Entertainment in Canada
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Cluny Artbar
Tucked into the loft-like Fonderie Darling gallery is this charmingly hip café that serves breakfast, lunch and coffee to an artsy-chic, bilingual, Old Montréal clientele. It’s open later Thursdays for dinner and drinks, and can be rented for private parties, but Cluny’s is really a daytime scene. It doesn’t get more Montréal than this.
reviewed
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B
Station C
Alternative plays, circus and art exhibitions are held in this Village post-industrial space with living-room furniture. Some events have a gay flavor (this being the Village after all) but the artistic objective is much broader. It's worth a visit if only for the nonsensical whizz-bang machines by Florent Veilleux, a permanent exhibit.
reviewed
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C
Le Social
Inside a converted 19th-century mansion, Le Social is fun spot to while away the night among its three floors. Chandeliers, stained-glass windows and wild locally crafted artwork all add to the eclectic ambience. The crowd is hit-or-miss, depending on the night, with DJs spinning old-school funk, house, electropunk or straight-up rock.
reviewed
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D
Yellow Door
This earthy university-hangout coffeehouse claims to be Canada’s oldest, having given refuge to US draft dodgers in the ‘60s. The program is English-language folk and blues acts, poetry and literature readings, but the schedule is erratic; call for upcoming events. There’s no alcohol license and smoking is taboo.
reviewed
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E
L’opera de Montréal
Holds lavish stage productions that feature big names from Québec and around the world. The specialty is classics such as Mefistofele, Aïda and Carmen; translations (French or English) are run on a video screen above the stage. Tickets cost around $50 to $125 during the week and slightly more on Saturday.
reviewed
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F
Brutopia
This fantastic brewpub has eight varieties of suds on tap, including honey beer, nut brown and the more challenging raspberry blonde. The brick walls and wood paneling are conducive to chats among the relaxed student crowd. Live blues bands play some evenings. It really picks up after the night classes from nearby Concordia get out.
reviewed
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G
Metropolis
Housed in a former art-deco cinema, this beautiful old space (capacity 2300) features live bands and hip touring concerts, and is one of our favorite venues to see a rock show. It’s sometimes used as a party or rave venue with DJs and dancing. Buy tickets at the box office (1413 Rue St-Dominique) around the corner.
reviewed
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H
Delany's
A laid-back, wood-lined neighborhood coffee bar that's popular with the West End's gay community, Delany's is a good perch from which to catch the annual Pride Parade, although you'll have to get here early if you want a front-row seat. The usual array of cookies and muffins will keep you fortified while you wait.
reviewed
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I
Monument-National
Shows here run the gamut from Oscar Wilde to Sam Shepard with everything from acting, directing and technical production performed by graduating students of the National Theatre School. There are two halls, one with 800 seats, the other with 150. The smaller theater stages about three original works a year by student playwrights.
reviewed
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Théâtre Ste-Catherine
From improv to theater, stand-up comedy to music concerts, this relatively new venue presents a variety of shows: Oscar Wilde one night, burlesque dance the next. Its Sunday Night Improv (sketch and comedy) performances are quite popular with the city’s theatrical community. Admission for the improv is $7, $5 for students.
reviewed
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Le Nouveau Cinéma du Parc
Located in the lower level of La Cité mall complex, Montréal’s English-language repertory cinema is a tried-and-true favorite of Plateau cinephiles. It shows cult classics as well as cool new releases and lots of foreign films. Despite the shabby decor, its charm and authenticity add to the cinematic experience.
reviewed
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K
The Wheel
Hosted by bluegrass star Bob Fuller, Hillbilly Night has been going strong for more than 40 years. Monday nights, this members-only NDG dart club is open to anyone hankering for some old-time bluegrass, cowboy and fiddle music. Montréal isn’t exactly a cowboy capital, but local heroes are full of smiles and authenticity. Yeehaw!
reviewed
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L
Exit 22
North Van's Cap Uni is home to this well-established theater company, affiliated with its drama department, which performs at a smashing 372-seat performance space. Its season – often featuring comedies, classics and contemporary works – runs from October to March, with the theater used by touring musicians the rest of the time.
reviewed
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M
Stanley Theatre
Musicals, international classics and works by contemporary Canadian playwrights are part of the mix at this leading theater company. If you’re curious about West Coast theatrics, look out for plays by Morris Panych, BC’s favorite playwright son. The refurbished Stanley Theatre is one of its two performance spaces.
reviewed
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N
Grossman's Tavern
Inside this grubby 1940s tavern near Kensington Market, the emphasis is on singin' the blues, but acoustic rock and folk acts also get a look-in. There's music nightly – the Sunday-night jam session has been raising the roof for decades. Incidentally, Dan Akroyd worked up his routine for The Blues Brothers here.
reviewed
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O
Allen's
Saloon-style Allen's has daunting beer, wine and whiskey lists, with over 200 single-malt scotches and 100% Canadian vino. The vibe strays into Celtic territory a little too much, but at least it's authentic – Irish staff, Irish musicians and Irish cooks who make the best sweet-potato fries you'll ever have in your life.
reviewed
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P
Casa del Popolo
One of Montréal’s cutest live venues, this place is also known for its vegetarian platters, its talented DJs, and as an exhibition space for showing art-house films and spoken-word performances. It’s associated with the tapas bar La Sala Rosa and concert venue La Sala Rossa.
reviewed
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Q
Usine C
This former jam factory in the Village is home to the award-winning Carbone 14 theatrical dance troupe that performs here regularly. Its two flexible halls (450 and 150 seats) can be rejigged to accommodate circuses or raves. To bump into its talented performers, head for the cozy basement café next to the changing rooms.
reviewed
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Casino de Mont-Tremblant
Another government-run luxury casino is just a dice-roll away from the city in the posh Laurentian resort town of Mont-Tremblant. With 400 slot machines, baccarat, poker, roulette, blackjack and craps, the new casino (opened in 2009) provides glitz and glamour in a stunning country setting. It’s located on the mountain.
reviewed
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Théâtre Outremont
Built in 1929, this theater was both a repertory cinema and a major concert hall until it was shuttered in the late 1980s. The municipality of Outremont later brought it back to life and the theater was reopened in 2001. Now, everything from pop concerts and dance performances to Monday-evening film screenings take place here.
reviewed
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Aria
This old Latin Quarter movie theater is now a refuge for sleepless party-goers, boasting three very individual floors and some of the ablest DJs in the industry including Christian Pronovost, Fred Everything and Yaz. The crowd is mixed straight, gay, and fashion victim, and exhibitions are held in the same very chilled space.
reviewed
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Black Bull
The Black Bull may have Toronto's most desirous pub patio. Though it lacks the charm of more intimate spaces, it's in an open downtown location that manages to catch more evening sunlight than perhaps anywhere else in the city center. Line up behind the others to wait for a table, and don't give it up until the sun goes down.
reviewed
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Ye Olde Orchard Pub & Grill
A Celtic pub in the middle of the Plateau, who knew? Yes, the third Montréal location of this popular chain is a lucky charm for its diverse clientele. Beers on tap, good food, waiters in kilts, live music, sports broadcast on TV, poker tournaments and other fun events keep this place rollicking from afternoon to night.
reviewed
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V
Pumpjack Pub
Glancing through the open window as you walk past here on a summer night tells you all you need to know about this popular gay pub: it's a great place to meet leather-clad, often hairy locals ever-ready to meet a new friend in town for a quick visit. Expect queues here on weekends as the local bears vie for a pick up or two.
reviewed
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W
Les Folies
A cross between a bar, café and club, the oh-so-chic Folies has a DJ every night spinning trendy music and, much more importantly, the only sidewalk terrace on Ave du Mont-Royal. Too-thin models and creative types breeze in for a quick Zen sandwich or a Buddha salad with mineral water before evaporating into the night.
reviewed