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Montreal's Pointe-à-Callière Museum has recently build a brand new pavilion, but there's something rather unusual about this exhibit. It's located deep underground and can only be accessed by an underground tunnel built in 1832.
Located in the heart of Old Montreal, Babacool brings all the traditions of Middle Eastern cuisine but combines them with a futuristic twist. The restaurant — specializing in sharing plates and natural wines — looks like it could be an impeccably decorated spaceship. It's also affordable, with plates ranging from $3 to $22.
Naturally, we started off with drinks. I got the Hi Gin cocktail, made with Tanqueray, yuzu and simple syrup to refresh me on a scorching hot day and, let me tell you, it did the trick.
My friend got the Spicy Marg with Sauza Tequila, dry curuçao, chilli salt and dehydrated chilli. Honestly, the drinks were so good that we would have tried them all if we could.
Next, we moved onto appetizers. Anyone familiar with Middle Eastern cuisine knows that appetizers mean lots and lots of dipping! We tried the hummus, labneh and mouhamara — all with freshly made za'atar pita.
Now, I don't want to brag, but I've made my way through a hummus or two and I take hummus VERY seriously. So, as a self-proclaimed expert, I can easily say this was some of the best I've had in the city to date. We also got some vine leaves (my fave!).
Moving onto mains, we shared shakshouka, a halloumi salad and shrimp served with star anise, ouzo, feta, and radish. All three dishes were fresh and beyond compare. As I always say, you know a dish is incredible when you delay your last bite just so the meal lasts a little longer.
While the food was exceptional and the drinks were beautiful, my favourite part of the whole night was the staff. Hubert, our server, is the type of server who loves people and loves what he does. He made a great night even better.
We also met Sophie Chenier, who owns Babacool along with her husband Charles Manceau and restauranteur Marco Benatar. Benatar is co-owner of other popular Montreal eateries, like Jatoba and Flyjin.
Despite being open just a few weeks, Babacool is already one of the hottest spots in town. By the time we left, there was a lineup to get inside for the late-night rush — and that was on a weeknight.
But between the amazing food and incredible vibes, it's totally worth the wait! Oh, and don't skip the monochromatic greeny-blue bathroom, regardless of whether or not you need to use it.
Babacool
Price: Plates range from $3 to $22
Cuisine: Middle Eastern
Address: 140, rue Notre-Dame O., Montreal, QC
Why You Need To Go: Delicious Middle Eastern cuisine in an exceptionally cool, futuristic setting — and the hospitality is just as good.
The screening will take place at the foot of Old Montreal in the Parc du Champs-de-Mars behind City Hall. The movie will be projected onto the wall of the Palais de Justice tower. In a Facebook post, Ville-Marie said this was a first-of-its-kind event.
The borough has selected the 2011 movie Monsieur Lazhar directed by Philippe Falardeau. The movie follows an Algerian immigrant to Montreal who "is hired to replace a popular teacher who committed suicide in her classroom," according to the IMDb plot summary. It's rated PG-13.
The event is free, but the borough warns spaces are limited. Prospective attendees are required to reserve tickets on Eventbrite. There are still spots available as of the time of writing.
The projection begins at 7:30 p.m. on Thursday, September 2. Ville-Marie also promises on-site entertainment from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m.
Attendees 13 years old and older will need to show their vaccine passports to access the site.
Get the details below.
Free Outdoor Movie Screening In Downtown Montreal
Price: Free
When: Thursday, September 2, 7:30 p.m.
Where: Parc du Champ-de-Mars
Why You Need To Go: To mark the end of summer with one last outdoor movie.
John Soares, an Old Montreal resident, took a video of the chaos on Friday at around 11:30 a.m.
The video shows the streets jam-packed and traffic gridlocked on all four sides of the intersection at rue Saint-Paul O. & rue Saint-François-Xavier, as stagnant vehicles honk continuously.
Soares posted the video to Facebook with the caption, "Going to be a fun weekend."
"If that's what it was like in the middle of the day, imagine what it's going to be like at 6 p.m. when people are trying to get home," Soares told MTL Blog.
The World Triathlon Championship is set to take place in the Old Port of Montreal from August 13 to 15.
Much of rue de la Commune Ouest will be entirely closed to cars, as will parts of rue McGill, rue Saint-Maurice, rue Saint-Henri, and rue Saint-Paul, during different periods of the weekend.
Annette Woloshen, who lives on rue Saint-Paul, said she saw cars with U.S. license plates driving in the area. Canada's land border reopened to vaccinated Americans on August 9.
"It's [...] absolute madness! I saw several cars with American plates and thought [...] the borders opened, they all rushed to see la Belle Province and now are sitting in that jam, cursing not knowing what the heck is going on in this city," Woloshen wrote on Facebook.
"I guess grocery shopping isn't happening either. Uber Eats it is."
Archaeology museum Pointe-à-Callière is bringing its popular 18th-century market back to Old Montreal this year. The museum says its market occupies the same spot as the one first established by French settlers.
Once again at the Place Royale, craftspeople will be selling their wares and demonstrating colonial skills.
In a Garden Area, "visitors can learn about herbal medicine and the ancestral plants used in the days of New France, particularly by different Indigenous communities," the museum says.
In addition, there will be showcases of "quillwork embroidery, tanning (traditional leather work), feather work and wool spinning," as well as an Indigenous medicine wheel workshop.
The market will also feature online activities, including a lecture on colonial beer-making practices, an Indigenous beadwork workshop, a storytelling event and a lecture on Indigenous languages.
The 18th-century public market will be at the Place Royale On August 28 and 29. Virtual events will continue on August 30.
