We are schvitzing.

As we take turns at The Main's headquarters sitting around the office AC unit (we named her Salvation), a heat record was broken in the city on September 6th with a high of 31.9 degrees Celsius, and a humidex of 42.

Not to get overly fatalistic about it, but this week's harsh and sudden heatwave comes at a time when rising temperatures are shaping much of what's going on in the city right now. Tensions over the rental crisis continue to grow, essential systems like education and public transportation are groaning under mounting pressure—heck, some people were even thinking the steps of the Oratory caught fire last weekend.

Today (and the following four days?!) is calling for long overdue and likely intense thundershowers, but somehow that doesn't seem like the catharsis we need right now.

We are schvitzing, and we need a drink—good thing there are more than 500 beers across two events this weekend. Read on for more.

Thursday

• Bring your own food to the Jardin du Monastère downtown and watch circus performances. There's also an on-site bar for cocktails, wine, beer and liquor.
• CHOM5KY vs CHOMSKY: A playful conversation on AI is a new collaborative virtual reality experience that invites users to examine the promises and pitfalls of AI—on now at the NFB's downtown Media Space.
• The sixth edition of artch, Montreal's festival of emerging contemporary art, is now under way in the lobby of 1 PVM and on the Esplanade PVM.
• MOMENTA Biennale kicks off its 18th edition (running Sept 7 to October 22), with the opening night getting underway in front of the Fonderie Darling. Check out the full list of programming here.

Friday

• Artists Chris Curreri and Maya Watanabe will present individual exhibitions using transforming photos and video at Occurence, an art space in the Mile End.
• DJs and VJs are headlining a new immersive party Music is my Sanctuary as it takes over the Satosphere downtown.
• The nomad, multidisciplinary and inclusive street festival FAR Festival des arts de ruelle and its short performances and parades in the alleys of nine boroughs of Montréal is coming to an end on Sunday.
• This one's just for fun: Taverne Cobra is playing TOTO's Africa every 15 minutes on Friday, September 8, starting at 10 p.m., just because they can.

Saturday

• Expo World Press Photo Montréal is presenting the results of the 2023 World Press Photo Contest, an annual exhibition showcasing the best and most important photojournalism and documentary photography of the past year.
• Organized by the St. Volodymyr Cultural Association of Montreal, the Ukranian Festival is back to promote Ukrainian heritage and culture in Parc Maisonneuve.
• At the first edition of the Montréal International Film Festival, attend live interviews, Q&A sessions with filmmakers from around the globe, and presentations hosted by entertainment industry leaders.
• Catch the Festival Quartiers Danses as it brings contemporary dance to streets, parks, public markets, museums, daycares, and more throughout the city.

Sunday

• Cheer on cyclists as they compete in the Grand Prix Cycliste de Montréal on Mount Royal Park – or get pissed as they shut down traffic.
• Piknic Électronik will feature artists Ben Ufo, Priori, Regularfantasy and SealTeam2 at Parc Jean-Drapeau. OfF Piknic hosts Vacra and Nora en Pure.
• The annual Gardens of Light continues at the Botanical Gardens, a sensory experience that combines art, science, and technology across the Japanese, First Nations, and Chinese gardens.
• The Stewart Hall Art Gallery presents Déferlements, a solo project by artist Andréanne Abbondanza-Bergeron where the gallery is turned into the shores of Lac Saint-Louis through photographic works representing water.

WHAT TO EAT & DRINK IN AND AROUND MONTREAL

This section dishes out the scoop on restaurant openings, new menus, old classics—you name it.

• The landmark diner Momesso's, purveyors of some of the most fabled Italian subs in the city, is up for sale—get 'em while they're still hot.
• Repentigny's Oktoberfest returns from September 8 to 10 with more than 40,000 visitors checking out more than 400 beers to taste.
• Brasserie Dieu du Ciel! is celebrating its 25th anniversary on September 9 with an event featuring over 40 invitees and more than 100 beers.
• Clarke Café has brand new digs in Pointe-Saint-Charles, and it's looking spiffier than ever. No stress, they're still making the same old great food.
• If you're into destination dining with your weekend hike, props go out to Crèmerie Oaké in Bromont which makes its own ice cream, gelatos, sorbets and more.
• Buvette and café Super Condiments is hosting Summer Boogie #12 with super fresh vinos & cocktails this Friday.
• Bar Wills is hosting "the next generation of Montreal’s finest" little cooks this Sunday rain or shine, heatwave or not.
• On Monday, the Ku brothers from Dobe & Andy are cooking up a midnight diner special at Fleurs & Cadeaux inspired by Cha Chaan Teng, the typical cafeterias of Hong Kong.
• Le Burger Week has begun, and Montreal is joining restaurants across Canada in showcasing creative talents by offering a limited-time only burger.

And, last but not least, this section features a weekly round-up of the latest local news, from entertainment to current affairs and more.

The beginnings of Montreal's hip-hop scene

At the time, hip-hop as we know it today was a little more than five years old. After a house party in Châteauguay, some events at Vanier College and Dawson College, a few block parties and a run-in with a DJ at the old radio station CKGM, everything changed. (CBC News)

These pioneers helped shape Montreal’s hip-hop scene

Montreal played a leading role in shaping Canadian hip-hop. These are the pioneers who were there in the beginning.

CBC NewsMichael Williams

💸 Passing the buck

Journalist Zachary Kamel's beat on the rental market continues. This time, a review of financial declarations has revealed major omissions and over a dozen evictions tied to just three politicians from across the political spectrum. (Ricochet)

Conflict of interest: Montreal politicians making decisions on housing are also landlords | Ricochet

This article is part of our joint investigation into Airbnb and the housing crisis with Pivot. You can read a French version on their site.

Ricochet

Inaction meets bold action

A growing number of Quebec tenants are threatening a rent strike if the province moves forward with its controversial housing legislation, Bill 31, which would put a stop to lease transfers as we know it. (CTV News)

Group of Que. tenants threatening rent strike over controversial lease-transfer bill

There is a growing number of Quebec tenants who are threatening a rent strike if the province moves forward with its controversial housing legislation, Bill 31.

CTV News

Speed demons

Is it legal to use electric scooters on cycle paths? One journalist decides to dial up their local precinct to get the answers us cyclists going under the 20 km/h speed limit on bike paths want to know. And to be honest, the rules kinda suck.  (Urbania)

Scooters électriques sur les pistes cyclables : légal ou pas? - Dehors - URBANIA

L’art de se faufiler entre les craques de la loi… et celles du trottoir.

DEHORSJacob Khayat

Leaving the profession in droves

One week before school started, and Quebec had 8,558 teaching positions to fill — 1,859 full-time and 6,699 part-time, to be exact. The teacher shortage has ‘gravely deteriorated’ and is three times worse than it was last year, and it hasn't got any better. Need a job? You could always sub in. (Cult MTL)

Quebec teacher shortage: ‘One adult per classroom’ is a tragedy, not a game plan

Quebec Education Minister Bernard Drainville’s “solutions” to the province’s dire teacher shortage appear to be lowering the bar.

Cult MTLToula Drimonis

Wait, who's driving this thing?

The STM's bus drivers and metro operators are at their wit's end, says their union. Data shows that more and more of them are absent from work, or even quitting their jobs—many cite stress on mental health as the cause. (Le Devoir)

Des chauffeurs de la STM au bout du rouleau

Ils sont de plus en plus nombreux à s’absenter du travail, tandis que les départs dépassent les embauches.

Le DevoirZacharie Goudreault

This city is their canvas

Raymond Pilon's alter ego Zilon earned him notoriety in Montreal and much of the world. And Zilon’s story speaks volumes about the evolution of street art here, but as he dealt with judgments against his work, he helped pave the way for the rest of the city's now-booming graffiti scene. (Montreal Gazette)

Street art or eyesore? Montreal’s graffiti is in the eye of the beholder

With photo gallery: “Going back to the cave age, human beings have always had this inherent need to express themselves like this and to use walls to tell stories.”

Montreal GazetteBill Brownstein

Off with his head

The city announced just over a week ago that it won't put back a downtown statue of Canada's first prime minister that was toppled and beheaded three years ago by protesters. It'll probably end up in a museum instead. (CTV News)

Montreal to move statue of former Canadian Prime Minister John A. Macdonald

The City of Montreal announced Wednesday that it won’t put back a downtown statue of Canada’s first prime minister that was toppled and beheaded three years ago by protesters.

Montreal

At the heart of this heatwave

Several private surface parking lots are in the hands of real estate developers in the heart of Montreal, but the province is keeping thousands of paved spaces on strategic land which increases heat island effects, say urban ecologists. (La Presse)

Îlots de chaleur | Québec possède des mers d’asphalte au cœur de Montréal

Plusieurs stationnements de surface privés ont cédé leur place au développement immobilier au cœur de Montréal, mais l’État québécois conserve des milliers de places asphaltées sur des terrains stratégiques, dénoncent des défenseurs de l’écologie urbaine.

La PressePhilippe Teisceira-Lessard

The demolition that changed everything

September 7, 1973 – a day that shall live on in infamy. After a long public debate on what to do with the Van Horne mansion ended with the residence's demolition, the act itself sparked a movement to preserve of our city's built heritage, a mission that continues to this day. (Héritage Montréal)

50 ans de la démolition de la maison Van Horne : mesurer les progrès et les défis du patrimoine de la métropole - Héritage Montréal

Le 7 septembre 1973, la Ville de Montréal délivrait un permis de démolition pour l’ancienne résidence du dirigeant du Canadien Pacifique, William Cornelius Van Horne, vaste demeure en pierre grise à…

Héritage MontréalDinu Bumbaru

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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