No, we're not talking about the upcoming solar eclipse, nor are we talking about going on a bender until you're face down in a two-steamie-poutine plate for breakfast at La Banquise.

Nuit Blanche is back in town, and with it, a growing list of activities ranging from dance parties in museums to DJs and drinking, dining out, and black light parties in the bottom of a swimming pool.

Going on strong for 21 years now, there was no chance in hell you could experience a majority of everything even a decade ago. There's just too much, so we've devoted a best-of collection of stuff to do at this year's Nuit Blanche in this issue of the Bulletin.

If going out into the crowds aren't your thing, there's plenty more to do outside of this one night of year as well. Or stay home with takeout and a pirated camcorder version of Dune Part 2. You do you.

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

Thursday

• Black History Month in Montreal's coming to a 'close' with events like Haitian composers, jazz performances, a documentary on Jackie Robinson, and more.
• Downtown's weird and wild venue/cosmic dustbin/inter-dimensional watering hole La Poubelle Magnifique is becoming a speakeasy for one night only.

Friday

• Named the #4 DJ in the world by DJ Mag, Brazilian music superstar and philanthropist ALOK is going to be playing over at New City Gas.
• Go catch Kid Koala's latest live production, the theatrical cinema experience The Storyville Mosquito, at Place-des-Arts.

Saturday (Nuit Blanche!)

As this'll be the night the city holds its annual nocturnal open doors event Nuit Blanche. The metro will be open all night—here are some highlights we thought would be cool to check out:

• The fluorescent and surreal world of Lumiere Noire at Bains Mathieu.
• Night at the Museum! Not the movie, but at the Redpath, MMFA, CCA, Musée d'art contemporain de Montréal, and our newest arrival, the MEM.
• This mindboggling event at VOX: Art & Type.
• Get your photo taken on the red carpet with an Oscar and experience frame-by-frame animation at the pixilation stations of the NFB.
• This free dance party at Ausgang Plaza.
• The audio-video experience curated by separate but related sound artists over at Le Système.
• Exploring Place-des-Arts and seeing things like this projection on the Maison Symphonique

Sunday

• Montréal Boréal festival is almost over: This weekend has igloo dance parties, axe throwing, and more food from local restaurants to express cold-weather culture along the Lachine Canal.

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.

La Marelle is a sense of play incarnate

La Marelle is a casual dining restaurant defined by a sense of play. Named after the French word for hopscotch, it speaks to how the place doesn't like to stick to one definition—jumping from one square to another freely. (The Main)

La Marelle: Don’t even think of boxing this Mile-Ex restaurant in

With its chef’s El Salvadorean roots and Eurocentric tutelage, as many fine wines as there are cold pints of 50, and versatile vibes, La Marelle is a sense of play incarnate.

J.P. Karwacki

• Are you missing MTLàTABLE? Happening Gourmand begins March 1st, when Old Montreal's grand collection of bistros, steakhouses, sushi spots, and more serve up table d'hotes ranging from $39 to $59.
• The institutional Montréal Plaza has opened up a new spot, Juliette Plaza, a French-forward restaurant that maintains the OG's sense of bonkers play.
• Vinorama's next masterclass on Sunday, March 3 focuses on the wines of Phelan Farm, Rajat Parr’s newest project.
• Remember June Saloon's opening from two weeks back? Welp, their launch party on Feb 29 will feature flash tattoos for $50 a pop plus free Bulleit shots for anyone in true cowboy regalia.
• A wine takeover's hitting Knuckles on Feb 29 with GlowGlow, a vineyard from Nahe in Germany, creating crazy and expressive wines.
• Alma's taco omakase continues, this time with Cheryl Johnson of Montréal Plaza.
• Love a seafood feast? Buboy is back at it with tables absolutely loaded with Filipino dishes on Sunday, March 3rd.
• Chef Ana Sortun joins Foxy to offer a 5-course menu featuring Turkish flavours with the influence of fire.
• For Nuit Blanche, a series of short films produced by young local filmmakers on the autism spectrum will be projected at Nouveau Palais.
• Immerse yourself in an installation and projections specially created for Nuit Blanche at Wills Bar, which get more fun with every beer you crack.
• Get in on a night of good grooves and booze during a Drink'n'Draw event at 180g.

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

Food politics, business practices, political activism

Alex Ketchum , assistant professor at the Institute for Gender, Sexuality, and Feminist Studies at McGill, about queer food: How to define it, and where to find it in cities like Montreal. Hint: It's not just about planting rainbow flags everywhere. (The Main)

Talking queer food—and where to find it in Montreal

Montreal’s a queer-friendly city—how does that influence its hospitality industry and safe space restaurants and bars?

Ivy Lerner-Frank

Go roller skating in a library!

Starting Saturday, there'll be more than 100 things to do for free, from art installations and workshops to performances, parties and more, all spread across eight neighbourhoods and some running until six the next morning. We're too lazy to make yet another guide, so here's the best one we found. (CBC Montreal)

Nuit Blanche Montreal 2024: Plan your night around these must-sees | CBC Arts

Go roller skating in a library! Strike a red-carpet pose with an Oscar! On Saturday night, Nuit Blanche will bring Montreal’s “creative fantasies” to life, and according to the festival’s project manager, these seven projects are guaranteed to thrill.

CBCLeah Collins

Say so long to those cheap flights, Montreal

It's less local news, but with Lynx Airlines shutting down after less than two years, Montrealers have to say goodbye to those cheap flights both across and out of the country. Maybe we can still cross our fingers for a high-speed train? (CBC)

Lynx Air to cease operations Monday, obtains creditor protection | CBC News

The low-cost airline, based in Calgary, says it will cease operations at 12:01 a.m. on Feb. 26, though flights will continue until that time.

CBCFollow Lily on Twitter

No laughing matter

Just for Laughs is experiencing major financial problems. Last year, JFL surprised everyone with the announcement that it would end its galas, and now there's been a wave of cutbacks and a departed main manager. It ain't looking good. (Le Devoir)

Juste pour rire en sérieuses difficultés

L’entreprise, qui a connu son lot de tempêtes dans les dernières années, pourrait avoir à faire des choix difficiles.

Le DevoirÉtienne Paré

"Montreal reminded me a lot of Boston at first"

That crazy statement aside, this story about one woman's relocation to Montreal after marrying a Canadian she met online playing Xbox has its share of heart-warming and hilarious "hey, they're just like us!" moments. (Business Insider)

I moved to Montreal to be with a man I met on Xbox. It was a bigger culture shock than I expected.

Melissa Rebelo-Sauve met her husband while playing Grand Theft Auto. After a few years of dating, she joined him in Montreal — it was a culture shock.

InsiderElle Hardy

A 24h city's a more inclusive city

Montreal's aims to be more open to all have hit international headlines, but with the attention comes questions around how our own ideas might take shape in relation to cities that have successfully done it elsewhere. (Bloomberg)

From Montreal to Berlin, Cities Aim to Stay Open 24 Hours

Forget last call: In a push to bolster nightlife, cities are changing laws to keep bars, restaurants and transit systems operating round-the-clock.

BloombergTeresa Xie

Mmmmm, pangolin

According to the Canada Border Services Agency, YUL has seen the most seizures of illegal exotic meat products of all major airports in Canada: Monkey meat, pangolin carcasses, and tiger and hyena carcasses have been intercepted there since 2019. (24 Heures)

Mom, the province is doing that thing again

Proposed Quebec regulations for more French markings on consumer products will lead to fewer choices and higher costs for things such as home appliances, according to an industry group and Montreal lawyer. (Montreal Gazette)

Proposed Quebec language rules will lead to fewer products, higher prices: lawyer

Permanent markings on consumer goods will need to be in French if they’re “necessary for the use of the product.”

Montreal GazetteThe Canadian PressJacob Serebrin

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.