After celebrating its 10th year last summer, the now-infamous Piknic Electronik returns on Sunday, May 19 and continues its inclusive, happy-times, electronic dance party tradition every Sunday to September 22 in Parc Jean-Drapeau, located on an (easily accessible by public transit) island in the middle of the St-Laurent river, where there’s always a breeze and a view of downtown Montreal and the Mountain.

Piknic creates a new kind of dance club every week, always with a friendly, welcoming vibe, bringing in DJs from around the world and boosting up some of the best producers in Montreal and across Canada. Last year’s DJs included Major Lazer, Squarepusher, Nicolas Jaar and many, many more – we’ll hear in a couple of weeks what this year’s line-up has in store. What better way to hear the latest electronic dance sounds of all kinds, on a sound system built to match, than outside on a sunny day, surrounded by fellow dance music lovers?

A

THE DETAILS
Piknic Electronik, Every Sunday, May 19-September 22, at Parc Jean-Drapeau

The post Piknic Electronik 2013: DJs and Dancing outdoors appeared first on Tourisme Montréal Blog.

(food & fun) Find a kind of satisfaction in the slow advent of spring with fabulous, thoughtfully created food, beginning with a seasonal menu at the FoodLab at the SAT until April 12, and followed up on April 15 with a “Schnitzel & Riesling” food party, full of Germanic flavour and complemented afterwards by an electronic music soiree. And, of course, the famous maple syrup of Quebec is in abundant supply during sugaring-off season, with inspired menus at restaurants around the city, and a full-on sugar shack down at the Old Port at La Cabane. Or simply sink your teeth into one of the best steaks in Montreal.

(sports & laughs) Basketball, comedy and entertainment fuel the Harlem Globetrotters, putting on a show for the whole family at the Bell Centre on April 12 – and of course, the Bell Centre sees hockey season head into spring as the Canadiens play the Flyers on April 15 and face off against the Lightning on April 18. More comedy, of the non-sports-related variety, comes to Club Soda on April 17 at An Evening of Comedy for the Benefit of On Our Own, an organization that provides services and housing to vulnerable families, with Montreal funny people Joey Elias, Eman, Dan Bingham, Sebastien Bourgault and Jess Salomon.

(theatre & dance) Contemporary ballet meets the music of Elton John and plenty of sequins and bright lights and colours in Love Lies Bleeding, at Place des Arts, to April 14. Sinha Danse Company presents Sunya, a new work for four dancers and three musicians, inspired by Persian music, contemporary dance, and bringing different cultures together, part of the Danse Danse spring season, April 17-27 at Cinquième Salle. Danish dance-theatre troupe Granhøj Dans crafts dramatic theatre, comedic moments and sings plenty of Leonard Cohen’s songs in Dance Me to the End On/Off Love, to April 14 at Centaur Theatre, or entertain the kids with The Trial of Goldilocks, an updated fairy tale at Centaur Theatre on Saturday, April 13. And check out the experimental theatre of love u lovecraft [lab], inspired by the world of H.P. Lovecraft, April 16-20 at Bain St-Michel.

(fashion finds) Find out what many Montreal fashionistas already know at this year’s Braderie de Mode Quebecoise, a huge 50-80% off sale of samples and inventory surplus from local designers, April 11-14 at Marché Bonsecours in the Old Port – find unique clothing and accessories, talk to designers, and perhaps even meet some of the designers and people behind Montreal Fashion Week.

(art worlds) As part of the MMFA exhibition Peru: Kingdoms of the Sun and the Moon, see Peru on the big screen in documentary films from the TV5 series Amérikologie, playing on April 13 – free at the Maxwell Cummings Auditorium, and on April 17, attend an Afro-Peruvian percussion workshop with Kullak Viger Ross. Enter the labyrinthine fact-meets-fiction world of Laurent Grasso’s multi-room Uraniborg exhibition at the MACM, showing along with work by photographer Lynne Cohen and live performance conjured up by artist Tino Sehgal. Over at the Society for Art and Technology, see P3rception, surround-sound-and-image films shown in the Satosphere dome, to April 29. Hear more about the Thomas Demand exhibition at DHC/ART in a round-table discussion on April 17. And the Montreal Symphony Orchestra performs Beethoven’s Third Concerto, with pianist Till Fellner and Kent Nagano conduction on April 16-17.

(live music) Start the weekend with the psych-rock of The Black Angels at Le National on Friday night. Saturday, April 13 is a big night: choose from a massive show with Canadian rock-punk Billy Talent, Sum 41, Hollerado and Indian Handcrafts at the Bell Centre, the East-Coast folk-rock of Great Big Sea at Metropolis, Welsh alt-rock band The Joy Formidable plays Theatre Corona, the myriad musical styles of Montreal hip-hop collective Nomadic Massive at Club Soda, or great MTL indie-rock of The Besnard Lakes at Cabaret Du Mile End. On Sunday, listen to the live electro-pop of Rhye at Cabaret Mile End. Funnily enough, Monday night is also a big one, with Australian “metalcore” band Parkway Drive at Metropolis, and for those of us who like it loud, it’s a tough choice between Japan’s Acid Mothers Temple at Sala Rossa  vs. Pissed Jeans at Il Motore. On April 16, tune in to Stereo Total at Il Motore. And on April 18, get your folkoric-pagan-metal on at Paganfest America 2013 with Finland’s Ensiferum, The Faroe Islands’ Tyr and more beer-soaked mayhem at Metropolis on April 18. Meanwhile, Montreal’s Bran Van 3000 and Paul Cargnello headline a fundraiser for community organization Le Sac à Dos at Club Soda.

The post Things to Do in Montreal: April 12-18 appeared first on Tourisme Montréal Blog.

As any parent knows, practical considerations are very important when planning days out with the kids. Below are some suggestions to help you optimize your enjoyment at some of Montreal’s favourite family attractions.

According to Nadia Paquet of the Montreal Science Centre, all of the Centre’s activities are intended for families, so it’s an ideal destination for kids. There’s also a brand-new section, Clic! The Zone for Curious Young Minds, that’s especially for very young and curious minds of 4-7 years old. Here, kids can play in a stimulating environment while also learning about scientific concepts. In this sense-stimulating, wonder-filled space, kids can have fun playing with shapes and colours, all while developing their creativity and dexterity in an environment that encourages teamwork and social skills. Admission to the Montreal Science Centre is free for under-3s, strollers are permitted in the exhibition rooms (though not in the IMAX theatre), and there are lockers for gear storage.

The post Expert Tips for a Family-Friendly Trip to Montreal appeared first on Tourisme Montréal Blog.

Biking around Montreal, zipping from one very different neighbourhood to the next, is the perfect way to take in the city’s many sides and Fitz & Follwell is super hip to the bike riding scene, with tours to suit any sensibility, time constraint, family size or budget.

Take a whirlwind tour from the Plateau to the Lachine Canal on a brand new rental bike or explore the nooks and crannies of areas of Montreal less often visited by tourists. There’s even a “Downhill All the Way” tour, starting at the top of Parc Mont-Royal, for those with a need for speed (with a bit of local history on the side), and Summer Night tours for night owls and bar hoppers. And balance nature and city life with Fitz & Follwell’s Bike & Yoga tours.

If the best way to your heart is through your stomach, then falling in love with this city will be easy to do on a food-and-drink walking tour. Local Montreal Tours helps visitors navigate the Jean-Talon Market, one of the biggest outdoor markets in North America, introducing Quebecois speciality and seasonal foods and sampling some of the market’s best foodstuff, from crepes to sausages to ice cream. During the evening, go on the Montreal Brewpub Experience walking tour of three local craft breweries. And this summer, Local Montreal Tours will also be offering a new tour of Mile End and its fantastic food via Bixi, Montreal’s public bike system.

With Montreal Food Tours, spend a morning savouring the Flavors and Aromas of Old Montreal, stopping in at historic, food-related shops, or visit the restaurants, shops and cafes of Little Italy and the Jean Talon Market for fresh fruit and vegetables and much more ready-to-eat foodie fare. New to Montreal Food Tours this year is Bar Hopping in Old Montreal, which pairs food, drink, and history and fittingly takes place during happy hour (called “cinq-à-sept” in Montreal) every Friday evening.

For traditional, tried and true tours, look to Guidatour, a company that’s been in the business of showing people around Montreal by foot, bike (with Ça Roule) and bus for almost 30 years. Their tours begin in mid-May and extend until mid-October, with options to gather a group of your own or join a group of others, mixing and matching tours as short as an hour to all morning or afternoon, visiting historical sites of Old Montreal, Downtown and the Quartier International. And for something further off the beaten track in Old Montreal, take a Ghost Walk – or even go on a Ghost Hunt – with Montréal Ghosts throughout July and August and around Halloween, naturally.

The post Spring and Summer Guided Tours of Montreal appeared first on Tourisme Montréal Blog.

(all-ages entertainment) This Saturday marks the grand opening of Montreal’s new Rio Tinto Alcan Planetarium, featuring two theatres with two different shows – both about the stars, one with a more scientific edge and the other more artistic – and an educational centre. Spend the morning of April 6 at Centaur Theatre play Furry Tails with a Twist, a funny and charming take on fairy tales. Learn to dance the flamenco at family-friendly and free event Bal de Dimanche, at Espace culturel Georges-Émile-Lapalme, on Sunday, April 7. And step back in time and bop to the music of Fab Four at Pointe-à-Callière‘ The Beatles in Montreal exhibition, featuring two floors of historical reportage and film clips, cool guitars and sometimes surprising memorabilia.

(food season) Springtime is full and delicious bloom at The FoodLab at the SAT, where chefs cook up creative Quebecois dishes that match the season – and stick around at the SAT for an immersive film-and-sound experience at P3rception, screening in the venue’s 360º Satosphere dome. Meanwhile, sugaring-off season continues, with maple-syrup-inspired menus and food aplenty at restaurants around town, especially at the Old Port’s La Cabane and at authentic sugar shacks just outside the city.

(theatrical moves) Whether you’re a fan of Elton John or a fan of modern ballet – or both – get thee to Love Lies Bleeding, a wonderfully colourful, over-the-top show created by Jean Grand-Maître and the Alberta Ballet, at Place des Arts, April 10-14. More drama unfolds April 5-6, as acclaimed Spanish flamenco dancer-choreographer María Pagés performs her show Autorretrato. Danish dance-theatre troupe Granhøj Dans moves to the music of Leonard Cohen, while cracking jokes and finding sombre moments in Dance Me to the End On/Off Love, to April 14 at the Centaur. Award-winning choreographer and performer Marie-Josée Chartier goes solo in Stria at the Segal Centre. And some of the best, most inventive burlesque dancers get together for rebellious, sexy, funny, life-affirming show Bad Ladies and The Detective, April 11 at Theatre Ste-Catherine.

(spring inspiration) Shake off winter and welcome the new and inspiring during An Evening with Oprah Winfrey, full of storytelling and audience interaction, at the Bell Centre on April 11. Blending classical music and contemporary pop, Canadian singing group The Tenors lift their voices to the light at the Maison Symphonique at Place des Arts on April 6, and the Montreal Symphony Orchestra welcomes spring with a series of fantastic concerts, beginning this week with Jean-François Rivest conducting the Franck Symphony featuring principal bass Ali Yazdanfar, April 5 and 7.

(music time) Friday night begins with amazing British soul singer-songwriter Lianne La Havas at Theatre Corona and the rather transcendent saxophone magic of Colin Stetson at the Musee d’art contemporain. On Saturday, April 6, none other than Boyz II Men make a soulful comeback at Theatre Olympia, hot British music maker Mika puts on a fab show at Theatre Corona, indie-rock out with Wavves, Fidlar and more at Sala Rossa, and Australian electronic music maker Flume brings his melodic bass to Le Belmont. On April 7, French turntable DJ group C2C spins their own tunes and more at Metropolis. There’s also a whole lot of rock n’ roll to keep us up late on a weeknight: on Monday, April 8, Metz get loud at Sala Rossa; on April 9, experience the garage-rock wildness of The King Khan & BBQ Show, with Bloodshot Bill at Il Motore, on April 10, don’t miss the California-rock realness of Redd Kross and UBT at Il Motore, and on April 11, Toronto shows us its rock n’ roll chops with Born Ruffians and Moon King at Sala Rossa. Meanwhile, on April 10 and 11, popular French-language acoustic reggae group Tryo plays two shows at Metropolis.

The post Things to do in Montreal: April 5-11 appeared first on Tourisme Montréal Blog.

The MACM is always an accessible museum, but these days it’s even more interactive than usual thanks to two works by British-born, Berlin-based artist Tinho Segal. Creating a cross between theatre and visual art that somehow sidesteps art performance, Seghal builds entire sets in museums and hires “actors” to animate them in carefully choreographed situations.

Right now there are two of his pieces at the MACM: his iconic Kiss, from 2002, which involves a couple reinterpreting famous kisses drawn from the history of art in a tightly choreographed 8-minute loop; and This Situation, from 2007, a conversation piece that has the “agents” discuss philosophical issues between themselves and with the visitor, if you so choose. Passersby can influence the whole direction the performance takes awhile they are in the room. Now that’s power!

Right next door in the video room don’t miss 4 000 Disparos by Brazilian artist Jonathas de Andrade, for which he filmed male faces in Super 8 film as he travelled throughout Uruguay, Argentina, Chile, Bolivia, Peru and Colombia, in a journey of territorial recognition of a Latin America he belongs to without feeling part of. French artist Laurent Grasso and Montreal artist Lynne Cohen round out the current exhibitions: With his trickster’s take on temporality and the making of history, Grasso’s show, titled, Uraniborg, presents neon signs, objects, videos and more that lead to the creation of what the artist calls a “false historical memory.”

Cohen, on the other hand, presents 40 of her interior landscapes – since the 1970s the artist has been capturing, unpopulated, often odd spaces constructed by humans, used by humans, but devoid of humans. The images are filled with the tension created by that emptiness and the occasional inexplicable aspects of the photographs. Photo: courtesy of Olga Korper Gallery, Toronto.

On April 5, make sure you catch the Friday Nocturne, the museum’s popular series from 5 to 9 pm every first Friday of the month, which this time features saxophonist Colin Stetson. Famous as a member of Bell Orchestre and a collaborator of Arcade Fire, Lou Reed and Feist, Stetson explores the limit of his instrument in his solo work, creating beautiful soundscapes that will transport you to wholly ethereal planes.

In May this bunch of exhibitions will make way for two new guys: the first solo exhibition in Canada of Brooklyn-based artist Eve Sussman and her collaborative team Rufus Corporation, for one. Generated by algorithm but influenced by the films of Andrei Tarkovsky, Jean-Luc Godard and Wim Wenders, Sussman’s filmic pieces offer a futuristic look at space and time, utopia and dystopia, fractured narration and torn landscapes from Russia and Central Asia. In the next room there’ll be Montreal artist Michel de Broin, whose playful multidisciplinary practice extends from photography to video to sculpture, and explores the notions of resistance, misappropriation and recycling with a cynical sense of humour.

THE DETAILS

Musée d’art contemporain de Montréal, 185 Sainte-Catherine West, (514) 847-6226

Photo Credits- Tinho Segal Photo: ©Tate, Jonathas de Andrade Photo: courtesy of Olga Korper Gallery, Toronto

The post Spring into the MACM appeared first on Tourisme Montréal Blog.

(spring vacation) It’s still March Break and Montreal knows it, with all kinds of activities to keep kids happy. Stay active outside while enjoying the last month (fingers crossed) of snow on Mont Royal and other city parks: snowshoe, skate, go ice fishing at the Old Port, sample maple syrup at Botanical Gardens, and more. Inside, let kids literally climb the walls at Allez Up, catch circus show Mi Otro Yo to March 10 at La Tohu circus centre, or watch Mickey, Minnie, princesses and sidekicks play that rock n’ roll music and skate around the whole time in Disney on Ice’s Rockin’ Ever After at the Bell Centre, also to March 10. Also on ice, along with the NHL Senators vs Canadiens game on March 13 at the Bell Centre, Olympic players dazzle as Canadian Women’s Hockey League team Stars play two games this weekend at Aréna Étienne Desmarteau: On March 9 and a fan-appreciation game – FREE entry for all! – on March 10.

(eat well) Celebrate the slow onset of springtime by sampling new menus at great restaurants around the city. March also marks the start of sugaring-off season, when maple syrup is ready for pouring on anything and everything: eat it and much more to your heart’s content at La Cabane in the Old Port, and at Montreal’s Snow Village. The SAT’s FoodLab throws a La Grande Bouffe/Bal with a special locally sourced four-course meal followed by a DJ set from Suuns on March 9. Take a jaunt up to the posh neighbourhood of Outremont, just west of the Plateau and south of Mile End, for delicious delicacies. And find good food the new-fangled way, by perusing Montreal-friendly food apps.

(theatre & dance) Opera de Montreal tackles serious subject matter in a new production of Dead Man Walking, based on a true story and made famous in an award-winning film about a nun who connects with a prisoner on death row. The Mahalia Jackson Musical tells the astounding life story of “The Queen of Gospel” award-winning singer and civil rights activist, starring Montreal sensation Ranee Lee, at the Segal Centre for the Performing Arts, to March 24. Experimental, theatrical Dutch contemporary dance troupe T.r.a.s.h. stuns the senses at Cinquième Salle, to March 9. And In Your Face Entertainment takes a bilingual approach to musical Jacques Brel Is Alive And Well And Living In Paris, featuring 25 of the songs of famed French folk writer-singer, at Mainline Theatre, starting March 14.

(city-wide art) Montreal’s underground city, connecting metro stations, office buildings and malls, is home to all kinds of innovative art work during Art Souterrain - wander through under March 17. The McCord Museum brings the realities of life in Haiti to Montreal in Benoit Aquin’s stunning exhibition Haiti: Chaos and Daily Life. Cutting-edge performance art with multiple feminist perspectives is the great stuff of Edgy Women 2013: Arts/Sports/Gender, to March 10 at various venues. And the International Festival of Films on Art begins March 14, screening documentaries, shorts and more films focused on all aspects of the arts, from painting to writing to dancing – also check out the  Zon’Arts exhibition at Place des Arts starting March 9, where Diane Obomsawin’s animated films fleur (2012) and machine (2012) are being projected.

(march music) The weekend beings with the experimental indie-rock sounds of Animal Collective, with opener Dan Deacon, at Metropolis, March 8. Fans of underground music will want to check out the Montreal Underground Music & Arts Fair at St-Denis Church, March 9-10. On March 9, American metal band Soulfly rumbles into the Corona. On Sunday afternoon head down to the Old Port near the Pointe-à-Callière museum to hear the Port Symphonies, a composition created for boat whistles, horns and percussion, and later on check out Classic Album’s Live, an internationally touring show of pitch-perfect cover songs, at the Corona, or a talent-packed night of music and more at the Rialto Theatre to celebrate International Women’s Day. Australian psych-rockers Tame Impala storm Metropolis on March 11. On March 12, it’s power pop to the rescue as Pink plays the Bell Centre. On March 13, UK singer-songwriter-rocker Kate Nash comes to town at Cabaret Mile End, while Dischord records unsettles in at Il Motore with Deathfix, featuring Brendan Canty of Fugazi, Dubpixel and Modern Primitive. And in classical music, the Montreal Symphony Orchestra celebrates mid-March with Kent Nagano conducting Brahms Requiem, March 13-14.

The post THINGS TO DO IN MONTREAL: MARCH 8-14 appeared first on Tourisme Montréal Blog.

Archeologists have deduced that snowshoeing dates back thousands of years where it was an essential part of survival. Luckily here in Canada, snowshoeing was modernized in Quebec during the late 19th century where races would be held with food and drink. Now that’s my kind of winter sport. If you’re more of the DIY type person, you can rent snowshoes at several parks around Montréal for under $10 an hour: Mont-Royal, Cap-Saint-Jacques, Bois de l’Ile-Bizard, and Parc Jean-Drapeau.

If you’re one that would rather be guided through this activity on a fun and informative tour then reserve today at Fitz & Follwell! They’ll not only take you snowshoeing around Mont-Royal, but ice skating on Beaver Lake and up to the Mont-Royal lookout for a spectacular view of the city. The tours run 7 days a week and leave at 10 am from Fitz & Follwell.

They also have a “Winter in the Park” tour that tours you around the tiny streets of the Plateau and then ice skating in Parc La Fountaine. Don’t have the right winter gear? Don’t worry because Fitz has you covered. Rent everything from Parkas, Snowpants, boots, showshoes and even wooden sleds!

You should also consider making the trek to Parc Jean-Drapeau for Eco Récréo. You get a 90 minute tour of the park, heading to the Tour de Lévis in the heart of the island. Eco Récréo also offers the ultimate snow tour: Dog sled. Yes, you get to mush for 30 minutes. I have done this, and I can promise you’ll feel just like Balto zooming through the snow bringing medicine to the sick children.

The post WHERE TO SNOWSHOE IN MONTREAL appeared first on Tourisme Montréal Blog.

Last autumn, Montreal became home to one of the biggest and most ambitious rock climbing gyms in the country: Allez Up. But Allez Up had been around for many years before, just down the street from its shiny new current location near the Lachine Canal in the neighbourhood of Pointe St-Charles.

With the new facility came more – and higher – climbing walls, more bouldering areas, more space for groups learning to climb, and a soon-to-be-reality dream of turning two old silos into a high-climbing experience like none other. The new space also peaked the interest of people looking for a new way to stay active (and maybe face a few fears and get an adrenaline rush along the way – believe me, I’m proof).

On any given day at Allez Up, seasoned climbers scale the walls alongside newbies and school groups, creating an atmosphere unlike that of a typical gym – here people seem to naturally challenge themselves and learn from each other, getting stronger and more adept in the process. For those who haven’t tried climbing before, Allez Up offers excellent courses for first-time climbers and for younger climbers too, with equipment (harness, shoes, belay device) included, covering essentials such as knot-tying, harness use and belaying (safety first and always!), basic techniques and getting comfortable with climbing high. Always remember: falling is fun.

While rope climbing requires a partner, a necessity that both provides motivation and keeps the sport social, there’s the option to simply stay off the ropes and stick with bouldering, a sport that keeps climbers lower to the ground (with huge mats to land on, of course) but is just as challenging as climbing a wall. Courses for improving technique on the wall and learning how to lead climb take climbers to the next level, as do personal training sessions. With new routes going up regularly, from beginner to seriously advanced, Allez Up keeps the mind and body challenged while still having a ton of fun.

A

THE DETAILS

Allez Up, 1555 St-Patrick, (514) 989-9656

The post CLIMB HIGH AT MONTREAL’S ALLEZ UP appeared first on Tourisme Montréal Blog.

The Montréal en Lumière free outdoor site is open from Wednesday to Saturday, right in the heart of downtown’s Quartier des Spectacles, in a car-free area between Bleury and Saint-Urbain and De Maisonneuve and Sainte-Catherine streets. See the city from a different angle while riding the ferris wheel or from the top of the fun, fast and icy Urban Slide, and get moving with all kinds of kid-friendly activities, parlour games, a hockey shoot-out area, laser drawing, photo booths and more.

Entertainment is around every corner at Montréal en Lumière. Look up at Place des Festivals to see a new creative project from Montreal multimedia company Geodezik, known for its image-mapped outdoor projections that fit perfectly on city buildings: they’ll be projecting Abécédaire au carré, a bright and colourful animated story on the facade of Maison du Festival Rio Tinto Alcan at 6:30, 7:30 and 9 p.m. each night; find yourself surrounded by short film BLOOP, about water in all its states, in the RBC Dome, from 5:30 p.m. every evening and from 12:30 p.m. on the weekend; see tango demonstrations and learn a few moves at workshops hosted by dance school Las Piernas Tango; and groove to live music and DJs every night on the RBC Stage. And while the food and drink isn’t quite free it’s plentiful, varied and will keep your energy up throughout the fest.

On March 2, head out in the early evening and stay out late for Montreal’s Nuit Blanche when the city’s museums and galleries – including the Montreal Fine Arts Museum, the Musée d’art contemporain, the Canadian Centre for Architecture (where Pop Montreal sets up a stage) – are all free to peruse, with all kinds of activities and artists on hand, from the Quartier des Spectacles to the Old Port to the Plateau and out at the Olympic Park. Even Montreal’s “underground city” is open all night for Art Souterrain – explore the labyrinthine underground passageways, see awesome and inspiring art, say hi to friendly strangers, and stay warm!

A

THE DETAILS

Montréal en Lumière, February 21 to March 3, 2013

The post FREE THINGS TO DO AT MONTRÉAL EN LUMIÈRE appeared first on Tourisme Montréal Blog.