(go green) Whether you’re here this week to relax, party or keep the kids entertained at the tail end of March Break, Montreal’s Saint Patrick’s Day celebrations have something for everyone. The massive parade begins on Sunday, March 17, at noon and moves east for blocks but throughout the weekend many pubs, bars and restaurants, whether they’re officially Irish or not, offer up special St-Patty’s drinks and dishes.

(sugar shack fun) Sugaring-off season is upon us and with it the return of fatty, syrupy sugar shack fare, done in traditional and gourmet styles or a mix of the two, such as at La Cabane, conveniently located in the Old Port, where you’ll also find outdoor activities like ice skating and ice fishing. Or get the real maple-syrup deal at the Montreal Botanical Gardens, where families can sample syrup on snow and find out where the sugary stuff comes from.

(on-stage spectacle) While March 16 brings UFC welterweight champion and local legend Georges St-Pierre to the Bell Centre along with six other UFC welterweight fighters in what’s sure to be one kind of grand spectacle, there’s also Rabbit in a Hat Productions’ boxing-centric Cornered, on at Bain St-Michel to March 17. Les Grands Ballets Canadiens presents Danz + Toot, a high-energy, highly contemporary program, March 14-23, the true story of Dead Man Walking is put into song by Opera de Montreal on March 16, and the true story of the “Queen of Gospel” is told in The Mahalia Jackson Musical, starring Montreal sensation Ranee Lee, at the Segal, to March 24. See contemporary dance Montreal-style at Agora de la Danse March 15-16 as choreographer Isabelle Van Grimde works with dancers, composers and musicians in Les Gestes. And lovely, luscious ladies from Montreal and across North America perform sexy, funny, circus-y burlesque of all sorts at cabaret Le Grand Burlesque Show, March 21-23 at Club Soda.

(film & art) The International Festival of Films on Art, March 14-24, screens documentaries, shorts and experimental films that focus on all forms of the arts: painting, sculpture, architecture, writing, dancing, music and more. Also check out free events such as the Zon’Arts exhibition at Place des Arts, where Diane Obomsawin’s animated films Fleur (2012) and Machine (2012) are being projected. For the full FIFA schedule and to buy tickets online, see the FIFA site. It’s also the last weekend to wander through Montreal’s underground city, connecting metro stations, office buildings and malls, to see the corridors adorned with intriguing art for Art Souterrain.

(music for march) The weekend opens with Montreal favourites Stars playing two magical nights at the Corona Theatre, March 15 and 16. Also on Friday, another Montreal favourite, Jerusalem in My Heart brings their unique, dramatic sound to Le National, and dance the night away to electro-beat of Mr. Oizo, A-Rock and Cherry Cola, at SAT. Saturday night is all disco all the time with the legendary Village People at L’Olympia. On Sunday night, mega-star Rihanna visits the Bell Centre on her Diamonds World Tour, with A$AP Rocky. On Tuesday, March 19, see Randy Bachman on his Vinyl Tap Tour, playing music and telling stories about the Guess Who and BTO, at Theatre Corona. Canadian rocker Matt Mays comes to Cabaret Mile End with with openers July Talk on March 20, while New York prog-rock-punk band Coheed & Cambria  and A Place To Bury Strangers are at Club Soda.

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(hot shop) Shop for holiday gifts or yourself at the annual souk @ sat art and design fair – it’s hip, it’s cool, it’s very Montreal, with over 100 professional artists and designers selling unique clothing, jewellery, handbags, furniture, home accessories, toys, art and more. The sale happens November 30 to December 2 at the Société des Arts Technologiques downtown, where you can also stop for a bite at their FoodLab restaurant. Find more Quebec-made creations, from clothing to gourmet food, at Le Marché Casse Noisette, also known as The Nutcracker Market, a non-profit market co-organized by Les Grands Ballets Canadiens – it’s one of many of Montreal’s December craft and artisanal fairs. Environmentally conscious shopping meets eco-education and entertainment – including a Green Santa! – at the Recycling-Artists Eco Fair at the Biosphère ecological centre in Parc Jean-Drapeau, November 30-December 2. And in Mile End, check out Marché de Noël du Mile End at Ecole Lambert-Closse (5840 St-Urbain), November 30 until 9 p.m. and December 1, 10am-5pm., featuring food, gifts and more.

(winter wonderlands) Montreal’s first snowfall has come and gone already, but more picturesque snow days are certainly on their way – and with them, winter sports! The huge outdoor skating rink in the Old Port opens December 1 – if you get there before 11 a.m., skate for free! If you get there afterwards, it’s only $6 anyway, with rentals available on site too. Later on December 1, the TELUS Fire on Ice fireworks show lights up the sky over the Old Port starting at 8 p.m. And over at the Montréal Museum of Fine Arts, wander through an indoor forest of Christmas trees, decorated in different styles with traditional and hand-painted decorations by local associations and cultural groups. Access to the museum’s permanent collections is free at all times, as are the museum’s weekend art workshops and tours for kids and families.

(comedy gold) Some big names in comedy come to Montreal this week, but while Jerry Seinfeld’s December 1 at Place des Arts is sold out, there’s still a chance to see Robin Williams in freewheeling conversation with fellow comedian (and director and author) David Steinberg on December 5 at Place des Arts. Not only is Williams’ career in television, film and on stage on the interview agenda, but so is his personal life – sure to be strange, hilarious and entertaining. On a smaller but just as funny scale, New York City veteran comic Al Lubel treads the Montreal Comedy Works stage November 30 and December 1. And family-friendly circus, musical and epic adventure show Loucho the Clown continues at Theatre Ste-Catherine to December 2.

(immersive art) Montreal lights up throughout the month with Luminotherapie, works of high-tech art located throughout the Quartier des Spectacles in the downtown core. Follow the story of an iceberg in interactive installation Iceberg – human movement actually transforms the physical structure and the sounds within, and look out for the many videos of Le Jour des 8 Soleils, projected on buildings throughout the Quartier. Create a professional self-portrait at the WonderWall collective art project at ArtLab (5524 St-Patrick), all day December 1 and 2 – you don’t need any art experience to be a participant and all materials will be supplied. And the Musée d’art contemporain de Montréal holds its Giant Inventory Sale of Musée Publications – all publications are on sale for $2, cash only – December 4-5.

(film lands) At the end of Montreal’s film festival season, we find a celebration: Image+Nation has spent 25 years bringing LGBT films from around the world to Montreal, with plenty of good ones this year too, playing at Cinema du Parc until December 2 – feature length dramas this weekend include Joshua Tree, 1951: A Portrait of James Dean, Nicole Conn’s A Perfect Ending and more. Also at Cinema du Parc is Montreal’s Brazilian film festival, November 30-December 6, featuring premiers of new Brazilian films along with directors present for Q&A sessions after screenings.

(opera & theatre) Opera de Montreal holds its 17th annual Gala fundraiser with some of the companies most adored singers performing arias and ensembles from productions past and present – held at the beautiful new Maison symphonique de Montréal on Sunday, December 2 at 2 p.m. Meanwhile, in theatre, David Lindsay-Abaire’s Pulitzer Prize-winning play Good People, set in Boston’s working-class Irish “Southie” neighbourhood, continues at the Centaur to December 6. Contemporary painting gets the dramatic treatment in Red, based on the work and life of artist Mark Rothko, at the Segal Centre to December 16. And live it up with a night of vaudeville on December 6 at the Segal, with live music from Bad Uncle, comedians Mike Paterson, Tim Rabnet and Ryan Wilner, burlesque and circus acts, and  more.

(dancing days) The fairytale of Snow White is turned into an urban, dreamy, often funny dance odyssey in Où est Blanche-Neige?, choreographed by Manon Oligny as part of this winter’s Parcours Danse events – see a free performance at Espace culturel Georges-Émile-Lapalme at Place des Arts on December 4 at 5 p.m. and a free performance of Alors, Dansez Maintenant! on December 5 at 11:45 a.m. Persian music and contemporary dance combine in Śūnya, at the Segal Centre on December 1. Dance Cité presents Nancy Leduc’s Projet Harlequin, inspired by reading Harlequin romance novels as a teenager, to December 8 at Théâtre de Quat’sous (100 Pins W.). And up-and-coming dancers perform short pieces at the Bouge d’ici Mash Up, hosted by Miss Sugarpuss on November 30 at Shift Space (1190 St-Antoine W.).

(warm-up music) Back home after European tours, Montreal’s Jonas and the Massive Attraction show off their rock-pop stuff at Club Soda on Friday, November 30. On Saturday, December 1, Montreal musician Ariane Moffatt returns with her bilingual blend of jazz, electro and folk, with electro-pop makers Young Galaxy at the Corona Theatre, while jazz-blues entertainer Leon Redbone is at Sala Rossa – and on a different, but also Montreal-based note, Grim Skunk get their rock-punk-world-beat on at Club Soda. Sunday, December 2 is the right kind of day for the Gospel Celebration 30th Anniversary, featuring the wonderful Montreal Jubilation Gospel Choir and special guests at Théâtre Maisonneuve at Place des Arts, 8 p.m. On Monday, December 3, get into the soulful, kind of jazzy, kind of rock music of Rachael Yamagata at Sala. On Tuesday, December 4, it’s NYC folk-pop group Pearl and the Beard at Sala. And on Thursday night, spend an evening with Loreena McKennitt at Place des Arts, or chill out with the Americana-style rock of Band of Horses at Metropolis, or dance to the electro-beat of Diamond Rings and Mozart’s Sister at Sala.

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Launching its 2012-13 season on a high note, Opéra de Montréal brings Richard Wagner’s The Flying Dutchman to the Place des Arts’s Salle Wilfrid-Pelletier, at the epicentre of the city’s cultural scene. So get a sitter, make dinner reservations and don your finery! You’re going out for a night on the town.

This story of love and death, desire and redemption tells the story of a girl named Senta, who’s engaged to dude named Erik. Problem is, Senta spends her time daydreaming of the Flying Dutchman, the Robert Pattinson of 18^th century Norway – a dark and dapper legendary seaman who’s said to have made a pact with the devil. He’s condemned to roam the seas for eternity – unless he meets a woman who promises that she’ll be forever faithful. Little does Senta know that to Erik’s chagrin, Senta’s sailor dad met the Flying Dutchman on his last voyage and promised him his daughter’s hand.

A wedding is in the works… but Erik ruins the party by reminding Senta of her promise to him. The Dutchman overhears the conversation and, in operatic despair, hurriedly weighs anchor when, in a final act of loyalty, Senta faces death to save her forbidden love from his sentence of damnation.

Musically speaking, the story is spiced with roaring duets and rousing choruses; standout moments include the Dutchman’s first aria, in which he bemoans his immortality despite many efforts to end his life; Senta’s passionate ballad, which pushes the singer’s voice to new heights; and a great chorus in which sailors and young girls call out to the Dutchman’s crew. The music throughout is overlaid with the sound of waves from the moment the curtain rises, a penetrating rhythm that wraps around every word and note.

As a guarantee of authenticity, Opéra de Montréal has brought in the lead performers direct from Germany: bass-baritone Thomas Gazheli will take the starring role of the Dutchman, alongside soprano Maida Hundeling as Senta, while her poor sap of a fiancé Erik will be played by tenor Endrick Wottrich. Each of the four performances starting November 10 will be preceded with a pre-opera talk at 6:30 pm by musicologist Pierre Vachon (in French with a summary in English), in the Piano Nobile room in Salle Wilfrid-Pelletier.

This is just the first quarter of the opera season, of course – up ahead there’s some Strauss, Dead Man Walking by Heggie and Manon by Massenet… so stay tuned! No pun intended.

THE DETAILS

Opéra de Montréal presents Wagner’s The Flying Dutchman, November 10, 13, 15 & 17, 2012

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(pop music city) Pop Montreal takes over many of the city’s music venues until the wee hours of Sunday night, with bands that both exemplify and defy the modern definition of pop. Among the many, many shows to see this weekend: on September 21, see David Byrne and St. Vincent, Tim Hecker, Yamantaka//Sonic Titan, free afternoon shows at Parc Petite-Italie and at Divan Orange; on September 22, hear the piano stylings of Chilly Gonzales, the hip hop of Big K.R.I.T. and Slim Thug, and more frees shows; and on September 23, check out Purity Ring, Grizzly Bear, Patrick Wolf and stay out late at the fest’s closing party with Nicky Da B. Plus, September 22-23, peruse the creative output of artsty-crafty Montrealers at the Puces Pop Craft Fair, at St-Michel Church.

(life on film) The 8th edition of the Montreal International Black Film Festival runs to September 30 on screens around town, featuring a program of documentaries, feature films and shorts from around the world, including an Homage to Harry Belafonte, winner of the festival’s Humanitarian Prize this year, a talk by Stedman Graham, screenings of new film Winnie, about the life of Winnie Mandela starring Jennifer Hudson, jazz-singer doc Girls in the Band, Luv starring Common, and much more. And dance enthusiasts can see performances and discussions on film at the first Cinédanse Montréal film festival, September 20-23.

(circus & burlesque) Creative Montreal-based circus Cirque Éloize blends circus arts with hip hop, breakdance and stories of identity in their new, all-ages show iD , featuring 14 high-energy performers,  at Montreal circus centre La Tohu, September 20-October 6. Acrobatics and music astound in Pfffffff, a show by French circus troupe Akoreacro, running September 25-October 6 at La Tohu. And on a smaller scale and more adult-oriented, on September 21, see the Candyass Club burlesque-meets-subversive-vaudevillian-cabaret show, downtown at Café Cléopatra (1230 St-Laurent, 2nd floor), 10 p.m.

(dance days) The dance season officially opens this week with Danse Danse celebrating the 40th anniversary of BJM – Les Ballets Jazz de Montréal, a show featuring pieces by Cayetano Soto, Benjamin Millepied and Barak Marshall, September 27-29 at Place des Arts. The Quartiers Danses festival comes to a close September 22 with a performance by Manuel Roque at Tangente at 6:30 p.m. and with dance performances and a roster of great DJs at the Darling Foundry (745 Ottawa) in Old Montreal, starting at 8 p.m. Twenty-one dancers take the stage in Cas Public’s Duels September 20-22 at Agora de la Danse, and Danse-Cité presents Ta Douleur by choreographer Brigitte Haentjens at Théâtre La Chapelle.

(theatrical times) Verdi’s La Traviata opens the 33rd season of L’Opéra de Montréal, featuring Greek soprano Myrto Papatanasiu, Italian tenor Roberto De Biasio and baritone Luca Grassi, to September 22 at Place des Arts. Metachroma Theatre sticks to the classics while still taking chances with Shakespeare’s Richard III, at The Segal Centre, to September 30, and Theatre Teesri Duniya put on Governor General’s Award-winning playwright Kevin Loring’s Where the Blood Mixes, about the life-long effects of Aboriginal residential school experience – at Centre Culturel Calixa-Lavallée (3819 Calixa-Lavallée) in Parc Lafontaine to September 30.

(art of performance) Art, music and dance converge this weekend, partly due to Pop Montreal. On September 23, see a show by Los Angeles-based performance duo Lucky Dragons, who mix synthesizer sounds, video projections and movement, some of it involving the audience, at the PHI Centre in Old Montreal, 5 p.m. Also on September 23, see dance performance Where the River Gets the Water Remix, with live music by Katie Moore and Matthew Woodley, at the Ukrainian Federation (5213 Hutchison), 4 p.m.. And on September 27, get lost in audiovisual performances from German producer-artist Byetone, co-found of electronic music label Raster-Noton, and French producer and video artist Nohista at the PHI Centre, 9 p.m.

(fresh air) The weather is still warm enough to spend a few hours outside this weekend. Take a walk around the Botanical Gardens and stay until the sun goes down to see the amazing lanterns at the Chinese and Japanese gardens. On September 22, from 10 am to noon, explore one of Montreal’s neighbourhoods by foot at Heritage Montreal’s family workshop on Little Burgundy. Down at the Old Port, check out the Clock Tower Beach, complete with food and full bar, before it closes for the season on September 23. And over at Parc Jean-Drapeau on September 23, daytime dance party Piknic Electronik parties in Pop Montreal style with Pierre Babin, EZLV, J.A.S.S. , PillowTalk and Catz N’ Dogz.

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(pop ‘til you drop) Pop Montreal, the little music fest that could, celebrated its 10th anniversary last year, proving that it may be all big-time now but it’s still fun and friendly. The fest, running September 19-23, bends the definition of pop to include rock, hip hop, folk, electronic and combinations of all of the above and more. On Wednesday alone see Stars (for free!), Laetitia Sadier, Antibalas, Knaan, Joseph Arthur, and on Thursday not only are there free outdoor shows at Parc de la Petite Italie  in Little Italy (St-Laurent at Ste-Zotique), but see Dirty Three, Gang Gang Dance, Katatonia, Grimes, Alaclair Ensemble, Deerhoof and many, many more play throughout the evening.

(fall fresh air) Five Tall Ships drop anchor at the Quays of the Old Port, September 13-16, open for tours and accompanied throughout the weekend by activities day and night, including music concerts, street performers, food, games, nautical-themed vendors, a Pirate’s Cabaret and fireworks every night! And see lanterns of every size, shape and colour light up during the evenings at the beautiful Montreal Botanical Gardens throughout the fall, with special events for families and for food lovers.

(fantasy land) Montreal’s Comiccon, happening September 14-16 at Palais des Congrès, isn’t only for fans of comic book heroes and graphic novel anti-heroes – no, Comiccon is a carefully curated pop culture interzone where fiction meets reality, where stars like William Shatner, Patrick Stewart (two Enterprise captains! I mean, actors who played Enterprise captains!) and Malcolm McDowell chat with fans, famed comic book creators talk about their work and even do some live drawing, and the Batmobile revs its engines.

(film forays) The 8th edition of the Montreal International Black Film Festival begins September 19 with an Homage to Harry Belafonte, winner of the festival’s Humanitarian Prize this year, and a screening of opening film Winnie, about the life of Winnie Mandela, directed by Darrell Rood and starring Jennifer Hudson. The festival continues until September 30 with films from around the world. Two more film phenomena happen this week: iF3, the International Free Ski Film Festival, to September 16 at the Monument National screens films on skiing, welcomes pro athletes to town, sets up an outdoor village next to the SAT and throws a few good parties; and the M60 film fest, September 13-15 at Excentris, screens a wide array of Montreal-made films that clock in at under 60 seconds – always a fun time!

(art action) The Ryoji Ikeda exhibition at DHC/Art is worth a visit any time, but on September 15, it’s extra special because the artist/musician himself will be in town and performing a live set of Test Pattern at the nearby PHI Centre – fans of minimalist electronic music won’t want to miss this. Also in Old Montreal, catch the artistic, political and emotional World Press Photo exhibition until September 30. And SBC Gallery of Contemporary Art presents Technical Temptations: The Films of Maria Lassnig, showcasing the work of the acclaimed Austrian artist. And venture over to the Parisian Laundry in the neighbourhood of St-Henri (also home to the Atwater Market) to see mind-warping paintings by Rick Leong and an interactive installation by Dean Baldwin.

(stage setting) L’Opéra de Montréal opens its 33rd season with Verdi’s La Traviata, September 15-22 at Place des Arts. Greek soprano Myrto Papatanasiu shares the stage with Italien tenor Roberto De Biasio and baritone Luca Grassi to play out a dramatic tale of love, honour and sacrifice. For more drama, see Theatre Teesri Duniya put on Governor General’s Award-winning playwright Kevin Loring’s Where the Blood Mixes, about the life-long effects of Aboriginal residential school experience – at Centre Culturel Calixa-Lavallée in Parc Lafontaine. In dance, the Quartiers Danses festival roams the city with the aim to make dance accessible to all – see Florence Figols in a “carte blanche” evening for Marie Brassard, at the Darling Foundry September 15-16, Spain’s Kukai and Montreal’s Atypique collection outdoors at the Quartier des Spectacles September 14-15 starting at noon, and more dance throughout the week.

(music delights) Hip hop happens September 14 at Olympia as part of the iF3 festival: get down with legendary Mix Master Mike, Rahzel and more. Meanwhile, over at the SAT, groove to Ladyhawke and Computer Magic – also at the SAT, starting September 18, see DJ Food’s immersive music-and-video experience The Search Engine. On September 15, listen to the sweet, weird, strange San Francisco sounds of Vetiver at Il Motore. On Sunday afternoon, dance to the beats of Oliver$, Electric Rescue, Astropolis tagteam, Sipherdee and more at Piknic Electronik. Sandro Perri knows how to captivate a crowd September 17 at Cabaret Mile-End. And on September 18, Peter Gabriel comes to the Bell Centre to remind us that it’s been 25 years since his album So – and it’s still good.

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(operatic love and loss) The Opéra de Montréal brings out the big guns, international cast and all, for Czech composer Antonín Dvořák’s Rusalka (pictured above) November 12–19 at Place des Arts. Its first time on stage in Montreal, Rusalka takes us through the anguished tale of a sea-dwelling woman who falls in love with a prince, becomes human with the help of a witch’s spell, capturing the prince’s heart only to be betrayed by him – the stuff opera was meant for. Meanwhile, over at the Maison Symphonique de Montréal, conductor and director Kent Nagano’s Montreal Symphony Orchestra takes on Bach’s St-John Passion, November 10–11.

(made in Montreal) Not as massive as Pop Montreal, but just as full of local flavour and fun, the M for Montreal music festival (November 16–19) puts the spotlight on Montreal bands and DJs. This week, see power pop band Creature on November 16 and Edmonton’s poet laureate (who loves Montreal so much he spends a ton of his time here) Cadence Weapon on November 17. But there’s more! See the M for Montreal site for the full schedule. Montreal’s francophone culture is in full effect this week too with Coup de Coeur Francophone, November 3–13, featuring music ranging from folk to metal and a tribute to Montreal musician Lhasa, who passed away last year – musicians and dancers join talents in the serene Danse Lhasa Danse, November 12 at Cinquième Salle in Place des Arts. And for lovers of French literature, check out Salon du Livre de Montreal, starting November 16 at Place Bonaventure.

(film life) This week’s focus on Francophone culture also extends to the film world: Cinemania brings talents from Quebec, Canada and around the world to downtown’s Imperial Cinema (1430 Bleury), to November 13 – see Gilles Legrand’s Tu Seras Mon Fils, Olivier Marchal’s crime story Les Lyonnais, Pierre Schöller’s award-winning L’Exercice de l’état, and many more. Go from fiction to fact with international documentary film festival RIDM, to November 20, with films like Canadian-made documentary The Future Is Now!, starring Quebec actor Paul Ahmarani. And on November 14, Montreal-based short-film festival Prends Ça Court! celebrates 12 years of building a community for film creators from around the world with screenings of 10 recent short films, including 2011 Cannes and Toronto International Film Festival selections, screening at Monument-National (1182 St-Laurent), 7 p.m.

(theatre and more theatre) The theatre calls this week to those looking to get cozy indoors but not necessarily too comfortable… Travel to debauched 1920s vaudeville in tragi-comedy The Wild Party (pictured above), at MainLine Theatre, to November 12. Ferenc Molnár’s dark comedy The Play’s the Thing, wherein love and theatrics combine, bounds into the Segal Centre, to November 20. Tony Award-winning comedy God of Carnage pits yuppie parent against yuppie parent, at Centaur Theatre, November 8 to December 4. Bilingual Broadway song-and-dance show Simplement Broadway, November 12 at the Rialto Theatre. And Montreal actor and writer Johanna Nutter’s award-winning play My Pregnant Brother, questions sex, gender and identity, at Petite Licorne, with English-language shows November 11, 18 and 25 at 8 p.m.

(dance traditions and experiments) In her first visit to Montreal, brilliant Indian dancer and choreographer Shantala Shivalingappa, who has danced for Pina Bausch, Maurice Béjart and Peter Brook, presents two different programs: Gamaka, a suite of five pieces in the Kuchipudi tradition, with four musicians on stage, November 16–20, and Namasya, featuring contemporary works by by Pina Bausch, Ushio Amagatsu and more, November 22–26, both at Cinquième Salle. Experimental dance and performance festival Artdanthé, continues with Bulgarian choreographer and dancer Ivo Dimchey, November 11–12, and November 15–17, challenging Montreal performance artist Julie Andrée T, at Theatre LaChapelle to November 20. And November 16–18, Lucie Grégoire, who has studied butoh and worked with Merce Cunningham, pairs up for the third time with choreographer Yoshito Ohno for new work In Between, at L’Agora de la Danse.

(wide arab world) The diversity of music, dance, art and cinema that the 12th Festival du Monde Arabe highlights, from artists here in Montreal and from much further away, is truly something to witness. While entertainment is a priority for the festival, so is fostering an open dialogue between differing views, realities and creative pursuits. On November 11, see French-Algerian musician Baâziz, known as a subversive rebel and an engaging singer-songwriter. Les Trois Magnifiques, a captivating trio of citar, flamenco guitar and percussion, stop in on their Canadian tour on November 12. And on November 13, traditional and modern meet in the festival’s music, dance and multi-media closing show Charabia. All shows at Theatre Maisonneuve at Place des Arts.

(360-degree travels) Because it’s so cool and high-tech and arty, experimental film Six mil Antennas sees its run extended this week. Made specifically for the Satosphere, a dome-like 360-degree immersive surround-sound-and-screen theatre at the Society for Arts and Technology. The film, one of the first public events at the brand new Satosphere, is a creation that integrates coding, design and photography. At the SAT (1201 St-Laurent), November 9–12, 8 p.m. and 10 p.m., $15.

(sounds of music) The live music week starts strong with popular Quebecois rock n’ roller Jean Leloup, playing with his band The Last Assassins at Metropolis, November 12. The same night, one of Montreal’s best singer-songwriters, Katie Moore, warms hearts and spirits at Théâtre Outremont, and Jon Anderson and Rick Wakeman, members of legendary prog group Yes, play new songs and old, at St-Denis Theatre. And, one more for that night: underground electronic band Emeralds member Steve Hauschildt plays his solo imaginings at Casa del Popolo. The next night, for all those who revere Fugazi, bass player Joe Lally makes a rare appearance in town at Casa del Popolo, November 13. On November 14, the silly antics of electro-pop rock stars LMFAO rile the crowd up at the Bell Centre. On November 15, Brooklyn indie-rockers High Places are joined by locals d’Eon and Solar Year, at Il Motore (179 Jean Talon W.). And on Thursday, November 17, Montreal singer-songwriter Jason Bajada plays lovely songs at the lovely Corona Theatre.

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(art intrigue) The Musee d’art Contemporain launches its Quebec Triennial 2011: The Work Ahead of Us exhibition this week, featuring perspective-altering painting, sculpture, installation, video, multi-media and performance work by contemporary Quebec artists, a number of them under 40 and living in Montreal. Throughout October, an installation by artist Rafael Lozano-Hemmer lights up the Quartier des Spectacles, and until the beginning of January, Place des Arts’ Espace culturel Georges-Émile-Lapalme hosts a video creation by artist Lynne Marsh and the MACM presents live multi-media performances from artists Grier Edmundson, Séripop, 2boys.tv, Tim Hecker, Nuna Amun, Martin Tétreault and more. An exciting, multi-faceted exhibition that should not be missed.

(new film news) The 40th edition of Montreal’s best-kept-secret film festival, Festival du Nouveau Cinema, opens on October 12 with French filmmaker Valérie Donzelli’s La Guerre est déclarée and closes on October 23 with Canadian filmmaker Philippe Falardeau’s Monsieur Lazhar – in between see Lars von Trier’s Melancholia, Steve McQueen’s Shame, Pedro Almodóvar’s The Skin I Live In, Wim Wenders’ Pina, Takashi Mike’s Hara-Kiri and many, many other worthy and wonderful films from Quebec, Canada and around the world.

(ice dancing) It’s not quite Disneyland, but it’s definitely a trip. Disney on Ice’s Mickey & Minnie’s Magical Journey rounds up an assortment of Disney characters and puts them on skates in four magical kingdoms. It’s just like going to a hockey game, except way more magical and with Mickey, Minnie, Lilo, Stitch, Simba, Ariel, Peter Pan and a bunch of other Disney characters who could probably beat the Leafs any day. At the Bell Centre, to October 10, with English-language show on October 9.

(out of this world on stage) Montreal’s children’s theatre experts, Geordie Productions, stages one of the best all-ages tales around: Antoine de Saint-Exupéry’s The Little Prince, October 13–23 at Centaur Theatre in Old Montreal. Meanwhile, Montreal’s English-language improv theatre troupes, including The Bitter End, Uncalled For and Bowman’s On The Spot, get their acts together with out-of-town troupes for improv theatre festival Mprov, October 12–16 at Montreal Improv Theatre. And choreographer-dancer-musician Clara Furey pairs up with actress Céline Bonnier in esoteric performance-art work Hello… How Are You?, at Theatre LaChapelle, October 11–15.

(on our toes) The intertwined creative and romantic lives of artists Auguste Rodin and Camille Claudel seem meant to be writ large on stage – the sculptors had a tumultuous relationship, marked by their own passionate personalities and the seemingly protective intervention of Claudel’s family. Choreographer Peter Quanz has always thought their story was meant for the stage too – his full-length, two-act ballet, Rodin/Claudel, premiers this week, starting the new Les Grands Ballets season off with an intriguing story of creativity, love and family betrayal. At Place des Arts, October 13–29.

(colorful dancing) What’s black and blue and hot all over? The dirty and the clean punchline is one in the same: The Black and Blue Festival, October 5–11. Turning tawdry 21 this year, Black and Blue, the centrepiece in the Bad Boys Club of Montreal’s fundraising events to find a cure for HIV/AIDS, promises to be fancier, sexier, bigger and badder than ever before. The fest’s centrepiece is Sunday night’s (and Monday morning’s) massive dance party at Olympic Stadium – this year called “BlackJack21″  – there won’t be gambling, but there will be thousands of people dressed in black and blue and betting the house on a good time.

(the jazz goes on/off) High season for festivals has come and gone, but just because the leaves change colour doesn’t mean Montreal changes too – the festivals must go on! And that includes jazz. The 12th edition of L’OFF Festival du Jazz brings over 150 musicians to venues around town October 7–15. It’s all jazz, all the time, with locals such as saxophonist Jean Derome and bassist Joëlle Léandre pairing up with local masters of collaboration and improvisation to play tunes on the more experimental side of standards, songs to sway to, and creative music that both challenges and entertainments.

(seven minutes to heaven) The Literary Death Match pits Montreal authors against each other in writerly battle – each has seven minutes to convince a live audience and a panel of judges (the likes of CBC’s Jonathan Goldstein, musician and performer Alexis O’Hara and music writer Sean Michaels) that they’re a winner. The international event teams up with Montreal’s Maisonneuve magazine to bring the laughs and lit to La Sala Rossa (4848 St-Laurent) on October 11, 8 p.m., $10 (includes magazine!).

(music magic) Atmospheric British band Portishead returns to add an ethereal glow to the night when they play outdoors at the Quays of the Old Port, October 7. On Saturday, fall in love all over again with Jonathan Richman at Sala Rossa (4848 St-Laurent), while Ra Ra Riot gets the party started at Il Motore (179 Jean Talon W.). The party continues on Sunday, October 9 with professional musician/producer/hipster-celeb Steve Aoki at Metropolis and the party gets heavy with Thee Silver Mt. Zion at La Sala Rossa. For something completely different, on October 9 and 10, experience the awesome Inuit throat singing of Tanya Tagaq at Gesu (1202 Bleury). And on October 13, become an instant fan of the charming 60s-ish folk-pop of Jimmy Hunt, with Sean Nicolas Savage, at Le National (1220 Ste-Catherine E.), or check out French music video and film director Yoann Lemoine in his musical persona, Woodkid, at Theatre Corona.

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(pop ‘til you drop) Okay, so it doesn’t start until Wednesday, but the 10th-anniversary hype for Pop Montreal began sometime in the summer, right around the time Arcade Fire announced they were playing a free outdoor show on September 22 – so consider this a warning of the frenzy that’s about to happen in just a few days… Of course, like all good festivals in this city, Pop Montreal gives us a few previews, including some film screenings (including H2Oil and Blue Gold) on Tuesday, September 20–21 at Places de Festivals, 6–11 p.m., during In the City Without My Car week. The party begins in earnest on Wednesday, with all kinds of music, film and much, much more.

(high-class and high-art) The Marriage of Figaro kicks off the new season for Opera de Montreal with the music of Mozart and the romantic notions of the ages, September 17–24 at Places des Arts. The Montreal Symphony Orchestra continues to inaugurate its new concert hall with classics and more creative fare like pairing up with pop group Simple Plan for a benefit show on September 20. And Montreal’s dance scene begins to heat up already – and it only gets hotter as winter comes on: dancer-choreographer Jocelyne Montpetit delves deeply into butoh in at Agora de la danse to September 23, and Virginie Brunelle’s Complex des Genres feels out the commonalities between men and women, at Theatre La Chapelle to September 17.

(extreme winter sports) With summer barely over, the International Freeski Film Festival already wants us to get ready for winter sports season – the fest brings some of the greatest extreme freeski films and skiers to town, screening films at the Imperial Cinema (1432 Bleury) September 16–18 and outdoors on September 15 at Peace Park (on St-Laurent between Ste-Catherine and Rene-Levesque), and throwing parties all weekend. Friday night’s Reggae Party, hosted by freeski legend Tanner Hall brings reggae star Cali P. and others to Metropolis, while Saturday night’s Rocker Party with Sean Pettit goes off at Club Soda after the IF3 Palm Awards Gala at 9.30 p.m. at Imperial Cinema.

(equestrian thespians) The new theatre season opens in high-drama style with Peter Shaffer’s Equus, directed with nuance by Domy Reiter-Soffer, with some of Montreal’s best actors doing some of their best work, at the Segal Centre to October 2. Zeitgeist Theatre Collective sheds necessary light on women in Canadian prisons in Unfit for Bears, at Les Ateliers Jean-Brillant (3550 St-Jacques W.), to September 24. On a lighter note, Processed Theatre puts on comedy-musical The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee, the tale of overachieving adolescent outsiders and their perfect-spelling dreams, at Mainline Theatre to September 24.

(art again) Montreal’s independent galleries are back in action this week, with vernissages (openings) for new shows all around town. Some of the shows are a part of Le Mois de la Photo, such as at Galerie Pangée (now in its new home in the Belgo building), showing new large-scale colour photographs by Normand Rajotte, at Dazibao, where photography by Hans-Peter Feldman and video by Saskia Holmkvist provokes the senses, and in work by Éliane Excoffier and Serge Clément at Galerie Simon Blais. New painting work by John Ancheta is unveiled September 15 at Battat Comtemporary and sculpture and drawings by Jean-Pierre Larocque comes to life at Galerie D’Este, while artist-run feminist centre La Centrale challenges perceptions with the work of painter Marie-Claude Bouthillier.

(good people, good causes) Dig in to some haute hamburgers made by some of Montreal’s best chefs at From the Street to the Stars, an evening of creative cuisine inspired by the humble burger and a fundraiser for Dans la Rue, a grassroots organization that works with street kids in Montreal, on September 21 at at the Montreal Science Centre. Hit the streets with thousands of others on Sunday morning at Place Emilie-Gamelin (at Berri-UQAM metro) for Ça Marche, Quebec’s biggest AIDS walk, with all funds raised going to community groups dedicated to research, awareness and prevention of AIDS and HIV.

(short short film) Short, sweet and very local, The Montreal 60 Second Film Festival screens the resultant films made by amateurs and professionals alike earlier this summer. This year’s theme is “chance” – a word and idea open to much interpretation. See what the filmmakers made of it in 69 films, each no longer than a minute, all playing at the Rialto Theatre (5723 Parc), September 16 and 17 at 7:30 p.m., $8. And on September 18 at the Rialto, a film slightly longer than 60 seconds: The Wizard of Oz, screening at 8 p.m.

(fun and games) Montreal is as charming as it is creative, as funny as it is sexy – if you’re still in any doubt of that, check out the outrageous and fun Strip Spelling Bee – like strip poker, but with spelling instead of card-sharking – on September 17, 11 p.m. at Mainline Theatre (3997 St-Laurent). In that same group-participation vein, Sunday night’s Crowd Karaoke – like regular karaoke except everyone sings together in one big, joyous crowd – fills Montreal’s hottest hippest queerest Royal Phoenix Bar (5788 St-Laurent), 8 p.m.

(music moods) This Friday starts the weekend off on a Northern-Irish indie-rockers-note with Two Door Cinema Club at Club Soda (1225 St-Laurent). The weekend offers up some tough choices for live music lovers. Or at least for this music lover. On Saturday, The Olivia Tremor Control returns to the present day and plays Il Motore (179 Jean Talon W.), while Toro Y Moi chill at Cabaret du Mile End (5240 Parc). On Sunday afternoon, Piknic Electronik sets up its second-to-last dance party in the park for the season, and later Wilco and Nick Lowe play Metropolis in what’s sure to be a memorable show, and the great and powerful and loud Kyuss destroy L’Olympia. On Monday night, The Moody Blues count the days of future past at Theatre St-Denis (1594 St-Denis). And starting Wednesday, it would seem to be Pop Montreal everywhere, all the time for the next five days… Whoo!

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(digital dance) Well, I know what I’m doing on Saturday night: staying up late, really late, and dancing. I’m not going to say that that happens only once a year, but Mutek certainly does, and it’s going stronger than ever in its 12th year. Hit up afternoon shows at the SAT and in the park next door, outdoor dancing at Piknic Electronik, evening shows that challenge the definition of music itself and all-night parties, like Saturday night’s laser-light-spectacular Nocturne 4 at Metropolis.

(truth in theatre) Montreal’s festival of cutting-edge dance and theatre, Festival Transameriques, continues this weekend with shows that challenge and inspire. In Neutral Hero, New York City Players blend stories of archetypal heroes with daily life in an American midwestern town – humanity ensues… Japanese theatre troupe Chelfitsch reveals the dreams and anxieties of young office workers in Hot Pepper, Air Conditioner and The Farewell Speech. And Toronto’s Susie Burpee and Linnea Swan dance out a tale of vehicular action in Road Trip (je ne regrette rien). See the FTA’s website for video and more info on all the shows.

(love in Paris) Voices and hearts soar – from harmonious highs to heart-rending lows – in Puccini’s masterpiece La Bohème. This Saturday afternoon marks the end of Opera de Montreal’s run of the Parisian tale of love and friendship between impoverished artists and poets. Learn more about Puccini and the performance before the show as musicologist Pierre Vachon delves into La Bohème’s place in the history of music. June 4 at Places des Arts, performance at 2 p.m., talk at 12:45 p.m.

(fringe on top) Cheap and cheerful theatre is something this town knows a lot about – and it’s here in full force right now in the form of the Montreal Fringe Festival, to June 19. With anything-goes shows that are (usually) short and (usually) entertaining in one way or another, every night is a new adventure in theatre – the schedule may seem overwhelming, but that’s part of the fun of Fringe. This weekend amps up that fun with Friday night’s Slowdance Party at Mainline Theatre (3997 St-Laurent) – get up close and somewhat personal with friends and strangers to tunes that may or may not remind you of prom – and Saturday night’s Hair Nation Party filled with air guitars and ‘80s glam metal at Petit Campus (57 Prince Arthur E.), 10 p.m.

(capitalism cuteness) If shopping is on the agenda this weekend, spend some of your hard-earned dollars on locally made goods at Puces Pop – there’s something new to be found in every seasonal incarnation of the fair, from screen-printed posters to hand-made party dresses. Meet the artists, designers and crafters behind the many, many affordable and adorable creations that simply scream (in a sweet way) “Montreal!”. June 4 and 5, from 11am to 6pm, at Église St-Enfant Jésus (5037 St-Dominique). And for the kids, at exactly the same time, POP Montreal’s Spring POP mini-fest has workshops and events on music and art making, plus regular old fun, at the Ukrainian Federation (5213 Hutchison), free!

(mood altering) Montreal’s Jewish community has a long, complicated and fascinating history that touches almost every corner of the city. But this weekend’s alternative Jewish festival Le Mood isn’t all about history lessons – the fest’s engaging activities put cultural influence in new perspective, with youth-centred, community-minded performances, workshops, talks and more with musicians, performers, business people and even a former Stanley Cup winning hockey coach. Get down to the roots of Jewish tradition all day on June 5 at Espace Reunion (6600a Hutchison).

(latin flavour) Though the focus of Festivalissimo is on film, the fest is ultimately about getting us all together to celebrate – and learn more about – the awesomeness of Latin American, Spanish and Portugese culture. And while film is one of the most accessible ways to do that (especially if the great weather we’ve been having doesn’t hold), so is hanging out in the park, eating food, listening to music and, well, learning how to dance. Festivalissimo’s Fiesta Latina goes on every day, all day June 3 to 5, with performances and dance classes in tango, flamenco, capoeira and more at Cabot Square (corner of Ste-Catherine W. and Atwater).

(music) While fans of all music electronic, from minimal to tech-house, are kept busy this weekend with Mutek, the envelope-pushing fest isn’t the only game in town. The weekend starts on thursday night with the guitar magic (and handsomeness) of The Barr Brothers at Cabaret Mile End. On Friday, Brendan Perry, who brought to life an eclectic mix of rock, ambient and world music as half of ‘80s duo Dead Can Dance, shows us his own sound, with Robin Guthrie (of Cocteau Twins), at Le National (1220 Ste-Catherine E.), while Montreal’s own purveyor of clever klezmer-hip-hop, Socalled is at the Ukrainian Federation (5213 Hutchison). On Saturday, soulful hip-hop artist Aloe Blacc is at Le Belmont and on both Saturday and Sunday at Parc Jean Drapeau, dance to the beat of Piknic Electronik, with surprise programming from Mutek artists on Sunday.

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Montreal’s St. Patrick’s Day Parade, held on Sunday, March 20, is always a rollicking good time, leaving a trail of green hats, green confetti and green-painted revelers in its wake, all the way down Ste. Catherine Street from Fort Street to Phillips Square, starting at noon. Even though the Montreal parade has run consecutively since 1824 and our Irish population is a force to be reckoned with, St. Patrick’s Day still hasn’t been declared an official holiday – but the Monday following it might as well be. Get your free green on with the best of ‘em.

Wild and weird in a different way, the Festival Voix d’Amériques, March 11–18, showcases some of our best performance art and spoken word performers – and invited guests from New York and further afield – blending theatre, poetry, music and more. While former Smashing Pumpkins bassist Melissa Auf der Maur’s show isn’t free, plenty of others are: every night of the festival from 5 to 7 pm, bands and poets take the stage at Divan Orange– see Samian & Anodajay, Keith Kouna, Lake of Stew and more. Then at 10 p.m. each night at Casa del Popolo, the FVA collaborates with the Under the Snow Festival on late-night performances, music and an open-mic – be a star, bring your guitar.

Or go the art-making route at the International Festival of Films on Art, March 17–27, as popular Montreal artist Zilon sets up a public workspace in the grand foyer of Places des Arts – contribute your own creations and watch Zilon’s live painting every Sunday of the month from 2 to 5 p.m. While FIFA’s film screenings do have a ticket price, it’s well worth it for documentary films on art, architecture, fashion and music masters that you probably won’t have a chance to see anywhere else.

In other cinema matters, Montreal’s own independent alternative cinema space, Blue Sunshine, opens a new exhibition on March 4th, 5 p.m., featuring portraits by David Biddle (pictured above), Bilyana Ilievska and David Shaw, Montreal-based painters who take inspiration from eerie cult film imagery. Come for the art, stay for the out-of-this-world films: check out the schedule.

With so many great independent art galleries in Montreal, it would be a shame not to visit at least a few of them – especially when that visit costs not a cent. Art Matters, a March-long festival of art organized by Fine Arts students at Concordia University, is sort of like a cheat sheet on some of the newest and brightest artists in town. Visit established galleries such as Gallery Push, Les Territoires, Galerie Lilian Rodriguez and others for inspiration and insight on life, the city and why art definitely still matters, no matter what your age.

If boats, trains and other inanimate objects of port-city industry could make music, what would it sound like? Pointe-à-Callière’s Port Symphonies answers that not-so age-old question in an outdoor concert that mixes classical music, sound art and a little ‘70s prog for good measure, lead by pianist and composer Anthony Rozankovic – near the Pointe-à-Callière museum in the Old Port, March 6 at 1:30 p.m.

When spring break starts to seem like just too much fun and not enough education, mix the two at the Montreal Museum of Fine Arts, where until March 6, kids 12 and under can visit the new Warrior Emperor and China’s Terracotta Army exhibition for free – plus take part in activities like the In the Emperor’s Footsteps game and Chinese painting and calligraphy. And on March 6, at 1.30 p.m., see a free screeing of  From Mao to Mozart: Isaac Stern in China and Mr Mergler’s Gift, at the museum’s Maxwell-Cummings Auditorium.

And get down and dirty with high culture in a free lecture from the Opéra de Montréal: musicologist Pierre Vachon talks about Richard Strauss’ hard-hitting German opera Salomé, a tale of morbid passion, desire, lust and, well, religion – sounds like opera to me! Discussion on March 15 at the Segal Centre for Performing Arts, at 7:30 pm (reserve at 514.739.7944). See Salomé itself (not free, however), featuring soprano Nicola Beller Carbone, from March 19–31.

Photo Credit: St. Patrick’s Parade- © United Irish Societies of Montreal

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