The Bulletin: Montreal's Year of the Dragon 🐉 [Issue #63]

The Bulletin is a collection of what's happened, what’s happening, and what’s to come in and around Montreal.

The Main

February 8, 2024- Read time: 8 min

Taken with a Fuji X10 during Chinese New Year celebrations in Montreal's Chinatown. | Photograph: Gerry Lauzon / Flickr

This Saturday (February 10th) will mark the Chinese New Year, the Year of the Dragon, and the beginning of more than two weeks of festivities, customs and plenty of feasts. 2024 is forecasted to be a year of power, nobility, honor, luck, and success, bringing about opportunities, changes, and challenges.

Not sure if you know, but each time it's one of the zodiacs' turns in their 12-year cycle, their elements change too, going through wood, fire, earth, metal and water. This year is the wood dragon, a return to the natural state of being in the Daoist tradition, which—in the dragon’s case—points to a return to kindness.

Now, whether or not you're one for horoscopes, zodiacs, and feeling as though your life is in some way influenced by the clockwork of the universe, it's nice to take this away from all of this information we just dumptrucked on you:

Reaching our potential, achieving prosperity, and resolving major conflicts can all be possible if we focus on empathy. Suspend your ego, be reflective, be introspective—behave in accordance with generosity and selflessness.

Head-Cha-La?? A Closer Look at Dragon Ball Z's Theme Song ... — Anyway horoscope over newsletter starts now let's gooooooooooooo

Activities, parties, points of interest, art exhibitions, you name it: These are the weekend events you don't want to miss.

Thursday

Running from February 8 to 10, the independent music festival Taverne Tour is bringing more than 80 bands to 25 venues across the Plateau.
It's the final weekend of Igloofest's outdoor electronic dance parties, ending on February 10th, but not before The Blaze, Oden & Fatso, and Leef play it out.
Bach's masterpiece, the "Goldberg Variations", will be performed by a string trio at the historic Chapelle-Notre-Dame-du-Bonsecours.

Friday

Grumpy's is going to be hosting Jono Townsend on Friday, as well as the slappin' good time of John y Slapper the following night if you can't catch that.
Bar Le Ritz PDB is hosting the 4th volume of an alternative & indie sleaze dance party, taking you back to 2008 for a decadent explosion of rock, indie, glam, punk and synthpop.

Saturday

Local artist Eve Parker Finley will be playing new ethereal pieces from her second album, In The End, on February 10 at the PHI Center.
The Orchestre de Jeux Vidéo is playing music from some of the most iconic music of Nintendo's first gaming consoles at Salle Marguerite-Bourgeoys.
Speaking of video games, excuse our nostalgia, but we're kind of into the idea of a Super Smash Bros. N64 tournament over at Arcade MTL.

(Superbowl LVIII!) Sunday

Montreal's Chinatown will most a Lunar New Year Dragon & Lion Dance Parade at 11:30am at Sun-Yat-sen Park (corner of De la Gauchetière & Clark).
Bar Social in Verdun is hosting a Super Bowl LVIII watch party with beer, cocktails and $1 chicken wings.
New City Gas is hosting the big game on its 50-foot 6K LED screen with multiple 65-inch 4K TVs positioned around the room for maximum coverage.
Double's Late Night's hosting a Super Bowl buffet for $75 that includes food and service (drinks'll cost extra). "Satisfaction guaranteed."
McKiernan's doing parkerhouse prime rib sliders and a bunch of other delicious wonders as part of their Superbowl Sunday Rôtisserie Party Packs.
Taverne Atlantic is going to be hosting a Super Bowl party of their own.
Annette bar à vin is, somewhat unexpectedly, ALSO hosting a Super Bowl party, so get on that if you want to enjoy slick vintages with expertly crafted eats.

Döner Istanbul has large plates, heaped generously with chicken or beef doner, salad, rice, and potatoes in Montreal's Little Maghreb. Scroll down to read the full story. | Photograph: Rachel Holly Cheng / @rachelhollycheng

WHAT TO EAT & DRINK IN AND AROUND MONTREAL

Scope the latest restaurant openings, recommendations on where to eat, plus new menus, old classics, and everything in between.

More planning ahead for Valentine's Day

Les Street Monkeys will be open from February 14 to 17 for Valentine's Day with a sharing menu at $60 per person—peep the menu here.
Speaking of Les Street Monkeys: Their soup'n'sandwich slinging spot Ketiw is doing Valen-thai Day menus on February 13 for $85 a head.
Off the beaten track in Laval, we know, but Oregon Bar à Vin is hosting their own Valentine's Day celebration with supremely cheesy (but lovable!) undertones.
Go celebrate Valentine’s Day with Bistro La Franquette with a 5-course menu for $85
Feast on specialties inspired by the SWANA region at HENI, featuring a 5-course tasting menu, including dessert for $80.
For Valentine's Day, the caviar bump specialists over at Kabinet have concocted a 4-course menu for $69 for one evening only.

And more (potentially) romantic options

Cuisine Libre! and chef and partner of Dobe & Andy, Webster Galman, are hosting a 9ish-course menu this Saturday and Sunday.
On February 12 at Saint-Henri's new spot SAVSAV, Ceci n'est pas un salon will be presenting wins from the four corners of Quebec.
Dive into handmade Filipino-infused pasta on February 11 with Buboy—spots are all gone at the moment, but you might be able to sneak in the night of.
There's talk on the streets that you shouldn't be sleeping on Chez Jean Paul, an artful ode to French cuisine in a new restaurant near-ish to Jean-Talon Station.
The space below Place Ville Marie's swanky skyscraper restaurant Hiatus has been formally titled Sora 45, a sushi-forward spot.
Bonheur d'Occasion is celebrating the Lunar New Year on February 10 and 11 with a special menu for 2 at $120.

Here, you'll find a weekly round-up of the latest local news, from entertainment to current affairs and more.

The faces and places of Montreal's Little Maghreb

In 2008, the stretch of Jean-Talon between Saint-Michel and Pie-IX was officially recognized as Petit Maghreb, or Little Maghreb, the Arab term for west, encompassing Arab and Berber communities across northwestern Africa. These are just some of the people who make it what it is today. (The Main)

'Cause if you liked it, then you should have put a roof on it

“Let’s talk about why the government’s creating artificial urgency to spend $870-million on a roof for a stadium that functioned without one for 10 years," writes Taylor C. Noakes. Yes, let's. (Cult MTL)

Our very own Billy Bishop

Montreal's Saint-Hubert Airport has adopted the name of the MET, or the "Montréal Metropolitan Airport”, which includes a terminal being built by Porter Airlines—a project for summer 2025 worth more than 200 million. (La Presse)

Bit of a kick in the teeth, innit

Montreal’s director of economic development has quit after 16 months in the post while the city grapples with a housing crisis “in order to take on new challenges”. Some are saying the departure, however, is disquieting. (Montreal Gazette)

Hitting the street to keep your deets

The discontent towards Bill 31 was felt this past weekend when hundreds demonstrators denounced the proposed legislation that would put an end to lease transfers, at least in their current form. Many see the practice as a main tool to limit rent increases. (Radio-Canada)

Where to find everything and nothing

We love a good piece highlighting the Saint-Michel Flea Market, which brings together around a hundred kiosks spread over two floors. The JdM thought it worth time highlighting the decorations you can find there. (Journal de Montréal)

0203 CASA Deuxième vie — Photograph: Natalie Sicard

We are more than a collection of objects

"We must look at cities as a whole and not just by its elements. It is not a collection of objects or postage stamps," Phyllis Lambert told the CBC. Here, the Héritage Montréal founder's life and impact on the city is revisited. (Radio-Canada)

Perseverance towards belonging

Tracing Mariana Martin's path from New York's International Culinary Center to Mexico City before coming to Montreal, this is the story of how the local gem Carlota Boulangerie Mexicaine was created from scratch. (Noovo)

"The city’s newest architectural landmark"

The Port of Montréal Tower is part of a larger urban renewal project which has transformed the city’s formerly industrial Grand Quai into a vibrant new public space that's been winning hearts, minds, and awards. (Azure Magazine)