 "Luba Lounge" is gone, and we've been mourning the loss. The next step in our grieving process was to visit Vinyl, which has taken its place on Bleury St. just below Sherbrooke. After a Friday night film fest at Cinema du Parc we decided to check it out.
Read the rest of: "Vinyl Bar"» 
From May 31st until June 4th, Montrealers and those who find themselves at the 45th parallel will
be able to enjoy the annual jamboree of electronic music and "new technologies" called MUTEK.
This year, the only name I recognize on the program is that of Richie Hawtin (he plays outdoors in Parc
Jean-Drapeau on the 4th).
That either says something about the festival's inability to attract more headliners
or, more likely, it says something about how clueless I've become on the subject of electronic music.
Or, possibly, it says both.
Anyway, you now have less than a week to get to Montreal and catch the groove:
www.mutek.ca.

Whale watching in British Columbia was not what I
imagined. My reverie of Free Willy frolicking in the
sun was replaced by a freezing reality as we set off
from the harbor.
Read the rest of: "Whale Watching in British Columbia"» 
This very civilized hotel cannot escape from the wild
island on which it stands.
The Fairmont Empress, a landmark hotel in Victoria
B.C., stands beside the city's inner harbor. It is a
restored turn-of-the century hotel, complete with rose
gardens and a special lobby where high tea is served
every afternoon.
Read the rest of: "Fairmont Empress, Victoria, B.C."» 
Before going to Entry Island, I thought that the
Magdelene Islands were remote. Entry Island is 20 9
miles off the coast of the Magdelene Islands, which
are in turn many miles away from Prince Edward Island and
Nova Scotia.
You
might be a little vague on Canadian geography (as am
I), so allow me to explain more clearly: this place is
really far away
from wherever you are. (unless, dear reader, you are an Islander yourself).
Read the rest of: "Entry Island, Quebec - further off the beaten track"» 
One of my favorite words to learn in any language is butterfly - or papillon, flutur, smetterling, farfalla, mariposa.....the onomatopoeic list goes on. The names are as pretty as the butterflies are, so I was intrigued when I heard that one of the greenhouses at the Botanical Gardens in Montreal becomes home for thousands of butterflies during the early spring.
Read the rest of: "The Butterflies Are Back!"» Last night, Montreal played host to the third edition of "The White Night"
(La Nuit Blanche) - part of the yearly "Montreal En Lumière" festival program
during which a variety of nighttime cultural activities take place in the
city, often at reduced prices.
Just to give you an idea of the festivities, I'll tell you how my own "white"
night unfolded.
Read the rest of: "La Nuit Blanche in Montreal"»  I am happy to recommend this cosy, hip (but not slick) wine bar, which
despite being located in a place not conducive to any kind of nightlife
(with the lights of the Provigo supermarket intruding through the
large plate glass windows), offers quite something in other regards.
Read the rest of: "Pullman Bar"»
Canada  |