 15 and face off against the Lightning on April 18. More comedy, of the non-sports-related variety, comes to Club Soda on April 17 at An Evening of Comedy for the Benefit of On Our Own, an organization that provides services and housing to vulnerable families, with Montreal funny people Joey Elias, Eman, Dan Bingham, Sebastien Bourgault and Jess Salomon.

(theatre & dance) Contemporary ballet meets the music of Elton John and plenty of sequins and bright lights and colours in Love Lies Bleeding, at Place des Arts, to April 14. Sinha Danse Company presents Sunya, a new work for four dancers and three musicians, inspired by Persian music, contemporary dance, and bringing different cultures together, part of the Danse Danse spring season, April 17-27 at Cinquième Salle. Danish dance-theatre troupe Granhøj Dans crafts dramatic theatre, comedic moments and sings plenty of Leonard Cohen’s songs in Dance Me to the End On/Off Love, to April 14 at Centaur Theatre, or entertain the kids with The Trial of Goldilocks, an updated fairy tale at Centaur Theatre on Saturday, April 13. And check out the experimental theatre of love u lovecraft [lab], inspired by the world of H.P. Lovecraft, April 16-20 at Bain St-Michel.

(fashion finds) Find out what many Montreal fashionistas already know at this year’s Braderie de Mode Quebecoise, a huge 50-80% off sale of samples and inventory surplus from local designers, April 11-14 at Marché Bonsecours in the Old Port – find unique clothing and accessories, talk to designers, and perhaps even meet some of the designers and people behind Montreal Fashion Week.

(art worlds) As part of the MMFA exhibition Peru: Kingdoms of the Sun and the Moon, see Peru on the big screen in documentary films from the TV5 series Amérikologie, playing on April 13 – free at the Maxwell Cummings Auditorium, and on April 17, attend an Afro-Peruvian percussion workshop with Kullak Viger Ross. Enter the labyrinthine fact-meets-fiction world of Laurent Grasso’s multi-room Uraniborg exhibition at the MACM, showing along with work by photographer Lynne Cohen and live performance conjured up by artist Tino Sehgal. Over at the Society for Art and Technology, see P3rception, surround-sound-and-image films shown in the Satosphere dome, to April 29. Hear more about the Thomas Demand exhibition at DHC/ART in a round-table discussion on April 17. And the Montreal Symphony Orchestra performs Beethoven’s Third Concerto, with pianist Till Fellner and Kent Nagano conduction on April 16-17.

(live music) Start the weekend with the psych-rock of The Black Angels at Le National on Friday night. Saturday, April 13 is a big night: choose from a massive show with Canadian rock-punk Billy Talent, Sum 41, Hollerado and Indian Handcrafts at the Bell Centre, the East-Coast folk-rock of Great Big Sea at Metropolis, Welsh alt-rock band The Joy Formidable plays Theatre Corona, the myriad musical styles of Montreal hip-hop collective Nomadic Massive at Club Soda, or great MTL indie-rock of The Besnard Lakes at Cabaret Du Mile End. On Sunday, listen to the live electro-pop of Rhye at Cabaret Mile End. Funnily enough, Monday night is also a big one, with Australian “metalcore” band Parkway Drive at Metropolis, and for those of us who like it loud, it’s a tough choice between Japan’s Acid Mothers Temple at Sala Rossa  vs. Pissed Jeans at Il Motore. On April 16, tune in to Stereo Total at Il Motore. And on April 18, get your folkoric-pagan-metal on at Paganfest America 2013 with Finland’s Ensiferum, The Faroe Islands’ Tyr and more beer-soaked mayhem at Metropolis on April 18. Meanwhile, Montreal’s Bran Van 3000 and Paul Cargnello headline a fundraiser for community organization Le Sac à Dos at Club Soda.

The post Things to Do in Montreal: April 12-18 appeared first on Tourisme Montréal Blog.

(fabulous food) Thanksgiving wouldn’t be complete without a proper feast or three, so if on October 5 you’re  in the area of Olympic Park, wandering through the Botanical Gardens or visiting the Biodome at the Space for Life, stop in at the stadium’s outdoor grounds where their First Fridays event features gourmet food from some of Montreal’s fanciest food trucks: tacos at Grumman 78, burgers at Winneburger, sandwiches, poutine and more from Lucky’s Truck and La Mangeoire, ice cream and sundaes at Monsieur Crémeux, coffee at Café Dispatch, and more, starting at 4 p.m. On October 11, caterer and food enthusiast Nicolina Servello pairs cook books with delicious rustic food in an afternoon event at Indigo Place Montréal Trust, noon to 2 p.m.

(fall film) New feature films, fantastic shorts and experimental video work from around the world all come out to play at Montreal’s Festival du Nouveau Cinéma, October 10-21. Along with plenty of international fare, the fest features some of the best sort of Canadian content in Ang Lee’s Life of Pi, based on Montreal author Yann Martel’s novel, opening films Simon Galiero’s La Mise à l’aveugle and Martin Villeneuve’s Mars et Avril, screenings of work by French singer Albin de la Simone, Sarah Polley’s new film Stories We Tell, Albert Nerenberg’s witty doc Boredom, and many more. As well, the popular Temps Ø program continues this year with off-the-beaten-track features, shorts and documentaries.

(dance party) The Black and Blue Festival is all about making this weekend into a three-day LBGT-and-friends party, culminating in a massive all-night, all-morning, three-room dance party a Palais des Congrès on October 7, with DJs Gareth Emery, Sander van Doorn, David Morales and more. On Saturday afternoon and evening at Palais  des Congrès, get lost in free live music and entertainment event, De-Light, with entertainment from Debbie Tebbs, The Easton Ellises, Donzelle and other great Montreal performers. Of course, there’s also the night-time party rituals of Leather Ball on October 5 and the HardBall on October 6 at Club Soda.

(world-class performance) Les Grands Ballet Canadiens pulls out all the stops October 11-27 with choreographer Jiří Kylián’s Kaguyahime, The Moon, a ballet based on a culturally influential 10th-century Japanese folk tale of beauty, violence and worlds colliding. On a different note, The Segal Centre presents big-time Tony-award winning musical Guys and Dolls, to October 28. At the Centaur Theatre, see family drama August, An Afternoon in the Country by award winning playwright Jean Marc Dalpé. And French circus troupe Akoreacro positively delights with their acrobatic, musical circus Pfffffff, while Montreal-based circus Cirque Éloize blends circus arts with hip hop and breakdance in all-ages show iD, featuring 14 high-energy performers, both at Montreal circus centre La Tohu to October 6.

(art & architecture) Two new exhibitions at the Musée d’art contemporain de Montréal are both real eye-openers: an amazing retrospective of the work of Montreal painter Pierre Dorion, and intriguing videos focused on far-off places and people by Brooklyn-based artist Janet Biggs – the MACM also holds its monthly Nocturnes music series on October 5, featuring Tanuki, 7 p.m. The Canadian Centre for Architecture opens its exhibition First, the Forests, looking at the relationship between forestry, planning and design. And definitely go to the Montreal Museum of Fine Arts to see their outstanding Tom Wesselmann retrospective show, which closes this Sunday, as well as their expanded permanent collection. See the Montreal Buzz Fall Arts Guide for more ideas.

(comedy & cabaret) On the stranger side of entertainment – and Montreal’s got a lot of that – comedy show Let’s Do This!, a night of comedy and drinking games, headlined by DeAnne Smith, on October 11 at Mainline Theatre, 9 p.m. On Saturday, October 6, Quality Theatre hosts not only a sing-along to The Rocky Horror Picture Show, but a full-on band, comedians and a bevy of sexy burlesque performers, also at Mainline Theatre, 8 p.m.

(jazz off) The Montreal International Jazz Festival may get most of the summer jazz hype in this town, but all that jazz and more goes on throughout the year: check out The OFF Jazz Festival, October 4-12, with shows (some of them free!) at several venues around town, featuring traditional and experimental jazz from local and out-of-town musicians and bands, including pianist Baptiste Trotignon, saxophonist Anna Webber, Ironico Orkestra, Jean Derome and many, many more.

(more music) A busy Friday night begins the music week with Swedish folk-pop musician Jens Lekman at Le National, while DJ Shadow plays what’s sure to be a sweet DJ set at SAT, arts and activism group Howl presents eclectic Montreal rock-tinged ensembles Léopard et Moi and Avec le Soleil Sortant de sa Bouche, at Sala Rossa, and How to Dress Well gets Club Lambi electro-hopping. Also on Friday, Montreal Symphony Orchestra conductor Kent Nagano teams up with DJ Champion, while on Sunday he conducts the orchestra through The Rites of Spring. More big tours make Montreal stops at rock venue Metropolis this week: on Saturday, October 6, see Irish indie-rockers Two Door Cinema Club, on October 7 it’s electronic party makers Crystal Castles with openers Health and more, followed on October 9 by ever-popular singer-songwriter Regina Spektor and captivating British singer Joss Stone on October 10, while French trip-hop DJ Wax Tailor (http://waxtailor.com/) spins cinematic electronic grooves at L’Astral that night.

The post THINGS TO DO IN MONTREAL: OCTOBER 5-11 appeared first on Tourisme Montréal Blog.

(arty open house) Three days of free arts and culture happenings are in store at the 16th edition of Journées de la Culture, September 28-30, at museums, galleries, performance venues and even out in the streets. Roam the Quartiers des Spectacles to see art in action at Saturday afternoon’s Marathon of Arts, and catch performances, go on guided tours, participate in workshops, learn to dance or sing throughout the weekend. Search the full schedule for family activities, visual art, dance, circus, theatre and more downtown and in neighhourhoods around the city.

(worldly art) Two new shows open at the MACM on October 4: a retrospective of famed Montreal painter Pierre Dorion, whose photorealist paintings beg for close viewing, and video work by great Brooklyn-based artist Janet Biggs, in collaboration with Centre Clark’s Montréal/Brooklyn art exchange project. Tesla coils and electric sparks are the exciting stuff of artist Alexandre Burton’s Impacts, at the PHI Centre, which also screening skateboarding film Waiting for Lightning on October 2. September 30 marks the last day to see the fabulous World Press Photo Exhibition, while over at the SAT, DJ Food’s immersive film-and-music experience The Search Engine starts up again, along with Maurice Benayoun’s interactive art installation Tunnel under the Atlantique.

(song and dance) Montreal’s BJM – Les Ballets Jazz de Montréal celebrates 40 years of dance with a show featuring gorgeous, emotional (and even funny at times) pieces by Cayetano Soto, Benjamin Millepied and Barak Marshall, September 28-29 – see Danse Danse for tickets. Tony-award winning musical Guys and Dolls starts up September 30 at  The Segal Centre, while Metachroma Theatre sticks to classic Shakespeare with Richard III, to September 30. And Montreal-based circus Cirque Éloize blends circus arts with hip hop and breakdance in all-ages show iD, featuring 14 high-energy performers,  at Montreal circus centre La Tohu, to October 6, while acrobatics and music astound in Pfffffff, from French circus troupe Akoreacro.

(film fest) The 8th edition of the Montreal International Black Film Festival closes on September 30 with Ken Burns’ documentary The Central Park Five, a investigation into the racial tensions surrounding the 1989 arrest and conviction of five Black and Latino teenagers accused of rape, who spent years in jail before the conviction was overturned. There’s also still time this weekend to see docs, feature films and shorts from around the world, including Alaskaland, about a Nigerian man who grew up in Alaska (September 28), documentary feature The Carrier, about a young woman living with HIV in Zambia (September 29), Harry Belafonte documentary Sing Your Song (September 29), and more.

(babes on stage) The Montreal Burlesque Festival returns September 28-29 with sexy, silly and scandalous shows at Club Soda. Friday’s show is Universal Dream Night, featuring lovely ladies from around the world dancing and theatrically cavorting in their own special ways, while Saturday’s fab Crystal Gala is a cabaret of big burlesque names and surprises, followed by the fest’s very first super sexy Midnight Show, with live classic rock band.

(party times) The 22nd Black and Blue Festival launches on October 3, beckoning queer and queer-friendly party lovers to town. On October 4, there’s the Guess Who? Hommage to the drag queens of Cabaret Mado, plus an all-night party at Circus on October 4. But rest up: the main event, an all-night, all-morning dance party at  Palais des Congrès, happens on October 7. Unrelated, on September 29, there’s a free outdoor Coca-Cola Block Party, with live music from none other than Sean Paul, Down with Webster, M.T.L., Mugz and more, at Jacques-Quartier Quay in the Old Port. And though it’s not officially a party, there will actually be as much dancing and music in the streets as there will be good ol’ walking at the massive Ça Marche fundraiser walk for HIV/AIDS, in the downtown core on Sunday, September 30.

(live music) Friday night is the first of two nights with KD Lang and the Siss Boom Bang at Theatre Corona, while British psych-rock band Django Django and Montreal’s own Mozart’s Sister play Petit Campus. On September 29, Beth Orton is at the lovely L’Astral. On September 30, Gossip get down and dirty at Olympia, while hip-hop artist A$AP Rocky takes the Metropolis stage – earlier in the day at Parc Jean-Drapeau, it’s the last Piknic Electronik of the year! A star-studded benefit concert on October 1 is sold out, but October 2 is a hot, hot night with metal maniacs Anthrax at Metropolis, Jack White’s unique blues-rock-country at L’Olympia, John Hiatt at Club Soda playing songs from his new album Mystic Pinball, British singer-songwriter Fink at Sala Rossa and Swedish-Canadian pop duo Thus: Owls at Lion d’Or. On October 3, groove with Lee Fields and the Expressions at Cabaret du Mile End and listen to the synth-pop sounds of The Raveonettes at Theatre Corona.

The post THINGS TO DO IN MONTREAL: SEPTEMBER 28-OCTOBER 4 appeared first on Tourisme Montréal Blog.

While in town, shop early for the whole family, for the office, for friends (and for yourself!) at the Salon des métiers d’arts du Québec. It is the most important professional exhibition-sale in the province.  The wonderful fair full of hand-made works has praise from all who visit.  It has been a go-to gift-buying place for locals for years, and visitors have quickly discovered it. You can choose from a vast array of made-with-love-and talent pieces. Art, beads and bracelets, decorative objects, ecological works, foie gras, jams, kids’ clothing, lamps, sculptures, wine..basically almost everything and anything one might need to wrap. Wait.  No need to wrap.  A booth at the Salon will do this for you…easy, peasy.

CELEBRATING THE HOLIDAYS . Nativity scenes from Montreal’s St. Joseph Oratory, created especially for the Salon. Different cultures from different eras interpret the birth of Christ in an individual way.

GREAT NEWS FOR PARENTS. Not only is there a little garderie (day care) staffed with professionals for children 3 years and less, but there are kid-friendly activities.

FOR CHILDREN.  Saturday December 11 from 1 – 4:30. There are stories, workshops, make-up booths, shows, fashions and events.

DETAILS

SALON DES MÉTIERS D’ART

Place Bonaventure
West Exhibition Hall
800 de la Gauchetière St. West
Montreal Quebec, Canada

December 3 – 22, 2010

Bonaventure metro station

Free entrance for all

The post LE SALON DES MÉTIERS D’ART: MONTREAL’S ONE-STOP SHOPPING SPOT FOR HOLIDAYS appeared first on Tourisme Montréal Blog.

Love, Death and the Terrifying and Beautiful World of Otto Dix, is only part of the title of the current Montreal Museum of Fine Arts (MMFA) show: But it is a perfect description of his work.

Rouge Cabaret: Love, Death and the Terrifying and Beautiful World of Otto Dix is the first major North American exhibition devoted to this 20th century German figure. It is organized by the MMFA and New York’s Neue Galerie. Otto’s work is disturbing and yet curiously fascinating. He portrays society and the individuals of his era (pre-WWII Germany) in a scornful and often unattractive manner. His ruthlessly subjective assessment of people and parties shows an ugly side of human nature. Figures are painted with an acerbic realism: faces are gaunt, laughing red mouths reveal unattractive teeth, bodies are elongated, and features are exaggerated, often to the point of caricature. His dour depictions of debauchery and sad suffering captured a moment in time in Germany, when one way to cope with the atrocities of World War I and German defeat was to party: non-stop.

Unsurpringly, the Nazi regime was not pleased with his work. Otto Dix was regarded as a degenerate artist, and fired from his position as art teacher at the Dresden Academy. His paintings “The Trench” and “War Cripples” were exhibited in the state-sponsored Munich 1937 exhibition of degenerate art, Entartete Kunst. Then they were burned. But time brought perspective to Otto Dix’s work. In 1991, a German stamp was issued bearing the image of a nude dancer and opium addict, Anita Berber: It was painted by Otto Dix. The artist also experienced the horrors of battle: he fought in both world wars. This experience led to a portfolio of etchings published in 1924. Some of his works from this time are also in the show, which includes 200 pieces and historical documents.

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THE DETAILS

Montreal Museum of Fine Arts
September 24 – January 2, 2011
1380 Sherbrooke Street West
www.mmfa.org
1-514-285-2000
1-800-899-MUSE

Monday – closed
Tuesday 11- 5 pm
Wednesday- Friday 11 – 9 pm
Saturday and Sunday 10 – 5 pm

Métro: Guy
Bus: #24 along Sherbrooke. Stop in front of the Museum.

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STAY FOR AWHILE

Browse in the Museum’s Alladin’s cave of packed treasures; The book store. But also holiday gifts. Beautiful jewellery, artisan pieces, reproductions, and cards. Scarves, purses and objets d’art are just next door.

EAT. DRINK.

Leave coats and umbrellas at the Coat Check. Relax. Both the Café des beaux-arts (licensed) and the Cafeteria inside the Museum building are open during Museum hours.

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The post OTTO DIX’S NORTH AMERICAN PREMIERE AT MONTREAL’S MUSEUM OF FINE ARTS appeared first on Tourisme Montréal Blog.

Travel, people and culture : my ultimate three favorite things on Earth – and the reason behind my excitement for the Rapa Nui exhibition happening at Montreal’s Pointe-à-Callière museum.

What?

You don’t know Rapa Nui? Don’t worry. It is, after all, one of the most isolated places on the planet. Thanks to the Montreal Museum of Archaeology and History Pointe-à-Callière though, I’m about to satisfy my thirst for knowledge and learn all about this distant land and people.

So where is this Rapa Nui Island you may ask?

Rapa Nui, or Easter Island, is a tiny speck of Polynesian land in the Pacific Ocean, some 3,000 km west of Chile. And by tiny I mean 165 km², three times smaller than Montreal.  Yet, there is noting small about the culture and history of its people, the Rapanui. Their legacy represents an important part of our world heritage.

The exhibition will display over 200 pieces from collections of some twenty European and North American lenders. I have been obsessed with Polynesia since my childhood and this exposition will only strenghen my passion for that part of the world. Pretty cool to have Easter Island on Montreal Island all summer!

Where: Pointe-à-Callière Museum, 350 Place Royale, corner of de la Commune, Old Montréal, Square-Victoria Metro
When: June 8 – November 14
Info: (514) 872-9150

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SUGGESTIONS

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Places to eat nearby: Olive & Gourmando, Barroco, DNA,

Places to shop nearby: Espace Pepin (women), Michel Brisson (men), Librissime (amazing bookstore)

Places to stay nearby: Hotel St-Paul, Auberge Les Passants du Sans Soucy, Le Petit Hotel

The post EASTER ISLAND: AN EPIC VOYAGE appeared first on Tourisme Montréal Blog.

Montreal Museum of Fine Arts presents Inspiria, a sparkling collaboration between Paris’ House of Boucheron and Cirque du Soleil.

Mesdames, if you thought you were impressed by the MMFA’s Tiffany exhibition, wait until you discover the collection of diamond, ruby, emerald and sapphire jewelry that is currently showcased at the popular Montreal museum.

The prestigious collection is the fruit of a magical collaboration between Cirque du Soleil’s founder, Guy Laliberté and Boucheron’s CEO, Jean-Christophe Bedos.

Inspiria is a spectacular private collection of twenty pieces of jewelry, that mark the 150^th anniversary of the House of Boucheron and the 25^th anniversary of Cirque du Soleil.

Just like Cirque du Soleil revolutionized the circus world, Boucheron’s complex, asymmetrical and playful collection is now redefining the boundaries of fine jewelry design. Each necklace is a representation of a specific Cirque du Soleil production, including this jaw-dropping Alegria necklace set with an oval pink and an oval blue sapphire, paved with pink and blue sapphires and diamonds, and set in white gold.

It took roughly three years to create all these beauties and now is your chance (a rare one) to discover the creative process of fine jewelry. The display will include the original gouache drawings used for the execution of each piece, with explanations of the sources of the imagery and of the techniques employed.

Following exhibitions such as Yves St-Laurent and the current Tiffany Glass, the MMFA seems to be adding fashion and design to their curriculum, to my greatest delight.

Thinking of visiting Montreal in 2011? Worry not. More fashion design is on the menu at the MMFA with exhibitions showcasing the work Jean-Paul Gaultier in addition to a exhibit focusing on Montreal designer, Denis Gagnon.

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Where to stay: The museum is steps away from the Ritz-Carlton for the ultimate bourgeois getaway. You may also want to book a few nights at Loews Hotel Vogue which offers chic rooms right next to the museum and downtown shops, or take a 5 minute cab ride to the trendy and modern Opus Hotel on Sherbrooke Boulevard, corner St-Laurent.

What to do: Stop at the boutique of the MMFA, they have a wide selection of fun gifts and souvenirs. The museum is also situated at the heart of Montreal’s commercial shopping district, so make sure you stop at the posh Holt Renfrew or go for a stroll on St-Catherine Boulevard, where you’ll find stores such as BCBG, H&M, Zara, Betsey Johnson, Guess, Urban Outfitters and more.

Where to eat: Make your day 100% Paris-influenced and grab a bite at French Bistro, Pois Penché on de Maisonneuve Boulevard and Drummond. You’ll also be steps away from popular Crescent Street, where you’ll find many patios offering delightful pitchers of sangria.

Questions? Find me on Twitter and I’ll be glad to help you plan your trip in Montreal!

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THE DETAILS

Inspiria

April 1 – August 29, 2010

FREE

Montreal Museum of Fine Arts

The post DIAMONDS FOR CIRQUE DU SOLEIL AND MONTRÉAL’S MUSEUM OF FINE ARTS appeared first on Tourisme Montréal Blog.