The Bulletin: The (Best) Worst Movie Ever Made, Racing Around the Mountain, Burlesque Birthdays, and Digital Pollution [Issue #198]

Morning, Montreal.

As I write this, it’s exceptionally grey outside, a telling sign of—I hate to say it—the final days of summer on their way out. That said, weather here has a funny way of turning on a dime and giving us anomalies—fingers and toes crossed for a warm and sunny October—so I’ll keep my hopes up.

I hope you will, too, but that’s pretty easy to do when considering how much is happening in the coming days. Time and again, the city never ceases to amaze as the weekend planner goes from a loose collection of announcements to a full (albeit still curated!) picture of what’s happening in every corner of the island.

A huge thanks is due to a motley crew of passionate writers and admin support The Main has gathered in past months; bright newcomers to the media landscape who help us pull together what you read every week. Make no mistake, the Bulletin is a huge weekly endeavour for us, and the new blood here is a big help.

It’s by no means perfect, though; we’ve an eye on making improvements to the Bulletin. If there’s anything you’d like to see, drop us a line. We read everything you send.

Final notes, don’t forget: Keep the evening of October 1 free is you want to tastefully party with us. Details are coming very soon; if you want to know what’s happening before everyone else, become a paid subscriber today.

If you’re already an Insider, you’re on our VIP list. 🙃

— JP Karwacki, Managing Editor

In Partnership with TalkDeath

Grief doesn't leave much room for laughter, but TalkDeath thinks it should. Founder Mandy Benoualid started the organization after a series of losses made her realize how little support exists for talking about death. What began as a memorial platform called Keeper became something more expansive, helping people navigate loss with better information, open dialogue, and community gatherings.

This Thursday, TalkDeath hosts a pay-what-you-can comedy night at Café Cléopatra with comedian Sarah Warren.

Learn more about Mandy's story.

The Editors' Picks

The places our editors keep coming back to. Every one has earned an editorial badge.

This week, we’ve got two eateries—one shop serving up crisp, sturdy slices of sourdough pizza, another dishing out Syrian street food—as well as a Vancouver-born coffee shop, a neighbourhood pub, and an indie bookstore.

If you want to hit these stops and more, map out a route and learn more about our favourites in our Directory.

If you think somewhere in Montreal deserves a closer look, we want to hear from you! Send an email to hello@themain.com. We read everything you send.

Presented by HOOP

To celebrate its 10th season of classes, Hoop Montreal is offering a 50% discount for new students. Classes are for all levels and hoops are provided — no experience required, beginners welcome. A decade in, it's still one of the most fun ways to move in the city.

One Story to Read This Week

“This isn’t just a bike shop—it’s more of a bike bar.” | Photography: Jean Bourbeau / @jbmtl

In a basement bike shop in Rosemont, the espresso comes with a splash of Sambuca, and the walls are lined with 40 years of Quebec cycling history.

We’d be remiss if, in honour of the impending Grand Prix Cycliste de Montréal, we didn’t feature this sit-down with Elio Fratangelo, an Italian mechanic and owner of Centre du Vélo 82. From patching mopeds for tips to importing bike brands that have shaped a generation of riders, Fratangelo’s story rolls through the Tour de France on TV, an emphasis on loyalty and community, and using coffee to fuel each ride.

Read the full story.

In Partnership with SDC Petite Italie

Join The Main in a guided walking tour of Little Italy. Visit the neighbourhood’s best spots, sample local products, and learn about the historic area and the Italian community’s influence on Montreal

Visite en français: 14h30 à 16h30.

English tour: 3:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.

Get tickets.

Thursday

🌱 Fermes en Ville runs through Sunday: exclusive menus at 17 restaurants Friday and Saturday, a producers' fair at Parc Tolhurst on Saturday, and urban farm tours to close it out Sunday. Over 100 products grown within city limits, from mushrooms and microgreens to honey and cider.

🖼️ Celebrate the centenary of legendary Canadian artist Dennis Juneau at the Simon Blais Gallery, with an exhibition tracing six decades of his work.

🩰 Festival Quartiers Danses hosts the opening night of its 24th Edition, featuring performances from Les Grands Ballets and Liam Francis.

🌍 Stop by one of many Montreal Climate Week events, from an exhibition at the Biosphere to a conference on digital pollution.

🛒 Superette Eaton will take over downtown’s Eaton Centre, transforming the central court into a picture of 90s-era Latin bodegas, with DJ sets, a photo booth, dance classes, and more.

🎞️ Watch one of the best worst movies of all time on the big screen, at Cinema du Parc’s showing of The Room.

💃 Make your way to Côte-des-Neiges for a 4-day pedestrianization full of music, dance, art, food, workshops, games, booths, and much more.

🖼️ APPLIQUÉ, an exhibition featuring wall sconces crafted by 22 local designers, starts its three-day run at Lambert & Fils’ galerie 6250, as part of Format MTL.

🔠 ECAL A Typographic Atlas, an exhibition exploring the world of type design, opens at UQAM’s Centre de design.

Friday

🐎 Put on your cowboy boots and spurs for the first day of Festival Western de St-Tite, complete with rodeos, dancing, equestrian performances, artisans, and more.

🚴 Le Club and MAAP run three days around the Grand Prix Cycliste: a group ride Friday, an afternoon party Saturday with music, free Baga smash burgers and drinks for the first 150 RSVPs, and a cheer station on course Sunday.

🖼️ FORMAT Montreal, the city’s first artist-run design festival, kicks off with an opening reception, hosted by the Canadian Creators Collective and WILLS beer.

🏮 Asiasie and the Asian Night Market collaborate on Eight-Eight Fest, featuring a lantern flight at Jean-Drapeau.

🖼️ Head to the openings of Centrepiece and Céragrè Studios’ new showrooms, as part of FORMAT Montreal.

📸 A new photo zine from the Montreal Street Photography Festival launches at WIP Works, collecting selected work from an open call by photographers here and abroad.

🥒 Ferment Fest arrives at Jean Talon Market with workshops, conferences, events, and more for Ferment lovers and skeptics alike.

Saturday

🎤 Back-to-school festivities take over Quartiers latin for the last day, with concerts, comedy, workshops, performances, and more.

🖼️ Visit Art Mûr for the first day of Ginette Legaré’s exhibition, Triangulations, which transforms and reinvents found objects.

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