Another week, another weekender. There’s a lot of variety this week, from the world-renowned Jazz Festival to a private pool party in a stunning mansion…read on.
Thursday
Today is the start of the ever-famous Montreal Jazz Fest. There are so many music acts to see that it’s really hard to just pick one favourite. But before we head into that, let’s first stop over at the F Bar for some food and drinks. The location is ideally placed at the heart of the lively Quartier des Spectacles where most of the Jazz Festival action will be taking place. You can indulge in their Portuguese-inspired cuisine by overlooking all the happenings through their wall to ceiling windows.
Opened by Chef Ferreira, the F Bar offers two menus; one called F and the other called Bar. The bar part of the menu serves bar and brasserie food and the F side caters to a more formal setting. We have visited here a few times and personally adore the tartar and short ribs. Desserts are delightful as well, so you will definitely fill up before stopping by one of the next two shows.
Our first pick goes to the son of the immortal Bob Marley, Ziggy Marley.
Being a seasoned reggae performer, activist and actor, Ziggy found time to pay his very first visit to the Jazz Fest. Get ready to groove along with other Rasta fans at the Metropolis.
If you want to attend a great freebie, Rufus Wainwright will be blessing audiences with his rock, pop and classical mix. This grand outdoor free show will be a musical spectacle full of experimental sounds and sights. The TD Scene at La Place des Festival starts the show at 9:30pm. Stick around after to party into the night; we promise great music and a happy go-lucky crowd.
Friday
Since most of us work during daytime hours, grabbing a bite to eat today might be hard considering that the Major Lazer show starts at 5 pm at the Parc Jean-Drapeau. As part of the Piknik Electronik, Major Lazer is known to be the hottest dance party around, recently rocking the Governors Ball in NYC and getting rave reviews. Usually equipped with a hype man and some very talented dancers, their stage show will swing the crowd into a frenzy. Definitely worth attending if your looking for alternate ways to sweat off some pounds and have fun at the same time.
Glam Rockers the Scissor Sisters are stopping by the Olympia Theater tonight as well. The band has performed around the world and is known for their controversial and transgressive live shows. If that doesn’t sell you, U2’s Bono named them the best pop group in the world, which has to be worth something.
End the night with a late bite at Big in Japan on St-Laurent and Pins. We love this place for its hopping Motown music, cheap eats that include chicken wings, onigiri balls, various Rumens and other great share plates. Open ‘til 3am everyday, it’s the perfect place to binge eat late without feeling the side effects the next morning.
Saturday
Being in diner-style breakfast joints makes us feel like we got transported to the good old days. By that we mean good people, home-cooked, greasy, mouth-watering food and an open kitchen where the chefs gossip away. Welcome to Gros Jambon. An oldie but goodie has to be the fried chicken with waffles. It may sound a bit heavy, but once we tasted it, the mix of flavours and textures left all plates empty. The menu is small and easy, making the decision process very short. We recommend you try their pastries, too, which alone could fill this place up everyday.
The nighttime takes an artsy twist with the launch of the IQ Gallery and its modern art event, Rope+Thread=ism. The show will include visual art, fashion, sculpture, street performance, circus music and more (as if it needed to get any cooler). The space stretches to around 14,000 square feet in a stunning historic space built in the 1800s with cathedral inspiration. This is something unique and interactive to see and participate in – a nice change from the usual night out. The vernissage starts at 7 pm.
Sunday
Sunday brings you a very special invite that you won’t see posted anywhere unless you were cordially invited through a Facebook-targeted guestlist. Right before Canada Day, Emilie’s super pool party by the water is happening again. Last year was a big hit and this year promises to be nothing less. Sponsored by Hype Energy Drink and Social Media Heroes, this will be the buzz of Montreal on Sunday. A chic and party-ready crowd ready to network, socialize and just enjoy the summer setting will fill this stunning mansion up. Starting early at 11am, we recommend getting a good night’s sleep before attending and responding to the guest list – attendance is limited!
Image courtesy of www.paperplanes.ca
