The Bulletin: A hyperpop party, live blacksmithing, a toy drive, and late-night raves [Issue #159]

On December 13, ROYALMOUNT's Urban Park skating rink becomes the stage for something a little different: a choreographed drone light show set to live DJ sets, with complimentary skating and hot chocolate to round out the evening.

Skating runs from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m., rentals included. The drones go up at 8 p.m., synchronized to a lineup pulling from Montreal's scene—DJ Apollo's open-format club energy, Mando's hyperpop-Y2K blend, Vina Vaselina repping Bahay Collective, and FIXX from FOR THE ART. It's a mix of styles designed to keep the energy shifting all night.

Dress warm—you'll be outside for a while, but that's the point.

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

Thursday

🎨 The Mr. Sign holiday market returns for its 16th edition, featuring prints, posters, paintings, and avant-guard apparel all by the beloved Montreal artist himself. 

🎨 200 handpicked artisans take over the Palais des congrès for the 69th Salon des métiers d'art du Québec—11 days of ceramics, glassblowing, woodworking, jewelry, and live demonstrations, plus exhibitions.

🌈 Metonymy Press hosts the launch of their new anthology, Sharp Pink Claws, with readings, prizes, and drinks– support Montreal’s queer literary scene at Co-op Bar Milton-Parc.

🎄 The Ritz-Carlton transforms its grounds into a European-style Christmas village with mulled wine, signature Advent calendars, and high-end holiday décor.

Friday

🪩 Turbo Haus throws a free hyperpop vs ‘90s + y2k dancepop party featuring a live DJ spinning seminal tracks and deepcuts.

🎄 Café SAT’s holiday market is back and better than ever, with crafts, cooking workshops, and festive cocktails to get you in the holiday spirit all weekend long.  

🎁 Weekend 1 of Puces Pop holiday market kicks off, where you can find all sorts of handmade gems at the Saint-Denis church– don’t miss out on the first round of artisans! 

🩰 Attend an elegant evening out on the town at Place Des Arts for Les Grands Ballets’ annual showing of The Nutcracker, with over 150 performers and a live orchestra.

Saturday

👠 It’s Fringemas in the city! Sip on some eggnog in your ugliest Christmas sweater as you enjoy a Caberet & Variety show at the Mainline Theatre.

🎁 WIP's Magasin Général Christmas Market brings local designers, hot beverages, and a gift exchange for those presents you completely forgot about.

☕ Browse Herman Brasserie's Christmas market featuring local pottery, dried flowers, seasonal vegetables, specialty coffee, unique handmade pieces, and a chance to win a festive gift basket with every purchase. 

🌌 Experience a full night of art, community, and queer celebration at Cocoon / Chrysalis featuring an art exhibition, community tables, literary readings, live music, and a late-night rave—with all proceeds supporting emergency relief in Gaza and Sudan.

🍷 Enjoy some mulled wine and get that tattoo you know you’ve been wanting all year long at Ping Pong Club’s holiday market–  featuring a whole slew of creations to gift someone special too.  

👣 Street Dance Company, FWD Movements celebrates 10 years with their after party at the Ausgang Plaza. 

🏮 Witness the art of hand crafted lanterns at NDG’s Winter Magic Latern Parade that will illuminate Sherbrooke up to Girouard Park for hot chocolate and live music.

Sunday 

🌅 Rising Suns: Art from the Confederations of Rivers and Great Lakes debuts at the MBAM, spotlighting Indigenous artists from 1970 to today in the first of a cycle taking a decolonized look at Quebec and Canadian history.

🤘 Local band Holdin’ puts on a Christmas themed show at Turbo Haus, show up in red and/or green for a festive night that will truly rock. 

🌟 Learn how to make your own Christmas ornaments at Mitch Deli’s workshop while you enjoy some eggnog and hot chocolate.

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.

Hailing all the way from Quebec, Épicerie Chanhda joins forces with Babeurre to serve Montrelaers a scrumptious menu consisting of Thai dishes on Dec 11.  

It’s karaoke night on Dec 12 at P’tit Ours, with 11.50$ beer + shots and 9.50$ cosmos to fuel your confidence on the stage.

Bring new toys for families in need on Dec 12 at Pas de problème Café, and reward yourself with good food and live music.  

Taste the authentic flavours of Mexico at Bar Vivar on Dec 13 and be transported to the Veracuz coast for the evening with an innovative menu. 

Café Kuya hosts a Kamayan showdown on Dec 13, with two services offering an unbeatable Fillipino feast. 

Indulge in a six-course menu and wine pairing at Kitano Shokudo on Dec 14. 

Kwizinn gets taken-over by live music on Dec 14 for an afternoon of warm and hearty, festive brunch.

Soubois transforms into an enchanted Christmas forest on Dec 14 for a festive brunch, with ticket proceeds going directly towards the Montreal Canandiens Children’s Foundation. 

Gia Vin & Grill puts on the tastiest market yet on Dec 14  with a unique lineup offering freshly baked panettonne, oysters, hot ravioli, sausages, beer and wine, chocolatey stocking stuffers, baked goods, and more! 

Celebrate the holidays with Café Pista’s holiday pop up on Dec 14, with festive treats, handmade mugs, and afternoon cider. 

Dec 15 is your one chance to taste Darling’s flower ciders, back for one night only! 

Start your week with dumplings, DJS, and drinks at 180g Café - Disquaire on Dec 15.

Here, you'll find a weekly round-up of our stories from the past week, plus the latest local news.

Wing Noodles closes after 128 years, threatening to erase Montreal's oldest fortune cookie factory—but a salvaged archive of 8,000 objects might hold the blueprint for what comes next. Read more.

We asked Cinema Moderne's programmers to curate holiday viewing beyond the usual suspects—pre-war rom-coms, noir thrillers, Quebec classics, and queer love stories that trade manufactured warmth for raw emotion and actual substance. Read more.

The steamie is soggy, unphotogenic, and far from Instagram-worthy—yet this ugly hot dog has fuelled Montreal's late nights and defined the city's food culture for (at least) 113 years. Read more.

How does a professional Santa Claus make a year's salary in six weeks? What's it like being the centrepiece of everyone's Christmas for 25 years in a row? Read more.

Appetite for Books owner Jonathan Cheung knows what actually works in a home kitchen—here's his gift guide of cookbooks and tools that get splattered with sauce, dog-eared to hell, and recommended to friends. Read more.

New Year's Eve parties this year span Gilded Age champagne toasts at the Ritz-Carlton, 29-hour techno marathons at Stereo, fetish masquerades in converted churches, and a free mega-party in the Old Port with Patrick Watson—here's where to close out 2025. Read more.

The Gothic Montreal mansion where CIA-funded experiments erased minds with LSD and electroshock created the torture blueprint used at Guantanamo—70 years later, still no apology. Read more.

Two hundred handpicked artisans fill the Palais des congrès for 11 days of ceramics, glassblowing, and live blacksmithing—plus exhibitions honoring Quebec craft legends and newly arrived makers. Read more.

Cinéma du Musée's Teejay Bhalla turns film screenings into education by linking movies to museum exhibitions and bringing in activists and organizers for post-screening discussions. Read more.

CJAD turned 80 this week—Montreal's heritage AM station that survived the Ice Storm broadcasting on backup generators, reported both referendums, and remains one of only two English commercial AM stations left in Quebec. Read more.

Quebec's first contemporary art hotel just opened in Old Montreal with rooms that are part of the gallery, soundtracks, and a chef serving nine-course tastings surrounded by digital art that responds to your presence. Read more.

Bonheur d'Occasion, the Saint-Henri bistro that made Air Canada's top 10 in 2023—closes after three years, while hinting at a bigger deli project ahead. Read more.

Frite Alors! on Laurier closed after 33 years, ending an era of Belgian frites and late-night merguez runs that defined the Plateau since 1993. Read more.

Lululemon's upcoming two-storey flagship—one of the brand's biggest in Canada—betting hard on downtown's comeback after American Eagle left the corner empty during the pandemic. 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 / Samuel Vadnais, Head of Partnerships / Anahi Pellathy, Editorial & Production Coordinator / Phylida Tuff-West, Editorial Intern / Kaitlyn DiBartolo, Editorial Intern / Jeremy Cox, Editorial Intern / AnnaClare Sung, Editorial Intern