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

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

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

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

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

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

THE DETAILS

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

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

Photos by Coey Kerr

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

We kicked the night off at Deville Dinerbar in the heart of the Montreal downtown bar scene. Deville is a 50s style “dinerbar” with a black and pink motif that made the place feel like the Pink Ladies from Grease might show up and start razzing me at any point. This is a good thing. Deville’s cocktail menu is as diverse as their dinner menu (you can order deep fried pickles!) but we settled on the bartender’s suggestion. The barkeep, a gentleman and martini scholar, made us a refreshing martini with prosecco, cucumber, gin and egg whites. The result was a clean, light and fizzy martini that tasted like summer.

Then it was off to the famous Jello Martini Lounge on Ontario. If you strolled down Ontario you might miss this hidden gem, but the lounge has been in business for a couple of decades and Brad Pitt, George Clooney and Robert De Niro have all graced the bar at some point in the lounge’s storied history. Something tells me those fellas know a good martini when they see one and, after sampling a few at Jello, I concur. We decided to order the “Jello 94″ and the classic “Jello Martini”, which are the lounge’s staple cocktails. The ambience was relaxed and there was a smattering of people at the bar awaiting the night’s festivities. Jello also hosts live jazz performances, improv and there’s a wall of lava lamps if you prefer that style of entertainment.

Afterwards, we hopped up Saint-Laurent and landed at Go Go Lounge, where the bartender blew us away with an array of martinis in all the colours of the rainbow. Behind the bar you’ll find beautiful ladies who are martini magicians and make dangerously delicious drinks. If you’re lucky enough to go to Go Go Lounge, order the electric blue “Mr. Freeze”- it’s no surprise that Go Go Lounge is considered one of the the top 10 bars in the whole entire world. The decor is a swingin’ psychedelic romp reminiscent of The Prisoner and if you like to be fondled, you can sit in a giant hand chair while you order drinks from menus printed on vintage records. We sampled the “King Kong”, “Mr. Freeze”, “Kryptonite”, the “Hello Kitty”, which is a lychee martini, and a big black cocktail that reminded me of my childhood. It’s called “Sweet Tart” and tastes exactly how it sounds.

We continued North into Mile End and hit Baldwin Barmacie. Baldwin Barmacie is a chic bar that specializes in modern cocktails with an antique flair. The bar itself is sleek and dressed up like an old pharmacy. The decor essentially reaffirms what everyone already knows, that alcohol really is best medicine. The bartenders are helpful apothecaries who made us their signature “Bloody Dirty Martini”. It was like a spicy caesar with a twist which was a nice change of pace from the sugar high that left us buzzing from Go Go Lounge.

Finally our last stop was L’Assommoir. It’s the perfect bar for a night cap. L’Assommoir is a dark, cozy yet sleek bar that favours fresh ingredients and has an extensive cocktail list. For our final martini, we selected the “Casino Royale” which is the classic James Bond martini. Any martini drinker worth their salt knows this martini is a must.  Although the martini was stiff, it felt like I was drinking a good, hard lesson. Difficult at first, but in the end I’m better for it.

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THE DETAILS

Deville Diner Bar, 1425 Stanley, (514) 281-6556

Jello Martini Lounge, 151 Rue Ontario East, (514) 285 2009

Go Go Lounge, 3682 Boulevard Saint-Laurent, (514) 286-0882

Baldwin Barmacie, 115 Laurier Ouest, (514) 276-4282

L’Assommoir, Multiple Locations

The post 5 MARTINIS IN 5 MONTREAL BARS appeared first on Tourisme Montréal Blog.

For three magical summer weekends, businesses with an address on the vibrant Boulevard Saint-Laurent, aka The Main, hawk their wares on the street at seriously discounted prices. Everything from clothes to cookware to underwear will be available while you stroll up and down the car-free promenade.

And if the thought of all that shopping makes you ravenous, you’re in the right place for food. All you need to do is simply walk up to one of the many terraces or get some food to go from a surly but kind streetwise vendor. Saint-Laurent is the street that has something for everyone. From high-end food like Restaurant Globe to countless street vendors, live DJs and more activities than you can shake a stick at.

The Saint-Laurent strip will be blocked off over three Montreal weekends: June 9-12, June 16-19 and August 25-28. For the first installment of street sale mayhem, St-L will be closed from Sherbrooke to Avenue des Pins, while, for the remaining Street Fairs, the no-car party continues up to Mont Royal. This is the Grand Prix weekend and things will be spectacularly F-1 on the Main. The June 16-19 weekend also involves Fringe Fest and Fringe Pop, which makes it all the merrier.

If you’ve never been to the Saint-Laurent street sale, don’t worry. There’s an easy way to break it down. To put it simply, lower Saint-Laurent means lots of hair gel. Upper Saint-Laurent means little-to-no hair gel. Actually to put it even more simply: at the lower end, things are kind of fancy and cost a lot. The further up you get, the more relaxed and inexpensive things become. Choose your location and go delight in life’s grand pageant.

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THE DETAILS

St-Laurent Street Sale

June 9 to June 12, 2011

June 16 to June 19, 2011

August 25 to August 28, 2011

The post ST-LAURENT STREET SALES, SUMMER 2011 appeared first on Tourisme Montréal Blog.

On June 11 at Circuit Gilles Villeneuve, watch drivers from all over the world get a feel for the circuit. The next morning will feature qualifying laps and in the afternoon, look forward to the Ferrari Challenge and the Formule 1600, which are the first two races. On June 12, the Formule 1600’s second race kicks off at 8:25am (bit early for a Sunday, don’t you think?) followed by the Ferrari Challenge right after. Then there’s the traditional Drivers Parade at 10:30 and at noon get ready for the definitive Formula One race. Look out for hot shot Sebastian Vettel racing for Redbull, he’s first in the driver standings and has one seriously heavy foot.

But let’s be honest, the Grand Prix is more than just a super awesome race. It’s also a weekend of booze, babes and bottles. The Grand Prix weekend is the crème de la crème of Montreal’s parties and there are several hotspots waiting to cater to your party needs. The best way to get the inside scoop is to check into one of Montreal’s Swanky Hotels: several of them are host to THE parties of the weekend.

For Grand Prix revelry, look no further than the St. Laurent Strip. This year’s race coincides with the St. Laurent Street Sale, June 9-12. This is a magical time of the year, a time when one of Montreal’s main roads is blocked off and the restaurants spill out onto the streets and everyone enjoys the warm nights and drinks in public without getting a ticket. There are several places to eat, drink and carry on during this time. Check out Restaurant Globe for some fine dining and fine dancing, it’s a favourite of professional hockey players and non-hockey players alike. Across the street is Buonanotte, a celebrity favourite known for its beautiful clientele and world class DJ’s- and seriously, the celebrities turn out in record numbers for Grand Prix. Did I mention that they have incredibly hot waitresses? Because I should have. Ivy Nightclub will also be kicking the F1 into overdrive with their Full Throttle Weekend party featuring tons of DJ’s and a great atmosphere.

The other main area for F-1 weekend parties is Crescent Street and if you’re looking for more of a club vibe, why not try Crescent Street’s Light Ultraclub. It’s located in the heart of downtown and is a two-story, two-dancefloor, plenty-party affair replete with a mezzanine. Expect their resident DJs to provide the music for an unforgettable night, but word to the wise: dress code is in effect so dress to impress. While on Crescent, you’ll want to make sure you get into the always-packed Newtown or take a quick walkover to Cavalli, especially for their wild Thursday nights.

But all good parties must eventually and unfortunately come to an end. The official closing party is being held at Muzique, one of Montreal’s premiere nightclubs. On June 12^, head down to Muzique to see the real Grand Prix party. There will be hot shots, glitz, and very attractive people dancing to the beats of DJ PAYCE among others. And ladies get full VIP treatment all night long. What’s not to love?

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THE DETAILS

Grand Prix du Canada, Montreal, June 10-12, 2011

St. Laurent Street Sale, June 9-12, 2011

Globe, 3455 St-Laurent, (514) 284-3823

Buonanotte, 3518 St-Laurent, (514) 848-0644

Light Ultraclub, 2020 Crescent, (514) 288-2888

Newtown, 1476 Crescent, (514) 284-6555

Cavalli, 2040 Peel, (514) 843-5100

Ivy Nightclub, 3556 St-Laurent, (514) 439-1222

Muzique, 3781 St-Laurent, (514) 392-7483

Photo Credit: J.P. Moczulski/REUTERS, Montreal_Bunny

The post MONTREAL GRAND PRIX: WHERE TO PARTY appeared first on Tourisme Montréal Blog.

The festival itself, June 5-25, spans two venues, Sala Rossa and Casa del Popolo, situated in the neighbourhood of Mile End (we legally have to tell you that it’s “hip”), on St-Laurent, the city’s main party artery. What makes Suoni so great is that it grants concertgoers the opportunity to see artists that you probably won’t have a chance to see again, like the Syrian sensation Omar Souleyman, who is coming to play on June 13 at Sala Rossa.

This year boasts musicians like the Japanese gem Keiji Haino who has a baffling musical resume. He fronted a band that played psychedelic covers of songs by The Rolling Stones, The Ronettes and Jimi Hendrix and morphed them into garage psychedelia. He plays on June 10 at Sala. But if you want to see some real renegade jams, check out Satoko Fujii ma-do on June 19 at Sala Rossa.

The contemporary Baltimore outfit Future Islands is one of the best bands around right now; they team up with Montreal sweethearts Valleys for another excellent double bill on June 5 at Casa. But you’d be sorely remised if you don’t check out the talented Shalabi Effect and Volcano the Bear on June 8 for some homegrown music as well.

Speaking of locals, some of Montreal’s best are involved in some of the fest’s most anticipated shows. Junior Boys may be the first name on the June 11 bill, but you can be damn sure that much of the crowd will be there to see Montreal’s Miracle Fortress, who will be bringing along his brand-new album, Was I the Wave? Another hugely hyped show with be Colin Stetson‘s June 17 apperance at Sala. Stetson may have grown up in Michigan and only lived in Montreal for 4 years, but he’s played with Tom Waits, Arcade Fire, Feist, Bon Iver, Laurie Anderson, Lou Reed, David Byrne, Sinead O’Connor, LCD Soundsystem, to name just a bunch, and his new album solo album, New History Warfare Vol. 2: Judges, is an incredible piece of artisty, so we’re claiming him as our own.

Because Free Jazz has always been the real Suoni vibe, their Free Jazz series is where you should be. Even if you haven’t heard of the artists, trust that they’re the best of the best. Now just to be clear, what Suoni means by “free jazz” is simply that the music is informed by an “exploration” of sound”, so there’s no need to recoil.  Check out David S. Ware on June 13 and Charles Gayle on June 8 among others from all over the world.

The Illuminated Music series is a showcase of Canadian avant-garde and experimental musicians in a multimedia performance paired with video installations and live graphics throughout the performances. Because Suoni is typically a community-oriented festival, they’re offering a free Tools of the Trade workshops with Palestinian hip-hop artist Shadia Monsour. These workshops are geared toward aspiring musicians who wish to learn about different approaches to music. Expect some audience participation to make the affair less formal and encourage a free environment where people feel comfortable participating. These talks are generally 2 to 3 hours in length and are centered around a performance.

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THE DETAILS

Suoni Per Il Popolo, June 5-June 25, 2011

Sala Rossa, 4848 Saint-Laurent, (514) 844-4227

Casa Del Popolo 4873 Saint-Laurent, (514) 284-3804

The post SUONI PER IL POPOLO PREVIEW appeared first on Tourisme Montréal Blog.

Portuguese cuisine is known for its full flavours and, of course, fish! (The seafaring nation boasts the highest fish consumption per capita in Europe.) Olive oil is very important and garlic, coriander and parsley are used liberally. At the heart of it all is the principle of using quality ingredients, prepared simply to preserve the distinct, robust flavours. Oh, and the wines, both red and white, are a delight.

All of which which makes Portus Calle a place you should really visit, because not only are they the perfect spot for lunch or dinner, but they’ve also got a great boutique where you can buy wine, port, olive oil and much, much more. The media dinner we attended was held in honour of one of the restos’ upcoming High Lights events which features the renowned chef Johanne Vigneault, owner of La Table du Roy in Les Îles de la Madeleine. Portus Calle chef/owner Helena Loureiro created a menu with Vigneault to give a taste of what they’ll be serving during the foodie fest.

Rushing in from the nippy eve, we started with a warming sip of the restaurant’s house port, which prepared palates for the menu to come: carpaccio of young veal with sprouts, a trio of cultivated scallops, scrambled eggs with chorizo and asparagus, lobster bisque with sea foam and grilled shrimp, Mediterranean bar fish with baby clams and a wild rose sorbet touched with pastis.  Mmm…good!

The cuisine was simple and delicious with a fusion of subtle flavours. An interesting touch was the bread, served in a cloth bag, with butter and tiny black olives, whose sharp taste was a nice surprise. The carpaccio was sliced to perfection, and a perfect beginning. But the scallops – oh, the scallops. One had a miso vinaigrette and tasted slightly Asian, one was utterly natural with only lemon juice and one was touched delicately with fruits, adding a sweetness to the sea sense.

The asparagus dish was interesting with the crisply-cooked chorizo adding a spicy sensation to the mildness of the eggs and asparagus. And then the lobster bisque, served to sip from a tiny cup. Lovely! The bar fish was perfectly cooked, with the white flesh melting on the fork. The simple butter, oil and parsley base let the fish flavour come to the fore. Dessert was perfectly light, its tartness balancing out the elegant meal.

If this seems like your kind of thing, check out the events below where you can taste all of this yourself…

Double Trouble (February 21 & 22)

Portus Calle’s Helena Loureiro invites Portuguese chef and oenophile Margarida Cabaço into her kitchen. Cabaço loves wine pairings and in 2001 she produced her first wine, Monte dos Cabaços, with winemaker Susana Esteban. Together, Loureiro and Cabaço are sure to serve up an evening you won’t soon forget.

Magdalen Islands and Portugal in the Same Boat (February 24)

For the past 30 years, Chef Johanne Vigneault has been cooking at La Table des Roy in the Iles des Magdalen. Her refined menu is based on what the markets provide- sashimi with bay scallops, creamy polenta with Pied-de-Vent cheese, to name just a mouth-watering few. She will also be teaming up with Portus Calle’s Helena Loureiro to create a seafood lover’s feast.

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THE DETAILS

Portus Calle, 4281 St-Lawrence Street, Metro: Sherbrooke

Montreal High Lights Festival, February 17-27, 2011

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