Nuit blanche... it's here! Indulge your inner night owl and take part in Montreal's annual all-nighter, as part of the Festival Montreal en Lumiere.
Public instituions, concert halls, cafes and more are burning the midnight oil in various quartiers over the city... and so is the STM, which shuttle service and metro hours extended into the early hours.
My advice: make a plan for one to three activities you can't miss, but be flexible over all. Long lines, the cold, fatigue and depleted funds can all change your plans in a heartbeat! And bring snacks and water if you can.
The full list of activities is here... but these are some that caught my eye:
The very funny Derick Lengwenus, who joined Andrew Carter Friday morning, headlines at Comedyworks
Montreal choreographer Helen Simard is inspired by Iggy Pop, the zany topless frontman of the Stooges and the granddaddy of stage diving. Tonight, you can catch Idiot, the second chapter of her Iggy-influenced dance trilogy; it focuses on his time spent in Berlin with David Bowie, when they were trying to get off drugs. The one-hour dance show incorporates playful squeaky toys, spoken word and rock concert vibes with established Montreal rockers performing live alongside four sinewy, talented dancers. Earplugs are provided – but I think you should just enjoy the blaring music! I wrote about my conversation with Helen here.
San Francisco-based magician Christian Cagigal makes frequent trips to Montreal to perform his whimsical, intimate shows. Be sure to catch Obscura at MainLine tonight: he performs card tricks and shares fables about the Devil and tempting fate.
Can you sing or hum the Game of Thrones theme without prompting? Well, fans of the HBO swords-and-sex show can check out the soundtrack played by a real orchestra! The live concert experience is at 8pm tonight at the Bell Centre.
It's the last weekend to catch Fancy Nancy, a musical for kids at the Segal: our hero is Fancy Nancy who wants to play a mermaid in a dance recital but gets cast as a tree instead! Can she still make a go of it?
The Lakeshore Light Opera presents Gilbert & Sullivan's operatic romantic comedy Patience at the Louise Chalmers theatre in Pointe-Claire on March 4-6 and 11-12. Tickets are $15-28; call 514-781-6728.
If you're up at Mt-Tremblant, take part in a world-class snow polo tournament this weekend! (Snowlo? Snow-po? Polo-neige?) The tournament is happening bear the Gray Rocks airport, with special guest and top polo player Ignacio 'Nacho' Figueras, special friend of Prince Harry and one of the faces of fashion brand Ralph Lauren!
And the monthly burlesque cabaret Charleston is Friday night at the Wiggle Room...featuring host Gloria Vanderbuilt, the sensual boylesque dancer Dew Lily et rock 'n roll dancer Sugar Vixen.