We’ve got a comedy sketch fest, DJ sets, stylish dogs parading at a Japanese cultural event—so yeah, this weekend's shaping up to be a busy one.

There's a lot to take in this time around, so godpseed to all of you planning to hit up as much as you humanly can over the next few days. As for those just scrolling from the comfort of your couch, enjoying a little wind-down before things really fire up, we’ve got something for that too:

Check out this latest episode from the sleep podcast called Pepperoni Pizza Dreams, where the premise is slowly and quietly reading restaurant menus.

This week? The menus from two Montreal Italian eateries: Bossa and Elena.

Buon appetito. 🤌

Activities, parties, points of interest, art exhibitions, you name it: These are the weekend events you don't want to miss.

Thursday

📽️ Oh hi, Mark! Cinéma du Parc hosts a screening of The Room, Tommy Wiseau’s infamous cult classic known for its baffling dialogue, melodramatic plot twists, and unintended hilarity.

🇯🇵 This weekend's your last chance to experience Japan Week, where over 40 Montréal spots—izakayas, matcha bars, manga cafés—offer exclusive menus, pop-ups, and workshops.

🤣 The Montreal Sketchfest brings together sketch comedy troupes from around the world for laughs at Théâtre Sainte-Catherine, celebrating quick wit, character-driven humour, and live performance.

🍎 Cider gets its moment with La semaine du cidre until May 11. Quebec’s orchards, bars, and restaurants are all in on it with free tastings and more.

Friday

📝 Last chance! The Montreal Printed Arts Festival's free workshops, exhibitions, and public talks celebrating contemporary printmaking ends this weekend.

🌍 Afrobeats to the World takes over Théâtre Fairmount with DJ Blakito, Vibe Benders, and ATTW dancers bringing a full night of rhythm and energy to Montreal.

⏳ The Festival d’Histoire de Montréal begins, exploring the city’s past through interactive exhibits, activities, and storytelling across 14 museums.

🎶 Safia Nolin joins forces with the Joseph-François-Perrault Symphony Orchestra for a special 70-minute concert blending orchestral arrangements and her hauntingly intimate folk songs in two distinct sets.

Saturday

🐕 The Grand Shiba, Akita, Kimono, and Yukata Gathering returns at Placette Côte-des-Neiges, combining Montreal’s fluffiest dog meetup with a festive kimono and yukata parade.

🖼️ Foil Gallery kicks off AM:PLIFIED 005—a block party featuring music, coffee, food from Parapluie and San Gennaro, and DJ sets by The Holy, Hologramme, and Laurence Matte.

⚽️ Root for the home team! The Montreal Roses face off against the Halifax Tides on May 10 at 1 PM at Centre sportif Bois-de-Boulogne.

🕴️ Celebrate the 100th anniversary of The Gold Rush with a special screening featuring live classical musicians accompanying Chaplin’s silent film in a historic gothic setting.

👻 The Night of the AdEaters returns for a global journey through the most original, funny, and cinematic ads from around the world—no TV shows, just pure advertising spectacle.

🥊 The octagon returns to Montréal for UFC 315 at the Bell Centre—its first event in the city in a decade—with a stacked 11-fight card.

Sunday

💐 Puces POP returns for its Spring Edition, celebrating 21 years of supporting Quebec artisans with a vibrant market featuring body care, ceramics, jewelry, and home goods—just in time for Mother’s Day.

📰 The 5th edition of the Incroyable Salon du Zine takes over the Cité-des-Hospitalières, showcasing the work of 40 Québec zine artists in a relaxed, welcoming atmosphere.

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WHAT TO EAT & DRINK IN AND AROUND MONTREAL

Scope the latest restaurant openings, recommendations on where to eat, plus new menus, old classics, and everything in between.

Pâtisserie Mélilot has quietly expanded with the soft opening of Atelier Mélilot, a new ice cream workshop.

Bonheur d’Occasion has welcomed chef Ronan Ulliac for a seasonal pop-up that brings refined, instinctive, and generous cooking to the table all summer long—an ephemeral dining experience shaped by peak ingredients and serious culinary chops.

Bisou Bisou turns two tonight with a fundraiser for Mission Old Brewery and free martinis for the first 60 guests—plus champagne, gildas, and croissants all night.

Vinorama’s heading west for a special cowboy-themed bingo night on May 8, featuring four rounds of bingo, $10 spaghetti plates, wine by the glass, bottle discounts, and prizes—costumes encouraged, tickets are transferable but non-refundable.

Bar Henrietta hosts the wild and wine-soaked launch of Spilled: Natural Winemakers, Stories & Recipes on May 10 starting at 2 PM—expect books, bottles, familiar faces, and maybe a few family secrets.

This Mother’s Day, Bottega Laval invites you to Sunday at Nonna’s—a heartwarming lunch featuring traditional ragù napoletano and family-style vibes.

Verdun Beef is offering a special Mother’s Day box, a $100 ready-to-heat and assemble meal for 2–3 people, available for pickup May 9–11.

Bistro La Franquette is hosting its annual Mother’s Day Lunch on May 11, featuring a $45 table d’hôte served with coffee or tea.

Pavillon Club Social reopens its rooftop terrasse on May 14 with new menu items, fresh cocktails, and DJ sets by Kiju and OJPB—no reservations, just vibes.

Vino Disco kicks off its new tribute series on May 14 with an intimate live jazz night honouring Nina Simone, featuring Zara (Star Académie) and pianist Simon Denizart.

The Happy Hour Club from Bars of Montreal kicks off its first 5 à tard of the season on May 15 at Muni, featuring drink specials, DJs, and a laid-back, golf-inspired vibe—no cover, all welcome.

Casavant kicks off summer with a block party on May 17—Elena’s firing up their New York-style pizza oven, Fellas Q Tips are on the decks, and a live jazz band wraps the day; no reservations, just bring your crew.

Santos turns 18 on May 18 and they’re celebrating with a massive party from 2 p.m. to 3 a.m.

Maps launches its first-ever pizza pop-up on May 18, teaming up with chef Mike Chanthamynavong for a one-day-only menu of special pies starting at noon until sold out.

Le Boulevardier teams up with Michelin-starred chef Rafael Covarrubias on May 30 and 31 for bold, globally inspired cuisine with a five-course tasting menu and wine pairings.

Here, you'll find a weekly round-up of the latest local news, from entertainment to current affairs and more.

Stacking the list! Montreal nabbed 25 of Canada's Best 100 Restaurants when they announced their list this week (who else is now eyeing the Michelin Guide launch coming up?). Read more.

As for who will stack the list next? Check out our updated list of the best new restaurants in Montreal in the last six months. Read more.

And that's not all! We've launched a whole new list of the best new bars in Montreal, showing you the latest in the city's watering hole scene. Read more.

It's a bird, it's a plane, it's Super Boat People: Here's how a unique cultural collective in Montreal reframes narratives around Cambodian, Laotian, and Vietnamese peoples. Read more.

Here's the story of how the Montreal company Lightspeed began in a Village apartment and turned into a global powerhouse in commerce technology with services for retail, hospitality, and e-commerce SMBs. Read more.

The first fortune cookies to be kosher and bilingual: A Montreal heritage moment when you look back at the history of Wing Noodles Ltd. factory in Chinatown. Read more.

It's all about innovation when C2 Montreal comes to town—here's a look at what's worth checking out if you'll be diving into its curated brain food. Read more.

やった! Here's a look ahead at the city's premiere Japanese street market, YATAI. Read more.

Don't say we didn't warn you: Montreal plans to test industrial warning sirens on Friday to assess their effectiveness in alerting the public during emergencies involving hazardous materials. Read more.

Are malls... cool again? Montreal's downtown shopping malls are focusing on modernizing and adapting to new consumer trends, and it might be working. Read more.

Sinkhole de Mayo! A large sinkhole in Montreal's Notre-Dame-de-Grâce (NDG) borough caught a lot of attention on May 5. Read more.

Won't be long until Moving Day arrives, and housing advocates are sounding the alarm around high demand and low supply. Read more.

Back to the stables—this time for good. The Canadian entertainment company Cavalia has declared bankruptcy after facing unsustainable financial challenges. Read more.

They're comin' fer our movies. Montreal's film industry is facing higher costs due to a 25% U.S. tariff. Read more.

Speaking of the effects of U.S. tariffs, here's a look at how Quebec businesses are pivoting in the face of incoming trade war impacts. Read more.

The arts won't survive without us. The Théâtre Denise-Pelletier is yet another venue facing a severe financial crisis with a projected $400,000 deficit. Read more.

Montreal’s temporary ban on loitering in the metro has led to increased distress and displacement among unhoused people—the policy's worsened exclusion and made support efforts harder. Read more.

Domo arigato, Doctor Roboto: A robotic surgery centre using AI opened at a Montreal hospital to help shape the future of healthcare. Read more.

Pay up. Quebec's minimum wage is set to rise from $15.25 to over $16 an hour by May 2024, potentially reaching $18 by May 2025. Read more.

Seriously, pay up. Making $40K a year is the bare minimum in Montreal due to rising costs of living in our fair city. Read more.

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And that wraps yet another weekly bulletin. We’ll be back with more curiosities, local stories, and events to discover next week.

If ever you catch something we should know, don't hesitate to reach out to us on Instagram.

👋 Masthead: Philip Tabah, Founder & Head of Creative / Daniel Bromberg, Co-Founder & Head of Operations / Jean-Philippe Lauzon, Co-Founder & Head of Tech / JP Karwacki, Managing Editor / Amber Spector, Social Media Manager