This Weekend in Montreal - Afrobeats, Preemptive Holiday Shopping, Shaolin Dance

FANMI SE FANMI
Hosted by Jahnice, FANMI SE FANMI features roots Wes'li Band, klezmer hip hop with Socalled and all-girl tam tams with Maloukaï at St. James Church on Ste. Catherine tonight. Free admission.

Friday Nocturne
The Montreal Museum of Contemporary Art proposes an evening with Papagroove's brand of syrupy Afrofunk live, tonight, from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. Admission is only $10 and includes access to museum exhibits. Bar on location. First come, first served as places are limited.

Annual Gem and Mineral Show
The ultimate chic-on-a-budget destination, as long as you compare and contrast exhibitor offerings before buying. Some of the best gem jewelry prices I've ever seen in these parts are at these type of annual gatherings but once again, you have to look carefully. Also, if your loved one likes gemstones and/or making their own jewelry, then you're likely to find the perfect gift. Fossils, jewelry-making supplies, sculptures and other types of artwork will also be for sale. At Place Bonaventure through Sunday.

Sutra
There's only a few tickets left for the Sunday finale dance performance starring 17 young Buddhist warrior monks trained at the Shaolin Temple established in 495 C.E. on Mount Song, in the Henan Province of China.
Watch a clip of Sutra.
Watch a clip of a Shaolin Kung Fu demonstration.

Clothing Blowouts Galore
Find the perfect brand name Christmas gift at bargain basement prices. Point Zero is up to 70% off (women's, men's, children), all Bedo stores in Montreal are selling inventory at 50% off through the weekend, the easygoing look of Mimi & Coco will be on sale, and Ponyride is slashing prices on mid- to high-end designer apparel and accessories.

National Pet Show
Birds, dogs, bunnies and more, at the Olympic Stadium all weekend.

Concerts This Weekend
Mixhell, Think About Life, Simian Mobile Disco Derek Trucks Band and more, this weekend in Montreal.

Maybes ...

Cinemania
Unlike like certain French film festivals in this town that don't go out of their way to make the movies they showcase more accessible -- if it's truly a budget thing, then fine, I understand; otherwise, what a shame you underestimate how many anglos with so so French as well as tourists in need of an on-screen language booster would love to watch the flicks you play, they might even pick up a few new words -- Cinemania subtitles some of the best French cinema to run the international festival circuit over the last year or so.

Coup de Coeur Festival
Gypsy Sound System, Pierre Lapointe with only a piano and more are playing the French music fest this weekend. Website in French only.

For more options, consult your Guide to Montreal in November. It's chock-full of affordable events, family-friendly activities and other stuff to keep you and yours properly occupied.