Things to Do in Montreal: March 7-13

Things to do in Montreal photo by Susan Moss

It’s been a busy, wintry February in Montreal, and March doesn’t show any signs of the city slowing down: there’s still plenty to do outside, especially if you’re traveling with the family, and music, art, theatre, circus and more to entertain indoors…

(end-of-winter fun) It’s not quiet spring yet in Montreal, but this weekend marks the tail end of Spring Break, for kids, though there are still all kinds of winter activities to keep everyone busy, from sledding and snowshoeing in Mount Royal Park to ice skating at the Olympic Park Winter Village, snowboarding at Parc Jean-Drapeau, and sampling fresh maple syrup at the Botanical Garden – for even more maple syrup indulgence, dive into the sweet and savoury offerings at sugar shacks in the city and beyond. For top-notch family entertainment indoors, see Disney on Ice: Let’s Party! featuring Disney’s heroes and villains at the Bell Centre to March 9, or opt for the circus at Montreal’s circus centre La Tohu where Australian circus troupe Circus Oz performs From the Ground Up! to March 9. Meanwhile, NYC choreographer Kyle Abraham brings his youth-friendly urban dance show Pavement to Théâtre Maisonneuve at Place des Arts, March 6-8, with an artist talk on March 7 right after the performance.

(theatre dance) The romance between French sculptors Auguste Rodin and Camille Claudel, in all its torrid drama and tragedy, comes to the stage in Peter Quanz’s contemporary ballet Rodin/Claudel, performed by Les Grands Ballets, March 13-22, 2014 at Théâtre Maisonneuve. Comedian Bill Burr entertains in a bonus second show at Metropolis on March 11. And in theatre, see the real Montreal during World World I, in Motherhouse, written by political, award-winning playwright David Fennario, at Centaur Theatre. And, adding contemporary puppetry to its repertoire, Talisman Theatre presents the epic, supernatural tale of The Aeneid, complete with all its modern-day relevance to revolution and the search for home, at Theatre La Chapelle, March 6-15.

(underground art) Follow the twists and turns of downtown Montreal’s underground passageways on display for Art Souterrain, on until March 16. And on Saturday, March 8, Art Souterrain presents free performances and workshops as part of the 6th edition of Mise en Lumière at Place des Arts from noon to 5 p.m. – among the art on display, turn your voice into music in an igloo made entirely of speakers, play collaborative drawing game Cadavre Exquis, make and send postcard art, have your picture taken by a pro, and more. Over at the Musee d’art contemporain on March 7, artist Christian Marclay’s The Clock begins a full 24-hour cycle accompanied by eclectic performances by Montreal musicians Radwan Ghazi Moumneh and Suuns, with DJs playing more music until 3 in the morning. And Concordia University’s multidisciplinary art festival Art Matters begins March 7 with exhibitions and parties at venues across town.

(live music) Synth-pop rules Friday night as Trust and Mozart’s Sister turn the SAT into a dancing zone. On March 8, Wanting sings and plays piano at Le Savoy at Metropolis, while the Festival Under the Snow presents the amazing Americana-folk singer-songwriter Marissa Nadler, along with Corinna Rose, at Casa del Popolo. Coming on like an indie-rock U2, Seattle’s The Augustines shake Le Belmont on March 9, with openers My Goodness. The Montreal Symphony Chamber Choir is joined by percussion group Sixtrum and pianist Marie-Ève Scarfone for a performance of Carmina Burana and more, March 9 and 11 at the Maison Symphonique. Also on March 9 at Place des Arts, Shahram Nazeri, the “Pavarotti of Iran,” and an All Star Ensemble stop in Montreal on their world tour. On March 10, singer-songwriter Teitur, with Elliot Maginot, stops in on his North American tour to romance us at Divan Orange. And on March 13, Pop Montreal presents the return of one of Montreal’s original indie-rock bands, Islands, at La Sala Rossa and unclassifiable L.A. musician Jack Name plays music from his new album Light Show, at Casa del Popolo, with Slim Twig and Brave Radar opening.