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The Main Media Inc. 2026

✦ Built By Field Office
    The Main

    Montreal's Cultural Directory

    Help us improve! Share your thoughts on how we can make your experience better.

    Leave feedback

    For partnerships and collaborations:

    partnerships@themain.com

    Content

    • Articles
    • Food & Drink
    • Arts & Culture
    • History Lesson
    • Bulletin
    • Events

    Guides

    • All Guides
    • Best Restaurants
    • Best Cafés
    • Best Bars
    • Best Brunch
    • Best Bakeries

    Explore Montreal

    • Browse Directory
    • Restaurants
    • Bars
    • Cafés
    • Bookstores

    About

    • About us
    • Subscribe
    • Shop
    • Advertise
    • Pitch us
    • RSS Feed

    Legal

    • Terms of service
    • Membership Terms
    • Privacy Policy
    Follow us
    InstagramTwitterTiktokLinkedin

    The Main Media Inc. 2026

    ✦ Built By Field Office
      --°C|Sunday, April 5, 2026|
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      Subscribe today to get 3 free articles per month.ROYALMOUNT Wants to Be Your Dining Destination for a Whole MonthGet 50% off your first 5 rides with Lyft
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      • Best new Restaurants
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      • Romantic Restaurants
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      • See all Guides
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      • Mile-Ex
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      • Café
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      • Bar
      • Bakery
      • See All
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      • Peel
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      • Place-Saint-Henri
      • Place-d'Armes
      • Jarry
      • View all
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      • Beyond Montreal

        Travel, adventure, and global perspectives.

      • Design

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      Arts & Culture

      Montreal: A Nest of Spies During the American Civil War

      The director of the Crave Original documentary Kings of Coke recently sat down with The Main to talk about the release of his latest book, The North Star.

      ByDaniel Bromberg

      April 22, 2023 · 6 min read

      Montreal: A nest of spies during the American Civil War

      Julian Sher is no stranger to storytelling. The Canadian investigative journalist, author and filmmaker has spent decades researching and recounting accounts of our nation's history, often with a focus on its darker, more sinister aspects. His most recent documentary, Kings of Coke, chronicled the dominance of Montreal's West End Gang, an Irish Mafia that became one of the largest criminal organizations in North America.

      Only six months following its release, Sher, 70, has followed up with another fascinating tale of Canadian history, this time with a book entitled The North Star: Canada and the Civil War Plots Against Lincoln, set to hit shelves on April 25. This latest publication uncovers some of the unexpected ways citizens north of the 49th parallel, particularly Montrealers, were involved in the American Civil War — including the eventual manhunt for Abraham Lincoln's assassin.

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      Create a free account to read this story and access 3 articles per month, plus our weekly Bulletin.

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      The Main

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      Angine de Poitrine Is Exactly What the Internet Was Waiting For
      Arts & Culture
      J.P. Karwacki

      Angine de Poitrine Is Exactly What the Internet Was Waiting For

      A masked duo from Saguenay that started out as a joke gig tells us a lot about what we actually want from music right now.

      Our Picks of the Best Shows for this year's Jazz Fest
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      The Main

      Our Picks of the Best Shows for This Year's Jazz Fest

      From three jazz centennials to J Dilla, Willow, and UZEB at 50, the 2026 festival's best bets across free stages and ticketed venues.

      The Action Comedy Hollywood Forgot How to Make
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      Gianni Fiasche

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      What to do this weekend (04.02–04.05)
      Arts & Culture
      The Main

      What to Do This Weekend (04.02–04.05)

      From Roman sculpture after dark to electroclash, grunge tributes, and an Easter cabaret with a costume policy: April 2 to 5, 2026.

      Things to do in Montreal this April
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      The Main

      Things to Do in Montreal This April

      From art fairs and film festivals to vinyl digs, clowns, and Roman emperors.

      Does Montreal Still Want to Play in the Big Leagues?
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      J.P. Karwacki

      Does Montreal Still Want to Play in the Big Leagues?

      The return of the Expos is more viable than ever, but whether Montreal has the appetite for it is another question entirely.

      Arts & Culture

      Montreal: A Nest of Spies During the American Civil War

      The director of the Crave Original documentary Kings of Coke recently sat down with The Main to talk about the release of his latest book, The North Star.

      ByDaniel Bromberg

      April 22, 2023 · 6 min read

      Montreal: A nest of spies during the American Civil War

      Julian Sher is no stranger to storytelling. The Canadian investigative journalist, author and filmmaker has spent decades researching and recounting accounts of our nation's history, often with a focus on its darker, more sinister aspects. His most recent documentary, Kings of Coke, chronicled the dominance of Montreal's West End Gang, an Irish Mafia that became one of the largest criminal organizations in North America.

      Only six months following its release, Sher, 70, has followed up with another fascinating tale of Canadian history, this time with a book entitled The North Star: Canada and the Civil War Plots Against Lincoln, set to hit shelves on April 25. This latest publication uncovers some of the unexpected ways citizens north of the 49th parallel, particularly Montrealers, were involved in the American Civil War — including the eventual manhunt for Abraham Lincoln's assassin.

      Free account required

      For readers who care about Montreal

      Create a free account to read this story and access 3 articles per month, plus our weekly Bulletin.

      Independent. Local. Reader-supported.

      or

      Already a member? Sign in

      The Main

      Advertisement

      Follow on Google
      Angine de Poitrine Is Exactly What the Internet Was Waiting For
      Arts & Culture
      J.P. Karwacki

      Angine de Poitrine Is Exactly What the Internet Was Waiting For

      A masked duo from Saguenay that started out as a joke gig tells us a lot about what we actually want from music right now.

      Our Picks of the Best Shows for this year's Jazz Fest
      Arts & Culture
      The Main

      Our Picks of the Best Shows for This Year's Jazz Fest

      From three jazz centennials to J Dilla, Willow, and UZEB at 50, the 2026 festival's best bets across free stages and ticketed venues.

      The Action Comedy Hollywood Forgot How to Make
      Arts & Culture
      Gianni Fiasche

      The Action Comedy Hollywood Forgot How to Make

      Vince Vaughn plays two versions of the same gangster, and that's barely the wildest thing about it.

      What to do this weekend (04.02–04.05)
      Arts & Culture
      The Main

      What to Do This Weekend (04.02–04.05)

      From Roman sculpture after dark to electroclash, grunge tributes, and an Easter cabaret with a costume policy: April 2 to 5, 2026.

      Things to do in Montreal this April
      Arts & Culture
      The Main

      Things to Do in Montreal This April

      From art fairs and film festivals to vinyl digs, clowns, and Roman emperors.

      Does Montreal Still Want to Play in the Big Leagues?
      Arts & Culture
      J.P. Karwacki

      Does Montreal Still Want to Play in the Big Leagues?

      The return of the Expos is more viable than ever, but whether Montreal has the appetite for it is another question entirely.

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      Hope isn’t a quality most blockbusters lean on anymore. Project Hail Mary builds an entire mission around it, and against all odds, it works.

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