And it's an uphill battle to get there.
So when I got home, I insisted on doing a little research on George-Étienne and that angel statue on the mountain, because frankly, I can't remember learning squat about this guy in school.
Well, he's one of the founding fathers of Canada. And he's an interesting, if somewhat controversial man.
My Jazz Fest companion and I, two born and raised Montrealers, parked on Ste. Élisabeth near the corner of Ste. Catherine, a diagonal bee-line from Police Station #21. It was around 4:30 p.m., and it was like we were touched by the gods, finding a free parking space downtown, a spot available to non-permit holders any time after three, but blocks from Montreal's most popular festival of the season.
We both looked up at the designated parking sign, then looked at each other, confirming our auspicious find. "Yep, that's a three."
Three indeed.
Parking Ticket Hint #1: available parking spaces in a prime location coupled with a Texan driver parked in front of us experiencing the same "odd-defying luck."
Parking Ticket Hint #2: a pair of Station #21 cops chuckling across the street may have been laughing for reasons beyond good humor and job satisfaction.
Parking Ticket Hint #3: We've been living our entire lives in a city that runs on military time.
Eugh.
Fantasia Film Festival
This weekend features the aquatic Thai epic Queen of Langkasuka, acclaimed Japanese director Sion Sono's four-hour Love Exposure and Park Chan-wook's Thirst, a vampire flick that won the Jury Prize at Cannes but is getting mixed reviews from critics lamenting that it doesn't measure up to Chan-wook's previous work. But I bet it's still better than most of Fantasia's lineup.
Pre-Just For Laughs Set & Colours of Comedy
Comedyworks is hosting a pre-Just for Laughs set and "Colours of Comedy" night with Toronto's Daniel Woodrow as well as Montreal's Eman El-Husseini, Andrea Stanford, Ali Hassan and more. This weekend only.
Montreal Jazz Festival Freebies
The fest wraps up this weekend with the wonderful Matt Andersen, Ben Harper and Relentless 7 as well as Montreal's Bet.e, The National Parcs and the mind-blowing aRTIST oF tHE yEAR.
Fireworks Competition
Make way for Hong Kong.
Tam Tams
A free-for-all tribal must.
Piknic Electronik
Deep house veteran/Soulmeka family member Fred Everything is reason enough to enjoy a day at Parc Jean-Drapeau. And Piknic is adding a second stage on the grounds with the soothing sounds of thisquietarmy.
Street Sales
It's all about Plaza St. Hubert this weekend, a particularly kid-friendly sidewalk sale event, with mini-tennis courts, inflatable games, face-painting for kids, a free concert with Stefie Shock and other enticing activities. Details here.
Maybes ...
Zoofest
Theatre, circus arts, performance art, comedy, etc., good luck navigating the site.
Gay Village
Street theatre and the potentially cancer-fighting art of Qi Gong are on the menu this weekend.
And consulting your Guide to Montreal in July will prove fruitful should you need yet more weekend inspiration, from dance events, festival freebies, horse stunts and more!
Photo © Evelyn Reid
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