The Bulletin: Summer’s last stand, a world-famous pothole, and politicians pulling pints [Issue #147]

It’s the last official weekend of summer, and Montreal seems determined to make it count. Even the weather is cooperating.

The result? All-day parties and lots of occasions to go out dancing continue with complete disregard for the months to come. One of them’s literally 24 hours long. More power to 'em!

At the same time, from events to the news cycle, there are hints at the incoming sweater weather and crisper times: mayoral hopefuls are pouring drinks at campaign launch parties, Montreal’s housing is being crunched alongside national rankings, and our potholes are getting international press. Neighbourhoods are throwing BBQs and markets like they’re trying to stretch the season as far as it’ll go.

It’s one of those strange in-between times: Half civic reckoning, half party in the park.

It works, though. No surprise there. Let’s get into it.

Perfect courses and pairings. One night only.

This October 3rd, Montreal’s Restaurant Bivouac is teaming up with local winery Coteau Rougemont, found in the Montérégie region, for an evening of perfect pairings.

For the occasion, Chef Xavier Dahan will present an exclusive five-course menu built around Québec’s boreal flavours and local terroir, each dish matched with a standout wine from one of the province’s most celebrated vineyards, who will be on site to share their passion and stories behind their products with the guests.

Seats are limited — reserve now at restaurantbivouac.com to experience this one-night-only dinner.

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

Thursday

🌳 Rendez-Vous NDG keeps summer alive with four days of live shows in the park—think jazzy sunsets, disco nights, and groove-heavy sets. Highlights include the return of SoulFul Intentions, Brendan Kelly’s final High Fidelity bash of the season, and a smooth Sunday wind-down with Trio Marcil.

🎨 Bastik presents Blayi, a solo exhibition opening at Fauna, showcasing the artist’s latest works. 

✨ Em&May is hosting a vernissage—shop their collection before anyone else, enjoy curated wine by @whinemom and tunes by @bisoubizou_.

Friday

🛍️ MARCHÉ INÉDIT.E pops up with a new two-location format on Saint-Laurent, bringing together vintage fashion vendors, jewelry, and body care—plus DJs and refreshments.

🍯 Peluso Beaubien hosts a special Butinage with Symbiose, featuring nine local producers, free tastings, and 15% off all showcased products.

📖 Mikhail Iossel reads from Sentence at Bar Kabinet, followed by a discussion and Q&A. Expect Soviet-era stories, sharp prose, and a glimpse into one of Montreal’s most quietly decorated literary minds.

🕯️ The Dark Eighties returns to Cabaret Berlin with a full night of cult 80s bangers—think EBM, goth, Italo-disco, post-punk, and everything in between. Dress like you mean it and don’t forget the red wine.

Saturday

🎉 Septembre sur Liège returns for its 3rd edition as Quartier Villeray’s vendors and neighbours come together on Rue de Liège for a festive day of family activities, BBQ, and a lively neighborhood atmosphere.

⚡ Indica Records brings Alanna Sterling, La Mikaëla, and Hvnah to mai/son for an all-ages, BYOB night of genre-bending energy and live music. 

🔄 Parquette’s flip brings hours of nonstop music and movement in their 24hrs event.  

🧺 Saturdays To-Go return to Parc de la Petite-Italie with picnic blankets, neighborhood treats, a free concert featuring Growve, and a DJ set by Ellxandra x Cidoine for a laid-back summer vibe. 

🪩 Afrotonik MTL closes out summer with a final dance party at the iconic Satosphere.

Sunday

🎶 Ensemble Urbain Musique presents Origines, a fall concert at La Sala Rossa featuring works by Genevieve Gros-Louis, Grazyna Bacewicz, and Edvard Grieg—blending past inspirations with future sounds.

🍹 Craig Sauvé kicks off his mayoral campaign at McLean’s Public House, returning behind the bar to meet the community, chat about Montreal, and pour drinks for all who stop by.

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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.

Limbo welcomes Marc-Antoinne Marcoux from restaurant MAUKKU in Helsinki as guest sommelier on Sept 18.

Kamuy Restaurant celebrates the 18th edition of Fest Martinique Gourmande on Sept 19th with delicious food, cocktails, and sunny beats from DJ Medhi to help us pretend summer isn’t ending. 

Nizar Baz takes over the shakers at Molenne this Thursday, Sept 18, crafting a one-night-only menu of seasonal creations from his mountain foraging. 

Microbrasserie 4 Origines kicks off their Oktoberfest on Sept 19 in Pointe-St-Charles, running for three weeks with new beers, 1L stein lagers, and a European hotdog from Chez Simon. 

The Shérif Festival returns to Montreal’s Old Port from Sept 19 to 21 for its second edition, celebrating country music, line dancing, and Southern U.S. cuisine. 

HOOD KLASSIK brings block party energy to between.us studios with global dance, mixology, networking, and $2 pizza slices on Sept 20 all on a pay-what-you-can basis.

Maisonneuve Market hosts its second annual Oktoberfest on Sept 20, with kids’ activities, a restaurant zone serving paella, oysters, pretzels, hot dogs, and sauerkraut, and live music. 

Sushi Nishinokaze kicks off its autumn season on Sept 21 with an intimate Jazz Kissaten afternoon featuring Castelfrancos sandwiches, gold-grade P.E.I. tuna, a custom coffee blend, a sake tasting. 

Anemone celebrates its 3rd anniversary on Sept 21 with a  BBQ, music, drinks, and a menu featuring bifana sandwiches, potato salad, and beers on tap from Wills.

Soeurs Racines opens its doors on Sept 21 for a relaxed, playful open house with cold piquette, music, charcuterie, oysters, sundaes, and games. 

Polari hosts La Hora del Vermut on Sept 21, featuring a la carte small plates and drinks in collaboration with their friends Dmetro Sinclair & Bastien Daoust-Beaudin.

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

A chef left Tlaxcala as a teenager, built Alma in Montreal, then closed it to chase his grandmother's tortilla press and heritage corn—now Bar Luz serves his family's Mexico through a Quebec lens. Read more.

Ralph Bou Jaoude inherited vintage green chairs and 60 years of Mile End history with Hollywood Barbershop—now he's proving his generation can be custodians, not just disruptors. Read more.

Montreal's café explosion continues with 28 bold new spots—from Caribbean roasters and matcha labs to record shop hybrids and gym-café combos redefining what coffee culture can be. Read more.

Brendan King Edwards helps run The Word Bookstore—now he's sharing the Milton-Parc spots where familiar faces, vintage finds, and family recipes prove this isn't just "the McGill ghetto." Read more.

Air Canada dropped its 2025 Best New Restaurants finalists—and Montreal landed eight spots on the national list. Read more.

Valérie Plante broke barriers as Montreal's first woman mayor and transformed the cycling network—but after eight years, critics say bold promises met mixed results on housing, traffic, and the Pink line. Read more.

A Dutch cyclist ate pavement on Mount-Royal during the Grand Prix Cycliste, and now Montreal's pothole problem is getting roasted worldwide—just weeks before 32,000 marathoners hit these same streets. Read more.

Netflix is eating Quebec TV's lunch—francophone viewership is bleeding to English streaming while local production budgets drop 20%. Read more.

The Van Horne overpass gets the axe by 2030—and nobody knows what replaces it—while the iconic Mile End warehouse becomes a 120-room hotel with affordable artist studios and rooftop access for all. Read more.

We rank 7th most expensive housing market in North America when adjusted for income—nearly matching New York's affordability ratio—as prices soar while salaries stagnate across Canada's "real estate obsessed" economy. Read more.

Montreal's mayoral candidates agree the city's social climate has soured—Martinez-Ferrada blames bike lane polarization and Middle East tensions, while Rabouin and Sauvé point fingers at each other for stoking division. Read more.

Every major sporting event is a city-wide festival—from 4 Nations Face-Off fan villages to Red Bull cliff diving parties—and now the UCI Road World Championships will bring 500,000 cycling fans in 2026. Read more.

Montreal scrambled to clarify its language rules after an English book club got booted—now city staff have 18 pages of guidelines and instructions to "avoid conflicts" while navigating Bill 96. 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 / Anahi Pellathy, Editorial & Production Coordinator / Phylida Tuff-West, Editorial Intern