The Bulletin: Pizza and vinyl, sunset line dancing, and half a million flowers [Issue #134]

If the title hasn't given it away already, this issue's gonna feel like you just got wrapped in the softest blanket ever.

The sun’s out, the nights are long, and Montreal’s running on pure solstice energy this weekend: The Clock Tower Beach is reopening, there's a vinyl market with pizza, garden circus acts, sensory theatre in total darkness, country line dancing with a skyline view, partying among half a million flowers at Parc Jean-Drapeau—it's a big weekend.

But it’s also a big weekend for the city’s indie scene: new art openings, DJ nights, vernissages, and block parties. So many block parties. Add in a few anniversaries (shoutout to Bar Vinvinvin, CRISP, and Bonheur d’occasion’s disco trattoria moment), and you’ve got the recipe for a very busy few days. Choose wisely!

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

Thursday

🛍️ Marché Floh kicks off a huge summer sale, offering 20% off everything in-store–this is your chance to snag bold, curated vintage at a steal.

🎪 Cirque Mazeru’s multidisciplinary circus arts festival in the Plateau kicks off with a program including a visual exhibition, artist workshop, and eclectic jazz, burlesque, and acrobatics performances.

🌺 Explore Parc Jean-Drapeau’s new permanent Mosaïcultures installation: three monumental garden sculptures crafted from nearly half a million flowers and plants, now on view in the Jardins des Floralies.

🖼️ “No Bystanders” by Frantz Patrick Henry opens at Fonderie Darling for an immersive installation experience drawing from architecture, nature, and stained glass, complete with celebratory drinks.

Friday

🕹️ Alley-oop, an immersive, motion-detection exhibit opens at Pointe-à-Callière for a mystery-themed exploration of Montreal’s alleyways.

👙 Othersea and Out of The join forces for a seasonal pop-up featuring art prints, ethically made swimwear, tasty bites, DJ sets, and exclusive in-person discounts.

♻️ L’Original hosts a vernissage for Timoh Garcia’s Fiction Primiare, a new recycled materials exhibit that transforms trash into statement art.

💪 LagreeCore kicks off the weekend with a spicy evening Megaformer session in Westmount—followed by ice-cold margaritas.

🕶️ DARKFIELD opens in Old Port, inviting visitors into complete darkness for an eerie multisensory audio-theatre experience that blurs the line between perception and reality.

🎨 Le Livart launches Paradis Graphiques, a dreamy summer exhibition about memory and place, with a courtyard vernissage and DJ set.

🏖️ Clock Tower Beach opens for the summer season with soft sand, parasols, and unbeatable views of the St. Lawrence.

🌅 Marie-Claire Blais’s monumental solo exhibition Streaming Light opens at the Musée des beaux-arts, immersing visitors in an atmospheric play of color, light, and sound inspired by sunrise and sunset.

✒️ Bookings close for Our Places, Our Stories, a zine-making workshop on June 25 exploring the history of Montreal’s English-speaking Caribbean communities through archival material and collaborative creation.

Saturday

🌞 Celebrate the longest day of the year at the The Summer Solstice Ball, an enchanting evening at the Montréal Botanical Garden featuring live music, dance performances, and art installations amid lush greenery.

🎤 Long Vowel hosts a $15 block party at Turbo Haus with live performances by Time Ghost, Fresh Wax, and That Static, plus an early BBQ with $5 hotdogs to kick off the night.

🎶 The final day of Francos de Montréal keeps the music going with free and ticketed shows across downtown, showcasing the richness of French-language music.

🛍️ The Centerpiece hosts its annual open house sale, offering never-before-seen pieces, deep discounts on past collections, and treats to sip and snack while you shop.

Sunday

🤠 Les Guinguettes presents Soireé Country, a boot-stomping night of live country music, line dance lessons, and DJ sets with a skyline view of Montreal.

🧘 Fyra Yoga hosts a free, outdoor yoga class session at Parc des Amériques–RVSP on Facebook.

💿 Dig through crates full of records at a free-entry pop-up vinyl market complete with a live DJ recording session and slices by Corner Pizza.

🎶 A Porchfest makeup concert lights up the Wheel Club with an all-day lineup of jazz, folk, rock, funk, and blues from local artists.

🎸 Experimental rock duo Gong Gong Gong perform at P’tit Ours, joined by Montreal collective MOAB for a night of raw energy and hypnotic sounds in an intimate setting.

🎉 CRISP Barbershop celebrates 5 years with Feels and Flow, an RSVP-only summer bash on the Mignon terrace featuring a DJ set, food, and drinks, plus a giveaway.

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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.

La Buvette du Dep launches a special tasting menu, “Les délices du Québec,” featuring nine mini takes on iconic local dishes made with Quebec-sourced ingredients.

Bar Vinvinvin turns six! Attend the magical birthday bash on June 19 for a special menu, custom tees by Pony, DJ sets, and a mysterious magician.

Myers teams up with Bacchus76 for a one-night-only tasting on June 19, featuring a special menu and plenty of pours.

Darna celebrates six delicious years with an anniversary giveaway–share the love (and your favourite dish) on Instagram by June 19 for a chance to win a $200 gift card.

The Annual Solstice Wine Run by Balmoral and Elena returns on June 20 with a friendly 5K, a social pace, and wine at the finish line, plus a commemorative item for the first 100 runners to sign up.

Kahwa opens a new Verdun location, serving crispy bread, house-made sauces, and the same signature flavours.

Keela hosts a late-night “Staff Meal” pop-up on June 21 with chefs Johnny and Clem serving up fun dishes and cocktails from 11pm till late.

Bonheur d’occasion transforms into a sunny trattoria on June 22, with Rico Suave serving up pizza fritta, tiramisu, and a full dose of disco on the terrace.

Corner Pizza pops up at Bar de Courcelle on June 22, slinging slices alongside a vinyl record market.

La Croquetería de Montréal is saying goodbye this August–make sure to drop by for one last round of croquettas to help close out this 10-year chapter.

Pichai and Le Plongeoir throw a wine-soaked soirée on June 23 with a dream list of bottles (think Overnoy, Ganevat, Stroebel) and a night of food, fun, and surprises.

Dobe & Andy team up with Buboy for QUEBECWONG, a one-night pop-up on June 23 fusing Asian and Québécois flavours.

Oh yeah, this game bar opened up? Le Weiser? Check it out!

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

As the Molson Brewery site transforms into a mixed-use riverside neighbourhood, the city faces a familiar question: can we build forward without erasing what came before? Read more.

Tucked away in Lachine, Sergey runs one of Montreal’s most enigmatic record shops—curated with care, shrouded in mystery, and quietly fuelling the city’s vinyl revival. Read more.

DJ culture just isn't what it used to be, but it can get back to where it once was. Take it from JoJo Flores, who we interviewed at his café recently. Read more.

The night market Chợ Đêm MTL returns with sizzling street food, live music, and a full-on celebration of Vietnamese culture—bringing the energy of a Saigon night market to the Peel Basin. Read more.

Is it too early to start planning for July? Not when there are as many thins to do as we've found. Check out the monthly roundup we put together. Read more.

Montreal’s transit strike is over as 2,400 STM maintenance workers return to the job under a tentative deal—closing a disruptive chapter that pushed thousands to rethink how they move through the city. Read more.

When buses stalled, Montrealers turned to bikes in record numbers—prompting fresh demands for safer streets and proving the city’s pedal power is more than just a summertime fling. Read more.

With $2.5 billion on the table, Montreal’s airport is set for major upgrades—a new drop-off zone, expanded transit access, a REM station—though travellers should brace for construction headaches. Read more.

Make it Operation Paperclip, but Montreal: As U.S. scientists eye the exit, Mayor Valérie Plante sees a chance to bring them here. Read more.

By pairing ketamine with talk therapy before, during, and after treatment, the ‘Montreal Model’ is showing longer-lasting relief for depression—and may reshape how we treat mental health. Read more.

Montreal’s long-abandoned Institut des Sourds-Muets will be reborn as 800 housing units, with plans to preserve its historic shell while tackling the city’s growing need for affordable homes. Read more.

Big news: Montreal gets more poutine? The big Quebec chain Ashton returns to the city after a 40-year hiatus. Read more.

Lyft has officially landed in Quebec, offering a new ride-share option for passengers and drivers alike—and signalling the company’s first major move into the Canadian market. Read more.

To cut gridlock and speed up development, Projet Montréal is promising express bus lanes and faster construction permits as part of a push for more efficient, sustainable transit. Read more.

In a move that only The Beaverton could dream up, a Montreal F1 driver skips practice, grabs an Uber, and says “eh, fuck it”—a perfect pit stop between burnout and satire. Read more.

Despite rising costs, Montreal closed out 2024 with a small budget surplus—thanks to tight expense controls, property tax revenue, and some old-fashioned fiscal restraint. 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 Intern