🍦🌆 Colour Festivals, Art Battles, & Summer Solstice

Bonjour-hi to you today mon ami / amie,

Walking home this F1 weekend, McLarens and Lamborghinis racing past me, I spotted a dad and his young kid leaving a restaurant. The little guy's legs gave out after a few blocks, so dad scooped him up. "One day you'll have to carry me," the father said quietly. Without missing a beat, the kid declared with pure conviction: "Thanks daddy, but when I’m strong and you’re weak, I will carry you all the time. Everywhere! "

Watching them disappear down the street, I realized I'd just seen the richest man during the entire weekend.

In this week’s issue…

• 🏙️ City News: Strikes, Blue Line dig, and bold 2050 vision

• 💗 Feel-Good: Arts rally to save F.A.C.E. School + Montreal teacher’s global impact

• 🤲 Non-Profit: The Yellow Door bridges generations through fun and wellness

• 🍽️ Food: Solstice Bites — Montreal’s hottest new food spots to celebrate summer.

• 👩‍🔬 People of MTL: Pauline Eveno’s journey from acoustics to shaping musical innovation

• 🎟️ Events: From art battles to colour-throw festivals, your weekend plans sorted

• 🎶 Live Music: Music festivals, concerts, and performances to fill your nights with rhythm

Edited by Eleanor R.

CITY NEWS

🏙️ What's Happening Around Town

• Metro workers entered their ninth day of striking, leaving commuters to rediscover the lost art of walking. Bus service continues during "essential hours," a term that excludes most actual errands. Mediation talks begin today, where negotiators will discuss work-life balance while the city balances on rental scooters.

• Montreal has begun excavating all five stations for the Blue Line extension, a project that requires drilling through limestone apparently harder than most people's resolve to take public transit. The new stations will sit 20 to 40 meters underground, deep enough that commuters might develop actual appreciation for surface-level problems.

FEEL GOOD

💗 Stories That Make Me Fall In Like With This City

1. Montreal's arts community has rallied to save F.A.C.E. School from closure, with conductor Yannick Nézet-Séguin, singer Gregory Charles, and entertainer Mitsou leading the #SaveFACE campaign. The school serves 1,300 students with nearly zero dropouts; a testament to what happens when education meets passion.

2. A Montreal music teacher brought their students to perform on one of the world's largest stages, proving that sometimes the best field trips require passports. The initiative highlights how Montreal educators transform ordinary classroom moments into extraordinary memories, connecting local talent to global stages.

NON-PROFIT

🤲 A Cause Just Cause

The Yellow Door/La Porte Jaune - Bridging Generations Through Community Mission & Impact

The Yellow Door has figured out something most of us forgot: different generations actually enjoy each other's company when given the chance. This Montreal nonprofit pairs young people with older adults for everything from friendly visits to Nordic pole walking on Mount Royal, apparently the kind of exercise that engages 80% of your muscles while making you look slightly ridiculous with poles.

Their programs combat urban isolation through film screenings, tech cafes, and wellness groups, proving that community connection doesn't require expensive solutions, just creative thinking. As Montreal emerges from periods of social distancing, The Yellow Door's intergenerational programming feels particularly vital, offering free activities that bridge age gaps naturally.

They're seeking volunteers for senior visits and wellness facilitation—roles that require four-month commitments, but offer flexible scheduling, perfect for anyone wanting to discover that wisdom and energy flow both ways across generations.

FOOD

🍽️ Food & Drink Buzz

🌞 Solstice Bites: Celebrating the Longest Day with Summer's Boldest Flavours

Summer is in full swing, and with the Solstice lighting up the skies this weekend, we’re celebrating the season of sunshine and fresh beginnings with a tour of some of Montreal’s most vibrant new spots. Whether you’re craving seasonal comfort, flame-kissed feasts, or a waterside toast, this week’s lineup has you covered:

🔥 Rôtisserie de la Lune

From the team behind Mon Lapin, this cozy Quebecois rotisserie leans into the Solstice spirit with whole roasted chickens, charred seasonal vegetables, and natural wines. Rustic, fire-inspired, and perfect for golden-hour feasting.

🌿 Parapluie 

This Michelin Bib-awarded French bistro turns seasonal ingredients into small plates full of heart. Every dish feels like a little ritual—elegant, intentional, and full of joy.

🌙 Marci Café

Marci serves up cozy vibes and a retro atmosphere on a charming terrace perfect for romantic summer nights. Their menu features bold, flavorful New Jersey Italian-inspired dishes that feel both nostalgic and fresh all at a great price. It’s the perfect spot to take in Summer Solstice in style.

🍹 Canal Lounge 

Or maybe a sunset drinks on the water is more your scene? This charming canal-side boat bar is back for the season, serving breezy cocktails and chilled-out vibes. The ideal place to toast the longest day of the year.

Got more? Reply to this email and tell us!

🐍🦔 PETS OF THE WEEK 🐾🦜

Doctor Mew is in — and ready to diagnose you with a serious case of dangerously low cat-to-human ratio 😽💉This little stunner serves elegance, side-eye, and just the right amount of drama. He's got the bedside manner of a star. Let this longhaired legend steal your heart (and probably your favourite chair).

Timon is the brains of the operation — a curious little furball with major main-character energy. Always on the move or on the hunt for snacks, he’s got the swagger of a guinea pig who knows he’s irresistible. Bonded with his bestie Pumbaa, Timon is ready to star in the buddy comedy that is your life — now streaming in your living room. (Bonus: SPCA waives the adoption fee for the second animal in a bonded pair!)

Visit them and more at the Montreal SPCA to see if they’re you’re perfect match!

PEOPLE OF MONTREAL / GENS D’ICI

🧍Pauline Eveno

Being stuck in an office killed my creativity. When I’m out in the world, meeting people, hearing stories, working in cafés—that’s when I feel most alive.

As a child, she was the kid who couldn't leave anything alone—screws came undone, devices were dismantled, and everything had to be understood from the inside out. This insatiable curiosity would lead her from playing flute at age six, through engineering schools her parents encouraged, to a groundbreaking discovery that would change how wind musicians think about their instruments.

Her studies carried her across the world. Organ pipes in Sweden. Trombones in Mexico. A PhD in Paris building software to predict how instruments would sound before they were built. But the moment that changed everything? It was during her early days in acoustics before even University, when her future advisor—Joël Gilbert—grabbed a giant plastic pipe, stuck a trombone mouthpiece on one end, and played it like a symphony. “It sounded exactly like a trombone,” she remembers. “I was hooked.”

That sense of wonder never left her. It brought her to Montreal for a postdoc at McGill, where she studied the geometry of saxophone mouthpieces under Gary Scavone—a journey that would eventually lead to her “Eureka” moment.

As is often the case, research can feel slow and stagnant. Progress takes time, and it’s easy to feel stuck. But a wave of inspiration came when they shifted their focus—not just on the instrument itself, but on the connection between the musician and their instrument. It was a perspective that had long been overlooked.

They began inviting musicians to try their 3D-printed prototypes. The musicians' reactions reignited something in her.

“Wow, how can I buy this?” they asked.

That question changed her life. When she returned to France, she was jobless. There were only a handful of acoustics positions in the entire country and the big French companies in music industry didn’t want to invest in research. Her frustration boiled over. “Nothing had changed in decades. If no one wants to do it... I’ll do it myself.”

She co-founded Syos—an instrument company rooted in acoustics, colour, and collaboration. Some scoffed at her colourful mouthpieces. Others laughed. She kept going. “Everything I do is about music. Always.” Montreal had reminded her how creativity flourishes outside rigid systems. Even as she moved between countries, that lesson stuck.

Today, Syos works with top musicians around the world. Her dream? “To redesign every instrument,” she says. “And one day… to make a guitar for Thom Yorke to play.” Some of the world’s most celebrated musicians— that you probably listen to— already use her mouthpieces so she is not that far off. 

But more than anything, she wants others to realize something she learned the hard way. Syos stands for “Shape Your Own Sound.” She’s recently learned to apply her company’s own philosophy to her entire life. “You can shape your own life. You really can. And when you do… your way of working, your joy, your creativity—it all comes back.”

Check out their mouthpieces here

BOROUGHS

🏠 PROPERTY SPOTLIGHT

I know this is out of Montreal, but hear us out. Nestled in Saint-Lazare’s Saddlebrook enclave, 2492 Rue Pine Run is a 4-plus-3-bed, 3-plus-2-bath country estate surrounded by towering pines and horse trails. Listing ace of Kevin Kuppek of RE/MAX Royal Jordan brings sharp pricing and white-glove negotiation skills to buyers.

Check it out here

EVENTS

🎟️🎪 Weekend Plans That Don't Suck

THURSDAY (June 19)

🎨 Art Battle Montreal
Le Studio TD · June 19
Watch artists go head-to-head in live competitive painting rounds.

FRIDAY (June 20)

SATURDAY (June 21)

SUNDAY (June 22)

LIVE MUSIC

🎶 Music & Nightlife

For those still possessing the energy for after-dark activities:

Festival Montréal Baroque
Old Montreal · June 19–22
Let the harpsichord melt your soul 🎼

La Guinguette du Sud-Ouest
Lachine Canal · June 19–24 · 11AM-11PM
Dancing, drinks, no cover 🏖️🍹

Suoni Per Il Popolo
Various venues · June 19–29 · Various times
Live concerts and theatre performances 🎷🌴🎧

Francos de Montréal
Quartier des Spectacles · June 19-21
Catch the last bit of performances this weekend 🎤

La Sotterenea: Lesbians on Ecstasy + Rough Spells + HRT
June 19 · 8:30 PM
Punk, charms, and no chill 🎸🔥🌴

P'tit Ours: HTM://HELL Marathon
June 20 · 10:30 AM
Indie chaos, no naps 🎧⚡🌊

La Sala Rossa: Sanam + Radwan Ghazi Moumneh
June 19 · 8:00 PM
Ambient beats, deep vibes 🎶🌌🏖️

Casa del Popolo: Bigg Egg + Computer + Lifeline
June 19 · 8:30 PM
Synth omelette dreams and bytes of flair 🎹✨🥚

OUTRO

Well, I had fun — did you? If you found something useful, share it with someone you like. If not, send it to someone you barely endure. Your childhood nemesis, or your crypto-obsessed cousin?

Until next week,

In our effort to promote more local businesses and services we will be asking our community what they’d like to see more of here. Let’s kick it off with real-estate!

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