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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(fast cars and loose beers) The loud and proud Grand Prix F-1 race may happen over on Parc des Îles de Montréal, but the party takes over Crescent Street this weekend. There will be cars, engine and tire demos, leather jackets and gelled hair, food and drink, music and people. Close by, because what says good times better than fast cars and lots of beer, is the 18th Mondial de la Biere, a.k.a. Montreal Beer Fest, a weekend of quality beer from around the world and around Quebec, plus local delicacies, sweet, savoury and sausage-on-a-stick-like.

(street fair fare) While some Montrealers and visitors to Montreal may love their fast cars, who doesn’t like to switch to the slow lane sometimes, maybe even shut the road down completely once in a while? I’m not even speaking metaphorically: this weekend, in a sort of a mini version of the usual St-Laurent Street Fair, St-Laurent Blvd is closed to traffic from Sherbrooke to Avenue des Pins (later in the month it’s closed all way to Mount Royal Ave). Wander up and down the street, shop, eat some food, drink some drinks and enjoy plenty of people watching. Meanwhile, over on Mount Royal Avenue, Nuit Blanche sur Tableau Noir, June 9–12, entices us with its more artistic, neighbourly ways – and its theme this year kind of sums up Montreal in summertime: the carefree joy of doing nothing.

(french kiss and tell) Ah, the French. They have given us much to be thankful for: food, wine, women, sure, but song is the thing we’re going to focus on this weekend – haha, kidding, as if those other things don’t go hand in hand with songs! At least they do at FrancoFolies, June 9–19, a spectacular showing of French music and more at the Quartier des Spectacles. If you’re not a Francophile, it’s likely that many names at the fest won’t be familiar, but that doesn’t make their music any less fun. Whether they’re playing free outdoor shows or swanky indoor affairs, among the ones to catch this weekend are Éric Lapointe, Loco Locass, Mara Tremblay, Tricot Machine, Queen Ka and, well, too many to name really. And if you’re staying all week, get down with reggae royalty Alpha Blondy on June 15.

(heroes and villains) Art imitates life and pokes more than a few holes in it during the final weekend of Festival Transameriques, ending June 11. New York City choreographer and performer Miguel Gutierrez upends the Hollywood bad-boy/hero myth of James Dean in the sexy, subversive Last Meadow, New Zealand company Mau turns post-9/11 anxieties into a beautiful performance in Tempest: Without a Body, Japan’s Potudo-ru challenges with the semi-documentary theatre of Yume no shiro (Castle of Dreams), and the wonderful Crystal Pite’s Kidd Pivot group puts on The You Show. See the FTA’s website for show times.

(life on the fringe) Sit back, relax and be entertained, thrilled, elucidated, mildly horrified and horrifically amused at the Montreal Fringe Festival, to June 19. Pick and choose your fancy among the dozens of shows – biographical tales of intrigue, laughs and woe (Hedwig and the Angry Inch anyone? Or maybe Suicide(s) in Vegas?), improv comedy (Uncalled For for sure and, from Korea, ShLong Form Improv), stand-up (Andrea Stanford for one), plenty of dance (like the b-boy intensity of Body Slam), and everything in between. This weekend, the Fringe Park (corner of St-Laurent and Rachel) opens up with all-afternoon and evening music. Peruse the full schedule and get thee to the Fringe.

(tune in to summer) Heatwave or not, Rihanna – with Cee Lo Green opening! – is sure to cause a sweaty frenzy during her two nights (Friday and Saturday) at Bell Center. For something completely different, Suoni per il Popolo hosts heralded Japanese experimental musician Keiji Haino at Sala Rossa, indie synth-pop duo Junior Boys and so much, much more. On Sunday, Piknic Electronik keeps the outdoor dance party going with Julio Bashmore and more (see what I did there). And on Sunday night, the cool, composed and awesome Architecture in Helsinki end the week right at La Tulipe.

Photo Credit: F1- Montreal_Bunny

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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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The Grand Prix is a very big deal. Who wouldn’t want to see cars drive in circles really fast. Based on the helpful notes my mom wrote on my under clothes: the Grand Prix runs from June 10-12, you’re such a good boy and everybody really likes you even if they say they don’t. Oh, disregard that last part. The important thing to remember is that everybody really likes me. And the Grand Prix is from June 10 to June 12 which promises to be a waterslide of fun.

There’s this guy, his name is Sebastian Vettel, and he’s the king of the racing world right now. But he isn’t knighted like that Sir Jackie Stewart (Jackie? Really?) but maybe he will be one day even though he’s not British, he’s German but what I’m saying is he’s that good. Sebastian Vettel is going to be here in Montreal racing pretty fast for Red Bull.

Being the current world champ would be stressful, considering everyone mostly wants you not to be the champ anymore, like the 40 other race car drivers who will be in Montreal like Charles Leclerc and Xavier Coupal, Nathan Block and Aaron McCauley and that hot shoe New Zealander Chris Vlok.  But I’m most excited to see the strong family values of father-son duo Gilles Villeneuve and Jacques Villeneuve because I’ve always considered my mom and I to be a father-son duo too.

But I think the real question is, what are these drivers trying to get away from at such breakneck speed? If it’s just to hear the sound of applause then maybe they should gets some CDs of applause and play them on their discman like I do. Doesn’t Sebastian Vettel’s mom wonder why he drives so fast? Tracy Chapman tell me, and I will listen.

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THE DETAILS

Grand Prix Du Canada, June 10-12, 2011

Circuit Gilles Villeneuve, Parc des Îles de Montréal,  (514) 392-4731

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