They should rename it Festiville

Montreal is easily the most vibrant city in Canada, non?

costumes

We arrived last week when Just for Laughs was in full swing (which, for the record, follows closely on the heels of the city’s outrageously huge Jazz Festival).

just-for-laughs-stage

Out of more than 200 English performances, we caught only two. (We would have attended more had we figured out earlier that we actually like stand-up comedy.) The highlight? Mike Birbiglia’s one-man riot My Girlfriend’s Boyfriend.

graffiti-coordination

I had been to Montreal before, but only in the dead of winter so it was a treat to be able to roam the streets in a vintage t-shirt (bonus points for coordinating with the graffiti!).

vintage-belt

And the vintage belt that I wore all over Quebec.

i-heart-cheese

Speaking of graffiti, I have no idea what the story is behind this tag (maybe it’s as straight forward as it looks) but I kept spotting it all over the city. And it hit close to home because there’s nothing I heart more than a slice of emmental.

cafe1

And speaking of a nice slice, Marche de la Villette in old Montreal serves up cheap(ish) breakfasts and lunches with great cheeses. L’Express on Saint Denis lives up to its hype. And, across the street from the Opus Hotel where we stayed, is Tequila Taco House, which looks like a hole in the wall but serves up amazing Mexican food.

opus-montreal

Ah, the Opus. It’s right smack dab between the shops and festival grounds of Saint Catherine and the funky boutiques, restaurants and bars of Saint Laurent and Saint Denis. Which makes its location pretty much perfect.

(Just make sure you book a room that’s not facing the hotel bar because its patio is as packed and party-full as the city itself.)

P.S. Get festive and add the Anthology on Facebook.

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15 Comments

  • Reply Rachael July 20, 2010 at 10:18 am

    Loved all your tweets from Montreal!
    What a wonderful city – I think I might try and do a semester of classes out there or something.

  • Reply kat July 20, 2010 at 10:33 am

    I love cheese!
    I know whose signature that is ;) I’ll pass this on…

  • Reply janettaylor July 20, 2010 at 10:41 am

    I love cheese too!

  • Reply Teresa July 20, 2010 at 10:41 am

    I loved Montreal and Quebec City! I over ate crepes and mussels & frites. I miss the Simon store there too. At an old job, I use to fly out to Montreal every 2-3 months and it was glorious…I loved their ‘summer of festivals’ *sigh*

  • Reply quelle July 20, 2010 at 11:36 am

    i love that cheese graffiti.

    i’ve been wanting to visit quebec for aaagggeesss yet i keep hearing people snob the non-french speaking canadians. ugh, tell me it isn’t true!

  • Reply K-L July 20, 2010 at 11:45 am

    Maybe it’s:
    I <3 Cheese houses?

  • Reply K-L July 20, 2010 at 11:48 am

    Take Two:
    I ♥ Cheese houses!

  • Reply Julia July 20, 2010 at 3:28 pm

    Was just in Montreal this past weekend! Did you ride a Bixi bike?

  • Reply Anya July 20, 2010 at 5:35 pm

    I love Montreal so much, especially Old Montreal! I could spend hours just walking around pretending I’m in France. But then again, it’s undeniably Canadian too.

    Hope you had a great trip.

  • Reply Miss Melissa July 21, 2010 at 4:35 pm

    I love the colour of your vintage tee. I’m glad you had a great trip! You’ve been travelling all over the place lucky girl!

    Melissa

  • Reply Nicole July 27, 2010 at 12:21 am

    I’ve been wanting to travel to Montreal for awhile, I hear it’s beautiful and from the looks of your photos, I heard right! I love the bright red shirt you’re sporting and your vintage belt as well. hope you had a lovely trip :)

  • Reply Bri August 9, 2010 at 5:42 pm

    haha love that I HEART CHEESE graffiti. they sure read my mind…long time no talk, K!

    xo B

  • Reply Wx November 3, 2010 at 7:03 pm

    Where did you spot that I love cheese tag? Do you remember the street name? I realllllly need to find it!!!! thx!

  • Reply Kelsey November 3, 2010 at 7:12 pm

    I spotted it right across the street from the Opus — on Sherbrook.

    Happy cheese hunting!

  • Reply Number 6 | The Anthology December 24, 2010 at 2:47 pm

    […] A graffiti artist after my own heart. I saw many beautiful things in Montreal. But this was the most ridiculous. I take comfort in the fact that there’s another cheese […]

  • Leave a Reply to Teresa