Montreal is no stranger to music festivals, widely known as the place to be in June and July for all things jazz and Francophone and early August for Osheaga’s indie-rock, yet more niche in its May music festivals: all manner of electronic music at Mutek and Elektra, the refined sounds of the chamber music festival, and the pop-punk, Pabst-soaked, poutine-fueled extravaganza that is Pouzza Fest…

Pouzza Fest turns the weekend of May 17-19 into a full-on takeover of 10 of downtown Montreal’s great venues, including Metropolis and Club Soda, packing in over 150 bands from dusk to late. It’s true that one person’s punk is another person’s pop, but with so many bands with a range of styles – what would a fest like this be in Montreal without ska, for instance – fans can pick and choose what they like. And though Pouzza Fest’s packed roster may seem intimidating, show-hopping is definitely part of the experience – die-hard fans are sure to have a festival pass, but other options, like a one-day pass, are available too.

The festival may be way bigger than it began three years ago when Hugo Mudie, lead vocalist of The Sainte Catherines, founded it, but it still maintains a solid community vibe, not only welcoming legends of punk and up-and-coming bands, but making sure there’s food aplenty for all, from hot dogs to poutine – bands even accompany a Saturday Lunch and Sunday Breakfast at Foufounes and BBQ dinners at Katacombes. But back to the music: among the many headliners of the fest are Me First & the Gimmie Gimmies, New Found Glory, A Wilhelm Scream, The Planet Smashers, Saves the Day, Good Riddance, Braid, Lemuria, Crime in Stereo, the Decay, Teenage Bottlerocket, Big D & the Kids Table, MXPX, Grade, The Slackers, The Creepshow, The Motorleague, and Boston-based trash band Psycho.

It’s also easy enough to get a taste of the festival for free at the weekend’s outdoor shows in the Quartier des Spectacles at the corner of Clark and Ste-Catherine. The music here is on the lighter, more “accessible” side of punk: on Saturday hear Mike Park, Dan Potthast and Miracles, followed by catchy pop punk of Masked Intruder, Montreal’s Alie Sin, Brooklyn’s acoustic punk-folk Sad & French, Quebec folk-rock Swiss Knife, guitar strumming and singing Brian McGee, and The Flatliners’ Chris Creswell wrapping up the day. The music starts up again on the outdoor stage on Sunday with Mike Park and Dan Potthast followed by a super secret show at noon, The Matchup, Dying River, Jen Unbe & Dark Horse, Toronto’s rollicking My Man, and NYC’s Vic Ruggiero of ska-rocksteady band The Slackers.

THE DETAILS

Pouzza Fest May 17-19, 2013

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Burger Bar Crescent, The “real” hangover poutine: Hand-cut fries, fresh cheese curds, sautéed wild B.C. mushrooms, truffle oil and topped with a fried egg. The woody truffle oil drew out the earthiness of the mushrooms highlighted by satiny under-cooked yolk sitting on a bed of golden fries, this poutine was hearty and delicious.

Miss Prêt à Manger, “Pulled lamb poutine”: Yukon gold and sweet potato fries, organic cheese curds, braised locally sources organic lamb shank, au jus gravy topped with a pretty floral garnish.  Rich in middle-eastern spices and flavours, the lamb was tender and juicy – the freshness of the peppery garnish cut through the lamb and fries.

Lola Rosa Park, “Lola Poutine”: Noted vegetarian and vegan restaurant saw the inclusion of a 100% vegetarian poutine made with a mix of regular and sweet potato fries, brown sauce of beans and mushrooms, cheese curds and topped with scallions.  Simple and straight forward, this modest poutine was all about the sauce; smokey and deep in flavor.

Fabergé, “Breakfast Poutine”: Home-fries (roasted potato wedges), topped with caramelized onions and bell peppers, sprinkled with fresh cheese curds, sliced bacon bits, dressed with hollandaise sauce and topped with an over-easy egg, this poutine was a great way to start the day.

Namos, “Poutine on the beach”: This Greek tapas restaurant was offering a twist on a family recipe – home-made French fries, kima meat sauce, kefalotiri  and shaved cheese topped this redition of poutine.

Biarritz, “Steakhouse Poutine”: This poutine was served on top of a 25 oz dry-aged rib steak and was the specialty dish of the week.  At $50, this dish saw thick-cut homemade French fries topped with sautéed king oyster mushrooms, fresh cheese curds and topped with “forestiere” sauce.

Poutineville, “The Montrealer”: The inclusion of a restaurant aptly named “Poutineville” is given when celebrating a week of its namesake in Montreal.  They entered three very unique poutines in a bid to take the crown of Montreal’s best poutine: A homage to Montreal, the classic poutine of homemade fries, brown sauce and cheese curds was used as the base; topped with sautéed mushrooms, handcut Montreal smoked meat, topped with shredded Swiss cheese and then baked, and garnished with a fried dill pickle.

Poutineville, “The Poutineville”: This poutine features poutineville’s signature braised beef and redwine gravy, served over “smashed” potatoes, shredded mozzarella and fresh cheese curds. This poutine is definitely a robust meal in itself… or two, or three, or five.

Poutineville, “The General Tao”: Great anticipation was surrounding this poutine as it was unveiled days before Poutine Week.  Homemade general tao sauce tossed with tender pieces of battered fried chicken, sat atop of smashed potatoes, cheese curds and light brown gravy, garnished with sesame seeds and scallions.

THE DETAILS

Burger Bar Crescent , 1465 Crescent, (514) 903-5575

Miss Prêt à Manger -, 1104 Rue de Bleury, 514) 861-6565

Lola Rosa, 4581 Parc, (514) 843-5652

Fabergé, 25 Fairmount, (514) 903-6649

Namos , 228 Bernard West, (514) 490-4222

Biarritz, 4801 St-Laurent, (514) 281-2000

Poutineville,  various locations

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(play outside) More snow is on the way, so why not embrace it at Montreal’s own Snow Village, featuring heated igloos, a hotel, restaurant and bar, and more over at beautiful Parc Jean-Drapeau. Stay active outdoors at the Old Port of Montreal’s huge skating rink (rentals on-site) or settle in at the Old Port’s Ice Fishing Village, with genuine (heated) ice fishing shacks and a well-stocked river. Or get in on a game of pick-up hockey at one of Montreal’s bustling outdoor rinks. If the weather proves too much, duck inside for the more summery natural world of 3D IMAX film Flight of the Butterflies, an epic journey across North America and Mexico, playing at the Montreal Science Centre, also host to the fun, interactive, music-making exhibition Musik: From Sound to Emotion.

(stay warm, eat well) All that outdoor activity builds up an appetite, and while Montreal Poutine Week may officially be over, that won’t stop the gravy from flowing and the cheese curds from melting – poutine will always be a classic winter warm up food, so go for it after playing or watching outdoor sports or opt for an even more “manly meal”. Wherever you are in Montreal, from Little Italy to Plateau-centric St-Denis, good food abounds. Or warm up in the kitchen yourself at a cooking class at Les Touilleurs as Stéphanie Labelle reveals pastry secrets on February 11 or at Dante in Little Italy with Nick Hodge, chef-owner of Kitchenette on February 13.

(thrilling theatrics) Intrigue is on stage this week when a town’s peaceful ways turn tumultuous as “civilized” colonialism faces an “uncultured” tribe in Waiting for the Barbarians, based on the Nobel Prize-winning book by J.M. Coetzee, at the Segal Centre, to February 17. Drama is in full force at Centaur Theatre in the true story of murder in 1950s rural Ontario unfolds in Innocence Lost, to February 24. Colourful, comedic, Dali-inspired circus show La Verità extends its run at Place des Arts to February 9. Theatrical, emotional Indian dance show Bharati – The Wonder that is India returns with over 70 dazzling dancers, musicians, singers and acrobats, February 12-17 at Place des Arts. And for something a little different on Valentine’s Day, see cabaret variety show 25 Years of Mado, a foray into the world of famed Montreal drag queen Mado Lamotte, at Metropolis.

(Black history & culture) Montreal Black History Month continues throughout February with music, art exhibitions, workshops, film screenings and more. On February 9, see classic funk-jazz music group Tchukon come back together for a night of dancing and fun at the PHI Centre, while Melodi Muzik & Vox Sambou play Cabaret du Mile End. Political and social activism pervades the story of an African price turned slave turned revolutionary in Oroonoko, written by Aphra Behn and directed by Paul Van Dyck, playing at the MAI February 6-17, and Martin Luther King’s famous speech of 50 years ago is the inspiration behind I Have a Dream: The Exhibit, a historically insightful, thought-provoking show of photography, painting, sculpture and even fashion, at Espace Georges Emile Lapalme at Place des Arts.

(art ideas) Get a little lost in thought, space and time in Uraniborg, an amazing new multi-room exhibition from French multidisciplinary artist Laurent Grasso, showing alongside 40 captivating recent photography works by Lynne Cohen, and a film by Jonathas de Andrade, all at the Musee d’art Contemporain. Travel to Peru and discover its history and culture without leaving town: the MMFA’s’ Peru: Kingdoms of the Sun and Moon features pre-Columbian masterpieces as well as modern art. Catch the last week of a mini-retrospective of Michael Snow’s photography, video and sound work at Galerie UQAM. And colourful solo work by Jason Botkin, one of the founding members of public art collective En Masse, covers the walls at at Lndmrk Gallery (550 Beaumont).

(music moves) The final weekend of Igloofest goes down this Thursday to Saturday with wintery electronic music mayhem from Hot Chip’s Joe Goddard, Ben UFO, Joy Orbison, Chris Liebing and more. Taking the beat down a few notches, Blue Rodeo celebrates 25 years of making music, February 8 at Place des Arts. Dead Kennedys prove punk ain’t dead on February 9 at Theatre Corona, while on February 10, Zappa Plays Zappa- Dweezil even teaches a guitar class to keeners earlier in the day. Lady Gaga brings her Born This Way Ball to the Bell Centre on February 11, while Yo La Tengo settles in for a sweet night at the Corona Theatre. Believe it: Ghostface Killah and Sheek Louch are at Club Soda on February 12. Meanwhile, British Mercury Prize winners The Maccabees play Cabaret Mile End. Bon Jovi bring their Because We Can Tour to the Bell Centre February 13-14, while on February 13, noise-textured, electronic pop, brain-sparking duo Matmos  plays Il Motore. And for lovers, French metal band Gojira ups the intensity at Le National on February 14.

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Tucked in a quiet little street in the heart of the Plateau neighbourhood, Nadia G’s studio welcomed us with a symphony of delicious smells. Josh, the producer, was wearing an awesome t-shirt in hot pink; he gave us a quick tour of Nadia’s pimped out kitchen, which at the moment was all decked out in red and green. The Bitchin’ Kitchen crew was in the midst of filming their Christmas Special, included in a string of brand new episodes for season number two – airing November 2 in the U.S. on The Cooking Channel, and a bit later on Food Network Canada.

Small and compact (with nicely cut biceps, I might add), Nadia’s larger-than-life on-screen persona is pretty much in sync with her easy-going off-screen demeanour. In other words, she’s really that cool. Dressed in a green shift dress, perfect ringlet curls, and gold stilettos, she looked one part naughty cherub and two parts sexy Santa’s elf, if such a thing exists.

Unfortunately, I didn’t get to meet Panos, the Greek fish monger or Hans, the show’s shirtless eye candy, but, yes, I did get to chat with the domestic diva herself, as well as knock knuckles with her triple-finger Bitchin’ ring, and share a grrl power high-five.

We received so many awesome questions for Nadia on Facebook, it was hard to narrow it down. Plus she gave so many fantastic (and hilarious) answers that it was a challenge to edit the priceless footage. Some good outtakes included Nadia’s favourite place to eat poutine (she likes Le Canard Liberé) and her exhaustive last meal menu should she ever be on Death Row, of which I quote, “It’s my last meal, I think I should be allowed to have more than one dessert, no?”

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An authentic Québécois poutine contains french fries, sauce (gravy is the most common, but everything from BBQ to veloutés are used) and cheddar cheese curds (which are the solid dairy product produced when milk is curdled). These are perhaps the only incontrovertible facts about this devilishly heavenly dish. Several small towns in Quebec claim to have invented the dish in the late 1950s, most notably Drummondville and Warwick, and its name is said to derive from the initial inventor who proclaimed that “ça va faire une maudite poutine” (“it will make a damn mess”).

Given that it’s made of just 3 main components, poutine is a dish that is easily replicable at home. The internet is filled with poutine recipes, from healthy to awesome/kind of time-consuming. Even if you haven’t been to Montreal, you may have tried something similar already. In the United States, especially in New York and New Jersey, it is often known as “Disco Fries” or “Elvis Fries”, where the curds are most often replaced with mozzarella. As you can see below, Boston alone has a whole handful of variations.

A friend of mine once said that the best poutine is the one found directly between the bar and your bed. And given how well suited to late-night libations this food is, he might not be wrong. But there are, of course, choices. For a classic, straight-up poutine, many still swear by chains like Lafleur and La Belle Province, which have franchises all over the city and are open late. A step up quality-wise (in my humble opinion anyway) are places that you’ll probably hear mentioned if you ask a local for the city’s best poutine: Mamm Bolduc, Rapido, the tiny Patati Patata (whose poutine is blessed with what may be the best gravy in the city) and La Banquise, which is not only open 24 hours a day, but serves a staggering amount of variations on the classic…

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(adventures in edutainment) Perhaps the biggest coup of the modern science museum was cornering the market on hands-on exhibitions – I mean, is there anything at the Montreal Science Centre that you’re not allowed to touch? Well, maybe the light switches. Among the many permanent science and tech fun and games at the centre right now is the Indiana Jones exhibition, a fact-meets-fiction adventure in archaeology. And rest your tired feet at the IMAX cinema, currently showing the intense Rescue 3D, an insiders’ view of rescue operations in humanitarian crisis situations, and, perhaps more suited to younger viewers, Born to Be Wild, a film that follows endangered animals in their natural habitat and what is being done to keep these species alive and well.

(natural wonders) Taking the kids to the park to burn off some of that endless kid-energy is a no-brainer, whether you’re on vacation or not – many of Montreal’s parks offer more than the standard swings and teeter-totters, however. Take the metro to Pie IX station for one-stop-family-fun at the Montreal Biodome, Botanical Gardens and Insectarium – tour various ecosystems, learn about biodiversity with hands-on exhibitions and contribute to a more environmentally sustainable future. Or take the metro over to Jean Drapeau Park and spend the day at the Biosphere, a fascinating eco-museum housed in a massive geodesic dome designed by Buckminster Fuller.

(fun fair) Nothing says pre-teen summer fun and freedom like being allowed to call two hot dogs and a head-sized ball of cotton candy a “meal” and then getting to ride the rollercoaster four times in a row. Because, hey, maybe the most important part of being a kid is learning from your mistakes. Amusement park La Ronde is like a safe zone for minor mistake-making and major fun. Of course, height requirements might mean you’ll have to opt for La Ronde’s more adorable rides like the Joyeux Moussaillons and Marais Enchanté, instead of scaring yourself and the kids silly on thrill rides like Goliath, Monstre, Super Manège and Ednor-L’attaque. All of which are AWESOME.

(water wings) It may be the end of the summer, but the weather’s still warm and sunny – perfect for family afternoons at the pool. The swimming pools and diving platforms at Jean Drapeau Park are perfect for swimmers of all ages and abilities. In town, north of the Plateau neighbourhood, the large pool at Jarry Park (the original home to Montreal Expos baseball) is free and open until August 26, and the smaller outdoor pool at picturesque Sir-Wildfred-Laurier Park (at Laurier and de Brebeuf) is open until August 28.

(hidden places and spaces) Pointe-à-Callière, Montreal’s museum of archaeology and history, is the kind of place that can make a person, even a kid, forget that museums were ever boring. During all of August, also known as Archaeology Month, the museum gives Family Exploration Tours for kids aged 7-12: learn about Montreal’s origins with a storytelling rat leading the way through the collection and underground caverns. In the last weekend of August, travel through time at Pointe-à-Callière’s 18th-Century Public Market, with farmers, craftspeople and entertainers evoking the spirit of 1750, plus tours for kids interested in the real-life work of archaeologists.

(feed the children) It’s not necessarily a truism that all kids love junk food – I’ve seen kids choose carrots and kale over french fries – but when on vacation, junk food often seems like the cheap and easy solution to the family-friendly meal problem. Thankfully, Quebec culture caters to the sweet-toothed and carb-craving – no need to hit up the big-brand fast-food joints here. Of course Montreal certainly has many a gourmet bistro and hip-and-healthy restaurant, but there’s no denying that this town is also a mecca for Quebecois no-nonsense versions of hot dogs (steamies at La Fleur, fries and poutine of all kinds at La Banquise), burgers and veggie burgers (there are many good ones, and I’m not opening that particular debate up here, but check out La Paryse as an option), and ice cream (with new joints popping around every corner it seems.)

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Dr. Robert Rutledge is a hunky associate professor in the Department of Physics at McGill University.

His work is primarily in observational high energy astrophysics, studying the behavior of neutron stars and black holes. Dr. Rutledge recently participated in the discovery of the most distant stellar object ever found, a gamma ray burst that occurred when the Universe was only 625 million years old. Which, believe it or not, is the exact same age as Celine Dion’s husband, René Angélil.

But Dr. Rutledge isn’t all soft-gamma repeaters and quiescent low-mass x-ray binaries, he’s also an expert on our national dish — Poutine!

Keep reading to discover the delicate relationship between astrophysics and poutine…

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BACKGROUND

Who are you?

I’m a Montrealer, born in California, a single guy who likes to learn.

What do you do?

I’m an astronomer, and a professor of physics at McGill University.  I study the stars — in particular, the densest mater in the universe, found in the center of neutron stars.  It’s interesting, because it ties astrophysics together with how quarks work — what happens when you bring billions and billions and billions of quarks together?  It’s a hard problem, and even our best mathematicians, our best computer scientists, our best nuclear physicists cannot solve it.

Why do you choose Montreal?

Montreal has some of the warmest, most outgoing, most diverse, and interesting people I’ve met anywhere.  It’s a marvelous community, and a great place to live.

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MONTREAL FAVOURITES

Café: La Croissanterie Figaro, at Hutchison and Fairmont.  Splendid terrasse, and I love the cheese danish.

Restaurant: Le P’tit Plateau.  Always a warm greeting, always wonderfully rich food.  And with so much delicious on the menu (the duck! the venison!), I’m a little embarrassed to admit that something I treasure from there is a tiny side which comes on some plates: a pastry filled with cooked carrots in bechamel sauce.  It tastes like home.

Boutique/Store: Le Potiquet (947 St. Zotique Est).  Handmade Quebec pottery, with an excellent selection, and really great value.  It’s a great local gift — right up there with maple syrup.

Bar/Lounge: L’ Barouf — wow, what a crowd!  Every visiting American friend I’ve brought there ditched me.  The crowd is that good.

Neighborhood: The Mile End – it’s where I live, and the streets bubble. The smell of honey from the bagel ovens; the greek food; the cafes on Parc and St. Viatuer, the fish markets, the ringletted Hasidic Jewish folks riding Bixis down du Parc, the excited hipsters talking social media, the bands which set up on street corners to play an impromptu holiday street concert.

Park: I run in Parc Mont-Royal, I picnic in Parc La Fontaine; but for true enjoyment, I go to the Parc St. Viatuer, where I sit near the War memorial, curl my legs beneath me and contemplate those who came before me and will come after me.

Festival: Nuit Blanche – the mid-winter “White Nights” festival.  With such a diversity of events going on across the city — dancing, art, clubs, ice-skating, swimming, church pipe organ concerts, guitar concerts, video, opera —  the streets are a hive, filled with friends and lovers.

Place to spot an attractive local: The Belgo Building. It’s a block west of Place des Arts, and has four floors of the most interesting galleries in Montreal.  Wander through, and you will see quite a lot which is very attractive, not all mounted on walls.

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QUICKIES

What exactly is the link between astrophysics and poutine?

I study the densest matter in the Universe  and while poutine is not quite as dense as that, it can feel awfully close once you’ve finished a large from La Banquise.  Which is what I love about it.

How will poutine lead to world peace?

If we could just get everyone in the world into a single room, to sit down in front of platters of poutine, it would become pretty damned peaceful, at least for a few minutes.

Why do so many folks choose Montreal to study and/or do research? Do Montrealers make good guinea pigs?

With four sizable Universities — McGill, Université de Montréal, Concordia and University Quebec at Montreal –  the city seems to attract scholars who love the intersection of ideas and cultures.  But Montrealers are not good guinea pigs: they are independent minded, and each unique in their ways.   Of course, that’s what makes Montrealers marvelous company as well.

Who is the most famous astrophysicist dude/dudette in the world?

The easy answer is, of course, Stephen Hawking.  I was at a party with him in Pasadena, thrown by Kip Thorne, and he had a group of people around him, and he was riffing off jokes — which, actually, it takes a while for him to deliver: so, there would be 3 minutes of silence as everyone watches the screen while he picks out words, then suddenly, peels of laughter.

How can someone have an astrophysical/scientific educational experience on a weekend trip to Montreal? Might it involve wine and our famous Montreal erotic dancers?

If an excellent astrophysical experience needs wine and an erotic dancer,  I’ve been doing astrophysics wrong.  But visitors to Montreal will find — whether they’re in a bar or restaurant, a museum or walking Boulevard Mont-Royal, a famous club or an infamous club — that wonderful Montreal experiences can begin with a simple phrase: “Let’s go look at the night sky together.”

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You know John Leguizamo. He’s that guy who has managed to sneak into every movie ever made.

Some of his most notable roles have included:

- Chi-Chi Rodriguez in “To Wong Foo, Thanks for Everything! Julie Newmar”
- Tybalt Capulet in Baz Lurman’s “Romeo & Juliet”
- Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec in “Moulin Rouge”
- Sid the Sloth in Disney’s “Ice Age”

And he is the only person in cinematic history to shoot Harrison Ford on screen.

Anyone who can mess with Indiana Jones is pretty impressive in our books.

Leguizamo is in Montreal to debut his new one-man theater project entitled “Klass Klown” at the Just For Laughs Festival.

We sat down to talk about his return to theater, his plans for the show and what he’s been doing in Montreal.

Oh, then we brought out some poutine.

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THE DETAILS

John Leguizamo stars in Klass Klown
Just For Laughs Festival
7:00 PM, July 14 – 17
Tickets here

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