Montreal Weekender: June 27 through 30, 2013

THURSDAY
Kick off tonight on a charitable note. Le Brasero Hardi is proud to participate in the Global Party, where 360 bars, clubs and restaurants around the world come together for a good cause. Brasero Hardi will be donating to Kids for Kids, so come enjoy one of Montreal’s finest terraces, an amazing cocktail list, and a fresh and sumptuous menu, all the while raising funds for our recipient, who help raise much-needed funds for pediatric oncology at the Montreal Children’s Hospital. 

Comedy aficionados, this one’s for you! The last Laugh Pack of the season is coming up at Segal Centre for Performing Arts, so make sure and get tickets fast because they will go fast if they haven’t already. The Laugh Pack Late Show is a monthly show that features the best in emerging and professional talent, so if you dig comedy, you won’t want to miss this.?The notable part? Tickets are only $5…that’s as much as your morning cup-o-Starbucks, young professionals. One more thing: the content is mature, so leave your nieces and kids at home.

FRIDAY

Ranked as the world’s largest jazz festival by Guinness World Records, the Festival International de Jazz de Montreal has been synonymous with passion for music for over three decades. Every year Montreal welcomes global music fans to 10 days of jazz celebrations, hosting around 30 countries, 3,000 musicians and public entertainers, 1,000 concerts and activities, in 15 concert halls and on eight outdoor stages from noon to midnight. Yes, you guessed it, today is the launch! The festival is such an amazing experience in every way and a total must-attend.

Now that we got the main idea out of the way, if you don’t know which show to catch, trust us when we tell you Pink Martini must be on the menu. The suave multicultural, multilingual orchestra renowned for their swing, jazz, classical, pop and lounge mix will be taking the stage tonight. The group has racked up years of sold-out shows around the world, including numerous gigs at the Festival since 2005. Get your sway down pat – you’ll be using it throughout the whole show.

SATURDAY
Start your day by going and supporting our blue and white boys, the Montreal Impact, at the Saputo Stadium as they take on Colorado. It’s bound to be a heated and high-energy game as the fans will be out in full force chanting, cheering and dancing the team to a hopeful win! Always a great activity to do with friends, or even make a date out of it; just make sure you wear the right colours. 

Day & Night is taking place at the still new-ish Hotel 10 on St. Laurent. Every Saturday evening from 7pm and on, you can enjoy a hookah on their gorgeous terrasse, sipping away at your favourite cocktail while the party goes on with beats by Angelo Esposito. Sounds like a vacation inside our own city doesn’t it? Reservations highly recommended by the way… 

SUNDAY
Here’s a fun way to spend your day and explore our city a little. The charming Latin Quarter is hosting their Latin Quarter Festival, full of music, entertainment and sangria of course. For three days, the event will offer entertainment and activities that will make you want to celebrate in the heart of the Quartier des Spectacles. To do this, Emery and St-Denis Street will only be open to pedestrians. Some highlights? Music lovers will be able to discover new artists playing on outdoor stages, the musicians subway will make your daily routine or your urban route way more special, a giant karaoke will be available to everyone on the façade of Saint-Sulpice, the mobile Museum of Rock n Roll will give you a little history in rock, and that’s only a small bit of what’s in store. 

With Canada Day happening tomorrow, Montreal has plenty of free and fun activities and sights for you to check out. The first stop, and where the majority of the city might be congregating, sipping on cold cervezas and waving our flag around, is the Canada Day parade taking place parade on Ste. Catherine Street, from Fort to Peel, from 11am to 1pm. After the extravaganza is done, head over to the Old Port where there will be everything from dancing and food trucks to inflatable fun stuff, music and fireworks all along the water…just show up and you’ll see. Happy long weekend, everyone!