Thing to do in Montreal: October 10-16

With Thanksgiving weekend ringing in the week, the theme is fall’s bounty, both outdoors and in. From film screenings to grandiose ballet productions to the beautiful changing colours on the trees, there’s a whole lot to take in…

(silver screen) Enjoy the world’s best films during the Festival du Nouveau Cinema, until October 18, including flicks by Canadian and Quebec filmmakers François Girard, Maxime Giroux, Rodrigue Jean, Rafaël Ouellet and more, and a whole program of films for kids. There’s also a series of commentated screenings – Jesus Christ Superstar, Too Much Johnson, Tu Dors Nicole – that promises to add a new dimension to masterpieces.

(onstage and off the page) Centaur Theatre presents the Quebec English-language premiere of Venus in Fur, a cheeky take on Venus in Furs, starting on October 14. On October 16, take in the premiere of the Grands Ballets Canadiens’ latest show, Paquita. Presented by the Paris Opera Ballet, the tale of intrigue, abduction and family secrets is set amid an extravagant décor illustrating 19^th century Spain. For the bookworms among us, Saturday night, October 11, brings a double launch of new books by Canadian comic artists Joe Ollman and Alex Fellows at Drawn + Quarterly. Hosted by Billy Mavreas, the fun starts at 7 pm.

(art smarts) The Montreal Museum of Fine Arts launches its new blockbuster exhibition, From Van Gogh to Kandinsky, this Thanksgiving weekend, uniting over 100 paintings by masters that illustrate the progression from Impressionism to Expressionism. At the Darling Foundry, in Griffintown, don’t miss a chat between Karen Kraven and the curator Nicholas Browne about the artist’s brand new exhibition, Razzle Dazzle Sis Boom Bah, on Saturday October 11, at 6 pm. And on Thursday, October 16, don’t miss the season’s last outdoor workshop, God Save the Queen, about biodiversity, beautification and bees. Also this week, jump on your last chance to see the popular exhibition on Quebec music: From Charlebois to Arcade Fire at the McCord Museum before it closes for good on October 13.

(live music) Enjoy the last hurrah of the OFF Jazz Festival on October 10, 11 and 12, with shows by Kids Eat Crayons, Ratchet Orchestra and Bête Ou Ne Pas Bête. Osheaga presents Kaytranada on October 11 at 10 pm, at Société des arts technologiques.

(awaiting halloween) The Château Ramezay provides good times for kiddies too impatient to wait until the 31^st with Pick a Peck of Pumpkins, a free outdoor exhibitioncthat includes tours and tastings of myriad squashes every Sunday in October from 1 to 4 pm. The Squash Kiosk at the Montreal Botanical Garden offers the annual Great Pumpkin Ball, featuring more than 800 decorated pumpkins, on view daily from October 3 to 31. And at La Ronde, the Fright Festival continues every October weekend: haunted houses, animators and a zombie lounge await!

Photo credits: Festival du Nouveau Cinema, Karen Kraven, La Ronde

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