Things to do in Montreal this November

If anyone dared think that with the cooling effect of November weather came a cooling of things to see, eat and do in Montreal, they’d best think again. Some of Montreal’s most popular and interesting events and festivals are just getting warmed up…

M for Montreal is a four-day, taste-making music fest expressly designed to showcase a broad cross-section of the hottest independent music being made in Montreal. Last year’s fest – which combines four days and nights of performances with panels, conferences and creative meetings – drew 15,000 attendees, 100 artists and over 200 international industry professionals. The ninth edition of M for Montreal takes place at several downtown venues from Nov. 19-22.

Speaking of international, the 15th edition of the Festival du Monde Arabe de Montréal (or FMA), which begins Oct. 24, will wrap up on Nov. 8. Possessing four thematic pillars ­– performing arts, free events, cinema and a culture forum – the FMA exists at the intersection of Arab and Western cultures. Iranian didgeridoo? Check. Sufi trances with Congolese beats? Check. A head-spinning array of original dance, music, theatre and film at some of Montreal’s most intimate and intriguing locales? All checked.

Here’s the kind of November wining that won’t bring you down: the very appropriately titled Happy November initiative consists of several culinary events and wine tastings, each with its own distinct theme. For example, Montréal Passion Vin (Oct. 31 and Nov. 1), Salon des vins d’importation privée (Nov. 1-3) and La fête des vins du Québec (Nov. 28 to 30) all explore a dynamic range of imported and locally produced wines.

And if it’s your stomach you want to make happy, 140 different Montreal restaurants will participate in the Happy November-affiliated MTL à TABLE, from Oct. 30 until Nov. 9. MTL à TABLE is a 11-day celebration of food with affordable set menus of $19, $29 and $39 at many of the city’s best restos, so come explore popular places like Méchant Bœuf, Helena, L’Assommoir and Restaurant Globe.

Or maybe November is the time to catch up on all the fantastic filmmaking you’ve missed out on while festing your summer days away. Montreal has three unique, consecutive November film fests guaranteed to excite cinephiles. The first is Cinemania, which runs from Nov. 6-16, and features everything from the greats of French film to the best and brightest big screen up-and-comers, all subtitled in English, and all playing in downtown Montreal’s historic, beautifully restored Imperial Theatre.

Secondly, the Rencontres internationales du documentaire or Montreal International Documentary Festival (or simply RIDM) has been a going and growing concern. Since 1998, RIDM has been presenting an ever-expansive, carefully curated selection of the year’s best documentaries from both Canada and around the world. This year’s instalment takes place Nov. 12-23.

And third and lastly, the 27^th edition of Montreal’s venerable, edgy and illuminating lesbian/gay/bi/trans film festival, Image+Nation will close out the month of November from Nov. 20-30. They will officially announce their programming at the end of October.

If reading is more your speed this time of year, Montreal’s got that covered too. Expozine bills itself as Canada’s largest small press, comic and zine fair, and the extremely popular event consistently has the numbers to back that up, drawing some 15,000 folks annually for the more than 270 artists, writers and vendors onsite. The two-day creative madhouse takes place Nov. 15-16. Following that is Montreal’s expansive yearly book fair, the Salon du Livre, which affords literary-minded types the opportunity to meet favorite authors and discover new ones during events that include round-table discussions, debates, public readings and books as far as the eye can read.

Photo credits: Susan Moss, Eliane Achka, Susan Moss, RIDM Facebook page.

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