Snow be blowin', and it's at least -20°C with the wind chill outside. Your bank account's depleted after the holidays and pocket beers during a lacklustre NYE celebration, and maybe your next paycheque's mostly devoted to bills.

But these aren't the bleak times.

Nope: These are the times that make more Montrealers than they break. That's why this weekend is full of pay-what-you-can dance parties, great food on the cheap, and stories meant to get you out of the house.

After all, you just spent the last couple of weeks staying indoors because everything was closed. Now's not the time for hibernating, and if you don't believe us, take a look at everything's that's happening this weekend in Montreal.

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

Thursday

🎟️ Agnès Varda’s Nouvelle Vague masterpiece, Cléo de 5 à 7, explores themes of anxiety and self-discovery in French with English subtitles at Cinéma du Musée.

🎷 Live hip-hop and soul, dance, DJs, and an open jam session come together at Le Cypher X at O Patro Vys, featuring top musicians and vocalists.

Friday

🤩 Celebrate 25 years of CJLO 1690AM at La Sala Rossa with indie-rock icons Land of Talk, local openers Bodywash and Dresser, DJ sets from No Joy and Flat Cola Collective, and host Eve Parker Finley.

🪩 Disco vibes light up the weekend at Francesco's Discotheca with Andrew Pololos, Alcky, and BabyDJ on Friday, followed by Kosta Tzikas all night on Saturday.

🎥 Sisyphe offers a profound perspective on his performance inspired by Albert Camus’ The Myth of Sisyphus—moving 300 tons of sand as a cathartic exploration of tragedy and resilience—at Cinémathèque québécoise.

⛸️ Skate and dance as the Old Port transforms into a vibrant dance floor with a new DJ each night. Highlights include Canicule Tropicale this Friday.

Saturday

🤘 Turbo Haüs hosts a punk lineup with Southern Ontario’s Bad Egg, plus Montreal’s White Knuckle, Gleba, and Los Bozos for a night of intense music.

🎸 A high-energy punk show featuring Gutser, One Trillion Bees, and the campy folk-pop of Blood Farts at Bâtiment 7. $15-$20 PWYC, all ages welcome.

⚔️ Howard Shore’s Academy Award-winning Lord of the Rings score is performed live by the FILMharmonic Orchestra's 250+ musicians and choir.

🎶 Groove with Vinyle Action Plus at Bar Le Record, where the team spins 100% vinyl tracks to get you moving. Free entry, great vibes, 18+ only.

Sunday

👨‍💻 It's the final weekend to experience Coded Dreams at the PHI Centre, an immersive exhibition that invites you to explore the boundaries of AI.

😂 Jerry Seinfeld and Jim Gaffigan bring their multicity arena tour to Montréal’s Centre Bell, promising a night of top-tier comedy and endless laughs.

🧧 Celebrating the Lunar New Year with the Feng Hua Xue Yue 2025 - Chinese New Year Gala, with performances of dance, ballet, classical singing, and more.

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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.

Pizza Toni now opened its new Saint-Henri location: It's got the same excellent New York-style pizza, but this time, it's in a more spacious dining room.

The Mile End's got a new café to check out: FAMÉ, a new gem serving Italian experiences. Influencers are all about their Caffè Zabaione.

Ernesto’s from New York takes over Beba for one night only on Jan 14, serving Basque-inspired dishes like pintxos, tortilla de patatas, and Garbure Basquaise alongside exclusive cocktails and pairings.

Derek Dammann collaborates with La Franquette on January 12 for a five-course Winter Feast—$75 per person; reservations on OpenTable.

A special Sunday event at Bar Vinvinvin in collaboration with winemaker Wein Goutte is coming on January 12—limited spots available, you'll need tickets.

Griffintown's Perles et Paddock is closing. Guests have until January 12 to take in its swanky interior and equally swanky food and drink.

Every night starting at 8pm, you can get a glass of wine and a bowl of spaghetti at Le Petit Italien for just $25 (and kids eat for $10 on Mondays).

Star Bar Bingo is now on Sundays at 8pm to support families in Lebanon—prizes include pizza, drinks, and more; cards are $5 each or 3 for $10 (cash only).

Buboy’s Filipino brunch is back in 2025, an all-you-can-eat feast on Jan 11 and 19—reserve your spot now before seats fill up.

Step behind the curtain at Kabinet this January, where live performances from artists like Juju Le Moko and Ramzilla weave enchanting rhythms from 8-11pm.

Enjoy live jazz every Monday at Barbossa’s Red Room with $10 martinis all night—don’t miss the Mat Jon Trio featuring Nick Cavoli on January 13.

Enjoy a one-night-only Malaysian à la carte menu by Rining Clement at the Italian newcomer Bona Fida on January 19—reserve now as spots are limited!

Start 2025 with free & healthy groceries 🛒

As a reader of The Main, you’re eligible for a free $40+ grocery basket! All you need to cover is a $6 delivery fee.

How? We’ve partnered with Lufa Farms to bring fresh, sustainable groceries directly to your door. Bonus: Your first basket will have everything you need to make an awesome BLT with a side salad.

Don’t miss out—baskets are available while supplies last.

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

Rotisserie chicken in Quebec never looked this sexy. The team behind the nationally lauded restaurant Mon Lapin has opened their own project devoted to it. Read more.

Here's your monthly planner for January with things to do throughout this frosty month. Spoiler: There's more than you might think. Read more.

It's that time of year: Everyone's reflecting about the state of their lives, and thinking about self-improvement, including hitting the gym. These are the best ones: Read more.

Milan comes to the Mile End with the arrival of Birbante, a new restaurant from the brothers behind the famed restaurant La Panzeria. Read more.

Tabarnak. Julien Poulin, a prominent Canadian actor best known for his role as Elvis Gratton, passed away at 78. Read more.

New developments for Verdun are coming with the construction of 500 housing units as part of the "Quartier Atwater-Habitats locatifs project". Read more.

High-end vintage is "all the rage" in Montreal right now, with consumers preferring clothes that were made better and built to last. Read more.

The Lachine Canal is turning 200 years old this year. Here's a look at its transformation from an important industrial artery to a symbol of gentrification: Read more.

Has the metro changed much since it opened? Sure has, but it's not without growing pains. Here's a look at the last 25 years of metro growth. Read more.

The pinball medics you'd find tucked away on Girouard on NDG will be opening up a museum to display relics of the past. Read more.

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And that wraps yet another weekly bulletin. We’ll be back with more curiosities, local stories, and events to discover next week.

If ever you catch something we should know, don't hesitate to reach out to us on Instagram.

👋 Masthead: Philip Tabah, Founder & Head of Creative / Jean-Philippe Lauzon, Co-Founder & Head of Tech / Daniel Bromberg, Co-Founder & Head of Operations / JP Karwacki, Managing Editor / Amber Spector, Social Media Manager