Gourmet Magazine

[jo]

I know it's not literature, but Gourmet has a special edition this month just about Montreal, my home town (ha, take that, Toronto!) This is just the 6th time they've devoted a whole issue to one city (Paris, Rome, San Francisco, New York and London were the others) and I couldn't agree more with their choice. Montreal is such an awesome city, great restaurants, shopping, hotels, so much to do & see (and did I mention the restaurants!). Check out the mag, it'll make you want to visit the best city in Canada (hahaha, Toronto!!)

JO (not biased at all, am I? )

[Christinko]

So Jo! If I were to do a long weekend in Montreal....what are the tourist must-sees & dos? Is it better to visit in winter or summer? I don't do or watch any sports in either season.

[jo]

Chris,

Summer, summer, summer! Now mind you, I am not a winter person at all, hate being cold and don't do any winter sports (guess I'm in the wrong country, geographically at least!). There might be reasons to visit when it's 20 below 0, but I don't know of any!

The Jazz Festival is on for 10 days late June/early July every year, about 500 free shows (and some pricy name acts as well), they build about 5 stages right in downtown Montreal and close off the streets, you can wander around and drink beer in plastic cups and hear some great music from about noon to 1 in the morning and also people watch to your heart's content. We go every year and never tire of it.

The Just for Laughs festival is on in August, lots of name acts in town, along with free shows outside on St Denis street (which is a great place in itself for shopping, drinking and dining) and the world's only Twin parade (exactly what it bills itself as, a parade of twins of all ages). Many established comics have been discovered at this festival over the years. Two of the series which are on every year are the Nasty Shows (hosted by Bobby Slaton, any one remember him from Mind of a Married Man) ~ these are nasty, vulgar, very funny shows which aim to slander every nationality, religion, gender and belief out there ~ and very ofter succeed. There's also the Italian series (Montreal has a very large Italian community) which pokes fun at the peculiar Canadian-Italian customs which anyone who has seen the movie Mambo Italiano would recognize.

Old Montreal is also a great place in the summer, lots of cobble stone streets, local artists selling their wares in little alleys off the main square, some of the best restautants in the city, lot of great little bars, Notre Dame Cathedral which will take your breath away, just a great place to hang around both day and night.
I also like Jean Talon market in the north end of the city (if you like food, which I adore!) Local farmers sell their produce in stalls over about a five block radius, surrounded by cheese shops, butchers, fresh fish stores, sushi makers, florists, and pastry shops. The market is adjacent to Little Italy, lots of expresso bars, bakeries, shops and resaurants.

There's lots more, just PM me if you want more info, don't want to monopolize the board with my braggery! (is that even a word?)

JO (who loves to talk about Montreal - could you tell?)

[Chicago Jake]

Summer is especially nice in Montreal when it falls on a weekend......Jake

[Christinko]

Jo! Thanks so much for all the good info--will definitely email when my possible trip becomes a reality trip! I appreciate all your notes!
Best,
Chris

[Cherbunny]

Thanks Jo.

I'll make sure and get that issue.