Things to do in Montreal to beat those winter blahs - Part 2

Seeing as it is snowing profusely in Montreal at this very moment, I couldn't think of a better day to post the second part of my 2 part series.  Today is March 1st, and I don't know about everyone else, but I've had enough of winter already.  Getting 10 to 20 cm of snow on March 1st, just makes it feel like winter is just starting all over again, and spring just seems that much further away.  To paint you a picture, here is the view outside my window right now:

March 1st 2012 - Montreal

So what can we do to beat those blahs that have settled in until we finally get our first glimpse of spring?  Here are a few suggestions that might do the trick:

5) Snowshoeing, cross-country skiing or inner-tubing on the mountain

Photo credit: lemontroyal.qc.ca

Who says you have to drive miles out of the city to enjoy all those winter sports.  Mont-Royal, or 'The Mountain' as we like to call it, offers the possibility to practice many of these winter favorites, in the heart of the city.  You can rent all the necessary equipment at the Lac aux Castors pavilion, located at the center of the mountain.  The pavilion is easily accessible by foot or by car.  The rental counter is open Sunday to Thursday, 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. and Friday and Saturday, 9 a.m. to 10 p.m. until March 12th depending on snow conditions.  More details at http://bit.ly/i10B7i.


6) Attending a show

Photo credit: © 2010 Cirque du Soleil inc.

The circus is in town...The Cirque du Soleil that is. One of their latest shows Michael Jackson: The immortal World Tour is a visual masterpiece  that is not only riveting but also a great tribute to the late king of pop.  The first concert I ever attended as a child was a Michael Jackson concert at the Olympic Stadium, and I was mesmerized back then, so I can only imagine how incredible this show promises to be.  The show is on in Montreal March 20th, 21st & 22nd only. For tickets and more information got directly to the site http://bit.ly/ayFpp7.


7) How about a little art and culture

Photo credit: © Biosphère,
Environment Museum

Montreal is a very culturally rich city, with so much to offer that it's hard to choose just one cultural event to attend, so I'll have to suggest a few.  For all you environmentally conscious people, the ONE - Outfits from a New Era exhibit at the Montreal Biosphere is an original exhibit that showcases several different outfits fashioned from, well...trash basically. The artists behind these outfits found a creative way to show their love for the environment with pieces such as a Bullet Dress made with 2,000 shotgun shells, or the Caustic Swimsuit made of 1,200 batteries.  This is a must see exhibit to get a feel of what can be done with things that we would normally throw away without a second thought. http://bit.ly/ieXGp1.

Photo credit: Natalia Matsak

 
Another heartwarming cultural outing is a night out at the ballet.  Les Grands Ballets Canadiens is presenting Swan Lake March 8th to 11th at Place des Arts in the Salle Wilfrid-Pelletier. A beautiful, timeless classic for any ballet lover.  For tickets and info check out the site http://bit.ly/hzy6K3.

Photo credit: ©Suzanne Held

 
For a little international culture, don't miss the Colours of India exhibition at the Pointe-à-Callière, Montreal Museum of Archaeology and History.  A colourful trip through landscapes, ethnicity, traditions and beliefs of Indian culture presented with photographs and artifacts that are true to India.  The exhibit runs until April 22nd 2012 and you can visit the site for more details: http://bit.ly/qG04aP.






8) Throw a tropical theme party

Taken from vezinapartycentre.com
Item no. 55982

If you can't get away to the Tropics in the winter, why not bring the tropics to you.  An excellent way to do this is to throw a Tropical theme party.  The beauty of this type of party is that you can keep it low-key and do it at home or do it up grand and rent a space and throw a mega party-of-all-parties! You can find all kinds of theme decorations and party favours at your local party store.  The best one I know of in the city is Vezina Party Centre on Metropolitain Blvd East near Langelier.  You'll find everything there from Grass Hula skirts, inflatable Palm trees to Mexican Sombreros and even Tropical Back drops to really give it that tropical feel.  Check out the selection of products at www.vezinapartycentre.com.



So there really isn't a lack of things to do in Montreal to beat those winter blahs, you just have to get out there and pick one, or all of them.  I'm sure that participating in some of these activities will not only chase away those blues, but also help make the winter go by just a little bit faster.

How about you, what do you plan to do to chase away those blues?


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