Montreal
Montreal Province of Quebec QC
- Country Code
- CAN
- State Code
- QC
- Local Food
- Taking a cue from their French ancestors, Quebecois cheesemakers are creating award-winning cheeses on small farms across the province. Many of the cheeeseries are located in quaint villages in the Eastern Townships (think of New England, only *en francais*). Artisan cheese and food shops along the way will provide you with the *fromage *and *pate*; stop at the local *boulangerie* for a loaf of crusty bread; and enjoy a picnic in the countryside. Because they are not pasteurized, many of Quebec's cheeses can't be exported to the US, so enjoy them while you can.
- Gay Info
- Centre Communitaire des Gais et Lesbiennes 514/528-8424. 2075 rue Plessis, 10am-noon & 1pm-5pm, clsd wknds; library 1pm-8pm Wed & Fri, www.ccglm.org.
- Women's Centre of Montreal 514/842-4780. 9am-5pm Mon-Fri, www.centredesfemmesdemtl.org.
- Gay Info Line 514/866-5090 (English), 514/866-0103 (French).
- Gay Chamber of Commerce 514/522-1885, www.ccgq.ca.
- Aids Group
- ACCM 514/527-0928, www.accmontreal.org.
- Gay Aa
- AA 514/376-9230 www.alcoholicsanonymousmontreal.com.
- Gay Pride
- July/August. 514/285-4011, www.diverscite.org.
- Annual Events
- February/March - Festival Montreal en Lumiere (Montreal High Lights Festival) 514/288-9955, www.montrealenlumiere.com.
- June/July - L'International des Feux Loto-Quebec (fireworks competition) 514/397-2000, www.internationaldesfeux.com.
- Festival International de Jazz de Montreal 514/871-1881, 888/515-0515, www.montrealjazzfest.com.
- Festival International Montreal en Arts 514/522-4646, www.festivaldesarts.org.
- July - Just For Laughs Comedy Festival 888/244-3155, www.hahaha.com.
- August/September - Montreal World Film Festival 514/848-3883, www.ffm-montreal.org.
- October - Black & Blue Party 514/875-7026, www.bbcm.org. AIDS benefit dance & circuit party.
- November - International Gay/ Lesbian Film Festival, www.image-nation.org.
- Harvest Theatre Festival: A cornucopia of diversity in the performance arts, www.villagescene.com.
- Airport
- Dorval International. To get to downtown, take Hwy 20 North and use the downtown exit.
- Taxi
- Diamond Cab 514/273-6331.
- Public Transport
- Montreal Urban Transit 514/786-4636, www.stcum.qc.ca.
- Tourist Attraction
- Bonsecours Market 514/872-7730, www.marchebonsecours.qc.ca.
- Latin Quarter.
- Montreal Biodome 514/868-3000, web: www2.ville.montreal.qc.ca/biodome.
- Montreal Botanical Garden & Insectarium 514/872-1400, web: www2.ville.montreal.qc.ca/jardin.
- Montreal Museum of Fine Arts 514/285-2000, www.mmfa.qc.ca.
- Old Montreal & Old Port.
- Olympic Park.
- Underground City.
- Visitors Bureau
- 514/844-5400, www.tourism-montreal.org.
- Weather
- It's north of New England so winters are for real. Beautiful spring and fall colors. Summers get hot and humid.
- Best Views
- From a caleche ride (horse-drawn carriage) or from the top of the Montreal Tower or from the patio of the old hunting lodge atop Mont Royal.
- Where The Girls Are
- In the popular Plateau Mont-Royal neighborhood or in the bohemian area on Ste-Catherine est.