MUST-SEE The Magic of Lanterns Every September and October, the Montreal Botanical Garden creates a lantern show in its Chinese Garden. Lighting hand-craft artwork in the evening, the Botanical Garden celebrates a centuries-old Chinese tradition while illuminating the Quebec darkness. The Park is open until 9 pm, and entrance fees range from $6 to $13. (http://www2.ville.montreal.qc.ca/jardin/en/menu.htm)
WHAT TO DO AT NIGHTJazz Bars: The jazz scene continues long after the end of the famous International Jazz Fest, in two landmark locations.
Le Maison de Jazz, originally Biddle’s, sports a 1920s décor, with overly ornate glass chandeliers and deep red plush mahogany chairs reminiscent of Prohibition-era speakeasies. Many of Montreal’s most famous jazz musicians, including Oscar Peterson and Michelle Sweeney, have been known to perform here regularly. Cover charge during showtime is $5, while food and drink are available for a moderate price. (2060 Aylmer; 514-842-8656, www.houseofjazz.ca)
Upstairs: For a more demure jazz evening, head to Upstairs (located downstairs) just off of Crescent Street (1254 MacKay; 514-931-6808; www.upstairsjazz.com). Upstairs offers a much more intimate evening, with fewer tables and close proximity to the jazz performers. Dinners cost around $10, and drinks are inexpensive. Be sure to catch Dawn Taylor Watson and Kevin Dean.
Crescent Street/St. Laurent Bars and Clubs: Montreal sports two major hubs of nighttime haunts, to fit nearly all preferences. On Crescent, between Sherbrooke and Rene-Levesque, establishments run the gamut, and cater to everyone from students (
Sir Winnie’s and
Mad Hatter) to genteel sophisticates (
Newtown and
Pino) to Celtic paradise (
Hurley’s and
Brutopia). St. Laurent, known as “The Main” that separates English Montreal from French Montreal, offers dozens of nightlife choices. The best bars are the Go Go Bar, with its celebrated martini varieties; Laika, an industrial space converted into urban chic; and Rouge, a 2-floor club for the over-25 crowd.
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