Tip: $5 tonight for all the songs of the White Album and the group Yes after. Parc Montmorency, Laval across from metro Montmorency. You can bring your chair. Minimum: 3 hours of live music. Ciao.

Well, it’s back! This weekend:

Swapping is the new Shopping! Clean out your closet and get ready to SWAP and PARTY ’til you drop on the 3rd floor of  Just For Laughs on 2111 St-Laurent !

Here’s the low-down:
2PM – 8PM (swap ’til you drop)
8PM – 3AM (we start clearing out the clothes and there’s dancing and partying into the wee hours to benefit The S.W.A.P. Team)

Admission:
$10 if you’re swapping (see how it works below)
$15 if you’re not swapping but want to come for the DJs, party and/or raffle
$30 if you have Prada, Dolce, Chanel, Dior, or other luxury brands to swap — our VIP “Salon Couture” is JUST for you!
Click here for a list of admissible labels.

Check out their website to learn more.

May 22 to 30, 2010, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Pick up free samplings of trees native to Quebec and tree planting tips.

Tree pruning workshops
May 22, 23, 24, 29 and 30, 2010 at 11 a.m. and 2 p.m

The Tree House, set in the northeast corner of the Montréal Botanical Garden, opened its doors in July 1996.

The goal of the Tree House is to highlight the importance of trees and forests in our lives and showcase the Arboretum’s collections.

The Tree House is located on Rosemont Boulevard, between 28^th and 29^th Avenue, east of Pie-IX Boulevard.

Carta Magica will be running two tournaments, with prizes (Magic and Yu-Gi-Oh!). For more info, click here. Registration will take place from 11:00am to 11:55am at the event and the tournaments will start at noon.

There will also be a costume contest with a 100.00 to be spent at exhibitor or artist booths, one awarded every hour from noon to 4 p.m.

According to their website:

- Costumes of all genres are welcome, from designs recreated from movies, TV, comic books, fantasy art and Japanese anime, to never-before-seen original designs from the imaginations of our contestants.

- Jennifer Aubin will be in charge of the contest. Also, Henry Wong will be the official photographer.

- Costumes will be judged on originality and on how contestants fit into their character. Note: A homemade costume has an advantage over a store-bought costume.

When and where:

Sunday, May 9^th, from 11:00am to 5:00pm

Place Bonaventure, room 200-N
800, rue de la Gauchetière Ouest, Montreal (Quebec) H5A 1K6

How to get to Place Bonaventure

According to the Free Comic Book Day website:

Free Comic Book Day is a single day – the first Saturday in May each year – when participating comic book shops across North America and around the world give away comic books absolutely FREE* to anyone who comes into their stores. *Check with your local shop for their participation and rules.

To find one closest to you, go to the location page. Don’t be fooled – Canada isn’t considered international. Just type in your postal code and you will provided with participating comic book shops in your area. The ones closest to me are:

KOMICO INC.
4954 DECARIE SUITE 200 (2ND FLOOR)
MONTREAL, QC
(514) 489-4009

CAPITAINE QUEBEC
1837D ST-CATHERINE WEST
MONTREAL, QC
(514) 939-9970

LIBRAIRIE ASTRO
1844 SAINT CATHERINE STREET WEST
MONTREAL, QC
(514) 932-1139

“1,000,000 COMIX”
1418 PIERCE
MONTREAL, QC
(514) 989-9587

COSMIX
931 DECARIE BLVD
ST. LAURENT, MONTREAL, QC
(514) 744-9494

STUDIO 9 COMIC SHOP
5835 SAINT HUBERT
MONTREAL, QC
(514) 272-6043

Enjoy!

For example, one-way ticket between Montreal and Toronto, only 54.00 instead of 135.00.

Check out the VIA Rail site for details and booking.

Last year, Empty Bowls/Bols du Parage, raised over $13,000 to help feed hungry Montrealers. Going hungry because of lack of money shouldn’t happen in a city like ours. Groups are trying to help but they need funds. That’s where Empty Bowls comes in.

According to their website:

Empty Bowls is a hunger-fighting fundraiser, bringing people together for a simple but nourishing meal of soup, bread and fruit.

Soup is served in a hand-made bowl donated by a Quebec potter, which is yours to keep. Again this year, the event is a collaboration between the Congregation Dorshei Emet and the Unitarian Church of Montreal.

They held their first of two events today, at the Unitarian Church in NDG. I attended and for 20.00, I chose a beautiful hand made, uniquely glazed bowl in which I was served a delicious and generous helping of soup. At the table was a beautiful fruit basket, from which I was encouraged to choose something, as well as a bread basket filled with many different types of bread.

Because I went alone, I was able to look around and watch the people around me. There were friends, families, and others, like me, who came alone. There was a trio playing lovely music and there is a raffle, as well as a soup cookbook for sale.

100% of the proceeds are given to:

• Dépôt alimentaire NDG Food Depot
• Dorshei Emet Hanukkah Food Basket Fund
• Fondation Générations Foundation
• Multi Caf
• Santropol Roulant

Their second event will be held on Sunday, April 25, 2010 at Congregation Dorshei Emet, 18 Cleve Road, Hampstead, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.

I might be attending the one next week again with a friend. Otherwise, for sure I’ll be back next year.

~~~

Follow that rabbit to a delightful, entertaining world of childhood fantasies. Alice journeys into a world where animals talk, where races are run in circles and a deck of cards turns into a royal court! Alice’s adventure leads her to meet with a sneezing duchess and of course who could forget the Mad Hatter’s frantic tea party.  Don’t be late for this very important date at the theatre with Alice in the magical world of Wonderland.

When:

May 1, 2010 at 10:30 a.m.

Cost:

Tickets available by calling 514-288-3161 – Call to be sure there are still tickets available!
Ticket Prices: Adults: $8.00 Children: $6.00

Where:

453 St François-Xavier
Old Montreal

Where:

4908 Jean-Talon west, Montreal

When:

Thursday & Friday, April 15 & 16: 10 a.m. to 9 p.m.

Saturday, April 17: 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Sunday, April 18: noon to 5 p.m.

Joes, William Rast, Australia Luxe Collective, Rebel Yell, Young and Fabulous and Broke, T Bags, MK2K, Gypsy 05, deux lux, Chaser LA, Yummie Tummie, and Gold Hawk.

Where: 6585 St. Urbain

When:

Thursday & Friday, April 15 & 16: 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Saturday, April 17: noon to 5 p.m.

Please note: payment is cash only.

The other sale goes for one day longer. You can buy Guido & Mary and Domino at 350 Saint Paul east and 325 de la Commune east in Old Montreal.

When:

Thursday & Friday, April 15 & 16: 10 a.m. to 9 p.m.

Saturday & Sunday, April 17 & 18: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Happy shopping!