Montreal: Gear shopping!!

[Confuzzled]

Hey all!

I'm heading up to Montreal in the next couple of weeks for an extended weekend and besides eating amazing food I of course want to check out thrifts (fripperies?), pawn shops and music shops! Ant recommendations from our friends in gods country? We are staying by Rue St-Hubert. Feel free to post or DM me. Anything you recommend we check out would be greatly appreciated (food, local bars, shops, kid stuff).

[doommeow]

Moog music is the gear spot in MTL, both for pedals and espeicially modular. There used to be some good shops on the edge of the old city, but Moog is the spot. There's also a decent pawn shop about 1-2 blocks up, same side of the street.

IIRC, the pawn shop is right across the street from Schwartz's, a must do. If you're in a hurry don't wait on line to eat inside - although it's an experience and worth doing at least once in your life - walk a couple of doors up to their take out spot. Get a smoked meat san, some fries (they usually need a bit of salt) and a drink.

Keep walking north, make the left onto Rue Rachel and eat at Portugalia. This is a MUST. Staff can be rude if you catch them on the wrong day, but still one of my favorite meals in North America. Ge tthe half or quarter chicken, order of ribs as an appetizer. Spicy.

Biodome is the spot to take your kids. I think it's open again, post repairs and COVID.

The farm markets are great if you're a foodie. I prefer Atwater and Jean Talon. There used to be a couple of guitar shops within walking distance of Jean Talon, but Atwater has more stores, stalls, and easier parking.

Premiere Moisson if you're walking around town and need to find a quick sal de bain for the kid(s).

Good eats on Rue Duluth west of the Parc. Khyber Pass, Pied Cochon, etc.

If you can get a table at Cabne Sucre, DO IT.

[K2000]

Walk to the top of Mount Royal, it takes about an hour (I think) and it's a pleasant way to spend some time. There's an observation area at the top, and some other stuff.

Its importance at the heart of the city’s identity may explain why locals see Mount Royal as a bona fide mighty mountain, but factually, with its altitude of 764 feet above sea level, it’s more of a large hill.

https://www.mtl.org/en/experience/welco ... ount-royal

[Confuzzled]

THANK YOU BOTH!! I am so stoked to go back to Canada!

[Seance]

Moog Audio is the pedal/synth place to go. As stated above.

Fairmount Bagels is fantastic. They make bagels all the live-long-day and night. So you can avoid the crowds by going late and hope they're pulling
some fresh out of the wood-fired ovens
St.-Viateur Bagels are a distant second choice.

Going to Mt. Royal is a great walk. And it can be a halfway stop for walks into other neighborhoods (away from McGill).
After dropping in to peruse pedals at Moog Audio, load up on cheeses and sliced meats at La Vieille Europe on St. Laurent Boulevard and then walk (or bike) up Mt. Royal.

I also would suggest walking over to Parc La Fontaine.
But wait a minute... before going to Le Fromontier bakery you should stop at La Boulangerie Patisserie Mr. Pinchot located at 4354 Brebeuf Street.

So exit the north of Parc La Fontaine at Brebeuf and walk up one block. Cross the street. On your left you should find La Boulangerie Patisserie Mr. Pinchot.
They have some stuffed waffles (various flavors). THIS IS IMPORTANT. ARE YOU PAYING ATTENTION? THEY HAVE STUFFED WAFFLES.
Get there early or they will all be gone. If you do not taste these you will rue the day and be full of regret for the rest of your life.
THE REST OF YOUR LIFE.

THEN walk up a block and turn right until you get to Lanaudiere Street and go north up Lanaudiere until you reach Le Fremontier bakery at 1375 Laurier Avenue.
Bread...? Great. Pain au chocolat...? Outstanding. Get you some cheese as well. They have an incredible pear tart there that is a must-have. I am not kidding.
A MUST-HAVE.

The restaurants in Montreal are great, with many nationalities of cuisine offering a variation on grilled meats. Many restaurants have a thing where you bring your wine.
There is a "corking fee". But they don't have a license to sell wine. You bring your own. Go to the SAQ and pick up some wine.

If you are going to Montreal you will be eating some smoked/barbecued meat of some type. The Portuguese restaurant is a great recommendation. Basically you can't
go wrong.

The great bakeries can, should, and MUST be relied on for fueling the walking and the perusing that Montreal rewards.

Enjoy.

[K2000]

It's a good city for walking, but the subway is pretty good too, it's clean and not hard to figure out. It doesn't go everywhere, but it probably gets you a lot closer to where you want to go. If you have small kids, you probably can't walk them everywhere. There may be a weekend pass.

Not everyone speaks English, but I think most people can. It probably doesn't hurt to open a conversation with a "Bon Jour" on the street, sometimes. Older people more likely to speak French. Retail situations are probably anything goes. I'm not certain here, but that was my impression.

[Confuzzled]

Hey! Thank you all for your kind advice! Montreal was AMAZING!!!

Such an incredible country and amazingly friendly hospitable people. The food choices were spot on, learning that smoked meat is pastrami was cool, and stuffed waffles brought out my inner Homer! The Metro was fucking incredible. No assholes screaming, playing their music loud and being inconsiderate. Probably the main reason I avoid it in NYC.

The folks in Montreal were so fucking nice. From the chill driving on the roads to them being the nicest people on the planet. I haven't tried speaking French in 30 years but my HS French came flooding back (albeit poorly) and folks were so sweet about it. We took the kid and my mother-in-law (don't want to bring either back with us) to Old Town, walked around and hit up the science museum...So engaging for an adult and kid. The green infrastructure was so progressive and awe inspiring. I'm guessing that the wild flowers down every suburb street is there to mitigate flooding?

I ate like I had 2 assholes the whole trip, loved everything all dressed and ketchup chips, and was blown away that egg mcmuffins came with american bacon.

Loved Canada. Cannot wait to go back!! Time to rewatch Letterkenney from the beginning.

[digi2t]

Moog Music is a fine place. Unfortunately, the original Steve's Music shop, and all the pawn shops on St. Antoine St. row are no more. Urban gentrification is slowly gripping Montreal as well. Steve's main shop has moved to Ste. Catherine's St. east, and is now just another glossy Long and McQuade look-a-like shop. I really miss the old creaky place. The pawn shops that were next door at the old location had awesome stuff too, but you had to haggle like a mofo. It was all part of the magic, along with stepping over passed out drunks and junkies from the neighbouring Old Brewery Mission.

As for food, if you want to venture out towards the West Island, Scarolies Pasta Emporium in Pte. Claire is a solid eatery. Everything on the menu is amazing. If you can't decide what to eat there, it's because you're really not hungry. A reservation is imperative because they're always hopping, every day of the week.

Sorry I can't offer more downtown stuff, but I live west, off island, and tend to avoid going into Montreal at all costs. Unless I'm auditing our plant in the east end, or need parts from Abra Electronics (which I'll scoop along the way, anyway).