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🍦 A Jazz Legend, BBQ, and 3 Pets You Might Fall For
PlayMTL - Your Montreal Cheatsheet
Bonjour-hi to you today mon ami / amie,
Had a rough week. Wandered into my building's common room and found an elderly Korean man setting up an elaborate dinner. Instead of awkward elevator-eye contact, he waved me over to chat.
Twenty minutes later, my day felt lighter.
Sometimes the cure for feeling invisible is just someone who sees you standing there and decides you belong at their table.
Be the person who beckons people in.
In this week’s issue…
City News: $1.2M in climate funding, new pedestrian zones, and 134 surprise parking meters.
Food & Drink: Our summer BBQ hit list + Montreal’s best booze-free sips to beat the heat.
People of MTL: Jazz club owner Joel Giberovitch on why the stories stay in the sound.
Pets of the Week: A cuddle king, a jellybean ninja cat, and a soft-hearted tank — adopt now.
Events: Japanese eats, rooftop stargazing, burlesque, food trucks, planetariums, and vintage gold.
Edited by Eleanor R
CITY NEWS
🏙️ What's Happening Around Town
Climate Entrepreneurship Applications Due: Nonprofit organizations must submit applications by June 5th at 1 p.m. for Montreal's $1.2M climate-friendly circular entrepreneurship program.
Street Pedestrianization Continues: Saint-Denis Street will be pedestrianized starting June 14th, while Duluth and Ontario streets begin car-free periods on June 16th.
New Parking Meters: Installation of 134 new parking meters begins in Plateau-Mont-Royal around Mont-Royal and Duluth avenue approaches.
FEEL GOOD
💗 Stories That Make Me Fall In Like With This City
Montreal SPCA Reduced-Fee Adoption Event: June 5-9 The Montreal SPCA is practically giving away pets this week; adult cats and dogs for $50, rabbits completely free. It's like a Costco sale, but for emotional support animals. Nearly 100 cats are waiting to judge your life choices from various windowsills, while 20 dogs are prepared to destroy your furniture with unbridled enthusiasm. The shelter needs space before summer, when apparently everyone decides they need a pet. Studies show reduced fees don't attract worse owners, just more of them.
NON-PROFIT
🤲 A Cause Just Cause
Place des Arts Foundation
The Foundation makes art accessible to everyone by supporting the Education and Community programs of Place des Arts. Their work promotes diversity, inclusion, and the flourishing of individuals and communities.
Recent impact:
Served 4,754 students and teachers through 273 educational workshops
Provided 92 workshops and 23 performances for adaptive arts, reaching 257 participants
Engaged over 7,000 participants in family and youth programming
Organized TEMPÉO Dance and Music Festival with 17,855 participants.
Their 14th annual fundraising event, La Grande Première des futures étoiles, will take place in 2025, bringing together business leaders, patrons, and art enthusiasts to discover emerging artists.
FOOD
🍽️ Food & Drink Buzz
Ah, summer is finally here. The season of flirty vibes, golden sunshine, park b-day bashes, and BBQs. This week, we’re serving up some of our fav spots for BBQ in the city because nothing says sizzle season like ribs, wings, and brisket, honey.
But wait — you know what pairs perfectly with all that smoky goodness? Mocktails. Yep, you heard us. No booze, no problem. Check out Bar Bisou Bisou for their spirit-free go-to sips that bring all the flavour, and none of the fog.
📍 4705 Van Horne Avenue
This no-frills, takeout only legend is bringing the heat with Cantonese BBQ that’ll have you drooling before you even walk in. It’s crispy, juicy, sweet, and savoury— all in one glorious bite.
Must-Try Menu Items:
Char Siu (BBQ Pork), Roast Duck, BBQ Chicken Wings with Rice
📍 138 Avenue Atwater
Born of a back-alley smoke sesh, now serving up Texas-style BBQ with Montreal swagger. This spot is all about smoky meats, bold flavors, and zero pretension. It’s SO good.
Must-Try Menu Items:
Brisket, Aylwinator Cheeseburger, Mac & Cheese, Daily Specials
📍 1216 Rue Bishop & 1850 Saint-Catherine St. W
This retro-style Korean BBQ joint is where sizzling meats meet cozy vibes. With tabletop grills and a spread of banchan, it's the perfect spot to gather and get your grill on. Two locations in MTL.
Must-Try Menu Items:
Pork Belly (Samgyeopsal), Beef Rib Finger (Galbi Sal), Corn Cheese
Got more? Reply to this email and tell us!
PEOPLE OF MONTREAL / GENS D’ICI
🧍Joel Giberovitch
“Music holds the memory — and the stories stay in the room.”
Tucked above a spot on Mackay Street, Upstairs Jazz Bar & Grill has been Montreal’s beating jazz heart for 30 years. Since 1995, Joel Giberovitch has run the club with a clear vision: Upstairs wouldn’t be just another bar with background music — it would be a life’s work, a second home, and a sanctuary where people truly listen.
At just 23, Joel walked away from law school and dove into jazz. After visiting clubs in New York like the Village Vanguard and Bradley’s, he came back and rebuilt Upstairs with purpose: a tighter stage, rich acoustics, and a reverence for the musicians. “I had a long-term vision — and we’re living it,” he says.
Among the many stories that echo through the walls, one belongs to Len Dobbin — legendary jazz journalist, radio host, daily regular, and dear friend. Len didn’t just support the scene; he lived inside it. Nightly, he’d arrive for soundchecks, settle onto his stool at the bar, and become part of the room’s heartbeat. Quietly, he was also battling alcoholism.
Sheila Jordan, a jazz icon and close friend of Charlie Parker, had walked that same path. When she performed The Crossing — a song about her journey through addiction — she would often sing it to Len, who’d sit at the end of the bar on his stool. Not in theory, but in presence. In honor of his courage. In tribute to their shared survival.
It was one of those moments where you felt the power of music. It becomes more than sound — it becomes a lifeline, a kind of love letter between two souls who made it through.
On July 8, 2008, during a soundcheck, Len suffered a stroke on that same stool. It was as if Len himself had chosen where he’d go in the end, and the club itself held him gently as he left — surrounded by music, history, and love.
“Music holds memory,” Joel says. “These stories live in the sound.” Three decades in, Joel still isn’t done. The staff changes. The city shifts. Yet Upstairs endures — where music breathes, and stories live on.
PETS
🐍🦔 Pets of the Week 🐰🦜
Looking for a low-key companion with a heart full of love? Enter Domino, an 11-year-old mixed breed, with a heart of gold. He’s calm on walks, treats-motivated, and always up for a cuddle session. Though he wears a muzzle outdoors, it doesn't stop him from living his best life.
Meet Donutella — like the center of a jelly donut she’s got a jammy heart. She’s a shy gal with big Ninja Turtle energy: low-key, curious, and ready to open up once she feels safe in her lair. If you’ve got patience, snacks, and a cozy hideaway, Donutella just might be your perfect half-cat, half turtle soulmate.
Looking for a loyal companion with a heart as big as his paws? Tirex is your guy. This young, strong, and affectionate cuddle muffin is ready to bring joy and adventure into your life. If you're ready for a lifetime of love and loyalty, Tirex is waiting for you.
Visit them all at the Montreal SPCA and see if they’re YOUR perfect match!
EVENTS
🎟️🎪 Weekend Plans That Don't Suck
THURSDAY — June 5
🍜 YATAI MTL: Japanese Street Food & Culture Festival
Hangar 1825 + various venues around Montreal | 5-10PM (June 5–8)
Expect street food, pop-up performances, and hands-on workshops
Les Feux Sauvages
Cinéma du Musée | 3:20 PM
💔 Ahh, l’amour, la vie… prepare for cinematic feels
🦋 LUZIA by Cirque du Soleil
Under the Big Top, Old Port of Montreal | 7:30PM
A dreamlike dive into Mexico where gravity takes a vacation
FRIDAY — June 6
🚚 Montreal Food Truck Festival
Olympic Stadium | 4PM – 11PM (June 6 & 7)
A celebration of street eats and culinary creativity
Visit of the Greenhouses
Montreal Botanical Garden | 10:30AM – 1:30PM
🌵 Check out the cacti!
🎡 La Grande Roue de Montréal
Old Port of Montreal | 10AM–11PM
Catch nighttime city views from the top of the wheel. It’s magic.
SATURDAY — June 7
🔭 Astrofest: Mars, Life in Red
Montreal Planetarium | 6PM – Midnight
A science fest with meteor-making, telescope stargazing, marshmallows & DJs
👗Vintage Bazaar @ Marché des Possibles
Eglise St-Denis | 11 AM – 5 PM
Retro treasures, unique finds, and all the good vibes
🎞️ Manicouagan
Fernand-Seguin screening room | 5PM
History of Manicouagan (North Shore, Quebec) as shaped by the impact of an asteroid
🍿Brazil
Cinéma du Parc | 9:30 PM
Terry Gilliam’s dystopian cult classic on the big screen.
💃 Chicago! | The Wiggle Room
The Wiggle Room | 9:00 PM
A Chicago (yes, the musical!) inspired burlesque night full of sass and sparkle.
🕺 Soirée Évo West Coast Swing | Studio 88 Swing
Studio 88 Swing | 8:00 PM
Free intro class at 8PM, followed by social dancing.
SUNDAY — June 8
🕉️ FRYA Yoga
3863 St Laurent Blvd | various times
Start your day with a musical flow!
🧠 Pub Trivia
Bishop & Bagg | 7:30PM
Come for the beer, stay for the bragging rights.
LIVE MUSIC
🎶 Music & Nightlife
For those still possessing the energy for after-dark activities:
Friday, June 6, 2025
⚡ Justice
Place Bell | 8:00 PM
💥 Electro gods return to blow your mind
Blue Skies Turn Black présente FLORRY + NORA KELLY BAND + BEN VALLEE
La Sotterenea | 8:30 PM
🎶 Alt-country twang with a punky bite
Saturday, June 7, 2025
🎻 Chamber Music Festival
Bourgie Hall | 7:30PM
🌟 Bow down to the string queens and kings
🍋 Dope Lemon w/ Kate Peytavin
MTELUS | 8PM
Chill alt vibes so smooth they come with a citrus twist
🤘 Harm’s Way & Full Of Hell
Fairmount Theatre | 6PM
Hardcore you can scream to
🎤 Kerchak @ Club Soda
Club Soda | 8PM
French rap?? Ça me va!
🔥 LES ORDURES IONIQUES + TULAVIOK + LES FUCKING RAYMONDS+ VOYOU
Foufounes Électriques | 8PM
Loud, filthy, and unfiltered
🕺 Soul, Motown, Disco Hits w/ Freddie James Project
Le Balcon | 8:30PM
Feel-good funk with sparkle, sass, and Saturday-night fever
🌈 Chœur Gai de Montréal
Place des Arts | June 7 & 8
20 years of harmonies, history, and heart
Sunday, June 8, 2025
🎤 Elyse Aeryn (Free Show)
Honey Martin | 9PM
🍯 Indie-folk sweetness in a cozy pub setting. Yes, please
🎻 Irresistible Celtic Violins
Salle Bourgie | 2PM
🍀 Strings that’ll make your heart do a little Irish jig
🎧 Piknic Électronik
Parc Jean-Drapeau | 4PM-9:30PM
🍃 Outside, under the sun and nature-approved
OUTRO
Well, I had fun — did you? If you found something useful, please share it with someone you like. If you didn’t, then share this with someone you detest. Your sister, maybe? Or the cook who made your bacon extra crispy.
Until next week,
If you have any suggestions on stories to cover, new restaurants or events then please reply directly to this email. We read every. single. email. 🥲
So uhh..
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