Yup, this weekend's as varied as implied. And then some!

Between the digital art festival, Canada's biggest fetish festival, art exhibitions, disasters (and near-disasters) in the news, and more than a handful of new restaurant openings and block parties, the celebrations of summer are far from over. We'll spare you the summary here—it's all best combed over, one event and story at a time.

Happy long weekend, y'all! May the next few days bring you rest, relaxation, and riveting entertainment.

👇 And don't forget 👇

Our new merch drop with Montreal's Mr. Sign

We’ve teamed up with local artist Dave Arnold (aka Mr. Sign) to launch a new mini line of merch that celebrates the iconic corner store culture of dépanneurs. Every purchase helps support future content! Don’t forget: If you’re a paying supporter of The Main, you get 10% off everything in our shop.

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

Thursday

And just like that, the large-scale international exhibition @expoworldpressphotomtl has returned to Montreal with photography by journalists from all over the world.
@joat.festival's celebration of street dance culture is back for its 9th edition with more than 250 artists in high-level battles, breaking, popping, hip hop, workshops, master classes, and more.
Go see @mutekmontreal's free, immersive event called @village.numerique in the @quartierdesspectacles_mtl before it ends.
Artist @lolakingz will be at @studiosgiovanelli for an installation on the fleeting nature of youth with @lieuxcommuns.vin, @zamalekmontreal, @studio.byrose, and @lesobjetsraymondraymond.

Friday

@nouveaucinema's Estival du nouveau cinéma, a four-night free film festival, kicks off in @quartierdesspectacles_mtl.
@festival.far will fill alleys across the city with parades, performances, and block parties, each with unique themes.
@fetishweekend, Canada’s largest fetish gathering, returns to host local, national, and international guests.
@qualitedeluxe will be with @poiriersound at @marchedp alongside @mr.piyou for an inner city dance sesh.

Saturday

@blvdstlaurent's massive street festival BLVD with games, food stands, a block party by @a5hospitality, @dimemtl and @saintwoods, and the largest gathering and parade of corgis in North America: The Corgi Pawty.
@piknicmtl continues to spin this weekend with performances by @iam.officiel, @aswell._, @disclosure, @amelie_lens, @adiel, and others.
@artmarketmtl's all-day festival of female art is heading to @lelivart for an "immersive house party".
@projetmill is holding a big end-of-season block party, Oiled Up, that'll feature four BIPOC DJs.
@donna.verygoodgirl hosts artist @catherinelavoie__ and @babeurre.delicatesses for a fundraising sesh of a mural located in the @demersbicyclesetskidefond alley.

Sunday

@festivaltradmontreal's local music, dance, storytelling, cuisine, and artisanal creations by Quebec artists are taking place in two Montreal parks.
@sdc_hm's got a beer garden to check out with brews by @lespacepublic, @microbrasseriemutoide and @isledegarde while you enjoy DJs, games, and live comedy.

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There's a new Ukrainian pierogi restaurant in the Mile-End area of Montreal. | Photograph: @perogielili / Instagram

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.

Eyes on @junco.mtl which opens in September in Ville-Marie with a café, bar and lunchtime dining spot offering—they'll open up @eleonore.mtl across the street the following month.
@tacofestmtl returns from August 31 to September 2 in @vieuxportmtl with more than 150 authentic and reinvented tacos, salsa classes, and more.
The arrival of @perogielili has established a new spot for Ukrainian pierogi in the Mile-End.
@cornerpizzaaa is back this weekend on Saturday, August 31 from 11:30AM-6PM! Get the details with their link in bio.
There's a new AYCE sushi and izakaya experience called @sushihin.mtl in Pointe-Claire.
@castelfrancos is popping up with club sandwiches on Sept 1 at @liliandoli on Notre-Dame from 8am to 2pm.
@buvettenicole is now open in Old Montreal, a "French bistro experience"; it's saying hello by offering everything by the glass at 50% off from 2-6pm every day of the week.
On August 29, @saelow_mtl is hosting @manonvirgule for a wine tasting: 5 cuvées to discover.
On September 12, 6pm til late, @barbisoubisou welcomes @restaurantbeba for the 2nd edition of Open Kitchen.
@salon.badin's started doing jazz nights on Wednesdays: Drinks at 7pm, shows at 9pm, $10 admission.
Chef @minhphat is bringing the @muimuimtl experience to @ferme_lacueillette on Sept 8.
If you like Japanese pancakes, @fuwafuwa.montreal has the fluffiest, jiggliest pancakes that're now available downtown.
@mamacrestaurant's a new Greek restaurant that's now open in Old Montreal.
@nightmarketmtl's second weekend in Chinatown is taking place from August 29 to Sept 1, where the majority of menus will be between $4 and $8, while premium dishes cost between $9 and $12.
It's the last weekend for @jeantalonest’s new gourmet festival @fringalemtl, where Saint-Léonard’s small but mighty stretch of Jean-Talon Est is explored through plates for $8 or less. This time, it's a complete culinary world tour.
You know about the fromagerie/wine bar @chezbrebis that opened up earlier this year, right? No? Go scope 'em out.
@buboymtl's announced a chop-up pop-up with @chopswunda for an exclusive event featuring a special menu running all day on Sept 8.
@cafebazin's going to be opening up a downtown location following the success of their Westmount address.

Let's go to the Dep

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

Skipping over the corporate quicksand

Montreal's grassroots arts scene is flourishing despite financial challenges, driven by community-focused co-ops and spaces. In contrast, Toronto's art scene struggles under corporate pressure, losing its grassroots vitality as commercial interests dominate. (The Breach)

And just like that, our own Suez Canal diaster is over

Sort of. The ship that ran aground last Thursday evening in the Saint Lawrence Seaway, near Kahnawake, was freed by Saturday morning. Traffic was able to resume quickly, but the incident will still have major economic consequences. (Le Devoir)

Things are getting heated within a heated situation

This criticism of a Montreal Gazette editorial suggesting young anglophones should leave Quebec argues that anglophones should stay, fight for their rights, and not capitulate to adversity. (Cult MTL)

Down by the river

A growing number of homeless people with hopes for stability are pitching their tents along the Lachine Canal. Parks Canada, which administers the site, authorizes them but—to be expected—residents are concerned. (La Presse)

Local politics! Woo!

At least 91 candidates will be on the ballot for the Sept. 16 byelection in LaSalle—Émard—Verdun, according to Elections Canada. That's the longest ballot in the history of Canadian federal elections, breaking a record set earlier this summer in Toronto. (CTV News)

Vroom zoom 🏎️

Lance Stroll reflects on his 2024 F1 season, discussing challenges, personal growth, and aspirations alongside an emphasis on resilience and determination in overcoming setbacks and achieving success in highly competitive motorsports—oh, and a party at Le 9e. (Sharp Magazine)

A rivalry born from beer

The Quebec Nordiques almost didn’t exist. And depending on who you ask, maybe they shouldn’t have existed at all. In fact, their story begins on the other side of the continent, under the considerably warmer skies of San Francisco, California. (The Hockey Writers)

An old part of Quebec's soul

By now, the most famous product of Quebec’s casse-croûtes, the poutine, has gone international. But can the guédille or the pinso ever become just as popular? (The New York Times)

Winner winner Olympic dinner

The Olympic Park recently announced the winners of a competition aimed at upcycling the materials used for the current roof of the Olympic Stadium, which will be dismantled and replaced. A total of 54 proposals were considered and analyzed by the jury. (Canadian Architect)

Still chugging along

The groundbreaking ceremony for the MR-63 cultural complex in Griffintown has been announced many times, but it still hasn’t happened. That doesn’t mean the project is buried, though, according to its co-founders Frédéric and Étienne Morin-Bordeleau. (La Presse)

Timber.

The exterior wall of a triplex in St-Henri collapsed onto an adjacent construction site Monday afternoon, exposing the inside of the apartments much like a dollhouse. A construction permit for a building on the neighbouring lot was issued just a week before the collapse occurred. (Montreal Gazette)

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.

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The Bulletin: We've got some big things cooking [Issue #158]

The Bulletin: So much to do in one weekend, it'll make your head spin [Issue #157]

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The Bulletin: 🥟Pierogi and pancakes🥞, fetishes, resisting venture capitalists, and Corgi parades [Issue #92]