Happiness

vvia Zoe Claudia

The New Yorker

Spent yesterday reading the latest issue of the New Yorker at the Grande Bibliothèque, then headed towards La Faim du Monde for une soup au brocolli et panais! I'd never really read this magazine before. One New Yorker and you'll forget People!

K8

French Guys

"I'm from Montreal" Talbot said" so I always use that excuse: I'm french so I have to look better than the other guys"

Vic ZoeClaudia

Eat Pray Love

Hmm...a self-sufficient female? Or self-indulgent female? Though I love Julia Roberts, this overly-long travel-log makes me think.

Cheers to the Resto Biz.

My relatives came for a visit last week. Our family wanted to show them the best of Montreal and also introduce them to the Euro-North american flair of the city, since they live in Europe. I picked two restaurants that I thought they would like: L'Avenue and L'Express.

L'Express

I've walked by the creamy façade of L'Express on St. Denis so many times without noticing. It's been a mystery to me: where is this French bistro that I've heard so much of?
The second I walked in, I was impressed with the large and extravagant rosewood bar. (The bartender behind, a James Bond look-alike in black and white, was even more attractive!) I would recommend splurging and getting starters and wine for the full experience, you won't be disappointed. The goat cheese was perfectly warm and not too sour or dull, served on crunchy toasts drizzled with olive oil (I could actually taste the difference between this fine olive oil and your regular supermarket stuff). The steak tartare was delicious and cooked like it should be...yet we couldn't help stopping the waitress and blurting out, "Excuse me! It's red!!" The poor waitress stood there shocked for a moment without a word to say. By the time she recovered and was about to explain that steak tartare is in fact supposed to be cooked like that, our laughs gave it away that we were just playing with her. She laughed along with us, yet I have a feeling some tourists might seriously complain about their bloody meat. A passing waiter, just as put together in tidy black and white uniform jumped a bit out of character and voluntarily admitted that the look on his colleague's face was "awesome" and "it was worth saying that just to see her expression!"

I had paella, which was just as good as my Spanish host-mother's paella, though I like it with all types of seafood besides just shrimp. The home-made pasta got high-reviews, the octopus was presented like a piece of art, and our 3 and 5 year old dinner companions shouted "You're not allowed!!!" when we tried to steal their golden fries or a piece of chicken. We did have trouble getting used to the taste of the Californian white wine, it wasn't to any of our tastes. My Auntie, an expresso-lover, was eager to indulge in one at the end of the meal. This is a woman who travels all over Europe for business...including Italy...still, she turns to me and says the expresso is the best she's ever had, and "smooth and rich, not like battery acid!"

L'Avenue

Victoria has already wrote about L'Avenue, so I decided to check it out.
We went later in the afternoon on a weekday so that it would be less busy. Our waiter Alphonso looked Italian, spoke British English and Quebecois French. We sparked up a funny and long conversation with him about accents, since at the table included, we all had different accents. We're lucky he had the time to chat! I was especially surprised that the club sandwhich is SO HUGE. Definitely worth your money. The burger is delicious too! Near the end of the meal, we saw Alphonso, another waiter and a waitress doing shots behind the bar (early afternoon, mind you ;)) Loud enough for them to hear, we said, "Only in Quebec!" They replied, "Only at L'Avenue!" and promptly asked us if we would like to join them. So before leaving, my Uncle had a tequila shot with them...and then of course there is nothing more wonderful than the image of Alphonse smiling and waving goodbye to us on the steps of the restaurant at the end of the meal. I'm not sure how much we tipped him, but that could have been something to do with it.
;)
Only in Montreal!

K8

Alexander Wang and the big comfy sweater

via Fashion gone Rogue

Alexander Wang's T collection

Et zis is comment we parle ere.

K8

Maryna Linchuk by Phil Poynter

Vogue Germany
September 2010

YUM!!! Brulerie St - Denis

Older than you Old School Satchel

Get ready for school young ones, by wearing vintage Italian satchels older than you are. Or if you didn't have the pleasure or roaming around Italy for the summer like some strappin McGill kids, get this one at Urban Outfitters. Interesting fact : Urban Outfitters in Boston is way less hipster. Who knew?

Concerts...

Montreal Italienne Week

Moda Sotto le Stelle

14 August 2010

Saturday, August 14th, 2010 at 9:30PM
Boulevard St-Laurent, corner St-Zotique (Loto-Québec stage)

Style and elegance will unite under a starlit sky to reveal a colourful collection of Italian Canadian design. In a midsummer’s night, Fashion and culture set the stage to showcase the latest trends in Italian-Canadian style in brilliant fusion that’s sure to dazzle. Curtain call will take place at the Loto-Quebec stage where Moda Sotto le Stelle will surely shine!

Designers include: Lady Dutch, Mimi&Coco, Signor Terry, Leonardo Bennotti, Boutique Alba, Camiceria Lauro/Lauro&Co., "Élégie Sarde" by Mario Cocco

http://www.semaineitaliennedemontreal.com/en/

Gulp. Emma Watson.

AH! The other night at the movies I saw that the Harry Potter craze is soon coming back to us with the final movie. Then I saw this adorable picture on Montreal Nightlife's website ;). At least hearing about Harry Potter is better than hearing about Twilight non-stop. Unless it's more talk about Dumbledore's sexual orientation.

Montreal trees

Westmount climbing tree was cut down this week :(
The 150 year old tree has been a crucial part of Westmount youth including yours truly.

How (North?) American

I love my neighbours like the Bible tells me so, but EWW, I can't get my head around this creation. I shall never covet the "donut burger": a monstrously greasy sweet and salty combination. I discovered on a crazy burger site while trying to learn German online (FAIL)...Bizarr. There is also the grilled cheese sandwich burger. That is, a patty sandwiched between TWO grilled cheese sandwiches.

Shin

http://shin.bigcartel.com/

Festival Mode & Design

Check out the listings at http://www.festivalmodedesign.com

Also, get your makeup done and then your picture take by clin d'oeil magazine for your chance to win $500 at BCBG!

SALE

Fall must have # 1

Picture via Zoe Claudia

Festival Mode et Design Jour 1

For us, people of every day life who love Fashion but are not special enough to get the exclusive invite to Fashion week, le festival de mode and design is our opportunity to enjoy Montreal Fashion.
I had the opportunity to attended to shows->
1.Clin d'oeil: 30 ans de style
2.Montreal loves FAShion

The first was a tribute to the magazine and its 30 years. The cat walk was filled with models who had marked the magazine since its debut.

The second showcased 60 local designers. Greys,knits and black where very present and color was barely seen. Tavan & Mitto caught my eye and might become one of my top favorite Montreal designers

Festival mode and design goes from August 4 to 7
Even to watch on day 2 : Transcanada runway

Oh Sweden

Top on my travel list. Note the caption of the photo. I think that goes for making the whole world look ugly?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LkjljBNTLs4

For your amusement. All the rage in Sweden according to my Swedish representative ;)

Jónsi - Boy Lilikoi -> Watch this!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UBgPmw3JCN4&feature=related

We've Been Listening (and writing of course)

On rainy days like today...

I like to take a refreshing morning run. The steady down-pour urged me to do it. Seriously, as long as there is no crazy wind, once you're soaked with warm rain, it's the most exhilarating thing ever. This morning I ran through Westmount, down to the park and back up again. It smelled of hash-browns and gasoline (at the same time) and at 8:30 am, the squirrels still reign over the lawns of the Westmount mansions, so I had a few friends cheering me on.

Then I spent the rest of the day indoors, like every other normal person. So, besides listening to the rain pounding down on the windshield in true monstrous Montreal fashion, this is what else I've been listening to lately (spending way too much time looking at their videos and similar artists).

1. Pony Pony Run Run - Hey You is such a good summer video
2. Jonsi - stopped listening to him for awhile and now rediscovering all his insane videos.
3. Sleigh Bells & Die Antwoord (because I missed both bands play in concert :S)
4. Best Coast
5. Scissor Sisters
6. Chiddy Bang - they're really fun!
7. The Breezes - because I saw their concert and the audience was so dead, but they were so energetic and awesome
8. Interpol
9. Swedish House Mafia - I only know the song "One". And a zillion other Swedish bands, Miike Snow included. Why are they SO GOOD (and good - looking??) "One" has so much going on...love to play it loud for the neighbours ;)
And the ones I'll always listen to: Empire of the Sun, Vampire Weekend, Passion Pit, Cake, Carla Bruni, Islands, Friendly Fires, and soooooooooo on.

Sincèrement,
K8

BOHO style

via streetheart

Montreal Parcs

Parc Lafontaine
Photo credits Liz lougheed