Things to Do in Montreal: January 10-16

The holidays in all their joy have come and gone, but Montreal remains lit up and full of energy and entertainment for the rest of the winter season, both outside in the snow and indoors in venues city-wide…

(light and fun) Play among public art in the heart of downtown as the Luminothérapie project illuminates Place des Arts’ promenade with a stylized “wheat field” meant for wandering through, and the animated video game Trouve Bob pops up on huge screens throughout the Quartier des Spectacles. Try your hand at the Quebecois tradition of ice fishing at the Old Port or simply tie on a pair of skates and experience Old Montreal from a unique and wintery vantage point – or go further afield for more outdoor or indoor sports opportunities. Of course, there’s always the option of a hockey game: on January 11 the Montreal Canadiens play the Blackhawks and on January 14, our hometown Habs take on the NJ Devils, all at the Bell Centre. A different kind of mayhem unfolds at the Bell Centre with WWE Live! on January 12, featuring the antics of John Cena, Randy Orton, The Big Show, Kane and more wrestling stars.

(on stage screen) The newest work from creative mind Robert Lepage and his company Ex Machina comes to life in the four-part Jeux de Cartes project, beginning with provocative theatrical show Pique, played on a circular stage, January 14-25 at circus centre Tohu. Politically-inspired theatre company Teesri Duniya Theatre stages Bhopal, the tragic true story of a 1984 pesticide plant explosion in India, at the Segal Centre, January 15 to February 2. See some of Montreal’s best independent (and highly affordable!) theatre at Centaur Theatre’s Wildside Festival, to January 12. Meanwhile, dance festival Bouge d’ici shines the spotlight on emerging choreographers and dancers, with evening cabaret shows as well as afternoon workshops for dancers and non-dancers alike, to January 18 at Mainline Theatre. Watch for solo contemporary dance at Espace culturel Georges-Émile-Lapalme at Place des Arts, where Compagnie Manuel Roque performs among the passers-by, January 15-17. And ObE, the new immersive multimedia project from French artists Maotik and Fraction, is unveiled on the 360-degree screen and in surround sound at SAT’s Satosphere, beginning January 15.

(warm up to art) Visit the waterways and artistic masterpieces of Venice at the Montreal Museum of Fine Arts in its Splendore a Venezia music-inspired art exhibition, on only until January 19 – and on January 12 at 2 p.m., see a puppet show inspired by the exhibition, perfect for the whole family. The Parisian Laundry gallery debuts new sculpture exhibition Théâtre D’objets by acclaimed artist Valérie Blass, opening January 15. Galerie de l’UQAM presents the final stop of Carol Wainio’s The Book exhibition, which engages with contemporary social and political thought via illustrated books and fairy tales, and Isabelle Guimond’s Rêve, Baby, Rêve!, large-scale paintings inspired by the Montreal neighbourhood of Hochelaga. Take a self-guided tour of the multi-storey Belgo building, home to numerous galleries and located right downtown at 372 Ste-Catherine West: Les Territoires shows Sophia Burke’s portraits of pastry that look good enough to eat and Tara Nicholson’s photographs of urban life’s so-called “secure” and comfortable private and public spaces; Galerie B-312 hosts a diverse group show of emerging artists who recently completely Masters degrees at Concordia and UQAM universities; SBC Gallery presents Stage Set Stage, a performance, film and workshop series on identity and institutionalization; and catch the last few days of Thierry Marceau’s Warhol-like Happy Meal, curated by Nicolas Mavrikakis, at Galerie Joyce Yahouda.

(live music) It didn’t take Montreal long to recover from New Year’s Eve: on January 11, the SAT hosts CHOK.ca’s free party made for late-night good times with hip hop from Tommy Kruise, Loud Lary Ajust and more. On January 12, Mercury Prize-winning singer-songwriter Jake Bugg visits Metropolis, while the dub-reggae of New Kingston, Inword and Riddim Wise Sound System hits Petit Campus. On January 14, electronic artist Nicolas Jaar and Brooklyn-based musician Dave Harrington perform together as DARKSIDE at Théâtre Corona. Montreal’s One Man Band Festival briefly comes out of winter hibernation to present the folk and country of Wax Mannequin, Nick Ferrio and The Sin and the Swoon, on January 11 at Casa del Popolo. The Montreal Symphony Orchestra with conductor Sir Andrew Davis mark the birth of composer Benjamin Britten with a concert that includes his Four Sea Interludes and Young Person’s Guide to the Orchestra, at Maison Symphonique on January 15 and 16. On January 16, the UK’s Yuck stops in Montreal to melodically rock out with Alvvays at Il Motore, while Frank Black and The Pixies work fans into a no
stalgic frenzy at Metropolis. And Igloofest begins January 16: dance along with hundreds of electronic music fans outside at the Old Port of Montreal to beats by Art Department, Kenny Larkin, Pat Boogie and more on two laser-lit stages.

Take advantage of your stay in Montreal with our Sweet Deal package filled with special offers valued at $500!