She Does Montreal

by Heidi Craig
Spring has sprung in Montreal; what better way to celebrate the season than with a spanking new bike, care of the Ville Marie Borough? For the first time ever, the City of Montreal will be auctioning off bikes that were left for dead by their previous owners, as well as those that were removed by city workers who didn’t like the looks of them. Over 100 bikes will be on the docket. The City promises you won’t find a better deal elsewhere, everything must go! Just be prepared to out-peddle irate bikers who had their locks cut last year and recognize their rides. read more...

Pastel daydreams of Spring 2010
By Jennifer Charlebois
Photo credits: Nico Stinghe

As if predicting the ensuing warm and sunnies, on the cusp of Montreal’s Semaine de Mode, the cold and chill were forgotten one slushy evening to make way for all things bright and breezy in delicate taste of printempts from FINN cultured + cured.

FINN’s Spring 2010 runway show, The Good, The Bad and The Beautiful, showcased playful and flirty new styles, juxtaposing the stark black and whites of winter with pale yellows, corals and blues, and spring footwear from Aldo Group’s Little Burgundy. read more...

by Heidi Craig

A visit to Big in Japan is mandatory for anyone who thinks Japanese cuisine is limited to sushi and sake. This new Japanese brasserie, now in its 3rd week, occupies the primo corner location on St Laurent & Pine, and though the ghost of Pistol haunts some aspects of the space (in terms of décor, imagine Pistol’s cheesy gangster motifs, but with Japanese stuff glued on top), in other respects it clearly outshines its predecessor.

For example, while ordering snacks at Pistol was liquor-license-loophole chore, the food at Big in Japan’s is the main attraction. My companion and I dined there on a quiet Tuesday last week, and got a crash course in Japanese comfort food in the process. read more...

Wednesday  

Rock Night’s 5th Anniversary Party @ Tokyo Bar 
Tokyo Wednesdays’ Rock Night celebrates its 5th anniversary with a nautical themed bash. Starring DJs Meals on Wheels, Jordan Dare, Roxy Moron and Alex of We are Wolves. Enjoy your 2 for 1 beer on the heated outdoor terrace and be wowed by the promised “special surprises.” Nautical attire recommended (sailor hats, striped shirts, eye patches).
10pm. Free. Tokyo Bar – 3709 St Laurent.   read more...

March 17 – 28

Neon Nightz

As a local, I always thought Montreal’s reputation as a hot bed of tawdry hedonism was unfair. Neon signs blaring Danseuse Nues and Danse Contacte were part of the landscape, just because they were written in French didn’t make them any sexier. Club Supersexe’s logo was no cause for alarm – to me it was just 3 flying Lady Supermen in bikinis (I was 5, ok?). read more...

Since its inception in 2006, the Montreal Human Rights Film Festival (MHRFF) has become one of the major cultural manifestations addressing the topic of human rights violations here and elsewhere in the world. This independent and nonpartisan festival celebrates its 5th anniversary this year with presentations of 63 films from 20 countries. read more...

Wanna dress up? In the mood to get groped by a drunk lout in a tux? Then have I got the event for you! The St Patrick’s Society Annual Ball takes place this Friday, March 12, at the Marriott Chateau Champlain. One of the more affordable events on the Montreal social calendar, things always wee bit sloppy at this fancy-dress shindig. The formal ball begins with a welcome cocktail (a frothy pint of Guiness, natch), then continues with a champagne toast, four course dinner (wine included), and dancing. Live performances of Irish dancing and music are featured throughout. The night concludes with a pub night (cash bar) hosted by Hurley's Irish Pub and swearing of liquor forever...  read more...

The Fokus Gallery (Nantha’s Kitchen) will host a post St-Patrick's Day Parade party this Sunday to celebrate the opening of artist Kent Thomson's "Acid Landscapes" exhibition. His intensely hued landscapes are reminiscent of a wavy-gravy woodland spite’s best LSD trip.  Or something.  

Nantha will be serving up a not-so-traditional green Thai curry/Irish stew.  The $10 entrance fee includes dinner and snacks, bring your own Irish tipple of choice! 

Musicians will be playing traditional Celtic music live in-house to continue the St-Paddy's festivities.  read more...

Q: What do my mother, two sisters, best friend, boyfriend and ex-boyfriend all have in common?

A: Besides being totes in love with me, they all rely on Sheldon (as do I) to transform them from shabby ragamuffins into well-groomed dream-boats (‘cept you, Mom. You’re always perfect). Sound familiar? That’s because, way back in August, I told you about Sheldon’s unassuming hair grotto, tucked away on a quiet street on Pine Ave. I gushed about the salon’s vintage décor, and of course, about Sheldon’s perfect cuts. read more...

by Heidi Craig

Tuesday – Sunday  

A Line in the Sand @ Segal Centre   
Tableau D'Hôte Theatre closes off its 5th season with Marcus Youssef & Guillermo Verdicchia's critically acclaimed A Line in the Sand. Inspired by Albert Camus’s L’Etranger and true events, A Line in the Sand is the story of an unlikely friendship between a Palestinian black marketer and a Canadian solider stationed in the Persian Gulf. Directed by Mike Payette.  
8pm. Ongoing until March 21st.

General admission $22; Student/seniors $15. Group rates available.
Call 514.848.9696 or visit http://cshow.ca for tickets.

Segal Centre, 5170 Côte-Sainte-Catherine.  

Wednesday  

Shirin Ebadi Lecture @ Concordia 
As part of Women’s Week celebrations, CSU Speaker Series hosts the 2003 Nobel Peace Prize Winner, Shirin Ebadi. Ebadi was the first Iranian to win the Nobel Peace Prize, awarded for her outspoken campaigns for human rights and democracy in Iran. She will give a lecture on " Peace, Women and Iran." read more...