The mercury creeping up, patios rolling out and the shirts coming off means one thing: summer in Montreal’s Gay Village. The 2013 edition of Aires Libres will soon be underway once the famous Boules Roses are strung up above the pedestrian-only paradise of Sainte-Catherine street…

Aires Libres is one of the most unique and fun spots in Montréal every summer. It invites LGBT people and friends to enjoy a slice of our vibrant Gay Village all day and every night. There are some exciting things planned this year so here is a brief overview of what’s happening from May 13 to September 6, 2013.

Once again, Les Boules Roses are back. 200,000 pink resin balls will transform the Gay Village into a dreamscape. The balls come in three different sizes, in five hues, strung up in nine unique suspension patterns. .

All summer under the bubblegum canopy, the Gay Village will be buzzing with activity. From outdoor shopping festivals and a big open air art gallery called BoulevArt to some spectacular circus performances in Parc Emilie-Gamelin during MONTREAL COMPLÈTEMENT CIRQUE, there’s nowhere more wonderfully “à la Montreal” to be.

Aires Libres also includes many weekly activities running throughout the summer. Tuesdays at noon between Beaudry and Amherst, you’ll be able to to catch some live music from local musicians. Every Thursday at sunset is a screening of an LGBT movie in Parc de L’Espoir (Saint-Catherine & Panet), courtesy of Image+Nation. Saturday afternoons in Parc de l’Espoir there will be a “Fruixi” stand, which sells fresh and local produce. It’s a delicious and sustainable place to grab a quick snack!

We’ll be covering all the LGBT festivals in Montréal this summer, so check out QueerMTL on Twitter and Instagram to keep updated. A quick preview of what’s to come: Divers/Cité (July 30-August 4, 2013), Fierté Montreal Pride (August 12-18, 2013) and Montréal Fetish Weekend (August 29-September 2, 2013).

THE DETAILS

Aires Libres, May 13 to September 6, 2013

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Monday: Monday Blues? Jazz it up a little by catching a low-key show and eating some BBQ Chicken at Le Maison de Jazz (House of Jazz). If you want to get in on the action, Club Date Piano Bar has Karaoke every night of the week. Bar Le Stud in the Village has a weekly night on Monday’s simply called “Boys” with DJ Sylvio Bray.

Tuesday: Le Cagibi is an adorable little bistro café located in the Mile-End and popular with the LGBT community. It is a cozy hotspot that celebrates art and music every single week. On Tuesdays, they have an event called Mardi Spaghetti. It’s a night of improvised and experimental music that is always an unexpected delight. If made-up music isn’t your thing, then every Tuesday at Royal Phoenix is Bingo night! 3 cards + 1 beer = $5. Now that’s the kind of math I excelled at in school.

Wednesday: Wednesday night is Ladies Night at the infamous gay strip joint Stock Bar. So obviously Wednesdays are the best. Nothing says “I need at least five drinks” more than seeing a beefcake male stripper fish a $10 bill out of a middle aged women’s cleavage while the gays and gals cheer on. Too crazy? Wednesday’s at Royal Phoenix are called “Royally Chilling” inviting people to just hang out, plus the kitchen is open until 1 AM!

Thursday: If there’s one thing we can all count on, it’s that a Thursday night at Apollon will be fun, and filled with people getting a head start on their weekend. Thursday’s at Apollon are called City Beats with a $4 cover and Hip Hop music.

Friday: There’s always somewhere to go on a Friday night. Just look around or follow the crowd. However if you want something a little different, it’s Open Dance night at Club Bolo in the Gay Village starting at 9:30 PM. If you get a kick out of line dancing to Shania Twain, then this is for you. The photo is of fellow Bolo fans dancing during the Gay Pride Parade!

Saturday: It’s Game Night at L’Aigle Noir, Montreal’s best leather bar. They play all night, and there are many prizes to be won! If it’s not your scene, down the street at Drugstore is Amateur Drag Night. See these budding starlets get their start in the ruthless world of drag, and like Ru Paul says: “let the best woman win!”

Sunday: Sunday is brunchday. No matter what week of the year you’re in Montreal, if it’s a Sunday, then you should go brunching. Good brunches in the Village include Saloon, Chez Cora on Saint-Catherine, or Dame Tartine on Ontario. Royal Phoenix in the Mile-End also has some delicious brunch.

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Montreal’s Gay Village is centered roughly between Berri-Uqam and Papineau metro, bordered by Sherbrooke Street on the northern edge, and René-Levesque on the south. Smack dab in the center on Saint-Catherine is Beaudry metro, easily identified by the rainbow bars above the main entrance. The best way to discover the Village is to explore the streets and meet the people. However if you need a little assistance, here are some notable Village hotspots…

Notable restaurants in the Gay Village include the highly-rated Mezcla, a “nuevo latino” restaurant that combines South American flavours with European style cooking. Mezcla has an extensive seafood menu, with private import wines from Latin America. Miyako Sushi is one of best Japanese restaurants in the area with good service and prices that won’t make you squirm. Other higher-end restaurants in the area include the amazing BYOB O’Thyme, mediterranean-style Ella Grill, and the open-kitchen Kitchenette.

If you’re looking for something a little more on the casual side try Quebec classic St-Hubert, the always tasty Resto Pub St. André, La Piazzetta, Mozza (BYOB) or village favorite Saloon (complete with cute waiters.) You can dine your way across the globe in the Gay Village, with some international cuisine like Couscoussiere d’Ali Baba, the Korean rice bar Be Bap (BYOB), and the insanely yummy NosThés Bistro which offers up great value Taiwanese with an impressive selection of exotic tea.

During the summer Montreal’s patios bloom to life. Restaurants with great open air seating include Bistro Florin graced by a large poplar tree, or Sky with huge pitchers of Sangria on the rooftop. One of the highest rated restaurants in Montreal on TripAdvisor (coming in at #8) is located a block east of the Gay Village called Le Grain de Sel. It has a neighbourhood vibe with some exquisite French cuisine. Want a sleazy one night stand with a burger? Five Guys Burgers on Saint Catherine is all the meat you’ll need.

Finding a fun, local watering hole in Montreal’s Gay Village is probably the easiest thing you’ll do all week. Every block has at least some sort of bar/lounge that will satisfy your thirst and preference. Starting with the always lovely Gotha Lounge, it’s intimate with a fireplace and a big beautiful bar. Try not to be deceived by initial appearances, Bar Relaxe on Sainte-Catherine is a solid place to grab a quick drink and chit chat with a friend. One of the hidden gems near the Gay Village is a little door and staircase right outside Berri-Uqam metro called l’Escalier. Escalier is filled with chill people, cheap beer, with nooks and chairs to get lost in.
Drinking with a purpose always feels more productive, so flipping through the extensive song list (and settling on any Celine Dion) at the Village karaoke bars Club Date and Cocktail will be an easily achievable goal. If you’re a man’s man looking for other men, Bar Le Stud and l’Aigle Noir cater to a slightly more beefy demographic. Grabbing a drink while taking in one of Mado’s famous Drag Shows is particularly popular with students on Tuesday nights, due to the cheaper cover. The deadliest cocktail list in the Village is at Saloon, I suggest trying the “Bangkok.” I’m sure there was no pun intended when the owners named it.

Generally the consensus among frequent nightlife patrons is the Gay Village has some of the best dancing in town. Big open floors, flashy light shows, and people who, you know, actually dance. Club Unity is big on Friday nights filled with a young college crowd grinding to Top 40, while Saturday brings a slightly more mature crowd and House music. Apollon sits inside a stunning building (a former post office) and is worth going any night between Thursday and Sunday. The crowd is mixed, the bartenders are shirtless, and the space is a fun place to explore. Especially the basement level called Katakombs. Complex Sky has several dance floors, a gentle crowd, and music that fluctuates in quality depending on the room you find yourself in.
Even after the regular clubs close, if you’re still itching to move, the Gay Village has two afterhours clubs you can hit. Stereo is renowned for its sound system and weekly lineup of world-class DJ’s, and Circus does its name honour after the clubs close. Don’t forget to grab breakfast on your way home at Chez Cora, L’Oeufrier or Resto du Village!

While wining, dining, and dancing is always a good time for a Friday night, it’s those Sunday afternoons in a coffee shop reminiscing about that wild night out that are often the most enjoyable. There are a bundle of cozy cafés for your latté sipping pleasure in the Gay Village. Autour d’un pain is the best-smelling café because it also doubles as a bakery.

There are the chain coffee shops like Starbucks, Second Cup, Java U, Tim Hortons and Presse Cafe, but why would you bother when you could support local small business by going to places like Le Pouce Gourmand, De Farine et d’Eau Fraiche, Pourquoi Pas, and 1000 grammes (formally known as Kilo). La Mie Matinale is filled with handsome men, sandwiches, coffee, treats, and pictures of singer/actress Dalida, so naturally it’s worth every minute and dollar spent there.

Starting with White Party Week (March 28-April 1) there will be lots happening in the Village during these busy few days. Also in March, ARTSIDA and the Edgy Women’s Festival will be taking place throughout Montreal. The real festivals begin in the summer though, when the Village transforms into a pedestrian boulevard with patios, performers, and people watching. Divers/Cité will take place July 30-August 4, followed by Fierté Montreal Pride, August 12-18. Fierté Montreal Pride week will see Community Day, Dyke March, and free concerts draw huge crowds to the Village. Check out some highlights from the full summer festival season in Montreal:

While not all festivals happen in the Gay Village, all of them are LGBT-friendly. All of January and into February, Montreal will be spending hours outdoors dancing at Igloofest, the coolest electronic music festival ever. Following in February is Montreal en Lumiere with Nuit Blanche, a celebration of culture in the Plateau, Old Port and Downtown. The summer season includes Jazz Fest, Just for Laughs, and Completement Cirque!

There are two primary shopping arteries in the Gay Village. Saint-Catherine that runs west-east and Amherst going north-south. Amherst is filled with many antique shops and stores that specialize in home decor like Cité Deco, Montréal Moderne, Spoutnik, and Second Chance. If you’re strolling down Saint-Catherine and hunting for something a little kinky, Priape and Fetish Armada are both high-quality stores with all the leather and rubber you could shake a stick at. For men’s clothing check out Evolution, Podium, Ernest, or the very cool Boutique Osez just off Saint-Catherine on Wolfe.
If you’re in the market for art, stop by the galleries in the area: Galerie Dentaire (yes, doubles as a dentist’s office), Galerie Hermine, Galerie Nowhere, and Zephyr. All can be found dotted along Amherst. Last but not least, if you’re looking to buy something for a little furry friend, Doggy Style on Amherst is stocked with bones and toys!

The post WHAT TO DO IN MONTREAL’S GAY VILLAGE IN 2013 appeared first on Tourisme Montréal Blog.

With 2013 fast approaching, we wanted to look back at some of the amazing moments that made 2012 so special and recognize and highlight all the amazing work our cameraman Guillaume Langlois has done. Please check out all of the videos on the Tourisme Montreal Youtube channel and we’ll see you next year!

The post BEST OF 2012 MONTREAL BUZZ VIDEO appeared first on Tourisme Montréal Blog.

She might not have won RuPaul’s Drag Race, but Shangela turned it out during a performance at Fierté Montreal Pride 2012. Check out the incredible full mini-concert..

Queer of the Year 2012 contestant Shane Jenek AKA Courtney Act spins those sultry limbs on the QOTY firetruck for 167,000 people that lined René-Levesque Blvd. during the Fierté Montreal Pride Parade 2012.

Tracy Trash kills it as Marilyn Monroe at Divers/Cité 2012 during the world’s largest drag show Mascara! Look at those Spirit Fingers! The 21st edition of Divers/Cité will be July 30 – August 4, 2013.

A sexy beefcake glitter dancer shakes it during Fierté Montreal Pride Parade 2012. Fierte Montreal Pride 2013 takes place August 12-18, 2013. See you all there!

Vagina puppets a wavin’ at the 1st Official Dyke March to kick off Community Day under the pink balls of the Gay Village.

Nana creeps a peek onstage during the evening show at Cabaret Mado in Montreal’s Gay Village. Try going on a Tuesday night, it’s a packed house with great drink deals!

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PLUS A BONUS GIF:
Well done, Sir. Well done.

Gifs by Alexander Dunphy / Original videos by Guillaume Langlois

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It goes without saying that all events take place Monday, December 31, 2012. Consider arriving before midnight so you don’t ring in 2013 sitting in a taxi or metro.

ODYSSEY 2013 is definitely one of the main events in Montreal’s Gay Village. Taking place at the famed after-hours club Circus, the party will continue until many hours into 2013. An impressive lineup in both the Trance Room and House Room include Orjan Nilsen, Leon Bolier, Jay Lumen and Koen Groeneveld. Tickets are $60 in pre-sale available here, or $85 at the door.

Royal Ball @ Royal Phoenix: Royal Phoenix in the Mile End was just voted as the Sexiest Gay Bar on the planet by NewNowNext Traveler’s Choice Awards! In an astonishing coincidence (not) Royal Phoenix will be hosting the sexiest New Year’s Eve party in Montreal! The Royal Ball is $10 in advance, $15 at the door, and there’s an optional $50 open bar from 9 – 10 PM. Everyone will get free champagne at midnight, and a massive crowd of LGBT folk to smooch. The night will be hosted by MTL Clubkids Sally & Tyler along with Montreal Roller Derby’s SmackDaddy and Royal Phoenix owner Val Desjardins.

Unity 2013: Tickets are already on sale and going fast for Unity’s annual New Year’s Eve bash. They’re $15 in advance and include free rapid coat check! Richard B will be spinning on the main dance floor with Stally at the Bamboo Bar. The midnight countdown at Unity is always a spectacular show complete with gogo-dancers, drag queens, and lots of making out.

Carnavalesque: In the depths of Bain Mathieu, you’ll find the most tantalizing NYE Party in Montreal. Put on by the infamous Cirque du Boudoir, the 2013 theme is New Orleans / Mardi Gras! So dust of those old beads you know you have somewhere and get caught up in the decadent fun. General tickets are $60 before December 27 and $80 at the door. VIP tickets are $85 until December 27 and $120 at the door. Both are available online.

Velvet Speakeasy: L’Auberge Saint Gabriel and Velvet Speakeasy present “La Second Avant Minuit” which translates to “The Second Before Midnight.” Deep minimal techno in the Velvet Speakeasy, House and Old School music in the Lounge, and a live Jazz /Soul band in the restaurant.

Note: This article will be updated as more events are scheduled! Check back closer to NYE!

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The 2012 edition of Image+Nation 2012 takes place exclusively at Cinema du Parc from November 22 to December 2 and features some incredible films premiere. They have several section of festival programming like “Lived Lives” for documentaries, “Eye on the World” for an examination of international LGBT culture, and “Generation Q” which is by and for LGBT youth.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4HitH8qJxCg

The fest opens this year on Thursday, November 22 with three films: Keep the Lights, Pariah and Une dernière chance. Keep the Lights On is a semi-autobiographical film that explores the intense, sometimes shocking, relationship and sex life between two men, while Pariah is Dee Rees’ (a former protégé of Spike Lee, who is credited as a producer) feature film debut. It’s an edgy portrayal of black lesbian sexuality and is described as “Precious meets The Colour Purple.” Un dernière chance is an NFB documentary about people seeking political asylum in Canada because of their sexual orientation and gender identity.

The closing film of the fest, on December 1, is Matthew Mishory’s Joshua Tree, 1951: A Portrait of James Dean. As expected, it’s a film that follows the life of silver screen icon James Dean as he moves his way up through Hollywood and examines the rumored relationships, however brief, between Dean and his male suitors.

Image+Nation has a nice mix of feature and short films, all of which explore the many realms of sexuality and gender identity. Some are made to tickle your funny bone like Bear City 2: The Proposal, and others take a more sinister undertone like Severed – a short about a murder of an identical twin and the disturbing way he tries to mend the loss. Lesbomundo on November 23 & 24 is a collection of lesbian centric short films. Films in this series also include Where Are The Dolls, Do You Have a Cat? and The Light.

One of the films I’m personally most excited for is Travis Matthews’ I Want Your Love. Don’t call it porn because it has much better cinematography, but it does promise lots of intimate rendez-vous that I expect will leave the audience wide-eyed and not being able to blink.

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THE DETAILS

Image+Nation, November 22 – December 02, 2012

The post IMAGE+NATION 2012: MONTREAL’S LGBT FILM FESTIVAL appeared first on Tourisme Montréal Blog.

Montrealers love Halloween. So no matter where you go out this weekend you can expect to find lots of glamorous costumes and things to do. However few of them will compare to the grand daddy of gay Halloween parties than the one at Club Unity. Cover is only $2 for those dressed up, and there is a $1000 first place prize for best costume and $500 for the runner up. Just so you get an idea of the level of intensity required to win, the last time I went to Unity for Halloween the winner had working pyrotechnics on his Transformers inspired robot costume. Yet somehow, it was still kinda sexy. The theme this year at Unity is Mars vs. Earth, so may I suggest either Scantily Clad Alien, or a Sexy Curiosity Rover.

Cirque De Boudoir will be hosting their hugely popular Halloween bash at the Darling Foundry this year on Saturday Oct 27th. The theme is “Iconic Villains & Victims from Modern Horror Movie Classics” and aptly titled “A NIGHT TO DISMEMBER.” Tickets are $20 in advance or $30 at the door, with the VIP option going at $40 and $50 and are available online here. There will be performances, DJ’s, prizes, blood, gore, and glitter.

Montreal’s Queer scene has a staple event getting in on the Halloween frights: Faggity Ass Saturday at Royal Phoenix. The name and details of the event are too scary (and naughty) to be posted here, so check out all the dirty details on the Facebook event page.

Montreal Club Kids Sally & Tyler will be hosting a special edition of GayBash on Saturday with the theme of “Blood Bath & Beyond.” Cover is only $10 and the DJ’s at Gaybash are pretty much some of the best in the business. Let this be a warning: The people who go to Gaybash take the themes VERY seriously. So whatever your outfit, toss it in red and you’re good to go.

The SAT (Societé des arts technologique) will be having a Voodoo Party in the Satosphere! One of the coolest venues in Montreal, this party is probably going to be pretty insane with not only DJ’s – but VJ’s as well that will be projecting on the Dome all evening. Tickets are $15 at the door and is expected to fill up fast so get there closer to 10 PM.

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Bingo Night at Royal Phoenix: Located in the hip and very Queer Mile End, Royal Phoenix has become an institution of LGBT activity in Montreal since it opened in June 2011. There’s something to do there every night of the week, but Monday night is Bingo night hosted by Burlesque Star “Matante Julie.” For $5 you get three bingo squares and a Pabst, plus all the funds go to supporting the ACCM! After a few rounds, try out the Royal Phoenix Cantine’s tempura-covered deep fried chocolate bars.

The Edwards Twins: The Edwards Twin brothers have been delighting audiences for years with their uncanny impersonations of over 100 stars. You can see them do everything from Bette Midler, Cher and even Kermit the Frog in Montreal at Theatre St. Denis, September 14-16.

Montreal AIDS Walk: The Farha Foundation has raised more than $8.7 million for AIDS foundations across Quebec since 1992. Their annual AIDS walk “Ca Marche” takes place at 9AM on Sunday, September 30 starting at Parc Emilie Gamelin.

Shows at New City Gas: Do you love dancing and light shows with the best DJs in the world? New City Gas (a mid 1800s Industrial complex turned multi-functional event space) has an impressive line up for the fall: AN21 & Max Vangeli on September 15, Thomas Gold on September 22, Joachim Garraud on September 29, Armin van Buuren on October 5, and Calvin Harris on October 19. Tickets available here.

Festival Black & Blue: Evolution 2012: The 22nd edition of Black & Blue will be held on Sunday, October 7 and feature DJs like David Morales, Gareth Emery, and Sander van Doorn (to name a few.) The theme this year is “Evolution” with emphasis on inclusion, respect, open-mindedness, peace, equality, altruism and love! Reserve your tickets here, it’s for a great cause!

PitBull Montreal: The 2nd Edition of Pitbull takes place September 29th at Underworld. The event is in association with Gay Village fetish store Fetish Armada and features DJ Dwayne Minard from Toronto.

Catch a Music Show: Lesbian Canadian crooner and music icon k.d lang brings her band “The Siss Boom Bang” to Montreal at the Corona Theater on September 28 and 29. Fresh off his amazing show during Montreal Jazz Fest, Rufus Wainwright will be returning for a more intimate show at Eglise St-Jean Baptiste on October 26.

Date Night in the Village: Visiting Montreal with your lover? A cute date night in the Village will have you seeing rainbow hearts. Try some of the fine dining options in the Village like Kitchenette, or the more casual Lallouz for some kebobs! After a stroll up through the adorable back streets of the village surrounding amherst and ontario will bring you right up to the bottom of Parc Lafountaine.

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DID I MISS ANYTHING? IF SO, PLEASE LEAVE A COMMENT ON THIS POST WITH ALL THE INFO!

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Over the course of 2011, we produced a series of videos in an attempt to document all the amazing things that were happening in Montreal. From festivals to food to gay montreal, from things to see to things to do, we were there. Check out all of the videos on Tourisme Montreal’s Youtube channel. As editor of this blog, I’d like to take a moment to thank our totally boss bloggers and our amazing cameraman Guillaume Langlois, who shot and edited all of these videos. See you all in 2012!

The post MONTREAL BUZZ 2011: A YEAR IN REVIEW appeared first on Tourisme Montréal Blog.