Now that we've stepped into the Year of the Snake, it’s now time to embrace the qualities this zodiac sign embodies—wisdom, intuition, and personal growth—as two weeks of events begin. Just like a snake shedding its skin, this year invites transformation and fresh starts. Here's what we found:

With 2025 being a Wood Snake year, expect a blend of creativity and adaptability, making it a great time for strategic career moves, deepening relationships, and personal evolution. Whether you were born in the Year of the Snake or just feeling the shift, this year promises opportunities to trust your instincts, embrace change, and grow.

As we shed the ego, let go of the past, let go of anger, and let go of love lost, let's look forward to the end of January and the beginning of the incoming month, and a great year ahead.

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

Thursday

🎷 Enjoy the inaugural jazz nights at Oorja, where live music, cocktails, and refined Hakka bites create its own blend of elegance and ambiance.

🎻 The Orchestre symphonique de Montréal teams up with a legendary Quebec metal band for a symphonic concert.

🏒 The Montreal Canadiens face off against the Minnesota Wild at the Bell Centre.

Friday

🔥 Artists Solar & Mozhgan bring California heat to the SAT dome, spinning house, techno, and electro alongside badgalquirit, with 360° visuals by Mostly Noise and Axel Helios.

👨‍🎤 The Dark Eighties returns to Montreal for a night of goth, post-punk, EBM, and darkwave at Cabaret Berlin, running from 10 PM to 3 AM.

❄️ Montreal’s Igloofest proves that snow and ice can’t stop the party, as thousands gather in Old Montreal to dance away the winter chill across two more weekends.

Saturday

🐉 Lion and dragon dances kick off the Year of the Snake with a parade at 11 a.m. starting at St-Laurent and René-Levesque, followed by traditional performances on Sunday.

🥁 Esc welcomes @crimewave_mtl for Bass Trap, a night of drum & bass, dubstep, and jungle featuring a stacked lineup of local heavyweights.

🎸 Turbo Haüs hosts an Oi! matinée with Over the Hill, Jail, Mortier, and Ain’t Right at 2 PM—$10 at the door.

🚀 MIMS x Férias: Space Jam brings artist to the 'Multi Culti Space Garage' for a night of deep cuts on a custom Dave Shaw sound system under a titanic disco ball—plus a record sale. 6 PM to midnight(-ish).

Sunday

🏛️ Seeing as it's the first Sunday of the month, a bunch of museums in the city will have free admission.

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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.

Celebrate Sushi Nishinokaze's grand opening on Feb 1st with a special breakfast collaboration featuring onigiri, Quebec barley miso soup, raw northern shrimp “shiokara,” coffee tasting, and dessert—$85 + service.

Ring in the Lunar New Year at Oncle Lee's new spot in Old Montreal, Kǎ0.

The Year of the Snake's being celebrated with two new pint releases—Mango & Coconut Sticky Rice (vegan) and Egg Tart ice cream—at select locations.

Marci celebrates its first anniversary on the plaza this Sunday with a five-course menu for two at $50 per person, accompanied by a musical lineup.

Chef Chase McGowan brings a Mohawk-inspired tasting menu to HENI on February 2, celebrating ancestral flavours and the Kahnawake community.

La Poutine Week is back from Feb 1 to 7, remixing and reinventing poutines in various Montreal restaurants.

Double’s and Au Pied de Cochon team up for an all-you-can-eat Super Bowl feast with foie gras poutine, truffle mac n’ cheese, whole roasted pig, and more—tickets drop Sunday at noon.

Vinvinvin swaps spaghetti for lasagna on Mondays, serving up a hearty plate with a glass of wine for $20—limited quantities, same cozy vibes. 🍷✨

The group behind Snowbird Tiki Bar and Spaghetti Western are opening a German-inspired beer hall on Plaza St-Hubert this summer—hope you like beer and giant pretzels.

June Buvette teams up with San Pellegrino on Feb 4 for a night of bouchon lyonnais cuisine, featuring a shared menu at $60pp + a signature cocktail.

Paul Delrez, Laurent Dagenais, and Jérémie Falissard team up on February 5 and 6 for a 4-course dining experience at Barroco.

Bowling Montreal’s biggest event of the year is here—join them for Super Bowl Sunday on Feb 9 with a tailgate party, DJ sets, all-you-can-eat food, and special drink prices.

& Valentine's Day is coming up:

Nolan and Haute Saison team up for a special five-course Valentine’s menu on February 14-15, featuring curated wine pairings in an intimate setting.

Les Street Monkeys celebrates Valentine’s Day with a curated sharing menu available from February 12 to 16 for $70 per person.

Verdun Beef’s Table du Boucher celebrates Valentine's Day with a 5-course menu for $80 that showcases house-made charcuterie, refined broths, aged meats, and local delicacies—wine pairings available for an additional $60.

Savour good company at Héritaj this Valentine’s Day with a menu blending Indian and French flavours in a warm, intimate setting.

Secure your spot for an intimate six-course Valentine’s pop-up at NDG Luncheonette, where Festum Avium crafts a menu designed for romance.

Brasserie Bernard invites you to celebrate love on February 14 & 15 with an elegant, thoughtfully prepared menu.

Celebrate Valentine’s Day at Péché with a one-night-only event featuring a 3-course menu designed for indulgence ($60/person), complete with a complimentary glass of bubbles to toast to love.

Secrets Cocktail Bar is set to reopen soon with a fresh theme, menus, and the perfect ambiance for your next date night—our guess is something Valentine's Day related?

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

A landmark of the Eastern Townships since 1969, this is the story of the classic casse-croûte Chez Ben La Bedaine, known for its poutine and 9m-tall neon sign. Read more.

Letting things live a life of beauty: The arrival of the 8-seat omakase experience Sushi Nishinokaze brings with untold levels of deep intent. Read more.

Looking ahead, this weekend marks the end of January and the start of February. Despite the cold, there's more to do than you think. Read more.

What happens when Montreal artist Pony gives you her favourite spots along Plaza St-Hubert, where her shop of emotional wonders is? Read more.

Also for Plaza St-Hubert fans, the Plaza Theatre has regained its splendour with a restored façade plus updated acoustic and visual systems. Read more.

Surviving a freezing night in downtown Montreal. As a new cold wave hits Montreal, the risk of an unhoused person losing their life increases. Read more.

Sometimes you don't want the "best" but you just want something good and reliable, especially when you plan on being downtown. Read more.

2-for-1! In strange language law news, newcomers will be expected to adhere to Quebec norms while a book club got cancelled over library requirements.

Normand Laprise, known for his contributions to Quebecois cusine, has had a tough time lately between closures and rare medical condition. Read more.

If you regret not buying Cherry Blossoms, La Presse put together a recipe so you can make 'em at home. Read more.

"When cows grazed in Jarry Park": One of Montreal's most important parks is celebrating its 100th year in 2025. Here's a look back at how it transformed over time. Read more.

Part of Duluth Avenue will be pedestrianized from February 28 to March 9 for the first time ever in winter with an open-air exhibition. Read more.

We're gonna call this... rent porn? As renters brace for record rent hikes in 2025, here's how much it cost to rent in 2000, 2005, 2010 and 2015. 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 / Daniel Bromberg, Co-Founder & Head of Operations / Jean-Philippe Lauzon, Co-Founder & Head of Tech / JP Karwacki, Managing Editor / Amber Spector, Social Media Manager