Montreal’s own: Roads
As I previously got you dreaming (I hope) by introducing you to Roads, I now invite you to go meet them and see them live in concert.
Indie Montreal presents Howard Jennings from New York (debuting his new live material) and Montreal’s own… Roads.
On Friday November 27th 2009, they will all be performing at the Jupiter Room on St-Laurent. This is your chance to meet Garen, Iris, Alfred and Adam. You won’t regret to hear the beautiful sounds and to watch Iris work those drums.
Tickets are already on sale on http://www.indiemontreal.ca. Hurry! They’ve been on sale since November 12th. Special price of 7$ or 4 for 19$, if you get them in advance, and 10$ if you get them at the door.
Friday, November 27th 2009 at 8:30 pm at the Jupiter Room
3874 St-Laurent
See you all there!
The CCA – Architects do it with models
It is often a surprise to Montrealers when they discover that the CCA (Canadian Center for Architecture) is located in their own city. If you’re not an architecture buff and have no idea what I’m talking about, the CCA is “those three big stone buildings” on Boul-Rene-Levesque right across the entrance to the highway 720… and that weird floating chair.
The dying art of Architecture is an innovative, forward-thinking one that is best understood when analyzing it’s historical evolution. Exactly 20 years ago this year, the CCA was founded to promote the knowledge of architecture’s role in society in order to encourage design creativity and scholarly research.
The establishment makes this learning possible with one of the largest international research collections of models, plans, conceptual studies, and many, many other documents dating from the Renaissance.
The CCA has put into place Study centers, guided tours, exhibitions and an extensive library in order to create debate and a dynamic engagement with contemporary issues for people of all ages and levels of knowledge on this subject.
Along with the building (designed by Peter Rose with consulting architect Phyllis Lambert and associate architect Erol Argun in 1989), a large garden exhibiting landscape art is located across the blvd Rene-Levesque whose unique location allows its integration to the hustle and bustle of the city, while clearly defining a separation with a large open space. This helps create an ambiance of serenity and escape, while ironically having a location adjacent to a large highway.
Designed by Montréal artist-architect Melvin Charney, the CCA Garden is said to “restore the urban fabric of an area deeply scarred by mid-20th-century highway engineering.” – CCA
The CCA Garden - open to the public 24/7
With all this information free and open to the public, I can only say one thing to those who have yet to visit and explore the CCA — Go culture yourself!!
Photos: Youssef
www.mysteryoussef.com
The Dalai Lama to give public talk at the Bell Center this weekend!
With multiple wars all over the world and the economic situation affecting people at a personal level, the 14th Dalai Lama’s visit to Montreal this Saturday, October 3rd will be a breath of fresh air that will help us gain a new perspective on these troubled times and look towards the future with optimism.
In a recent interview with The Gazette, the spiritual leader of Tibet shared his opinion on the impact brought on by today’s economic crisis calling its effects ‘tragic’, on individuals and spirituality:
“Hopefully, this [crisis] will provide us with food for thought when assessing our priorities and set of values. If nothing else, it has revealed that materialism is just too fragile a foundation on which to build one’s vision of life.”
He explains that a simpler form of lifestyle, void of materialism, is based on “contentment and [is] much more in tune with a responsible attitude toward nature.”
Whether you are religious or not, I highly encourage you to attend this speech. Unfortunately, it may be too late to get your hands on a ticket to this sold-out event. For his public talk at the Bell Center, entitled ”Educating the Heart: The Power of Compassion.”, the president of the Tibetan government-in-exile since 1959 will primarily discuss promoting the teaching of ethics through the education system.
“The problem is that our society is so dominated by consumerism, and people judge their level of happiness purely in terms of materialism.”
“They forget that the genuine source of happiness comes from within.”
Love Mob Montréal
Ok… vous connaissez les principes des Flash Mobs? Des gens qui se donnent rendez-vous dans un endroit pour effectuer une action qui sort de l’ordinaire, souvent dans le simple but de s’amuser.
Il y en a de plus en plus dans le monde, et à vraiment toutes les sauces !!
(Improv Everywhere en fait d’EXCELLENTS: voici une petite compilation de leurs meilleurs que j’avais mis sur mon blogue)
Cette semaine, il y en a eu un à Montréal. Comme ils l’expliquent sur leur événement Facebook, les organisateurs voulaient fêter « le 40e anniversaire du Bed-in de John Lenon et Yoko Ono pendant lequel ils chantaient l’amour et la paix. Montréal, c’est aussi la ville qui symbolise le plus l’amour en Amérique du Nord. Enfin, quoi de plus beau que de faire une grande déclaration d’amour publique!»
D’accord, alors voici une petite et belle animation qui préparaient les intéressés:
Bien faite non? On s’attend alors à quelque chose d’original, d’excentrique…
Je vous laisse regarder le montage final de l’événement.
On s’entend pour dire qu’il n’est pas mauvais… mais en tant que montréalais, ne pouvons-nous pas aller… juste une coche par dessus? Se démarquer? Que les gens se rappellent de ce vidéo? Que les gens le «ReTweet» ou le partagent sur Facebook? Parce qu’on s’entend que dans deux jours…
Je pense vraiment qu’on peut faire mieux. 
Halloween Massacre
It’s PARTY TIME…
If you are like me, you are already looking for a costume to wear this year. Yes, Halloween is my favorite holiday. I get all dressed up every year even if I’m not going trick or treating (and no you can never be too old for free chocolate and candy). If you haven’t started yet, the time has come! Get ready for the biggest Halloween party this year.
Presented by LND Productions, Halloween Massacre will be held at Bourbon Street Club St-Adele on Saturday, October 31st. This is an event not to miss! More than 4000 people are expected. There will be SIX rock bands performing live and house music by DJ Uppercut and Domenico Pandolfo. And if that’s not enough for you, get ready for some heat with live percussion (tam tam) performances by Hovo aka Dahov (www.dahov.com).
Be sure to get your costume ready because there will also be prizes for the 2 best costumes, including a trip to anywhere in the world! More than $2000 in prizes. It all starts at 9:30 p.m. and guess what… barbeque all night long. They thought of everything!
Guess what?! It does get even better! You don’t need to worry about the designated driver… they offer bus service (courtesy of Shootdown Order)! Departure from Cote-Vertu metro station at 8:00 p.m., coming back at 3:30 a.m. from Bourbon. There is a small fee of 10$ and you have to reserve in advance. You have to confirm by email shootdownorder@hotmail.com.
Tickets for the event are $15 pre-sale and $20 at the door. Get your tickets at Admissions.
Reasons to miss this party: NONE!
Keep up with them on Facebook.
Formula One Returning Home?
Ever since I was little, my dad would start bragging and getting excited about the Formula One weekend weeeeeks before and when it was finally time, he would make sure to wake up early, sit in front of the television and start yelling and cheering for his favorite drivers.
When we think of Formula 1, we automatically think Montreal summer, closing off many streets, traffic, downtown full of people who come from abroad… my dad yelling in front of the television. I think most Montrealers were as disappointed as I was when news came out that F1 would no longer be held in Montreal following a financial dispute last year. I mean, come on… Montreal has been hosting the Grand Prix since 1978. It attracts hundreds and thousands of people and brings in more than $100 million for the economy. Why would anyone in the right mind put all this in jeopardy?
I got excited again (and got my dad excited) as I came across some articles last week. It looks like negotiations are going on between Grand Prix F1 du Canada Inc. and Formula One management and if everything goes well, Montreal will be on the Formula 1 schedule again for June 2010. Normand Legault, the F1 promoter who no longer wants to be involved, said: “I never doubted that the Canadian race would regain its rightful place on the F1 schedule and my discussions with F1 management led me to believe that the event would return soon”. Now there is a down side to this; the only way to have the race back is by having the support of the provincial and municipal governments (which means our money). Mayor Gerald Tremblay stated that the F1’s return had to make economic sense.
Let’s keep our fingers crossed for F1 to be back and let’s pray that it won’t cost us tax payers an arm and a leg!
Montreal Clubbers To Welcome Two New Spots… On The Same Week-End!
For those of you who aren’t in the know, both CLUB ELEMENT and MUZIQUE NIGHTCLUB will be opening their doors during the weekend of October 9th! Let’s take a closer look at what both spots are aiming to deliver:
•••
CLUB ELEMENT
www.elementclub.ca
66 Blvd. Industriel
Saint-Eustache, QC
Straight from their Facebook group:
Venez découvrir un tout nouveau club sur la rive-nord. Un concept venant directement des plus beaux clubs de Las Vegas. Un concept rejoingnant les 4 éléments soit: air, eau, feu et terre.
OUVERT: Jeudi, Vendredi, Samedi
Right, so it’s technically not IN Montreal, but it’s in its “environs“. Not much else has been revealed as of yet: no pictures, no videos, no flyers. Their head resident DJ is DJ TaG. From what I’ve been told, ELEMENT is as far in distance & time as downtown is for Laval nightlife fiends. No traffic, simply two highways and you’re there! The official opening is on October 8th, a Thursday night, and because one of my homies is actually part of the ownership, I will no doubt be there for support!
•••
MUZIQUE NIGHTCLUB
(no website as of yet)
3718 St-Laurent Blvd.
Montreal, QC
Straight from their Facebook group (2):
Tucked away in the upper part of Montreal’s nightlife corridor, Muzique Nightclub eagerly awaits its revival of the St. Laurent night scene. Muzique features 2 rooms where a collaboration of Montreal’s best DJ’s spin a collection of Modern Urban, Electro, House and Rock, where it is finally once again possible to enjoy phenomenal music in a relaxed and elegant atmosphere. Unparalleled service and an eclectic ambiance combine to make your weekly escape a unique experience every time. Warmer nights will feature a rooftop terrace where guests can truly unwind and have fun, all the while enjoying the one club that aims to provide the essentials: good music, a more mature clientele, and most of all a place where you can truly enjoy yourself. On October 9th, Muzique invites you to attend our GRAND OPENING. Come participate in the reshaping of the nightclub experience… Remember, its about you and its about the sound. 21+ Dress to impress
Their description is pretty self-explanatory, and quite frankly, their concept is surprisingly seductive. There is no denying that their sleek logo design (seen on the above flyer) and its matching contemporary nightclub name, Muzique, make for a very powerful first impression. Yet, there is something even more impressive tucked away in their Facebook groups (one for Fridays, one for Saturdays). If you look through their Pictures section hoping to find snapshots of the exterior or interior design, you are instead presented with a clever and effective series of concept flyers (13 to be exact) which work in favor of solidifying their aspiration as an up-and-coming nightclub that is all about the music.
Here are just a few of my favorites, but I encourage you all to head over to their Photo Gallery to look at all of them:
As for DJs, the FB group lists DJ Payce & DJ Zoo in the Main Room, and DJ Kidd & DJ Goldenchild in V.I.P. Room, but here is a recent status update by Payce which also lists Keith Dean…
If I had to make a suggestion, I would strongly recommend that they get in touch with DJ Special K… Either way, as a music aficionado, I am sold on the concept and will definitely be checking Muzique out when the time comes.
Tams Tams Electroniks: Du Mont-Royal au Parc Jean-Drapeau, en passant par le Musée Juste pour Rire!
Quoi de mieux qu’un ami ou un membre de la famille qui visite Montréal pour mieux la visiter soi-même? C’est comme si on avait besoin d’une excuse pour se botter le et profiter des mille-et-une activités que la ville a à nous offrir! L’été est presque terminé, mais les journées chaudes, elles, loin de là! Et ce n’est pas seulement le soleil qui continue de chauffer le coeur des gens.
Premier stop: les tams tams du dimanche au pied du Mont-Royal. Fermez vos yeux un seul instant et vous vous retrouvez au milieu de l’Afrique. Ouvrez les et vous vous trouvez encore submergé par l’Afrique, mais cette fois en compagnie de l’Asie, des Amériques, etc.
Vous êtes à Montréal ! C’est joli et les gens s’amusent. Ils n’ont pas de soucis, ils sont même dans leur monde. C’est électrique!
Deuxième stop: le World Press Photo 2009, présenté du 4 septembre au 4 octobre 2009 au Musée Juste pour Rire, ouvert tous les jours de 11h à 22h, à seulement 5$ pour les étudiants! Et vous allez aimer, c’est sûr. Des photos sportives aux photos de tous les jours, en passant par les arts et les portraits. En marge de cette exposition principale, vous trouverez d’autres présentations très intéressantes aussi, dont Antrhopographia, une exposition de photoreportages sur les droits humains. Coeurs humains s’abstenir.
>Wu Xiaoling, China, Xinhua News Agency.
“Blood drops from the forehead of Haitian judoka Ange Mercie Jean-Baptiste, during the women’s 57kg preliminary round at the Beijing Olympics, on August 11.”
Troisième stop: le pikinik electronik. Un peu d’alcool par ici, un peu de drogue par là, mais beaucoup de danse partout! Les gens en veulent et redemandent!
party time
for and from the camera
puisque c’est mon premier article, me voici au milieu, pour que vous ayez une idée de la personne qui parle (écrit)!
Certaines personnes sont sur le site du parc Jean-Drapeau dès l’après-midi, et restent jusqu’à la fin de la soirée, voyant et entendant les DJs défiler un par un. La soirée est presque finie, les gens commencent à rentrer. C’est joli et les gens s’amusent. Ils n’ont pas de soucis, ils sont même dans leur monde. C’est rythmique !
Et vous, que faites vous dimanche prochain ?
Jay-Z Coming To Montreal After More Than 10 Years!
Back in 1998, Jay-Z released his third album, Vol. 2… Hard Knock Life, which received immense support from the fans and also spawned the biggest hit of his career at the time, Hard Knock Life (Ghetto Anthem). The North American Hard Knock Life Tour followed in the next year, with Jigga headlining alongside label mate DMX, who at the time had gained much commercial success as well. On March 11 1999, Montreal was one of the cities which received the headliners and Montrealer fans were given the chance to throw the Roc for the first time in front of their idol and one of rap’s first greats since the 2Pac/Biggie era.
10 years and 7 successful albums later, Jay-Z is now the predominant figure in the rap industry, and at the young age of 38, also one of the music industry most successful entrepreneurs. If that wasn’t enough, on September 14th 2009 (two days ago), he released his 11th studio album, The Blueprint³, officially completing his Blueprint trilogy and ironing out any details about his position as the greatest in the game today, period. To promote his recent release, Jigga will kick off a supporting tour on October 9th, and visit 20 North American cities. Luckily for us, Montreal’s Bell Center was announced as one of the venues and tickets have already gone on sale. If you haven’t bought your tickets yet, you can do so RIGHT HERE.
On October 30th, The Roc will be in the building!
Finest Kind Christmas Concert
| December 12, 2009 | ||
| 12:00 am |
