How To Order Photos

Here is a link to the photos from our official photographer, Lori Perron. Please note that the images that have been uploaded are not print quality, so please do not order from the Picassa site or you will get very disappointing results.

If you want to order photos you need to contact Lori directly either by phone: 1 514 743 4199 or email: loriperron@gmail.com

Here is a breakdown of the prices:
5 x 7 $15
8.5 x 11 $25
11.7 x 16.5 $40
13 x 19 $65
CD $50

100 Print Quality 5 x 7's in a 30 page album is $300

Package #1
50 Printed 4 x 6's $120

Package #2
$200
One13x19
One11.7x16.5
Two8x10
Six 5x7

Package #3
$300
One13x9
Two 11.7x16.5
Two 8x10
Ten 5x7

Photos Galore!

I think we have more photos documenting this wedding than anyone could possibly want to see. As a matter of fact some of these shots may have been better left unseen, but here goes... these are all the links I have so far for the photos taken over the wedding weekend and the week before. I think my sister definitely gets the credit for the most photos taken and the best documentation of the wedding week. Without her we may never have seen Mikey capsize a canoe (with a little help from Adam and Guy)!

I wanted to write a long post reflecting what the weekend meant to me and to Nick, to our relationship, to our families, how it has strengthened and transformed us and created a foundation to build our lives on. But in all honesty, I think the wedding speaks for itself. I know that the experience sits very deeply in my own heart and continues to resonate there. Thank you for being part of it.

Talya's Albums (including photos by Izak Rubin, Vicki Barkoff, Vincent Chevalier and Hershel Pesner, a small selection of Ewa Monika Zebrowski's photos and the "official" photos that Lori Perron took).

Zarya's Albums (an epic feat of documentation unparalleled! A notorious addict behind the lens, Z does not miss a moment)

Jim's Album (what is this guy a graphic designer or something? These photos are so beautifully framed and so, well, graphic in their conceptualisation - oh and Nick took the portraits of me, Jim and Jen - we need to get this man a camera)

Mia's Album (beautiful portraits and an amazing array of lovely shots of friends, obviously another very visual and artistic person - thank you for posting these, Mia)

What in the world do we get them?

Nick and I decided to set up some gift registries here in Montreal. You will be hearing from them soon as they will be sending lists via email. Don't be surprised if they arrive in French and with no photos, that's how we like to do things here in Quebec!





Here is where we are registered:

BLEU NUIT
A beautiful bedding store...
3913 St Denis
514 843 5702
or 1 800 303 7513
info@bleunuit.ca




LES TOUILLEURS
152 Laurier Ouest
A splendid kitchen store...
514 278 0008
cuisine@lestouilleurs.com



For our out of town guests it may be easiest to go into the shops when you arrive in Montreal rather than trying to do some serious guess work over the Internet. We leave it up to you!

Here are some other nifty options...

We have decided on a mini-moon (our new word for an abbreviated honeymoon which will, no doubt, be just as sweet!) at a Spa in the Eastern Townships near Montreal.

THE EASTMAN SPA
There are gift certificates available on the website...if you would like to contribute to our experience at the spa.


MOUNTAIN EQUIPMENT CO-OP
We have ambitions to do lots of canoe camping once Nick moves to Canada...

Greening the Wedding

It has been our intention all along to make this wedding as green as possible. Nick voted for email invitations, but I was too traditional and killed a bunch of trees in making the invites, my apologies. We are trying to find balance here. These are some of the ways we have chosen environmentally friendly options:

1. A friend of Nick's is making our wedding bands using ethical gold from Australia. For more on how the gold mining industry impact's the environment go to no dirty gold or read more about it here.

2. I have decided to go with small, local businesses to provide us with many of the services for the wedding, from the cupcakes to the photography to the dress being made. Everyone I am hiring is part of a new, young business that they are growing. They are all creative and local people and not only is this friendly to the environment, but I am proud to be supporting artists and craftspeople in their work.

3. The wedding meal is being prepared from all local and organic produce from the Laurentians, the region of Quebec where CAMMAC is located. For more information on changing our buying habits when it comes to food, go to the 100 Mile Diet.

4. At the moment we are looking into bringing in all the wine from local vineyards. Quebec has a very small wine industry and this is another way of supporting local industry.

5. We hope to organize a bus to transport a lot of guests up to CAMMAC and back. We would also like to do as much carpooling as possible, so if you are driving up and have room in your car, please let us know.

6. The site itself is an eco-building and we are having the wedding in a beautiful, natural setting.

Speaking of carbon emissions, one of my greatest concerns is that we are asking a lot of you to fly from very far away. There are ways to actually lessen the impact your flights have on the environment. Organizations have started putting together projects you can invest in to help reduce greenhouse gases. Their websites have a carbon calculator where you can work out how much co2 your flight incurred, they then translate that into dollars that get invested into projects to offset those emissions. It is called Carbon Offsetting

Here are some of the best organizations around for carbon offsets. We leave it up to your own discretion and beliefs:
Carbon Neutral
Climate Care
Climate Friendly (and this one is Australian!)
Climate Trust

In the end it is better to reduce one's emissions by not flying at all, or as little as possible. But we selfishly want you here, so this patch up job for the planet is the next best thing.

Day Trippers and Beyond

If you are coming from Australia and you want to see what the east coast of North America has to offer, there are lots of options nearby. Here are a few suggestions:

Quebec City
Only two hours away from Montreal, Quebec city is a charming, very European and very romantic town. Listed as a UNESCO world heritage travel destination, Quebec city is celebrating 400 years in 2008. Cobble stone streets, beautiful architecture and the only walled city in North America make this a charming place to spend some time. There are also some beautiful places nearby in the Charelvoix region. Chez Hubert looks like a lovely bed and breakfast in the old town.

The Gaspesie
If you have some time and don't mind doing some driving, I would recommend renting a car and taking a drive past Quebec city and all the way to the Gaspe. You can go to the Saguenay fjord, do some whale watching, camp in some national parks or stay in lovely inns along the way. To do it properly you would need about a week.

Eastern Townships
The eastern townships are a region southwest of Montreal on the boarder with the USA. If you decide to go to Vermont it might be nice to visit some of the picturesque towns along the way. The European settlers in this area were mostly Scottish and Irish, so it has a much more English country type feel than the rest of Quebec. It is known for towns such as Sutton, Knowlton and Dunham.

Laurentians
This is the region where the wedding is located. Known for its downhill skiing in winter, it is a really beautiful area full of mountains and lakes. There is plenty of really nice camping in the region as well as charming towns such as Val David.

New York City
I don't think this town needs much explanation. All you need to know is that it is a seven hour drive away. Alternately you can take a rather beautiful but wearying train journey from Montreal's Gare Centrale that is about 10 hours or there is always the stinky old bus! Air Canada sometimes has specials on flights.

Vermont
Burlington is a really charming Vermont University town about a two hour drive south of Montreal. There are many lovely places to visit in Vermont - from rolling hills, to antique shops, to country inns. The link I have put under Vermont also has lots of info on all of New England: New Hampshire, Maine, Rhode Island, Massachusetts and Connecticut. My father and stepmother love this Vermont inn: Blueberry Hill. Another beautiful place to visit, is Shelburne Farms, a national historic landmark and educational centre on Lake Champlain only a day trip away from Montreal.

Where to Rest Your Weary Head

So, I have been getting some questions about where to stay in this town and that has got me onto making this list for you. Being from Montreal, I have no first hand experience staying here as a guest, so I put on my thinking cap and did some searching and questioning of relatives who have done the hotel circuit.

Here are some links to hotels by neighbourhood and price range! Remember, we will be up in the country from August 31 until September 3, so you are encouraged to join us at CAMMAC for those dates.

Budget
Auberge Alternative Great location in Old Montreal, this seems like a really well run hostel with charm and a whole philosophy behind the way it is run. 4 Private rooms are available at $55 a night. Apparently this place was founded by a Quebecois and an Australian!
La Maison du Patriote Located in the heart of Old Montreal, this hostel is a 200 year old converted house with many private rooms. Looks charming enough.
Le Sous Bois Located in Old Montreal, this hostel was apparently voted one of the 10 best in the world in 2006, so if you are keen on sharing a room with 20 people, or get in early for a twin share, this may be the place for you.


B&B
Auberge Les Passants du Sans Soucy Gorgeous 18th century warehouse transformed into a three storey inn. Located in Old Montreal near Notre Dame cathedral. Gets great reviews from all the guide books and looks rather sumptuous.
Casa Bianca Fabulous location facing the mountain and on a quiet street in the Plateau. Very new, upscale B&B. Newly renovated urban chateau, rooms are not exactly cheap, but the clawfoot tubs and chic decor and organic breakfasts may be why.
Oasis Bed and Breakfast My friend's mother runs this charming B&B near the downtown core on a quiet street. The place is a beautiful Tudor style house built in 1928 and the owner is Swedish although she lived in Africa and the house has both these influences going. Delicious breakfasts and interesting conversations are included. She has a cat.
Pierre et Dominique B&B Great location, looks very charming and was recommended by Lonely Planet. Rooms range from $60 -$110 and an organic breakfast is included.


Mid Range
Auberge Bonaparte Some reasonably priced rooms are available in this charming, historic hotel in Old Montreal. Breakfast is included in the room price. Recommended by Lonely Planet.
Auberge de La Fontaine A charming little hotel in a lovely house right around the corner from where I live. Near bakeries, restaurants and Parc Lafontaine. Looks like a quaint place to stay.
Hotel L'Appartement This hotel located in downtown Montreal has reasonably priced studios and suites with kitchen.
Le 9 1/2 A friend of mine from Melbourne found this little place, it looks very Montreal to me. In the heart of a great area of town as well as being very inexpensive. The website is all in French. They have three private rooms with shared bath for about $65 and then two family rooms with 4 beds in each room in a two floor apartment. Could be a great place if you are sharing with others.
Le Nouvel Hotel This hotel was recommended to me by my Aunt and Uncle who live in Vancouver and often stay in hotels in Montreal. It is very reasonably priced: $119 for a room with two Queen beds, $99 for a room with a King bed. The location is right in the centre of downtown, not a very picturesque part of Montreal, but central and close to metros and buses.
New Residence Hall Both a McGill University residence and a hotel, this accommodation is located near downtown and the Plateau with plenty of public transportation nearby. Has been recommended as a reasonable and decent place to stay by guests I know who have stayed there.

Upscale
Hotel Omni A five star luxury hotel located right near McGill campus in the heart of the downtown core, I have heard nothing but good things about this place. Apparently you can sometimes find a deal.
Hotel Sofitel This hotel has been recommended by several out of town guests as a very well run and solid establishment with excellent rooms.
The Hotel St James Class, class and more class. A gorgeous, traditional, elegant hotel. Faaaancy! Great location in Old Montreal.
The W Hotel This is a seriously fancy contemporary concept hotel not for the faint hearted. They are going all out here in this converted historic bank building in Old Montreal. A spa, a fitness centre, a very classy bar, bring your pet if you like, anything goes!


Boutique
Hotel Godin Very good, central location. New boutique hotel with a range of room prices and classy decor. Recommended by Lonely Planet.
Hotel St Paul Ultra modern, ultra cool, ultra slick...ouch! This place is all about design, design, design in Old Montreal.
Hostellerie Pierre du Calvet Romantic, charming, tucked away in Old Montreal, what a gorgeous spot it you really want to splurge.

Montreal by Day

Arrival
If traveling by air, you will arrive at Trudeau International Airport. Taxis from the airport to anywhere in the centre of the city will cost a flat rate of $31.00 for a journey of about 25 minutes. Airport shuttle buses cost $13.00 ($22.75 return), leave every 20 minutes and take 45 minutes to the bus terminus next to the Berri-UQAM metro. Long-distance buses arrive at the same terminus. Trains arrive at the Gare Central, on Rue de la Gauchetière, near Bonaventure metro station.

Getting Around
Montreal has a relatively good public transport system consisting of buses and metros. The transit website, STM, has a nifty function on there called "Tous Azimuts", a trip planner that allows you to find out how to get from anywhere to anywhere in Montreal.

Tickets ($2.50) are good for both and can be bought in some stores, pharmacies (Jean-Coutu and Pharmaprix), and all metro stations. You can also pay cash on buses, but drivers cannot give change. One-day ($8), three-day ($16) and strips of six tickets ($11.25) are also available. One ticket will take you anywhere. Transfer tickets (cream coloured) are valid in any direction for 90 minutes, between metro and bus, and between buses, if you collect them when you pay your fare (from bus drivers, or the dispensing machine just inside the station turnstiles).

What is Going on in Montreal in August

Festivals
The Montreal World Film Festival is on from August 23rd to September 3rd. This is our largest, most international film festival, but not necessarily the most interesting one this city puts on.

St Laurent Street Festival
Unfortunately, the massive party and street festival that happens every year in the end of August, closing this major thoroughfare to traffic, is canceled this year as they are ripping up the street. Just think, you will get to look at the sewage system under our city instead!

International Flora Montreal
Apparently this garden and flower show by the Old Port in Old Montreal is quite a sight to behold. I have never been there, but plan to go this year as a friend who is a landscape architect has a design in the show. All proceeds go to creating therapeutic gardens at a children's hospital.

Markets
There is an 18th Century Public Market in the Old Port August 25 and 26. They recreate the first Montreal public markets with farmers, craftspeople and entertainers.

Museums
Musee d'art Contemporain
Museum housing a collection of Quebec contemporary art as well as temporary exhibits in all things cutting edge in the visual arts scene. Right now they are showing a Bruce Nauman exhibit, bit of a renegade who worked in neon. Pretty interesting actually. As well, my stepmother has a piece in the "With Writing" exhibit. So look out for a piece by Ewa Monika Zebrowski.

Pointe a Calliere
This is one of my favorite museums in Montreal, it is a museum of archeology and history. There is a fascinating archaeological dig in the basement, illustrating the history of the city and on the top floor there is a restaurant with beautiful views and a lookout deck. The exhibits tend to be really well done. In August you can see the exhibit: First Nations French Royal Collections. It is a collection of Amerindian art and artifacts kept by the French Royalty from the 18th and 19th century.

Montreal Science Centre
After touring most of the globe, Body Worlds 2: The Anatomical Exhibition of Real Human Bodies is coming to Montreal. Created by German doctor and anatomist, this educational exhibition displays more than 20 whole-body plastinates and 200 authentic human specimens. Some say this is creepy, others fascinating and emotional. I'm certainly curious.

Walking around town...

Walk number 1
Shops and a Park
If you start at St Laurent corner of Duluth...walk down Duluth heading away from the mountain. At the end of Duluth you will get to Parc Lafontaine and can then explore the Park from there.
Duluth - is a really nice street with paving stones, charming shops, a leisurely stroll...
Parc Lafontaine - large, leafy park with a fountain and water at its centre.

Walk number 2
The Royal Mountain
If you start at St Laurent and Rachel you head west towards our beloved "mountain" - okay, it is more of a big hill. The French Explorer, Jacques Cartier, apparently planted a cross at the top of this large mound in 1642 when he staked his claim on this city proclaiming it "Mont Royal" or "Royal Mountain" or Montreal! Many beautiful walks, bike rides, runs to be had in this oasis in the city. Frederick Law Olmsted, the renowned landscape architect who is responsible for such masterpieces as Central Park in New York, landscaped our little mountain as well. Enjoy!

Walk number 3
Our Old City
Take the metro to Place D'armes and walk up the hill heading for Notre Dame Cathedral. This is a miniature of the one in Paris, well, considerably shrunken, not exactly miniature! Old Montreal is where the European settlers first, well, settled. Beautiful cobble stoned streets (mostly paved over now) and lots of great architecture, make for so many nice walks I am going to leave it up to you. Walk along the water front, go to the Bonsecours market, explore St Paul street. Yes, some of it is pretty touristy, but still worthwhile and if you are reading this I will bet anything you are a tourist!

Shopping
These are the streets to go to if you want to go shopping!
St Laurent - used to be the old schmatta district, this street is selling different rags these days, hip ones. Still a bit of a grungy street and since they are ripping it up right now you will really be seeing its underbelly.

St Denis - Very French, dignified, upper scale shops line this boulevard as well as loads of restaurants, cafes and bars.

Mont Royal - Was a kind of bargain district, now has become rather trendy and cool.

Laurier - Tres chic and pretty expensive. Laurier has a very French feel to it, a bit like St Denis on a smaller scale.

St Viateur - A lot of really unusual shops have opened up on or around this street...either on it, on St Laurent right by it, or on Bernard, the street up from it. Kind of a design area a bit like Melbourne's Gertrude street.

Underground City - Okay, I had to mention it. I don't know whether this is a walk, or a shopping district or just a weird phenomena of Montreal. There are about 30km of shops, offices, metros, even a church, all connected underground. This came about because it is so cold in this city in winter that no one wants to go outside. If you start at the McGill Metro you can begin your explorations through the shops and then onto the business districts and beyond.

Welcome to the Wedding

When Nick and I discussed where we would most like to get married, we decided that two of the main things we were looking for in a location were: 1) a beautiful setting in nature and 2) a place where people could stay together and have a whole experience for the weekend. When a music camp that my sister had attended for years in the summers came up, I drove with my mum and then a second time with my dad to visit it and decided it was a truly wonderful spot for a wedding. CAMMAC is on a lake and surrounded by woods. They recently built an eco-lodge that has won awards for green architecture and has many lovely, simple rooms and a large space for dancing and music and the wedding feast! The ceremony is going to take place in the boathouse which is a beautiful wooden structure with a wrap around porch and views on three sides of the lake. One of the things that concerned me most with Nick being on the other side of the world while we were picking a wedding location was that it would be a place Nick felt good in. It just so happens my mother, Nick and I all drove up to CAMMAC in the summer of 2004 when my sister was giving a recital in one of her voice classes. I distinctly remember Nick chanting "Nerds, nerds, nerds" at all the musicians, having a fabulous swim in the lake and playing frisbee with one of the campers. Definitely a highly successful location for us both! I find it to be a really peaceful and beautiful setting and one in which we can just kick back and relax by a bonfire, go for long walks, swim in the lake and generally have some time together away from the bustle of a city.

Schedule for the Weekend

Friday, August 31st
We are planning to stay at CAMMAC for the night and arrange things for Saturday's celebrations. Any guests who would like to join us that night are most welcome. There will be a bonfire that evening, weather permitting.
Saturday, September 1st
5pm Hors d'oeurves and a glass of Champagne on the verandah of the Lake House
6:15pm Ceremony begins in the Boat House
7:30pm Dinner in the Main Hall of the Lodge
Reception to follow with dancing and wonderful music by Kate and Edith

Sunday, September 2nd
11:00am Brunch in the dining hall
Afternoon of Frisbee, swimming and canoing on the lake and walking in the woods...as you wish! Guests are welcomed to stay over on Sunday night as well. We will be leaving CAMMAC on Monday after breakfast.

Booking a Room
You will need to book your accommodation for CAMMAC in advance. Please call Johanne Guerin 1-819-687-3938 ext 224 or 1-888-622-8755 ext 224 (toll free number in Canada and USA only) or email j.guerin@cammac.ca The rooms are $55 per person (bedding is provided) and you can book by credit card.

Meals and Charges
Aside from the wedding meal on Saturday night and the brunch on Sunday, meals are charged as follows: $8 for breakfast, $10 for lunch and $12 for dinner. So, if you are staying Friday night you will be charged $85 (which includes Friday dinner, Saturday breakfast and lunch). If you are staying Saturday and coming up after lunch you will be charged $55 as dinner and brunch the next day are on us. If you are staying Sunday night you will be charged $75 (which includes Sunday dinner and Monday breakfast).

Camping
As well, there is the option of camping for $25 per tent. If you are camping you are welcome to prepare your own food or join us in the dining hall for meals at the cost mentioned above, please let Johanne know when booking if you are planning to prepare your own food or eat in the dining hall.

Other Accommodation
If you would prefer to stay in posher, more refined accommodation and not commune with all of us for the weekend, here are two suggestions nearby:
Lake Carling - a luxury 4 star resort and golf course
http://www.laccarling.com/en/index.html
Domaine de L'Etang - a bed and breakfast in the area
http://www.domainedeletang.com/

Weather
The average temperature in September in Montreal is 20c. Anything can happen though and CAMMAC is in the mountains on a large lake, so the temperatures will no doubt be lower there than in Montreal. It can rain as well, so please come prepared with warm, layered, waterproof clothes and shoes as well as hot weather gear. The lake will have warmed up by September, so bring your bathing suit and jump in!

Activities at CAMMAC
Aside from swimming in the gorgeous lake, the camp has canoes, kayaks and rowboats we can use. As well, they have equipment for playing soccer and volleyball. There are tennis courts on the premises and nature trails through the woods. If the weather does not cooperate, I will be giving a class on mime skills and Nick will be leading interpretive dance lessons in the boat house.

Public Holiday
September 1st is Labour Day weekend in Canada, a national holiday. It will be busy in town and on the roads and many services will close on Monday the 3rd.

Directions
The wedding shuttle will leave from Montreal on Friday, August 31 at 2pm from 1166 De la Gauchetiere, (Metro Bonaventure) and will return on Monday, September 3 at 12:30pm (leaving CAMMAC at 11am).

For those of you with cars, here are the driving instructions. If you have space in your car and don't mind an Australian or two traveling with you (!) please let us know so we can arrange some carpooling.

• From Montreal, take the Laurentian Autoroute, RTE 15 NORTH, to EXIT 60 - RTE-364 WEST toward Saint Sauveur/Morin Heights
• Turn left onto ROUTE 364 West (exit curves to the right, Chemin Jean Adam) for about 36 km until you come to the intersection of RTE 327.
  
• Turn Left onto RTE 327 SOUTH towards Harrington/Lachute
• Pass the town of Lakeview. Start looking for the turn-off to CAMMAC on your right (Chemin Cammac - dirt road). This road leads directly to CAMMAC. You cross 3 small bridges before you see a blue sign for CAMMAC - it is quite a sudden turn on your right just after the third bridge-like structure.
  
• When you drive down the dirt road to CAMMAC there is one point where the road veers off to the left, stay right! You will soon reach the parking lot for the camp and see the tennis courts.
  
• If you reach the town of Lost River you have driven 4km too far, turn around and go back!
  

Here is a link to Google Map where you can enter any address for detailed directions to CAMMAC.

Car Rentals:
Thrifty
Enterprise

Dance me to the wedding, dance me on and on...

Montreal by Night
Montreal is a city of students and youthful folly, artists, and a few businessmen and people who actually earn a living sprinkled in for good measure. The rents and cost of living have been extremely low due to political unrest (although that is all starting to change now). A lot of multinationals moved their head offices to Toronto in the 70's and this has left Montreal, once a flourishing business centre, to be the poor cousin to other Canadian cities. Due to all this there is a thriving artistic life in this city, which is part of what makes it a wonderful place to be.

In the past decade there has been a renaissance in indie music that does not seem to be letting up any time soon. Bands like Arcade Fire, The Dears, and Godspeed You Black Emperor have set the tone for revolutionizing music in this town and the list keeps growing. Venues like La Sala Rossa and Casa del Popolo have become a staple of the alternative music scene.

As well, poets and fiction writers in both of our official languages have been blossoming; Heather O'Neill, Anita Rau Badami, Catherine Kidd, to name a few.

Montreal is also a city of Festivals. A very shortlist of some of the giants would include: Montreal Jazz Festival, Juste Pour Rire, Montreal World Film Festival, Montreal Fringe, Festival Transameriques, and the Blue Metropolis International Literary Festival.

All this to say, you will not be at a loss for what to do of an evening in Montreal. Here are some suggestions to keep you occupied. Oh, and if you are wondering why there seem to be so many people sitting out on terrases eating dinner or drinking beer or why so many folks are strolling the streets into the wee hours, keep in mind, the winter here is so long that when summer rolls around Montrealers just want to be outside all the time.

As well, pick up copies of Hour and Mirror, our free weekly English papers that are filled with ideas for what to do in Montreal.

SAQ
First of all, let me warn you about the very strange liquor laws here. The selling of alcohol is regulated by a government body called the "SAQ" the Société des alcools du Québec. This means that the government selects the wine that comes into Quebec, regulates pricing and runs their own shops. The SAQ outlets are the only place you can buy decent wine and they are sprinkled across the city (see the link for more information). Keep in mind, you are better off going to an SAQ near you than to a Depanneur (Quebecois for "Convenience store") for some god awful wine (beer is okay to buy from a depanneur). Okay, now that you have your bottle of wine in hand, you can head to a restaurant that is BYOB....

The Best Bars in Montreal
Here are some of my favorites...not that I am encouraging you to all just come here and drink! If you do want to try some micro brewery beer that Qubec is famous for, these places are a good start.

Boa, 5301 St Laurent, 514-270-3262 (Mile End)—Aside from the fact that one of my close friends owns this bar with his brother and another partner, this is a fantastic "taverne moderne". Very hip, retro decor and a relaxed yet urbane atmosphere makes this place a great hang-out.

Bily Kun, 354 Mont-Royal E, (514) 845-5392 (Plateau)—Okay, there may be ostrich heads on the walls that are a little off putting, but this hip predominantly French hangout has a great beer list. It tends to get pretty packed, but if you go early it is less so, and there is often jazz in the early evening.

Blizzarts, 3956A St Laurent, (514)-843-4680 (Plateau)—a young, funky bar with semi-circular booths all down the interior that make this a condusive place for conversation as well as having a tipple. The small dance floor in the back gets going later on in the evening, when an assortment of Montreal DJ's do their thing.

BU, 5245 St. Laurent, 276-0249 (Mile End)—Swish and stylish wine bar with an amazing list of wines many of which they import themselves, so you will not be able to get them at the good old SAQ. They also serve tapas and italian antipasto. Not cheap, but very classy. $$-$$$

Cheval Blanc, 809 Ontario E., (514) 522-0211 (Quartier Latin/Village)—One of Montreal's very best microbrewries.

Reservoir, 9 Duluth E., 514-849-7779 (Plateau)—A microbrewery and restaurant on Duluth just east of St. Laurent that also has one of the best brunch menus in town. Lovely architecture and design make this a great place to be day or night. $

MUSIC VENUES
There are plenty of great places to catch local bands around town. Here are a few to choose from. The best thing to do is check the newspaper listings closer to the time.
Casa del Popolo, 4873 St Laurent, 514-284-3804 — Cozy little music venue with shows on nightly.
La Sala Rossa, 4848 St Laurent, 514-284-0122— Funky, fabulous alternative concert hall.
La Tulipe, 4530 Ave Papineau—Beautiful heritage theatre.
Le Divan Orange, 4234 St Laurent, 514-840-9090— Charming small venue for local bands.
Spectrum, 318 Ste Catherine O, 514-861-5851—One of Montreal's main music venues, cabaret style setting.

CLASSICAL MUSIC/OPERA
Place des Arts - Home to the Montreal Symphony Orchestra and L'Opera de Montreal. This large concert hall plays host to dance, theatre and music from Montreal and around the world.

THEATRE
Theatres tend to close down for the summer months and the summer stock theatres take over, see "day trippers" (post being developed, will be published soon) for more information on day trips from Montreal.

Theatre de Verdure An outdoor amphitheatre in Parc Lafontaine in the Plateau hosts fabulous free concerts, theatre and ballet all summer long.

FESTIVALS
Montreal World Film Festival, August 23rd-September 3rd—I have a feeling that the groom may be spending 24/7 in a dark cinema studying the works of the world's film makers while we try and plan last minute details for the celebration! This is a great film fest, not our best one, which happens in October, but our biggest. Come check out the films and experience the buzz and hum of the crowds around the theatres as people from all over the world gather to celebrate the cinema.

St Laurent Street Festival—St Laurent, also known as "The Main" is such a richly historical street in Montreal that it was named a national historic site by Heritage Canada. St Laurent was a street full of Jewish tailors, bakers and delicatessans, as well as Italian and Greek businesses. It was a true melting pot with little hole-in-the-wall shops full of character and old world charm. Today the immigrant businesses have been slowly dying out and St Laurent has become a far hipper, trendier, more gentrified street. It is also the dividing line between east and west in the city, so the addresses change with St Laurent as the marking point. Right now the city is tearing up the street and redoing the sewage system, so expect lots of dust and noise. Usually there is a fabulous street festival at the end of June and again in August with vibrant nightlife and loads of stalls by day as well. Not sure if it is happening this year due to the construction. I will check back in on this and update you when I know.

A Veritable Feast

So, Montreal is known for its fabulous food that combines fine dining, careful preparation and selection of ingredients in the tradition of the French with the more laissez-faire, laid back attitudes of North America. Actually, French Canadians are known for their rebellious nature, and are not very into pretention, rules, regulations or formalities. Combine that with the fact that Montreal is a fabulously multicultural city and you have a veritable banquet of delights and gastronomical experimentation. There is no shortage of places to eat in this town, the only difficulty you may have is choosing! Here are some suggestions by category...

Markets
Atwater Market, 138 Atwater Ave. (St.-Henri - Metro Lionel Groulx) — Of Montreal’s four main public markets this one is probably the most upscale. The prices are a little higher and the atmosphere is a little less multicultural than the Jean-Talon Market. Nonetheless, the Atwater Market is near the Lachine canal if you want to hire bicycles or walk along the water, and its main hall is lovely. Vic Market it ain't!

Jean-Talon Market, 7070 Henri Julien (Little Italy - Metro de Castelnau or Jean Talon)—This is a truly wonderful market, with lots of atmosphere in a wonderfully multicultural and vibrant neighbourhood. The shops are open year-round and the stalls open up in the warmer months. Don't miss the artisan cheeses from Quebec.

Cafés
Café Italia, 6840 St.-Laurent, 514-495-0059 (Little Italy)—Fabulous espresso in an authentic setting. $

Café Olympico, 124 St-Viateur W, 514-495-0746 (Mile End)— This cafe suffered a fire recently and have rebuilt losing some of its original charm, but they still make one of the best lattes in town and the place is filled with regulars, excellent for people watching. $

Chez José, 173 Duluth E, 845-8693 (Plateau)— Relaxed and youthful atmosphere in this hip cafe. An insitution in the Plateau known for empanadas, smoothies, simple breakfasts and inexpensive prices. $

Le Depanneur, 206 Bernard O, 514-271-9357 (Mile End) — Charming wooden decor that makes you feel you are in a cabin in the woods. An artistic, eclectic cafe with generous salads and delicious coffee. Often host poetry readings and music in the evenings. $

Le Figaro, 5200 Hutchison, 514-278-6567 (Outremont)—This is just a lovely place to sit on a lazy summer afternoon. Beautiful European style cafe with gorgeous wrought iron terrace. $-$$

Titanic, 445 St Pierre, 849-0894 (Old Montreal)—Great cafe with charming atmosphere and scrumptuous, simple and affordable lunches. Open weekdays for lunch only. Grab a coffee and sandwich while sight seeing in Old Montreal. $-$$

Bakeries
Boulangerie Monsieur Pinchot, 4354 Brebeuf (Plateau), 514-522-7192—Totally charming neighbourhood bakery right by a scenic bicycle path, so hire a bike and stop for something yummy. The croissants are sinfully buttery and they serve Bilboquet sorbets (see below).

Cheskie, 359 Bernard W, 514-271-2253 (Mile End)—Fantastic Kosher bakery. If you have a hankering for a potatoe knish, this is the place to go.

Le Fromentier, 1375 Laurier E, 514-527-3327 (Plateau East)—Truly wondrous artisan bakery that also houses a fabulous cheese shop on the premises. This bakery is right near Talya's place, so come and visit after you pick up a croissant!

Restaurants
Aux Vivres, 4631 Blvd. St Laurent, 514-842-3479 (Plateau)—Fabulous vegan restaurant that makes the mouth water just thinking about the food. It is one of the only places on the planet where you will forget it is vegan or healthy and just be happy you are alive. Beautiful atmosphere, fabulous weekend brunches and delicious smoothies. Try the Dragon bowl or the Meekong sandwich on homemade chippati. $

Byblos, 1499 Laurier E., 514-523-9396 (Plateau East - Metro Laurier)—Wonderfully warm atmosphere at this Persian restaurant. The food is delcious and the flavours unexpected. Unusual Iranian breakfasts and the rose water and saffron ice-cream make for interesting fare. Dinner specials change nightly. $-$$

Chu Chai and Chuch Express, 4088 St. Denis, 514-843-4194 (Plateau - Mont Royal)—Fantastic Asian vegetarian restaurant with delicate and varied flavours and appetizers to dream about. The three flavours beef, fried seaweed appetizer and dumplings in peanut sauce are my favorites. Stand warned, everything is mock meat, unless it is tofu or vegetables. You can bring your own wine to Chuch Express. $-$$

Milos, 5357 Ave. du Parc, 514-272-3522 (Mile End)—If you are looking for seafood, this is the place, they fly it in fresh. As well, they have often sponsored Talya's theatre shows - so support them! Beautiful, delicate food and good lunch specials, since the fresh fish comes at a cost. $$$

Rumi, 5198 Hutchison, 514-490-1999 (Mile End) —This restuarant is named after the 13th century sufi mystic poet and the atmosphere here feels very peaceful and mystical indeed. The food is truly out of this world with its Persian and Turkish influences and wonderful blend of flavors. The brothers who run the restaurant are converts to Sufism and glow peace at you inescapably. $$

Sala Rossa, 4848 St. Laurent Blvd, 514-284-0122 (Plateau)— Fantastic place for tapas. It is a Spanish social club and has a very down to earth atmosphere. On Thursdays they have a flamenco dancer with live music. $-$$

Santropol, 3990 St Urbain, 514-842-3110 (Plateau) A Montreal institution at the foot of the mountain, this charming cafe restaurant is known for its triple-decker sandwiches, epic tea list and beautiful garden out the back for summer dining al fresco. $

French Restaurants
Au Petit Extra, 1690 Ontario E., 514-527-5552 (The Village - Metro Papineau)— $$-$$$ (2006) Excellent French bistro cuisine in a relaxed atmosphere.

Au Pied de Cochon, 536 Duluth E., 514-281-1114 (Plateau East - Metro Sherbrooke)— $$$ (2007) Meaty Quebecois cuisine. Rich, hearty food that people say is to die for. Seafood is served in summer if you are not a big meat eater.

Laloux, 250 Pine Ave E., 514 287-9127 (Plateau) Two young star chefs on the Montreal scene are running this charming French Bistro. $$$

Le P’tit Plateau, 330 Marie-Anne E., 282-6342 (Plateau)—Really cozy, romantic, lovely place with cuisine from the south of France that is mouth wateringly delicious. Book ahead and bring your own wine. $$$

Breakfast
l’Avenue du Plateau, 922 Mont-Royal E., 514-523-8780 (Plateau - Metro Mont Royal)— Not too far a stretch to name this one of the best breakfast spots in town, with plates that are large and lavish. There are often line-ups on the weekend. Quirky atmosphere with music that is boardering on too loud. Check out the bathrooms in this place! $-$$

Le Pistou Dejeuner, 4489 de la Roche 524-527-2900 - Great little weekend brunch spot. $

Ma-a-am Bolduc, 4351 de Lorimier at Marie-Anne, 514-527-3884 (Plateau East)— Fabulous spot for a very inexpensive no frills breakfast. Very French Canadian and full of atmosphere. $

Toi, Moi et Cafe, 244 Laurier W, 514-279-9599 (Mile End)—Terrific breakfasts, deliciously satisfying soups and salads and one of the best cups of coffee in town. Hmmm...last time I went there the breakfast was less than terrific. $


Diners
l’Anecdote, 801 Rachel E., 514-526-7967 (Plateau - Metro Mont Royal)— Nice atmosphere in this authentic ‘50s-style diner which serves good breakfasts (crepes, pancakes, omlettes, belgian waffles) and is also known for its burgers, homemade mayonnaise and value for money wine selection. $

La Banquise, 994 Rachel E., 525-2415 (Plateau - Metro Mont Royal)— 24-hour casse-croute with an enormous poutine menu. This place is open all night, and doesn't greasy food always taste better at 1am? $

La Paryse, 302 Ontario E, 842-2040 (Latin Quarter)— Fabulous burgers, really delicious vege burger and a hip yet quaint setting to top it all off. $

Patati Patata , 4177 St. Laurent Blvd. (Plateau)— This place is tiny and always packed. The prices are really ridiculously low and the food is utterly delicious. The fries are Belgian style and the borscht is like your grandmother made it (if she made borscht), scrumptuous burgers and fish as well. $

Ice Cream & Sorbet
Le Bilboquet, 1311 Bernard W., 514-276-0414 (Outremont - Metro Outremont)— Splendid artisan made Ice cream and sorbet. Be prepared to wait in the long lines that stretch down the street in summer. Try the maple taffy, it is very Canadian.


Bagels
Fairmount Bagel, 74 Fairmount W., 514-272-0667 (Mile End)— If you haven't heard already, Montreal is known for its 24 hour bagel bakeries. Montreal bagels are unlike any others in the world - is it the honey in the water? The wood burning ovens? Or some secret we will never know but will be forever greatful for? Get them hot off the wooden pallet.

Chocolate
Les Chocolats de Chloé, 375 Roy E., 849-5550 (Plateau)— Amazingly delectable hand made chocolate. Artisan chocolate making has become all the rage in Montreal, poor us!

Chocolats Genevieve, 162 Saint-Viateur O, 514-394-1000 (Mile End)— Hand made Chocolates that not only look divine, they are divine.

Other
La Chilenita, 64 Marie-Anne W., 982-9212, and 152 Napoleon E., 286-6075 (Plateau)— A must try! The empanadas here are so very delicious and the homemade salsa is mouth watering. Right near the mountain, a relaxed, unpretentious place for a quick bite before a long walk. $

Schwartz’s, 3895 St Laurent Blvd, 842-4813 (Plateau)—This is a Montreal institution for smoked meat. I have to admit, I have never tried it, but they are queuing down the street for the stuff. $

There are bells all around...

So, in truth, Nick and I have already tied the knot. It was a small, civil ceremony in Cornwall, Ontario, not the most romantic of settings. A bit of a strange industrial town that looked like many of its buildings had not been renovated since 1950. It was actually so odd it had character. The town hall itself was on Pitt street on the main drag of this one horse town. My mother started calling it "Vegas of the North". The day was bright and the drive was through flat countryside, snow melting in the fields. I expected it all to be a formality, the piece of paper before our actual wedding, but when we got there it was nothing like I would have expected. My sister flew in from New York and Nick's close friend came in on an overnight bus at the very last minute. He literally left work and got on the bus with nothing more than the clothes on his back. My mother, father and stepmother were there and a good friend of mine joined us as well. I was wearing a pretty wild, tango inspired dress from Scandale I purposefully chose something that would not look too much like a wedding dress so that I could save that for the "real" ceremony we would have later. A woman named Manon was our commissioner of oaths for the day. She was francophone from Ontario and being anglophone from Quebec I felt a certain kinship with this woman. As soon as I saw Nick I realised this was no ordinary moment. I had spent the night before at my mum's house (as we were pretending to be traditional and sleep apart before the wedding!) Well, I have to say, Nick looked so happy, so thrilled to be marrying me that it made me melt. I realised we were taking a very big step at that moment and every cell in my body seemed to wake up. We embraced and headed upstairs into a council room that was quite characterless. Portraits of the Queen on the wall, Canadian flags, portraits of mayors, not inspiring in the least in the florescent glow. But none of it mattered. The day was transformed by what we were doing. When it came time to say our vows I was practically shaking. I thought I was going to burst out crying when I spoke because the words were so beautiful and so powerful. It sounded like pure poetry to me and the impact of those words was so enormous. Yes, marriage is a contract when you go to a town hall, recite some vows and sign a paper. But the actual act of getting married is far larger than any of those ideas. It was a truly transformative experience and one that was much bigger than us. And now we are getting ready to do it all over again, this time on a grander scale with many more people to share in the celebration. We are thrilled to have you all be a part of this!