city of fires, not ice.

I wanted to write this morning, when it was still early, the wintery sun was beginning to shine over the St. Lawrence, and the wine from Saturday was still buzzing delightfully in my veins...but I was sleepy and I hit the snooze buttons a few times.


cabbage in a winter garden

I spent the weekend in Montreal, with Brian, on a pilgrimage of sorts. It was unusually warm for November, especially in the many cozy fire place-filled local haunts. I discovered a lot of things, but I'll tell you 10.

1. Montreal has a knack for creating a perfect fusion of haute couture, spectacles de sexe, classy jazz bars and 99 cent hot dog joints, somehow creating a pleasant yet edgy environment with surprises around every corner.

2.Even hippie-esque student protesters dress in ultra trendy attire.

3.Beer is even better when infused with flavours like raspberry, chocolate or (gasp) apricot at Brutopia. It's better still when enjoyed in candle-lit pubs.



4.Peel Pub still takes the cake for the cheapest food and beer I've ever seen. I'm talking a pitcher and a meal for around $10. Just try to avoid full tables of international biz bratty girls who repeatedly scream "Here's to a BA" when it's clearly November and the end is not yet in sight.


dragon fountain in chinatown

5. The East Plateau district is very cool because of its inviting cafes, multiple independent record stores and all-fruit and veggie markets. It is, however, slowly being invaded by pretentious collar-poppers and yuppies seeking a bohemian glam lifestyle.

6. Everyone in montreal wears scarves. Men, women, grannies, children, elderly gentlemen, they all insist on neck adornment.

7. You can't have french canadian culture without clowns:


and, as for my academic future:

8. McGill has some fabulous faculty members and is stunning...but I'm not sure if it's the place for me.

9. Concordia, on the other hand, was much warmer and felt pretty good.

10. There's no place like home.



Other than check out grad school options, we did a hell of a lot of walking, took the Metro, I worked on my fashion article (Check out the Gazette on Friday), we ate cheap, great food and had a few cocktails at night. I found, yet again, that my most direct competition for my boyfriend are men. Yes, the french canadian men love Brian, but he fends them off with politeness and dignity. Seriously though, those guys don't know who they're messing with.

We encountered a few crazies on the streets, mysterious metropolitan pumpkin patches and revisited opulent, underground bars.



Great city, great times.