Categories
Places Très Intéressant Uncategorized

More Tree Installation

Remember way back in May, when we encountered the “trees to be planted here” signs up in Saint-Léonard? No? You know, this here?

Well, anyway, we were back up in that area yesterday, and, sure enough, some trees have been planted.… [Read More]

Categories
Only in Montréal Très Intéressant

Look Sharp!

It’s a summery day in Montreal, and this morning during my coffee break I heard the tinny digital chimes of what I presumed was an ice cream truck coming down our street.… [Read More]

Categories
Pictures Très Intéressant

Tree Installation

On my morning walk, I came across the city’s tree squad in action.

Truck o’ Trees

They were upgrading a yard just down the street from us.

Tree squad in action

Two trucks, one excavator, five workers, and about ten minutes for a new tree to go in.… [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
Pictures Très Intéressant

The Incredibly Dull Case of the Lofty Stop Signs

There is a mystery on the streets of our neighborhood. It involves stop signs.

I thought I’d discussed stop signs in a posting in some prior year, but couldn’t find it, so first, let’s talk a little about them (if you don’t want to nerd out on this topic, skip down to the pictures below).… [Read More]

Categories
Experiences History, Culture, and Politics Only in Montréal Pictures

Dancing With Pride

Sylvain and I went to the MTL Pride parade yesterday; it was a homegrown affair but with abundant color and music and smiles.

Here are a few photos and three short videos of an Irish-dancing rainbow, two-stepping white hats, and a good ol’ cheer squad going to town.… [Read More]

Categories
Experiences French

Donkey Backs

I read the news in French every morning to build my vocabulary and keep apprised of local goings-on.

As a result of this article (it’s in French only, sorry) about a cyclist who was injured after sliding on a newly-painted pedestrian crossing, today I learned the term dos d’ânes, or “donkey backs.”… [Read More]

Categories
Experiences French History, Culture, and Politics Only in Montréal

Driving, Not Laughing

A subtle cultural layer you discover in a new city is the locally-sourced humor, i.e. the local problems that are joked about by the people who live there. Per my post yesterday about the Grand Prix, Dan Ramos Comedy posted the above graphic on Reddit with the headline, “I Fixed the F1 Poster.”… [Read More]

Categories
Experiences Only in Montréal

♫ You Port 1,320 Tons, and What Do You Get?♫

♫Another F1 race day, and it’s gonna be wet…♫

The Grand Prix du Canada is back in Montréal this weekend, with all its economic boom and ecological doom. It’s estimated that 1.2 million kilos of equipment get hauled into town for this event (that’s 1,320 tons to you and me) and then it all gets shuffled off to Madrid for the next race on June 23.… [Read More]

Categories
Experiences History, Culture, and Politics Only in Quebec

Patriot’s Day Weekend

(aka ‘Victoria Day” in the R.O.C.)

(R.O.C. = Rest of Canada, whose federal holidays Québec likes to rename and rebrand as Québec-centric celebrations.)

Victoria Day, which celebrates the birthday of Queen Vicky, isn’t so popular here in Québec due to the many years of oppression of the Québec French by the English ruling class.… [Read More]