Things to do in Montreal: February 26 to March 4

Yes, yes, y’all, it’s Nuit Blanche! This Saturday brings with it the best excuse to stay up all night since the last Star Trek marathon on Space TV. Grab your friends and family and hit the streets and cultural centres of the Montréal, open all night and jam-packed with special programming.

All-night art

The only bad thing about Nuit Blanche is figuring out how to divide your time – there’s just that much to do. The best strategy this Saturday, February 28, is to start with all your favourite places, whether that’s the Musée d’art contemporain de Montréal, Phi Centre, the Olympic Stadium, Fonderie Darling or the Belgo Building, because you’ll get to access them for free. Plus you can be sure they’ll be pulling out all the stops for this special night with unusual and exciting programming, whether that’s live music, workshops, free performances and more. But afterwards, it’s time to discover. Nuit Blanche is really about broadening your perspectives, while having a good time, so an adventurous attitude is de mise. This year you might be tempted by the film screening night at Nouveau Palais restaurant. Or maybe you’ll want to try the all-night collage party at Monastiraki? And, of course, there’s Art Souterrain, a three-kilometre trajectory through the Underground Pedestrian Network filled with amazing art works to see, this year on the theme of “Security In Society”. You won’t want to miss a thing.

Food, food, food

Foodies won’t want to miss the extensive fine dining programming at MONTRÉAL EN LUMIÈRE, which kicks off at Nuit Blanche – you can read all about all that deliciousness here. From cooking showcases at Jean-Talon Market to Swiss fondue parties (the featured country this edition is Switzerland) and amazing dining opportunities city-wide, it rubs the tummy right! Also, from February 26 to 28, don’t miss the Salon du livre gourmand, a book fair dedicated to literature on food. Get the latest, hottest cookbooks signed and find animations.

Classical culture

Lovers of Tchaikovsky will be pleased this week, as the Orchestre symphonique de Montréal (OSM) presents A Tribute to Tchaikovsky on February 26 and 28 at 8 p.m., at the beautiful Maison symphonique. Violinist Andrey Baranov will play extracts from Hamlet, Violin Concerto in D major and Capriccio italien, in addition to Arensky’s Variations on a Theme by Tchaikovsky for string orchestra. Orchestre Métropolitain de Montréal presents By Jupiter! on March 1 at 3 p.m., featuring Cristian Macelaru of the Philadephia Orchestra conducting a neoclassical selection of Haydn, Martinu and Mozart. The concert features Montréal soloists Nancy Ricard (violin), Christopher Best (cello), Marjorie Tremblay (oboe) and Michel Bettez (bassoon).

Outdoor fun

Enjoy the last few weeks of winter with a tour of the city’s public skating rinks: from the Old Port to Parc St-Viateur, passing by and the indoor Atrium Le 1000, the options are endless, and each boasts its own charm. You can also take the family sledding on Mount Royal – or how about the snow party at Parc Jean-Drapeau? It’s a veritable snowy playground featuring everything from dog sledding to zip-lining. Yoga aficionados, try this on for size: every Saturday morning between 10:30 a.m. and 11:30 a.m. until March 7, there’s a free yoga session in the snow at Parc La Fontaine. It’s like the antithesis of hot yoga! But it will make you sweat – so be sure to wear comfortable, winter-appropriate clothing (don’t forget a hat), and bring a warmer layer for your walk home after, when you’re body temperature is lowering.

Live music

Catch Odessa at Petit Campus on February 26, or The Bombadils with openers Sin and Swoon at La Vitrola. While Bryan Adams plays Bell Centre on February 27, you might prefer to take in something with a little more bass, like Kaki King at Club Soda, with none other than Neneh Cherry as opening act. Eric Prydz lays down the tracks to get you dancing at New City Gas on Saturday night, but there’s also Pierre Kwenders and Poirier at Club Soda – why choose when you can do both? On March 1, start the month off right with Monitor at Stereo. Blank Bullets bring their TKYTK sound to Barfly on Monday night, while on Tuesday, March 3, Echosmith play with The Colourist at Virgin Mobile Corona Theatre. Celebrate hump day with Krystale at Lobby Bar on March 4.