Whether it’s the masses of printed fabric on the sideboard, the golden baubles hiding beneath them, or the pages and pages of band posters and drawings on the kitchen table, it’s clear this is as much a workshop as a beautifully appointed living space. Morales first left her mark on the Montreal fashion scene when she opened a storefront on Saint-Laurent in Mile End in the early 2000s.

Since then, she’s gone through various transformations, as an artist is wont to do, to finally end up with a select handful of regular clients and a devil-may-care approach to fashion. She doesn’t follow the constraints of fashion weeks, or the strict rules of fashion seasons – she makes beautiful things (dresses, mainly) when she feels like it, and launches exciting new collections when she is so inclined.

These days, the breadth of this dynamo’s talent will be displayed in an eight-day frenzy at the forward-thinking Phi Centre, mere steps away from Morales’s home. The 8-Day Week by Renata Morales is one of Phi’s five people invited over the year to curate the whole centre their way. “Given the dates that were offered to me – June 5 to 12 – and the excitement of summer, being outside, and the way the Phi Centre is made, for spaces to be transformed and used so many ways – it all inspired an eight-day party,” says the designer.

The café space, just as you enter, will be transformed into a pop-up shop open from noon to midnight every day and featuring designs by herself and other Montreal marvels, including Complex Geometries, Denis Gagnon, Andrew Floyd Jewelry and Of / Golf Wang. “I’m making a special line of prints and tops for the Phi Centre, and then there’ll be some of my dresses; I’m also bringing back some prints from the past that we’re reworking,” says Morales.

There will also be an exhibition by amazing faux-Flemish-historical painter Joe Becker, some film screenings, and more music than you can shake a stick at: Young Paris, The Salivation Army, Tenderness, Prison Garde, Tonstartssbandht and the list goes on.

“I like the celebratory part of summer – we made it through winter again! The Old Port comes alive. Every day you can come to the Phi to eat and shop; there’s a DJ all day and then in the evening you come to see cutting-edge musical acts. There’s a karaoke night too, for those who like that!” Clearly, Morales has thought of everything.

THE DETAILS

The 8-Day Week by Renata Morales, June 5-12, 2013

Phi Centre, 407 Saint-Pierre, (514) 225-0525

Photos by Coey Kerr

The post The World According to Renata Morales appeared first on Tourisme Montréal Blog.

Reserve a spot for you and the kids on the Amphi-Bus and you’ll see Montreal two ways: onshore or off. The incredible amphibian vehicle transitions seamlessly from a road tour to the St. Lawrence River. Starting in the hopping Old Montreal corner of De la Commune and St-Laurent, the historically enlightening journey around Old Montreal will acquaint you with all the unmissable sites – Notre-Dame Basilica, Marché Bonsecours, Place Jacques-Cartier, the quais – before taking a dive into the river. Then you’ll see it all from the vantage point offshore, and take in the beautiful view out across the water.

A special treat you can offer yourself is a romantic tête-à-tête aboard the Amphi-Bus during the International Loto-Québec Fireworks throughout the summer (starting on June 22). There’s no better place to view the spectacular light show than in the middle of the St-Lawrence. You’ll be invited to toast the occasion with a glass of sparkling wine, to add to the mood. Montreal, this one’s for you!

THE DETAILS

Amphi-Bus, Starting at De la Commune and St-Laurent, (514) 849-5181

The post Plunge into the city aboard the Amphi-Bus appeared first on Tourisme Montréal Blog.

There is no talking about steakhouses in Montreal without mentioning downtown’s La Queue de Cheval. One of, if not the, most prestigious fine dining spots in Montreal, “The Q” is on par with the caliber of any of New York’s swankiest steakhouses.

Featuring signature cuts of in-house dried aged USDA PRIME steaks, La Queue de Cheval also proudly serves Australian Wagyu beef famous for its marbling and luscious fat content. Nothing this amazing comes chea, but in the end you absolutely get what you pay for and for the experience you’ll get at The Q (dining room, whiskey bar or cigar lounge) is worth every penny. La Queue de Cheval, 1234 De La Montagne (514) 390-0091

A Montreal institution known for their reputation of menu quality is Moishe’s Steakhouse. Located on Saint-Laurent, this local hot spot recently celebrated its 75^thanniversary. Voted by Forbes Magazine as one of the top 10 steakhouses in the world, Moishe’s old world charm and rich heritage shines through their dishes and service. From their Kobe beef burger or signature bone-in filet mignon, Moishe’s steakhouse offers not only classic cuts of meat charcoal broiled to perfection, but also offer some of them on a late night menu (after 9pm) which sees these mains paired with an appetizer and coffee or tea for a preferred price of $25. Moishe’s Steakhouse, 3961 St-Laurent, (514) 845-3509

The newest player in the Montreal steak scene is L’Atelier d’Argentine, headed by executive chef Natalia Machado and located in the Old Port. Her masterful touch oversees the authentic Argentinian asado and traditional presentations of beef whose signature highlight cuts are the rib eye, short ribs and skirt steak. Chef Machado’s culinary philosophy and deft hand of experience is evident in the preparation of each cut of meat appropriating different techniques down to seasoning to showcase the subtle intricacies of the meat. L’Atelier d’Argentine prides themselves on using the freshest products, having meat that is butchered daily is a necessity in order to have it speak for itself to be prepared and served on a plate with nothing more than chimichurri, criolla and lots of love. L’Atelier d’Argentine, 355 Rue Marguerite D’Youville, (514) 287-3362

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Honourable mentions:

Gibby’s, 298 Place D’youville, (514) 282-1837

Méchant Bœuf, 124 Saint-Paul West, (514) 788-4020

Rib ‘N Reef Steakhouse & Cigar Lounge, 8105 Décarie, (514) 735-1601

Magnan Restaurant et Taverne, 2602 Saint-Patrick, (514) 935-9647

Vieux-Port Steakhouse, 39 Saint-Paul East, (514) 866-3175

The Keg, Various Locations

The post Montreal’s Best Steaks appeared first on Tourisme Montréal Blog.

(ice action) Check out the extreme activity at the all-new Barbegazi Winter Action Sports Festival, a weekend-long event at Montreal’s Olympic Park showcasing experts in snowboard, freeski, snowskate and freestyle sled (aerial tricks on a snowmobile!). A little less extreme, but still very wintery and oh-so-Canadian, is the Ice Fishing Village set up with all the rugged amenities down at the Old Port– get a taste of the country (yes, you can keep and eat the fish!) in the middle of the city. The Old Port’s skating rink beckons the active among us, while the Snow Village entices with a bit more luxury. And, of course, you could also catch the Habs in hockey action.

(winter city lights) Take the chill off winter with music, entertainment, traditional and gourmet food, and outdoor activities – including a ferris wheel, giant ice slide and live music in the heart of downtown – at the 14th Montréal en Lumière festival, starting Thursday, February 21. The fest opens with La Pista Tango, a tango-meets-circus show with live orchestra on stage at Place des Arts’  Theatre Maisonneuve. Also explore new cuisines at special lunch events, happy hours and dinner spreads, and see the art of famed singer Tonny Bennett, French music star -M-, theatre-dance show The Humanity Project, charming music duo Luc De Larochellière and Andrea Lindsay, and more.

 (world-wide circus) Montreal lives up to its reputation as a circus capital with the 34th Festival Mondial du Cirque de Demain, a Paris-based competition and best-of tour featuring some of the top circus acts in the world. See acrobats, trapeze artists, jugglers, clowns, contortionists and more family-friendly entertainment February 19 to March 2 at Montreal’s professional and educational circus centre Tohu.

(theatre & dance) J.M. Coetzee’s Nobel Prize-winning book questioning how we measure civilized behaviour is writ large on stage in Waiting for the Barbarians, based on the, at the Segal Centre, to February 17. Centaur Theatre delves into the true story of murder in 1950s rural Ontario in Innocence Lost, to February 24. Huge, colourful, theatrical Indian dance show Bharati – The Wonder that is India wows to February 17 at Place des Arts. Learn a few moves yourself at the Bal Du Dimanche Samba Brésilienne on February 17, 2 p.m. at Place des Arts. As part of Montreal Black History Month, activist-writer Aphra Behn’s play Oroonoko is at the MAI to February 17 – and American Black civil rights activist Angela Davis takes the stage for a discussion at L’Astral on February 18.

(hot live music) Friday night is right with the electro-indie-pop of Passion Pit, with high-energy opening act Matt & Kim at Metropolis, or sit back and let the romantic vibes of Josh Ritter & The Royal City Band wash over you at Cabaret Mile End, or check out the very talented and charming Katie Moore and Aroara at Casa del Popolo. Also on February 15, the Imani Gospel Choir sings songs inspired by civil rights movements in the USA, part of Montreal Black History Month. On February 16, California-based producer-songwriter Toro Y Moi shares his unique musical style at Club Soda and legendary Detroit DJ Dez spins at the PHI Centre. Latin-Grammy-award nominated soulful singer Prince Royce rolls into Metropolis on February 17. California pop band Maroon5 bring their disturbingly catchy tunes to the Bell Centre on February 20. The Montreal New Music International Festival opens February 21 with the Ensemble de la SMCQ paying homage to Claude Vivier, and runs until March 3. And February 21 also brings the fine and dandy Indigo Girls to the Corona Theatre and hip and inventive Slim Twig and U.S Girls to Casa del Popolo.

The post THINGS TO DO IN MONTREAL: FEBRUARY 15-21 appeared first on Tourisme Montréal Blog.

“Oh, definitely,” enthuses Natalie Émond, vice-president of marketing for Pêche Blanche Ice Fishing Village. “Weekends are quite busy, and we recommend that people make reservations in advance. On a busy weekend day we might have as many as 400 people here.”

It’s a simple matter of location, location, location. Which in this case is the Clock Tower Basin in the historic Old Port, a ten-minute walk from Old Montreal’s Champ de Mars metro station. The proximity is not lost on Pêche Blanche’s rapidly expanding patronage.

“We see real fishermen, the ones who come at 7:30 a.m. and stay all day, but they’re not the norm,” says Émond. “It’s mostly families and tourists, people who would normally take their car and drive an hour and a half in order to go ice fishing.”

“People are mostly fishing perch and walleye, and we had a pike come out last Saturday, which was the first of the season. And a lot of burbot as well.” Er, burbot? “It’s not a very nice looking fish, but apparently it’s very good.”

But can you eat ’em? The answer is yes. And no. While there are several species of fish that are only catch and release – sturgeon, muskellunge and catfish primarily – there are numerous others, including perch, walleye, pike and the aforementioned inglorious burbot, that are yours for the keeping. And to answer the bigger question, yes, they are safe to eat.

“The fish are definitely edible,” says Émond. “[Journalists from] La Presse came and caught a few fish and brought them back to the Université de Montréal to have them analyzed and the mercury in the fish was way, way under the government norms for edibility.”

The Ice Fishing Village is open every day until 8 pm, Sunday to Wednesday, and until 11 pm Thursday to Saturday. And for the nervous among us, have no fear. “The ice is 23-inches thick at the thinnest,” reassures Émond. So no need to worry about taking an impromptu winter swim in the boat basin? “Absolutely not!”

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THE DETAILS

Pêche Blanche Ice Fishing Village, Clock Tower Quay, (514) 284-3456

The post ICE FISHING HOT SPOT IN THE OLD PORT appeared first on Tourisme Montréal Blog.

Despite seriously cold weather (even for Montreal), almost 18,000 people checked out the opening weekend of Igloofest. We think the video above does a pretty good of explaining why. With three more weekends ahead of us, and music from Ellen Allien, TNGHT, A Tribe Called Red, Caspa, Hot Chip’s Joe Goddard, Joy Orbison, Chris Liebing and many more on the way, there’s no reason for you not to suit up and come get down in the Old Port.

THE DETAILS

Igloofest at Jacques-Cartier Quay, January 17 to February 9, 2013

Photos by Susan Moss

The post MONTREAL’S OUTDOOR WINTER DJ FESTIVAL: IGLOOFEST 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.

Our Shop Hop guides are designed to help you scope out the most fashionable finds in town by suggesting easy-to-walk excursions through the city’s nicest neighbourhoods. Not only will you get a feel for Montreal as locals experience it, you’ll also come away with souvenirs that’ll remind you of your magical trip to la belle ville every time you wear them. After our hunt for designer ware in Outremont, get a load of the great men’s wear offerings in Old Montreal.

Surrounded by the classic grandeur of Old Montreal, abounding with European charm and ye olde quaintness, it’s natural to feel like you should be wearing your Sunday best. And as luck may have it, the city’s best designer stores have flocked to the area like as many golden-egg geese, ready to chic you up. The city’s founding neighbourhood is a hotbed of hot men’s wear.

Start on the corner of Saint-Laurent and Saint-Paul, one of the area’s main east-west shopping drags, with the Marché Bonsecours at your back, and head westward. Among the first shops you’ll encounter is the two-storey boutique of one of Quebec’s most famous designers, Denis Gagnon, who only recently started offering men’s wear to his clients. His looks are dark and dense and as edgy as the boutique’s modernist angular design, predicated structural shapes and on layering of different textures in basics hues (mostly black). He is a master leatherworker, which he contrasts with wools so soft you could melt into them.

U&I, across the street, used to sell his wares before he had a boutique of his own, but now counts among its international brands Moncler, Ralph Lauren and Mackage. They flirt with edginess in their selections but carry lots of great basics, from shoes to shirts to outer wear like wax jackets and puffer coats (both Quebec essentials). Reborn is a boutique that caters as much to the young and avant-garde as to the working man, depending on your level of daring. It carries fantastic brands like Acne Men (everything from denim to tees), Kin (the sharpest parkas) and Fleet Ilya (who make one mean looking basketball sling).

Time for a lunch break? Perfect coincidence, you happen to be in from of Bocata, the little sister of the next-door Barroco. The stars on the recently launched seasonal menu include an insane lobster dish with chestnut lasagna and anis-pumpkin purée, which you’ll enjoy sitting in a leather booth so silky soft you’ll think you’re still pawing one of Denis Gagnon’s jackets. Make sure to pair your plates with some of the private import vintages the restaurant is renowned for.

Espace Pépin awaits the refreshed you few doors westward; the grand shop owned by Lysanne Pépin mixes furniture with accessories for the home with jewelry, shoes and clothing. It’s a great place to pick up a rugged carpetbag or distressed leather chukkas. Michel Brisson’s eponymous boutique a bit further is much more streamlined, both in concept and style: the glass-tiled boutique itself offers perfect rows of clothing that are the utmost in gentlemen’s wear (he carries Dries Van Noten, Filippa K, Zegna and James Perse, among others). This is the place to go to pick up that flawless suit, luxurious wool overcoat or thick leather porte-documents by Montreal brand WANT les essentiels de la vie.

Okay, time for a little detour, but before – need a coffee? Pick up the neighbourhood’s best latte – and a sandwich for the hotel room later, why not? – at Olives et Gourmando. Turn right and head first to Quai 417, a boutique dedicated to independent designers where among the leather goods and high top sneakers you’ll find the most unique looks under one roof, including those conceived by local fashion makers Philippe Dubuc (otherwise known as the perfect suit man) and UNTLTD (a pair of up-and-comers you should know).

A little further northward on Notre-Dame there’s Rooney, home to colourful basics like two-toned canvas hand luggage by Heritage Leather Co., chambray shirts by Our Legacy or quilted jackets by Barbour. Finally, for the last stop you’ll be turning on McGill avenue, which runs at right angles with Notre-Dame: Stones Splash may not be a stylish high-design store like those on Saint-Paul, but it’s your stop for great rugged basics like thick wool sweaters, plaid shirts and chunky brown lace-ups – just the kind of thing you need to traipse around cobblestoned alleyways.

THE DETAILS
Boutique Denis Gagnon, 170B St-Paul West, (514) 935-6360
U&I, 215 St-Paul West, (514) 508-7704
Reborn, 231 St-Paul West, (514) 499-8549
Bocata, 310 St-Paul West, (514) 507-8727
Espace Pépin, 350 St-Paul West, (514) 844-0114
Michel Brisson, 384 St-Paul West, (514) 285-1012
Olives et Gourmando, 351 Rue Saint Paul West, (514) 350-1083
Quai 417, 417 St-Pierre, (514) 419-3848
Rooney, 395 Notre-Dame West Nº 101, (514) 543-6234
Stones Splash, 46 rue McGill, (514) 288-5827

Photo Credit Denis Gagnon: Sebastien Roy

The post SHOP HOP: MENSWEAR IN OLD MONTREAL appeared first on Tourisme Montréal Blog.

A full day of snowfall did not deter thousands of Montrealers and tourists alike from showing up for the kickoff of Igloofest, which continues until January 28. People showed up in their best winter wear, explored the fest’s many fun and frosty features, and, of course, danced the night away to Montreal expat A-Trak. There’s plenty more to come, so make sure that this is the year you figure out what all the fuss is about.

The post A-TRAK DJS MONTREAL’S IGLOOFEST appeared first on Tourisme Montréal Blog.

The Old Port is full of super-special dining, ranging from the divine to the sublime and back again: Check out Club Chasse et Peche, Chuck Hughes‘ Garde Manger, XO, DNA, or l’Orignal to name a few. But sometimes, you just want a burger—or a Turducken sandwich, as the case may be. It was just this lack of affordable but still slightly-over-the-top awesomeness that inspired Travis Champion, owner of the aforementioned l’Orignal, to open a diner right around the corner from his other restaurant. L’Orignal (The Moose) is a kind of glamourous-yet-homey hunting lodge, with plenty of oysters and game dishes (deer stew, elk steak) on the menu.

So what do you do if you already have a well-reviewed, popular and packed restaurant under your belt? Go for the grill, of course. And the deep fryer—the runaway success of Champion’s Hot Turducken sandwich, his favourite thing on the menu, makes me suspect that part of his reason for opening the place was to have his very own deep fryer to play around with.

Nestled into a little hole in the wall (a former jewellery shop) around the corner from l’Orignal on rue Notre-Dame, and decked out with a train-car ceiling and new-old elements like genuine ‘50s lino, the place is an instant classic. As if in homage to classic Montreal hot-dog joints up the street on the Main, such as the Montreal Pool Room, the walls are lined with Montreal-centric ephemera and some faux-classic photos and so on (the little freckled boy eating poutine in what looks like Life Magazine snaps from the ‘50s is actually the owner’s nephew.)

“For one thing, we were running out of space at l’Orignal, and the basement here was huge—and I wanted that,” says Champion. “I wasn’t desperate to do a diner, but then we realized we’d be filling a void in Old Montreal that was meatloaf, lasagna, pot pie hot dogs and hamburgers. There are people who work down here who can’t afford to do high-end lunches, and I wanted to offer them something great.”

Affordability has always been a factor for Champion, who prides himself on the ethos of giving people the best time possible whatever their budget. “If you have $200 to spend, I’ll make sure you have the best time for that, and if you have $40 in your wallet, I’ll do the same,” he says.

The menu contains some reliable classics, but also some hot new innovations, such as the soon-to-be-famous Hot Dog Poutine (cheese curds and gravy on hot dog, with matchstick fries). “I’m not breaking any new ground with that one,” says Champion. “A hot dog poutine is an idea that just makes sense.”

People drop in to Le Gros Jambon for a bite to eat in daylight, at lunchtime and after hours, to hang out with old friends and make new ones. As far as we’re concerned, the lobster mac ‘n cheese is worth making friends with. We stuck around through a brunch, lunch and late-night to see who dropped by, and what was on the menu (dinner will be served as well as soon as the elusive liquor license falls into place).

Early morning: On weekdays, the place is open bright and early for fresh baked pastries, cookies and coffee. People drop by before punching the clock at any of the many offices in the area. Don’t miss: The banana-walnut muffins fresh from the oven.

Lunchtime: The kitchen opens at 11:30am, ready to serve up some extra-special specials including the aforementioned lobster mac ‘n cheese (the lobster is cooked sous vide with garlic butter, so it stays tender and creates a bisque-like sauce, and then is mixed with a super-tasty cheese sauce).

Late night: After a hard night of clubbing in the Old Port, you need sustenance—and GJ is there for you, serving a pared-down menu til the very wee hours, after last call has turned into an undeniable craving for a cheeseburger or a serving of their signature hotdog on a home-baked bun with a side of fries.

Brunch: After your late-night stop, you’ll be tempted to loop on back to their counter for brunch, possibly their most fabulous meal. Two words: Fried chicken and waffles, the former made from a special recipe (horseradish and maple syrup, dig it) with a side of fruit, griddle potatoes and uncommonly good baked beans, cooked al dente and sauced to perfection. We’re not kidding.

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THE DETAILS

Le Gros Jambon, 286 Notre Dame West, (514) 508-3872

 

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