By Micheline-Marie Filion
The weather is getting cooler, the days are suddenly much shorter. The excitement of summer seems to be giving way to a bit of boredom: once the festivals and terraces are finished, how will we fill our days? Here are three ways to fully enjoy this time of year.
Nature seems to be slowing down, so why not do the same and gain inspiration by giving yourself a relaxing day. Start it off right with a coffee surrounded by cozy and purring felines at Chat L'Heureux or at Café des chats. Then head over to one of the lounge chair benches like those at Molson Park, Baldwin Park or along the Lachine Canal to spend a lovely afternoon reading a comic book.
Peckish? Leave your bench for a few moments to get something to eat: a superb Vietnamese sandwich at Sandwiches Sue (the mango and papaya salad is absolutely a must), the burger at the Les Belles sœurs restaurant, or some salad prepared by Première moisson Atwater. Then, swap the park's vegetation for the soothing warmth of a spa bath at Bota bota or at Scandinave Montréal. Top it all off with the serene contemplation of the starry skies – or head to the Rio Tinto Alcan Planetarium if the sky is covered!
The summer has left your hair damaged by chlorine and it’s time to hang up to your pineapple blouse. Yes, that’s the inevitable reality of autumn running its cold hand over the last remnants of your tan. It’s time to do something. Take care of your hair first – and there’s no better way to do so than get pampered in luxurious splendour by visiting the HED Salon, while those sporting an untamed beard should head over to Helmet.
To chase away the hints of too many summer cocktails, you might then go to Naturajus to drink a detoxifying concoction (try BLISS, whose flamboyant colour reminds us of the most beautiful leaves of the season).
To unify your complexion, stock up on gentle exfoliants at Bio Terre or at the very chic Aesop boutique located nearby. You can then move on to a wardrobe update by trading your surfer look for some local creations with the help of shops like Belle et Rebelle, Les coureurs de jupons or Cokluch.
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Autumn is full of indoor cultural activities that will (re)warm your spirit. You can start with a snack at the famous Olivieri bookstore-bistro. Then you're spoiled for choice! Take shelter at the Satosphere and enjoy the immersive experience of Liquid Architecture, an impressive 3D projection (October 31 to November 25, 2017).
Visit a collection of contemporary art companies or discover why one becomes a special collector thanks to the Museum of Contemporary Art of Montreal (November 22nd and December 6th). Attend out-of-the-ordinary plays: Plastic Heroes objects theatre (November 2-4) or Conte monstrueux (Monstrous Tale) with Petite sorcière (November 14-25) at Théâtre aux Écuries.
Discover new indie music bands by letting yourself be inspired by big acts such as Sparklesaurus, The History of Gunpower, Double Date with Death or La Witch (in November and December – check out the schedule of the Casa del Popolo, the Divan orange and Bar the Ritz). Finally, take in an intense story during a Slam night (every third Tuesday of the month at Quai des brumes).
To finish it off, we bring images to life with the 13 luminous cylinders of Luminothérapie (from December 8 to January 29 at the Place des Festivals).
