Kamehameha Snack-Bar is absolutely  spectacular. They serve lunch, dinner, and superb drinks inspired by Oahu’s North Shore surfing culture. The restaurant officially opens this Sunday, July 16th and trust me, it is worth EVERY PENNY.
So you can only imagine how thrilled I was to get a little email letting me know about a VIP 40% off sale going down on June 15, online and in-store.
The last time they had a similar sale, you had to subscribe to the mailing list, get the flyer through email, and show it in-store (including the downtown St. Catherine location, 954 Saint-Catherine St W). So it's quite possibly the same situation here.
I cannot stress this enough. You know when you're borderline late to class and those morning people think it's okay to socialize with their friends while standing side by side on the escalator which results in aggressive sighing and foot tapping until they move so you can walk up. Critics may point out, "why don't you just take the stairs"... But we all know walking up stairs is 10 times harder than walking up moving stairs. This girl does not want to be out of breath and have her makeup sweat off first thing in the AM. The struggle is real.
2. Do Not Stand In Front Of The Metro Doors And Try To Walk In Before Others Walk Out
You would think this is common courtesy, but for some reason Montrealers lose all control when it comes to the Lionel-Groulx metro station, it feels like the Hunger Games. From people smashing into you trying to walk in to the metro, to getting sandwiched between strangers, it could all be avoided if Montrealers would just stand to the side. The STM is so genius, they even put a nice big bright sticker on the floor with arrows on it to show you where to stand, therefore you have no excuses. Don't be that guy.
3. If You're The Designated Driver And All Your Friends Agree That It's "Okay" To Park In That Parking Spot And You Still Get A Ticket, You Split The Cost
Parking in Montreal is impossible to find and the signs are impossible to understand– it's so confusing. You know when you and your girls go out for supper and everyone unanimously decides the spot seems legit, and you get a ticket –the right thing to do is split the cost. You took one for the team and you got shafted, not cool.
You will never hear the end of it if you voice that you dislike poutine. "How can you not like poutine? Are you crazy?" – you're a Montrealer, you love poutine, point finale.
5. You Kinda Ignore The "Walking Man" Traffic Light Downtown 90% Of The Time
Downtown Montreal is busy, and odds are you have somewhere to be. If you're like me and work Downtown, that little walking man traffic light is optional– when it's safe of course. I do not encourage this, but we're all guilty of doing it. You know when you only have a 30 minute break but it's pay day and you want Starbucks and you need to run there because by the time you get your drink, your break is over. Caffeine>Safety. Just kidding, be safe kids.
6. Starbucks On Pay Day, Tims The Rest Of The Week
Shout out to all the broke students, treat yourselves! But only once a week, no one can afford $7 coffees every day, a double double will have to do for your daily caffeine fix.
7. Do Not Abruptly Stop Walking During Rush Hour Downtown; You'll Die
When you're walking towards the metro after a long day of school or work like everyone else, and a person in front of you decides to stop abruptly with no warning and you smash into them, sirens go off, you both go flying into the darkness and all of downtown shakes. Okay, I'm exaggerating, but no one likes to be bumping into people unexpectedly. If you realize that you're going the wrong way, find your way out by making your way to the side of the sidewalk, then make your u-turn, don't just break. Just like driving, pedestrians have rules too!
8. Do Not Blast Your Music In Public Transportation, Use Earphones
Nobody wants to hear your music because everyone wants to listen to their own, stop being selfish. I don't get how people still choose to use speakers in public transportation instead of politely listening to their own music in their headphones. If you're into listening to heavy metal at 8am, that's cool, but I want to listen to R&B.
9. Do Not Sit At The Edge Of The Double Seats In The Metro
This is pure evil. You know when you want to get a seat in the metro on the green line, but that woman with her 100 bags decided to sit at the edge of the double seats on purpose making it hard/awkward to walk over her legs to sit down in that tiny corner space... I get it, it's a great tactic to turn people off from wanting to sit next to you, everyone needs their space – but don't do it. Everyone wants a seat, everyone's tired, don't be that guy.
10. Don't Yell In Excitement When You See The New Azur Metros
You know when you're walking on St-Laurent and you have to do that awkward "Thank you" wave when the driver lets you cross the street even though you have the right of way... Every single time I don't do "the wave" I feel like an awful person and I think the driver thinks I'm rude. Just do it; it's nice and polite and the driver will feel like you weren't being a rude reckless pedestrian like most of us are.
12. Don't Be That Person Who Stands In The Front Of The Bus Instead Of Making Your Way To The Back To Make Room
You know when you're on the 113 in the morning and people are still trying to get into the bus but there's no room because of those people that decided to stay in the front instead of making their way to the back. Don't be that guy.
13. If You're Crazy Enough To Spend $12 On A Beer At The Bell Centre, Drink It Instead Of Spilling Most Of It On The Guy In Front Of You When Price Makes Another Incredible Save
Sports events are the worst time to drink beer, if you're a real fan you better chug that thing quickly because odds are you'll stand up and cheer in excitement and spill it all before you have time to drink it – especially during a Habs game.
Whenever I find a historical picture of Montreal I'm always amazed. No matter what year the picture is dated, I ask myself: "Holy shit! They had cameras?" Then I remember I'm just an idiot.
This is Sainte-Catherine Street back in 1916, and the funniest part of this picture, is that most of the buildings still exist and somehow the streets actually look better than they do today. It also appears that there are fewer potholes, though they might still be there and they've just been filled in with horse shit.
One thing's for sure, Montreal looks awesome as usual.
Circa 1916. "St Catherine Street, Montreal, Quebec." Je me souviens. 8x10 inch dry plate glass negative, Detroit Publishing Company.
Click here for the source, to buy a print or to see a higher resolution version of the photo
Only a couple of days ago, a new Japanese restaurant opened in the Faubourg downtown. Called Kinka Izakaya, the new eatery is the first Montreal branch of Kinka Family Inc, who are famed in Toronto for their series of Japanese restaurants, such as Guu Izakaya.
Since Kinka Izakaya's opening, and long before, the Kinka Family has been teasing our bellies with pictures of their menu, which simply looks amazing. We've yet to go try these dishes, but if a picture says a thousand words, the following pics of Kinka Izakaya's dishes just say delicious.
Tourists bumbling about Montreal will get a serious boon in the coming years, as the creation of free Wi-Fi hot spots on St. Catherine West and in Old Montreal has been proposed for 2017, reports TVA.
Dubbed the iMap project, the proposed idea would revamp tourists signs in Old Montreal (those red signs telling you where things are) and on St. Cats by making them easier to understand for tourists, while also functioning as a Wi-Fi hotspots. So even if a tourist gets lost, at least they can pop up Google maps.
iMap will first exist as a pilot project, launching next year, with full installation of the Wi-Fi-signs to begin in late-2016. Before any of that, a design will need to be chosen, with a competition to be held next year.
Continuing with their coffee container campaign, the Montreal Gazette will be providing your morning caffeine fix today and tomorrow outside of St. James Church (map) until 2pm. The tweet below explains it all:
We're assuming the Gazette is going to keep thingsthe same as last week, in that for you to get your free coffee, you'll first need to download the Gazette's smartphone app. Having just overhauled their online presence, the Gazette is trying to galvanize Montrealers into utilizing the newspaper's online options. Offering free coffee is a good way to do it.
Nab your free cup of coffee courtesy of the Montreal Gazette today and tomorrow outside of St. James Church on St. Catherine and City Councillors (map) until 2pm.
Get in Christmas mode people, because even though it may only be November, the Xmas festivities are already set to begin. Starbucks cups have already gone red, and more importantly, the 64th edition of the downtown Montreal Santa Clause Parade is all set to make the city brim with holiday glee at the tail end of the month.
Santa will take to the streets of Montreal on Saturday, November 22nd, with the parade beginning at 11am. Starting at du Fort, the parade will run along St. Catherine street 'til St. Urbain (map) with twenty floats, singers, dancers, and street performers comprising the street-side spectacle.
One new float never before seen in the parade tradition will be the 'Christmas Mail' float, which will be a physical testament to how Santa hates emails and would rather you write in your Christmas wish list on paper using snail mail. Old St. Nick is old school like that.
Bust out your red hats and reindeer antlers on November 22nd for the 64th Montreal Santa Clause Parade in downtown Montreal. For more information, head over to the official event listing.
François Cardinal of La Presse was intrigued by Bergeron's idea, proposed last Thursday, and decided to follow up with the official opposition leader to fully explain his idea.
Specifically, Bergeron is looking towards the stretch of St. Catherine that lies within Quartier des spectacles, between Place des Arts and Complexe Desjardin. A semi-pedestrian walkway with cars still allowed on the road, Bergeron applauds the flexibility of the street, being able to meet specific roadway needs depending on the season.
During the summer months/festival season, Quartier des Spectacles becomes a full-on pedestrian zone, while cars are allowed to use the road during the less busy months of fall, winter, and spring. Bergeron believes the same can be done with the to-be-re-purposed section of St. Cats. He also notes the St. Cats could be closed off to cars for the Christmas season as well, from December to Januaru 10th.
The aesthetics of Quartier des Spectacles road/walkway were also applauded by Bergeron, as the materials used are a bit more upscale than standard pavement. The street also accommodates roadside furniture and terrasses, all of which could be implemented on St. Catherine.
Bergeron believes this model will make St. Catherine suitable "not for the next 25 years, but for the next 100 years," as St. Catherine will remain a flexible roadway able to meet changing needs. Given how functional, and visually pleasing, the stretch of St. Cats in QdesS is, we're inclined to agree.
For more on all things Montreal, follow Michael on Twitter @MDAlimonte
Each and ever winter, without fail, the sidewalks of Montreal become icy sheets of doom. As much as the city may try to keep walkways free of ice and snow, the task is nigh impossible, and Montrealers are left with a veritable slip 'n slide beneath their boots. Heated sidewalks would solve this ever-present issue, which may become a reality on St. Catherine street, according to La Presse.
Heated sidewalks on St. Catherine street has been potentiality brought forth several times during the ongoing discussion on the future renovations to be performed on St. Cats. The idea has taken one step forward to reality, as the City of Montreal has sanctioned a feasibility study on the project.
Major points of interest for the City of Montreal will be the cost to install the heating system, the kind of energy that will be used, and how the melted water will be managed. The study is set to be finished by the end of the month, with an official decision to take place at the beginning of winter. If all goes well, work on St. Catherine's heated sidewalks will begin in 2016.
The benefits of a heated sidewalk on one of the busiest streets in Montreal are hard to ignore. Even if the system costs a lot of dough, Montreal could save a bunch of cash just in snow removal costs, and there is the idea floating around to have businesses pitch in for the costs. Hopefully cost isn't the deciding factor (like with everything else) because with how long winter lasts in Montreal, we need all the help we can get against the cold, ice, and snow.
For more on all things Montreal, follow Michael on Twitter @MDAlimonte
Intense, exciting, and a little crazy, the Spanish tradition of the "Running of the Bulls" is an insane event that looks as fun as it is potentially dangerous. A tradition of worldwide popularity held in Pamplona (and some other cities/villages) the infamous bull run has made its way to North America, and hopefully, eventually, to Montreal.
Chicago is the first North American city to migrate the Running of the Bulls, with the city's newly created "Great Bull Run." A slightly more tame (and humane) version of the original, Chicago's Bull run kept all the essential features, namely running with bulls. Organizers also tacked on a gigantic tomato fight, for some added fun.
So if Chicago can hold its own bull run, it got us thinking, why not Montreal? Montrealers are definitely crazy enough to participate, and the city already has a of exerpience organizing gigantic events and festivals. Bulls in the streets would be a new kind of challenge, but if Chicago can do it, Montreal most definitely has the brass to handle the event.
Imagine how epic it would be to have a full-blown bull run set up along St. Catherine, with Montrealers running down the street with horned mammals chasing after them. If St. Cats gets larger sidewalks, this would be even better, giving more room for runners and bulls alike, though we figure the whole street would be fair game.
A tall order for the city, and we're not expecting a bull run to happen next year or anything, but why not for Montreal' 375th anniversary in 2017? A milestone like that deserves an extra special (and death-defying) celebration like a bull run. We could even hold it in winter, so as to give Montrealers an extra edge over the bulls, who probably aren't accustom to snowy roads and sidewalks.
Wishful thinking on our part, but think about it for a second. A bull run is an entirely feasible event to organize (as Chicago has demonstrated), you know you would want to do it if you had the chance, and the city's residents would save a trip to Spain to have a similiar experience. Triple win.
What would happen if an attractive young woman decided to walk around completely topless in downtown Montreal? Would men become so aroused they would become dangerous raving animals? Would infants yell "my virgin eyes" and proceed to cry? Would other women be incredibly disgusted and call the woman a series of vulgar terms? One journalist decided to put the speculation to rest, and actually find out.
Taking off her shirt and bra, Huffington Post journalist Lili Boisvert walked around St. Cats this summer with a photographer in tow in order to document the reaction of passersby. After walking past and meeting around 200 different people, Boisvert wasn't insulted, assaulted, or sexually harassed. According to Boisvert, people didn't really seem to care too much she was bare breasted.
A little surprising, given the stigma against women showcasing their nude chests in public, and Boisvert delves into her own counter intuitive findings. Boisvert posits that the nude male torso is just as arousing as woman's, if not more so, using Ryan Gosling as a very persuasive piece of evidence, and that the female torso isn't as provocative as people think.
You may disagree with Boisvert's perspective, and you should read the full article to fully understand her argument. We personally think Montrealers are just used to seeing strange stuff and people on the streets, hence the underwhelming reaction to Boisvert's breasts. Read the full article (in French) and take a look at the photo gallery of Boisvert's experience RIGHT HERE.
For more on all things Montreal, follow Michael on Twitter @MDAlimonte
