Categories
Pictures Très Intéressant

Crabapple Evolution

From the front-facing window and small balcony at the apartment, there’s a view of the street below and the shaded courtyard of the house across. When we first arrived, the trees were mostly bare or just beginning to leaf out.… [Read More]

Categories
History, Culture, and Politics Only in Canada Très Intéressant

An Important Winter Advisory Message

“Try not to let moose lick your car.”

–Parks Canada

(…or anyone really, regardless of the season, but that’s just my non-delicious-vehicle-owner opinion).

Happy New Year. We’ll be back in Montréal in May, if all goes according to plan.… [Read More]

Categories
French History, Culture, and Politics Très Intéressant

Laissez le bon temps rouler

Those of you who spent time in L.A. during the 80’s-90’s musical heyday of KCRW probably remember Chuck Taggart‘s show “Gumbo,” which was canceled when KCRW went from being a local public-radio station to being the golden goose of NPR.… [Read More]

Categories
Pictures Très Intéressant

Rose Mallow

We’ve tried to make a weekly ritual of biking to the Jardin Botanique Sunday mornings for a coffee in their café and a wander around the gardens. As mentioned before, our Accès Montréal card gives us free access to the outdoor (best) parts of the garden.… [Read More]

Categories
History, Culture, and Politics Pictures Places Très Intéressant

Lachine Canal

This past week, I attended an activity with a local intercultural group: learning to kayak. Now, this group is big into canoe camping and white-water kayaking, but they have to entice us newbies into the sport a little more gently.… [Read More]

Categories
Très Intéressant

Here’s the Church, addendum

I just read today that one of the churches featured in the “Maintenance Problems” part of my post was damaged by a fire. It’s expensive keeping a building maintained, and according to the article, the timeline for permits and planning when repurposing a church takes years.

Categories
Pictures Très Intéressant

Maple Seeds

The breeze brings down clouds of these exquisite little helicopters. The sidewalks are strewn with them.

Maple samara

For what it’s worth, the botanical name for this kind of seed is a “samara” or a “winged achene.”

Categories
Only in Montréal Places Très Intéressant

why didn’t I think of this

This is on Rosemont Blvd. about a mile away from our house, near the Rosemont Métro station. I saw it from the bus window so couldn’t go in, but looks like it’s a combination massage studio and florist.… [Read More]

Categories
Only in Quebec Très Intéressant

Red Light, Green Light

https://mass.streetsblog.org/2023/05/05/steal-this-idea-in-quebec-a-new-traffic-light-only-turns-green-for-safe-drivers/

This traffic light near a school zone in Broussard will stay red if you exceed the speed limit on approach. It only turns green if you are driving under the limit.… [Read More]

Categories
History, Culture, and Politics Pictures Places Très Intéressant

Hometown Hero

Quebecers are fiercely proud of local folks who have achieved fame and fortune. There are statues in the parks of notable artists, poets, and writers, and you’ll even see streets or parks or cafes named after some of them.… [Read More]