If you’re marking the occasion with someone special this weekend—whether it’s been a month or years—there’s no shortage of reservations and activities to lock in. And if you’re more of a last-minute planner, consider this week's edition of the Bulletin your inspiration. Pick and choose where you will.

Not feeling Valentine’s Day? No problem. The city’s got plenty of “anti-Valentine’s” options, from singles’ parties and speed dating to just treating the weekend like any other—filled with good food, culture, and a little leisure.

No pressure. Just enjoy yourselves. ❤️

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

Thursday

📽️ Jean-Marc Vallée: Mixtape at PHI Centre opens its free multimedia exhibition exploring the late filmmaker’s creative process through music.

🏛️ The Buone Nuove/Good News exhibition arrives at UQAM’s Centre de Design, showcasing the transformative contributions of women in architecture.

🎷 Le Cypher X brings Montreal’s premier live hip-hop and soul party to O Patro Vys, featuring a dynamic house band, freestyle jams, and an electrifying dancefloor.

🏒 The 4 Nations Face-Off tournament brings top players from Canada, Finland, Sweden, and the U.S. to the ice over one packed weekend and a free festival.

👀 Tommy Wiseau’s cult classic The Room returns to Cinema du Parc at 9:30 PM—experience the masterpiece of melodrama, betrayal, and inexplicable football tossing on the big screen.

Friday

😍 Go dance to PLAY R&B: Certified Lovers V.I.B.E., a Valentine’s night of slow jams and smooth vibes at Ausgang Plaza with sets from Waklexx, Laskway, Kidcrayola, and a special guest appearance from Kevin Dave.

🌲 Montréal Boréal continues until Feb 16, transforming Saint-Henri into a Nordic-inspired winter festival with outdoor activities, gourmet treats, and a cozy ambiance.

🖤 Celebrate a darkly romantic Valentine’s Day at Bar Le Ritz PDB with The Dark Eighties, featuring DJs Dimitri and Laszlo Arnoldi spinning goth, industrial, EBM, post-punk, and cult ’80s hits from 10 p.m. to 3 a.m.

😈 Check out Monsters Need Love Too on Valentine’s Day, as Cabaret Berlin and Bar Passeport team up for a night of alternative, EBM, goth, and dark electro with DJs, plus tarot readings and a themed photo session.

❤️ Teeny tiny reminder that we've got a list of romantic restaurants to book up right here for Valentine's Day.

🖼️ Discover Foil Gallery, a new one-of-a-kind café and art gallery in Montreal, showcasing finer objects in life from Monday to Friday from 7 AM to 7 PM.

Saturday

❄️ Explore immersive art, film, and music at the SAT’s Terrasse d’hiver, featuring Cyberdelia by Sabrina Ratté, happy hour specials, and a Dark Disco DJ set by Fat&Curious (Feb 13), all in a newly designed winter terrace by Studio Fig.

📚 Darby Mag celebrates Issue 4 in Montreal with a launch party at Zamalek from 7–11pm. Expect good drinks, great company, and a toast to independent storytelling.

🍸 On February 15, Pastiche hosts its inaugural literary event at The Emerald at 7 PM, featuring jazz by Mafuba Music and selected readings, including from its first published author.

🐦‍🔥 It's Burning Sun at Abreuvoir Bar, with a curated lineup of electronic artists and a covered heated terrace—tickets available at the door, first come first served.

🛒 Le Marché Vintage returns at Saint-Ambroise Church, featuring 35+ vendors selling vintage clothing, jewelry, and collectibles, plus DJ Patrick spinning retro vinyl all day.

💀 Hamlet, Prince of Denmark offers a mesmerizing blend of contemporary dance and Shakespearean tragedy at Théâtre Maisonneuve until February 22.

Sunday

🎭 Go see Vierge by the Black Theatre Workshop, a coming-of-age story exploring faith, teenagehood, and Congolese-Canadian identity, running at the Segal Centre.

🫀 Corpus Insolite at Musée des Hospitalières showcases the provocative work of globally acclaimed Montréal artist Jana Sterbak, including a re-creation of her iconic “Vanitas: Flesh Dress for an Albino Anorectic.”

Show us some love. 🫰

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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.

Léché Desserts hosts an intimate three-course osteria-inspired dinner by chef Adam Shiller on February 13, with two seatings at 5 PM and 7 PM—reserve now.

La Courtepointe invites you to XIV Bières Anglaises de la Saint-Valentin, an evening dedicated to rich, comforting English-style brews from the best local breweries.

Late-night cravings? Bon Délire has you covered with a $5 food menu every Thursday to Saturday from 11 PM to 2 AM. Just grab a drink and dig in.

Buboy brings you S2pid Luv this Valentine’s with a five-course sharing menu for two, complimentary champagne, and all your favorite OPM love songs until Feb 15.

Join Café Cosé and Mitalita Designs on Feb 13 for a Valentine’s Paint & Sip, where you can enjoy an evening with friends or a date, complete with all painting materials and a drink included for $55.

CUP MTL is offering a special Valentine’s menu til Feb 16 inspired by the bold flavours of Thailand, $50 per person, with an optional $30 wine pairing.

Give them what they really want: Chicken. A romantic night for two with Portuguese chicken at Campo that's just $27 per person until Feb 17.

Coming up sooner than you think:

The International Beige Buffet returns to Isle de Garde from Feb 18 to 23, pairing a lineup of German-inspired beers with a monochrome menu dedicated to the art of beige cuisine.

Big news outta Joe Beef: They've planned for a special evening celebrating coastal France with the iconic Bistrot Paul Bert: A four-course seafood feast on Feb 23.

Gia Vin & Grill is beyond excited to welcome NYC’s acclaimed King to Montreal for the first time with signature Italian fare for a special table d’hôte, paired with an exceptional wine list.

Parapluie welcomes guest chef Mike Chanthamynavong for a special collaboration from Feb 26 to Mar 1, blending the restaurant’s classics with his signature touch—plus a few exclusive dishes.

Join in on Girlfriend’s Favourites, a six-course Chinese fusion tasting menu by Chouchou at Île Flottante on Sunday, February 23rd.

On March 8, Lieux Communs takes over the wine list at Rouge Tomate, pouring their latest cuvées. Expect comfort food, good vibes, and plenty of pours.

Step into the mystical world of Tarot culinaire, a gastronomic experience where tarot meets fine dining at Pavillon as part of Montréal en Lumière.

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

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A look back at one of the most controversial moments in pro wrestling history that shattered its reality: The Montreal Screwjob. Read more.

Explore Little Portugal with someone who knows it better than you. We asked Montreal artist Kevin Ledo where he loves to go. Read more.

McGill University faces a $45 million budget cut due to reduced funding from Quebec and now seeks additional revenue sources. Read more.

Could a main thoroughfare of Verdun's "coolest street" Wellington go completely care-free all year round? There's only one way to find out. Read more.

Oi! Oi! Oi! Montreal is currently producing some of the best punk and rock bands in the world. Here’s a look at how it got that way. Read more.

Jump up jump up and jump down: Here's a look at the design behind the upcoming bungee jump setup coming to Old Montreal. Read more.

Guzzo Theatres plans to close several Montreal locations due to significant financial losses, exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic. Read more.

Whoever's thinking the labour shortage is in the rearview mirror should take another look: We haven't caught up to what we've lacked yet. Read more.

Cirque du Soleil announced it is cutting 110 jobs due to ongoing financial challenges exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic. Read more.

Quebec's recycling is now in the hands of producers, with nearly all packaging going into blue bins. But will that fix a broken system? 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.

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👋 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