Montreal's Activities

Last updated : January 14 2016

Montreal's Postal Card (source)

Montreal's Activities

In another life (before kids), I use to help my husband's clients get the most out of their stay in Montreal, inviting them to share a meal and showing them around town with my husband! So I've put together a this mini Montreal's guide with recommendations of where to go, eat, sleep, drink and discover Montreal's uniqueness catered to sewers and crafters! There is also a list of sewing schools and sewing related exhibits!

Montreal's Sewing Classes

Workshops at creative local businesses

• Les affutés : DIY ateliers for lots of different crafts
• Les triplettes : home decor, accessories and kids clothing. They also sell Liberty of London.
• La Fabrique éthique :  Sewing classes, DYI workshops, DYI Projects, a book and conferences on sustainability and ethical fashion.
• Fripe Fabrique : Offer sewing classes, DYI ateliers and sell recycled clothing from local Designers.
• Espace Fabrik : Sewing classes and workshop for both adults and children. Also kids/teens day camp.

Sewing Schools

• Couture et rouge à lèvres : Marie-Andrée offers great classes online or in person, for beginers to advanced sewists (apparels, intimates, embroidery, corsets, serger, etc) - she has a great vintage burlesque flair with a little "Je ne sais quoi"! Register to her mailing list, she sometimes organise sewing outings to Montreal museum's exhibits...
• Club Tissus (not in Montreal but Laval, Sherbrooke, Dix30) : Excel Machine à coudre offer classes for that chain (also a Bra making classes).
• Fabricville: Sewing, quilting, knitting.
• Centre couture atelier sur Décarie.
• Zig-Zag école de coupe et couture
• École de couture Céline Ross : also sell Janome sewing machine and Jalie patterns.
• Maison Sam X (integration socioprofessionnelle)
• École de couture Evangeline Bellefontaine
• École de couture Larose
• École de couture Guylaine Bourgeault
• École de couture Dany Bouchard
• Frou-Frou École de haute couture enfantine: for children clothing.

Formal Training in Fashion or Textile

La Passerelle Montreal is a portal for Textile formal training in Quebec.

• Collège Lasalle
• Collège Marie-Victorin : design de mode et commercialisation de la mode.
• Design et Impression Textile : College with education programs in design and fabric printing.
• Centre des textiles comtemporains de Montréal : Several workshops are accessible to the public. College with a textile construction program for cégep du Vieux-Montréal in leather work (Maroquinerie), textile construction and textile printing.
• Maison des métiers d’art du Québec offers a degree in textile construction.
• Concordia University – Fiber and material practices in Fine Arts.

Montreal's Attractions

Sewing Related Attractions

• McCord Museum (Montreal’s History Museum) you can visit the permanent exhibit “Wearing our Identity – The First Nations Collection” with amazing beading work and finely decorated leather garments. A subset of their 18,000 historical costumes, accessories and artifacts collection is displayed during special exhibits: 690 Sherbrooke W.
• Costume and Textile Museum proposes some small but very interesting and cohesive exhibits of historical garments, workshops and guest lecturers: 363, rue de la Commune Est.
• Marché Bonsecours, visit the artisans market on the other floors featuring art galleries and top-quality “made in Québec” creations from designers, craftsman, jewelers as well as leather, metal and wood workers: 363, rue de la Commune Est.
• Fashion Design Festival in the Quartier des Spectacles, in late August.
•  Big Fashion sale/La Grande braderie de mode du Québecoise at Marché Bonsecours in April.
• Open Studio Spree/La virée des ateliers on Parthenais, near the corner of Ontario street, in April.
• Salon des métiers d’Arts at the Bonnaventure Place, in December.
• See Mode Montreal's Calendar for more info…
• Montreal's side walk sales in Summer 2015.

  

Alternatives Attractions

1. Comedy Shows:
   
   • Comedy Nest at the Old Forum, 
   • Yuk Yuk, 
   • Musée Juste pour Rire, 
   • Ligue Nationale d'Improvisation.
2. Cinéma de répertoire:
   
   • Office Nationale du Film (ONF)
   • Cinémathèque du Québec, 
   • Cinéma Beaubien, 
   • Excentris, 
   • Cinéma du Parc.
3. Société des Arts Technologiques (SAT)
4. Bibliothèque Nationale du Québec, métro Berri.
5. Montreal's Big Parks:
   
   • Cap St-Jacques (beach, farm, sugar shack...), 
   • Parc Lafontaine, 
   • Parc Maisonneuve, 
   • Parc Jarry 
   • Parc Angrignon.
6. Move your body:
   
   • Ice skating year round at 1000 Gauchetière
   • Laser Quest (http://www.laserquest.com/)
   • Le Taz (rollerskate, skateboard, bmx, trotinette - whole familly) (http://www.taz.ca/) with Roller Derby (http://mtlrollerderby.com/ )
   • River surfing (http://surfmtl.com/),
   • Karting and paintball (http://www.action500.com/)
   • Trapeze Volant (http://www.trapezium.qc.ca/en/ ), la Tohue, le cirque du soleil...

Touristic Attractions

1. Espace pour la vie (Biodome, Planetarium, Botanical Garden) and Olympic Stadium.
2. On the Notre-Dame and Ste-Hélène Islands: Biosphere, Dorais Beach, Casino, Outdoor pool, La Ronde.
3. In the Old Port: Ferris Wheel, SOS Labyrinth, Science Center, Cirque du Soleil, Bike path/Skating, cruises.
4. Sports: Hockey, Football, Soccer, University Sports, Grand Prix and Tennis.
5. Myriad of Festivals
6. Numerous Museums
7. Underground city and shopping.
8. Churches: St-Joseph Oratorio on Mount-Royal mountain and Basilique Notre-Dame in the Old Montreal.
9. Arboretum and Economusée (small outdoor zoo) on the West Island.

Interesting for kids: Science Center, Biosphere, Biodome, La Tohue and inexpensive shows in the neighbourhood librairies/Maison de la culture. Park when it is hot outside: Lac des castors on top of the Mount-Royal, Natatorium outdoor pool in Lasalle...  Link to Mtl Family Newsletter.

 

Staying in Montreal 

Sleeping in Montreal

Anywhere close to a subway station is convenient:

1. Downtown Hilton Bonaventure Hotel with indoor/outdoor pool is fun
2. Romantic charming B&B. I would avoid downtown area for a B&B, stick to residential neighborhoods. I visited the Auberge Lafontaine years ago and it was lovely.
3. The Auberge Alternative to travel on a shoestring.
4. The chic Hotel Boutique Nelligan is recommended by my husband to his clients coming in town.
5. The trendy W Hotel where it is happening all!

Drinking in Montreal

1. Montreal has numerous micro-breweries, my favorites brew are the stout at Petit Medley on St-Hubert, the Raspberry blonde at Brutopia on Crescent and the Wheat Beer at Brasserie du Cheval Blanc on Ontario Street.
2. Terraces are a must in the summer! The most famous being huge Le St-Sulpice on St-Denis and the intimate St-Elizabeth near St-Laurent. And in the old port, the Crèperie is splendid with great Sangria.

Eating in Montreal

Montreal is a foodie paradise! You do not have to empty your wallet at Chez Toqué to eat well either! Below I tried to highlight what is unique about Montreal’s tables. Here is a brief list of some favorites: Café Fréjus (crèpes), Grinder (tartar), Ouzéria (Greek), Confusion Tapas du Monde (tapas), El Zazium (Tex Mex).  But do not shy away from making great discovery on your own. Here are restaurants rendering Montreal so unique:

1. Montreal’s Delicatessen are a staples, everyone has his favorite Smoked meat place. Mine is on St-Hubert (Le Roi du Smoke Meat) since it is where I went with my mother and grand-mother after shopping for bargain clothing to go back to school or some fancy fabric to sew a new Easter dress! 
2. Montrealers are proud or our flavorful dense bagels gently sweet ; St-Viateur Bagels are the best and oldest, handmade, wood burning oven, even available in grocery stores! 
3. Le Santropol ; huge sandwiches and smoothies, eclectic decor, feels like home, nice small terrasse is summer. This little café was started in 70’s by the desire to save this little street corner from demolition! The menu was very basic due to permit restrictions; but do not be fooled, the food served here is far from boring and very tasty!
4. Ma-am-M Bolduc on De Lorimier for homemade Quebec comfort food. Madam Bolduc was a Quebecer folksinger in the 30’s and my grand-mother used to sing like her (“turluter” is somewhat similar to scat).
5. La Banquise is THE place to get your poutine (French fries with curd cheese and gravy) after going out! It really helps to settle your guts after too many drinks! (since 1968, open 24/7)  
6. Dans le noir : OK, this one I have never been but my mother did, and I am a part of her, non? It is so unique that I had to include it! The waiters are blind and the meal is served in a black room; deprived of your sight, all your other senses are awaken for a truly special experience!
7. Robin des bois, a resto where the Chefs are supported by volunteers as staff/waiters and all profits are redistributed to people in needs. Moreover, it is absolutely delicious!
8. Crudescence : I haven’t gone there yet, but I sent my sister scouting! A speciality restaurant that is vegan, raw, bio and gluten free while being a sustainable enterprise and delicious.
9. Food trucks are delicacy on wheels in Montreal, they move around and are usually always there at festivals and even at friendly neighborhood gathering. Use the app to find one near you...