The Bulletin: Secret cafés, vinyl cults, raves in bathhouses, and one wild archive sale [Issue #139]

Wow. Just wow.

Thank you from the bottom of our hearts for showing up, Montreal.

To everyone who came out to our first-ever block party on July 20, you made it what it was. From the first custom cocktail served to the last record spinning, it felt like a snapshot of what this whole thing is about—stories, scenes, and the people who bring them to life.

If you missed the merch table (or just want a second tee because you sweat through the first one), we’ve got a few limited-edition block party shirts still up for grabs—$40 at depanneur.shop while they last.

Or better yet: become a paid supporter of The Main in the next 24 hours of this newsletter and we’ll send you one for free. That’s $50 to keep good local journalism going—and get some wearable proof you were early.

Peep some snapshots of the event below (and here) before we release the full gallery and, as usual, see what else is happening this weekend below that.

🛟 BYOF (Bring Your Own Floaty) to ROYALMOUNT 🦩

This Saturday, ROYALMOUNT is throwing a pool party with no pool: BYOF (Bring Your Own Floaty) is a surreal summer gathering where inflatable swans, donut rafts, and dance floor energy collide. From 4 to 7 p.m., Montreal DJ Forrest brings a slow-burn, deep house set to the Urban Park for what’s shaping up to be the city’s most unhinged outdoor event.

• 🗓️ Saturday, July 26 from 4 to 7 p.m.
• 📍 ROYALMOUNT Urban Park

Easy access via De la Savane metro (with a covered walkway), plus 4 hours of free parking on-site.

Reserve your free spot here.

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

Thursday

🎭 Shakespeare-in-the-Park goes Wilde with The Importance of Being Earnest, kicking off a season of free shows across Montreal parks with a performance in Trenholme Park.

🚲 Join a pay-what-you-can cultural bike tour through Villeray hosted by Learning Loop—snacks included!

🎬 Fantasia Film Festival continues with premieres, industry buzz, and late-night screenings for all genre-film lovers.

Friday

👁️ Nightshift returns with Heaven’s Door, a rave experience at Bain Mathieu where every DJ battles as a pilot in an apocalyptic sonic war. Expect heavy sets and immersive visuals.

🎙️ An electrifying night of international stand-up comedy comes to Théâtre Maisonneuve for Michelle Buteau’s star-studded Just For Laughs Gala.

🎶 Narcy and Buddha Blaze throw a free album release party at Lulu Épicerie with DJ sets, shawarma, vinyl for sale, and a live music video shoot.

Saturday

🛍️ Atelier Artifact’s archive designer pop-up turns Velours Studio into a vintage-lovers’ paradise with indie fashion, specialty matcha, DJs, and drinks.

🎻 The Festival de Lanaudière presents Franco Fagioli’s Canadian debut: a dazzling program of arias and orchestral works alongside the Orchestra of the Opéra Royal de Versailles.

📐 &OR Collective wraps up its final summer pop-up at Alexandre Bernier Architecte studio, offering signature styles, archive finds, and a warm community send-off before leaving St. Henri.

Sunday

⚽️ The 15th edition of GOAL MTL and its all-ages football festival and fundraiser takes place at Percival Molson Stadium from 11AM to 4PM. Entry is free. Give a little, get a lot in return.

🎧 Vinylism S02E06 hits Nirvana MTL with live cuts, local vendors, and soulful sounds from noon to 6 pm.

☕ Poshmark Canada hosts a pop-up coffee club at Alphabet Café, giving away coffee while community members list and sell secondhand items.

🌿 The Together Club and La Table de quartier du Plateau-Mont-Royal offer a Slow Sunday of screen-free chats at Parc Baldwin to get to know your neighbours.

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.

Vignoble L’Ardennais hosts a summer 5@7 on July 24, pairing new cuvées with keftas and plates by Comptoir Moutarde.

Korean street food takes over Bassin Peel for POCHA MTL on July 24-27, featuring street eats, cultural performances, and more—for all the best spots, check out our guide to POCHA MTL.

Marché STREAT takes over the Eaux Douces back terrace this and every Thursday through Sunday with grilled hot dogs, Ca Lem ice cream, cucumber-lemon drinks by Lufa Farms, and marina views.

Bar Uma brings exclusive drinks to Velours Studio on July 27 for a stacked designer market alongside dalgona and lychee fizz matchas.

Mikado returns to NDG for a one-night-only tasting menu at NDG Luncheonette on July 27, with three seatings paying tribute to the beloved sushi spot’s legacy—reservations required.

Anchoi Plaza celebrates two years with Pasthyme and Bạn Bè on July 27, featuring crispy pork bánh mì, Vietnamese café specials, DJ sets, and cocktails.

Bar Le Ber turns Nagomi into a Sip & Shop on July 26 & 27 with a market pop-up featuring house saké, cold beer, secondhand designer fashion, handmade goods, and music.

Jinjin Tea Room pops up at Île Flottante for a collab with SO:yA Bakehouse on July 27, serving delicate drinks and vegan pastries in a beautiful space.

Julian Burgos of Orlando’s Suffering Bastard takes over Snowbird on July 28 with a tropical pop-up menu, Planteray rum collab cocktails, and giveaways. 

Chinese-Italian fusion takes the spotlight as Dobe & Andy join forces with Bistro Amerigo on July 28 for a four-course dinner complete with DJ sets and specialty cocktails.

Pizza Run Project returns on July 30, starting with slices at San Gennaro and ending with drinks at Bar Bello, with a scenic group run in between.

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

Plaza St-Hubert is embracing its chaotic charm—where cowboy boots meet Criterion DVDs and smoked meat counters sit beside tiki bars—proving that being weird might just be its secret to survival. Read more.

Montreal’s running scene is hitting its stride with caffeine, craft beer, and zero pressure to be fast. Whether you’re chasing PBs, new pals, or just a reason to leave the house, there’s a crew for every pace and personality. Read more.

Built during the Great Depression and nearly lost to neglect, Atwater Market has survived reinvention, gentrification, and decades of change to remain a rare example of civic architecture that still feeds its neighbourhood—literally and culturally. Read more.

Montreal is under a heat warning with humidex values hitting 40°C, prompting health officials to urge hydration, cool spaces, and common sense—especially around kids, cars, and pools. Read more.

As heat waves intensify, Montreal is hosting its first Global School on Heat Adaptation—bringing together international experts to brainstorm survival strategies in a world edging toward 80°C. Read more.

The Belgo Building—home to Canada’s densest cluster of contemporary art galleries—is up for sale, and the city’s arts community is bracing for what could be a massive cultural loss. Read more.

Venues like Blue Dog and Diving Bell are being shuttered by serial complainers exploiting the system—and unless City Hall wises up, one noise complaint at a time might be all it takes to kill the city’s culture. Read more.

Montreal housing advocates are split on whether slapping scores on apartments would actually help—or just paper over deeper issues. Read more.

Channelling the grit of Chinese underground cinema—Montreal artists are turning banned documentaries and protest films into raw, DIY expressions of identity, resistance, and diaspora. Read more.

Our tattoo scene is feeling the sting of oversaturation, with seasoned artists losing clients to a post-pandemic boom of newcomers, rising costs, and a social media game that’s harder—and pricier—than ever to crack. Read more.

BIXI is rolling out bike trailers, letting riders haul groceries, gear, or whatever else fits for just $4—and yes, you can hitch them to your own bike too. Read more.

Quebec is seeing a bumper crop of fireflies this year—just don’t let the glow distract from their fight against light pollution, pesticides, and climate change. Read more.

Costco’s Montreal smoked meat sandwich comes on a triangle bun, lacks the heft of a deli classic, and makes you pump your own mustard—but for $7.99, it’s better than it has any right to be. Read more.

A Saint-Leonard barber is facing a $30K fine from Quebec’s language watchdog over English signage and social media posts—sparking a showdown over what gets cut and what gets censored. Read more.

The local Stefano pasta brand called out a Russian company for copying its packaging almost noodle-for-noodle—earning an online apology, no lawsuit, and a viral lesson in design plagiarism. 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 / Marie Rousseau, Photography Intern