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Pictures

When You Wish Upon A Car

Seen in the neighborhood. Can’t get much more fabulous than this.

This photo even has some of Montréal’s famous bollards in it.
Categories
Experiences History, Culture, and Politics

The Big Bang

The L’International des Feux Loto-Québec started last night–an international fireworks competition that shoots off every Saturday night for the next several weeks. We can see some of the fireworks from our balcony, but to experience the whole show including the ground effects and synchronized soundtrack, you have to buy tickets for the fairground seating.… [Read More]

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History, Culture, and Politics Musings and Observations

Bleeding Hearts

It’s Fête Nationale in Québec today–not to be confused with a federal holiday like Canada Day next week, which is Moving Day here in Québec (more on that soon). Québec considers itself its own nation and today it celebrates its French culture with a mash-up of Saint–Jean-Baptiste Day and francophone patriotism.… [Read More]

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Experiences History, Culture, and Politics Places

Putting the F in F1

This weekend marks the return of the Montréal Grand Prix, which takes place on Isle Notre-Dame in the St. Lawrence River (about a mile away from us, as the crow flies).… [Read More]

Categories
Food

Recipe: Healing Congee

In last week’s exciting episode, Sylvain and I got la grippe and we struggled not just with days of rolling fever, but with gamey guts. For nearly a week everything we ate or drank caused nausea and, er, other discomforts.… [Read More]

Categories
Food

The Maple Report #7

Dare Ultimate Maple Creme Cookies

After investigation, I’m gonna say: not the ultimate maple creme cookies, despite the provocative brand name and hyperbolic descriptor.

They were, however, pretty good, and had real maple that presented right up front, so we et them apace.… [Read More]

Categories
Food History, Culture, and Politics

Uh Oh

I thought I was hallucinating, but it's true: they sell Cadbury Mini-Eggs year-round here.
Categories
Food

Poo Tinn

This “iced poutine” does not, as best I can discern, have any actual poutine in it. I think it’s the Québec version of the “spaghetti ice cream” you see in novelty restaurants sometimes, with ice cream “noodles” made with a garlic press and raspberry “spaghetti sauce” and maybe a couple Oreo “meatballs” on the side.… [Read More]

Categories
Experiences Musings and Observations

Prison of Smoke

Those of you who know me well know that I’m a lifelong allergy sufferer.

I’m not talking about your seasonal hayfever or getting sneezy around cats. I’ve been gifted—whether through nature or nurture is unclear—with full-on potentially fatal reactions to food additives, OTC pain relievers, particulates, and more.… [Read More]

Categories
Food

Pie of Lies

We admit it: we’ve been buying some convenience food here and there to keep on hand when we’re not up to cooking (and that came in handy when we had la grippe last week).… [Read More]