1. E. FASHION. CULTURE N°8
Travel My
Planet Bleu:
MONTREAL
NIGHTS
PALETTE
PLEASURES
OF SOUTH
CAROLINA
IODNEY
CHESTER
SPENCER
MEANS
MIGUEL
ANTOINNE
DEMARCO
MAJORS
• I f
FOR LEADII
HOLLYWO(
': SERIOU
0I I I I
74470"23560I I I I
6I

2. TRAVEL
Allonsy a Montreal: some magfcat things^
around under our noses, or in this case,
just across the border, as we explore all
wonders this exciting city hasto offer.
DONTRE CONERLY
Not quite Paris, not
quite New York, Mon-
treal is a melange of
international cultural
influences that have
shaped a destina-
tion which appeals
to the world traveler;
combining the best
of North America
and Europe in a chic,
savvy, island-city of
incredible diver-
sity. Heralded as the
second-largest
French-speaking city
in the Western world,
after Paris, the city is
surrounded by a sea
of Anglophone cous-
ins, which not only
gives its residents the
advantage of being
bilingual, but very
welcoming to those
who don't speak
French. A casual stroll
through Montreal's
city streets revealsa
miscegenetic mix of
cultures that converge
in a true meltingpot.
Stroll the
Streets
In the shadow of
Montreal's founding
father, Paul Chomedey
de Maisonneuve, the
Basilique Notre-
Dame—which shares
its name with Paris'
famed cathedral-
looms as the crowning
jewel of the city's
historical neighbor-
hood, "Vieux-Mon-
treal" (Old Montreal).
The magnamity of the
church's splendor and
grandeur commands
quiet reflection and
leaves on in awe, as
24-karat gold stars on
a vaulted ceiling rise
above an immense
organ, which boasts
of almost 7000
individual pipes. It is
said that the inten-
sity of the church's
interior converted its
Protestant architect to
Catholicism.
Serviced by horse-
drawn caleches,
Vieux-Montreal's
cobblestone streets
are maintained and re-
stored as a consistent
part of the city's past
heritage; though, to
experience the city's
progression, one
needs head under-
ground to the city's
subterranean pe-
destrian tunnels that
expand over 5 miles of
downtown Montreal.
Named the "Under-
ground City," the air-
conditioned, lighted
passageways play
host to some of Mon-
treal's best shopping,
and even connect to
banks, malls, hotels,
the metro system, and
dining. In the winter,
bitter cold force more
than 500,000 people
through the corridors
on a daily basis.
Historical
Delicacies
As noted by many a
food critic, Montreal's
cuisine is heavily influ-
enced by its allophone
communities, where
Jewish smoked-meat
sandwiches (such as
those at Schwartz's)
and oven-fired bagels,
baked in honeyed
water, have enjoyed
international fame,
alongside Japanese
suishi. And while
Canada has enjoyed
celebrity status for its
maple syrup, Montreal
is also renown for its
cheeses, with well
over 300 varieties,
and several different
flavors and textures.
Many of these cheeses
can only be sampled
within Canada due to
the fact that they are
made with unpasteur-
ized milk.
Those unwilling
to brave an all-out
fromage, might
consider starting with
Montreal's signature
dish, poutine. Popular
with the club-goers
seeking to abate their
inebriation after a
night of partying, pou-
tine are french fries
topped with gravy
and partially-melted
cheese curds. Though
time has led to many
different toppings and
variations on the origi-
nal recipe, many still
opt for the basic.
TheScenes
Hailed as North
America's largest
gay village, the area
contained along St.
WINTER 2009

3. M'M
Catherine from Berri
to de Lorimier, and on
the north-south axis,
from Rene-Levesque
to Sherbrooke is a
vibrant square that
thrives with exciting
nightlife, cosmopoli-
tan bars, chic lounges,
and beautiful people.
Gay-owned and gay-
friendly businesses
line the streets, where
friends, couples, and
tourists congregate
in bookshops, cafes,
shopping boutiques,
and hotels. Even the
metro station in the
heart of the gayvil-
lage, Beaudry, proudly
welcomes travelers to
the gay village with
its facade of rainbow
columns.
An eclectic mix of
nightclubs dot RueSt.
Catherine, offering ev-
erything from karaoke
and drag performanc-
es, to hip-hop dance
clubs and techno
beats. The three levels
of Club Sky offer club-
bers a night of most
all musical genres,
from hip-hop and R&B
on the second floor, to
salsa and merengue
on its ground level.
There are many
draws to Montreal,
but, its exoticism
lies in its people, its
culture, and its mus-
ings. The habitants of
Montreal are a unique,
diverse people, who
possess a certain joie
de vivre that is con-
tagious. They are fun-
loving, generous, and
very welcoming; maps
of the city broken into
various communities,
or Quarters,show
many immigrant hubs,
such as the Chinese
Quarter and the Latin
Quarter, which are
juxtaposed with the
foundational cobble-
stones of historical
"Old Montreal."
No matter your
reason for a vacation,
Montreal is truly a
destination that has
something for every-
one. A leader amongst
equals, it stands apart
from Paris and New
York, but beckons the
same daring spirit in
its visitors.
Montreal
has the
highest
number of
per capita
in North
America
after NY.