Montreal Jazzfest info needed?

[mr monty]

Stay downtown or near the airport?
Drive, walk, bike, or public transportation to get around town?

thanks,

 

[Fuuma]

Originally Posted by mr monty

Stay downtown or near the airport?
Drive, walk, bike, or public transportation to get around town?

thanks,

Near the airport!!??? Yuck. Take a guess. Downtown, say in the Plateau or Old port area not in the "financial district", which sucks ass and is where the tourists are.

Walk+public transportation. Don't try to drive during festivals which are set in the streets, they're closed and driving in MTL is sorta pointless anyway.

 

[SField]

Originally Posted by Fuuma

Near the airport!!??? Yuck. Take a guess. Downtown, say in the Plateau or Old port area not in the "financial district", which sucks ass and is where the tourists are.

Walk+public transportation. Don't try to drive during festivals which are set in the streets, they're closed and driving in MTL is sorta pointless anyway.

The financial district would be what, like one or two city blocks?

 

[Bona Drag]

Wear all black, round James Joyce glasses, a goatee, and a beret; use the phrase 'Prestige peaked after hard bop's moment had passed, I think' as often as possible.

 

[Fuuma]

Originally Posted by SField

The financial district would be what, like one or two city blocks?

Nah it's a pretty big area if you add the douchey bar streets and tourist traps all around it. They're all to be avoided at all cost. I'm just telling him to go south of that (so old port) or East of that, hopefully not McGill ghetto.

 

[audiophilia]

Originally Posted by SField

The financial district would be what, like one or two city blocks?

LOL

Just stay downtown.

 

[andyw]

If you will stay more than a few days, rent a loft in Old Montreal.......

http://www.loftsduvieuxport.com/

.........or in one of the many fine boutique hotels in Old Montreal. You'll have access to all the music venues easily by foot and also to the shopping areas.

To get around, besides walking cabs are plentiful and they'll speak English, or take the Metro.

 

[SField]

Originally Posted by Fuuma

Nah it's a pretty big area if you add the douchey bar streets and tourist traps all around it. They're all to be avoided at all cost. I'm just telling him to go south of that (so old port) or East of that, hopefully not McGill ghetto.

so you're saying avoid Crescent and St. Laurent? Are you including those in that area?

 

[Fuuma]

Originally Posted by SField

so you're saying avoid Crescent and St. Laurent? Are you including those in that area?

No St-Laurent is fine, Crescent should be avoided at all costs, including ditching your friends. You only go there when you know what you're doing and there are like 3 places to go on the whole street, the crowd sucks. Basically go with sound judgment because it switches quickly, when you sense the lack of suckage and a reduction in tourists and office workers you're ok. You've travelled and been to MTL before so you'd easily manage I'm sure.

 

[SField]

Originally Posted by Fuuma

No St-Laurent is fine, Crescent should be avoided at all costs, including ditching your friends. You only go there when you know what you're doing and there are like 3 places to go on the whole street, the crowd sucks. Basically go with sound judgment because it switches quickly, when you sense the lack of suckage and a reduction in tourists and office workers you're ok. You've travelled and been to MTL before so you'd easily manage I'm sure.

Dude I don't even know if there are places on Crescent I'd go besides maybe Newtown, but that brings mostly wannabe west island guidos.

 

[Smartalox]

Originally Posted by SField

Dude I don't even know if there are places on Crescent I'd go besides maybe Newtown, but that brings mostly wannabe west island guidos.

I used to drink often in the little pub beneath Newtown - Ziggy's. Lots of interesting characters, and great atmosphere, but not a place to try to pick up.

If you DO happen to find yourself marooned on Crescent, your best bet to salvage the night is to head to the rooftop bar at Hotel de la Montagne, one street East. Cross the lobby to the elevators and go, no reservations necessary. On warm, clear nights, they have a band playing up there, a bar, and generally better looking (and better behaved) crowd. When I lived there I found it a little slice of heaven. Next door is Wanda's Cabaret, also a favorite destination!

Definitely stay in the city, and walk and or use transit around Montreal, especially around Jazz Fest. Financial District hotels will usually mark up rooms during Jazz fest because they're mostly a few blocks from the action. Same with the hotels on Sherbrooke. Look for hotels on the Metro Line. If you're on the metro lines, you can be a bit farther away from Place des Arts, and still get there easily. St Denis above Sherbrooke to Rachel and many of the side-streets in that area are great for restaurants and smaller jazz clubs away from the main action; below Sherbrooke it is more touristy. You can approach St. Denis along de Maisonneuve, or Ave President Kennedy. If you get a chance to go to le Grand Spectacle (the big free show at Place des Arts on the Wednesday night) Go. One hundred thousand people can't be wrong.