🍦 Fierté kicks off, BBQ secrets revealed, and Paulina’s powerful story

Bonjour-hi to you today mon ami / amie,

Sometimes the best discoveries happen when everything goes wrong. After 40 years of obsessing over his childhood Swanson TV dinner stuffing, a mentor of mine finally cracked the code during a Thanksgiving disaster.

His friend's botched gravy, too thick with flour, suddenly revealed the secret he'd been chasing for decades. The failed sauce was actually an exact replica of the Swanson TV dinner stuffing. Life's greatest breakthroughs often hide in our biggest failures.

In this week’s issue…

• 🏙️ City News: Fierté kicks off, parking still sucks, City Hall naps through it all.

• 💗 Feel-Good: Genie says goodbye, a toy drive becomes a movement, soccer scores for kids.

• 🤲 Non-Profit: MADA feeds 5,000+ join their kindness army this August.

• 🍽️ Food: Charcoal chicken, Chinatown BBQ, and the greasiest hangover cure in NDG.

• 👩‍🔬 People of MTL: Paulina ditched law for yoga and found healing in breath.

• 🎟️ Events: Pride parties, food trucks, roller derby, fireworks, rooftop laughs, and more.

• 🧭 Mile End: Arcade Fire roots, hidden park, castle church, nerd bar, slow fashion.

If you’d like to be a contributor for our lovely little publication then reply to this email!

CITY NEWS

🏙️ What's Happening Around Town

1. Montreal's executive committee gathered Wednesday to make the crucial municipal decisions that shape our daily existence; or at least pretend to. The mayor and committee chairs dutifully addressed operational matters, because someone has to decide how our tax dollars disappear.

2. Montreal's 19th annual Pride festival began Thursday, bringing 11 days of celebration through August 10. The world's largest francophone Pride event features 250+ artists across 120 events in three city hubs. Expected to draw 750,000 participants, it's Montreal's biggest 2SLGBTQIA+ celebration.

3. Montreal officials have mastered the art of "doing nothing" about worsening parking problems, according to local reports. Because why solve urban planning challenges when you can simply watch residents circle blocks endlessly, perfecting their Montrealer curse vocabulary while searching for that mythical parking spot? Tabarnak.

FEEL GOOD

💗 Stories That Make Me Fall In Like With This City

Community Hero Earns Charity Status
After 22 years of grassroots work, Carolyn Bouchard-MacNeil’s nonprofit, Carolyn’s Community, became a registered charity in July 2025. Starting as a toy drive, it now supports 75+ women’s shelters across Montreal, proving one person’s love can spark lasting community transformation.

Montreal Tennis Star Bids Emotional Farewell
Eugenie Bouchard, the first Canadian woman to reach a Grand Slam final, is ending her career at home during the 2025 National Bank Open. Her surprise first-round win thrilled fans, capping a legacy that’s inspired countless young athletes across Canada.

GOAL MTL Scores Big for Youth Sports
On July 27, 24 teams united at Percival Molson Stadium for GOAL MTL 2025, raising $10,000+ for youth soccer. Backed by Goal Initiatives and the Patrice Bernier Foundation, the event fostered community ties and helped fund new school soccer fields across Montreal.

NON-PROFIT

🤲 A Cause Just Cause

MADA Community Centre - Kindness in Action

Upcoming Major Event: MADA's annual volunteer campaign, "Kindness in Action," takes place from August 4-11, 2025. 

Exceptional Impact: Serving over 5,000 families annually, MADA offers comprehensive support including meal delivery, a well-stocked food bank with fresh produce, and crisis services. Their approach goes beyond addressing immediate needs to foster community belonging and dignity.

Unique Approach: MADA embodies "chesed" (love and kindness) in all their actions, ensuring every individual's situation is met with tailored empathy and support. They've recently expanded with satellite locations in the West Island and Ottawa, demonstrating their growing impact.

Volunteer Opportunities: During their August campaign, they offer diverse volunteer roles from packing and cooking to meal deliveries, phone calls, and event support, making it accessible for people with different schedules and skill sets.

FOOD

🍽️ Food & Drink Buzz

🍗 Chalet BBQ – NDG’s smoky secret since 1944!
Skip the chains; this old-school gem serves juicy charcoal-roasted chicken with crispy skin and legendary sauce that locals swear by. No frills, just flavour. A hidden Montreal classic that’s stayed deliciously the same for 80 years.

🍜 Dobe & Andy – Chinatown’s BBQ gem
Tucked away from the crowds, this family-run spot serves mouthwatering Hong Kong-style BBQ at unbeatable prices. Since 2019, it’s built a loyal local following with bold flavours, crispy pork, and the perfect selection for the emotional self-loathing eater . Still under the radar; just how we like it.

🍳 Restaurant A.A – Old-school charm, hearty eats
This cash-only NDG classic serves up heaping plates of breakfast and greasy spoon faves with retro vibes and unbeatable prices. It’s the ultimate hangover cure and a true local staple; where regulars have been coming for decades.

PEOPLE OF MONTREAL / GENS D’ICI

🧍Paulina Grochowska: From Polish Courtrooms to Montreal Yoga Studios

Paulina grew up in Poland under the weight of expectation—her father chose schools, careers, even dreams. But deep inside, she knew her path was different. She fought for it. While studying law to “be someone” in her family’s eyes, she secretly nurtured her love of dance, literature, and movement.

Everything changed during a court internship. A man was sentenced, and behind closed doors, the judge casually shrugged, saying a different argument might’ve saved him. That moment broke something in Paulina. She finished law school, but her spirit had already moved on.

One person had planted the seed years earlier: a teacher who changed her life. After her parents’ divorce, Paulina felt unseen—until this luminous woman came into her life like a galaxy. She didn’t just teach grammar. She taught psychology, history, how to breathe, how to speak with love. She made pancakes and challenged Paulina’s ideas about the world. “She taught me to find answers in myself,” Paulina says. “Not in textbooks or authority figures.”

Dance gave her freedom. Yoga gave her purpose. After recovering from surgery during teacher training, Paulina understood yoga not just as movement, but as empathy. “You teach breath first, not poses. You ask: How does your body feel today?”

Now in Montreal, Paulina teaches with that same presence and care. Her classes are spaces of healing, rooted in humanity. From a child riding Coke bottles through corridors to a grounded guide for others, Paulina lives her dream—gently, joyfully, and in community.

Her message? Never give up your dreams. One day, they might become your reality.

EVENTS

🎟️🎪 Weekend Plans That Don't Suck

Thursday (July 31)

FRIDAY (August 1)

SATURDAY (August 2)

SUNDAY (August 3)

NEIGHBOURHOODS

Mile-End

🎨 Fun fact: Arcade Fire rose to fame here, and the neighbourhood’s creative spirit still echoes through every café, gallery, and alleyway — though some know-it-all will probably remind you they were technically from Austin. Probably some hipster from Mile-End. Ahem. (Love you 🫶).

🌿 Hidden Gem: Parc Lahaie
Tucked between Laurier and Saint-Joseph at the foot of Saint-Laurent, this tiny park feels like a secret garden. Locals sip café drinks on the benches or quietly read under the trees. A perfect reset in the middle of the city bustle.

🎲 Geeky Fun: Randolph Pub Ludique
More than just a bar; it’s a board game haven. Tucked off St-Laurent, Randolph has shelves of games, friendly staff to teach you, and a buzzing, nerdy-chic vibe. 30-person games of Werewolves is pretty fun.

🪵 Cultural Landmark: Saint Michael's Ukrainian Church
This massive, castle-like church on St-Viateur isn’t just beautiful — it’s one of the largest Byzantine-style churches in North America. Few people know it was designed by the same architect as Saint Joseph’s Oratory.

🧶 Off-the-Radar: Atelier B
A local design studio and shop for slow fashion and minimalist clothing, made right in Montreal. Elegant, ethical, and far from mainstream.

OUTRO

Well I had fun, did you? If you found something useful, share it with a friend. If you didn't, share it with your ex. They're used to disappointment.

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