Heading to Montreal for vacation - any suggestions, si vous plais

[tjluke68]

The wife and I are heading to Montreal for a little R&R (she wanted to go to Las Vegas again, but I have no deisre to sit in a casino for 3-4 days because it's 150 degrees outside).

I was in Montreal last when I was 10 years old (quite some time ago) and remember Mount Royale, the Notre Dame cathedral, the underground malls (or cities as they're called now), and a few other things. I believe the hotel we're staying in is on Sherbrook in an 'art gallery' area/district, but we'll have a rental car to jet around to other destinations.

I plan on checking out Modavie (restaurant with live jazz daily), but wanted to know of any other hotspots and good CD/LP stores.

Merci,

TL

Edited August 11, 2006 by tjluke68

[tjluke68]

nuttin?

[sidewinder]

It's many, many years since I was last in Montreal but for Cds it might be worth checking out the shopping area in and around St Catherine's St. Not sure if the 'Sam The Record Man' is still there but it's worth checking out that whole area anyway. The 'old' part of town is probably the best bet for jazz clubs - and is well worth checking out for its galleries and restaurants in any event. Make sure you sample the 'local' lobster/seafood ! :rsmile:

Sorry I can't help with specifics - last time I was there though was about 1990 (thoroughly enjoyed it !)

Edited August 15, 2006 by sidewinder

[Van Basten II]

It's many, many years since I was last in Montreal but for Cds it might be worth checking out the shopping area in and around St Catherine's St. Not sure if the 'Sam The Record Man' is still there but it's worth checking out that whole area anyway. The 'old' part of town is probably the best bet for jazz clubs - and is well worth checking out for its galleries and restaurants in any event. Make sure you sample the 'local' lobster/seafood ! :rsmile:

Sorry I can't help with specifics - last time I was there though was about 1990 (thoroughly enjoyed it !)

Hi i live in Montreal, so i can give you some infos.

Sam the record Man is no more, HMV and Archambault on Ste Catherine have a good selection.

I suggest you hit the used cd store Cheap Thrills also there is a bunch of used cd stores on Mont-Royal st that are worth checking out.

For local jazz acts i suggest that web site that will give you the action in live jazz around Montreal

www.sortiesjazznights.com

If you need more info, ask me.

Edited August 17, 2006 by Van Basten II

[Ed S]

Just saw this thread.....when are you going?

I've traveled to Montreal at least once a year for the past 15 years. If you have not gone and still need some ideas, I'll be happy to post some. Let me know in this thread or via PM

[tjluke68]

Thanks for the suggestions. I'll be there Sun 8/20 thru Wed 8/23 - just a short mini-vaca.

[Ed S]

If I was going on a short trip to Montreal......

Old Montreal of course. You can easily spend a day just walking around the streets, shopping in the boutiques and souvenir stores and finding a nice restaurant. There's a nice outdoor restaurant that features crepes called the Jardin Nelson. It's right behind the Hotel Nelson on Place Jacques Cartier. It gets kind of crowded though and I did not bother to try during my most recent trip. Instead I found a couple other places that served a nice casual lunch. There's this local chain called the 3 brasseurs or something like that that has a nice pubby feel and a nice selection of micro brews if beer's your thing. If you're tired, you can cool your feet off in the fountain next to the old city hall. There's a nice view of the modern downtown from there.

I'd also recommend hanging in the Old Montreal area after dark - very pretty and romantic. Lots of bars open with entertainment. Parking seemed like it was next to impossible to find though. I'd walk, take a cab or the metro.

The Montreal Museum of Fine Arts has a very nice collection. The permanent collection is free, though they do ask for a donation.

If you're on Sherbrooke in an art gallery area, I'm guessing that's going to be near the Art Museum - which means you'll be near Crescent St. It's a very pretty street with lots of restaurants. Over the years I've done the Winston Churchill Pub, the Hard Rock Cafe, the restaurant right next to Winnie's and a few others on Crescent. All decent. This year I found an Irish pub that had a great selection of beer and a pretty good steak sandwich with fresh cut fries.

A walk up Rue St Catherine is good if you or your wife like to shop. Tons of stores and people. The HMV isn't too far from St Catherine and Crescent.

The Botanical Garden is outstanding and worth a visit if you have the time. The biodome across the street in the Olympic park is nice too. You can also visit Mont Royal Park. Take a picnic lunch and and either hang out by Lac Castor or take the path up to the belvedere that overlooks the city. It's an outstanding view and nice way to spend some time together. The St Joseph Oratory was sort of cool. I'm not religious but enjoyed walking through it.

If it's raining out - there's an IMAX theatre right downtown.

You could try Biddles for jazz. I've never been there but have heard good things. Not sure if anything has changed since Charlie Biddle died a couple of years ago.

There's always the Casino too. I've never been to it though I've read that it's nice.

That's all I can think of for now.

[Kalo]

I want to go to Montreal. Maybe next summer, as an extension of my annual trip to Vermont.

I also visited there as a kid with my family, though I was about 12 at the time.

A few years ago, a crazy blind date asked me to go to the Montreal Jazz festival with her (she also wanted to give me a car, take me to the European destination of my choice, etc.) but I guess I wasn't in a "gigolo" mood at the time (or ever).

I still can't believe it myself, but it's the absolute truth.

[Rob C]

I went to Montreal a few years ago and loved it.

Hit a few good record stores, but the only one I remember specifically is Cheap Thrills, which was just great.

[Ed S]

Hope you have a great time! Let us know.

[tjluke68]

I must say Montreal is great! I was there when I was 10 but didn't know much back then ;-)

Got back from Montreal last night and had a great time. Landed Sunday in some horrible weather but made the best of it by checking out the Underground City (around rue Ste. Catherine) and buying a jacket in Simon's (forgot to bring one).

Unfortunately, the wife hates music stores since she met me 4 years ago, because I made the mistake of bringing her to a few early on and she stood around for 30 mins doing nothing. (I realized quickly that was a mistake since I don't like to be rushed, but if I'm in a new town, I definitely have to check out the selection at a few stores). So we only made it to Cheap Thrills, but nothing jumped out at me so I left w/o any music purchases for the trip.

Montreal is perhaps the cleanest city I've been in. That fact stood out moreso when I got out of the airport in Newark, NJ last night and when walking up 7th Ave NYC towards work this morning :-P The streets of Montreal are spotless, you could practically eat off the floors of the the subway stations, there was no horrible trash on the tracks and the subway/metro stations didn't smell like rotting flesh, garbage and rats. I only wish we stayed a few more months days ;-)

Dining was great. On Sunday, after we landed we ate at Van Houtte for a quick lunch around Ste Catherine and I had a great apple and brie sandwich. Sunday night we ate at Cube in the Hotel Ste Paul - pricey but mighty good. We took in some dinner and a little guitar/bass Jazz duet on Monday night at Modavie. Tuesday we drove to the top of Mont Royal and travelled to the Laurentides to Ste Agathe and Ste Savaur (spelling?) on later that day. Tuesday night we stopped in a little coffee/tea place back in Montreal, I believe called Brulerie Ste Denis. The Arctic Fire loose leaf tea was so good, we bought some to bring home.

We finished the great vacation by having lunch at a great little 'chain' called Premiere Moisson. We ended up taking a loaf of Olive Oil Sourdough bread home (thank God customs let it thru or else we would've stuffed ourselves with bread before boarding ;-)

All in all it was great! I love Montreal and hope the time between the next trip is much, much less than 27 years...