unmapped montreal newsletter

8/8/2019 UnMapped Montreal Newsletter

1/12Spring 2010

From the EditorsAh,springtimeinMontreal.Aftersuchaharshwinter,residentsoftheislandofMontrealarecomingoutofhibernationtoenjoythesun,longeveningwalksandthebeautifulcityinwhichwelive.Welcometoourspring2010editionofunMappedMontreal,aseasonalnewsletterdedicatedtotheislandsactivitiesandattractionsthatextendbeyondtheusualventuresandvenues.ThisissueincludessomeofMontrealsbest-keptsecrets:funactivities,museumstoperuse,andrestaurantstotryout.If,likeus,youfeelyouknowthelayoutoftheFineArtsMuseumbyheart,optforachangeofsceneryattheBelgoBuilding.Ifyoureonarst-namebasiswiththeanimalsattheBiodome,

atriptotheEcomuseumisinorder.ReadaboutaconvertedArtDecobathhouse,andabagelbattlefortheages,andsupportanexpandinglocalbusinessbygivingBixiago.Ourcontributorsareeitherlocalorvisitingstudentsandhaveawiderangeofinterests.Followthisguideandyouresuretondsomethinginterestingtodowithinthesepagesfromanyareaoftheisland.StaytunedforoursummereditionwhichwillincludecoverageontheTamTamsfestival,greatpublicbeaches,surnglessonsintheLachineCanal,thebestrestaurantswithterracesandmuchmore.Inthemeantime,dontforgettocheckouttheannualFestivalTransAmeriques,anannualtheatreanddancefestival,fromMay26toJune12(www.fta.qc.ca).Wehopeyouenjoyournewsletterandcantwaittoreadyourcommentsandsuggestions. MARIE-CLAIREEYLOTT&SARASTARKEY

Volume1,IssueSpring201

Concentrated CultureBYMORGANTODDTheBelgoBuilding,locatedat372St.CatherineWest,islledwitharichhistoryinMontrealsart-centricsubculture.Thebuildingwasconstructedaround1910,andwasusedasawarehouseandmanufacturingspaceforthefurandgarmenttrades.Presently,thesix-storyestablishmentisnowlledwithmostly,artistanddancestudios.Enteringthefoyeryouwillnoticeaquaintcoffeehouse;itllstheairwiththelingeringandintoxicatingscentoffreshespresso.Thereisawelcoming,majestic,marblestaircaseitsashamethatthestairsarenotilluminatedtoseethemintheirfullandglowingglory.

EmergingfromthegloriousstaircaseIarriveontherstoor.Iwalkthroughtheneutralhalls,withwornhardwoodoors,barredandwelcomingspaces,

theonlywayIcandescribethespaceisdilapidated-chic.Indemployeesfromnearbyswarmingtotheboisterousgym,thehappeningkungfustudio,

Continued on Page 2

IN THIS ISSUEFromtheEditors 1

ConcentratedCulture 1

AHistoricalHome 2

MeanderingMemories 3

ARevolutionRevisited 4

VibrantVillage 4

BagelBakeryBattle 5

WineandDineforLess 6DapperDentistry 6

OverlookedArt 7

ArtinthePark 8

EducationalActivities 9

MobilizedExercise 10

SpringontheSummit 11

PerfectPanoramas 12

Editors

MARIE-CLAIREEYLOTT

SARASTARKEY

Proofreader

STEFANSOBANSKI

Visual Design

CHRISTINEFOURNIER

Layout Design

MORGANTODD

Photo: Christine Fournier


2/12

2 Spring 2010

orthesereneandstylishyogastudiotosqueezeinaquickworkout.Theatmosphereisinvigorating,withahintofhardworkanddedication,Iwasintriguedandtemptedtoexploreatleastonearea.ItriedtodropinatAshtangaYogaMontreal,butIhadjustmissedthe12:15PMclass.Thereisevenaplacetogetamassagedownthehallafteryourworkout,ifthereistime.

Continuingexploring,Imakemywaythroughthebuilding.StartingonthesecondoorIcomebymultiplegalleries.Eachgalleryhasauniquetwist.Someareartist-runspaces,whichallowsforthefreedomtochangelighting,placement,andpieces,aswellasdirect-to-customersales.OthergalleriesliketheGalerie[sas]displayoneexhibitatatime.CurrentlytheyarepreparingfortheworksofCarlitoDalceggiofromApril29May29,2010.Dalceggiostates,Ibreathetopaint,Ipainttobreathe.Artdoesnottrytorepresentnature,artisnature.Naturaland

fascinatingemotionsllhissketches,paintingsandotherworks.Lastly,theBelgoincorporatesshowroomsfeaturingaplethoraofartists.Thepriorityoftheshowroomsistoselltheart,asopposedtomainlydisplayingtheart.OneofmyfavouritegalleriesofthistypeisMaisonKasini,whichfeatures

contemporaryart.Itspecializesinartistswhoproduceinterestingandunusualworksinavarietyofmedia.Youwalkintothegalleryandyouleaveyouradultpreconceptionsatthedoor.Thecolourful,playfulartpiecesbroughtoutmyinnerchild.Thesearejustafewofthemanygalleriesandstudiosthatarelocatedhere.

TheBelgoisalsohometonumerous

dancestudios.Likeartgalleries,therearemanyvarietiesofdancestudioswithinthebuilding.Someofthemareprivatepracticespacesfordancers.Therearealsothedancestudiosthatmanydancerspracticeat.Theremaybeacommonthemeforthestudio,suchascontemporaryorballet,butthereisntalwaysone.Iwasfortunateenoughtowitnessasmallgroupofdancerschoreographingacontemporarypiece,astheyhadleftthedooropen,sparkingmycuriosity.Ifyougetthechancetoseecontemporarydance,youshouldseeit,asitisathoughtprovokingand

entertaininglybroadmedium.

GalleriesthroughouttheBelgocanbehit-and-miss,dependingondifferentinterests.Also,becauseallstudiosandspaceswithinthebuildingoperateindependently,noteverythingwillbeopenatonce.Oftengalleries

schedulesdonotsynchronise,especialtheartistrunspaces,whichmaybebyappointmentonlywhichisunfortunaforpeoplelikemewhojusthappenedgoonedayonawhim.Withtheoverabundanceofcultureconcentratedinonearea,fusedwiththecommitmenttophysicalandmentahealth,theBelgondstheperfectbalancebetweenbodyandsoul.From

theartconnoisseurtotheaveragepersonyouaresuretohaveafun-lledandfullday.Whethersearchingforinspiration,lookingfordecorationorjustadmiration,restassuredthereissomethingforeveryoneattheBelgoBuilding.

Ashtanga Yoga Montreal, Suite #118(514) 875-9642

(www.ashtangamontreal.com)

Galerie [sas], Suite #416(514) 878-3409Schedule (www.galeriesas.com)

Maison Kasini, Suite #408(514) 448-4723

(www.maisonkasini.com)

wordsandexpressionsthat,evenafterfourcenturies,stillhavetheirplaceinQuebecsFrenchlanguage,arguablythemostimportantpartoftheprovincesheritage.

Visitorsaretheninvitedtoexplorethestonebarnandstrollinthegardenattheirownpace,admiringand,iflucky,tastingthenativeherbswhichhavebeengrowingsincethe18thcentury.

Inthespringandsummer,thehouseishosttoanumberofactivities,includingworkshops,playsandtreasurehunts.TheMaisonSaint-Gabrielisamust-seeforthosewhowishtounderstandQuebecsintegralroleinCanadashistory.

Maison Saint-Gabriel

2146 Place Dublin(Charlevoix metro, bus 57 East)

Adults $8; students $4; children $2.(www.maisonsaint-gabriel.qc.ca)

A Historical HomeBYMARIE-CLAIREEYLOTT

SituatedneartheeasternendoftheLachineRapidsistheMaisonSaint-Gabriel,oneofCanadasoldestbuildings,thoughrelativelyunknownbylocals.Thehousewasbuiltin1653,andMargueriteBourgeoyspurchaseditin1668towelcomehundredsoftheKingsWards(FillesduRoi),whoarrivedfrom

FranceviatheSt.LawrenceRiver.Topreservethehouseandits15,000objectsfaithfullyarrangedasperaninventoryconductedinthe18thcenturyvisitorsaredividedintosmallgroupsaccompaniedbytourguidesinfullcostume.Theselovelywomen(theyrepresenttheKingsWards,afterall)leadtouristsintotheroomswhiledelvingintothehouseshistory,whichoverlapsthatofourcountrysearlysettlements.Theyalsopointouttheetymologyofeveryday

Concentrated Culture Continued from Page 1

Photo: Guy Pla


3/12

Spring 2010

Meandering MemoriesBYSTEFANSOBANSKI

Ifyouenjoybreathingfreshairandwouldliketotakeadvantageofabreath-taking

viewofMontreal,howaboutastrollinMontrealslargestcemetery?TheNotre-Dame-des-Neigescemetery,foundedin1854,isoneofthelargestofitskind.ItmaybecomparedtoPereLachaiseinParisorMountAuburnCemeteryinBoston.ItisthebroadestcemeteryinCanada,occupying343acresor1.39squarekm.Visitorscaneasilybecomelostorfailtolocatethesectionofthecemeteryforwhichtheyaresearching.

Thereliesanimpressivehistoricallegacyunderyourfootsteps,whenyoumeanderthroughthe55kmoflanesthatcomposethecemetery.Inthelasthalfofthe19thcentury,onlyFrenchCanadian,IrishandScottishCatholicsorEnglishProtestantswereburiedhere(1).Itisonlyattheturnofthetwentiethcenturythatotherimmigrantsbegantoburytheirlovedonesonthesegrounds.TheRepertoiredepersonnages,whichlistsmanyprominentandhistoricguresburiedinthecemetery,isavailableforreference.

Thevariousworksofartthatembellishthecemeterysmausoleumsareanoteworthyreligiousandartisticlegacy.TheResurrectionChapelbuiltin1856,andtheJarry-Henrichon

House,datingfrom1751,whichwasrebuiltandswitchedplacesin1957aretwomonumentsworthseeing(1).ThecemeterywasdeclaredanationalhistoricsitebythegovernmentofCanadain1998.

Thecemeterysgroundsarealsohosttomanyplantsandanimals.Manyofthetreesfoundalongtheroadwaysareornamentalvarieties.Thesetreesincludearoundsixtyspecies:silvermaples,Norwaymaplesandhorsechestnuts.Youcanalsondsugarmaples,Norwaymaples,Siberiancrabappletreesand

Lombardypoplars.Thereareothernotablespeciesaswell:northernredash,red

oakandColoradobluespruce,andrarervarietiessuchasbutternut,Americanelm,blackcherry,whitepineandeasternhemlock.Manyofthesetreesrangefrom175to225yearsofage.

Aboutonehundredtreesfromthenaturalforestbeforethefoundingofthecemeteryarestillstanding.Thesearethe

redoaks,silvermaplesandredmapleslocatedinthecentralareaofthepropertyoronthesummitofMountRoyal.Thecemeterystreescanbefoundinthreedistinctzones:theplain,containingmostlysilvermaples,thesparserplateauareasattheeasternandwesternends,wheresugarmapleandNorwaymaplearefoundandthesummit,dominatedbyoaks,sugarmaplesandAmericanlindens

ThelargeforestonMountRoyal

sheltersavarietyofanimalspecies.Greysquirrels,chipmunks,groundhogs,raccoonsandstripedskunksarethemostcommonmammals.Cottontailrabbitsandredfoxesareoftenseenaswell,contributingtothemountainsrusticcharacter...aspecialtreatinamajorurbanarea.Aboveandbeyonditsinstructivevalue,therichanimallifeinthecemeteryaddsanotherperspectivetotheexperience,settingusforth,ashumabeings,tocontemplateonourplaceinnatureandtheworld.

Ifyouenjoynature,solitary

promenadesforreectionandaresensitivetoreligiousarchitecture,thenastopbythisvastcemeteryisworthwhile.Watkins, Meredith G. The cemetery andcultural memory: Montreal, 1860-1900. UrbanHistory Review 31.1 (2002): 52+. CPI.Q(Canadian Periodicals). Web. 24 Mar. 2010.


Photo: Christine Fourn


4/12

4 Spring 2010

Vibrant VillageBYMARIE-CLAIREEYLOTT

Cozyvillagelifeisamere20-minutedriveora30-minutebusridefromtheheartofthecity.NestledontheshoresofLacSt.LouisintheheartoftheWestIsland,the300-year-oldPointe-ClaireVillageistheperfectplaceforaquietafternoon.ManyofitsbuildingsrecalltheFrenchregime,notablySt.JoachimChurchabeautifulexampleof18thcenturyNeo-GothicstyleinQuebecand,ashortwalkalongthelakeshore,theSulpicianwindmill,oneofMontrealsoldestcolonialvestiges.Withinthiskilometre-longstretchofboutiques,cafs,restaurants,artisanworkshopsandicecreamshops,visitorsandresidentsarespoiltforchoice.Freeparkingislocatedalongthestrip,soshoppersarefreetoleisurelyperusethemanystores.Forinstance,BabarBooksandRvedenfantsarebuttwooftheneighbourhoodsadorablechildrensstores;LaMaisondeCalicoisaheritagebuildingnowusedforquiltingworkshops;BeadBoxoffersDIYbeadingkits,respectively;Flirtisahigh-endwomensfashionboutique;andthepopularLePanierisaninvitingshop

lledwithgourmet,holiday,homedecorandtoygiftideas,tonameafew.StopforaspotofteaontheterraceofoneoftheVillagesfamily-runcafsortuckintoaneItalian,BelgianorFrenchmeal.Finally,forsomethingsweet,treatyourselftoicecreamfromWildWillys

orLeBilboquetasyoustrollalongthewaterfront.Quaintboutiquesandrestaurantsinpicturesquesetting,justfarenoughfromthedowntowncore?Gowest,young(andnotsoyoung)shoppers.

exhibitremains,however,atouchinghomagetotheIndustrialRevolutionssaltoftheearth.

Ecomusee du Fier-Monde2050 Amherst

(Berri-UQAM metro)Adults $6; children & students $4

http://www.ecomusee.qc.ca/

A Revolution RevisitedBYMARIE-CLAIREEYLOTT

IntheheartofoneofMontrealsoldestworking-classneighbourhoodsstandstheformerBainGenereux,abeautifullyrestored,Parisian-inspiredArtDecopublicbathhousebuiltin1927.ThebuildingishometotheEcomuseeduFier-Monde,amuseumdedicatedtothehistoryoftheworkingclassin

Montreal,inparticularoftheCentre-Sudarea.MontrealwasCanadasmostproliccityduringtheIndustrialRevolutionofthesecondhalfofthe19thcentury,andCentre-Sudwasatthecentreoftheaction.

ThemuseumspermanentexhibitionAll the Livelong Day: Triumphsand Tragedies of a Working-ClassNeighbourhoodrecountsthelivesandaccomplishmentsoftheareasindustrialworkers,themajorityofwhomlivedwiththeirfamiliesinsurroundingquarterswithnobathorshower

facilities.Theexhibit,whichrunsalongthebathhousewalls,usesphotographs,memorabilia,interviewsandmultimediainstallationstonarratehowtheworkingclasslivedandsoughttoimprovetheirconditions.

TheEcomuseeduFier-Mondealsohostsmanymodernartexhibitsthroughouttheyear.Itsmainpermanent

Photo: Christine FourniePhoto: www.ecomusee.qc.ca



5/12

Spring 2010

Bagel Bakery BattleBYSTEFANSOBANSKISt.ViateurBagelisinsteadycompetitionwithFairmountBagel,locatedjustoneblocknorth.ItisunclearastotheexactyearthatFairmountopenedshop.In1949,IsadoreShlafmanboughtacottageandknockeddownthebackwallofthehousetoinstallabageloven.Hisbagel

bakerywastobefounddownstairs,whileheandhisfamilylivedupstairs.FairmountBagelismostlyafamily-runbusiness:Mr.Shlafmansgrandchildrenstillmanagethebusinesstoday,usingthesametraditionsandmethodsthatwereemployedfromthebeginning.Ontheotherhand,St.ViateurBagelopenedin1957.ItwasfoundedbyMyerLewkowiczwhobroughthisfamousrecipefromEasternEurope.HisbusinesshasgrowntoincludefourbakeriesandtwobagelcafesinMontrealtoday.Wheredidthesetraditionsofhand-

rollingdoughintoacircularshapeoriginate?Whoinventedthebagel?MariaBalinska,editorofBBCRadiosWorldCurrentAffairsdepartment,journalistanddocumentarylmmakerhasresearchedininternationalarchivesanddonenumerouspersonalinterviewstouncoverthebagelslinkswiththedefeatoftheTurksbyPolishKingJanSobieskiin1683andtoJewishmigrationacrosstheAtlantictoAmerica.Sherecentlywroteabook,TheBagel:TheSurprisingHistoryofaModestBread,whichtellsthenoteworthystoryofthebagelsjourney.ThetwomostprominentstylesofbagelinNorthAmericaaretheMontreal-stylebagelandtheNewYork-stylebagel.ThebasicdifferencebetweenthetwostylesisthattheMontrealbagelcontainsnosalt;itisalsoboiledinhoney-sweetenedwaterbeforebaking.TheNewYorkbagelisboiledinplainwaterandhassalt.Theendresultisa

crunchierandsweeterbagelinMontrealandapuffy,moist,saltybagelinNewYorkCity.Otherthanthesetwostylesofbagel,thereexistanumberofvarietieselsewhereintheworld,dependingonthetraditioninthecountry.Forexample,RussianBubliksgreatlyresemblebagels,butareabitbigger,haveawiderholeandaredrier.TheFinnishofteneatVesirinkeliforbreakfast,toastedandbuttered.Forpreparation,theyareplacedinsaltedboilingwaterbeforebeingbaked.InTurkey,asalty,fatty-typeofbagelistheAcma.ItsringshapeissometimesmarketedasaTurkishbagel;theyaresoldonthestreetinbasketsorcarts.InsomepartsofAustria,BeugelaresoldbeforeEaster.Thesearesimilartobagels,theyeastedwheatdough,andareusuallyavoredwithcaraway,

boiledandbaked.ThebagelisalsoquitepopularinLondon,andisspelledbeigel.Thepronunciationandspellingofbageldiffersamongcommunities.MontrealersandTorontonianspronounceitlikebay-gel;peoplefromsmalltownsinNorthernOntarioandEasternCanadapronounceitlikebag-el,asinplasticbag.InNewEngland,itisspelledbaigel.ThebagelwasactuallyinventedinKrakow,Poland,competingwiththeRussianBublik.Between1600and

Fairmount Bagel Bakery Inc.74 Fairmount Avenue West

(514) 272-0667

St. Viateur Bagel263 St. Viateur Street West

(514) 276-8044

1750,thebajgielbecameastapleofthePolishdiet.BagelswerebroughttotheUnitedStatesbyimmigrantJews.AprosperousbusinessemergedinNewYorkCitythatwascontrolledfordecadebyBagelBakersLocal338,whichhadcontractswithnearlyallbagelbakeries

inthecityforitsworkerswhopreparedallthebagelsbyhand.Thebagelbecamemorewell-knownthroughoutNorthAmericafromthe1960s,partlybecauseHarryLenderandFlorenceSenderpioneeredautomatedproductioanddistributionoffrozenbagels.BackinMontreal,bothbakeriesmastertheartofbagelmaking:handrollingeachone,boilingtheminhonesweetenedwater,andbakingtheminawood-burningoven.FairmountBagelandSt.ViateurarebothlocatedintheMile-Enddistrict,areopen24hours

daily,andofferseveralvarietiesofbagerangingfrompoppyseedtowholewheattotheclassicsesameseed,amoothers.


Photo: Julia Manzerov


6/12

6 Spring 2010

Wine and Dine for LessBYSARASTARKEY

TherearemanyrestaurantsinMontrealthatallowpatronstobringtheirownbottlesofwinetodinner.ThisconcepthasbeenpopularacrossNorthAmericasincethe1950s,buthasbeenespeciallywell-receivedinMontreal,withhundredsofparticipatingrestaurantsacrossthecity.

Althoughsomerestaurantswillchargeacorkagefeerangingfromabout$5-25,manydonot,makingthepracticeperfectforthoseonamodestbudget.Notonlydotheserestaurantsallowforanaffordablediningexperience,buttheyarealsoverydiverseintermsofcuisine.DecidingbetweenJapanese,Italian,Greek,andofcourseFrench,amongmanyothers,mightbeyourmostdifcultdecision.LaRacletteintheMountRoyalisaSwissrestaurantbestknownforitshousespecialties:fonduesandraclettes.Aracletteisatraditionalcheesedishwhichhereiscookedatthetableinasmall,portablestove.Thepatronisgivenapanorcoupelle,inwhichtopilecheese,driedmeatssuchasprosciutto,pickledonions,gherkins,pepperedpotatoesandvariousothervegetables,andplacesitontothetable-topgrilluntilthedishiscookedthrough.ThischeeseoriginatesfromtheAlpineregionsinSwitzerland,andiseasytomelt,thedesiredresultforthistypeofmeal.

Adrywhitewinewillcomplementanymealserved,thetraditionalchoice

beingtheSwisswine,Fendant,whichhaslight,fruityundertones,theperfectaccompanimenttotheheavycheeseinthemeal,withnoaddedcorkagefees.Saveroomfordessertbecauseitssimplytodiefor.Swisschocolatedrizzledoverpoachedpear,whipping,andicecreamisevenmoreheavenlythanitsounds.Thiscozyrestauranthasfriendly,attentiveservice.Rangingbetween$50-100fortwo,itisabitpriceybutisaworthwhileexperience

ifyouwanttotrysomethingnew.Itsnosurprisethisrestauranthasbeen

runningstrongforoveradecade.Itsopen-conceptkitchen,lowlightingandterraceseatinginthesummer,alongwdeliciousfoodmakesitapopularchoiamonglocals.

Dapper DentistryBYMORGANTODD

OneofthesmallestandmostinterestingartgalleriesinMontrealisGalerieDentaire.Notonlyisita

gallery,butitisalsoamoderndentalofce.Uponenteringthebuildingthebeautifulandserenewaitingareawelcomesyou,whichisalsothemaingalleryspace.ThegalleryfeaturesmostlyQuebecartists,withnewexhibitionseveryfewmonths.WiththeperfectmixofcontemporaryandOldWorldfavoritessuchasoversized,Victoriandesks,brickwallsmixedwithsleekxturesandstylishindirectlighting,thisisnotyourordinarydentistsofce.Withcalmingmusic

andthefriendlystaff,acheckupseemsmorelikeavacationthanachore.Theaddedbonusesofshortwaitlistsandaffordablefeesmakedentalhygieneapositiveexperience.

Galerie Dentaire

1239 Amherst (Metro Beaudry)(514) 523-5535

(www.galeriedentaire.com)

Photo: Dave Sidaway

Photo: Christine Fournier Photo: Jean Forti

La Raclette1059 Rue Gilford(514) 524-8118


7/12

Spring 2010

Overlooked ArtBYCHRISTINEFOURNIERThelargestartmuseuminMontrealgoesunnoticedbymost.Intotalitis70kilometerslongandcoversalargepartofthecitywithmanyexhibitsbynotedQuebecartistsandarchitects.Eachofits68roomshasitsuniquestyleandavour.

TheMontrealMetrosystem,whichisoperatedbytheSocitdetransportdeMontral,openedonOctober14,1966andwhileitisnotamuseumintheconventionalsenseoftheword,theworksofartithousesnumberinthehundreds.Therearesculptures,murals,mosaics,stainedglassandarchitecturalelements-whilesomestationsaretheworkart.Thoughmostartisfromnewerperiods,thinkmodernorpopart,certainpieceshaveclassicalinspirations.

Around90artistscurrentlyhavepiecesforthepublictosee.Insome

cases,artistslikeFrdricBack,MarcelleFerronAntoineD.Lamarche,AndrLonard,Jean-PaulMousseau,PierreOsterrath,andMarcelRabyhaveworksinmultiplemetrostations,thoughthenamesmaynotbefamiliartomanytransitusers,theirpiecesdenitelyare.

Whilesomestationsareutterlyboringduetotheirlackofartandratherpracticalbutdrabsetting,suchasAtwater,Guy-ConcordiaandLongueuilUniversit-de-Sherbrooke.TheJolicoeurstationseemstobefromanotherera,havingneverleftitsvintagefeelbehindwhileLaSalle,oneofthebeststationsforarchitecturelovers,isaconcreteabstractsculpturethathasametrorunningthroughit.DelaConcordeandPlace-Saint-Henrifollowthistrendbutaremodernmarvelswithsplashesofcolour,columnsandpattern.AnothernoteworthystationisDelaSavanne,withitsangularfeaturesandfunkylightxturesthatlooklikeanextremeversionofsugarcrystals.

Forthoseinterestedinmuralsandmosaics,Assomption,Crmazie,DeCastelnau,DIberville,Snowdon,Universit-de-MontralandViaustationsareworthavisit.Villa-MariahaswhatappearstobeaPacMan-inspiredpiecebyAndrLonardentitledCircles.ThemuralatPapineauisawonderfulpiecebyJeanCartierandGeorgeJuhaszentitledLes Patriotes de 1837-1838.WhiletheworksatthePie-IXstationareOlympic-themed.Forthosewholovemodern,poporabstractart,beautifultilemosaicscanbefoundatCadillac,Henri-BourassaandJean-Talon.ThemostknownareprobablythoseatPeel,whosecirclesofcolourfultilesarecourtesyofJean-PaulMousseau.

Sculpturesarealsoquiteprevalent.Berri-UQAM,Cartier,Cte-des-Neiges,Georges-VanieraswellasMonkhavesomeniceones,whileNamurfeaturesasuspended,molecular-likepiecethatappearstobelonginascienceclassroomratherthanmetrostation.ThetreewithfacesfoundatLionel-Groulx

canseemalittlecreepythepieceiscalledLArbre de vie (The Tree of Life)byJosephRifesserandwasdonatedbytheUnitedNations.GermainBergeronsPic et PelleattheMonkstationlooksliketwotwiginsectshardatwork.

Thestainedglassworksareprobablyamongstthemostbeautifulpieces.Champ-de-Mars,CharlevoixandDuCollgehavenicepieces,butnothingasspectacularasthosefoundinthreeotherstations,whichpaytributestothehistoryofMontreal.Berri-UQAMhas

gorgeousmodernpiecesdedicatedtothecitysfoundersandwascreatedbyPierreGaboriauandPierreOsterrath,whilePlace-des-ArtsmuralbyFrdricBackshowcasesMontrealsmusicscenThebestmaybethevepieceseries,atributetolifeinMontrealinthe19thcenturybyNicolasSollogoubattheMcGillstation.

Whilealltheabovementionedartcanbefoundbelowcitystreetsthatisnottosaythatnonecanbefoundabovground.Square-VictoriahasabeautifuArtNouveaumetroentrancedesignedbyHectorGuimard,andwasdonatedusbythecityofParis.TheParcstationisanoldtrainterminalwhosebeautycanonlybeappreciatefromoutside.Jean-DrapeauandCartierhaveoutdoosculpturesthatdeservealookaswell.

The cost to ride the metro is $2.75 for asingle fare, though many of pieces mentionedare located past the turnstiles, so plan to pay

for multiple fares. Six tickets cost $13.25 butone- or three-day tourists passes cost $7 and$14 respectively. All of these can be loadedonto an OPUS card if desired. The tourist pasis available at all times from Peel, Bonaventuand Berri-UQAM from May to November it isavailable at many other stations. Consult wwwstm.info for more information.

For more information on art and the historyof the Montreals metro system, visit MattMcLauchlins site at www.metrodemontreal.com or the STMs site at www.stm.info.

Photo: Christine Jackow

Photo: Peter E. Lee


8/12

8 Spring 2010

Art in the ParkBYCHRISTINEFOURNIER

Museumsrarelypermitvisitorstotouchworksofart,butthisoneonlysaysnottoclimbthem.Personally,Ilovegoingtomuseumstolookatpaintings,photographsandsculpturesandwilladmittheurgetotouchpiecescanbarelyberesistedinsomecases.Fewmuseumsallowthepublictotouchpieces,thoughwhentheydomanytakeadvantage.Ibelievethattouchcanonlyenhancetheexperienceoflookingatbeautifulpiecesofart.

TheMusedePleinAirdeLachineisanoutdoormuseumthatispartoftheLachineMuseum.Asectionofthisopen-airmuseumcanbefoundinParkRen-Lvesque.TheparkislocatedonalongpeninsulawhichextendsintoLacSt.Louis.Thereare22scaleartpiecesmadeofmetal,woodorstonewhichrunalonga4-kilometerpath.

Thepathisdividedbyasmallgrassstripsothatpedestriansandcyclists

canenjoytheparkwithoutgettingineachothersway.

Eachpiecehasasignstatingthenameoftheartistandashortbilingualdescriptionofthepieceanditsinspiration.Theparkoffersuniquepieces,suchasThe PassingSongbyCatherineWidgery.Apassingsongisthesoundmadebythewindwhenahumansoulleavesthebody

intheCherokeetradition.Widgeryconstructedacanopyofghosts(orsouls)thatampliesthesoundofthewindwhenstandingunderit.BillVazansStory Rocklookslikeagianttargetcarvedinalargestoneuntilyougetcloserandseeswirlingmotifsandpetroglyph-inspiredcarvings.

Ren-LvesqueParkalsohasasmallarboretumwithtreesnativetoQuebecandCanada.Smallsignspostedinfrontofthetreesallowvisitorstodiscoverthenamesofaroundthirtyspecies,

thoughuntiltheleavesbloomitishardtotellthemapart.

The park and museum can be reachedeasily using public transportation. The 110 buleaves from the Angrignon metro station every30 minutes. It is a short, five-minute walk fromthe bus stop to the park. By car, the museumcan be reached by taking highway 20 toward

the Mercier Bridge, take exit 2 and follow thesigns to Park Ren-Lvesque. The park is atthe corner of St. Patrick Street and Chemin duCanal. Parking, though not free, is inexpensivat $3 a day.

There is no entrance fee to get into the parwhich is open year round, though the pathsare not well-maintained during the winter. It isgreat place to picnic in the summer and an iccream shop and rental shop as well as smalrestaurants can be found near the entrance othe park.

Photo: Christine Four




9/12

Spring 2010

Educational AnimalsBYCHRISTINEFOURNIER

Lookingforaneducationalactivitychildrenwillenjoy?WhynotvisittheEcomuseuminSte-Anne-de-Bellevue,onthewesterntipoftheislandofMontreal.This28-acrewildlifeparkhousesoverninetyspeciesofbirds,amphibians,reptiles,shandmammalsthatcanbeseenintheirnaturalhabitat.Gravelpathsandrampsleadtothevariousanimalenclosuresaroundtheparkanditishighlyrecommendedtowearwaterprooffootwearasthegroundcanbemuddyafterrainfallorduringthe

winterthawwhenthesnowmelts.Visitorswillspentaboutanhourandahalfwalkingaround,readingsignsandstoppingtotakenumerouspictures.ThecoyoteandwolfexhibitshavealookoutwithPlexiglaswindowstoenjoyaviewoftheseanimalswithouthavingtolookthroughchain-linkfencing.Onecanappreciatebeingabletogetquiteclosetosomeoftheanimals,likeotters,porcupineandraccoons,althoughtheporcupinewaspretendingtobeahaybalethatday.Certainareasoftheparkareclosedoffduringthewinter,suchasthemarshwalk,butterygarden,turtlepondand

snakepit.However,someofthesespeciescanstillbeseenintheeducationcenteraspartoftheFrom Light to Darkexhibit.

Thisindoorexhibitisonthebottomoorofthecenterandisquiteunique.Inthelightpartoftheexhibitthere

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Photo: Christine Fournier Photo: Christine Fourn


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Ecomuseum21125 Chemin Sainte-MarieStainte-Anne-de-Bellevue, QC H9X 3Y7

(514) 457-9449(www.ecomuseum.ca)

Mobilized ExerciseBYSARASTARKEY

TheBixibike,aninexpensiveandconvenientwaytotravelaroundMontrealnamedforahybridtaxi/bicycle,isperfectforboththewell-beingoftheenvironmentandforpersonaltness.Availableforusetwenty-fourhoursaday,sevendaysaweekfromSpringtoFall,thesebikesoffertouristsandlocalsalikeapieceofMontrealsculture.AstherstpublicbikingsysteminCanada,MontrealsBixiisnowonparwiththesystemsinParisandBarcelona,andisoneoftheforerunnersintermsoflarge-scaleproductioninallofNorthAmerica.LondonandMelbournearenowadoptingtheBixibikeasameansoftravel,expandingthelocalcompany

acrossthreecontinents.Thebikes,equippedwithbaskets,arefreeforthersthalfhourofuse,whichencouragesshorttrips,asthecompanyhopestopromotetheincorporationofbikingintodailyroutine.Thebikescanbetakenfromorleftatanyofthethreehundredstationslocatedthroughoutthedowntownarea.Theserviceisavailableforaatrateof$5aday,$28foramonth,or$78forafullyearwithadditionalfeesforuseperhour.

Agreatwayoftouringthecity,cuttingdownonpollutionandtakingpartintheMontreallifestyle,theBixibikeistrulyonetowatchoutforasitexpandsacrosstheworld.

Find out more at www.bixi.com.

arefrogs,snakes,turtlesandsh,beforegoingthroughadoublesetofdoorstothedarkpart.Herethelightsareturnedverylow,makingitimpossibletoseeanythingforafewminuteswhiletheireyesadjustedtothedark.Itmaytakequiteawhiletolocatesomeoftheanimalsintheirglassed-offenclosurebutthatwaspartofthefun.

TheEcomuseumofferskid-friendlyactivitiesthroughouttheyearamongstthemsummercamps,apprenticeshipforadayprograms,guidedgrouptours,birthdaypartiesandsleepovers.Alistofupcomingeventsisavailableattheirwebsiteatwww.ecomuseum.ca.Facilitieshereincludeashadedpicnicarea,anindoorlunchroom,washrooms,waterfountains,asmallgiftshopandplentyoffreeparking.Itisopeneveryday,exceptChristmas,from9amto5pm,noadmittanceafter4pmthough.Gettingtothemuseumisrelatively

easybutonlybycar.Takehighway40toexit41andfollowboulevardSte.MarietotheEcomuseum.The210bus,whichleavesregularlyfromFairviewShopping

CenterorJohnAbbottCollegeduringtheweek,stopsinfrontofthemuseum.Noweekendbusserviceisavailable.

Educational Animals Continued from Page 9


Photo: Zeblackst


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Spring 2010 1

Spring on the SummitBYCHRISTINEFOURNIER

Farfromthehustleandbustleofthecityatthetopofsteep,narrowstreets,oneofthecitysmostbeautifulgemsisfoundintheexclusiveneighbourhoodofWestmount.Itmayonlybeave-minutedrivefrompopularMont-Royal;butSummitParkisunknowntomany.Whileitmainlyservesasadogparkforlocalresidents,itispopularwithbird-watchersandhikersalike.SummitParkissmallat57acresbithasmanypathsthatmeanderupanddownunderacanopyoftrees.Thetrailsthatcirclearoundthispeakofferhikersmanysights,suchastheUniversityofMontrealandSt.JosephsOratory.Sincethisparkisusedbypetowners,dogsfrequentlywonderaroundunleashed,oftenrunninguptofellowhikerswantingaffection.

Therearemanyinterestingly-shapedtreesandalargevarietyofbirdstosee

whilewalkingaroundincludingan

owlperchedhighinhollowedouttree.Theparkisaprotectedbirdandower

sanctuarymakingitpossibletoobserv

around180differentspecies.Openyear-roundandtheparkisquiteenjoyableonwarm,sunnydays.Inearlyspringthepathsmaybeicysoextraprecautionssuchaswearingshoeswithgoodtractions,usingcramponsorslip-oncleatsisrecommended.Therearefewactivitietodointhepark,nobenchesorpicntableswerespottedduringmyvisitalthoughthatdidnotstopacoupleofpeoplefromsittingdowninthesnowtoenjoyasnackandtheview.Aswel

theparkhasnowashroomfacilities.Locatedjustoutsidetheparkisabelvedere,whichoffersgreatviewsstartingfromdowntownMontrealandgoingtoLachineandtheWestIslandaswellastheSouthShore.Onacleaday,theAdirondacksandtheGreenMountains,whichareintheUnitedStates,canbeseen.Therearearrowspointingtovarioussitesonandofftheisland.

Getting to Summit Park may not be easusing public transportation. The 166 or 66bus stops nearby, but walking uphill to thepark cannot be avoided. By car, access ismuch easier. It is only a couple of turns offChemin de la Cote-des-Neiges. Free parkinis available at the corner of Summit Circleand Chemin Summit or at the lookout.




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12 S i 2010

www.tourisme-montreal.o

Pick-up your quarterly issue at:

InfotouristeCentre1255PeelStreet,Suite100

orTouristWelcomeOfceinOldMontreal

174Notre-DameStreetEast

For free subscriptions please contact us:(514)873-2015

([email protected])

Perfect PanoramasBYSARASTARKEYVisitorsofdowntownMontrealtypicallyocktothetopofMountRoyalforanaerialviewofthecity,butspectacularviewscanbefoundineventhemostsurprisingplaces.Forthosehighlysusceptibletotheallureofacityskyline,Montrealhasawayofmakingeventhemostmundaneoferrandsachanceto

seeabreathtakingsight.

Thereareseveralcross-citybusesthathavesurprisinglybeautifulsights.Althoughsomeoftheseviewsarefromcementhighways,theywillbesureto

brightenanymorningcommute.The211busroutetoDorvalinparticularhasabirdseyeviewoftheentirecitywhentravellingineitherdirection.Similarly,Route144,whichtravelsalongDesPins,hasanamazingsceneofthedowntownareaup-close.ParcJeanneMance,situatedatthefootofMountRoyal,hasthemost

incredibleviewatdusk;thetallestbuildingsinMontreallitupbythesettingsun.Levelwiththecity,thisparticularsceneofferstheviewerasenseofthescaleofthebuildingsandtheexpanseofthelandscape.

HoteldelaMontagne,ahotelintheheartofthecity,offersauniqueview-from-the-topofthesurroundingbuildings.Atnight,visitorsofthehoteldineandswimontherooftopterracewhilethelightsofthecitysparkleallaround.Insteadoftakingtheundergroundmetro,thepromiseofaspectacularviebeckonsmanytouriststooptforabove

groundtransportation.ThebestadviceIcanoffertoanytourististokeepyoueyesopen.Takethechancetostrayoffthebeatenpath.YouneverknowwhenthebeautyofMontrealcantakeyourbreathaway.

Photo: Maha Online

Photo: Hazel Gabe

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