The Bulletin: A digital block party, noise bylaws, a massive multi-venue festival, and beer 🍻 [Issue #96]

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

The Main

September 26, 2024- Read time: 10 min

MAPP_MTL, in the flesh: This here's a projection by Felipe Arriagada back in 2022. | Photograph: Jean-François Savaria / @jfsavaria

That title, dear friends, is putting a smile on this past week with a look forward to the days to come.

In truth, however, the last week alone have had us dabbing every corner of our Crazy Week bingo card: Lithium battery fires in HoMa, the whole saga with La Tulipe potentially shutting down alongside restaurants also getting threatened with closures over noise, the 2024 Presidents Cup teeing off (and $25k of related merch being stolen), NWA co-founder Arabian Prince played the opening of POP Montreal while Spike Lee was speaking at l’Olympia last night.

But you take the bad with the good: It's sweater weather. A lot of cool stuff is happening. People are making the most of it, and the Power of Community™ is making the usual Kafkaesque quagmire of issues our city faces on the daily just a *little*, teensy bit better.

That's life, right? Crazy week in the news, but try not to get the blues. Read on.

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

Thursday

@popmontreal is already underway: 200 concerts in over twenty venues alongside programming in film, arts and crafts, kids events, and more.
The international projection mapping festival @mapp_mtl starts to reach its height of activity, with its digital block party lasting until Saturday among other events.
Every second Thursday, for the next few months, you can come and play bingo for free and win prizes while drinking beers at @lespacepublic.
@galleryweekend_canada opens up Montreal’s contemporary art galleries with a wide selection of exhibitions showcasing the work of many artists.

Friday

@les_journees and its three days of free activities open to all begin in Quebec—here in Montreal, it's got everything from bookbinding classes and horror film workshops to gallery talks and architecture tours.
@wwd_xyz hosts a showcase in collaboration with art gallery @lelivart's new 300-person venue with a renowned 'Void' sound system for @meera_etc's first show in North America. Use the code Themain20 to get a 20% discount at checkout here.
The @royalmontrealgc is playing host to the @presidentscup, the prestigious golfing event’s 15th edition.

Saturday

@daredaremtl, an artist-run center specializing in public art, unveils their PASSEPORT artistic walk through the Little Burgundy district.
Techno collective @octov_mtl, known for stirring up Montreal’s nightlife since 2014, celebrates its 10th anniversary at @sat_montreal.
@bastidsbbq, a travelling BBQ/dance party featuring @skratchbastid & friends, arrives in Montreal.
@kaytranada will be playing at @parcjeandrapeau as part of their TIMELESS tour.

Sunday

@theatreparadoxe will be the site of @sdc.monk's second-ever Monktoberfest, featuring local microbrews, food from area restaurants, and live shows from artists like @shirleytheband.
The @montrealblackfilmfest, Canada's largest film event entirely dedicated to Black cinema, provides new works from the four corners of the globe.
@stickyricemagazine, @mychinatownmtl and Jess Lieu (@sensingsoma) will be at @nirvana.montreal from 1 to 8pm for a lantern-making workshop.

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Scenes from our latest opening piece on Rendez-Vous. | Photograph: JP Karwacki / @johnnycrust

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.

From one Parisian inspiration

Building off the intimacy found in buvettes and caves à manger, Rendez-Vous may look and feel like an attaché to its related neighbour of Lou’s, but it’s a place that easily stands on its own. (The Main)

@giagiagiamtl is celebrating harvest season on Sept 29 with a bunch of different farmers, butchery, and Quebecois wines.
On Sept 29, @pasta.pooks celebrated co-founder @coach_vic_baby and the Moon Festival with dragon teeth 'Dan Dan' pasta in front of @restaurantmonnan at 1pm.
@restaurant.mikado will be doing a bar takeover at @nili.mtl on Sept 29 from 5pm to 11pm (or late).
Sept 27 to 29 will see Oktoberfest at @messorembracitorium with lager & pilsner specials all weekend and @mitchdeli_messorem cooking up hearty eats.
Speaking of Oktoberfest, @marcheatwater will be the site of over 100 craft beers in a festive atmosphere with lots of activities.
Congrats to Westmount, they just got their own @cafeolimpico location, which opened this past Monday.
Tell your medical frontline worker friends: @barpalco's inviting everyone from the workforce on Sept 26 for $10 bloody Caesars and 15% off all night.
@bossamtl and @itsonlypasta are at @laspadamtl on Oct 6 for a LAMBorghini pop-up, featuring solid appetizers, insane pasta, and a lamb porchetta course.
@negroniroom celebrates its one-year anniversary with $10 namesake cocktails on Sept 26.
@snowbirdtikibar isn't just launching all-new cocktails on its menu on Oct 3, it's selling $1 dumplings all night on Sept 26.
Roaming café @pop.pop.cafe has announced it will be at @ponymtl as of Sept 26 with little surprises happening all the time.
On Sept 29 and 29, @cabaret.lenfer will be cooking up a tasting and “cantina-style” menu respectively.
As the dining season comes to a close for @bika_farm, they're offering cooking workshops with chef Fisun Ercan this October.
@passecomposemtl rides again! Rediscover their gourmet brunches every day from 9 AM to 3 PM at 701 William Street.
@maps.mtl will host the local "fake" café @drinksaturdaycafe—come by for a slice, a coffee fix in the form of espresso tinis or coffee, & kate’s cookies.
On September 29, @copilote.mtl is hosting @ratafiamontreal for a 5-course collaborative menu with wine pairings.
@cafechezteta's announced has announced a 4th anniversary celebration by transforming the café into a Lebanese BBQ paradise on Sept 29.

One of our brightest culinary minds

Juan’s journey to creating what is some of the most celebrated modern Mexican cuisine in Montreal today reflects his dedication and the vibrant flavors that define his culinary identity. Together with his wife and partner Lindsay Brennan, he enriches the local dining scene with soulful tradition and innovation. (The Main)

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

Let's ride 🚵‍♀️

Traditional bike shops don’t resonate as much as they used to with all cyclists. So when Le Club opened in the Plateau in 2017, the neighbourhood hadn’t seen much of its kind before. Now it helps fill a gap in the cycling community in Montreal, and it’s only grown since. (The Main)

Make some noise 🔊

The Plateau-Mont-Royal will amend its noise bylaw to protect cultural establishments against exaggerated complaints by neighbors and prevent them from ending up in the same situation as the La Tulipe, which suspended its activities on Tuesday following constant noise complaints. (Le Devoir)

A long time coming

The MMFA's Native art collection—once consigned to a far corner—will be front and center in a new show at a time when museums grapple with whether they should simply be places that exhibit and research artifacts, or actively engage with political and social issues. (New York Times)

Racism: A "cancer" eating away at the SPVM

Commander Patrice Vilcéus, a Haitian Montrealer, hangs up his cap after 30 years with the Montreal police, but not without leaving us with a letter that calls racism "a cancer that is eating away" at the SPVM. (La Presse)

We can rebuild them, not destroy them ⛪️

The idea of converting religious buildings into housing is not new, but the Legault government thinks they can be used to combat the housing crisis following a new housing strategy from Minister France-Élaine Duranceau in August. (Le Devoir)

Smoke on the horizon, fire in the sky

The fire that broke out in a container of lithium batteries at the Port of Montreal required authorities to lockdown part of HoMa on Monday: Stay indoors, and close doors, windows, and ventilation systems as a precaution. (Radio-Canada)

One key to rule them all 🗝

As Michelin inspectors descend on the city's restaurants, the Michelin Guide has published its first rating of hotels across Canada, and Montreal fared pretty well: Four hotels made the shortlist, and they're all smaller boutique hotels, while none of big names in town made it. (Montreal Gazette)

Putting the POP in Montreal

POP Montreal's multi-venue, 5-day music and culture fest has begun. With 200 concerts in over 20 venues, here are some upcoming highlights to help you in your planning. Cult MTL has their own list as well. (PAPER Magazine)

"Grafitti-strewn gaps, like decaying teeth in a once-bright smile"

Five years ago Montreal’s iconic Rue St-Denis was widely diagnosed as being on life support, and the prognosis was grim, with some saying the street was dead. The ensuing years have seen a partial rehabilitation, but resuscitating an ailing commercial thoroughfare is not a simple operation. (Montreal Gazette)

The Montreal Screwjob

It is one of the most infamous events in wrestling history: In 1997 at the Bell Centre, Bret Hart lost his WWF title against Shawn Michaels. A new Netflix docuseries focuses on that fateful night and what it meant for professional wrestling. (USA TODAY)