Montrealers like it spooky and spicy leading up to Halloween, but a decoration on one Ahuntsic road might be a step too far for some. A duct-taped figure strung up in a tree over the sidewalk on rue Saint-Urbain is sparking debate about what's appropriate for the season.
Manish Patwari posted a photo of the homemade decoration to the "Montreal Then and Now" Facebook group, along with shots of nearby plastic skeletons and graveyard props. Members were quick to react and a fiery debate ensued.
Most commenters called the installation "disturbing" and in "bad taste." Some even likened it to a lynching, calling it a "reminder of the horrendous act against many people in the world who have lost their lives in this horrific way."
Others called for consideration of viewers, particularly immigrants and refugees, who might be from war-torn parts of the world and called for compassion.
"Compassion for people who are offended by an old pair of pants, shirt and shoes full of leaves?" replied another, who said the installation didn't prompt the lynching connection for everyone.
"It's Halloween, it is supposed to be spooky, weird AND disturbing. You know… being afraid… feeling uncomfortable," one poster continued. "People really miss [the] sense of art and humour."
"Skeletons are just fine, but a fresh one that has yet to decompose is not?" asked another.
For many, their biggest issue with the suspended cadaver is how lifelike it is. "For a second I thought it was a real person. I'll pass on this type of decoration," said a member of the group.
With the ongoing controversy, it remains to be seen if the decoration will stay up until Halloween.
Free plant giveaways are returning to at least four Montreal boroughs this spring. Three others are either hinting at forthcoming giveaway plans or will give out other gardening items.
So far, the Plateau Mont-Royal, Rosemont–La-Petite-Patrie, and Ahuntsic-Cartierville have shared giveaway details on their official Facebook pages. Ville en Vert, a local organization that advocates for sustainable development, has also published plant giveaway plans for Villeray–Saint-Michel–Parc-Extension.
Here are the details.
Plateau Mont-Royal
Plateau residents can claim free annuals, perennials, compost and mulch at three different locations on May 28: the Maison de l'amitié (120, avenue Duluth E.), the Maison d'Aurore (4816, rue Garnier), and Les Amis du Champ des Possibles (giveaway will be on rue St-Viateur between rues Waverly and Esplanade).
The distribution will take place on a first-come-first-served basis. Attendees need to bring an ID to get the goods.
The borough also promises on-site activities "on the themes of urban agriculture, gardening and food security."
Rosemont–La-Petite-Patrie
Rosemont–La-Petite-Patrie will have flowers and potted plants available for residents at three locations on May 27 and 28: the Aréna Père-Marquette (1600, rue de Drucourt), the Centre d’activités Étienne-Desmarteau (3430, rue de Bellechasse), and the Chalet du parc Lafond (3500, avenue Laurier E.).
Unlike Plateau residents, Rosepatrien.nes will have to sign up before heading to a distribution site. Only residents who put their names down will get plants. They'll also need to bring a proof of address.
Sign-ups open at noon on Monday, May 9.
Ahuntsic-Cartierville
Same deal in Ahuntsic-Cartierville. Individual residents will have to sign-up via an online form that will go live at 9 a.m. on May 3.
The flower giveaway itself will happen on May 28 at Parc de Mésy (12120, rue Grenet), Site Louvain E. (999, rue de Louvain E.) and Parc du Sault-au-Récollet (10550, rue De Saint-Firmin).
Villeray—Saint-Michel—Parc-Extension
According to Ville en Vert, there will be two plant distribution sites in the borough. Villeray and Parc-Ex residents will get their greenery at the Parc Jarry north parking lot between rue Jarry and avenue de l'Esplanade. Residents of Saint-Michel and the François-Perrault neighbourhood will have to go to "the fenced-in area" behind the Parc François-Perrault pool.
All borough residents will have to sign-up in advance. Ville en Vert says more details are coming to the borough's Facebook page.
The giveaway will take place on May 21.
Other boroughs
Lachine, Mercier–Hochelaga-Maisonneuve, and Ville-Marie are also planning to give out gardening supplies.
Mercier–Hochelaga-Maisonneuve teased a forthcoming plant giveaway in a Facebook post on April 20, suggesting more details would go out through the borough newsletter.
Lachine will give free compost material to residents who bring a proof of address and their own bags to the Centre technique de Lachine (2200, rue Saint-Antoine) on May 7.
And residents of Ville-Marie can inquire about getting free seeds for their gardens by contacting the Éco-quartier de Peter-McGill (514 933-1069), Éco-quartier de Saint-Jacques (514 522-4053 ex.205), or SEM Éco-quartier de Sainte-Marie (514-523-9220).
On March 17 around 4 a.m., Montreal police received a 911 call about a man who was stabbed inside an apartment in Ahuntsic on rue Fleury Est near rue Saint-Hubert.
"From the first testimony that we have, it seems like a conflict began between two persons inside the apartment. The suspect then took a sharp object and then stabbed the victim at least one time on his upper body," SPVM spokesperson Manuel Couture told MTL Blog. Police are considering this incident "armed assault."
The victim, a 24-year-old man, was transported to the hospital upon police arrival. "He was conscious during his transport," Couture said.
When police arrived at the scene, the suspect, also a 24-year-old man, was still there. He was arrested, according to police.
Couture said that the suspect "has been transported to the detention centre in order to be questioned by the investigators."
A crime scene was "established" early Thursday morning, but police said it shouldn't cause any impact on traffic.
No more information was available at the time of writing this article.
This article's cover image was used for illustrative purposes only.
Thankfully, we're in a city where we can get pho in pretty much any corner. And although there are tons of awesome Vietnamese restaurants in Montreal for pho, a select few truly stand out.
Hey, you know how everyone jokes that "pizza is bae" or "pizza is better than a relationship" or "all I need in this life of sin is me and my extra cheese, thin crust slab of pizza"? Haha, yeah. Those aren't jokes. They're facts.
Luckily, Montreal knows how to do pizza so, so right. There are tons of different sorts of pizza in the city, but one of the best kinds you can get? A nice plate of doughy, gooey, delicious authentic Italian pizza, preferably straight from a wood-burning oven.
Although there are a whole bunch of pizza restaurants in Montreal for an authentic slice, a select few really stand out from the bunch.
Alright friends, show of hands: who here has ever been to Montreal's Ahuntsic? If you've never explored this gorgeous borough, trust me, you need to - and then you need to get yourself to Sapori Di Napoli.
A super authentic, cozy Italian restaurant, this spot serves up delicious food. Their gnocchi are to die for; but their pizzas? Well, they're on a whole level of their own.
Situated in downtown Montreal, you totally need to check out this Italian restaurant/super authentic pizzeria.
Not only will their dishes bring real, authentic, foodie tears of happines, but the way this spot is decorated is above and beyond beautiful. If you want to go to Italy without leaving Montreal, then you know exactly where you've got to go.
This Little Italy pizza spot is one of my personal faves. I can't even begin to describe how delicious the pizza is here, served up fresh from a wood-burning oven and with an indescribably unique, delicious taste.
This Mile End Italian restaurant is doing pizza so, so right. Everything - from the dough, to the sauce, to the toppings - is super fresh, and incredibly high-quality, making for one mindblowing authentic pizza experience you won't soon forget.
This Old Montreal restaurant is actually one of the best spots you can go to to get yourself a super authentic Italian pizza. Honestly, while every single component of the pizza shines, the real star of the show is probably the crust - cooked to absolute perfection, fluffy on the inside and crispy on the outside, it's almost as if it melts in your mouth.
Located in The Plateau, this pizza spot is known for serving up some incredibly authentic pizzas. They've got two different "types" - both with sauce and without - and both are incredibly tasty. Top off your meal with their Nutella pizza, and prepare for maximum happiness.
This downtown Montreal restaurant is all the pizza goals. They've got a huge selection of pizzas, calzones, and other menu items to choose from - but no matter what you pick, you know you're going to end up with something amazing.
The pizza at Gema is seriously unlike anything you'll ever try. The crust is crispy and perfectly cooked; the sauce is flavourful yet subtle; and the toppings are always fresh, delicious, and incredibly unique.
This St. Leonard Italian restaurant has been serving up authentic Italian pizza, served up hot from a wood burning oven, for decades. Although their pizza will leave you in real life tears of happiness, feel free to explore their menu - their calamari in particular will leave you drooling.
If you're looking for a spot to nosh on some of the tastiest pizza you can find, then look no further. Located in Montreal's Plateau, Magpie is incredibly popular among pizza lovers - and one taste of their crisp, fluffy, delicious pies will tell you exactly why.
I don't know about you guys, but I personally am so not into restaurants that have amazing food, awesome vibes, and staff that are dedicated AF to taking your dining experience to the next level.
I mean, I don't know about you, but I personally hate it when my souvlaki is delicious, with thick and tender chunks of pork, fresh vegetables, and the most flavourful tzatziki sauce ever.
Situated in St. Leonard, this sushi/fusion restaurant serves up a Japanese poutine with lobster and tempura-encrusted sweet potato fries, as well as some really fresh and tasty sushi. Which is cool, I guess, if you're into that.
An authentic poke experience, right in Montreal, complete with Hawaiian inspired decor and dishes created using only the freshest and tastiest ingredients? Not for me, thanks.
If you like to eat wholesome versions of your favourite food - like sushi, sandwiches, and more - and weep tears of pure food joy, never ever go to Vivalia
A bistro in the heart of Old Montreal focusing on totally organic and fresh food (like smoothies, sushi, sandwiches, falafels, and more) that actually tastes amazing? That's a no from me, TBH.
Fresh and crispy falafels, juicy and flavourful shish taouk, delicious fattoush salad, and pretty much the tastiest Middle Eastern dishes ever? Um, count me out, thanks.
* If the pictures, links, and descriptions in this article didn't already tip you off, this piece is meant to be sarcastic. All these places are awesome, and you absolutely need to pay them a visit ASAP. ;)
I don't know what it is about pho soup, but it's seriously amazing. When you have a really, really good bowl of pho, it's like your whole world stops; it's just you and the soup.
Montreal does definitely have a good amount of awesome spots to cop a bowl of pho, but one of the ones that stands out the most, IMO, is actually a little hidden.
Pho Mymy (9460 Boulevard De L'Acadie) is located in Ahuntsic, on a hidden stretch of L'Acadie Boulevard right near Marche-Centrale.
Even though it might be out of the way for some of us, trust me when I tell you that it's more than worth the trek. The pho delights here are unlike any I, personally, have ever tasted.
They've got a wide variety of pho soups to choose from, including my personal favourite, their Tai Nam Gan (rare beef, flank, and soft tendon) soup. They also do a seriously awesome spicy beef Bun Bo Hue soup.
I've actually tried a couple of different soups on their menu, though, and I can tell you that no matter what you get, their broth is always complex and flavourful, and their ingredients are always top of the line and super fresh.
However, if you're not in a pho kind of mood, then no worries. Pho Mymy has a wide variety of Vietnamese dishes, all made with the same obvious love that their pho soups are made with.
Their crispy noodle sautes, for example? Out. Of. This. World. Some crispy noodle dishes I've tried in the past tend to be a little bland, IMO, but this spot really knows how to bring out the flavour in whatever you're eating.
Guys, Greek food is actually some of the best cuisine to ever grace the planet. I mean, calamari? Feta? Spanakopita? Taramosalata? Yes, yes, yes, and yaaassssss.
Being a great fan of Greek food, I've been to quite a few spots that consistently blow me away. But no other spot is as good as one hidden gem, located in Montreal's Ahuntsic.
My favourite is their pork souvlaki pita: chunks of tender, flavourful pork stuffed into a crispy-yet-soft pita (one of the best straight-up pitas I've ever tried, BTW), with onions, tomatoes, and the tastiest tzatziki sauce I've ever tried.
They have a huge variety of dishes to pick from, like lamb chops, butterfly shrimps, and calamari - all of which is cooked to perfection and super flavourful. And although I love their pork pita, they also have chicken and gyros souvlaki, which is super tasty, as well.
Oh, and sidenote: their taramosalata (that pink sauce made with caviar you sometimes see at Greek restaurants) is the. Real. Deal. So flavourufl, so creamy, so good.
Guys, Montreal does a lot of things right... but one of the things we do so, so perfectly? Brunch, guys. I firmly believe that nobody can touch our brunch game.
This Villeray spot is known for its tasty Spanish dishes and its awesome service - but the brunch here pretty much takes the cake. Order the pancakes, and prepare to be amazed.
The OG awesome brunch spot in Montreal, there's absolutely nothing that this Rosemont spot doesn't slay. (Pro tip: the french toast here is out. Of. This. World.)
Not only does this spot boast a super cool vibe and a chill ambiance (and a Wine Wednesday special!), but their menu also happens to be top notch. Three words: breakfast banh mi.
Honestly, this Ahuntsic spot is more than worth the trip for those of you who aren't close to go on the daily. Their ingredients are top notch, and come together to make some awesome dishes.
The love I have for Arthurs Nosh Bar knows no bounds. They have a super cool and modern ambiance, and their food is amazing - especially their latkes, which are legit life.
TBH, what on this earth could be better than an English-inspired brunch? Nothing, friends; plus, the quality of the food at Lawrence? Actually amazing.
Honestly, there is nothing that Sparrow cannot slay in the brunch realm. They offer unique and tasty dishes... trust, their Turkish Breakfast Plate are is on a level of its own.
At this stage in the game, I don't think I need to tell you guys that food is pretty much my life. Eating out is just a part of my routine at this point, and discovering new and awesome places to nosh is kind of in my blood.
Which can get kind of expensive, if I'm being honest. Luckily, being a restaurant lover also means that I know how to hunt for some pretty inexpensive food deals. Munching on good food doesn't always mean shelling out all kinds of money; in Montreal, there are tons of places where you can eat amazing food for even under $20.
This is especially true for Montreal's Boulevard Saint Laurent, the beloved boulevard known as the Main. Don't believe me? Well, guys, prepare to believe.
Real talk, Nudo is one of my favourite spots in Chinatown. They specialize in serving up fresh noodles in either wet or dry dishes (including a seriously tasty version of peanut butter noodles) - all of which run within the $10 range. So, friends who are fans of fresh food and tasty dishes, prepare to have your whole dining scene changed.
I remember having porchetta sandwiches all the time when I was a kid (especially at weddings), and if that slow-roasted, flavourful pork is as nostalgic to you as it is to me, then you're going to love Little Italy's Porchetta. If you've never tried this delacacy, though, then no worries. For less than $10, you can secure yourself a tasty porchetta sandwich, and prepare to fall in love.
Vegetarian food lovers, rejoice. Le Cagibi is known for carrying some seriously delicious, seriously fresh vegetarian dishes, like veggie chili, tofu scrambles, and breakfast burritos - all of which is served up for under $10.
Good news, breakfast lovers. Cafe Veritas is a healthy cafe, and serves up things like sandwiches, salads, and, yes, even super healthy breakfasts. Although that's pretty amazing in and of itself, the super affordable prices (think less than $15 for breakfast) propel this place onto a whole other level.
Some of the best Portuguese food I've ever tried also happens to have some of the most affordable prices out there. One of their sandwiches, complete with salad and fries, for example, won't even begin to break the bank, meaning you can enjoy awesome Portuguese food without going broke.
This Plateau restaurant has everything you could ever want, all for super inexpensive. Craving hamburgers? They got you. Craving poutine? They got you. Craving food without having to throw off your budget? They definitely got you, friends.
Who here loves bento boxes? Everyone? Great, because bento boxes are highkey awesome, and this Japanese restaurant happens to serve up some seriously awesome bento boxes for cheap. Other inexpensive selections on their menu include their chicken karaage, spicy pork soup, and makoto katsu dishes, all of which will put you out less than $15.
True say, the roti here is so amazing it might bring actual tears to your eyes. It's okay, though. No one will judge you for those happiness tears. One taste of these deliciously seasoned delights (especially with their signature tasty pumpkin added into the mix), and people will understand exactly what you're going through.
Dumpling lovers, this one's for you. HarBin offers a wide array of traditional Chinese soup dumplings, either steamed, boiled, or fried, all for well under the $15 mark. If you're down to add an appetizer to the mix, try their dry sausage. It's got a super unique flavour, and for $5, it's practically a steal.
A tiny, cozy restaurant situated in Montreal's Chinatown, Nouilles De Lan Zhou secializes in one thing: Lan Zhou type noodles. They've got hot and cold noodle options available for you to choose from, and a few other menu items, but the star of the show here is clearly the homemade and tasty Lan Zhou noodle. Prices generally tend to run for under $15, so you can fill up your stomach without emptying your wallet.
Focusing on fresh and tasty foods, with an emphasis on Mediterranean cuisine, a meal at Omnivore will leave you feeling satisfied, refreshed, and rich AF. Why? Because most dishes here are well under $20, with their Carnivore (featuring beef, chicken, lentil and rice) dish coming up at only $15.
This classic poutine joint is situated in Montreal's Plateau, and is pretty famous in the city. Mainly because their poutines were taken from the poutine heavens themselves, I'm convinced. A regular poutine, served up with a signature olive on top, won't cost you more than roughly $10.
A classic Montreal institution, there's no way you can be in Montreal for any amount of time and not nosh on one of the signature hot dogs and/or poutines at this casse-croute. Best part? A very hearty meal here absolutely won't run you up more than $15.
This taco spot is known for their above and beyond awesome Mexican fare, including beer chicken tacos and shrimp and "grits" plate. Dishes will cost you a max of about $12, with most things costing less than $10 - and all tacos under the $6 mark.
In Montrealwe often make fun of city workers. Like why it takes 5 of them to plant a tree, or that they have no idea how to fill potholes properly. But this time, I think they're exaggerating a bit.
Yesterday, a story from CBC was circulating online about how the City of Montreal needed to call upon its most experienced workers to draw straight lines on bike paths.
You wouldn't thinkthat was necessary, until you see the handy work of the first crew.
If that wasn't bad enough, in many other areas the streets weren't even cleaned properly so the workers actually painted over the debris.
Now Montreal's Mayor is calling for the boroughs of Plateau, Ahuntsic and Rosemont–La Petite–Patrie to repaint the lines, but not until they retrain 90 blue collar workers to paint straight lines.
I assumethis technique involved giving them coloring books and only hiring those who don't go over the lines.
Now insteadof letting the screw-ups have another go at it, and before we waste any more time and money re-training them, I have a better idea.
Why not let the street artists of Montreal paint the paths?
They already love painting, they would probably do it for free (minus the cost of materials), and we would have the prettiest bike paths in the world.
We're always talking about street art in Montreal, so why not turn the streets into actual art? It could be like the new MuralFest, but with a lot more places to paint, and every borough could have their own themes and colors.
Recently the city was talking about making manhole covers prettier, but lets face it: No matter how pretty the covers are, they're still just pretty lids for a shit-filled pipe. Why not beautify something more useful instead?
What do you think? Is this idea crazy, or am I on to something?
