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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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Image+Nation LGBT International Film Festival invites filmmakers from all over the world to share their stories. Stories of social issues, cultures, love and lust. They offer unique and different perspectives on life, not specifically aimed at gay people who like movies, but anyone who supports the LGBT community.

OPEN AND CLOSING

The festival will open on Wednesday, October 26 at 8:00 PM with Tova Magnusson-Norling’s Four More Years, a Swedish comedy about a politician and a Minister of State who embark on a funny and complex love affair. After 11 days of cinema, the festival will close with Leave it on the Floor, a musical comedy directed by Sheldon Larry. The story follows Brad, who is kicked out of his home by his homophobic mother and finds himself in the L.A ball scene. This film blew up at the Toronto International Film Festival, and is apparently destined to become a cult classic.

SPECIAL PRESENTATION: PARIS IS BURNING

A staple of queer cinema will return for a special 20th anniversary presentation. The emotional and evocative documentary, Paris is Burning, will once again bring us back to the piers of Chelsea and the roots of drag culture.

HOMAGE TO ELIZABETH TAYLOR & 30 YEARS OF HIV/AIDS

The fest will also play host to a talk by film critic, author and lecturer Matthew Hays examining the 30th anniversary of HIV/AIDS. Hays’ talk will be accompanied by a screening of We Were Here by David Weissman, a film that chronicles the AIDS crisis in San Francisco through a series of intimate interviews. The festival will also pay homage to the late actress and HIV/AIDS activist Elizabeth Taylor with screenings of Cat on a Hot Tin Roof and Reflections in a Golden Eye.

SHORTS AND DOCUMENTARIES

The real beef of the festival comes in the huge collection of short films and documentaries from around the globe. The impressive roster of documentaries this year looks at homosexuality in traditionally non-accepting cultures around the world. I AM by Sonali Gulati and Wish Me Away by Bobbie Birleffi and Beverly Kopf look the most interesting to me!

A

THE DETAILS

Image+Nation LGBT International Film Festival, October 26 to November 6, 2011

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Montreal has always had a fun and spirited gay community. Yet at times it can be tailored more to gay men. So the lesbians of Montreal took it into their own hands and started making their own cultural footprint on this city. The LBGT is splattered all over this great city, but the lesbian splatter finds itself concentrated up in the trendy Mile-End and speckled throughout the Village. If you are a lesbian, or want to be cool enough to hang with the lesbians, then here is a small guide to the best Lesbian landmarks in Montreal…

Le Cagibi (5490 Saint-Laurent): I put Le Cagibi atop my list because if you have time to hit only one lesbian establishment, then this must be it. You won’t find a greater concentration of the most awesome dykes anywhere else in Montreal. Le Cagibi is a vegan/vegetarian licensed establishment that has quickly gained a dedicated following of lesbians, students, artists and bike messengers. But really, aren’t those all the same thing? They have a non-stop event list of shows that nestle into the space perfectly. If you find yourself being cultured by one of their shows, while enjoying a beer… Spoil yourself a little more and indulge in their late night menu including the the Grilled Tomato Sandwich. The simplistic beauty of this sandwich will make a grown butch cry.

Ella Grill (1237 Amherst): Dining options in the Gay Village are getting better and better. Ella Grill really takes that up a notch with one of the few fine-dining options in the area. This lesbian-owned restaurant is a minimalist black and white space that lets the Mediterranean cuisine take centre stage. Like most establishments in the Village, both men and women go here, but Ella Grill has special summer T-Dances and one-off events exclusively for their lesbian clientele.

La Paryse (302 Ontario East): La Paryse is a lesbian-owned 50s inspired diner that has burgers, shakes and more. Maybe this is just an urban legend, but the story goes that Madame Paryse used to make her egg with melted cheese on rye for her lady lovers in the morning, who would always say she should open a restaurant. Now we can all enjoy the delicious food, that before only the extremely lucky were privy to.

Drugstore (1366 Sainte-Catherine East): Drugstore is the big lesbian playground. Every lesbian has for sure been here at least once. Hate it or love it, this place is packed full on game night, throughout the weekends and all summer long. It’s a chill (and sometimes rowdy) place to watch the hockey game, play pool and eat free popcorn. During the summer months, their street and rooftop terrace is filled with everything from lipstick femmes, to motorbike dykes! I feel if I were to bump into Alice from the L Word anywhere in Montreal, it would be chilling on the rooftop terrace with a pitcher of sangria. Only lesbians and honorary lesbians like myself will totally get what I mean by that.

Bikurious (1757 Amherst): If Shane was real life and owned a bike shop that did “lesbian haircuts”, Bikurious would so be it. So buy a bike and and get a haircut for $15. This shop is worth the visit just to browse, hang out and chat with the owner!

Royal Phoenix (5788 Saint-Laurent): Royal Phoenix is the new queer bar on the scene. Up in the Mile-End it’s located perfectly to cater to the lesbian and queer community. Events almost every night of the week keep the people flowing in. Check out their website for the most up to date calendar. They take debit and credit at the bar, which is a rarity in Montreal I find. This place is filled with people who know and love to have fun. Pick any night of the week and I’m sure you’ll have an excellent time.

Meow Mix: Meow Mix is a monthly event that takes place at the Sala Rossa, usually on a saturday night. In a poll of my lesbian friends, they all agreed that Meow Mix is the best dyke party in town. It usually gets going around 10PM with a performance be it music, drag or burlesque. After that, the lights turn off and the music gets loud! If you find yourself in the city the weekend that Meow Mix is happening, drop everything and go.

Pink 28: Pink 28 is a monthly lounge night targeted at the “professional” lesbian. It takes place at a different location from month to month, so going you might discover a cool new spot. Usually starts in the early evening and finishes before bed time. This is the prefect place to meet people, without having to go out and “party”. Check out their next event here.

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So what exactly is Queer of the Year? Only the most cut-throat competition under the rainbow. A glamourously gruelling week-long queer fest that will test your personality, talent, healthy lifestyle, community spirit and sex appeal. Only 5 finalists will get to duke it out for the Queer Crown, but everyone gets a chance to vie for a spot in the finals. All you have to do is APPLY HERE, answer a few short questions and tell them what your Q is. But what is a Q?

Your Q is what makes you stand out, sets you apart and what makes you shine. It could be a hidden talent, a fierce secret weapon or a known awesome fact. My Q would definitely be my ability to open a wine bottle with just a shoe. And my violin playing skills. After you submit your application, the preliminary selection round begins where semi-finalists will be interviewed! The five finalists will then be asked to make a video explaining themselves to the world. Do you think you have what it takes to make it all the way?

This year, the competition is being hosted by New York based comedienne Mikala Bierma from “Disappointing Gay Best Friend” fame. If you’re not already a fan of her, you will be once you watch these:

I think she is a fabulous choice and I can’t wait to see her work it like the fierce queen she is! Follow the QOTY Twitter feed, the QOTY Youtube channel and the QOTY Facebook page for updates from Mikala and the Queer of the Year team!

So what are the details exactly? Apply. Get an all expenses paid trip to Montreal. Compete. Win. Bask in Queer Fame. Application deadline is June 13 and the competition is from August 7- 15. Leave your A-game at home, but bring your Q game cause stuff will get heated. If you don’t believe me, check out some highlights from last years competition:

So get on and apply! Lifelong friends, memories and the experience of a lifetime awaits you! Show your Q and let your rainbow shine as bright as your personality! I’ll be rooting for everyone that applies because I know this earth has some pretty fabulous people on it…

p.s. I hope Tyler also makes a few appearances. I love his beard.

Guest blogger: James Alexander Dunphy

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In searching for the “Queerest” foods in Montreal, I came across some dishes that would make your taste buds quiver in confusion. These meals prove that two wrongs make a right, two rights make something ultra-right, or maybe just that wrongs can be righted when forced to be friends with each other.

First of all, what exactly is a “Queer” food? A Queer food is fun, unique and always daring. Some people might pre-judge a Queer food instantly, but others are more accepting and discover that through the wacky premise lies something delicious. Just because something about these Montreal eatery flavour-hybrids might seem unfamiliar, don’t be a hater. Take a deep breath and try something a little out of the ordinary…

Lobster Poutine at Garde-Manger (408 Saint-Francois-Xavier) is like having two things that are such polar opposites that they run away from each other. But because we’re on earth, eventually they circle back around and smash into something crazy yummy. At one end of the spectrum we have lobster, one of the finest marine delicacies. At the other end we have Poutine, the “it’s 3AM after the bar I’m hungry” Quebecois delicacy. Two things that have nothing in common and would never even be friends if it weren’t for Chef Bad-boy Chuck Hughes. Hughes won Iron Chef America with this Lobster Poutine. Obviously this is where the best (lobster) and better (poutine) join hands in a civil-union to live happily ever after. Didn’t you know opposites attract?!

Pressed Foie Gras at DNA (355 Marguerite d’Youville) is Gingerbread, pumpkin mostarda and arugula flowers. What? Gingerbread, pumpkin mostarda, and arugula flowers pressed into a foie gras. Probably the tastiest foie gras I’ve had in recent memory. You can really taste the arugula flower… whatever it is. This stuff is incredible. Definitely bizarre enough to quality for one of Montreal’s queerest foods!

Griffintown Burger at Café Griffintown (1387 Notre-Dame O) is where all of my favorite meats crawl onto a plate and snuggle in a bun. The patty on this beast is half beef, a quarter duck and a quarter lamb all rolled in with a few secret spices. Aptly nicknamed the “Barnyard Burger” because, when ordered with bacon and cheese, you can literally devour all the animals mentioned in the “Old MacDonald Had a Farm” song. My best friend broke her five-year-long vegetarianism for this burger. She ate every last bite and loved every minute of it. Ee-i-ee-i-oo-yes it’s that delectable.

Bacon Brownie at Le Boucan (1886 Notre-Dame O) is another breathtaking result from a famous, time-honored formula: Sweet + Salty = Joyous creation. Be it a Hershey’s PayDay bar, kettle corn or chocolate covered pretzels, mixing these two flavors is the juxtapose of the century. Le Boucan takes it to another level with their rich fudge brownie, filled with pieces of bacon. Every bite is a surprise. Will it be chocolate? Or will my palate be thrown a curve ball? You really have to taste this to believe it. I suggest enjoying this dessert with a nice glass of Grand Marnier, to fully get the “what am I tasting” experience.

Canadian Tiramisu at Claremont Cafe (5032 Sherbrooke O) is the Great-North version of the great-Italian cake. But how does one canuck-ify a Tiramisu? Maybe some sweet homemade Ladyfingers made by an adorable Quebecois grandmother, dipped in the finest coffee from Café Myriad. Then smothered with nothing but the most delicate egg yokes from the most Canadian of eggs. All combined with the most luxurious mascarpone made in the most prestigious fromagerie in Quebec. No. This Canadian Tiramisu is crushed Tim Horton’s timbits and maple syrup. Two distinctly Canadian things that are awesome, stuck together to make something magical. Don’t be fooled by its simplicity. This no-frills-all-taste dessert floats on and off the menu so hopefully you’ll be able to grab one when they have it!

Guest Blogger: Alex Dunphy

Photo Credit: Griffintown Burger- Midnight Poutine, Lobster Poutine- Montreal for Insiders, Boucan Bacon Brownie- Sheep Sheep

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