The Bulletin: Spray paint & hip hop, big cookouts, and Pride parade directions [Issue #89]

The Bulletin is a collection of what's happened, what’s happening, and what’s to come in and around Montreal.

The Main

August 8, 2024- Read time: 10 min

Montreal's oldest urban culture festival still active today Under Pressure is back until August 11th to spread the good word about graffiti and hip hop. | Photograph: Under Pressure / Facebook

The title says it all.

There are so many fresh feasts and beats this weekend that we're wondering how difficult it'll be to dance and eat at the same time, and getting ready with this bar dropped by Mick Jenkins in their song Vibe:

I been in the 514, French gettin to clean, customs is routine, eatin' hella poutine

I think I might buy one more

As per Montreal tradition, it's summertime, so the festivals are far from over. But if you're still feeling exhausted from last week's heatwave and/or don't want to deal with the crush of crowds, we've sprinkled in a bunch of easy-going events with chiller vibes here as well.

Hope that's not the case though, as we here at The Main hope you'll join us this Sunday at the 2.5km-long Pride Parade. This year’s theme is “We Are The Rainbow!” and this year’s Grand Marshals are RuPaul’s Drag Race Season 15 winner Sasha Colby and Franco-Tunisian soccer player Ouissem Belgacem.

If you're there, don't forget about the observed minute of silence at 2:30 pm to honor those lost to anti-LGBTQ+ violence and HIV/AIDS.

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

Thursday

From 10pm to 3am, @lavoutemontreal’s bathroom will be turned into a Powder Room Party. Created by @felix.de.la.nuit and @yerkoworld, they're offering "an immersive and unconventional nightlife experience" with a lot of unexpected moments.
Sports fans, consider seeing a match at the 2024 @obnmontreal tennis tournament before it ends on August 12. 🎾
Go see the Canadian premiere of Broken Spectre by award-winning Irish artist
@richardmosse_ at @phicentre, a 75-minute video with a selection of large-format photos revealing exponential environmental devastation in the Amazon Basin.
@festivalorientalys, a celebration of artists from across three continents—from the Maghreb to China, Spain, Turkey, Syria, Lebanon, Iran, Cambodia, India, Japan and many others—kicks off in the Old Port.

Friday

@up_mtl, Montreal's oldest urban culture festival still active today, is back until August 11th for the development and radiance of graffiti and all elements of hip hop on local and international scales. There's a bunch of pre-celebration parties as well, like the one at @foufouneselectriques.
Hot air balloons and live music from @montgolfieres begins this weekend!
@matsurijapon is back to celebrate Japanese culture with a festival of delicious food, traditional products, lively entertainment, and activities for everyone.
@ilesoniq, the largest electronic and urban contemporary music festival in Canada, is back to shake the earth at @parcjeandrapeau over two days.
@super.taste is heading to @cabaretberlinmtl to celebrate the 90s with a dance party, aka the decade of The Lion King, Lauryn Hill and Groove is in the Heart.
Montreal's the host city of the @cebleague for the very first time, and there's a match with @alliancemontreal as they compete for the championship trophy at the Verdun Auditorium.
@champs_montreal is saying "Fuck Corporate Pride" with their own celebrations for Pride all weekend long: no cover, no tickets, just gay music and vibes!

Saturday

Over 250 local artisans will descend on Hochelaga-Maisonneuve for La Grande Fabrique, one of the largest outdoor gatherings of designers in Quebec from @collectifcreatifmtl and @sdc_hm.
@island.fete's two-day Caribbean festival in Montreal celebrating food, art, and music plus a BIPOC vendor market and kids zone is back for another sesh.
@favouritelibrary, a local boutique music label and mental botanical sanctuary, is holding a show with @jember, @frwnline, and @fruitsnack.ca.
Weather permitting, @espacepourlavie's Jardin botanique will start hosting guided journies of observing the Perseids, and help you find your way around the nighttime sky.

Sunday

@fiertemontreal will cap off its immense, city-wide celebrations with its grand parade along René-Levesque Boulevard, from Rue Alexandre-DeSève in the Village to Metcalfe downtown. It starts at 1 pm, don't forget!
@marchedp is hosting a night market and queer cookout with tons of food, performers, and vendors to check out.
Head to @cafesat for a pop-up featuring coffee by @trafficcoffeeco, pies by @cornerpizzaaa, vintage thrifting from @le.ninety, and music by @esme0110100111 and @ajwadkabir.

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Farewell and safe travels to Armand and Rosalie Forcherio, who are departing their award-winning restaurant Paloma; new heads of state will be taking over soon enough. | Photograph: @palomamontreal / Instagram

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.

Bottomless Pete returns!

After a long hiatus, our resident anonymous restaurant critic returns to take a close look at the Saint-Henri izakaya Regashi, a project from the family behind Tri Express. Aged fish reigns supreme, but some charcoal burned inside the restaurant kills the meal. (The Main)

The award for the biggest event this weekend goes to @pocha_mtl, a Korean street food market and culture festival, at Hanger 1825 along the Lachine Canal from August 8 to 11.
@jeantalonest’s new gourmet festival @fringalemtl continues, where a different culinary dimension of Saint-Léonard’s small but mighty stretch of Jean-Talon Est is explored, and all plates are $8 or less. This time, it's all about Asia.
On August 11, @menu_extra welcomes @parapluie.mtl of @robin_des_chef for a block party featuring shrimp rolls, corn, and crispy ciders by @cidre_intrus!
Dough masters at @98doughh and local chef @harrisonfred are heading to @plongeoirmtl on August 11th from 1 to 10 pm to serve up all kinds of delicious flatbreads grilled on the BBQ.
@junjunmtl has announced a "From Manilla to Tokyo" pop-up with chef @fr3d.d on August 24: A meticulously crafted 6-course menu, 3 amuse-bouches, and a welcome cocktail for $110. Tickets are up for grabs now.
Hochelaga's Ontario Street is now home to @spedzira, an Italian cafe that offers sandwiches, fresh juices and coffee.
As part of the wine and cider festival happening at @marchejeantalon, they'll host their first edition of Saisons with @cuisine.libre for a walkable, small bite festival on August 10 and 11th.
It's corn! at @barvinvinvin, who's serving up $1 corn on the cob every Wednesday in August with butter, salt and all the fixin's.
@greygoose is hosting a mini bar tasting experience pop-up to try three different martini cocktails inspired by their product's natural elements from August 8 to 10, and tickets at just $25.
@honeyice.world is going to be at @regashimtl for a sake dance party featuring a $10 food and drink menu on August 11.
After some devastating damage to their OG location, @bouillon_bilk_ has reopened at a new location: 22 Ste-Catherine Est.

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

🍻 Taking that all-night-long leap

Montreal continues its plan for 24-hour nightlife to boost its economy and cultural scene. Critics worry about insufficient security and public transportation while others believe it will spread closing times, reducing issues. Similar initiatives in cities like Berlin have proven economically beneficial and safer. (BBC News)

💃 All slay, no sashay

Drag queens are highlighted at times like Pride for their cultural significance and resilience. Despite criticism and online hate, local artists are stressing the importance of representation and inclusivity, asserting that drag is here to stay, offering entertainment and socio-political statements. (La Presse)

👖 Who wears the pants in this situation

Superior Pants, a nearly 100-year-old Montreal store, excels at jeans. Known for personalized service, it thrives without a website or advertising, relying on word-of-mouth. Fourth-generation owner Mitch Stroll's expertise ensures loyal patronage despite modern retail challenges. (CTV News)

Many roam, but no one spends?

Tourists flock to Old Montreal, but many spend cautiously due to the high cost of living. Local businesses, like artists and tattoo shops, notice reduced sales despite the influx of visitors, emphasizing economic constraints on spending. (La Presse)

When the hustle pays off

This is the story all about how a man turned the festival scene upside-down: Nick Farkas is the driving force behind Osheaga, Montreal's renowned music festival. Here's how his career trajectory was shaped by his love for music culminated in Osheaga's creation. (CTV News)

🌊 Sacre bleu (waters)

A local water quality expert says France’s "ultimately successful" efforts to make the Seine River clean enough for the Olympics may help build support for improving water quality around Montreal. (Montreal Gazette)

Tough times for franco radio, too

Montreal's French-speaking radio market has lost a quarter of its revenue in five years, with advertisers jumping ship during the pandemic and not getting back into the habit of paying for on-air ads—not as often as before, anyway. (Le Devoir)

Bringing back the sapphic scene

Once spaces of liberation and identity affirmation, lesbian bars have gradually disappeared from Montreal's nightlife scene. While the golden age of these bars is deeply missed, others are trying to revitalize them. (Radio-Canada)

On the fast track to more customers

Business owners in Dix30, a shopping district on Montreal's South Shore, say the region's new light-rail network has been a boost to foot traffic since it opened last year. Who knows what it'll do as more stations open? (CBC Montreal)

Guess we'll call this a... politician fanfic?

In this curious piece, Globe and Mail writer Marcus Gee writes a letter on behalf of Montreal mayor Jean Drapeau (who died in 1999), which argues for the demolition of the Olympic Stadium. (The Globe and Mail)