IluvMTL

Des fontaines au coin de la rue Jeanne-Mance!

http://www.journalmetro.com/linfo/article/922286--l-insectarium-se-refait-une-beaute

JENNIFER GUTHRIE

MÉTRO

Publié: 20 juillet 2011 19:08

L’Insectarium de Montréal inaugure, samedi, sa nouvelle exposition permanente baptisée Nous, les insectes… • Les 3 000 spécimens naturalisés ont été renouvelés pour la première fois en 20 ans

Après huit mois de travaux qui auront permis le renouvellement complet de son exposition permanente, une première en 20 ans d’existence, l’Insectarium de Montréal est fin prêt à recevoir ses premiers visiteurs, à qui il promet d’en mettre plein la vue.

Dès samedi, les amoureux de la nature, les curieux et les inconditionnels de l’Insectarium pourront découvrir un espace entièrement réaménagé qui les plongera dans l’univers des insectes. De facture plutôt classique, l’exposition Nous, les insectes… présente quelque 3 000 spécimens naturalisés et plus de 50 espèces vivantes. «Nous avons fait le choix de ne pas aller vers la technologie pour cette exposition, a indiqué la directrice de l’Insectarium, Anne Charpentier. Nous voulions privilégier les collections que nous avions. En plus, le budget [de 1,2 M$] ne nous le permettait pas.»

La collection entière du musée a été renouvelée, ce qui permettra aux visiteurs de redécouvrir la richesse des spécimens mis en valeur. «La collection qui était là depuis 20 ans était très décolorée en raison de la lumière naturelle qui baignait l’espace et des ampoules incandescentes qui l’éclairait, a expliqué Mme Charpentier. Il a fallu tout remplacer.»

Au-delà de la beauté de certaines espèces, qui ressemblent presque à des bijoux, Nous, les insectes… cherche à rappeler leur importance dans nos vies. L’exposition présente ainsi des insectes aux vertus insoupçonnées qui contribuent au maintien de l’équilibre de la nature, dont les insectes bousiers, qui se nourrissent d’excréments, et des insectes nécrophores, qui se nourrissent de cadavres d’animaux. «Sans les insectes, on serait dans la dèche, a souligné Anne Charpentier. Le nombre d’années que l’humain pourrait vivre si tous les insectes disparaissaient de la planète se comptent sur les doigts d’une main. Les gens ne soupçonnent pas leur importance dans nos vies.»

L’Insectarium espère d’ailleurs être en mesure d’offrir aux insectes une plus grande place dès 2015. Le musée projette de tripler sa superficie de façon à intégrer une grande serre où les insectes seraient présentés dans des portions des écosystèmes où ils vivent habituellement. Une salle dite technologique serait également créée. À l’aide de logiciels, d’écrans et de simulateur, elle permettrait aux gens de se mettre dans la peau des insectes. Ce vaste projet, évalué à 17 M$, permettrait à l’Insectarium de doubler, voire tripler son achalandage, qui se chiffre présentement à 350 000 visiteurs par année.

Ce que vous pourrez y voir

L’exposition Nous, les insectes permet aux visiteurs de contempler :

• L’Uraniidae, souvent cité comme le plus beau papillon du monde
  
• Les ornithoptères, les plus beaux et les plus grands papillons du monde
  
• Le plus beau et l’un des plus rares coléoptères Lucanidé du monde, qui ne vit qu’en Australie
  
• Le Silphidé, un des plus grands coléoptères de l’Amérique du Nord, disparu du Québec, du Canada et de la plupart des États américains
  
• Un petit phasme noir avec des ailes rouges qui ne vit qu’au Pérou et qui vient d’être découvert
  
• 861 coléoptères plus colorés les uns que les autres réunis dans une seule vitrine
  

une signature quoi...

The entrance is very similiar-looking to the Foyer Culturel at PDA. Same architects I believe.

http://www.journalmetro.com/linfo/article/920855--ecran-publicitaire-a-l-essai-dans-un-autobus-de-la-stm

MÉTRO

Publié: 19 juillet 2011 13:43

Mis à jour: 19 juillet 2011 14:14

CHRISTIAN DUPERRON/MÉTRO

La Société de transport de Montréal (STM) met présentement à l’essai un nouveau concept publicitaire.

La STM a conclu un partenariat avec le Festival Juste pour rire pour qu’un écran de télévision soit installé dans un autobus et diffuse la programmation du Festival. Mardi matin, l'autobus desservait la ligne 105, sur la rue Sherbrooke.

«On utilise un écran qu’on possédait déjà, a indiqué Isabelle Tremblay, porte-parole de la STM. On teste le concept, qui pourrait éventuellement être utilisé dans le cadre d’un autre partenariat.»

http://mtlunescodesign.com/fr/projet/Creer-lhiver-au-Quartier-des-spectacles/1

Concours de mise en valeur et d’animation des espaces publics

19.07.2011 /// Les finalistes du concours Créer l’hiver au Quartier des spectacles sont dévoilés. Le concours invitait les créateurs montréalais à proposer, pour la prochaine saison hivernale, trois expériences inédites sur la place des Festivals, la place Émilie-Gamelin, et les abords du métro Saint-Laurent.

En tout ce sont 38 projets par 27 créateurs qui ont été soumis. Les propositions se déclinent comme suit : 14 pour la place des Festivals, 10 pour la place Émilie-Gamelin et 14 pour les abords du métro Saint-Laurent. Chaque proposition a été analysée par le jury sur la base des critères d’évaluation contenus dans le règlement du concours et trois finalistes ont été retenus pour chacun des sites.

PLACE DES FESTIVALS

• Jean Beaudoin et Erick Villeneuve produit par Novalux
  
• Pelletier de Fontenay produit par 1976
  
• Tania Delage et Victor Hugo Morales Collins mis en œuvre par Duncan Swain, en collaboration avec Lux Populi et Jacques Desbois
  

PLACE ÉMILIE-GAMELIN

• Atomic3 – Félix Dagenais, Louis-Xavier Gagnon-Lebrun, Éric Gautron produit par Michel Granger
  
• Jean Beaudoin et Erick Villeneuve produit par Novalux
  
• Playmind – Emmanuel Sévigny, Monik Paskal Potvin, Amélie Bilodeau
  

ABORDS DU MÉTRO SAINT-LAURENT

• Amandine Guillard, Anik Poirier, Albane Guy, TagTeam Studio
  
• Atelier FMR (Fais-moi rêver) – Louis-Alexandre Gagnon et Gwendal Creurer produit par Playmind
  
• Cube Architecture – David Lavoie, Valérie Beaudoin, Marjolaine Plasse, Gabrielle Gauthier, Sophie Vanasse
  

Les individus ou groupes retenus auront jusqu’au 6 septembre pour déposer des propositions détaillées. Ils disposeront, pour ce faire, d’une somme de 5000$.

Toutes les propositions reçues ainsi que le rapport du jury seront rendues publiques peu après le dévoilement des lauréats le 27 septembre prochain.

Cool 60 second video in the link. I wasn't able to copy it...

http://www.marketingmag.ca/uncategorized/watch-this-jean-paul-gaultier-takes-on-montreal-32297

July 19, 2011 | Kristin Laird | Comments

This 60-second black and white television commercial from Publicis Montréal is a beautiful way of promoting the equally stunning collections of French fashion designer Jean Paul Gaultier, now on display at the Montreal Museum of Fine Arts.

The commercial, which is part of a larger campaign touting the museum’s “The Fashion World of Jean Paul Gaultier: From the Sidewalk to the Catwalk” art exhibit, follows a model as she strolls the street of Montreal.

Everyday objects, as well as various landmarks synonymous with the city, turn blue and white along her journey. The two colours were adopted by Gaultier years ago and have since become his couture moniker.

“[The blue and white stripes are] something that he himself embraces… To stripe the whole city in a poetic way with a woman from the smallest details to an ant… It’s something poetic,” said Nicolas Massey, vice-president, creative director at Publicis Montréal.

Gaultier appears briefly at the end of the commercial in what Massey described as a “Hitchcock” moment, with the fashion designer walking past the camera with a sly, almost devilish look on his face.

The exhibit closes Oct. 2, and then heads to Texas for the next leg of the tour.

Originally published in Marketing Magazine,July 19, 2011

http://wearemoviegeeks.com/2011/07/sean-bean-reigns-as-snow-white-king-in-relativity-medias-snow-white/

JUL 18, 2011

Posted by Michelle McCue in Casting, General News | 0 comments

Actor Joins Relativity’s Cast alongside Roberts, Collins,Hammer, and Lane

(Beverly Hills, CA) July 18, 2011 – Relativity Media has closed a deal with Sean Bean (HBO’s Game of Thrones, Lord of the Rings: The Return of The King) to play the role of the King in its upcoming Untitled Snow White feature, directed by Tarsem Singh (Immortals, The Cell).

Bean joins the previously announced cast in which Oscar®-winner Julia Roberts plays the Queen, Lily Collins (The Blind Side) plays Snow White, Armie Hammer (The Social Network) plays Prince Andrew Alcott, Robert Emms (Anonymous) plays Prince Alcott’s valet, Renbock, and Nathan Lane (The Lion King, The Birdcage) plays the Queen’s hapless and bungling servant, Brighton. The Seven Dwarfs are being played by Mark Povinelli (Water for Elephants), Jordan Prentice (Harold & Kumar Go to White Castle), Danny Woodburn (Watchmen), Sebastian Saraceno (Bedtime Stories), Ronald Lee Clark (Epic Movie), Martin Klebba (Pirates of the Caribbean series) and Joey Gnoffo (The Benchwarmers). The studio has also cast Mare Winningham (Brothers) as Baker Margaret and Michael Lerner (Elf) as Baron.

The film started shooting June 20, 2011 on location in Montreal and wraps mid-September. The theatrical release date is set for March 16, 2012.

In Relativity’s Snow White, a spectacular reimagining of the classic fairy tale, an evil queen steals control of a kingdom, and an exiled princess enlists the help of seven resourceful rebels to win back her birthright in a spirited adventure comedy filled with jealousy, romance, and betrayal that will capture the imagination of audiences the world over.

The film’s producers are Ryan Kavanaugh (The Fighter), Bernie Goldmann (300) and Brett Ratner (Rush Hour franchise). The script was written by Melisa Wallack (Meet Bill) and Jason Keller (Machine Gun Preacher).

Looking ahead, Relativity will release David Ellis’ Shark Night 3D on September 2, 2011, followed by Marc Forster’s Machine Gun Preacher on September 23, 2011, then the highly-anticipated Immortals on November 11, 2011, starring Henry Cavill, Stephen Dorff, Isabel Lucas, Freida Pinto, Luke Evans and Kellan Lutz with John Hurt and Mickey Rourke. Relativity’s expansive 2012 slate also includes its Haywire (in theatres January 20, 2012), Act of Valor (in theatres February 17, 2012), The Raven (in theatres March 9, 2012), Untitled Farrelly/Wessler Project (in theatres April 13, 2012), House at the End of the Street (in theatres April 20, 2012), Safe Haven (in theatres June 1, 2012) and Hunter Killer (in theatres December 21, 2012).

http://news.nationalpost.com/2011/07/17/under-montreal-archaeologists-search-for-charred-scraps-of-canadian-parliament/

The Montreal-based Parliament of the United Province of Canada burns in 1849 after being attacked by a mob. Archaeologists are now digging up the building's remains in Old Montreal.Painting by Joseph Légaré

Tristin Hopper Jul 17, 2011 – 7:19 PM ET

Under a non-descript Old Montreal parking lot, archaeologists are combing for evidence of an early Canadian parliament burned down by rioters in 1849.

The building was burned down by an English-Canadian mob following the passage of the Rebellion Losses Bill, a controversial bill that gave government compensation to participants in an 1837 anti-government uprising. Mobs used a fire truck to smash their way through the building’s locked doors and began flipping over tables and slashing paintings. The fire erupted when a protester hurled rocks at a gas chandelier.

“It’s a fascinating period in Canadian democracy … The challenge of an archeologist is to try to understand the traces from the past and make them significant for people today,” Louise Pothier, director of exhibitions and technologies at Pointe-à-Callière, the archaeological museum sponsoring the dig, told Postmedia News.

Conveniently, Pointe-a-Calliere’s headquarters are located only a few steps from the dig site. Whatever is turned up under the parking lot will be put towards a $22-million expansion of the museum.

Originally a marketplace, the parliament served the United Province of Canada, a union of Ontario and Quebec that was still technically a British colony. The fully-formed Dominion of Canada was still 18 years away.

Following the blaze, the two-storey structure was described as a total loss. Nevertheless, archaeologists suspect ample evidence of the once-imposing building remain underground since 1850s contractors would have simply rebuilt on top of the charred rubble. Since the 1920s, the site has been a paved parking lot.

Canadian parliament buildings are remarkably flammable. In 1854, just months after their completion, fire consumed a set of replacement parliament buildings constructed in Quebec City. Most recently, in 1916, an unattended cigar burned down a set of 1866-vintage Parliament buildings on their current site.

National Post

thopper@nationalpost.com

That's what was reported on the CTV nooncast the next day. Maybe they consider minor prep to mean the site is open.

Interesting, I heard different. Site is closed until CSST can confirm all of their directives have been fulfilled. Could be a day, could be a month. Minor site prep can continue but full construction has to wait until their sign off.

Ce soir et demain!

http://www.pinkarnaval.com/

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uhja7D9jPoo&NR=1

still awaiting it's commercial release...

http://blogs.indiewire.com/theplaylist/archives/2011/07/15/walter_salles_garrett_hedlund_did_2_more_weeks_of_secret_filming_in_april/

Walter Salles & Garrett Hedlund Did 2 More Weeks Of Secret Filming In April For ‘On The Road’

With filming taking place last year Montreal, New Orleans, Mexico and San Francisco, and with stills and a teaser poster for the already surfacing earlier this year, there has been a lot of guesswork about when we might see Walter Salles’ highly anticipated adaptation of Jack Kerouac‘s “On The Road.” But as it turns out, he wants to get it right, and while the principal cast and crew may have wrapped things up a while ago, the director grabbed the film’s star Garrett Hedlund and two took their own journey across American to snag more footage.

Piling into a ‘49 Hudson with a tiny crew of five people in tow, Salles and Hedlund took off across backroad highways of the United States in a valiant effort to recreate the journey Jack and Neal Cassady took decades ago. The purpose of the trip was capture more second unit photography, taking in more of the images and sounds to add to the texture and authenticity of the upcoming film. Telling the Huffington Post it was “an unforgettable 4,000 mile adventure,” it seems the director and star are eager to do right by the source material.

In case you’re still playing catch up, Hedlund and Sam Riley star as protagonists Dean Moriarty and Sal Paradise (surrogates of Kerouac and Neal Cassady), as the story follows the two on a journey across the North American landscape in pursuit of self-knowledge and experience. A stellar supporting cast is in tow including Kristen Stewart, Viggo Mortensen, Amy Adams, Kirsten Dunst, Tom Sturridge, Steve Buscemi, Terrence Howard, Alice Braga and Elisabeth Moss for an adaptation that has been in the works for decades (Francis Ford Coppola was a longtime gatekeeper of the material).

So, how will this affect the release of the film (if at all)? Well back in May, it was revealed by the producers that “On The Road” was being readied for a fall festival circuit run and this was after the April shoot of additional footage. So we presume the key players knew about Salles’ plans and certainly he will have had plenty of time to get an edit into place. Either way, the project continues to build tremendous promise and while word on it has been quiet of late, it could be a sleeper surprise of fall festival season.

Bice

http://bicemontreal.com/index_fr.html

Photos fournis par le 2-22....

http://www.le2-22.com/?p=1903

http://www.portailconstructo.com/actualites/tunnel_pietonnier_reliera_chum_au_metro_champ_de_mars

15 juillet 2011

Communiqué

Le Centre de recherche du nouveau CHUM, dont l'ouverture est prévue en 2013, sera relié par un tunnel piétonnier à la station de métro Champ-de-Mars. Les travaux qui viennent de débuter et qui se poursuivront jusqu'au 6 septembre prochain, sont réalisés par le groupe Accès recherche Montréal (consortium Pomerleau-Verreault S.E.N.C.), en collaboration avec la Société de transport de Montréal (STM), dans le cadre d'un projet d'amélioration de la desserte en transport collectif. Ils visent à offrir un accès souterrain direct aux patients, au personnel et aux visiteurs du nouvel hôpital.

Un calendrier détaillé des travaux et une carte du secteur touché sont disponibles ici.

http://www.nouveauchum.com/

http://www.portailconstructo.com/actualites/altitude_montreal_commence_son_ascension

13 juillet 2011

Par François G. Cellier

Projet ambitieux qui comptera environ 180 appartements en copropriété, Altitude Montréal s’élèvera sur 33 étages au centre-ville de la métropole, à l’angle des rues Cathcart et University. Ce gratte-ciel longiligne s’agencera à la perfection au décor urbain dans lequel il prendra racine. Majoritairement constitué de verre, il offrira à ses usagers confort et innovation. Les travaux impliquent simultanément les deux phases prévues dans ce projet. Ils ont commencé à l’automne dernier et devraient être complétés au début de l’année 2013.

Le Groupe Daca, promoteur et constructeur du bâtiment, a pu acquérir un édifice voisin du site de construction. Cette acquisition a eu lieu après le début des travaux, générant ainsi une seconde phase à cette construction. « Cela permettra à l’immeuble de profiter d’un agrandissement vers le sud », précise Jean-Pierre Lagacé, l’architecte d’Altitude Montréal. Trois étages associés à la phase I ont été construits jusqu’à présent. La seconde est à l’étape de l’aménagement des stationnements souterrains sur quatre paliers. L’objectif consiste à scinder les deux structures pour ne créer qu’un seul bâtiment. L’excavation a nécessité des précautions particulières, car il a fallu creuser au droit des rues. Cela a impliqué la création de murs berlinois. Précisons que la profondeur du trou a atteint quelque 45 pieds.

Altitude Montréal se trouve à la frontière séparant deux époques marquantes du centre-ville montréalais, soit celles avant et après les années 1950. La pierre qui habille son parc immobilier l’illustre clairement, selon que l’on se trouve au sud ou au nord de la rue Cathcart. Dans l’ancien centre-ville (nord), où les bâtiments s’élèvent généralement sur 10 étages, les pierres utilisées dans les constructions datent du début du siècle dernier. Celles employées dans le secteur dit contemporain (sud) remontent aux années 1950 et 1960, et s’amalgament à du verre la plupart du temps. « C’est entre autres le cas de la Place Ville Marie, contigüe au projet Altitude Montréal, qui comporte des basilaires en pierre remontant au milieu du 20e siècle, ainsi que du verre », explique Jean-Pierre Lagacé. Cela a donc forcé, en quelque sorte, l’usage de ces deux matériaux sur l’immeuble en devenir, au coin des rues Cathcart et University. Les autres portions de ces 10 mêmes étages présenteront des segments soit en verre, soit en pierres.

En revanche, le reste du gratte-ciel sera entièrement enveloppé de murs-rideaux, lesquels sont issus de la dernière génération des verres Low-E. Leurs performances inégalées, dit-on, permettent une réflexion appréciable des rayons ultraviolets (UV). Ce verre est transparent, contrairement aux autres, de type miroir, qui parent la majorité des immeubles modernes du centre-ville. « Pendant la période estivale, ces murs-rideaux réduiront considérablement les gains en chaleur causés par l’ensoleillement », de dire Jean-Pierre Lagacé.

Par ailleurs, le bâtiment comportera un système central dédié à la climatisation et au chauffage, ainsi que des installations permettant la récupération de chaleur à certains endroits dans l’immeuble, dont les salles électriques. La firme Nicolet Chartrand Knoll (NCK) a été retenue pour s’occuper du génie structural dans ce projet. Bouthillette Parizeau & Associés (BPA), ingénieurs-conseils, prend en charge l’ingénierie mécanique et électrique. Quant aux coûts des travaux, ils n’étaient pas disponibles au moment d’écrire ces lignes.

Cet article est paru dans l’édition du vendredi 8 juillet 2011 du journal Constructo. Pour un accès privilégié à l’ensemble des contenus et avant-projets publiés par Constructo, abonnez-vous !

I just heard that the site was deemed safe and that construction work can continue, but they have to install a few concrete blocks around the site by the end of the day.

http://www.le2-22.com/?p=1903

Le chantier continue à s’occuper de l’intérieur. Le premier et deuxième étage sont bien avancés. Plusieurs cloisons séparant les pièces sont déjà installées. Une grande partie des fenêtres a aussi été mise en place. Retour sur les avancées.

C'est pas vraiment clair (soit c'est mal écrit ou traduit), mais je pense qu'il veut simplement dire que les modifications dans le nouveau plan ne faciliteront pas l'approbation des dérogations.

Pas clair, quelqu'un peut-il figurer qu-est-ce que cette phrase veut bien dire?

http://www.montrealmirror.com/wp/2011/07/14/sticking-to-the-plan/

Montreal’s new vision for downtown may make it harder for developers to shirk its rules

by LOUIS RASTELLI

July 14, 2011

IN SEARCH OF A HUMAN SCALE: 2-22 Ste-Catherine

Photo by SHARON DAVIES

There’s a lot of new summer reading available for citizens interested in urban planning issues.

Montreal’s Ville Marie borough just unveiled an ambitious overhaul of zoning bylaws, the “Framework for the revision of heights and densities in downtown Montreal.” The idea driving this overhaul is that an update to the 1992 master urban plan is needed if we’re ever to see development on downtown lots and parking lots that have remained vacant these past 20 years.

It’s an ambitious plan, with 56 pages of background, photos and diagrams spelling out an informed vision of downtown and its future. Although it’s limited to suggesting changes in permitted heights and densities of new buildings, this plan sets the table, so to speak, for the update of the entire master urban plan for Montreal in 2013.

However, given the tradition of city hall to waive zoning and other bylaws whenever developers ask them to, critics might wonder whether a whole new urban plan would change much.

I spoke with an urban planner at the City of Montreal, on background, who made it clear that planners are no less frustrated than citizens are when they see exceptions to zoning bylaws rou*tinely granted to developers by the political class. They hope that this plan will reduce this sort of improvisation for various reasons.

First of all, there’s the fact that the guidelines being revised are 20 or more years old. In some places, the maximum height and/or density permitted is lowered, in other places they’re raised. By setting more current guidelines, the city hopes that developers could profitably build within the rules without having to ask for so many exceptions to them.

Another factor that could help make this plan become reality is the current building boom. The 1992 master plan was followed by a long economic lull; by the time development began again, that plan and its “vision” was often seen as outdated, fuelling the bad habit of granting exceptions to it.

KEEPING IT HUMAN

To gauge how this plan is being received in the planning community, I spoke with Joël Thibert, a planner familiar with the Ville Marie borough after working for the Quartier International de Montréal from 2007 to 2010.

“It’s a very clear vision of how downtown should be developed,” he tells me. “It’s a very impressive plan in what it sets out to do.”

I asked whether he saw anything specific in the plan that makes it more likely to be adhered to this time. “The clarity itself should make it a lot harder for politicians to argue that it needs to be broken to accommodate this or that project down the line.”

But some of the plan’s benefits for developers may be seen as less beneficial to others. I spotted some areas where the increase in height and density might be seen as altering the human scale of certain streets. For example, it’s hard to imagine the Lower Main retaining its vibe if it becomes dotted by buildings more reminiscent of René-Lévesque than, say, Crescent. City officials point out that even if the plan is adopted, significant projects like high-rises will still be subject to consultations where concerned parties can have their say. But as Thibert told me, even though a reduction in human scale could be contested, “their presence in this plan won’t make it easier to do so.”

Ultimately, if adopted, this plan will be one tool among many that planners will need if its vision is to translate into reality. For example, the officials I spoke to are closely following the efforts by the Plateau borough to force a landlord to maintain a vacant building in disrepair at the northwest corner of St-Laurent and des Pins.

In that case, a Quebec Superior Court injunction ordered the owners to repair the decrepit building. This precedent could provide a powerful new tool with which to prevent the blight and vacant lots that this plan aims to reduce.

Even though such tools are peripheral to this plan, they can be put forward during public consultations and be at least documented by the Office de consultation publique de Montréal. Ulti*mately, the consultations over this new plan will be a great opportunity to bring urban planning ideas to the table, and hope they stay there for perusal and adoption further down the line.

Today show broadcasts from Montreal LIVE

Kathie Lee Gifford and co-host Hoda Kotb are in Montreal to broadcast the Today show live, and fans are invited to Place Jacques Cartier to witness the taping.

Gazette reporter Anne Sutherland takes in the hoopla

http://live.montrealgazette.com/Event/Today_show_broadcasts_from_Montreal

Merci pour ça!

Sur la perception de Montréal à l'étranger

http://www.montrealgazette.com/entertainment/Jean+Paul+Gaultier+will+attend+Pinkarnaval/5097386/story.html

By Lesley Chesterman, Special to The Gazette July 13, 2011 5:02 PM

MONTREAL - Montreal’s love affair with all things Jean Paul Gaultier is now extending beyond his wildly popular exhibition at the Montreal Museum of Fine Arts and into the city streets. On Saturday and Sunday, Montrealers are invited to don Gaultier-style striped sailor shirts, and head to Pinkarnaval, a two-day, nighttime celebration inspired by Gaultier’s style.

Thousands of revellers are expected to turn out on Saturday for an elaborate parade, and on Sunday for the Striped Ball, the presentation of tableaus from the parade complete with DJ sets and late-night partying at Place des Festivals. Sponsored by the museum and the city of Montreal, the weekend celebration also kicks off the outdoor events of the Just for Laughs festival. And fashionistas, brace yourselves: Gaultier himself will be on hand to get the party started.

The parade, described as a “prêt-à-porter carnival,” will get rolling at 7:30 p.m. in front of the museum, 1380 Sherbrooke St. W.

The route then takes a turn on Mountain St. going south to Ste. Catherine St. and continues to finish up at Place des Arts.

The procession will feature more than 1,600 Montrealers divided into seven groups of dancers who will bring to life seven themes based on Gaultier’s designs. The first tableau, “Le Grand Ballet des Soyeux,” will feature a parade of dancers from the city of Lyon, the Pinkarnaval’s honoured city, including the stilt-walking choreographer La Bella Zanka and her group. For the occasion, about 200 former residents of Lyon now living in Quebec have been invited to partake in the carnival and represent their homeland.

The other tableaus, rich in colourful costumes, haute coiffure, elaborate makeup and gigantic inflatable marionettes, are cast with volunteers from seven Montreal boroughs including Vaudreuil-Dorion, Outremont, Ville-Marie, Villeray-St-Michel-Parc-Extension, Montreal-Nord, Ahunstic-Cartierville, and Rosemont-La Petite Patrie. Each tableau is tied to themes such as “Le tango de la différence,” “Le hip hop de l’enfant terrible” and “La gigue urbaine.” Choreographed by eight of Montreal’s up-and-coming young choreographers, the dances are three-minutes in length, which means each piece will be repeated over and again as the parade progresses until the dancers reach Place des Festivals. The music, composed by Montreal studio Quicksound, is described as modern interpretations of tangos, jigs and waltzes.

Karen Fennell, contemporary dancer and co-choreographer of the Outremont’s tableau, worked with a crew of dancers made up primarily of high school and CEGEP students, who she said fared well despite their amateur status. She describes her tableau, “Rave Musette,” as a lively classical French party with a back beat straight out of a rave. “The costumes are big cancan skirts and lace tights,” she says. “We looked to the movie Moulin Rouge and the dances of Pina Bausch for inspiration. It’s energetic and fun, with big group effects and partnering work.”

Artistic director Danielle Roy describes the weekend events as, “a huge feast for the eyes, the head and the heart,” as well as a “new definition of pop art created with dance and fashion.” Helping her bring the Gaultier groove to the streets are two of the designer’s model muses, Quebecers Franciso Randez and Ève Salvail. Randez will be leading a group of youngsters in the parade while Salvail (a DJ who goes by the name of DJ Evalicious) will be DJ-ing in the final tableau.

On Sunday, Salvail will be the featured DJ for the Striped Ball at 9 p.m. in Place des Festivals. She’ll then hand the groove-meister responsibilities to Randez, who will keep the party going well into the night on the outside plaza of Place des Arts.

“The fact that Gaultier will be here again shows his commitment to Montreal,” says Randez. “From his first collection in the late ’70s, Montreal has shown its support for Gaultier from the beginning. He’s not just a designer but an artist who is open to the crowd and close to the people. We want people to come out and party, and feel just how awesome it is to be in Montreal in the summer. Our goal is to make it warm, happy and fun.”

Gaultier has also shown his commitment to Pinkarnaval by agreeing to dress the event mascot, Rose, the supposed fiancée of the Just for Laughs green bonhomme. In true Gaultier style, Rose will be sporting a Gaultier cone bra. Not where you’d expect, but where any party-hearty mascot should: on her head.

The Pinkarnaval parade starts Saturday at 7:30 p.m. at the Montreal Museum of Fine Arts; the show on Sunday starts at 9 p.m. at Place des Festivals. For more information, go topinkarnaval.com. The museum’s exhibition The Fashion World of Jean Paul Gaultier: from the Sidewalk to the Catwalk is on until Oct. 2

http://www.montrealgazette.com/entertainment/Today+Show+airs+live+from+Port/5091337/story.html

By Anne Sutherland, The Gazette July 12, 2011

MONTREAL - She’s coming baaaack!

It’s been more than a decade since Kathie Lee Gifford made an official visit to Montreal; the occasion in 2000 was Caroline Mulroney’s wedding.

This time around, she’s coming as part of the Today show, and fans are invited to Place Jacques Cartier to witness the taping.

Gifford and her co-host Hoda Kotb are leaving their New York Studios and travelling north of the 45th parallel to tape two segments for Today that will air July 14 and 15.

The Thursday segment will be broadcast live, and the second part, airing on Friday, will be taped immediately following.

In a statement from the producers “Kathie Lee and Hoda encourage viewers to practice their double kisses and join them on a spectacular European adventure without travelling overseas,” alluding to our two-cheeked greetings and Old World charm.

The 60-person crew arrives in Montreal Wednesday to begin preparing for the taping.

The co-hosts will be showcasing the Montreal sights and the show will feature Quebec talent via performers from Cirque du Soleil, and Canadian musical group the Barenaked Ladies.

No visit to la Belle Province would be complete without ‘heart attack on a plate’ or, as we call it, poutine, and a cooking demonstration of the combo of fries, sauce and cheese curds will be given on the show.

Teaching the funny ladies how to make our regional delicacy will be star Montreal chef Chuck Hughes of Garde Manger who recently beat Bobby Flay on Iron Chef America with his lobster poutine.

The fourth hour of Today (shown at 10 a.m. ET) will broadcast from Old Montreal.

To be a part of the outdoor audience, fans should arrive at Place Jacques-Cartier no later than 9 a.m. Thursday, July 14.

VIDEO:

Click here (or scroll down) to watch a video of Jay Leno chatting with Kathie Lee Gifford and Hoda Kotb on The Tonight Show about their visit to Montreal.

The Montreal spot in the video runs from 3:49 and 4:30 on the clip.

Video from Jay Leno Show:

http://www.nbc.com/the-tonight-show/video/kathie_lee__hoda_part_2_7811/1340031

http://fr.canoe.ca/infos/regional/montreal/archives/2011/07/20110712-192504.html

Agence QMI

Jean-Marc Gilbert

12/07/2011 19h25

Les travaux, qui seront entrepris en 2012, visent notamment à reconstruire le pourtour en pierre de même que la cascade.

© Éric Bolté / Agence QMI

MONTRÉAL – D’autres travaux se mettront en branle sous peu dans le Parc du Mont-Royal. Cette fois, la Ville de Montréal entend restaurer le bassin du lac aux Castors, situé en plein cœur du parc.

Les travaux, qui seront entrepris en 2012, visent notamment à reconstruire le pourtour en pierre de même que la cascade. La Ville souhaite aussi améliorer la qualité de l’eau et enlever toutes les mauvaises herbes.

Des correctifs seront apportés aux abords du lac, en ajoutant de l’éclairage d’appoint, en assurant une meilleure gestion des déchets et du recyclage, de même qu’en réaménageant les stationnements.

«Ce projet permettra de redonner aux quelque cinq millions de visiteurs du Parc du Mont-Royal l’usage de cet équipement patrimonial», a indiqué Alan DeSousa, responsable du Développement durable, de l’Environnement et des Parcs, au comité exécutif de la Ville de Montréal.

«La restauration du bassin lac aux Castors et de l’ensemble du secteur est très attendue des familles montréalaises et permettra de valoriser Montréal comme milieu de vie familial», a ajouté l’élu.

Coûts inconnus

Pour l’instant, impossible d’estimer les coûts du projet. «Un processus d’appel d’offres sera lancé au cours des prochaines semaines et nous devrions être en mesure d’entamer les travaux à l’automne 2011 et de les compléter en 2012», a expliqué la porte-parole de la Ville de Montréal, Valérie De Gagné.

Pendant la durée des travaux, les activités et les services seront pour la plupart maintenus. Par ailleurs, l’inauguration du troisième sommet du mont Royal, qui devait avoir lieu au printemps, est finalement reportée à 2013.

On explique avoir été «un peu trop optimiste» en annonçant, il y a deux ans, que les travaux seraient achevés d’ici 2011.

En plus de l’aménagement du nouvel espace, il faut restaurer environ deux kilomètres de sentiers, afin de permettre aux piétons d’accéder au troisième sommet à pieds.

Lire le communiqué ici;

http://www.cnw.ca/fr/releases/archive/July2011/12/c4749.html