Yellow Door Choir Fundraiser for Literacy

The Yellow Door Choir is lending its powerful voice to raising money for literacy in Canada. Lest you think it’s not a problem, as a nurse – I see it often. People who can’t read instructions or prescriptions, people who are too ashamed to ask for help.

Although Montreal on the Cheap focuses on inexpensive ways to enjoy the city, I think we also need to share our fortune with those who may need some help. So, please help raise awareness and funds to help remove the barrier of literacy, which affects so many:

What: The Magic of Words / La magie des mots, concert by the Yellow Door Choir

Proceeds from the choir’s performances on May 29 and 30 will go to the Canwest Raise-a-Reader campaign.

When:  May 29 and 30, 2009,  8 p.m. (doors open at 7:30 p.m.)

Where: 5035 de Maisonneuve West, Westmount (2 blocks east of Vendôme Métro station)

Cost:  $20; students $15 (student ID required)

Tickets: Advance sales at www.yellowdoorchoir.com or by calling 514-738-9052; at the door on
concert nights

Words DO matter

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Bike-to-Work Activities Day, June 3, 2009

Operation Bike-to-Work Week runs from June 1 to 5 this year. Mid-week, on Wednesday, June 3, 2009, there is a Bike-to-Work Activities day to be held at LaFontaine Park.

According to their website, the day includes:

• ROCK DÉTENTE radio show Tout l’monde debout live from the site, from 5:30 to 9:00 a.m.
• Container of Natrel milk, between 7 and 9 a.m.
• Samples of L’Ancêtre organic cheeses on the way home
• Invigorating massage in the JEAN COUTU relaxation area
• Collection of used bikes at the Aire bleue GAZ MÉTRO, in collaboration with SOS Vélo.
• To win: a bicycle escapade in Quebec.
• PUREX samples
• Copies of LA PRESSE

Why not check it out?

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Spring Seedling & Plant Sale, May 19-21, 2009, at Concordia

If you’re looking for spring seedlings and plants at a very reasonable price – while helping support the Concordia Greenhouse Project, make sure you’re available some time between next week.

When: Tuesday, May 19, through Thursday, May 21 – 11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.

Where: The Concordia Greenhouse, 13th floor of the Hall building, 1455 De Maisonneuve Blvd., West.

According to their website:

There are vegetable seedlings, all at least 2 months old: Tomatoes, peppers, broccoli, fine herbs, basil, squash, beans and zucchini. Plus many indoor/outdoor ornamental plants will be for sale.

Prices range from $2 to $20 for seedlings and plants.

The Greenhouse is also selling their famous compost tea, fresh from their in-house vermicomposting facility. Market value is around $25 per liter, but come
and get it for only $5 a litre — a real bargain. Bring your own bottle if you can.

For more information email Paul Dwaine Fournier at concordiagreenhouse @gmail.com  or call 514-848-2424, ext. 7351.

All sales support the Concordia Greenhouse Project. Taxes included for external sales (payment cash only). No taxes applicable for internal sales (payment by journal voucher).

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Free CTV Montreal Tour – and help save local television

You may not be aware of it, but local television is in jeopardy. With all the cutbacks and businesses going under, local news and programming is taking a big hit. Just this past year, Montreal lost its only local television sports show and other shows have been slipping away.

On Saturday, May 23, 2009, starting at 9 a.m., you can visit Montreal’s local CTV studios, meet personalities and those who work behind the scenes. I’m a bit biased because I have a friend who works there and I don’t want him to be scrambling for work – so let’s keep local TV local.

Visit CTV Montreal Open House for more information on how you can reserve a spot. It’s a great way to learn about the TV station and many kids will likely enjoy this as well.

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Pointe-à-Callière’s Cultural Feast – May 30 & 31, 2009

One of my favourite museums in the city is Pointe-à-Callière in Old Montreal. I just love seeing the history of how Montreal came to be. I’m a real history buff when it comes to things like that and whenever a friend of mine visits from another country, I try to include it in our "see Montreal" tours.

On May 30 and 31, the museum is offering a "cultural feast":

A free outdoor event, Pointe-à-Callière’s Cultural Feast celebrates the art of celebrating in Montréal’s various cultural communities. Over the course of two days of festivities, visitors will be able to sink their teeth into: performances, tastings, presentations, children’s activities, food kiosks, demonstrations by chefs, traditional products, games, and much more. Setting the mood for the crowd will be some fifty kiosks that transform Place Royale and its environs into an immense cultural fair…a colourful and gastronomic site offering a taste of the various ways we eat and celebrate in Montréal.

On top of their scheduled shows, they are offering:

Saturday only: personalized badge-making, balloon-folding.
Sunday only: interactive percussion workshop (12 p.m. and 4 p.m.) and African gris-gris making workshop, (1:20 p.m. and 2:40 p.m.).
Free face-painting for children all weekend long

The museum also issued a press release:

Music, front and centre

Artists from various countries will appear on the Loto-Québec stage in Place Royale. These joyful performances will spice up the site with captivating rhythms and a festive ambience. Several renowned Montréal groups will put on enthralling performances: Maânouche Swing (Eastern Europe), Cuba Fantasy (Cuba), Bambara Trans (the Maghreb), Les Zalarmes (Québec), Arashi Daiko (Japan), Barbara & TropiCuba (the Antilles), and Afrogroove (Africa). Not to be missed on Saturday at 1 p.m. is Lynda Thalie (North Africa), who describes her songs as a blend of honey and maple syrup, as she offers a rare free performance and shares her exotic, Eastern-flavoured world with us.

A second performance site, in the form of a café bistro, will liven up Saint-Paul Street. The Maracujà trio will joyfully express its passion for Brazilian music: samba, bossa nova, and jazz standards.

Chefs share their recipes

The culinary diversity of Montréal’s cultural communities will be well represented in the Chef’s Tent. Montréal chefs will hold demonstrations and workshops in which they will share a few of the secrets of their respective styles of cuisine.

On the menu: French chef Franck Le-Cunff will present his new book Cocktails dînatoires (Éditions de l’homme) and prepare appetizers; Louis Tremblay, chef for Campagnes et cie, will prepare a salmon tartar; Stéphanie Horel, head barmaid for Ateliers et Saveurs, will offer a demonstration of cocktail recipes; Juan Mendoza, chef and advisor at Chipotle et Jalapeño restaurant, will speak about Mexican cuisine; Guy Lenoir, sommelier for Vin et Passion, will explain which wine glasses to use for various wines; Mario Jacques, chef at Pier Gabriel restaurant, will reveal a few of his secrets and finally a chef for Mirchi will offer a Indian delicacy.

Specialties for you to taste

Several Montréal restaurateurs and merchants will be set up on the site near the Chef’s Tent to sell their specialties. Mexican, African, and Haitian food, desserts, sweets, and other culinary delights-an array of flavours to tempt visitors’ taste buds. You will be able to sample churros, baklava, Berber bread, sweet and savoury crepes, as well as sushi, empanadas, pierogi, bubble tea, and-for the more daring-kangaroo meat!

Children’s activities

Children are also a top priority at Pointe-à-Callière’s Cultural Feast. Games and activities will keep them busy having fun. Quality family time with lots to discover and do! In keeping with the theme of the temporary exhibition Pirates, Privateers and Freebooters, children will be able to take part in a treasure hunt in which they will have to solve riddles. They’ll also play chef’s assistant by helping to prepare salmagundi, freebooters’ favourite food. An astonishing hodgepodge of tortoise, pigeon, beef, mangoes, and grapes…

Théâtre de la Source will also offer storytelling over the course of the entire two days of festivities, with pirate tales and the origin of popular culinary traditions as the theme. Face-painting, personalized badge-making, and balloon-folding will take place on Saturday; and Sunday will see more face-painting and an interactive percussion workshop in which children will be introduced to the music, rhythms, and songs of West Africa. Also not to be missed on Sunday at 1:20 p.m. and 2:40 p.m. is an African gris-gris making workshop, demonstrating the bogolan technique.

A lively and colourful site

Game kiosks will be set up on the site, giving visitors the opportunity to test their skills and knowledge about the pastimes of various cultures. Pétanque, awale, yoté, and crepe-flipping are among the games to be discovered. In addition, the art of table setting and the traditions of various cultural celebrations will be explored through original presentations.

This activity benefits from the financial support of the Department of Canadian Heritage and of the Old Montréal Business Development Corporation. Pointe-à-Callière’s Cultural Feast thanks its major sponsor Loto-Québec, as well as Unibroue, Vinerie du Kildare, and Domaine Pinnacle. The Museum would also like to thank CJNT, Radio Centre-Ville, La Presse, The Gazette, and Hebdos Transcontinental for their support in promoting the event.

To get more information, you can call (514) 872-9150

Where: 350 Place Royale, Corner of de la Commune, Old Montréal (PDF instructions)

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Montreal Outdoor Festival, May 22-24, 2009

Montrealers love their spring. It’s obvious by the way they bring out their short sleeves, shorts, and patio chairs as soon as the snow starts to melt. And, since 2002, we’ve also used the spring to launch the Montreal Outdoor Festival, to be held this year on May 22, 23, and 24, 2009.

Here is their website: Montreal Outdoor Festival.  While the intro information is in English, it looks like the rest of it is in French. If you have trouble understanding it, leave a comment here and I’ll translate some of it for you. You could also try BabelFish, which gives a semi decent translation a good bit of the time.

Whether you think of it as Montreal Cheap or Montreal Fun, this could be just up your alley.

According to Montreal Families, "The Montreal Outdoor Festival, held at Jean Drapeau Park, will have more than 95 workshops where visitors can learn about camping, outdoor cooking, mountain biking and other sports. The festival site will be open May 22 from 1 p.m. to 7 p.m. and May 23 and 24 from 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m."

Where:

Parc Jean-Drapeau
Montréal

Metro : Jean-Drapeau

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Montreal Jazz Festival – FREE Stevie Wonder Concert

Montreal’s 30th International Jazz Festival is looking to being a fantastic event. Just look at the opening show: Stevie Wonder – and the show is free. Costs nothing. No charge. For Stevie Wonder. Definitely a candidate for a “cheap Montreal” event.

When: June 30, 2009 at 9:30 PM

Where: Scène General Motors

Check out the Jazz Festival website to learn about more

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Save electricity and $$ with pool timer rebate from Hydro QC

If you have a swimming pool and don’t yet have the filter on a timer, Hydro Quebec is offering you an instant rebate of 10.00 on specified pool timers at participating stores.

According to their website, you could save up to 85.00 over the summer. Before buying a timer, check out their Pool Timer information page, which gives information on what type of timer might be best for your particular situation.

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Last minute tickets for shows and events

If you’re the sort who likes to wait until the last minute to decide how to spend your evening, La Vitrine is a website you might like. According to the website:

Are you scrambling to get tickets to an event that will be held today?

Hey, no worries we have them!

La Vitrine has all of the remaining tickets for most event in the region—often at reduced rates! Launched and managed by the cultural community, La Vitrine receives tickets from ticketing networks and independent ticketing agents for sale to the public. La Vitrine also sells tickets from small cultural companies that, due to a lack of resources or insufficient business volume, do not join existing ticketing networks.

So why not bookmark the site or sign up for their newsletter? You never know what great shows you may stumble upon.

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Bike & Roller blade rentals – great for families and visitors to Montreal too

If you don’t have your own bike or rollerblades to enjoy Montreal’s beautiful outdoors or if you’re visiting from out of town and would like to get outside and get some exercise, here’s a reasonable-cost solution: rent.

In Old Montreal, Ça Roule Montréal (Montreal On Wheels) offers you this option. They have regular bikes, tandem bikes, and even stroller bikes. If you rent blades, you also get the protective equipment. According to their site: "Included : helmet, lock, bike trail map, repair kit, full protective gear for Rollerblades."

You’d best check their grid for pricing, but prices vary depending on the day of the week, how long you want it and what time you’re getting it. There are half day deals that start at 2 pm. For example, a bike during a weekday would be 8.00 for the first hour and 8.00 for each added hour, but 20.00 flat for a half day, starting after 2. A refurbished bike would go for 15.00 for the half day.

Skates are 9.00 for the first hour any day, then 4.00 for each hour after on weekdays or 4.50 on weekends and holidays.

You can also rent for a flat 24 hours, 35.00 for a bike during a weekday, 28 for skates.

Where: 10 minute walk from Champs De Mars or Place D’Armes subway stations or by bus # 55 last stop

27 De La Commune East, Montreal
(514) 866-0633   Toll free 1-877-866-0633

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