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Back in September they inaugurated the Maison symphonique de Montréal. Articles in La Presse, Le Journal, even the New York Times. The whole thing was broadcast by Radio Canada.
I was always taught that you inaugurated a building once the construction was finished. Hmmm… Guess I learned wrong.
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Last Sunday, my friend (and yours) Eva Blue organized a training edition of Cupcake Camp. It was a fundraiser for Kids Help Phone and La Tablée des Chefs.
There were a lot of people.
And an awful lot of cupcakes…
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Some snapshots I’ve taken relatively recently that are kind of unclassifiable
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Recently I noticed that whomever the powers that be are, decided to make President Kennedy in between Clark and Jeanne Mance, one way going west.
I presume that they did this because of the 80/535 stop in front of the Place des Arts metro. This buses are big and block up a full lane when waiting. There were a couple of time this fall when I saw some cars trying to pass them while going west almost crash into cars going east along President Kennedy.
Way back in the dark ages, before the Quartier des Spectacles and the Place des Festivals was a gleam in anyone’s eye. The 80/535 used to trundle down Bleury all the way to Rene Levesque, where they would turn east and then turn north onto Jeanne Mance in order to head back to Parc Ex. But once construction was started on the Quartier des Spectacles and the Place des Festivals the 80/535 stops had to be changed.
View The Old 80/535 route in a larger map
So some bright wag decided that the 80/435 (and they also decided to change the number of the route as well) should continue along Rene Levesque until Saint Laurent, turn up Saint Laurent until Ontario, and then stop in front of the new(ish) UQAM buildings.
View The New 80/435 Route in a larger map
Which is how there almost was a rash of car accidents on President Kennedy (for the non-locals, Ontario and President Kennedy are the same street, with two different names). But what both the powers that be and the bright wag completely forgot about was that there was another street maybe 50 feet south, that paralleled President Kennedy and was already one way west. It’s called de Maisonneuve.
I don’t understand why they didn’t route the 80/435 to turn left on de Maisonneuve thereby enabling them to keep President Kennedy two way. It seems kind of silly to me to have two streets duplicating the same thing not even side-by-side, but practically on top of each other. Especially since it now means that the 125 going east has to detour up to Sherbrooke and the back down Saint Urbain to complete its route.
Then there is some other silliness as well. Clark street is two-way for 50 feet! And de Montigny is also one way going west (and why didn’t they just rename it to become de Maisonneuve? Why the name change for just two, short blocks?
I might be able to understand if these particular intersections were on the Plateau where they deliberately try to make it difficult, if not down right impossible for drivers. But this is downtown, centre-ville Montreal where they still like cars.
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The second part (first part is here). Combined they make much more sense…
Instead of a map of the world which is also a fountain, there is a relief map of Parc Lafontaine.
Instead of eight chairs with weird things on their seats, there are six chairs with recognizable objects underneath.
Continue reading Les Leçons singulières (volet 2) by Michel Goulet
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This is one of my most favorite pieces of public art in Montreal. It also doesn’t hurt that it isn’t too far from my house.
If you’d like to see the fountain in action, click here
It’s on Place Roy, which is on Roy street east in between Saint Christophe and Saint Andre
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About two years ago, I had a sudden flash of insight as to who I thought had created this art. But then I failed to write the name down, and now all I’m left with is the memory of remembering. But not remembering who.
Which is kind of appropriate seeing as how they (it) aren’t that far from the Allan Memorial. But then I had another flash, “how about I write to someone at the Royal Victoria Hospital and ask?” Veronique Scott was extremely gracious and prompt. And if my memory serves, the “flash” I had about the artist wasn’t Michel Goulet. So I still have a ways to go.
Done five years after Les leçons singulières (although the city’s database says that Les leçons singulières were done in 1992, M. Goulet’s website says 1990). They are similar in that they use copper and seem to tell some sort story.
Although it is very very similar in concept to the CCA Garden which was designed by Melvin Charney, who is definitely not Michel Goulet. It’d be nice to talk to both of them and get their thoughts.
Continue reading Les moments magiques by Michel Goulet at the Royal Victoria Hospital
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Also known as the City Centre building built in 1957 by Harry Meyerovitch.
Apparently there’s on in a private house on the rivière des Prairies, and at some point I’m going to have to go see his house. It’s supposed to be quite the eyful.
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Back on December 14th I was wandering around downtown (don’t ask me why I was hanging with the Christmas shoppers) and realized I had not been to the Hudson’s Bay Gallery before. It’s on the 5th floor of The Bay. And it was weird and wonderful.
Yup, that’s right, a wooden pig, with the various cuts of meat clearly marked.
At some point I need to find out where Hutton’s was. And why their models are in the Bay now. Then after I’ve solved that mystery, I’m going to have to make myself one (or maybe, two) just because I don’t already have enough useless stuff gathering dust in my apartment.
And you thought fashion only got funky in the 70s? The mock up of the store is supposed to recreate what Morgan’s looked like in 1894.
If you’re interested the Hudson Bay Company’s website does a way better job of actually explaining its history, but it’s way more fun to go down there in person. Promise.
More details about the S.S. (now referred to as RMS) Nascopie.
You see? In person it can be interactive!
If you have an extra 15 to 20 minutes to spare the next time you’re at The Bay, go check out their gallery. It definitely could use the love.
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I know it’s almost February, but I’ve had these hanging around on my hard drive for far too long. Back last summer the Eaton Centre made a big deal out of how they had hired Roadsworth and Brian Armstrong to create some sort of environmentally friendly installation to try snd show how green they were. I didn’t like it much, but that’s neither here, nor there.
Late last year I was wandering around through the bowels of our fair city and was struck by the fact that Les Cours Mont Royal‘s Christmas decorations were not only made out of various things (mostly old 2 litre soda bottles) that had been recycled, but the fact that they weren’t making such a big deal out of it and trumpeting that they were super cool and the bestest because of their design choices. Super props and kudos to whomever does the displays for Les Cours Mont Royal, along with some extra points for choosing to stay anonymous.
While I normally am dead-set against most things commercial, I found this particular tree quite witty. Using the bags of the stores in Les Cours Mont Royal as “ornaments” was a great idea.
