Entertainment in Canada
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A
Le St-Sulpice
This student evergreen is spread over four levels in an old Victorian stone house – a café, several terraces, disco and a sprawling back garden for drinks ‘n’ chats. The music changes with the DJ’s mood, from hip-hop and ambient to mainstream rock and jazz. It use recyclable glasses and also sells alcohol-free beer.
reviewed
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B
Lennox Pub
This narrow Granville St drinkery never seems to have enough tables to go around at the weekend, when the noise levels prevent all but the most rudimentary of conversations. It's a different story during the week, when calm is restored and you can savor a good roster of 15 drafts from Belgium and beyond – try the Leffe or Big Rock Grasshopper. The decor is reproduction old-school and the upstairs seating area is a popular couples' nook.
reviewed
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C
Bily Kun
One of the pioneers of ‘tavern chic, ’ Bily Kun is a favorite local hangout for a chilled DJ-spun evening. First-time visitors usually gawk at the ostrich heads that overlook the bar but soon settle into the music groove of DJs and sometimes bands. Upstairs, O Patro Vys is a performing-arts hall that features anything from electronic installations to Patagonian song and Haïku art.
reviewed
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D
Montréal Canadiens
The Canadiens of the National Hockey League have won the Stanley Cup 24 times. Although the team has struggled in recent years, Montrealers have a soft spot for the ‘Habs’ and matches at the Bell Centre sell out routinely. Scalpers hang around the entrance on game days, and you might snag a half-price ticket after the puck drops. Bring your binoculars for the rafter seats. The center also hosts big-name concerts, boxing matches, Disney on Ice and visits by the Dalai Lama.
reviewed
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E
Cambie
While this increasingly gentrified area still has plenty of dodgy dive bars that are best avoided, the Cambie is a local legend that most Vancouverites love, even if they haven't been here for years. Summer nights on the raucous patio are grungy fun, but perching at a sticky bench table inside with the boozy-but-friendly regulars is a blast. You'll be treated to some of the cheapest suds – go for a Cambie Pale Ale – in town plus a $7.50 burger and beer deal that's seriously good value.
reviewed
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F
Sticky Wicket
This cavernous complex is the place to head if you want a noisy night out with the locals. The Wicket's main bar serves popular (if slightly pricey) Irish beers, while its menu serves up heaping plates of pub grub, ranging from burgers all the way to chicken strips. Live sports are pumped through the TVs and there's a poolroom upstairs. The highlight bar is Big Bad John's, a tiny hillbilly nook with tree stump tables and a carpet of peanut shells.
reviewed
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G
Charlatan
Reinventing the old Bukowski's bar, the charming Charlatan has quickly become a Drive favorite. In summer the windows are flung open and the tiny patio is crowded, while in winter it becomes a cozy joint to watch the game or just chat in a corner. The hearty food covers a wide array of comfort dishes, while the 20-strong draft beer selection runs the gamut from Strongbow to Sleemans. Food-wise, go with the pulled pork burger or brisket sandwich.
reviewed
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Toronto Raptors
During hockey season, the Toronto Raptors of the National Basketball Association (NBA) also play at the ACC. The 'Raps' have been around since 1995, but haven't yet caused much of a flap. Tickets through Ticketmaster or the ACC.
reviewed
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Steamworks Brewing Company
The signature beer at this giant, edge-of-Gastown microbrewery is Lions Gate Lager, which is a good summer tipple, but the Empress IPA is also worth a try. A favorite of the after-work crowd, the pub downstairs can get noisy, while upstairs is all about serene views across to the North Shore. The menu is packed with pub standards, but the pizzas and fish-and-chips are standouts. Drop by for the monthly Green Drinks social, where local chatty enviro-types flirt with each other over a few brews.
reviewed
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I
Flames Central
The place to be to catch a hockey game on the big screen. The huge interior of what used to be a cinema has been transformed into the sports bar to end all sports bars. With more TVs than an electronics shop, you'll definitely get a good view of the game, even when they're playing the Oilers. There is an on-site restaurant and it has concerts from time to time.
reviewed
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La Buvette Chez Simone
An artsy-chic crowd of (mostly) francophone bon vivants and professionals loves this cozy wine bar. The staff know their vino, and the extensive list is complemented by a gourmet tapas menu. Weekends, the place is jammed from 5-à-7 into the wee hours. Alone, you can comfortably park it on a barstool, though you probably won’t be solo for long.
reviewed
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K
Le Club Social
Another character-filled mecca literally a block away from Olimpico. Its terrace is equally sun-kissed, its coffee as flavorful, its ambience as lively. (Most patrons split their time between these two legendary establishments.) You’re apt to spot a rock star or two bicycling down Rue St-Viateur or ordering a cappuccino after rolling out of bed at noon.
reviewed
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Reservoir
We adore this low-key, friendly brasserie. It’s nice but not too pricey and the mixed crowd is artsy but unpretentious. If you appreciate good beer, the owners brew their own on the premises. A small kitchen prepares gourmet lunch, after-work snacks and weekend brunch. Come summertime, the 2nd-floor terrace overlooks the bustle of this busy corner.
reviewed
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M
Pub Ste-Élisabeth
Tucked off a side street, this awesome little pub is positively revered by Montrealers for its heavenly vine-covered courtyard and drink menu that includes beers galore, whiskies and ports. It’s got a mind-whirring repertoire of beers on tap, including imports and rare-to-find microbrewery fare like Boréale Noire and Cidre Mystique.
reviewed
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N
Place des Arts
Montréal’s spacious municipal center for the performing arts has excellent acoustics. There are five theaters: the biggest, the 3000-seat Salle Wilfrid-Pelletier, hosts the city’s symphony as well as ballet, opera and dance troupes. The eponymous square is the focal point of Montréal’s International Jazz Festival.
reviewed
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O
Amc Forum
This may seem like just another multi-theater monster cinema, but it’s worth keeping an eye on these 22 screens. They are likely to have the most recent locally produced indie smash, foreign hit or subtitled Québécois film hit, as well as Hollywood blockbusters.
reviewed
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Mado Cabaret
Mado is a flamboyant celebrity who writes a column in Fugues, the gay entertainment mag. Her cabaret is a local institution, with drag shows featuring an assortment of hilariously sarcastic performers in eye-popping costumes. Shows take place weekend and Tuesday nights.
reviewed
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Q
Else’s
A warm and welcoming neighborhood bar where, as the saying goes, everyone knows your name. Settle into one of the worn chairs for an order of nachos, a tasty microbrew and a big portion of chat in front of the ceiling-high windows. Late-night jazz is a joy on weekends.
reviewed
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Bookshelf
Part lefty bookstore, part cinema, part cafe, Bookshelf is the pacemaker of Guelph's cultural heartbeat. Swing by to read the paper, catch an art-house flick or have brunch in the Artisanale Café & Bistro (brunch mains $4 to $14, dinner $16 to $22).
reviewed
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R
Zaphod Beeblebrox
'Zaphod Beeblebrox' means 'kick-ass live music venue' in an otherwise undecipherable alien tongue. Grab a Gargleblaster cocktail, and let the trippy beats (from New Age to thumping African rhythms) take you on a ride to the edge of the universe.
reviewed
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Longhorn Saloon & Grill
Fanning out near the base of Whistler Mountain with a patio that threatens to take over the town, this local legend feels like it's been here since the first skier turned up. The pub food is nothing special but it's hard to beat the atmosphere on a hopping winter evening.
reviewed
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Belfry Theatre
The excellent Belfry Theatre is a showcase for contemporary, especially Canadian, plays and is one of the country's most respected independent theatre companies. It's housed in a converted 1890s Baptist church.
reviewed
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U
Sturgeon Hall
Fanatical fans of hockey's Kelowna Rockets feast on excellent burgers and thin-crust pizza while quaffing brews at the bar or outside at sidewalk tables. In season, every TV shows hockey.
reviewed
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The Broken Rack
The place to shoot some stick, with two levels and 18 pool tables covering the hardwood floors. Don't let the grotty mall deter you; it's a perfect place to hang out and watch the Roughriders game.
reviewed
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Savage Beagle
Those hovering around the 30-something mark will likely prefer Savage Beagle to Whistler's other nightclubs. It's on two levels, so you can have a sit down if you exert yourself too much.
reviewed