Montreal in the hot months feels like the reason the sun exists – the city shines like a mirage full or music festivals, lively parks and revelers everywhere you turn. You don’t have to ask us twice to stay out of doors, and with these great activities, even the kids will agree. No TV show in the world compares to the fun to be had in the great outdoors…

The gorgeous 245 hectare natural park that is the Morgan Arboretum kicks the party off on May 10 with a hopping evening: Frog Songs: The Symphony of Spring invites you and yours to break out your flashlights and discover the amazing nocturnal life of amphibians from 7 to 9 pm. Join Chris Cloutier as he takes you down to a local swamp in search of our cold-blooded friends. On Saturday, May 18, from 8 am to noon, the arboretum sings spring’s praises with The Birds of Spring, in honour of the peak of the spring migration. The trees are alive with birds all over this beautiful park, and this excursion will introduce you to dozens of species.

Speaking of birds, the Parc des Rapides is a gorgeous natural site at the foot of the Lachine rapids, on the St. Lawrence River, with a tremendously diverse ecological zone. Since 1937 it’s acted as a migratory bird refuge – what’s special is that now’s the time to spot the nests housing the next generation of birdies. The park is home to 225 species of birds, 66 species of fish and 250 types of plants! Plus it’s free to visit.

May 13 kicks off the season of water fun at H2O Adventures, where you can rent any of 50 watercraft, from kayaks to pedal boats to canoes or electric motorboats. Take the kids for a fast ride along the St. Lawrence, or go more mellow and teach them how to canoe like our ancestors did – it’s a good way to give them a history lesson without them even knowing it.

While you’re in that neck of the woods, bike or stroll along the Lachine Canal to the Musée Plein Air de Lachine, an amazing, monumental sculpture garden that’s among the largest open air museums in Canada. The 50 works on view include some by André Fournelle, Michel Goulet, David Moore and Bill Vazan – and for once, this is a museum where kids are allowed to touch the art!

Take the fam sky high with Air Saint-Laurent, Montreal’s own seaplane service from Île Sainte-Hélène, at the foot of the Jacques-Cartier Bridge. Explore the city by helicopter, or aboard their famous Beaver, a seaplane that will take you over the Olympic Stadium, downtown, green spaces and parks galore before landing you back down, amazed.

The Botanical Gardens is natural bliss incarnate, and during the 1000 Days for the Planet, kids get to learn about the planet’s biodiversity every week from Tuesday to Sunday in an exhibition that mashes together science and art. Make sure you keep time to stroll through the picturesque gardens – from the Chinese garden to the rose bushes, it’s all blooming beautiful right now.

And for the simplest, quickest, quintessentially Montreal-est free fun in the sun, go use the swings on President Kennedy and St-Urbain, right in the Quartier des Spectacles. They’ll sing to you.

THE DETAILS

Morgan Arboretum, 150 chemin des Pins, Sainte-Anne-de-Bellevue, (514) 398-7811

Parc des Rapides, corner 6th Avenue and LaSalle Boulevard, (514) 367-6351

H2O Adventures, 2985B St-Patrick, (514) 842-1306

Musée Plein Air de Lachine, Parc René-Lévesque, Lachine, (514) 634-3478

Air Saint-Laurent, departure points depends on the adventure, (514) 447-7950

Botanical Gardens, 4101 Sherbrooke East, (514) 872-1400

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Unsurprisingly, as the weather warms, more and more bike-friendly events pop up. The Montreal Bike Fest runs from the end of May into June, and throughout the summer, Pop Montreal and other organizations throw Bike-In parties along the Lachine Canal at the St-Ambroise Terrace. Also, every Sunday throughout the summer, starting May 20, in Parc Jean-Drapeau, all-afternoon, family-friendly dance party Piknic Electronik welcomes cyclists, with plenty of bike parking outside. There’s even a Bicycle Film Festival that makes a stop in Montreal at the end of summer.

Of course, sanctioned events aren’t at all necessary to have a good time biking around Montreal: make your own party anytime by packing a picnic – whether the standard bread, cheese and wine or something more gourmet picked up at Jean Talon or Atwater Marker or other farmers’ markets – and rolling in to Parc Lafontaine, Parc Jeanne-Mance, Parc Laurier or any one of many public parks throughout the city.

Bike Routes: The Lachine Canal bike path runs for almost 15 kilometres along a still-functioning (in parts) boat canal, from the Old Port, past the Atwater Market, and all the way to Chemin du Musée in the west, a beautiful park right on the river. Cyclists can even continue on a bike path through LaSalle, stop at a nature sanctuary and even watch people surf along the rapids.

Parc Jean-Drapeau, located just south of downtown on an island in the middle of the St-Laurent river features 25 kilometres of bike paths, part of Quebec’s Route verte, the longest cycling path in North America, and the Trans Canada Trail, the world’s longest recreational trail. Ride there from the Old Port via the de la Concorde Bridge or from the South Shore via the Victoria Bridge bike path – or, for the more daring, via the Jacques-Cartier Bridge. Or take the metro (bikes are welcome in the last car of each train) to Parc Jean-Drapeau station.

Explore the downtown by biking along the Maisonneuve Boulevard bike path, from the National Library near Berri-UQAM metro station to shopping and museums downtown, to the city’s westside (I recommend a picnic stop in Westmount Park).

Further afield but still on the island of Montreal, north of downtown and the Plateau, the rather pastoral Gouin Boulevard bike path, one of the longest in the city, runs alongside the Rivière des Prairies. For more on these routes and bike routes outside the city, consult the cycling experts at Velo Quebec.

Bike Rentals: In the urban residential Plateau neighbourhood, Fitz and Follwell rents bikes of all kinds and offers private and group bike tours around town – if you’re on your own, don’t miss riding through Parc Lafontaine and Parc Laurier and the surrounding, restaurant-and-shopping packed neighbourhoods. In the bustling, tourist-central Old Port, Montréal On Wheels rents all sort of bikes, from tandems to high performance road bikes, and are the city’s most experienced and prolific bike tour operators. On the south shore, right near the wonderful Atwater Market, My Bicyclette offers rentals and guided tours of the industrial-gone-natural Lachine Canal, riverside paths, the city and beyond.

Last but not least is Bixi, our city-wide bike rental system since 2009, now with even more banks of bikes set up in more neighbourhoods this year. Bixi is primarily meant for short commutes, with a 24-hour (or longer – you decide) access fee, payable by credit card at any location, letting riders bike free for up to 30 minutes at a time all day and night – rides that take longer than 30 minutes mean an additional fee. Each bike is built for smoothness and comfort, if not speed, and has front and back lights, a front carrier and adjustable seat suitable for most riders.

The post THE MONTREAL BUZZ BIKE GUIDE 2012 appeared first on Tourisme Montréal Blog.

(walk in the park) This time of year is great for walking in any of the city’s many parks and neighbourhoods – the leaves have turned orange, yellow and red and are falling fast as our usual winter wonderland months approach. Walk the wide, level path up Mount Royal (and take the steps to the top for a great view of the city), or dress warmly and head to Parc LaFontaine for an afternoon picnic. Parc Jean Drapeau, located on an island in the middle of the St-Lawrence River and home of the Biosphere, offers plenty of free and natural distraction too.

(artistic freedom) Buzz abounds about the MMFA’s Big Bang show, a multidisciplinary event-exhibition that can be enjoyed on many levels, whether you’re an art aficionado or just looking for a dry place to spend a rainy day – it runs until January and entry is free! Twenty artists have teamed up to show not only their talents, but the interplay of their work with works in the museum’s collection – from the video work of Denys Arcand and Adad Hannah to choreographer Marie Choinard’s photography and En Masse collective’s graffiti-like mural art – the show is an intriguing and entertaining journey. Access to the museum’s wide-ranging permanent collection remains free as always – current exhibitions include Dorothea Rockburne’s first Canadian retrospective In My Mind’s Eye, an installation called Resolute Bay by Quebec artists Louis Couturier and Jacky Georges Lafargue and paintings by Michael Merrill, inspired by the architecture of the Museum’s new pavillion.

(public entertainment space) Inside the Place des Arts complex is a newly-appointed public performance space: L’Espace Georges-Emile-Lapalme. And by public performance, I mean free performances – awesome! As part of this month’s Arab World Festival, the series Charabia (Babble) features film screenings, music, dance and visual art every evening until November 13. Meanwhile, as part of the Quebec Triennial, artist Lynn Marsh’s video installation, The Philharmonie Project (Bruckner: Symphony No. 5, movements 1 & 4), shows until the beginning of January. On November 17, enjoy a little klezmer-Quebecois music from Gadji Gadjo, and on November 18, hang with the Yoel Diaz Cuban Jazz Trio. Dance features too: learn the polka on November 20, and on the evenings of November 23–24, see performances from Louis Bédard Danse, Wants and Needs, and Isabel Mohn.

(modern art movement) The Musée d’art Contemporain’s Quebec Triennial, continues with free entry every Wednesday evening alongside the free events series featuring Montreal artists, performers and musicians – Tim Hecker on November 9, Dominique Pétrin and Georges Rebboh on November 16, Sylvie Cotton on November 23, and Martin Tétreault on November 30. Galleries – public, commercial and artist-run – in the Belgo building at 372 Saint-Catherine West are always free and open to the public: check out Galerie Pangée, Skol, Galerie B-312, Art 45 and many more. Up near Jean Talon Market, visit Battat Contemporary, currently showing new provocative work by truly great Canadian artist Sophie Jodoin.

(zine scene) While you can spend a fair amount of pocket change at Expozine, the two-day fair is more than a marketplace – it’s a celebration of Montreal’s incredible independent creators of books, comics, zines, poster art, crafts and assorted miscellany. Now in it’s 10th year, the event brings together not only over 270 exhibitors from Montreal, Quebec, Canada, the US and Europe, but acts as a community meeting place and a free-form idea-generation zone. Often, Expozine happens around the same time of our first snow fall, but this just makes the whole experience somehow cozier – plus there are snacks and warm beverages: November 26–27, noon to 6 p.m. at Église Saint-Enfant Jésus (5035 St-Dominique).

(a lot like christmas) I’m just not ready yet. Seasons tidings and all the trappings seem to come earlier every year. But can I really feel irked in the face of the Montreal Santa Claus Parade? It’s been going on since 1925, after all, and tradition is tradition, just as happy, excited kids is the kind of excitement I can fully buy into. On November 19, see Santa Claus among the 20-plus floats making their way along Saint-Catherine street in downtown Montreal, from Fort Street to Saint-Urbain. And on November 25, Plaza St-Hubert hosts it’s own, if lower-key, Christmas Parade, starting at 7 p.m. on Saint-Hubert at Bellechasse and traveling down the plaza’s shop-strewn street to the corner of Jean-Talon.

The post FREE THINGS TO DO IN MONTREAL: NOVEMBER appeared first on Tourisme Montréal Blog.

(catwalk crazy) The Festival of Fashion and Design struts into the weekend – see Pop Montreal-affiliated fashions around on McGill College’s outdoor stage, plus the latest from home-grown talents as well as Jean Paul Gaultier’s 2011-2012 Fall/Winter collection, accompanied by music from Montreal DJs and bands, including the highly entertaining pop-hip-hop of Lunice on August 6.

(film worlds) Montreal’s Fantastia Film Festival has kept cinema lovers busy all month with its non-mainstream offerings from around the world – the fest wraps up this weekend with Kim Jeong-hoon’s Petty Romance, Marek Polgar’s sci-fi Exit, and Fantastia’s big finale, the 1925 classic horror The Phantom of the Opera, coming to us not only in pristine 35mm but accompanied by a 30-piece orchestra performing an original score by Gabriel Thibaudeau, on August 6 and 7, 7:30 p.m., at Théâtre Maisonneuve at Place des Arts.

(sports and sunshine) Teams from many of the city’s best bars and restaurants have been getting ready for this Sunday’s 6th Annual SERVE, a beach volleyball tournament in Jeanne-Mance Park (corner Duluth), complete with beer, barbeque (including corn, aw yeah!) and plenty of bare skin (hey, it’s hot out there!). Plus, the tournament is some of the most fun you can have fundraising for sex education – a silent auction (so many good things!), purchases of food and drink, plus additional donations go to Montreal youth education and empowerment centre Head and Hands.

(pop in the park) International rock music festival Pop Montreal begins its 10th anniversary early with Pop LaFontaine, a two-day showcase of local music and film from Socalled on August 4 at 7:30 p.m., and Philémon Chante, United Steel Workers and Katie Moore on August 5 at 8 p.m., all at Parc Lafontaine’s Théâtre de Verdure.

(theatrical operatics) Independent theatre that’s a little out there but entertaining all the same: Vital Organs Opera, Did I Escape, I Wonder…, an opera based on the Medusa myth, featuring two singers and an array of instrumentalists and video projections, at Théâtre Ste-Catherine, August 4-6, plays alongside The Mysterious Case of the Flying Anarchist. Meanwhile, the Montreal Shakespeare Theatre Company stages the bloody and bawdy Titus Andronicus, at Monument-National’s Studio Hydro-Québec to August 13.

(art excursions) In town, the Musee d’art contemporain pulls a hundred major works from its extensive collection, providing a unique and unconventional overview of the last century of modern art in Quebec, Canada, the U.S. and overseas – work that is beautiful, shocking, immersive and thought-provoking – and absolutely worth a visit. Just out of town, in Val David in the Laurentian mountains, outdoor art exhibition Legacy: The International Symposium of In Situ Art – featuring the work of 10 international artists along three kilometres of forest trails, as well as music and talks with the artists – continues to September 5, with tours of the works and the land every weekend, at the Jardins du Précambrien.

(musical rides) The Dropkick Murphys start the weekend on a strong note on Friday, August 5 at Metropolis, while, an audience in what I’m thinking is an entirely separate demographic, screams in poptastic glee for the New Kids on the Block and the Backstreet Boys at the Bell Center. On Saturday August 6, Joan of Arc plays Casa Del Popolo. Piknic Electronik continues to dominate sunny Sunday afternoons at Parc Jean-Drapeau. For something a little different, on August 9, L’Orchestre de la Francophonie and DJ Symphonique meet up to perform grooves inspired by Berlioz, at the SAT. On August 10, still rockin’ hard and fighting the good fight are Foo Fighters, with Doughboys and Fucked Up, at the Bell Center, while The Naked & Famous and Winter Gloves at La Sala Rossa, and nothing says August like something called The Summer Slaughter Tour… featuring The Black Dahlia Murder, Darkest Hour, Six Feet Under, well, you get the idea, at L’Olympia. And, rounding out the week on Thursday, August 11, none other than Britney Spears is back, at the Bell Center.

The post THINGS TO DO IN MONTREAL (AUGUST 4-11) appeared first on Tourisme Montréal Blog.

(downtown fashion) If you’re into fashion, music, art, design or models, the Montreal Fashion and Design Festival awaits, August 3–6, along Avenue McGill-College at Ste-Catherine Street. See what’s new in Canadian and Montreal-based fashion, as well as Jean Paul Gaultier’s 2011-2012 Fall/Winter collection, accompanied by music from Montreal DJs and bands, including the great Lunice on August 6. Check out the full schedule.

(pop in the park) For half the year, the parks of Montreal are mostly enjoyed by those on cross-country skis, snowshoes and in toboggans, whereas summer use requires much less equipment (and clothing) – plus there’s an abundance of entertainment in the parks. The weekend of August 4–5 sees music festival Pop Montreal host Pop LaFontaine, a two-day showcase of local music and film from Socalled on August 4 and Philémon Chante, United Steel Workers and Katie Moore on August 5, all at Parc Lafontaine’s Théâtre de Verdure.

(community pride) Montreal’s LGBTA community, friends and allies rally around Pride Montreal the week of August 9–14, as venues in the Village host art exhibitions, theatre, workshops, presentations and, of course, drag shows and parties. And on Sunday, August 14, the Grand Parade begins at 1 p.m., with decked-out floats from local sports teams, community groups and organizations rolling along René-Lévesque starting from Guy Street and travelling east to Sanguinet Street and Place Émilie-Gamelin, where a dance party and finale concert end the celebrations.

(the scottish play) Every summer, Repercussion Theatre dresses up and puts on a Shakespeare classic in parks across the city – this year it’s the tragedy Macbeth. Akin to how listening to the blues can make you feel better about your life’s circumstances, watching a play of such tragic proportions can really shed some light on your problems, even if you’re not Scottish royalty. I love this play. It’s on in the parks throughout August, including August 6 at Parc LaFontaine, August 7 in NDG Park, and August 20 and 21 at 8 p.m. in Westmount Park, just west of downtown Montreal.

(children’s fest) Jean-Drapeau Park, home to as much nature as culture (often in the form of big outdoor festivals), hosts the 13th Fête des Enfants de Montréal, August 13–14, a weekend full of free activities for the kids, from song and dance to music shows, arts and crafts, sports, games and all kinds of entertainment and edutainment, including sand castle building and giant marionnettes. Faces will be painted, hot dogs will be consumed, fun will be had. Montreal’s museums are also getting in on the act, with free activities at the Biodome, Botanical Gardens, Insectarium, Planetarium, Biosphere, Pointe-à-Callière and others on Saturday and Sunday.

(kitchen confidential) Aspiring and amateur chefs alike will enjoy Gereon Wetzel’s documentary, El Bulli- Cooking in Progress, about chef Ferran Adrià, screening August 5 at 9 p.m. as part of the SAT’s series of outdoor film screenings at Place de la Paix in the Quartiers des Spectacles. On August 12, Festival Spasm takes over the screening space under the stars, followed by Siggraph Montreal on August 19 and Dérapage on August 20. Free film screenings of the latest and greatest in Quebecois cinema will also be screened August 18–28 at Place des Arts every noon hour at Espace Culturel Georges-Émile-Lapalme.

(home and native land) The Montreal First Peoples’ Festival, to August 9, not only sets up a 100-foot-tall teepee at Place des Festivals in the Quartier des Spectacles, but brings together artists and musicians from First Nations communities around the world. See shows like no other, hang around the bonfire, eat great food, browse the arts and crafts tables, see films at the longhouse. On August 5 at 8:30 p.m., see songstress Élisapie Isaac, and on August 6, watch the NUESTROAMERICANA Friendship Parade along Ste-Catherine, from 10 a.m.

(tell no lies) Whether you or your kids understand French or not, Théâtre La Roulotte’s rendition of Pinocchio defies the need for translation – with singing, dancing and a classic tale of truth and consequences, the play speaks to all. With free performances almost every night in August in parks across the city, including at Notre-Dame-de-Grâce Park on August 22 and at Laurier Park in the heart of the Plateau neighbourhood on August 23 at 7 p.m.

(freedom in art) An extension of the Jazz Festival, Québécois artist Armand Vaillancourt’s painting, silkscreen and sculpture exhibition, On n’a pas de printemps à perdre!, takes over the Galerie Lounge TD (305 Ste-Catherine W., 2nd Floor) with its passion for springtime and the creative drive. Oh, and for something completely different, check out Jackson Bollock, a robot arm built to human scale created by the digital artist Joël Proulx Bouffard – see the robot express its creative side at Place Émilie-Gamelin (1500 Berri), August 5–6 and August 20–22, 7 p.m.

The post FREE THINGS TO DO IN MONTREAL: AUGUST appeared first on Tourisme Montréal Blog.

Like always, Festiblues offers an opportunity to see lots of new acts on the brink of success, as well as true Quebecois legends. This year Bernard Adamus is back by popular demand. He’s a Festiblues staple and he’ll get it all started on Wednesday, August 10 at 8:00pm, by playing his famous mix of country, folk and blues.

August 11 promises some true musical greats, like the francophone singer songwriter Marjo who is a staple of the Quebecois musical landscape. The Genie Award-winning chanteuse will be bringing her live show to the Loto Quebec grand stage at 9:15. Later, hop to La Bienvenu for the Hot Tamales Blue Band from Montreal. The trio tackles songs by Stevie Ray Vaughn, Jimi Hendrix, The Kinks, Muddy Waters and Steppenwolf among others. They’re a force to be reckoned with, so catch them in their element.

One of the festival’s highlights will undoubtedly be the Ray Charles tribute show on August 12 at 8:00pm. Michel Dozier performs selections from Ray Charles’ repertoire backed by 9 excellent musicians who have been touring the show for a few years now. Dozier is a Quebecois singing sensation, but he also works as an actor, which is how he manages to seamlessly transform from man to legend. Later, Quebecois sweetheart Roch Voisine plays the Loto Quebec stage at 9:15. For those of you who don’t know, Roch Voisine is an Acadian singer who hit the big time with his 1989 album, Helene, and has achieved success not only in Canada but also abroad in Belgium, Switzerland and France where he lives when he’s not breaking hearts in Montreal. In other news, he’s also a hunk.

On Saturday, August 13^, the 24^th Street Wailers from Ontario are playing. They’re young up and comers guaranteed to be headlining the festival in later years. They play original compositions at 6:30pm in the traditional, raw blues style. Their album is entitled Dirty Little Young’uns, which is a pretty apt description of their musical style. Later that night, Joanne Shaw Taylor rips it up with bluesy power pop. She’s coming all the way from England for the festival so this might be your only chance to catch her. Check her out at 8:00pm.

At 9:15, Les Trois Accords from Drummondville, Quebec play their punk inspired blues. The band is known for their surreal lyrics and wild stage antics so it’s really no surprise that they opened for The Rolling Stones in Moncton, New Brunswick. Their live show is always hilarious. On Sunday, Lynda Thalie will bring her saucy live show to the Simplex Stage at 7:00pm. She’s a Quebecois singer but her music is infused with enchanting eastern rhythms. And finally, Steve Rowe closes the festival at 11:15pm. Nicknamed “Guitar Hero” by his friends and peers, Rowe’s blues style is a throwback to the 50s and 60s with a contemporary touch. It’s a show not to be missed.

A

THE DETAILS

Festiblues, August 10-14, 2011

Ahuntsic Park and La Maison de la Culture, 10555 Rue La Jeunesse, (514) 872-0769

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Our delightful photo of the week is brought to you by Flickr starlet Madam B. She has a stunning selection of Montreal imagery, including the colours of autumn in the city.

This diptych features a little slice of the changing maple leaves, paired with the iconic angel that welcomes people to Parc Mont-Royal.

Remember, you’ve only got a couple weeks left to catch the fall foliage!

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Submit your Montréal pictures to our MONTRÉAL BUZZ FLICKR GROUP.

And see our previous PHOTOS OF THE WEEK.

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A little bit south and a little bit west of downtown Montreal sits Saint-Henri. Though it gets a lot of press for being one of the city’s most “up-and-coming” neighbourhoods, the real key to Saint-Henri is that it is still very much what it always was…

“Up-and-coming” goes hand-in-hand with that other urban buzzword, “gentrification”. Saint-Henri certainly has its share of converted lofts and expensive condos but it remains true to its original roots. It was, and still is in large part, French and working class- as Gabrielle Roy’s celebrated novel The Tin Flute so artfully explored. Heading west from Atwater until you get to about St-Remi and north of the Lachine Canal until around St-Jacques, those things that make Saint-Henri worth a visit often manage to bring something new to the neighbourhood while keeping its past in mind. Here are some of my favorite things about the little ‘hood that could…

Atwater Market: Atwater Market ( pictured above) is not only one of Saint-Henri’s prime attractions, but one of the city’s as a whole. First opened in 1933 and housed in a Ludger Lemieux-designed building, it’s a huge market with everything a person who likes food could ask for. Especially rich in specialty products you won’t find anywhere else. PS- a little less known is the Farmers Market on the corner of St. Remi and Notre-Dame that is open on Saturdays during the non-freezing cold months.

McAuslan Brewery: Just the fact that it produces St-Ambroise and Griffon beers would be enough for me to mention it and a beer tasting should probably be penciled into your plans. But what has truly cemented its importance to the community is the Centre St-Ambroise, which hosts everything from folk fests to DJ nights. It also boasts a pretty darn cute video about how-to-get-there.

Sir George Étienne Cartier Park: Easily one of Montreal’s most picturesque urban green spaces, this rectangular park has a fountain as a focal point and is bordered by some beautiful houses- a perfect little piece of Montreal. Though it is the area’s clear showstopper, there are several smaller parks within walking distance filled with soccer fields, tennis courts and more within.

Tuck Shop: The nearby neighbourhood Little Burgundy has become known for its restaurants, but the recent arrival of the hip, happening and entirely delicious Tuck Shop might mean the same for Saint-Henri. A laidback bistro with top-quality chefs who clearly make use of the nearby market when preparing their wares.

Caffè Mariani: The area’s other go-to spot for local foodies and coffee-cravers, Mariani excels at paninis and pizzas with a bit of pizzazz but its biggest draw may its unobstructed view of the park.

Greasy Spoons: Look, sometimes you just want to eat some greasy, delicious food and this neighbourhood does that very well. So much so that some intrepid citizen put together a slide show of some of the best. Miracle Pizzeria (4009 Rue Notre-Dame) gets my vote.

Shopping: I’d be lying if I said I’d ever been shopping for stuff in Saint-Henri, but if I did, La Gaillarde and Perfide certainly look cool.

Resto Bar St-Jacques: You’re probably not going to find this place in any tourist guides and it’s definitely a little rough around the edges, but local promoters Pirates of the Lachine Canal do a weekly punk night there every Wednesday which is pretty good time. If that’s up your back alley, you should also consider a visit to Black Jack. And frankly, this is exactly the point: go visit the neighbourhood before all of Saint-Henri’s rough edges get all smoothed out.

The post NEIGHBORHOOD 101: SAINT-HENRI appeared first on Tourisme Montréal Blog.

You like to bask in the sunshine.
You like to dance to upbeat music.
You like to drink wine in a park on a Sunday afternoon.
Then you’ll like to PIKNIC ÉLECTRONIK.

Each Sunday afternoon, in Parc Jean Drapeau, Montrealers and visitors gather to enjoy fresh air and cutting edge DJs. Piknic Électronik is a weekly outdoor celebration of electronic music. Some of the famous names to spin in the past two years include MSTRKRFT, Amon Tobin, Benga and Hercules & Love Affair. The featured artists are framed by the skyline of the city and a stunning, slow-sinking orange sun.

“The site itself is inviting and comfortable: patio furniture, patches of turf both real and artificial, trees for shade, and winding paths. All of which is crowned by a monumental metal sculpture from Expo 67. A peaceful retreat only 5 minutes from downtown, the site offers a welcome alternative to the stifling concrete jungle of the city—without really leaving Montreal.”

After almost a decade of luscious beats, Piknic Électronik has branded itself as the Sunday afternoon event in Montréal. The formula of sunshine and sweet rhythms is a clear hit, but the weekly festival is also exploring some new initiatives. To begin with, Piknic is partnering with Oshega and Pop Montréal to provide some new and exciting electronic options during these festivals.

This is what’s also new to Piknic Électronik this year:

CANADIAN CONTENT | This year, Piknic Électronik will be featuring a secondary tent each Sunday. This space will be reserved for up and coming Canadian talent. Who will be the next Kid Koala? You’ll find out here.

FAMILY INCLUSIVITY | Some people have kids. And that’s cool. Just because you’ve got a couple of tykes in tow doesn’t disqualify you from enjoying a good party. Piknic Électronik will have kid-friendly spaces and activities.

WELCOMING TOURISTS | With a new bilingual website launching next month, the folks at Piknic Électronik want you, the traveler, to know that your presence is an important part of the diversity of the weekly party. As a foreigner, you are tempting and exotic to the locals. Take advantage of this.

PIKNIC FESTIVAL | For the first time ever, Piknic Électronik will be expanding beyond its Sunday formula. The word on the street says there will be a three-day weekend festival in September dedicated to the joys of electronic music. We’re cool with that.

In conclusion, Piknic Électronik is a fierce Sunday afternoon dance party that welcomes the world to partake in beats, beer and beautiful chillaxin’. Spending your Sunday at church is so last millennium; Piknic Électronik is the new spiritual ritual. And just another stellar reason to finally take that weekend getaway to Montréal.

We’ll see you soon.

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THE DETAILS

Piknic Électronik
Each Sunday from 12 PM – 9:30 PM
May 23 - October 3
Parc Jean-Drapeau (map)
Metro: Station Jean-Drapeau

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Here is a clip that summaries the cool factor of Piknic Électronik…

Piknic Électronik

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