Categories
Experiences Food Nature

Service

Here’s a riddle: Why is Saskatoon like service?
Answer: they’re both names for native trees that produce edible berries.

Amelanchier canadensis has a lot of names: serviceberry, shad-blow serviceberry, bilberry, juneberry, sugarplum, or currant-tree.… [Read More]

Categories
Experiences History, Culture, and Politics Only in Montréal

A Typical Summer Concert in MTL

Last night we went to see a bangin’ all-girl brass band in Parc Molson, just a few blocks away–one of the many City-sponsored summer events we love so much here.

Below is a little video snippet (1:40 long) from the finale, just a taste of some sassy, brassy musicians and the rare delight of a typical Montreal summer happening.… [Read More]

Categories
Experiences Pictures Places Tourism

The Ascent of Mt. Spruce

Last weekend, we went for a jaunt to l’Estrie, the Eastern Townships of Quebec. This region stretches from the St. Lawrence lowlands down to the Vermont border, and includes some of the northernmost extents of the Appalachian uplands before they swerve off to Newfoundland.… [Read More]

Categories
Experiences Musings and Observations Only in Montréal

Good Night, Lune

now before it starts to snow it's time for us to pack and go
Categories
Experiences History, Culture, and Politics Only in Canada Pictures

We Did That Hockey

We Enjoyed It But Have Some Questions

Hockey is to Canada what baseball and football are to the U.S. It’s a cultural touchstone and a massive revenue source for the sports industry.… [Read More]

Categories
Experiences History, Culture, and Politics Pictures Tourism

Historical Re-enactment

It’s been a busy end-of-Summer. We’ve had some visits from out of town, and work has been taking up a lot of time.

A few weeks ago, Manon and I managed to get away to the Pointe-à-Callière 18th Century Public Market event.… [Read More]

Categories
Experiences Only in Montréal

The Deedle-Eedle Truck

(or, “Wakey Wakey, Mfers!”)

Sylvain and I have long heard legends of the snow removal siren–an eardrum-crushing klaxon that sends Montrealers staggering into the street to move their cars before the tow-trucks and snowplows come through.… [Read More]

Categories
Experiences Pictures Très Intéressant

Fireflies

In Mont Royal park, there are fireflies! I haven’t seen them there in past years.

On social media, folks are saying they’ve never seen it like this before.

Doesn’t do them justice…

(Try clicking on the “full screen” button on the video for a more immersive experience).

Categories
Experiences Only in Montréal Très Intéressant

Le Rêve

What’s this? Emerging from the Mont Royal metro station, we countered a line for this installation.

Naturally, we had to discover our dreams!

It’s not the library that’s offering us a dream

After waiting in line for a short while, we got to a machine where we could place our hand upon the cutout.… [Read More]

Categories
Experiences Pictures Places Tourism

Springing

We made our first visit to the Jardin Botanique this year, and to paraphrase William Gibson: spring has arrived, it’s just not even distributed. (As always, click on pictures to see ’em biggish).… [Read More]