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Le jeudi 9 octobre 2014, en présence de la mairesse de la Ville de Longueuil, Madame Caroline St-Hilaire, de Madame France Dubé, conseillère à la Ville de Longueuil, de Monsieur Mathieu Duguay, président Société de gestion Cogir, de l’équipe de Jazz Longueuil, des cadres de Société de gestion Cogir et des résidents de Jazz Longueuil, se tenait la cérémonie de pelletée de terre protocolaire marquant le début de la construction de la tour II de la résidence privée pour aînés JAZZ Longueuil. Du même coup, la capsule temporelle contenant divers objets et souvenirs des résidents actuels de Jazz Longueuil a été scellée officiellement. Cette capsule sera installée dans la structure de béton de la tour II avec à son bord, à tout jamais, une petite partie de l'âme des résidents de la phase I. Résidence importante située au cœur de Longueuil, Jazz Longueuil s’agrandit pour accueillir une clientèle d’aînés autonomes de l’agglomération et ses environs. En plus d’offrir plus de 180 nouveaux logements au look contemporain, cette nouvelle résidence offrira des services à valeurs ajoutées à sa clientèle existante et future. Ce projet d’agrandissement, nécessitant un investissement de près de 30 millions de dollars, créera jusqu’à 26 nouveaux emplois. Située face à l’Hôpital Pierre-Boucher et à proximité de tous les services, la résidence Jazz Longueuil était louée à pleine capacité depuis quelques années. L’ajout de la tour II permettra d’offrir des opportunités de location à plusieurs aînés de la grande région qui désirent goûter à l’expérience Jazz. La construction de cette nouvelle tour sera réalisée entièrement par Société de gestion Cogir, l’un des plus importants gestionnaires d’immeubles au Québec. http://www.jazzlongueuil.ca ----

L'édifice Blumenthal, un immeuble désaffecté de huit étages, deviendra la Maison du Festival de jazz et accueillera, entre autres, une salle de spectacle de 300 places avec resto-bar dédiée au jazz, au blues et à la musique du monde. On y retrouvera aussi un centre de documentation réunissant les archives du festival, un temple de la renommée du jazz et une galerie. L'édifice abritera également des locaux pour les services techniques, les services de sécurité, des loges et autres composantes logistiques requises pour la tenue des événements sur la place des festivals. Le gouvernement du Québec, propriétaire du terrain, alloue près de 9 M$ pour la réfection du bâtiment de 65 000 pieds carrés. Le Festival de jazz, pour sa part, investira 4M$ dans l'aménagement et les équipements requis, dont 3 M$ seront sollicités auprès de partenaires privés. Source: http://ville.montreal.qc.ca/portal/page?_pageid=3256,15657565&_dad=portal&_schema=PORTAL http://www.radio-canada.ca/regions/Montreal/2008/02/29/002-jazz_n.shtml

Hi everyone! Has any of you downloaded an official festival mobile app (such as the Jazz Festival app)? What do you think of these apps? Did you find them useful? I'm working on a related projects and I really want to know your opinion! Thanks!

Bonjour ! Je me promenais en ville aujourd'hui. J'ai été au Centre Bell, Ritz Carlon, Crystal, QdS et Vieux Montréal et j'étais pas mal fier de voir toute l'action qu'il y avait ! J'ai parlé et aidé plusieurs touristes des USA, et de Ottawa/Toronto qui venait voir le Festival de Jazz, One Direction, Bruno Mars etc. La vibe était bonne ! Ça faisait du bien de voir ça Les hôtels semblaient assez full house partout ou je passais ! My 2 cents !

http://entertainment.time.com/2013/06/15/o-canada-the-cool-pleasures-of-the-montreal-jazz-festival/

CTV Montreal Published Monday, Nov. 12, 2012 11:42PM EST MONTREAL--The Matrix, the Royal, the Sasquatch and now the Montreal Jazz. This city just can’t seem to hold onto professional basketball teams, but players hope this new squad will stick around. “One of the big differences is the league. The league is so legit. When you play away games, you can tell the league is serious. So, it's a big difference,” said Jazz forward Louis-Patrick Levros The Jazz have replaced the Kebs as the province's only team in the National Basketball League, the current owners of the franchise until a proper ownership group is put in place. “Every game was played last year, you got the website, everything was very serious which is the first time that I saw a league at that level to be so serious. All the players have to be cleared through Basketball Canada which means our league is well respected,” said Jazz General Manager Pascal Jobin. “They put in hard work to get a team here in Montreal and hopefully we can continue doing it. So this year is very important for the city and the team,” said Jazz centre Sani Ibrahim. With the exception of two players, the team is comprised entirely of Quebecers, something the league surely hopes will finally attract a loyal following. “We are really happy with a group of hard charging Quebecois players,” said head coach Alejandro Hasbani “For me it's definitely just a blessing. After I left Concordia, it's been three or four years since I haven't gotten anything. I've just been working. I miss the game of basketball and to have this opportunity I’m just blessed and I work every day just to be in this position,” said point guard Damian Buckley. As for the product, fans will be pleasantly surprised, the Jazz have a good mix of speed, size and talent—something that will complement the team’s blue collar mentality. “I think we're going to come out and play hard,” said Ibrahim. “That’s the most important thing. We’re probably not the best talent in the league but for sure we're going to play hard and get some wins.” Read more: http://montreal.ctvnews.ca/sports/montreal-s-newest-sports-franchise-the-jazz-1.1035875#ixzz2CADHMg7d

http://edition.cnn.com/CNNI/Programs/cnngo/?iref=allsearch CNNGo Wednesday 8 August at 1030 BST / 1130 CET and 1730 BST / 1830 CET Saturday 11 August at 0530 BST / 0630 CET and 1930 BST / 2030 CET Sunday 12 August at 1230 BST / 1330 CET Duration: 30 minutes CNNGo visits Montreal in August This month 'CNNGo' sets its sights on Montreal, exploring the contemporary art scene around 'The Mile End' with local artist Gene Pendon. With summer in full swing, the programme takes viewers to the vibrant and bustling Jean Talon market, and samples the local produce. Talented singer and former child prodigy Nikki Yanofsky welcomes CNN to the internationally renowned Montreal Jazz Festival. And in this high flying city – that many street performers, acrobats and entertainers call home – cameras are there for the opening night of a thrilling new show from 'Les 7 Doigts de la Main.' All that, plus a stroll through the trendy Plateau district, as well as a bike ride over one of North America's most significant waterways.

(Courtesy of Mercury News)

Communiqué de presse pas encore dispo sur le web:

Publié le 04 juillet 2009 à 09h53 | Mis à jour le 04 juillet 2009 à 09h54 Bienvenue à la... Montréal Nathalie Petrowski La Presse Revenir à Montréal après un voyage à l'étranger peut parfois causer un choc. Cette fois-ci, le choc était d'autant plus grand que nous arrivions d'Istanbul, ville des Mille et Une Nuits, dont la beauté incandescente nous avait laissés pantois et éblouis. Si Montréal n'a rien à envier à Barcelone, comme le disait si bien le ministre Raymond Bachand l'an dernier, autant dire que Montréal a tout à envier à Istanbul, une ville vibrante, moderne et cruellement sous-estimée. En même temps, Montréal n'est pas non plus entièrement dépourvu de charmes, surtout les soirs d'été où le Festival de jazz le transforme en ville festive et tropicale. C'est ce que je me disais tandis que l'avion survolait la ville avant de se poser sur la piste. C'était aussi l'avis de mon voisin, un jeune Français d'environ 30 ans qui venait expressément à Montréal pour le Festival de jazz. La perspective de passer la semaine à nager dans la grande piscine musicale du Festival réjouissait tellement ce grand blond, paysagiste de métier, qu'il a souri pendant tout le vol. Il a continué à sourire en descendant de l'avion. Mais arrivé aux douanes, là où une longue et sinueuse chaîne de cordons force les voyageurs à marcher à la queue leu leu comme des bovins qu'on mène à l'abattoir, son sourire radieux s'est mué en rire jaune. Au bout de 40 minutes de cet absurde manège sans doute imaginé par un fonctionnaire frustré de ne pas voyager, il ne riait plus. Nous non plus, à la différence qu'au lieu d'être un brin agacés comme notre jeune ami français, nous avions carrément honte de venir d'une ville où les visiteurs sont traités comme du bétail à leur descente d'avion au milieu d'un aéroport où les valises arrivent toujours avant leurs propriétaires. Heureusement, une belle ambiance régnait de l'autre côté des portes. S'il y a un endroit où mesurer l'impact touristique du Festival de jazz, c'est bien aux arrivées de l'aéroport. Et ce soir-là, l'achalandage, la fébrilité et le nombre de pancartes arborant le logo du festival étaient des indicateurs qui ne mentaient pas. Je venais de retrouver confiance dans Montréal. J'étais même heureuse d'être de retour en ville quand subitement, à la sortie du stationnement, mon regard s'est posé sur un panneau publicitaire. «Bienvenue à la Montréal» disait le panneau. J'ai répété à plusieurs reprises le slogan dans l'espoir d'en extirper un sens. En vain. De deux choses l'une: ou bien le rédacteur était un anglophone qui ne parlait pas français, ou bien un francophone inculte qui s'était trompé de jeu de mots. D'une manière comme de l'autre, ce message ne voulait rien dire sinon qu'à Montréal, ceux qui massacrent le français sont les bienvenus. Cent mètres plus loin, ma confiance déjà chancelante s'est définitivement abîmée contre un gros tas de gravats posé comme un champignon nucléaire à la sortie de l'aéroport. L'autoroute 20 fermée à la circulation n'était plus qu'un chantier hideux, inauguré trois jours plus tôt. Devant ce paysage en ruine, notre chauffeur de taxi a hoché la tête d'un air découragé. Ils n'auraient pas pu attendre la fin du Festival de jazz? a-t-il grommelé. En effet. Qu'est-ce qui empêchait le ministère des Transports d'attendre la fin du festival et le départ de la visite pour commencer à excaver à gogo? Rien, évidemment, sauf un peu de bonne volonté et la conscience que l'image d'une ville tient à une foule de petits détails comme ceux-là. Dans sa plus récente offensive, Tourisme Montréal rappelle l'importance de faire de Montréal une destination séduisante. C'est une riche idée, sauf que séduire un touriste avec une destination est une chose. Faire en sorte qu'il continue d'être séduit une fois arrivé à destination en est une autre. À Montréal, le jazz est toujours séduisant. Les enclos de bétail, les panneaux publicitaires débiles et les chantiers de démolition, un peu moins.

Festival international de jazz de Montréal: TD remplace GM (Source: Radio-Canada) Déjà parmi les bailleurs de fonds de l'événement depuis 2004, TD Canada Trust deviendra commanditaire principal et présentateur officiel du Festival international de jazz de Montréal dès 2010. 2009-07-08 11:57:43 Le Festival international de jazz de Montréal (FIJM) aura un nouveau commanditaire principal l'an prochain. Le Groupe Financier Banque TD, dont les actifs totalisaient 575 milliards de dollars le 30 avril dernier, prend la place de General Motors, en faillite. L'appui de TD, qui représente l'une des plus importantes commandites au Québec, permettra au FIJM de poursuivre ses activités et sa croissance, malgré le contexte économique difficile. TD soutient financièrement sept autres grands festivals de jazz et de nombreux autres festivals musicaux partout au Canada depuis sept ans, de même que l'Association de l'Orchestre national des jeunes du Canada, la fondation Piano Plus, ainsi que les Aventures familiales TD Canada Trust avec l'Orchestre du CNA. Le 31e FIJM se déroulera du 1er au 11 juillet 2010.

Festival international de jazz de Montréal - Deux jours de plus et cinq mégaconcerts extérieurs Le Devoir Caroline Montpetit Édition du mardi 09 juin 2009 Mots clés : Stevie Wonder, Ben Harper, Festival international de jazz de Montréal, Musique, Montréal, Québec (province) Le président-directeur général du Festival international de jazz de Montréal, Alain Simard, a annoncé hier que les festivaliers pourront bénéficier de la présence de nombreux écrans géants sur lesquels seront projetés plusieurs spectacles Photo: Jacques Grenier Ce sont Ben Harper et ses Relentless7 eux-mêmes qui feront la clôture de la programmation gratuite du Festival international de jazz cette année, en se présentant à 21h30 sur la scène General Motors de la Place des festivaliers, que Stevie Wonder aura inaugurée 13 jours plus tôt. En ce 30e anniversaire de son existence, le Festival international de jazz de Montréal s'offre en effet deux jours de programmation supplémentaires, en plus de présenter des spectacles dans deux nouveaux espaces de diffusion, la maison du festival Rio Tinto Alcan et sa salle Astral, inaugurées pour l'occasion, et la Place des Festivals, où sera érigée la scène General Motors. Ces deux très gros spectacles extérieurs s'ajouteront à trois autres, dont un spectacle réunissant Patrick Watson, Lhasa de Sela et Guy Nadon, ainsi que quelques invités-surprises, le 5 juillet à 21h. Deux jours plus tard, le public pourra applaudir plusieurs artistes qui s'étaient produits dans le documentaire Rocksteady: the Roots of Reggae, qui explorait les racines du reggae en Jamaïque. Juste avant le spectacle de Ben Harper et ses Relentless7, les amateurs de rythmes cubains sont conviés à la scène Rio Tinto Alcan, où se produira une Fiesta Cubana, où l'on attend les Afro-Cuba All stars et Los Van Van. Le festival fait en effet cette année de nombreux réaménagements géographiques, du fait de la construction de nouveaux espaces, et des aménagements liés à l'érection du quartier des spectacles. Il ne s'agit de rien de moins que la maison du festival Rio Tinto, qui compte une nouvelle salle de spectacle de 350 places, un restaurant, le Balmoral qui accueillera également des séances de jam en fin de soirée, une salle de presse qui se transformera cet automne en galerie d'art, et une médiathèque qui offrira au public gratuitement, aussi à partir de l'automne, les archives du festival depuis ses débuts. Hier, le président-directeur général du festival, Alain Simard, annonçait par ailleurs que les festivaliers pourraient cette année bénéficier de la présence de nombreux écrans géants sur lesquels seront projetés de nombreux spectacles, dont les mégaconcerts mentionnés plus haut. Le Salon de guitare déménagera pour sa part ses pénates au Palais des congrès de Montréal, tandis que le Salon des instruments prendra place pour sa part au nouveau village de la musique, à l'angle du boulevard De Maisonneuve et de la rue De Bleury. C'est là aussi que l'on présentera une exposition mettant en valeur les pochettes de la collection Blue Note, à travers le temps, en première partie du festival. Parmi les très nombreux concerts gratuits qui jalonneront le festival, mentionnons Vic Vogel qui rendra hommage aux grands noms du jazz, une soirée spéciale pour saluer les 50 ans de la mort de Billie Holiday, le 6 juillet, avec Kim Richardson, et à 21h, le 3 juillet, Florence K présentera La noche de Lola avec ses musiciens, un spectacle spécialement conçu pour le 30e anniversaire du festival. http://www.ledevoir.com/2009/06/09/254073.html

Nouvelle salle à Saint-Lambert Le Devoir Édition du samedi 02 et du dimanche 03 mai 2009 Mots clés : Salle, Saint-Lambert, Culture, Québec (province) Une toute nouvelle salle de spectacle de 250 places ouvrira prochainement ses portes au coeur du village du Vieux-Saint-Lambert. Joliment baptisé le Mouille-pied, ce petit cabaret intimiste, dont la programmation détaillée doit être dévoilée lundi, aménagera ses pénates dans un ancien bureau de poste situé sur la rue Hooper, à deux jets de pierre de la rue Victoria. Les cofondateurs de cette nouvelle salle, Michel Ménard et André Verge, deux entrepreneurs qui oeuvrent dans le milieu du spectacle depuis 20 ans, entendent offrir dès cet été une programmation variée, qui inclura une pièce connue de théâtre d'été. Jazz, musiques du monde, danse, chansons et musique classique devraient aussi se succéder à l'affiche. Lundi, ce nouveau lieu culturel lancera sa programmation en présence des comédiens Paul Ahmarani, Roc Lafortune et André Montmorency, ainsi que des musiciens Terez Montcalm, Anick Jean, Pascal Dufour et du groupe The Box. http://www.ledevoir.com/2009/05/02/248577.html (2/5/2009 9H42)

C'était très prévisible et inévitable -------------- Dès 2010 GM ne sera plus le commanditaire principal du Festival de jazz 17 décembre 2008 - 15h46 La Presse Canadienne Dans la foulée de la tourmente économique mondiale, le Festival international de jazz de Montréal perdra son commanditaire principal, General Motors, à compter de 2010. GM a indiqué aux organisateurs du Festival que son entente de commandite principale ne sera pas renouvelée lorsqu'elle viendra à échéance. C'est donc dire que la 30e édition de l'événement, en juillet prochain, sera sa dernière à titre de commanditaire principal. Le retrait du géant de l'automobile n'a pas surpris les organisateurs de l'événement, compte tenu des sévères difficultés de l'industrie automobile. «On s'y attendait, avec le contexte économique qu'ils vivent», a dit en entrevue, mercredi, le président et fondateur du Festival, Alain Simard. «On avait prévu au contrat, justement, une date butoir pour un renouvellement à long terme, de façon à ce qu'on ait le temps, ce qui nous donne un an et demi pour trouver un remplaçant. GM, dans le contexte actuel, n'était pas en mesure de confirmer qu'il renouvelait pour cinq ans», a-t-il ajouté. M. Simard s'est dit confiant de pouvoir dénicher un autre commanditaire principal, malgré la tourmente économique. «Ce qui m'inquiéterais plus, c'est l'effet domino sur les plus petits événements. Je suis très confiant que le Festival de jazz est une propriété convoitée par les commanditaires. Mais est-ce qu'ils vont se retirer d'autres événements plus petits pour pouvoir se payer le Festival de jazz? C'est sûr que c'est jamais une bonne nouvelle pour l'économie en général.» Alain Simard se dit déçu du départ de GM, faisant valoir que le constructeur automobile s'était montré un partenaire de choix. Il n'écarte pas d'autres associations dans l'avenir avec GM. Le montant de la commandite n'a pas été rendu public. On sait cependant que près de la moitié du budget de 25 millions $ du Festival provient de commandites et qu'à titre de commanditaire principal, l'investissement de GM était à tout le moins de quelques millions de dollars. http://argent.canoe.com/lca/infos/quebec/archives/2008/12/20081217-154650.html

Résidence Jazz Architectes: ? Fin de la construction:2007 Utilisation: Résidentiel Emplacement: Longueuil ? mètres - 15 étages

Air Canada et le transporteur régional Jazz affichent pour octobre un coefficient d'occupation consolidé de 80,2%, résultat sans précédent pour ce mois. Pour en lire plus...

La récession des années 80, André Ménard s'en souvient. À l'époque, le cofondateur du Festival de jazz de Montréal avait organisé une série de spectacles baptisée «Rock Against Recession». Pour en lire plus...

Le Fonds de revenu Jazz Air a rapporté mercredi avoir enregistré un bénéfice net de 23,6 M$ au deuxième trimestre de l'exercice 2008. Pour en lire plus...

M. Bredt comblera le poste laissé vacant par le départ à la retraite de Rob Reid, qui était directeur de l'exploitation depuis mai 2005. Pour en lire plus...

Un groupe de travailleurs d'Air Canada Jazz manifeste à l'aéroport d'Halifax pour dénoncer les mises à pied annoncées par le transporteur aérien. Pour en lire plus...

Selon un analyste de l'Institut Fraser, le financement public des événements bien établis, tels le Festival Juste pour rire et le Festival international de jazz de Montréal, devrait être aboli. Pour en lire plus...

Le transporteur aérien réagit à la flambée pétrolière et à la demande en baisse d'Air Canada en réduisant son effectif, au même titre que plusieurs acteurs de son industrie. Pour en lire plus...

The New York Times June 28, 2008 By BEN SISARIO MONTREAL — On Wednesday night, in the last of his three concerts presented as preludes to the Montreal International Jazz Festival, Leonard Cohen, the 73-year-old hometown poet-hero on tour for the first time in 15 years, said that on his last time through town he was “60 years old, just a kid with a crazy dream.” Between waves of applause and hollers in French and English, he added, “I am so grateful to be here and to be from here.” Mr. Cohen’s math notwithstanding, hometown pride and musical reverence are at the center of the festival, which opened its 29th season on Thursday and runs through July 6. Billing itself as the largest jazz festival in the world, it attracts one million visitors a year to more than 500 concerts in a three-block music zone downtown and brings about $100 million in revenue to the city, according to Canadian government estimates. With CD sales in a chronic slump, the music industry has been turning increasingly to live events for income, and in recent years big smorgasbord festivals have sprouted up all over North America, aiming to present all kinds of music for all kinds of people. But with a setting ideal for tourists as well as for local residents, and a solid history of eclectic programming — among the attractions this year are Woody Allen, Al Green, Aretha Franklin, Public Enemy and the local debut of Steely Dan — Montreal has held on to a rare prestige. “There is no parallel in North America and perhaps no parallel around the world,” said Scott Southard, a jazz and world-music booking agent who has 15 artists at the festival. “In Europe or Bonnaroo, for instance, they have to erect an entire village in a remote location. Here you have an urban environment without having to reconstruct the venue infrastructure every year.” Begun in 1980 by two concert promoters, Alain Simard and André Ménard, as a way to fill up what was then a dry summer concert calendar, the festival takes over four concert halls of the Place des Arts performing arts complex as well as numerous theaters and clubs around the perimeter. Several blocks of downtown streets are closed for outdoor stages, retail and food booths and children’s activities. Despite the size, Mr. Simard, the president of the festival’s parent company, L’Équipe Spectra, said that “the goal is not to be the biggest jazz festival in the world, it’s to be the best.” But as the festival approaches its 30th season, it is preparing to grow even bigger, with help from a four-year, $120 million government plan to develop the area around Place des Arts. The first phase, to be completed by next summer, includes a 75,000-square-foot park and performance ground, the Place du Quartier des Spectacles. The festival has also been given a 30-year lease and a $10 million grant from the Province of Quebec to renovate a nearby vacant building; when completed it will add one club for use year-round. As a tourist draw second only to Grand Prix du Canada, the Formula One race held in Montreal in early June, the jazz festival has become an important symbol of Montreal’s cosmopolitan lifestyle, said Charles Lapointe, the chief executive of Tourism Montreal, a nonprofit agency financed through a hotel tax. “The jazz festival exemplifies perfectly what we are presenting on the foreign market,” Mr. Lapointe said. “You can celebrate on the streets without any problems with security and express all the pleasure you want.” Civic pride and creative abundance was clear on Thursday, the official opening. (Mr. Cohen’s touring schedule prevented him from being part of the festival proper; he appears at the enormous Glastonbury pop festival in Britain on Sunday.) During the afternoon crowds gradually filled up the Place des Arts campus, slurping on ice cream cones beside the fountain and listening to the sound check for a tribute to Mr. Cohen featuring Chris Botti, Madeleine Peyroux, Buffy Sainte-Marie and others. Darting between indoor evening concerts by the veteran jazz singer Dee Dee Bridgewater, the young British songwriter Katie Melua and the African performers Vieux Farka Touré and Salif Keita, a visitor could quickly take in half a dozen outdoor concerts, parades and magicians. Two-thirds of the concerts are free. The Cohen tribute drew an estimated audience of 100,000, filling the plaza and nearby streets. But the concerts by Mr. Cohen himself were the clear early highlight. Dressed like a spy in a crisp black suit and fedora, Mr. Cohen, who has said that after years in a Zen Buddhist retreat in California, his lifelong depression has finally begun to lift, sang a sleek and emotional set of nearly three hours. In “Bird on the Wire,” “Hallelujah” and “Tower of Song” he sang of being weighted down by cynicism and starving for affection, but between songs he doffed his hat and smiled broadly for sustained ovations. The festival, a nonprofit enterprise run by the for-profit company L’Équipe Spectra, has an operating budget of $25 million. And though about 18 percent of that comes from national, provincial and city sources, the biggest form of government support is the closing of several blocks of busy city streets. The bulk of the budget comes from corporate sponsorships (40 percent) and sales of tickets and memorabilia (39 percent). The prominence of sponsorships gives the festival a sense of hyperbranding. Looking over Place des Arts, it is almost impossible not to see a giant symbol of General Motors, the lead sponsor: besides GM logos on banners and fliers throughout the grounds, the company also has five displays of new cars for contests, and at least one of the many marching bands wended its way around, wearing black GM T-shirts. Festival organizers say that they have made efforts to ensure that the sponsorship is tasteful and not intrusive. Signs are only seen outdoors, where concerts are free, they say. There is no advertising for the paid concerts indoors, and the organizers say they will not rename the event to suit any sponsor. To create an egalitarian atmosphere, the festival also shuns velvet ropes. “You will never see a V.I.P. area on the site,” Mr. Ménard said. “There’s never a place where people walk and are told, ‘No, that’s not for you.’ The unemployed can stand next to the president of the sponsor company.” For the Cohen tribute on Thursday night, however, there was a small area of bleachers near the stage reserved for the news media and others. But a reporter who lacked the necessary badges was still able to enter with a few kind words. And unlike many large festivals, this one had a network of fenced-off pathways that made quick travel through even a crowd of 100,000 tightly packed fans on Thursday evening easy for anyone needing or wanting to get through. “The vibe is very peaceful,” Mr. Ménard said of the festival. “The fabric of this city is all about the quality of life. The fact is, we have long, deadly winters, so come summertime, everybody is in for a party — but a civilized party.”

Montréal - Cool with a French accent 4 June 2008 Lewis might be driving this weekend in Montreal - but what does the city have to offer for a weekend break? Forget the “Paris of North America” cliché — Montréal, QC has always sashayed to its own unique Latin beat. Roaring back to life after more than a decade of economic woes and separatist turmoil, the 21st century has seen the city’s distinctly Québécois melange of the traditional and the hip blossom. There are buzzy new bohemian enclaves. The fashion, food and music scenes are on fire. Chic boutique hotels have upped the romantic ante. What hasn’t changed is Montréalers’ focus on leisure and their penchant for long afternoons and evenings over wine or coffee. Sound like a population hankering for endless weekends? Mais oui! Summer’s the time to visit, when the city is unleashed from a long winter and shifts into overdrive with a frenzied outdoor itinerary. Downtown sidewalks are crowded till the wee hours as the annual Festival International de Jazz de Montréal (montrealjazzfest.com) spills free jazz onto the sweltering pavements, and Just for Laughs, the world’s biggest comedy festival, lets you yuk it up in both official languages (justforlaughs.ca). Add a side trip to Québec City, celebrating its 400th anniversary with great fanfare throughout 2008. Celine Dion is scheduled to be there, as well as Cirque du Soleil. And the world’s biggest outdoor multimedia architectural projection — dreamed up by Robert Lepage and Ex Machina — will be splashed across giant grain elevators nightly at the Old Port. myquebec2008.com But back to Montréal. Start your weekend with a bowl of café au lait and a croissant or a bagel with cream cheese and lox — Montréal’s cross-cultural breakfast specialties — on an outdoor terrace while you make your plan.In Montréal, it’s all about neighbourhoods, and each has its own distinct character. Pick a boulevard, pick a theme (traditional, hip, funky, chic, ritzy, sporty, gay), then explore the collage of villages that make up Canada’s second-largest city. Old Montréal Ignore the touristy overtones and head for the gas lamps and classic cornices of Old Montréal. It’s a cobblestoned warren of tiny galleries and boutiques. Get your history at the stylish Pointe-à-Callière Museum of archaeology and history perched atop the original settlement’s ruins: 350 Place Royale, pacmusee.qc.ca. Linger outdoors to enjoy the buskers and painters or head indoors for wearable art at the eclectic Reborn: 231 rue Saint-Paul West, reborn.ws. A fave for casual lunch is Olive et Gourmando, an inspired deli/bakery gone affordably gourmet: 351 rue Saint-Paul West, oliveetgourmando.com. St. Denis Montréal is a walking town in the true European sense, and the best stroll is down French-flavoured rue Saint-Denis. Eavesdrop on the locals’ twangy, slangy peppered-with-English lingo at the very Left Bank L’Express over steak frites or duck confit salad: 3927 rue Saint-Denis. Shop at hip Dubuc, HQ for Montréal’s high-profile men’s and women’s wear designer, Philippe Dubuc: 4451 rue Saint-Denis, dubucstyle.com; or hunt the latest French styles at bargain prices at Paris Pas Cher: 4235 rue Saint-Denis. Arthur Quentin’s is the mother of all lavish French kitchenware stores: 3960 rue Saint-Denis, arthurquentin.com; and Bleu Nuit across the street stocks decadent bedroom and kitchen linens from France: 3913 rue Saint-Denis. Plateau Pub crawl through the fashionable Plateau District by following Mont-Royal Boulevard. Start at Billy Kun, with live music from classical to jazz, in an unpretentious “tavern chic” environment that includes stuffed ostrich heads mounted on the walls: 354 Mont-Royal East, bilykun.com. Dine at one of the city’s popular BYOB (bring your own wine) neighbourhood bistros; for example, intimate La Colombe, where chef Moustapha cooks up a fabulous French chalkboard table d’hote menu with influences from his native North Africa: 554 Duluth East. St. Laurent Boulevard/Mile End Funky Saint-Laurent Boulevard is the city’s east/west, French/English divide. This busy lifeline between Chinatown and Little Italy is a jumble of Old World and edgy side by side. It runs north into once-decrepit real estate undergoing a renaissance called Mile End, a vaguely defined area of everything from retro furniture to local designer boutiques. Wallpaper magazine recently dubbed it Montréal’s hottest neighbourhood. The Ex-Centris theatre is a hotbed of Indie film screenings where ticket agents’ heads are surreally projected onto video screens: 3536 boulevard Saint Laurent, ex-centris.com. Casa del Popolo is a vegetarian café that morphs into an indie music Mecca at night: 4873 boulevard Saint-Laurent, casadelpopolo.com. Then there’s down-to-earth Schwartz’s Montreal Hebrew Delicatessen, the high temple for lined-up devotees of Montréal smoked meat: 3895 boulevard Saint-Laurent, schwartzsdeli.com. Old Port/Lachine Canal Want to burn off all those foie gras and crème brulée calories? Rent a bike at the Old Port at Montréal on Wheels: 27 de la Commune East, caroulemontreal.com. Follow the leafy bike path along the Lachine Canal that has gone from gritty-industrial hub to red-brick, factory-loft-lined park. Pass the geodesic dome and block-shaped Habitat 67, vestiges of Montréal’s Expo 67, and watch for one of the city’s best farmer’s markets, the 1930s Atwater Market, where you can pick up a baguette and cheese for a canal-side picnic. Overnighting: Old Montréal has, in recent years, become the city’s hotspot of boutique hotels with some of the most original accoms in town. Hotel Nelligan 106 Saint-Paul West, hotelnelligan.com. The classic feel of Old Montréal lingers in the very modern, brick-wall, loft-style rooms, each unique. Hôtel Gault 449 Sainte-Hélène, hotelgault.com. Minimalist, spacious and very de rigeur. Concrete and modern designer furniture make this a hipster magnet. Le Petit Prince 1384 Overdale, montrealbandb.com. A B&B with quirky style in a renovated house, each room colour themed. Funky and different with a great breakfast included. Dining: Le Club Chasse et Pêche: 423 Saint-Claude, leclubchasseetpeche.com. High-end French cuisine, one of the city’s best in what The New York Times called a “Gothic-minimalist hunting lodge.” Toqué: 900 place Jean-Paul-Riopelle, restaurant-toque.com. Chef Normand Laprise has become a Montréal icon thanks to his market-based contemporary cuisine. Au Pied de Cochon: 536 Duluth East, restaurantaupieddecochon.ca. Hardcore Québécois cuisine from pigs’ feet to poutine, taken upmarket by renegade chef Martin Picard. For more information on Montreal, go to Canada.travel. http://www.easier.com/view/Travel/Travel_Guides/article-182940.html

Ooh La La Kelly Ripa finds romance in Montreal. By Joseph Guinto. Photograph by Robert Ascroft. Kelly Ripa has talked to every single living celebrity in America. Twice. Maybe even more. I have not verified this fact, per se, but she’s served alongside TV legend Regis Philbin for almost seven years as cohost of Live with Regis and Kelly, so it must be true. Or close to it. And yet, Ripa — plenty famous in her own right, known for acting on All My Children and in sitcoms as well as for playing the role of TV talker — is still genuinely interested in the vaporing of the vainglorious, the gabbing of the glitterati. You know, the stuff that famous people talk about. She Said… Here’s where Kelly Ripa parle français in Montreal. LODGING Hôtel le St-James, very expensive, (514) 841-3111, http://www.hotellestjames.com Hotel St-Paul, expensive, (514) 380-2222, http://www.hotelstpaul.com DINING Eggspectation, inexpensive, (514) 282-0119, http://www.eggspectation.ca Ferreira Café, moderate to expensive, (514) 848-0988, http://www.ferreiracafe.com Olive & Gourmando, inexpensive to moderate, (514) 350-1083, http://www.oliveetgourmando.com NIGHTLIFE Vauvert, expensive, (514) 876-2823, http://www.restaurantvauvert.com THINGS TO SEE AND TO DO IN *MONTREAL Formula One Grand Prix du Canada, http://www.formula1.com Just for Laughs Comedy Tour, (514) 845-2322, http://www.justforlaughs.ca Montreal International Jazz Festival, (514) 871-1881, http://www.montrealjazzfest.com Old Montreal, http://www.vieux.montreal.qc.ca Spa Diva, (514) 985-9859, http://www.spadiva.ca SHOPPING Les Cours Mont-Royal, (514) 842-7777, http://www.lcmr.ca “I’m a pop-culture junkie,” she says from her office inside ABC’s Manhattan headquarters, where Live is produced. “I never get tired of it. There’s always something they haven’t revealed, something that you’ve never heard anywhere else. I really find it fascinating.” Then again, not everything the famous and rich say and do is fascinating. And, to be sure, some things are simply better left unrevealed. To wit, do you really want to know that Britney Spears had a number-three value meal with a Coke at McDonald’s last night? Probably not. But many of us — or at least I — still manage to obtain this type of knowledge on a daily basis. It would be wrong to blame Ripa for that. She’s certainly never grabbed a camera and followed a pop star to a fast-food restaurant. (I have not verified this fact, per se, though surely it is true.) But Ripa, 37, does regularly open her own life to the other pop-culture junkies in the world, right down to discussing what she had for dinner last night. Each weekday morning on Live, she and Philbin, 76, engage in 20 minutes of remarkably unscripted banter that touches on everything from their noshing habits to the day’s news (well, celebrity news, anyway) to where babies come from — specifically, where Ripa’s babies come from, in at least one case. I had somehow forgotten about this when Ripa and I recently chatted. We were talking about Montreal, her favorite romantic getaway and a place that she and her husband, fellow All My Children alum Mark Consuelos, visit nearly every year sans the kids (Michael, 10; Lola, 6; and Joaquin, 4). But then, exactly 10 minutes and 34 seconds into our conversation, Ripa reminds me that she keeps few secrets from the public. “One of our children was conceived in Montreal, actually,” she says, quite unprompted. “Mark and I went for our anniversary one year, and Joaquin was our souvenir.” This is one of those things that we — okay, maybe it’s just me — actually don’t want to know. Or maybe it’s just something that we — or again, maybe it’s just me — don’t know how to react to. Regis would likely come up with something witty or wacky to say in reply. The best I can do is, “Oh, so Joaquin came right out speaking French, eh?” I am no Regis. Thankfully, since Ripa talks for a living, she bails me out. “That’s why we gave Joaquin the exotic name,” she says. “I was going to name him Jean Pierre. But I thought that was too much. Jean Pierre Consuelos doesn’t really go together.” Jean Pierre. It’s probably just a joke. But still, I hadn’t heard that before. It’s funny — and, sure, fascinating. You know what else is fascinating? Montreal. Especially Kelly Ripa’s Montreal. Here are the things you do want to know about. We Said… Here’s where we allons in Montreal. LODGING Novotel Montréal Centre, moderate, (514) 861-6000, http://www.novotelmontreal.com. The Canadian dollar is no longer a bargain, but the Novotel still is. Its budget-friendly digs are comfortable and convenient, and it’s near the intersection of Rue Sainte-Catherine and Rue Crescent, where clubs, restaurants, and shops abound. Opus Hotel Montreal, moderate to expensive, (514) 843-6000, http://www.opushotel.com. If you were a touring rocker with a touch of fame, you’d probably stay at this slick, modern downtown hotel. It would be a smart move. The Opus offers its style at a discount, compared with prices at Montreal’s other sleek digs. DINING Au Pied de Cochon, moderate to expensive, (514) 281-1114, http://www.restaurantaupieddecochon.ca. You will be fighting for a reservation with foodies from around the world at this simply decorated eatery, where pork and foie gras are the main attractions. Yes, they cook them together. Banquise, inexpensive, (514) 525-2415. Located in the Plateau neighborhood, largely a French-speaking area of town, this diner-style restaurant serves more than a dozen different kinds of poutine. That’s a Quebec specialty featuring, when at its most basic, french fries topped with cheese curds and gravy. C’est magnifique! Le Réservoir, inexpensive to moderate, (514) 849-7779. This neighborhood joint is just off what Montrealers call the Main — Boulevard Saint-Laurent, the old dividing line between the French- and English-speaking sides of town. Celebrate the détente with international snacks, and drink house-brewed beers until the last call, at three a.m. NIGHTLIFE Casa del Popolo, (514) 284-0122, http://www.casadelpopolo.com. Maybe you’ll get lucky and catch the next Arcade Fire performance at this venue, which is popular with the indie-rock set. Les Deux Pierrots, (514) 861-1270, http://www.lespierrots.com. Does sitting in a brick-walled bar in Montreal’s oldest neighborhood while singing along to French and English cabaret songs sound silly? Well, then, it’s time to get silly. SHOPPING Marché Bonsecours, (514) 872-7730, http://www.marchebonsecours.qc.ca. Unfortunately, they’re no longer selling fresh vegetables at this European-style marketplace. But they are selling locally made crafts, so that’s nice. ATTRACTIONS La Basilique Notre-Dame de Montréal, (514) 842-2925, http://www.basilique nddm.org. Is the interior of this scaled-down, nineteenth-century replica of Paris’s Notre-Dame more dramatic than the original’s? That depends on how you feel about the stunning use of the color blue. Le Mont Royal, (514) 843-8240, http://www.lemontroyal.qc.ca. Frederick Law Olmsted, who laid out New York’s Central Park, also designed this sprawling space. It’s filled with hiking and biking trails and is capped by a 98-foot-high cross, which honors Paul de Chomedey, Sieur de Maisonneuve, the city’s founder. About Montreal: There are more than 3.6 million people in Montreal and its immediate urban area. That’s nearly half the population of the province of Quebec. Some 70 percent of those people are native French speakers, making Montreal the second-largest francophone city in the world, after Paris. Plus, Montreal is in Canada. About Kelly Ripa’s Montreal: “My husband has friends who live in Montreal,” Ripa says, “and he’d been raving about it for years, telling me how wonderful it is and that we just had to go and that I would love it. The first time I went, I think, was for our fourth or fifth wedding anniversary. When we landed, everyone at the airport was speaking French. So I turned to Mark, and I said quite possibly the dumbest thing I’ve ever said in my life. I said, ‘You’re right; it’s so romantic and wonderful. It’s just like being in another country.’ He said, ‘I hate to burst your bubble, but we are in another country.’ ” About Montreal: The city has seen a boom in swank boutique hotels in recent years, especially in Old Montreal, a neighborhood with narrow, cobblestoned streets that dates back to the founding of the city, in 1642. Plus, Montreal smells nice. About Kelly Ripa’s Montreal: “The St-James in Old Montreal is a wonderful hotel,” Ripa says. “It is simply luxurious. Also, the St-Paul Hotel is very boutiquey and kind of rock and roll. They give you these wonderful colognes that you can take with you when you leave. I sometimes call the hotel and ask them to send me some because they smell so good.” About Montreal: The city claims to have more restaurants per resident than any other city in North America. It is famous for café au lait, smoked meats, and game-based Quebecois cuisine. Plus, some of the restaurants serve breakfast even at lunchtime. About Kelly Ripa’s Montreal: “Mark and I go there without our kids,” Ripa explains. “It’s the only place we go without our kids. I mean, I know it’s wonderful for children, but it’s just been our romantic-getaway place. So we usually get up and have breakfast at lunchtime — which, you have to *understand, with three kids, that’s such a luxury for us to not have to get up early. So we usually go to Eggspectation. It’s a very good sort of diner-breakfast place. There’s also a specialty place called Olive & Gourmando in Old Montreal. It has café au lait and croissants and beautiful breads. Unfortunately, I don’t know the street it’s on. Mark and I just sort of wander around there.” About Montreal: The city has thriving live jazz and rock scenes — the noted indie act Arcade Fire is just one rock band to emerge from Montreal. And the city is packed with watering holes. There are, on average, 9.5 bars per square kilometer. Plus, there are lots of restaurants and music venues (which can also be called watering holes). About Kelly Ripa’s Montreal: “If you [can], go to Old Montreal. There are these little cobblestone streets, and every place is a jamming supper club or an amazing jazz bar,” Ripa says. “I just think it’s magic. “You have dinner very late there. It’s very European in that way. Then a lot of these restaurants that start out serving food will turn into nightclubs. All of a sudden, the tables vanish and a DJ comes out. “They have this place called Vauvert in the St. Paul. You can have dinner, and then right after dinner, the DJ comes in. They call it diabolique when the DJ is there on Saturday nights. It’s like a big party. So you eat dinner, and then you dance. It’s one-stop shopping. Plus, the people are gorgeous, and the waitresses have designer uniforms. It’s all very sleek and very elegant.” About Montreal: More than half the Canadian fashion industry’s workers are employed in Montreal. It’s no surprise, then, that the city is home to numerous fashion designers and boutiques. Plus, there are spas. About Kelly Ripa’s Montreal: “For shopping, I like to go to the Cours Mont-Royal,” Ripa says. “It’s kind of like a mall, but there are a lot of small boutiques in there. I mean, you have to buy something when you travel. You have to at least get the kids something. You’re leaving them. ‘Bye! We’ll be back in two days. Have fun with Grandma and Papa!’ Also, I really love Spa Diva, which is in the Cours Mont-Royal. It’s very relaxing.” About Montreal: Despite the fact that Montreal is known for its French speakers and French heritage, one in four Montrealers is an immigrant, and the city is surprisingly diverse, supporting its own Chinatown and Little Italy. There’s also a slice of Portugal. About Kelly Ripa’s Montreal: “There’s a wonderful place called Ferreira Café, which Mark took me to for my birthday one year,” Ripa says. “It’s Portuguese food and is just fabulous. Mark kidnapped me. I’m not kidding. He flew me blindfolded to Montreal and took me to Ferreira. Well, I was allowed to take the blindfold off when we landed. I didn’t have to eat blindfolded. He had me home in time for the show the next day.” About Montreal: Winters are long and can be stingingly cold, which explains why the city loves its warm-weather festivals. It hosts international mega-gatherings to celebrate jazz, comedy, and film. It also has really fast car races. About Kelly Ripa’s Montreal: “Mark loves the Formula One race,” Ripa says. “He goes every year if he can. That’s in June. They also have the jazz festival. That’s great; it’s in July. But the comedy festival, for me, is the most special. You see the most amazing performers. You just know that any day now, a sitcom is going to come out of one of the great performances you just saw on the stage.” About Montreal: The city is the site of a semi-risqué routine performed at the aforementioned Just for Laughs comedy festival by a certain American star named Kelly Ripa. It included some, ah, other performers. About Kelly Ripa’s Montreal: “Yeah, thanks for noticing that I did that,” Ripa says. “It was amazing fun. The joke was that we hired all these drag queens to do a burlesque striptease with me. I had just had a baby, and they all looked much more like women than I did. So people were like, ‘Oh, look at these beautiful women … and Kelly.’ Then the audience figured out that they were all men … and Kelly.” Career Questions Kelly Ripa explains what she does when she’s not relaxing in Montreal. Did you set out to be an actor/talk-show host? No. My whole career has been a series of accidents. I accidentally got into acting because my friends were doing it. They were doing extra work, and they were making good money. So I was like, Hey, why not? That led to the soap [All My Children], which led to the talk show, which led to the sitcom, which led to the production company. What production company? Mark and I have a TV production company together now. We sold a scripted show that did not get picked up this past fall, and we just sold a pilot to the History Channel for an interesting show called Wild Gourmet. It’s about a man who is a trained chef and an anthropology major. He takes you through a culture’s hunting and eating of a specific animal. Why production? You can’t be on camera forever. Very few people can. So I’m one of those people who would eventually like to work behind the camera. Wait — hasn’t Regis been on camera forever? He’s the one in a million. He’s always relevant. He’s always charming. He’s always gorgeous. [Laughs] I don’t see it turning out that way for me. Speaking of Regis, I’ve heard people say he’s quitting when his contract is up. True? I don’t believe that. I’ve been hearing that since I got here. He loves it. I love it. It’s a great place to work. It’s a fun, sort of easy schedule for people like us, who really just want to be on vacation all the time. You did voice work for two animated movies that are coming out soon. What was that like? I don’t even remember. You do these things, and then for, like, the next seven years or something, they animate the film. It’s all that computer animation. I had almost forgotten that I did them. One of them, Fly Me to the Moon, my son is also in. I play a fly, and my son plays the friend of one of my maggots. It’s very cute. http://www.americanwaymag.com/tabid/2855/tabidext/3465/default.aspx