🍦 Dystopia, Dog Parades, Punk Shows and How One Montrealer Got Started

Oh, Bonjour-hi to you today mon ami / amie, didn’t see you there,

Last Tuesday, I watched a stray cat casually commit a home invasion. One slow blink and somehow the couple opened not just their door, but presumably their hearts. Resistance was futile. Classic feline mind control.

Meanwhile, Montreal's weather has everyone dressed like tourists at a closing sale: winter boots with shorts, and parkas over sundresses.

This week at PlayMTL, Concordia's D3 Innovation Hub joins us as a proud supporter—a space where Montréal dreamers build tomorrow's startups and social impact projects. Sleep, optional. Big ideas, mandatory.

In this week’s issue…

• CITY NEWS: New law changes tipping and pricing rules at checkout.

• FEEL GOOD: Asian Heritage Month + new arts space for neurodiverse youth.

• FOOD: Vietnamese egg coffee, Pakistani comfort food, and modern Korean eats.

• NON-PROFIT: Handmade blanket fundraiser supports women May 10.

• GENS D’ICI: Local founder hits 150K users in 6 weeks, starts from St-Michel.

• MILE END: Bagels, a church, and bold sandwiches named after moms.

• EVENTS: Comedy, opera, Sketchfest, movies, and arts all weekend.

• MUSIC: Alt-rock, ska, gospel, metal tributes, and symphony sets.

Edited by Eleanor R. (serial commas and zero regrets.)

CITY NEWS

🏙️ What's Happening Around Town

1. Quebec's Bill 72 is shaking up grocery shopping and tipping. Starting yesterday, May 7th Quebec’s new rules on pricing came into effect and now businesses are required to calculate suggested tips based on price BEFORE tax. Additionally, if an item scans higher than its shelf price, you could get up to $15 off. Who knew fighting inflation started with the “no tip” button?

2. Montreal just scored a respawn: U.S. studio Iwot Games is opening shop to turn The Wheel of Time into an RPG. Up to 300 jobs, tens of millions invested—finally, a power-up for a city hit hard post-pandemic. Bonus points for lore overload, much-needed industry hype, and glorious fantasy escapism. Ready your linkedins.

FEEL GOOD

💗 Stories That Make Me Fall In Like With This City

Asian Heritage Month

Asian Heritage Month is in full swing Montreal—CTV’s spotlighting bold Asian-owned businesses, and of course, Montreal made it into a festival—Accès Asie brings art, food, and unstoppable energy to the city all month long. Come for the culture, and stay because you’re actually having a great time.

Summit School for Neurodiverse Students

On May 6, 2025, Montreal unveiled a new arts facility for neurodiverse students. The centre, designed to cater to students aged 12 to 21, features specialized classrooms, sensory rooms, and art spaces. It aims to foster an inclusive learning environment where students can develop life skills, creativity, and independence. Here’s to the kids!

NON-PROFIT

🤲 A Cause Just Cause

Crafted for Courage - May 10th 9:00 - 17:00

Location: Place Ville Marie, Montreal, Quebec H3B 2B6

Get ready to wrap yourself in something meaningful at the Montreal Council of Women’s Blanket Project on May 10th. You’ll admire beautiful, handmade blankets created by local volunteers, all while supporting organizations that fight violence against women. Take home a piece of art with a donation and know you’re contributing to something bigger than yourself. Come for the blankets and stay for the impact.

FOOD

🍽️ Food & Drink Buzz

Café Cosé - Not just another pretty pour

Café Cosé is a Vietnamese-inspired spot in Pointe-Saint-Charles serving standout egg coffee, refreshing Saigon Fog lattes, and elevated café bites among other specialities. It’s cozy, dog-friendly, and perfect for working or hanging out.

Mama Khan - Good food with heart

At Mama Khan, the chapli kebabs are layered with flavors only time can teach. Founded by a family with roots in Peshawar, this restaurant serves up soulful Pakistani comfort food, one bold, satisfying dish at a time. The vibe is warm, the mission even warmer — with plans to launch a Halal Soup Kitchen by the end of this summer. Mama Khan’s is a place too return to, not just for the food, but for the genuine spirit behind it all.

Giwa - Grandma’s recipes meet next level flavor

Restaurant Giwa in Verdun is where Korean tradition gets a fancy, modern twist. Rooted in the chef’s grandmother’s recipes, this spot serves dishes that blend bold unique flavors with minimalist presentation. From sizzling bibimbap to spicy stews, every bite is a journey for the tastebuds.

Got more? Reply to this email and tell us!

PEOPLE OF MONTREAL / GENS D’ICI

💻🦫Christopher Dip

“If it’s easy to get, it’s easy to lose. Good things take time. And the best things are worth it.”

“We went from zero to 150,000 users in six weeks. It started with a tariff announcement. I didn’t even know about it — my cofounder Alex called me, like, ‘What can we do as tech entrepreneurs?’ That same day, he cold-called a news station. We did our first interview the next morning, outside, freezing. By 6 p.m., it aired on national TV.

After that, it snowballed. CBC. Global. CTV. Germany. France. One Sunday we had 7,000 people on the site from Germany alone. Reddit picked it up. Two posts. Forty thousand visitors that weekend.

It felt like it happened overnight. But I’ve been building apps for ten years. Learning how to sell for five. This was just the first time it all aligned. That kind of momentum can be terrifying, honestly. It’s like… the uncertainty was gone. I knew I was going to get married, have a kid, make this business work. And suddenly I was like: Then what?”

Christopher Dip grew up in St-Michel. He still lives in Montreal, bootstrapping a startup with his fiancée (and their tiny Pomeranian). They build apps — B2C, B2B — and do lead-gen on the side. He runs. He’s close with his family.

“The dream is working while traveling — but in a healthy, sustainable way. Like six months in Australia. With a baby, a laptop, and a routine.”

He still goes hunting on weekends. Still talks to strangers. “They give you the realest advice. No past, no filter.”

His rule? “Don’t cut corners. If it’s easy to get, it’s easy to lose. Good things take time. And the best things are worth it.”

Amidst a wave of economically disastrous news, Chris and his cofounder Alex managed to create something inspiring—an initiative that helps Canadians make smarter purchasing decisions while supporting our local economy. See how BuyBeaver works here.

BOROUGHS

🧭 NEIGHBOURHOOD SPOTLIGHT

📍 The Mile End

In May, Mile End finally starts to gently wake up from the winter and show some life. The streets buzz with quiet energy—bikes darting around racing to discover something special, and a constant hum of languages make this place feel like its own little world. The air smells like fresh bagels (of course) coffee, paint thinner, and dash of patchouli. Trees are blooming, poised to overtake the week’s garbage.

The Church of St. Michael and St. Anthony, standing bold on St. Urbain Street, isn’t exactly low-key either. With its oversized turquoise dome, it demands attention. Built in 1915, it’s all grand— from its 74-foot dome to the frescoes of St. Michael kicking fallen angels' butts. Today, it’s still the center of Montreal’s Polish Catholic community, adding a sense of steadfastness to another neighborhood that’s no stranger to change.

For a true Mile End experience, head to Chez Ta Mère on Fairmount where the sandwiches are named after moms and packed with personality. With global flavors, Québécois comfort, and a terrasse waiting in the May sun, it’s the kind of spot that captures the neighborhood’s easygoing charm without trying too hard.

EVENTS

🎟️🎪 Weekend Plans That Don't Suck

FRIDAY (May 9)

SATURDAY (May 10)

SUNDAY (May 11)

LIVE MUSIC

🎶 Music & Nightlife

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

🎸 FRIDAY (May 9)

• Sasami
  Bar le Ritz | 8PM – 11PM
  Dreamy alt-rock with a sharp, genre-bending edge.

🎤 SATURDAY (May 10)

• Dena Mwana
  L’Olympia | 8PM
  Uplifting souls with divine vocals and powerful rhythm.

• The Planet Smashers
  Théâtre Beanfield | 7PM
  Ska, punk, and chaos louder than your ex’s texts.

• Maiden Head (Iron Maiden Tribute)
  Les Foufounes Électriques | 8PM
  Riffs, horror, and punk screams—hold onto your beer.

🎻 SUNDAY (May 11)

• Summertime
  Maison symphonique | 3PM
  Your summer playlist—but make it classical.

OUTRO

Well I had fun, did you? If you found something useful, please share it with someone you know. If you didn't, then share this with someone you mildly dislike.

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..