It’s December 25. Now What do I do in Montreal?
Christmas Lights. Place des Arts. Photo Rachel Levine
Alright, so not everyone is happily holding hands and singing kumbaya around the Christmas tree, watching the log roast on the TV set and admiring a sibling spike grandma’s cup of eggnog with half a bottle of rum. It’s December 25 and you are bored out of your gourd. Everything is closed and this whole holiday thing is, quite frankly, lost on you.
What can you do to survive this most tedious of days?
Do Something For Someone Else
If you feel sorry for yourself, do something for someone else instead. Actually, you don’t even need to feel sorry for yourself. Just do something for someone else because you can. Make chicken soup for someone sick. Pick up some trash in the street. Good deeds are easy to find if you get creative. The Centre d’Études Spirites Fraternité is giving out kits to the homeless who sleep in metro stations. The kits include a pair of gloves, a scarf, and a touque, a chocolate, $10, and a Christmas card. Join them at 8 a.m. at the McDonalds near Gare Centrale. You have to enroll first at [email protected] to join (though perhaps it won’t matter if you show up anyway).
Brunch
Le Brunch. Suite 701. Old Port. Photo Rachel Levine
Believe it or not, you can get a Christmas brunch. XO (7:30 a.m., 355 rue St. Jacques) has a special Christmas menu so treat yourself to something fine. Other places to go: Sinclair (7:30 a.m., 414 St Sulpice); Suite 701 (8 a.m.; 701 Cote de la Place d’Armes); Verses (7:30 a.m., 100 Rue ST Paul W); Gazette Restaurant (10:30 a.m., 300 St Antoine W). Wait a little longer and get a classic French brunch at Chez Leveque (1030 Laurier W; 11 a.m.) or Hambar (11:30 a.m., 355 McGill). By noon, you can hit Diablos (noon, 3619 ST Laurent).
Movies
Parc and Pins. Photo Rachel Levine
The AMC Forum has got Star Wars: The Force Awakens showing at 1:30 p.m, 4:45 p.m, 8 p.m., and 11:15 p.m. It seems to be the only film showing. Low and behold, same for Banque Scotia Montreal (922 rue St. Catherine). Nothing but Star Wars, Star Wars, Star Wars. This film better be good at 2 hours and 16 minutes. At least you can see it in IMAX 3D at both places.
Dollar Cinema (6900 Decarie Square) is open seven days a week, 365 days a year. Check out their schedule. Movies are $2.50.
Guzzo cinemas is open on the 25th. Films opening on December 25 (and presumably showing) are Joy, Les Nouvells Aventures d’Aladin, Daddy’s Home, Point Break in 3D, Pinocchio in 3D, and Concussion. Click HERE for details.
Join Other Stray People
Why be alone, when you can be with hippies and free thinkers? L’Escalier (552 St Catherine E) opens its doors to all those people who are alone in the city tonight. Expats, singletons, those who are far from home, and really anyone is offered an authentic homey Christmas at this beloved bar. A funky night with a traditional supper is promised. Even though it is free to go, donations are being collected for Operation Enfant Soleil.
Restaurants
Schwartz’s Biftek. Smoked Meat. Photo Rachel levine
Many years ago, my parents came to visit and we found ourselves at a loss for a restaurant open for dinner on Christmas. We ended up at Modavie. There’s often live jazz and they make a good lamb. Other places you can try are Chez Leveque (open until 11:30 p.m.) Bevo Bar and Pizzaria, Chez Alexandre, Damas, Diablos BBQ Smokehouse (until midnight), Gazette Restaurant (until 10 p.m.), Osco! (until 11 p.m.), Gibby’s (open until 11 p.m.), Hambar (open until 11 p.m.), Sinclair (until 10 p.m.), Suite 701 (until 10:30 p.m.)Khyber Pass (open until 11 p.m.), L’Atelier d’Argentine, Le Pois Penché, Lola Rosa, Schwartz’s (open until 5 p.m.), Maison Boulud, Verses (until 9 p.m.), Vieux Port Steakhouse (until 11 p.m.). A good way to reserve a spot at any restaurant (or at least see who is open) is Open Table.
Dance it off
Crowd dancing to beats of DJ GD and DG Pfreud. Photo Mert Kimyaci
After that massive brunch and haute dinner, time to shake your booty. Why should the party stop just because it’s Christmas. Some clubs keep the doors open tonight. Dubstep Fridays at Studio Backstage (1661 ST. Catherine E) is also providing a place for everyone to go. From 5 p.m. – 7 p.m. there is a meal and gifts served. Then the djs take the stage with Bobby Milot, Rimic, Full Spectre, and more playing until 3 a.m. $5 at 7 p.m., and $10 after 9 p.m. The dinner is $40 and requires a reservation. Club 6/49 (1112 St Catherine W) will also welcome you in to its Christmas party. DJ Ricky Campanelli will be spinning salsa, bachata, and merengue so you can keep it moving from 9 a.m. until 3 p.m. $7. You can also hit Joverse (52 St. Jacques) to listen to Toddy Flores and Hilly and sip some Grey Goose. Club Unity (1171 St Catherine E) will also have its usual mix of music including Top 40, hip hop, and dance. Santa Claus promises to make an appearance. I hope he’s shirtless. Le Salon Daomé (141 Mt Royal E) is open. Free until midnight, $8 after that. Plenty of cool beats by high heels prohibited: Lucie Lebel, Jeff Fontane, Nymra, and Sofisticated. At 10 p.m., you can go to Play nightclub (1450 St Catherine E) for Veronika and Oliver, Ohm Hourani, and The Doctors. And good ol’ Rockette (4479 St Denis) will take in all orphans. There’s no cover and things start at 10 p.m.
