The top 5 things to do in Montreal: May 8 to 22
The Devil’s Toy Redux: “In the world of skateboarding, anything is possible.”
Terraces and parks are filling up. Folks are treating themselves to ice cream, iced tea, iced coffee: hot beverages are a thing of the past.
Spring is in the air, and it’s time to go out on the town.
1. TONIGHT
The Devil’s Toy Redux | May 8 to 11 | Free
According to Qi An Juan from Singapore, “in the world of skateboarding, anything is possible.” A skateboard can be used as a chair to sit with friends, as a bottle opener or even a broom. “In the wrong hands,” it can be used as a fashion accessory.
This interactive documentary features skateboarding films from 14 filmmakers from 11 countries, including Los Angeles, Lyon, Athens, Vancouver and Johannesburg. They all pay tribute to Claude Jutra’s hand-held 1966 Montreal skate classic The Devil’s Toy.
Take a look, then hit the streets.
Find out more about The Devil’s Toy Redux.
Watch a teaser on Vimeo.
2. DÉJEUNER SUR L’HERBE
Piknic Electronik | May 18 to September 21, 2-9:30 p.m. | $15 (regular), $10 (between 2-3 p.m.)
Want to enjoy the May breeze and start work on that tan? A mere 250 metres from the Jean-Drapeau metro station, perk your ears and you’ll find Piknic Electronik.
“Earlier in the day, there’s a lot of people literally enjoying a picnic. Sitting out in the grass, drinking some wine and listening to music,” says programming department assistant Patrick Meloche. “As the sun goes down, the party usually gets a little bit wilder.”
Crew Love are opening the season.
Find out more about Piknic Electronik.
Check out a sneak peek of this season’s sounds.
3. THE CONCORDIA CONNECTION
Concordia Film Festival | May 8 to 10 | Ticket prices vary
The Mel Hoppenheim School of Cinema’s Cinema Student Association presents the Concordia Film Festival. (How many times can we refer to film-making in a sentence?)
Expect free outdoor concerts, screenings and conferences galore, including round tables about “New Media” and “Women in the Industry.”
Find out more about The Concordia Film Festival.
Watch a teaser on Vimeo.
Polish aficionado: director Martin Scorsese.
4. AN OFFER YOU CAN’T REFUSE
Scorsese’s Favourite Polish Films | May 14 to 31 | $8 (regular), $7 (students)
Okay, so the unrefusable offer was actually made in Francis Ford Coppola’s The Godfather, but it’s even harder to say no to the director of Taxi Driver, Raging Bull and Goodfellas. We should know: we felt this list was getting a touch celluloid-centric, but we couldn’t resist.
Martin Scorsese was drawn to Polish cinema as a student, when he was learning how and why films are made. This retrospective at the Cinémathèque québécoise showcases his favourite Polski flicks — classics and rarities from 1957 to 1987.
No need for linguistic gymnastics: all 21 features have English subtitles.
Find out more about Scorsese’s Favourite Polish Films.
Watch a teaser on YouTube.
5. TOTALLY RANDOM AND POTENTIALLY AWESOME
Disco Robots | May 22, 12 p.m. | $63
In this workshop, you’ll learn to design and personalize a disco-robot avatar.
Really? Sure. Go nuts. Recreate the WALL-E and EVE intergalactic kiss-and-dance scene. Or keep it old school: make like Michael Jackson. It’s all about synchronicity…
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About the author
Andy Fidel is a Montreal-based freelance journalist, photographer and writer with dreams of living on a submarine. She enjoys metro rides, writer's block and cold instant coffee.