Ah, that crispy weather. It brings an edge to the air in the city, with lower temps reminding us that this brief season's truly begun. Mount Royal's soon going to be completely coated in vibrant reds and golds, crowds on Mile End's cafés will soon thin out to a bundled few blowing steam off their cups, and we'll start indulging in poutine or smoked meat from spots probably older than our grandfathers.

It's a time of rest and reflection this Thanksgiving weekend, it seems: The vibe seems to be all about taking a breather after a VERY busy summer, and while most of our events this weekend coincide with that, there are a few bustling exceptions.

Read on.

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

Thursday

📽️ The 53rd edition of the Festival du Nouveau Cinéma offers a bevy of great films for Montreal cinephiles to experience until Oct 20.

🇮🇪 Hailing from the midlands and west of Ireland, the 3 piece contemporary folk based ensemble Amble is playing at Le Ministère—perfect fall tunes.

Friday

🎸 Cuban native Yordan Martinez will be presenting a tribute to the Buena Vista Social Club at Le Balcon, joined by five Cuban musicians.

😂 Seen on HBO Canada, Just For Laughs and a fan favourite on CBC’s The Debaters, Derek Seguin is going to be on stage at the Comedy Nest.

🗺️ “Into the Island” is an exhibition running until Nov 17 at the CCA, exploring architect Xu Tiantian’s design journey on Meizhou Island.

Saturday

🪩 Clubgoing Montrealers may want to scope Moonshine's event this weekend with the artist collective Asendance.

👨‍🎤 American-born singer, songwriter, and actor Justin Nozuka will be serenading the room at Petit Campus.

🍻 From 11 a.m. to 7 p.m., Marché Maisonneuve holds its very first Oktoberfest with more than 100 craft beers and all the festive regalia.

🎃 Halloween's here already: Pack up the car and head to the Haunted Village at the Village Québécois d'Antan in Drummondville.

🕹️ Been downtown to check out Les Trois Monkeys yet? It's 42,000 square feet of bowling, laser tag, arcades, AR darts, and a bunch of other bright lights.

Sunday

🎥 The Children Have to Hear Another Story is a groundbreaking exhibition at the MAC dedicated to the work of Abenaki documentary filmmaker, activist, and singer Alanis Obomsawin.

🖼️ Time's running out to see the MMFA's exhibition Saints, Sinners, Lovers and Fools: Three Hundred Years of Flemish Masterworks (and FYI, the Museum will be open for Thanksgiving).

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.

The 3rd edition of RAMEN RAMEN festival starts celebrations of the iconic dish on Oct 14 at more than 30 restaurants until Oct 27.

An after-hours 'spookeasy' is happening at Nevski on Oct 26 from 11pm til late, where the restaurant goes Halloween mode for one night only.

Pinophyta is a new claypot and noodle spot that's opened downtown to serve Cantonese and Szechuan specialties.

New Lebanese-style shawarma and falafel hits Montreal thanks to Dunya in the Plateau, right at the corner of Saint-Laurent and Sherbrooke.

A special autumn pop-up menu is going down on Oct 20 at Bar Darling, featuring a collaboration with Le Cuisinomane chef Constance Tassé Gagnon.

3-course omakase for $45 on the menu at Bar Otto, available Tuesday to Thursday. The menu is also changing every two weeks.

Fleurs & Cadeaux celebrates its 4th anniversary on Oct 13, and if you can't grab a spot, you can drop in for the after party at Sans Soleil.

Modern Filipino meets Thai when Junjun collaborates with Chef Yao for a tasting menu evening on Oct 12.

Wine tasting workshops featuring five cuvées for $50 are happening every Tuesday at Verdun Beach—details here.

Don't forget: Grab tickets for Oct 13 when Bistro La Franquette collaborates on a menu with their friends from Parapluie.

Backyard tacos are still on offer at Terraluz, and another session's happening this Saturday from noon to 3pm. Word has it that Juan is making cochinita pibil.

Eat for a good cause at this tomato sauce charity event held by Perles et Paddock on Oct 20; funds go towards Frigo Communautaire de Saint-Henri.

Beer 'n' bouffe at the 4th anniversary of local microbrewery Mutoïde on Oct 19 (and maybe snag some new merch, too).

Modern Korean restaurant Nine Tail Fox is teaming up with Bar Otto on Sunday for a special pop-up combining Japanese and Korean flavours.

Hot apple buns that look amazing are on sale on Oct 11 & 12 at Lecavalier Petrone in PSC—available from noon and in limited quantities, max purchase of 4.

Perfect your pastry skills by taking some exclusive classes taught by Chef Sonya Sammut held throughout November.

Chocolate-filled pan de muerto? Yes please, and it's currently on offer at Carlota Boulangerie. You can learn how to make it, too.

Tomato season isn't over yet if you go snack on these Spanish croquetas from La Croqueteria de Montreal, one of the monoproduct shop's latest recipes.

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

Another five-alarm fire in Old Montreal broke out last Friday which resulted in two deaths. Arson is suspected, and on top of that, the building has the same owner as last year's building that saw a tragic fire. Read more.

October 7 came and went this year, but not without the streets seeing vigils, gatherings, and protests that attracted tear gas canisters from police following broken windows at McGill. Read more.

Inspired by 19th-century Parisian restaurants known as bouillons, a new restaurant in the Plateau has flipped itself from a chophouse for burgers and tartares to a concept that respects the old ways. Read more.

"Montreal is one of the best cities in North America to drink wine", writes chief wine critic of The New York Times, Eric Asimov, as he puts the spotlight on 12 local spots. Read more.

Third-wave cider and the chemistry of place: Just a few of our favourite things we learned when speaking to the ‘repreneurs’ who have taken on the Quebec cidery, Cidre Intrus. Read more.

Toronto to Montreal in 3 hours? The feds are expected to choose who will help design and build a new, game-changing passenger rail project running through the most populated part of the country. Read more.

Lavishing in high-design addresses, Wallpaper's Canadian-born Milan Editor runs through new openings in the city that highlight the brilliant interiors of shops, spas, bars, and restaurants. Read more.

Urbex is picking up in the city. Owners of abandoned buildings and their security guards are overwhelmed by the 'many teenagers' who are adventuring in to get a good shot—but there is a rising death toll. Read more.

Even kings of rotisserie chicken sing the blues. Long known for its cheap eats and delivery fleet, Quebec chain St-Hubert says they're starting to increase their prices in its 126 restaurants across three provinces. Read more.

Montreal's women's soccer team has a name and face: The Roses FC, which will play as the city's Northern Super League team. Read more.

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.

👋 Masthead: Philip Tabah, Founder & Head of Creative / Jean-Philippe Lauzon, Co-Founder & Head of Tech / Daniel Bromberg, Head of Operations / JP Karwacki, Managing Editor / Amber Spector, Social Media Manager