Category Archives: Photo Essay

Not Live Trees on Rachel

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(I wrote an update about the trees on Rachel on June 26, click here)

Rachel in between Saint Andre and Mentana
Rachel in between Saint Andre and Mentana

Last year with some fanfare the city ripped up Rachel street and made a larger divider for the bike path (without really widening the bike path itself). They started in July and finished in October. One of the last things they did was to plant trees. Now I don’t know much (if anything about trees) but I can’t see how planting them just before it frosts over is a good idea.

Rachel in between Saint Andre and Mentana
Rachel in between Saint Andre and Mentana

So I figured I’d check them out yesterday. So far five of six seem to be alive. I started at the east end of the bike path and walked to Saint Urbain.

A closer look at the not quite blooming tree on Rachel in between Saint Andre and Mentana
A closer look at the not quite blooming tree on Rachel in between Saint Andre and Mentana
Approaching Saint Hubert
Approaching Saint Hubert

Eight out of nine, alive. Does anyone know how much a tree costs? And what are the costs associated with transplanting one? If I remember correctly there were crews of three or four and some heavy machinery involved…

Looking back towards Saint Hubert
Looking back towards Saint Hubert

11/12 or almost 92%. Maybe the city actually knew what they were doing and I’m just complaining to hear myself and prove my existence.

Just before Berri
Just before Berri

10/12. 83%. Ooops.

Close up of not quite alive tree on Rachel just before Berri
Close up of not quite alive tree on Rachel just before Berri
Looking back along Rachel
Looking back along Rachel

11/13. 85%. Getting better (I think).

Looking back at two not so alive trees on Rachel after Berri
Looking back at two not so alive trees on Rachel after Berri

11/15. 73%. I’ll let you come up with your own comments…

Just before Rivard
Just before Rivard

11/17. 65%. Things aren’t looking good. The Google Street view was done in September and while you can clearly see the concrete and dirt, there ain’t no trees to be seen.

Artsy close up of a not alive tree on Rachel in between Berri and Rivard
Artsy close up of a not alive tree on Rachel in between Berri and Rivard
Rachel looking back toward Saint Denis
Rachel looking back toward Saint Denis

11/19. 58%. Hmmm…

Another not live tree on Rachel
Another not live tree on Rachel

11/20. 55%. You would have thought that after the fiasco that was the Place des Festivals, the city would have learned. But it doesn’t appear so.

Then if you notice there is no underbrush, grass, ground cover or anything green on the ground. Back in September when they redid the Google street view there was a lot of vegetation on the median. Now there is none. I wonder what exactly happened…

Another not live tree on Rachel
Another not live tree on Rachel

11/21. 52%. I wonder who is responsible for planting trees in the city of Montreal. My guess would be that the bureaucracy is dense enough that five different people can point multiple fingers at each other in order to deflect blame.

Yet another not live tree on Rachel
Yet another not live tree on Rachel

11/22. 50%. Your choice of the music from Jaws or the music from Psycho.

A not dead tree on Rachel corner Drolet
A not dead tree on Rachel corner Drolet

12/23. 52%

Another not live tree on Rachel
Another not live tree on Rachel

12/24. 50%. Your choice of the music from Jaws or the music from Psycho. Just louder.

Another not live tree on Rachel in between  Laval and Hotel de Ville
Another not live tree on Rachel in between Laval and Hotel de Ville

12/25. 48%. Words fail me.

Five not dead trees on Rachel
Five not dead trees on Rachel

17/30. 57%

Four not dead trees on Rachel
Four not dead trees on Rachel

21/34. 62%. I guess you could say that things are looking up.

Another not live tree on Rachel just before Saint Dominique
Another not live tree on Rachel just before Saint Dominique

21/35. 60%

Five not alive trees on Rachel in between Saint Laurent at Clark
Five not alive trees on Rachel in between Saint Laurent at Clark

21/40. 53%. This is where it gets kind of personal. As this is right in front of where I sit more mornings than not. The next time the city decides to plant trees in October, it probably would be better to do it in a place where there wasn’t free wifi or other people just hanging out.

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Artsy close up shots of not alive trees on Rachel.

A not dead tree at the corner of Clark and Rachel
A not dead tree at the corner of Clark and Rachel

22/41. 54%

Four non-dead trees on Rachel just before Saint Urbain
Four non-dead trees on Rachel just before Saint Urbain

26/45. 58%. The final tally. Not good, no matter how you look at it. Even if trees could be purchased and planted for $500/each, that’s almost $10,000 wasted by a borough that decided to save money by not clearing the snow on weekends. My guess is that we’d be talking more like $2,000 or more per tree, which means either they wasted almost $40,000 plus. Or the street is going to look like someplace in North Vietnam after the United States dumped a bunch of Agent Orange all over the place.

Yet Another Incomplete Abécédaire of Montreal Apartment Buildings

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The Albert on Durocher
The Albert on Durocher
The Beau Chateau on Guy
The Beau Chateau on Guy
Castle Arms on Prince Arthur (I think)
Castle Arms on Prince Arthur (I think)
The Denise on Edouard Montpetit
The Denise on Edouard Montpetit
The Elms on Elm
The Elms on Elm
The Fort Crest on du Fort
The Fort Crest on du Fort
The Gameshire on Côte Saint-Luc
The Gameshire on Côte Saint-Luc
The Julia on Parc
The Julia on Parc
The La Salle on Sainte Catherine E
The La Salle on Sainte Catherine E
The Madeleine
The Madeleine
The Nordau
The Nordau
The Olympia on Sainte Catherine E
The Olympia on Sainte Catherine E
The Parkridge on Côte-Saint-Luc
The Parkridge on Côte-Saint-Luc
The Reading
The Reading
The San Marcos on Saint Marc
The San Marcos on Saint Marc
The Tower on Côte-Saint-Luc
The Tower on Côte-Saint-Luc
The Van Dyck on Decarie
The Van Dyck on Decarie
The Westmount Chateau on de Maisonneuve
The Westmount Chateau on de Maisonneuve

If you’re interested in the earlier collections, part one is here, and part two is here.

Les Belles-Soeurs s’affichent at the Espace La Fontaine

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I’ve never been a big fan of the theatre. I’m not quite sure why, but when asked I can come up with about half-a-dozen competing theories, none of which really hold any water. As a consequence I’ve never seen a performance of Broue (which I really really would like to see) nor have I seen Les Belles-Soeurs (which I have no real strong desire to see). But that didn’t stop me from going to Espace La Fontaine to go see an exhibit of posters for Les Belles-Soeurs.

Les Belles-Soeurs s'affichent at the Espace La Fontaine
Les Belles-Soeurs s’affichent at the Espace La Fontaine
Les Belles-Soeurs s'affichent at the Espace La Fontaine
Les Belles-Soeurs s’affichent at the Espace La Fontaine

It came as advertised, a bunch of posters from a variety of performances all over the world. The unfortunate thing was that it didn’t seem that there were all that many people who paid it any attention whatsoever. Which, seeing as how they needed to pass by the majority of them on their way to the only bathrooms in Parc Lafontaine meant that there was a steady stream, wasn’t a good thing. I would lay the blame squarely at the feet of whomever designed the display. It was done on the cheap, and as a consequence was accorded an equivalent amount of attention.

Les Belles-Soeurs s'affichent at the Espace La Fontaine
Les Belles-Soeurs s’affichent at the Espace La Fontaine
Les Belles-Soeurs s'affichent at the Espace La Fontaine
Les Belles-Soeurs s’affichent at the Espace La Fontaine

While I didn’t expect a comprehensive show, I was modestly surprised that there was no poster for the musical version of the play that has been garnering headlines recently. Beyond that, if you go, make sure to poke your nose into sections of the restaurant that seem closed. As during the summer they do 95% of their business outside, there are some posters in places which on first glance appear to be places you’re not supposed to be in.

Les Belles-Soeurs s'affichent at the Espace La Fontaine
Les Belles-Soeurs s’affichent at the Espace La Fontaine
Les Belles-Soeurs s'affichent at the Espace La Fontaine
Les Belles-Soeurs s’affichent at the Espace La Fontaine

It’s nice having low expectations for a show. It means that it is real easy for them to be exceeded which always means that I leave thinking positive thoughts. So it’s not like I was really expecting to be told who the artist was, or the dates it was performed in Augsburg or Almonte.

Les Belles-Soeurs s'affichent at the Espace La Fontaine
Les Belles-Soeurs s’affichent at the Espace La Fontaine
Les Belles-Soeurs s'affichent at the Espace La Fontaine
Les Belles-Soeurs s’affichent at the Espace La Fontaine

From what I can find, the posters are up for about another week, until July 29.

Les enjeux by Michel Goulet

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More Michel Goulet sculptures. On Saint Denis in front of the Theatre d’Aujourd’hui.

Les enjeux by Michel Goulet
Les enjeux by Michel Goulet
Les enjeux by Michel Goulet
Les enjeux by Michel Goulet
Les enjeux by Michel Goulet
Les enjeux by Michel Goulet
Les enjeux by Michel Goulet
Les enjeux by Michel Goulet
Les enjeux by Michel Goulet
Les enjeux by Michel Goulet
Les enjeux by Michel Goulet
Les enjeux by Michel Goulet
Les enjeux by Michel Goulet
Les enjeux by Michel Goulet
Les enjeux by Michel Goulet
Les enjeux by Michel Goulet
Les enjeux by Michel Goulet
Les enjeux by Michel Goulet
Les enjeux by Michel Goulet
Les enjeux by Michel Goulet
Les enjeux by Michel Goulet
Les enjeux by Michel Goulet
Les enjeux by Michel Goulet
Les enjeux by Michel Goulet
Les enjeux by Michel Goulet
Les enjeux by Michel Goulet
Les enjeux by Michel Goulet
Les enjeux by Michel Goulet

peristylenomade.org

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I’ve been hanging around Ontario street down in Hochelaga-Maisonneuve recently (it must be something in the water…) and I came across this street art. Great idea and concept, some of them could have been executed slightly better. If you want to click on the link that adds no more information try this or peristylenomade.org.

Something about the bright orange stripes caught my eye.
Something about the bright orange stripes caught my eye.
Although given the background, it's easy to see how it might get lost.
Although given the background, it’s easy to see how it might get lost.
Then I noticed another one.
Then I noticed another one.
And another one...
And another one…
Then I read it (in English I pass by here everyday)
Then I read it (in English I pass by here everyday)
And another (in English, That's very well done grafitti)
And another (in English, That’s very well done graffiti)
So I went back to the first one. (That's the neighborhood in a snapshot)
So I went back to the first one.So I went back to the first one. (That’s the neighborhood in a snapshot)
And peered through the frame. And what do you know?!?
And peered through the frame. And what do you know?!?

Between the apartment building, the McDonald’s, the Metro and the concrete, it pretty much is.

Just in case you missed it the first time around.
Just in case you missed it the first time around.
It seems like I'm in another world, not Montreal.
It seems like I’m in another world, not Montreal.

Continue reading peristylenomade.org

Still More Montreal Buildings With Writing On Them

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If you missed them the first time around (or want to revisit them) the set from May is here, and the set from June is here.

288 Saint Jacques
288 Saint Jacques
360 Saint-Jacques
360 Saint-Jacques
266 Notre Dame O
266 Notre Dame O
480 Saint-Jean
480 Saint-Jean
464 Saint-Jean
464 Saint-Jean
300 Saint-Sacrement
300 Saint-Sacrement
315 Saint-Sacrement
315 Saint-Sacrement
457 Saint Francois Xavier
457 Saint Francois Xavier
204 de l' Hôpital
204 de l’ Hôpital
482 Saint-François-Xavier
482 Saint-François-Xavier
500 Place d' Armes
500 Place d’ Armes
511 Place d' Armes
511 Place d’ Armes
60 Saint-Jacques
60 Saint-Jacques
510 Saint Laurent.
510 Saint Laurent.
1 Notre-Dame Ouest
1 Notre-Dame Ouest
1 Notre-Dame Ouest
1 Notre-Dame Ouest
100 Notre-Dame Est
100 Notre-Dame Est
1 Notre-Dame Est
1 Notre-Dame Est
902 Saint-Laurent
902 Saint-Laurent
181 Saint-Antoine O
181 Saint-Antoine O

The best Maurice “Rocket” Richard statue in the world!

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I’ve written about the Maurice “Rocket” Richard statue by Jules Lasalle and Annick Bourgeau, before. At some point I’m going to have to write some more about it again. But for the meantime, you’re going to have to content yourself with pictures.

Maurice "Rocket" Richard by Jules Lasalle and Annick Bourgeau, 1997
Maurice “Rocket” Richard by Jules Lasalle and Annick Bourgeau, 1997
Maurice "Rocket" Richard by Jules Lasalle and Annick Bourgeau, 1997
Maurice “Rocket” Richard by Jules Lasalle and Annick Bourgeau, 1997
Maurice "Rocket" Richard by Jules Lasalle and Annick Bourgeau, 1997
Maurice “Rocket” Richard by Jules Lasalle and Annick Bourgeau, 1997
Maurice "Rocket" Richard by Jules Lasalle and Annick Bourgeau, 1997
Maurice “Rocket” Richard by Jules Lasalle and Annick Bourgeau, 1997
Maurice "Rocket" Richard by Jules Lasalle and Annick Bourgeau, 1997
Maurice “Rocket” Richard by Jules Lasalle and Annick Bourgeau, 1997
Maurice "Rocket" Richard by Jules Lasalle and Annick Bourgeau, 1997
Maurice “Rocket” Richard by Jules Lasalle and Annick Bourgeau, 1997
Maurice "Rocket" Richard by Jules Lasalle and Annick Bourgeau, 1997
Maurice “Rocket” Richard by Jules Lasalle and Annick Bourgeau, 1997
Maurice "Rocket" Richard by Jules Lasalle and Annick Bourgeau, 1997
Maurice “Rocket” Richard by Jules Lasalle and Annick Bourgeau, 1997
Maurice "Rocket" Richard by Jules Lasalle and Annick Bourgeau, 1997
Maurice “Rocket” Richard by Jules Lasalle and Annick Bourgeau, 1997
Maurice "Rocket" Richard by Jules Lasalle and Annick Bourgeau, 1997
Maurice “Rocket” Richard by Jules Lasalle and Annick Bourgeau, 1997
Maurice "Rocket" Richard by Jules Lasalle and Annick Bourgeau, 1997
Maurice “Rocket” Richard by Jules Lasalle and Annick Bourgeau, 1997
Maurice "Rocket" Richard by Jules Lasalle and Annick Bourgeau, 1997
Maurice “Rocket” Richard by Jules Lasalle and Annick Bourgeau, 1997
Maurice "Rocket" Richard by Jules Lasalle and Annick Bourgeau, 1997
Maurice “Rocket” Richard by Jules Lasalle and Annick Bourgeau, 1997
Maurice "Rocket" Richard by Jules Lasalle and Annick Bourgeau, 1997
Maurice “Rocket” Richard by Jules Lasalle and Annick Bourgeau, 1997
Maurice "Rocket" Richard by Jules Lasalle and Annick Bourgeau, 1997
Maurice “Rocket” Richard by Jules Lasalle and Annick Bourgeau, 1997
Maurice "Rocket" Richard by Jules Lasalle and Annick Bourgeau, 1997
Maurice “Rocket” Richard by Jules Lasalle and Annick Bourgeau, 1997
Maurice "Rocket" Richard by Jules Lasalle and Annick Bourgeau, 1997
Maurice “Rocket” Richard by Jules Lasalle and Annick Bourgeau, 1997
Maurice "Rocket" Richard by Jules Lasalle and Annick Bourgeau, 1997
Maurice “Rocket” Richard by Jules Lasalle and Annick Bourgeau, 1997
Maurice "Rocket" Richard by Jules Lasalle and Annick Bourgeau, 1997
Maurice “Rocket” Richard by Jules Lasalle and Annick Bourgeau, 1997
Maurice "Rocket" Richard by Jules Lasalle and Annick Bourgeau, 1997
Maurice “Rocket” Richard by Jules Lasalle and Annick Bourgeau, 1997
Maurice "Rocket" Richard by Jules Lasalle and Annick Bourgeau, 1997
Maurice “Rocket” Richard by Jules Lasalle and Annick Bourgeau, 1997
Maurice "Rocket" Richard by Jules Lasalle and Annick Bourgeau, 1997
Maurice “Rocket” Richard by Jules Lasalle and Annick Bourgeau, 1997
Maurice "Rocket" Richard by Jules Lasalle and Annick Bourgeau, 1997
Maurice “Rocket” Richard by Jules Lasalle and Annick Bourgeau, 1997

Some interesting buildings around Montreal

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Some of the better designed buildings I’ve come across recently. Apologies for the lack of addresses.

In Côte-des-Neiges
In Côte-des-Neiges
On Côte-des-Neiges
On Côte-des-Neiges
Downtown
Downtown
Park Ex
Park Ex
Park Ave
Park Ave
McGill Ghetto
McGill Ghetto
The Plateau
The Plateau
The Plateau
The Plateau
The Plateau
The Plateau
Downtown
Downtown
Hochelaga-Maisonneuve
Hochelaga-Maisonneuve
Ontario Street
Ontario Street
Saint André
Saint André
Saint Christophe
Saint Christophe
Terrace Saint Denis
Terrace Saint Denis
Henri Julien
Henri Julien

Denys Arcand, don’t die just yet, please.

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Yes, I know it sounds like a strange request, but Denys Arcand is getting up there in years – he just turned 71 years-old. I bring it up, because one of my favorite places in the city is Parc Claude-Jutra at the corner of Clark and Prince Arthur where there is a Charles Daudelin statue memorializing Claude Jutra, who died in 1986 at the age of 56.

Parc Claude-Jutra, Clark and Prince-Arthur
Parc Claude-Jutra, Clark and Prince-Arthur

Both the park and the statue are stately and elegant, comfortable and very well planned and made.

Hommage à Claude Jutra, by Charles Daudelin at Parc Claude-Jutra, Clark and Prince-Arthur
Hommage à Claude Jutra, by Charles Daudelin at Parc Claude-Jutra, Clark and Prince-Arthur
Hommage à Claude Jutra, by Charles Daudelin at Parc Claude-Jutra, Clark and Prince-Arthur
Hommage à Claude Jutra, by Charles Daudelin at Parc Claude-Jutra, Clark and Prince-Arthur
Hommage à Claude Jutra, by Charles Daudelin at Parc Claude-Jutra, Clark and Prince-Arthur
Hommage à Claude Jutra, by Charles Daudelin at Parc Claude-Jutra, Clark and Prince-Arthur
Parc Claude-Jutra, Clark and Prince-Arthur
Parc Claude-Jutra, Clark and Prince-Arthur
Parc Claude-Jutra, Clark and Prince-Arthur
Parc Claude-Jutra, Clark and Prince-Arthur
Parc Claude-Jutra, Clark and Prince-Arthur
Parc Claude-Jutra, Clark and Prince-Arthur
Parc Claude-Jutra, Clark and Prince-Arthur
Parc Claude-Jutra, Clark and Prince-Arthur
Parc Claude-Jutra, Clark and Prince-Arthur
Parc Claude-Jutra, Clark and Prince-Arthur

I bring up M. Arcand’s mortality, because I just discovered something called Place Gilles Carle. According to Google, a six minute walk from Parc Claude-Jutra. As you might have suspected M. Carle was also a noted Quebecois cineaste who died at the age of 81. M. Arcand is next in line as amazing, highly respected and extremely influential Quebecois directors. Well anyhows, Place Gilles Carle is a horrible little thing.

All bricks and no movement, nothing green six spindly and scrawny trees that don’t look like they will survive another winter, not a single living soul anywhere, it is obvious that whomever is designing public places to honor recently dead Quebecois filmmakers doesn’t have a clue as to what they are doing. So as a consequence I respectfully ask that M. Arcand stay alive a little bit longer (and so that no one gets the wrong idea, I don’t think he sick or anything, just getting up there in age) in order that someone else can design Square Denys Arcand and not whomever is responsible for the travesty that is Place Gilles Carle.

Place Gilles Carle, at the bottom of Henri Julien just off of Square Saint Louis
Place Gilles Carle, at the bottom of Henri Julien just off of Square Saint Louis
Place Gilles Carle, at the bottom of Henri Julien just off of Square Saint Louis
Place Gilles Carle, at the bottom of Henri Julien just off of Square Saint Louis
Place Gilles Carle, at the bottom of Henri Julien just off of Square Saint Louis
Place Gilles Carle, at the bottom of Henri Julien just off of Square Saint Louis
Place Gilles Carle, at the bottom of Henri Julien just off of Square Saint Louis
Place Gilles Carle, at the bottom of Henri Julien just off of Square Saint Louis
Place Gilles Carle, at the bottom of Henri Julien just off of Square Saint Louis
Place Gilles Carle, at the bottom of Henri Julien just off of Square Saint Louis
Place Gilles Carle, at the bottom of Henri Julien just off of Square Saint Louis
Place Gilles Carle, at the bottom of Henri Julien just off of Square Saint Louis
Place Gilles Carle, at the bottom of Henri Julien just off of Square Saint Louis
Place Gilles Carle, at the bottom of Henri Julien just off of Square Saint Louis
Place Gilles Carle, at the bottom of Henri Julien just off of Square Saint Louis
Place Gilles Carle, at the bottom of Henri Julien just off of Square Saint Louis
Place Gilles Carle, at the bottom of Henri Julien just off of Square Saint Louis
Place Gilles Carle, at the bottom of Henri Julien just off of Square Saint Louis
Place Gilles Carle, at the bottom of Henri Julien just off of Square Saint Louis
Place Gilles Carle, at the bottom of Henri Julien just off of Square Saint Louis
Place Gilles Carle, at the bottom of Henri Julien just off of Square Saint Louis
Place Gilles Carle, at the bottom of Henri Julien just off of Square Saint Louis

A second set of elevators from Montreal buildings

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I have some more elevator pictures. Working on both, getting a better lens and in going to photograph the antiques.

The elevators at Quebecor, 612 Saint Jacques
The elevators at Quebecor, 612 Saint Jacques
The elevators at Carrefour d’innovation INGO, 355 Peel
The elevators at Carrefour d’innovation INGO, 355 Peel
Elevators in some building in Montreal
Elevators in some building in Montreal
An elevator without a call button (extremely rare!)
An elevator without a call button (extremely rare!)
The elevators at 1000 de La Gauchetiere
The elevators at 1000 de La Gauchetiere
The elevators at 990 Saint Antoine
The elevators at 990 Saint Antoine
Some elevators at Place Bonaventure
Some elevators at Place Bonaventure
More elevators at Place Bonaventure
More elevators at Place Bonaventure
The elevators at 615 Rene Levesque
The elevators at 615 Rene Levesque
The elevator at 1172 Place Phillips
The elevator at 1172 Place Phillips
The elevators at 1255 Phillips Square
The elevators at 1255 Phillips Square
The elevators at 1001 de Mainsonneuve E
The elevators at 1001 de Mainsonneuve E
Elevators some place in Montreal
Elevators some place in Montreal
Elevators at the Adresse Symphonique
Elevators at the Adresse Symphonique
Another elevator in Montreal
Another elevator in Montreal
The elevator at 231 Notre Dame W
The elevator at 231 Notre Dame W