(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.

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(play outdoors) No matter what the weather, the first weekend in March in Montreal is made for staying social outside: the 14th Montréal en Lumière is a festival of free outdoor activities for all ages – including an ice slide and ferris wheel! – food, music, theatre and dance shows, and other entertainment, including Nuit Blanche, a whole night of free activities around town on March 2. Since there’s still some snow and ice in March, it’s also perfect for  snowshoeing on Mont Royal, ice skating and ice fishing at the Old Port, slipping and sliding around the Olympic Park Winter Village, and digging in to the environment at Parc Jean-Drapeau where the Biosphere’s special spring break activities keep kids enthralled.

There’s also the option of sitting back and watching the on-ice action at the Bell Centre: Montreal Canadiens hockey season continues, the team’s history unfolds at the Montréal Canadiens Hall of Fame, and Disney’s Rockin’ Ever After takes centre ice on March 6-10 (in English March 7 and 10).

(art activities) Explore the country of Peru at Montreal Museum of Fine Arts with activities and guided tours for families – the museum’s newest in-depth special exhibition, Peru: Kingdoms of the Sun and Moon, delves into the landscape, culture, art and history of the colourful, fascinating country. Figure out the science behind the art of music at the Montreal Science Centre’s interactive Musik: From Sound to Emotion exhibition, on only until March 10 and coupled with even more music-oriented activities for spring break, like a school of rock n’ roll, music therapy, and over a hundred instruments there for the playing. And sit back, relax and follow the journey of the monarch butterfly in 3D IMAX film Flight of the Butterflies.

(sweetness & light) The natural world is in the spotlight at Montreal’s Space for Life, an activity-rich site encompassing the Botanical Gardens, Biodome and Insectarium. Quebec’s sugaring-off season is in fine form until March 31 at the Botanical Gardens: learn about maple trees and the harvest while getting a taste of real maple syrup and taffy. The light of summer comes in on wings at the Butterflies Go Free exhibition, featuring 2000 live butterflies and moths from around the world, until the end of April. And go behind the scenes at the Biodôme, March 2-10, discovering what makes five different ecosystems and the creatures that live in them healthy and sustainable – roam among 4,500 animals and 500 plant species with the experts right there to answer as many questions as kids can come up with.

(circus & theatre) Be awed and entertained at the 34th Festival Mondial du Cirque de Demain, an eye-popping buffet of amazing circus acts in an internationally touring circus show featuring acrobats, trapeze artists, jugglers, clowns, contortionists and more from around the world, to March 3 at La Tohu. Keep young eyes and ears captivated by the on-stage drama and storytelling at Centaur Theatre’s children’s series: on March 16, see Panadream Theatre’s high-class puppet show Chris’ Crazy Cabaret, and on March 23, see spring in with Little Rabbit and His Friends.

And hear a symphony like no other at Pointe-à-Callière’s Port Symphonies, which challenges a composer to use a variety of ship horns, train whistles and percussion found in the harbour of the Old Port – March 3 and March 10 at 1:30 p.m. And stay to visit the Pointe-à-Callière history museum, March 2-10, for a variety of multi-media and hands-on spring break activities focused on the history and archaeology of Montreal. Also at La Tohu, see family-friendly circus show Mi Otro Yo, March 5-10 at 2 p.m., and learn a few circus tricks with free workshops and outdoor activities, March 2-8.

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(light entertainment) The winter nights light even brighter during the 14th Montréal en Lumière, a festival of food, free outdoor activities (a ferris wheel, an ice slide and more!), music, theatre and dance shows, and other entertainment. Gourmet cuisine comes in all shapes and sizes at the festival, from multi-course meals to cheese samplings – see our Top 5 food picks for ideas. Tango enthusiasts and the curious are in for a treat at tango-meets-cabaret-meets-circus show and milonga La Pista Tango, the art of singer Tonny Bennett is on display, French music star -M- plays February 22, theatre-dance show The Humanity Project provokes deep thoughts, Haitian-born Québécois artist Marie-Josée Lord sings February 25, singer and pianist Diana Krall entrances in a solo concert on February 26, and none other than The Zombies rock out on February 28.

(circus & butterflies) Add far more than a dash of bright colour to snowy days at the 34th Festival Mondial du Cirque de Demain, a internationally touring circus show featuring some of the top circus acts from the Paris-based competition of the same name, including acrobats, trapeze artists, jugglers, clowns, contortionists and more, to March 2 at La Tohu. More brightness awaits at the Butterflies Go Free exhibition at the Montreal Botanical Gardens, where 2000 butterflies and moths from around the world take up residence until the end of April. Or step outside at the Old Port to see the astounding athlethics involved in the Ice Canoe Races on February 23.

(dance & theatre) For the first time in Canada, the National Ballet of China performs Raise the Red Lantern, a classical Western ballet interpretation of Zhang Yimou’s dramatic film of the same name – the director even added his creative voice to the production by writing the libretto, designing the lighting and signing the stage direction – on stage February 22-24 at Place des Arts, presented by Les Grands Ballets Canadiens de Montréal. Danse Danse presents Corps de Walk, a thoroughly cool, contemporary-culture show (in music, movement and style) by choreographers Gai Behar and Sharon Eyal and 12 dancers of The Norwegian National Company of Contemporary Dance, February 28 and March 1-2 at Place des Arts.

(travel with art) Take a different kind of walk around downtown’s happening Quartier des Spectacles to the tune of Luminothérapie: use your iPhone or mp3 player to interact with art project Le jour des 8 soleils by artist Pascal Grandmaison who tells a story through video projects video projections on buildings in the area, from Berri-UQAM metro station to Place des Festivals and points in between. Indoors, visit Peru through its art, history and culture, presented in stunning detail at the MMFA’s Peru: Kingdoms of the Sun and Moon. The Musee d’art Contemporain features intriguing large-scale colour photography by celebrated photographer Lynne Cohen and an immersive, mysterious multi-room installation called Uraniborg, by French multidisciplinary artist Laurent Grasso.

(live music) Old Montreal cultural hub the PHI Centre hosts Thus: Owls on Friday, February 22 and follows that up on Saturday, February 23 with amazing Haiti fundraiser party Kanaval Kanape, with performances by Arcade Fire with Haitian group Doody & Kami and a dancetastic afterparty – in partnership with Black History Month Montreal. Also on Friday, ska-rock the night away with The Planet Smashers at Club Soda, while Bosnian Rainbows play Cabaret du Mile End and the good folks at Passovah Productions throw a party with Young Galaxy, Valleys and many more (plus doughnuts from Chez Boris!) at Il Motore. On Saturday night, dance to the electronic music of Bordello, Vosper and Jealous Lovers at the SAT. On Sunday, the MSO hosts conductor Gennady Rozhdestvensky and pianist Viktoria Postnikova, while The Montreal New Music International Festival showcases some of the best in new classical and experimental works. On February 25, feel the Irish spirit with Celtic Woman, February 25 at Place des Arts. On February 26, indie-experimental-rock artist Eels  is at Theatre Corona, and on February 27, Swedish House Mafia makes the Bell Centre thump.

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City of Lights, City That Never Sleeps… what are you when you’re both? You’re Montreal during the annual Nuit Blanche and Art Souterrain, that’s what – the arty party night to end all party nights in the city that parties all the time…

Don’t expect to get any rest if you’re in Montreal on March 2, because the night will come alive as the city revels all the way to the next day. As the grand finale of the 10-day long Montreal En Lumière festival, Nuit Blanche Montreal lights the city on fire through the night with, among other things, more art than you can shake a stick at. In addition to the museums and galleries in the Quartier des Spectacles that stay open all night and generally put on a fiesta (drinks and snacks, performances and spontaneous dance parties are all regular occurrences), there are events happening all over town, from Old Montreal to the Plateau to Mile End and the Olympic Park.

How about you start your night out with a tour on the giant Ferris Wheel in the heart of the main site downtown? If you want to stay in that area, may we suggest the cooking class at the MMFA, followed by the philosophical dance party at the Grande Bibliothèque (‘cause we all know no one could cut a rug like Goethe) and a few more hours shaking your moneymaker at Karnival, a huge fiesta hosted by Poirier at Club Soda.

If you’re wandering down to Old Montreal, get your sing on at PHI Centre or your swim on at the Hilton Montreal Bonaventure before taking in a gumboot show at City Hall. Plateau/Mile End bound? Make sure you stop in at Nouveau Palais for a flick or two, Monastiraki for the famous collage party and Mainline Theatre to witness a theatrical extravaganza. If the Olympic Park calls to you, you’ll get a sneak peek at the brand new, as-yet-unopened Rio Tinto Alcan Planetarium, plus you can skate on a superhero-themed ice rink.

Nuit Blanche also marks the launch of an art trail through the underground city: Art Souterrain, which runs from March 2 to 17. During one of the coldest months in the city, culture vultures can take refuge in the toasty underground network of malls and metro stations and be thoroughly entertained all the while, thanks to 7 kilometers of in situ exhibitions, installations and performances by over 120 artists. The word “smorgasbord” comes to mind! Here are five must-sees on the trail.

1) Start at the centre of it all, at the Place des Arts, in Zone 1, with the kid-friendly work of Montreal artist TAVA, who harkens back to an old school comic aesthetic to create an imaginary world with his installation La Voie Lactée (the Milky Way). Kids can use it as a maze!

2) Get brainy thanks to Le Pendule (the Pendulum), a performance/video/installation work by Barcelona artist Julia Mariscal, at Complexe Desjardins, in Zone 2. Barcelona is this year’s guest city, and there are many works by compadres throughout this zone. This one represents a whole environment, with sound accompanying a projection onto sleek metallic spheres that recall planets.

3) Get a taste of home with Mémoire en cours (Memories in the making), an installation by Yu-hang Huang composed of dozens and dozens of little white houses suspended at head-height. Dive neck deep into these symbols of memory-making at Palais des Congrès, in Zone 4.

4) Montreal artists Paul Litherland looks into the contrast of work and home with his photographic project Postes de travail familial (Family work stations), exhibited at the Tour de la Bourse, in Zone 6. Featuring portraits of particular homes, the project will continue to develop over the years to track our growing computerization.

5) Pazzazz, by renowned Montreal artist Dominique Pétrin who was in the last Quebec Art Triennial, is an eye-catching fresque whose style the artist describes as “Greco-Roman mixed with a 1970s dance hall vibe.” See what that means at the CDP Capital Centre, in Zone 7.

Prepare for your Art Souterrain tour by using the free iPhone app and downloading the audio guide here.

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THE DETAILS

Nuit Blanche, March 2, 2013

Art Souterrain, March 2 to 17, 2013

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(ice action) Check out the extreme activity at the all-new Barbegazi Winter Action Sports Festival, a weekend-long event at Montreal’s Olympic Park showcasing experts in snowboard, freeski, snowskate and freestyle sled (aerial tricks on a snowmobile!). A little less extreme, but still very wintery and oh-so-Canadian, is the Ice Fishing Village set up with all the rugged amenities down at the Old Port– get a taste of the country (yes, you can keep and eat the fish!) in the middle of the city. The Old Port’s skating rink beckons the active among us, while the Snow Village entices with a bit more luxury. And, of course, you could also catch the Habs in hockey action.

(winter city lights) Take the chill off winter with music, entertainment, traditional and gourmet food, and outdoor activities – including a ferris wheel, giant ice slide and live music in the heart of downtown – at the 14th Montréal en Lumière festival, starting Thursday, February 21. The fest opens with La Pista Tango, a tango-meets-circus show with live orchestra on stage at Place des Arts’  Theatre Maisonneuve. Also explore new cuisines at special lunch events, happy hours and dinner spreads, and see the art of famed singer Tonny Bennett, French music star -M-, theatre-dance show The Humanity Project, charming music duo Luc De Larochellière and Andrea Lindsay, and more.

 (world-wide circus) Montreal lives up to its reputation as a circus capital with the 34th Festival Mondial du Cirque de Demain, a Paris-based competition and best-of tour featuring some of the top circus acts in the world. See acrobats, trapeze artists, jugglers, clowns, contortionists and more family-friendly entertainment February 19 to March 2 at Montreal’s professional and educational circus centre Tohu.

(theatre & dance) J.M. Coetzee’s Nobel Prize-winning book questioning how we measure civilized behaviour is writ large on stage in Waiting for the Barbarians, based on the, at the Segal Centre, to February 17. Centaur Theatre delves into the true story of murder in 1950s rural Ontario in Innocence Lost, to February 24. Huge, colourful, theatrical Indian dance show Bharati – The Wonder that is India wows to February 17 at Place des Arts. Learn a few moves yourself at the Bal Du Dimanche Samba Brésilienne on February 17, 2 p.m. at Place des Arts. As part of Montreal Black History Month, activist-writer Aphra Behn’s play Oroonoko is at the MAI to February 17 – and American Black civil rights activist Angela Davis takes the stage for a discussion at L’Astral on February 18.

(hot live music) Friday night is right with the electro-indie-pop of Passion Pit, with high-energy opening act Matt & Kim at Metropolis, or sit back and let the romantic vibes of Josh Ritter & The Royal City Band wash over you at Cabaret Mile End, or check out the very talented and charming Katie Moore and Aroara at Casa del Popolo. Also on February 15, the Imani Gospel Choir sings songs inspired by civil rights movements in the USA, part of Montreal Black History Month. On February 16, California-based producer-songwriter Toro Y Moi shares his unique musical style at Club Soda and legendary Detroit DJ Dez spins at the PHI Centre. Latin-Grammy-award nominated soulful singer Prince Royce rolls into Metropolis on February 17. California pop band Maroon5 bring their disturbingly catchy tunes to the Bell Centre on February 20. The Montreal New Music International Festival opens February 21 with the Ensemble de la SMCQ paying homage to Claude Vivier, and runs until March 3. And February 21 also brings the fine and dandy Indigo Girls to the Corona Theatre and hip and inventive Slim Twig and U.S Girls to Casa del Popolo.

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Molecular cuisine at Pullman: Chef Alejandro Digillo of La Vinería de Gualterio Bolívar in Buenos Aires has worked with the godfather of cutting-edge contemporary cuisine Ferran Adria. Chef Digillo has received several honours for his trendy yet unpretentious local and seasonal cuisine that focuses on applying new techniques in the kitchen. Expect some showmanship and a little bit of the theatrical when he takes over the Pullman kitchen during this year’s fest. February 26-27, 2013, Pullman, 3424 Parc, (514) 288-7779

Lunch around the world: What better way to spend your lunch hour then to travel around the world in search of exotic flavours? From February 25 to March 1, take your taste buds – and your coworkers – on a whirlwind culinary trip. All 6 of these restaurants will be offering 3-course lunch menus for $14.95. Any of these spots would be wonderful but my personal favourites are Byblos and Rumi. February 25 to March 1, 2013, Various locations

Festival of Quebec cheeses: This free activity is a must for all cheese lovers. It’s a great opportunity to discover more than 60 Quebec-made cheeses and meet some of the cheesemakers who will all be gathered at Complexe Desjardins for a 4-day cheese extravaganza. Quebec cheeses have come a long way in the past 20 years and they now rival some of the best imported cheeses. Go on the hunt for your new favourite cheese, learn how to distinguish regional qualities and discover everything you always wanted to know about the intricate process of cheese making from the masters themselves. February 20-23, 2013, Complexe Desjardins, 150 Sainte-Catherine West, (514) 281-1870

Sweet Sucre at Auberge Saint-Gabriel: Sucre is one of the hottest restaurants in Buenos Aires right now and we are lucky to have its chef Hugo Macchia at Montreal en lumière this year. Chef Macchia has worked in some of the world’s best kitchens, including 3-Michelin starred Mugaritz in Spain. He will be a guest chef at Auberge Saint Gabriel where he should be in his element thanks to the similarities between his native and adoptive restaurants, mainly the large cellar and roaster set in a welcoming, hip ambiance. February 21-22, 2013, Auberge Le Saint-Gabriel, 426 Saint-Gabriel, (514) 878-3561

Saguenay-Lac-Saint-Jean at the Jean-Talon Market: The Jean-Talon market mezzanine will play host to a makeshift bazaar that will welcome 12 producers and food processors from the Saguenay-Lac-Saint-Jean region. Discover these welcoming producers, exchange recipes and ideas and discuss their unique products, from dairy products and meats to spices, preserves, jams and regional specialties. February 23-24, 2013, Jean-Talon Market (Mezzanine level, 2^nd floor), 7070 Henri-Julien, (514) 277-1588

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“Oh, definitely,” enthuses Natalie Émond, vice-president of marketing for Pêche Blanche Ice Fishing Village. “Weekends are quite busy, and we recommend that people make reservations in advance. On a busy weekend day we might have as many as 400 people here.”

It’s a simple matter of location, location, location. Which in this case is the Clock Tower Basin in the historic Old Port, a ten-minute walk from Old Montreal’s Champ de Mars metro station. The proximity is not lost on Pêche Blanche’s rapidly expanding patronage.

“We see real fishermen, the ones who come at 7:30 a.m. and stay all day, but they’re not the norm,” says Émond. “It’s mostly families and tourists, people who would normally take their car and drive an hour and a half in order to go ice fishing.”

“People are mostly fishing perch and walleye, and we had a pike come out last Saturday, which was the first of the season. And a lot of burbot as well.” Er, burbot? “It’s not a very nice looking fish, but apparently it’s very good.”

But can you eat ’em? The answer is yes. And no. While there are several species of fish that are only catch and release – sturgeon, muskellunge and catfish primarily – there are numerous others, including perch, walleye, pike and the aforementioned inglorious burbot, that are yours for the keeping. And to answer the bigger question, yes, they are safe to eat.

“The fish are definitely edible,” says Émond. “[Journalists from] La Presse came and caught a few fish and brought them back to the Université de Montréal to have them analyzed and the mercury in the fish was way, way under the government norms for edibility.”

The Ice Fishing Village is open every day until 8 pm, Sunday to Wednesday, and until 11 pm Thursday to Saturday. And for the nervous among us, have no fear. “The ice is 23-inches thick at the thinnest,” reassures Émond. So no need to worry about taking an impromptu winter swim in the boat basin? “Absolutely not!”

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THE DETAILS

Pêche Blanche Ice Fishing Village, Clock Tower Quay, (514) 284-3456

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Musically, Montréal en Lumière spans genres and the globe, from classic American rock band The Zombies (yes!) to crowd favourite Diana Krall to a whole series of shows inspired by this year’s guest city, Buenos Aires, Argentina, including tango grandmaster Daniel Piazzolla and his sextet Escalandrum and award-winning tango dancers and musicians at the La Pista Tango show at Place des Arts.

Acclaimed pianist Alain Lefèvre returns to Montreal to play his own compositions, soprano Marie-Josée Lord sings a selection of Spanish, Latin and Portuguese songs, blues, folk and gospel is in store with Eric Bibb and Habib Koité, and on February 22, it’s time to party with Montreal ska-funk band The Planet Smashers. Meanwhile, on the more eclectic rock-folk end of things, there’s Pierre Lapointe, -M-, Karim Ouellet, Colin Moore, Thus: Owls, and more, as well as classical, jazz and gospel shows lighting up evenings throughout the festival.

For drama, intrigue and wonder look to Montréal en Lumière’s theatre, dance and circus shows: Trad follows the story of an Irish centenarian and his father as they traverse the Irish countryside in search of their remaining family; The Humanity Project’s 50-person-strong Pigeons International poetically blends theatre and dance; multimedia performance-installation The Speaking Tent tells stories of urban life and traditional ways.

Agora de la Danse joins in with new contemporary dance performances from Harold Rhéaume and José Navas; the Festival Mondial du Cirque de Demain flies high with some of the best acrobats and circus artists in the world; Magnitude6, full_range blows electronic-music-loving minds with arrangements by Brandt Brauer Frick; and a series of old-school cabaret dinner-and-dancing shows unwinds at Le Balcon.

Along with all that music and on-stage spectacle is plenty of free entertainment. The festival’s family-friendly outdoor site at Quartiers des Spectacles around Place des Arts will feature a disco-inspired ice slide (totally worth the wait in line), interactive projections on the area’s buildings, music,  and much more. All this activity culminates in Nuit Blanche on March 2, a thousands-strong public event that spans the city’s galleries, theatres, underground corridors and outdoor stages – and goes on late, late into the night.

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THE DETAILS

Montréal en Lumière, February 21 to March 3, 2013

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1) THE WARM-UP

• Flowers: Even if you live together, have them sent to her so that she receives them in public. It’s that five minutes of jealously from on-lookers that will rack you up points for years. Pourquoi Pas does elegant minimalist bouquets. They offer normal, deluxe and super deluxe options for their bouquets. Three words for you: Go. All. Out.

• Lingerie: If you know her well, i.e. you actually know the size of her skivvies, add some lacy undergarments from Lyla (uptown) or Collange at Ogilvy’s (downtown). It’s the gift that keeps giving.

2) THE DINNER

Romance must be high: candles, table for two, a fireplace is a huge bonus. Some choice restos that offer special menus for your tête-à-tête are:

• XO at Hotel St-James: Pimped out in Parisian style décor, enjoy the five-course tasting meal with a comp cocktail. Splurge on the wine-pairing menu and ask for a nook in one of the circular alcoves.

• Auberge St-Gabriel: Let your love bask in cosy Old World ambience of stone walls, wooden beams and fireplace. The design is, however, a contemporary interpretation by Bruno Braun, local style-meister. Star chef Eric Gonzales will not disappoint.

• Toque!: This posh spot says, “I love you” on a silver platter.

3) THE DESSERT (wink wink): Even if you live in Montreal, splurge on chic hotel. A couple spots to consider for your cocoon getaway are Place d’Armes and Ritz Carlton. Or why not the “Only You” package at swish Hotel St-Paul?  The amorous package gives you a room, Veuve Clicquot, a Serrano ham and candied-fruit plate, and yes, rose petals and candles. Call them 10 minutes before you arrive and they’ll light the wicks for you! Fast forward to the next day (this is a public site), you’ll get a deluxe continental breakfast (in bed, if you like) and then a late 3 p.m. checkout – just in case anything happens after those croissants.

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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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