Can anybody out there school me on Montreal? The extent of visiting Canada for me has been Niagra Falls. I'm on the fence about doing the Babe rally this year and might just head north of the border for a few days for a vacation. I've heard that it has an international and even european feel to the city but its expensive to an extent. Name me a couple things to do up there that aren't insanely expensive. The drinking beer part is already on the list..
Any city named after a kick ass Alfa is worth visiting 
Charlie Biddle's house of jazz lounge. It is THE place that basically is responsible for making Montreal continue to be the Jazz powerhouse that it is. His daugther still sings there. Always incredible jazz all the time. If you've seen "the whole nine yards" you've seen Biddle's. It was featured (along with Charlie's daughter) in that movie. Unfortunately, Charlie is no longer with us
You know how each city has its stereotypical thing? Like if you went to Seattle you might get a coffee and go to a poetry reading, or if you went to New Orleans you might get gumbo and alligator? Well in Montreal, that means buying yourself a Cuban (available from newsstands), put on a suit, go to Biddle's and order a cognac. Then just sit there alone and absorb jazz.
I went there for New Years. It's a very clean city, lots of pretty girls too. Plus use your Visa and when you get back to the states check your balance and you'll see everything comes out to almost 20% off.
Convenience stores only sell watered down liquor but have decent beer selection including 1.15L bottles of 10.1% beer for what comes out to a little less than $4.
Club Wanda.
Haven't been there since Expo '67.
Learn to speak French.
That's all I've got.
Good luck.
Great city, I love it. I'd say it's less expensive than Toronto but of course that depends on what you do and where you go. Driving there isn't as bad as everyone says, but parking is. You can get around just fine without French; knowing a little bit never hurts though.
J
I was up there last summer for work. I had a big hang-up on those french speaking sissies!! Till I got there. I spent a week or so there and the language barrier wasn't there at all and there was no attitude about me not speaking much french. And the people were MUCH friendlier than expected. But those freaking wierdo's put gravy on french fries???
DrBoost wrote: But those freaking wierdo's put gravy on french fries???
Called "Poussin" and it has bits of cheese in there as well. It's fantastic. Old Orchard Beach Maine is the furthest South I've ever seen it. They should sell it everywhere.
Woody wrote: Called "Poussin" and it has bits of cheese in there as well. It's fantastic. Old Orchard Beach Maine is the furthest South I've ever seen it. They should sell it everywhere.
WTF is "poussin"? How about poutine. I can clearly see it was an honest effort though :P
Thou shalt not blaspheme against the great poutine, greatest french fry creation ever made.
Poutine is the exact opposite of Chinese food. You may not feel full, but you won't want to eat again for about two days It's the best ski food in the world.
Montreal is a cool city. If you're from the US, it feels like another country Quebec City is worth a visit as well, but from what I remember you'll be more likely to need French there. Montreal is truly bilingual.
HiTempguy wrote:Woody wrote: Called "Poussin" and it has bits of cheese in there as well. It's fantastic. Old Orchard Beach Maine is the furthest South I've ever seen it. They should sell it everywhere.WTF is "poussin"? How about poutine. I can clearly see it was an honest effort though :P Thou shalt not blaspheme against the great poutine, greatest french fry creation ever made.
Forgive me and my poor French spelling.
You can bring your own wine to some restaurants. Night life doesn't start (really) until after 11:00PM. Not a city for prudes. Best bagels in the world (go to a real Montreal bagel bakery and get them fresh from the wood-burning oven). Make sure you dress well when you go out -- people take fashion seriously in Montreal.
How could I forget the bagels? If you've been raised on the crap they sell in US supermarkets, you're in for a treat. My biggest complaint about living in Colorado is that I'm 2000 miles from good bagels.
Go easy on the Poutine, if you eat enough you'll die.
Steamies rock (steamed hotdogs) and make sure you get it "all dressed" Coleslaw on a hotdog is awesome.
Shawn
Great strip clubs!
Here's a great Quebec primer for you:
Woody wrote: Forgive me and my poor French spelling.
Actually, it sounds exactly like I spelt it. So either you've been had, or I learned a different english then you ;)
Be careful when ordering poutine. Make sure you ask for poo-tine, not puh-tin (with a soft, almost silent "n"). That's something quite different, and could get you slapped :)
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