Why does everyone love Montreal?

[kwoldtimer]

Originally Posted by rousseau

I'm not much of a photographer. See flar's photos of Stratford, he's got it covered.

I don't think I've seen "Flar does Stratford". I'll have to check it out since his other Ontario town threads are spectacular. In any event, Stratford has a lot of charm and such a solid downtown.

[Stryker]

Originally Posted by rousseau

Whoa, thanks for the kind words, fellow SSPers. A while back I was suspended for ranting off-topic about the U.S. military in another thread and telling a mod to eff-off for calling said ranting "juvenile." I rubbed the powers-that-be the wrong way, and their heavy-handed reaction rubbed me the wrong way.

So I took a break. Took long walks on the beach in my capri pants. Took up water-colouring. Took voyeuristic photos of a middle-aged gymnast named Bruce. But I got tired of all this taking and no giving. That's no way to live.

lol mods glorified hall monitors.

if there were ever a more insufferable group of people.

The Canadian subforum is one of the few message boards where I don't find mods routinely moving and closing threads, because it suits their personal views and beliefs.

[Razor]

Originally Posted by kwoldtimer

I don't think I've seen "Flar does Stratford". I'll have to check it out since his other Ontario town threads are spectacular. In any event, Stratford has a lot of charm and such a solid downtown.

I love Flars work, but I also love Mr. John's twist as well..How about a Mr. John does Stratford?..Maybe some twisted angles at a Shakesperean play and a wreck down the street or something to that effect. Stratford like anywhere else can pull it off.

[MolsonExport]

Originally Posted by rousseau

Whoa, thanks for the kind words, fellow SSPers. A while back I was suspended for ranting off-topic about the U.S. military in another thread and telling a mod to eff-off for calling said ranting "juvenile." I rubbed the powers-that-be the wrong way, and their heavy-handed reaction rubbed me the wrong way.

So I took a break. Took long walks on the beach in my capri pants. Took up water-colouring. Took voyeuristic photos of a middle-aged gymnast named Bruce. But I got tired of all this taking and no giving. That's no way to live.

great to have you back at SSP.

[lio45]

He would probably find Stratford lacking in mafia bosses to photograph

[Kriz]

Why does everyone love Montreal? Here are a few reasons

• Video Link

[ssiguy]

Montreal has a bohemian atmosphere that no where in the country comes close to. It's history, architecture, and relaxed atmosphere offer a refreshing alternative to the sterility of Vancouver's glass condo downtown or the hectic and big city life that Toronto is cursed {or blessed} with. It has a wonderful built urban form and is awash with festivals, events, great restaurants, shopping, neighbourhoods, cultures, and beautiful architecture that no Canadian city has such a great blend of and it's unique French flavour is the icing on the cake.

As a city I still prefer Toronto but Montreal is a city you just can't help but love, it's an enchanting metropolis.

[Acajack]

Originally Posted by ssiguy

Montreal has a bohemian atmosphere that no where in the country comes close to. It's history, architecture, and relaxed atmosphere offer a refreshing alternative to the sterility of Vancouver's glass condo downtown or the hectic and big city life that Toronto is cursed {or blessed} with. It has a wonderful built urban form and is awash with festivals, events, great restaurants, shopping, neighbourhoods, cultures, and beautiful architecture that no Canadian city has such a great blend of and it's unique French flavour is the icing on the cake.

As a city I still prefer Toronto but Montreal is a city you just can't help but love, it's an enchanting metropolis.

Personally, and I am sure many will agree, I find that it's pretty cool that Canada's three biggest cities all have fairly different personalities and vibes.

[1overcosc]

Originally Posted by Acajack

Personally, and I am sure many will agree, I find that it's pretty cool that Canada's three biggest cities all have fairly different personalities and vibes.

Agreed 100%. It's great that we have so much variety of cities in this country. Regardless of what kind of city you like, chances are we have it here.

[logan5]

Ratio wise, Toronto has to be close to Vancouver on the glass condo front. Still though, the majority of DT Vancouver is not made up of glass condos.

Maybe I'm accustomed to it, but walking down Richards street (or wherever in Yaletown) doesn't feel all that bad to me. It's not Paris, but I wouldn't describe it as sterile. If we're talking Metrotown or Brentwood...

[lrt's friend]

Montreal has the advantage of being the home of Canada's old money giving it a richness in architecture unlike any other city. It has also had a major resurgence since the turmoil of the 1970s, 80s and 90s and can now proudly present its French flavour and cosmopolitan nature at the same time. There is a new confidence making it a welcoming city to everybody. The result is a city in a constant state of celebration especially during the summer months.

I think that Canadian cities in general have weathered the storm of change much better than their American counterparts, giving our cities a step ahead as each Canadian city develops its own unique character.

[OutOfTowner]

Montreal is Montreal. Best thing about it!

[ue]

Originally Posted by ssiguy

Montreal has a bohemian atmosphere that no where in the country comes close to. It's history, architecture, and relaxed atmosphere offer a refreshing alternative to the sterility of Vancouver's glass condo downtown or the hectic and big city life that Toronto is cursed {or blessed} with. It has a wonderful built urban form and is awash with festivals, events, great restaurants, shopping, neighbourhoods, cultures, and beautiful architecture that no Canadian city has such a great blend of and it's unique French flavour is the icing on the cake.

As a city I still prefer Toronto but Montreal is a city you just can't help but love, it's an enchanting metropolis.

I think it's fair to say Vancouver once had this vibe too, before the David Lam condos and Chinese investors. Victoria may still have it, but I haven't been in a long time, so I can't comment with certainty. Small interior cities like Nelson and Fernie definitely have that vibe on a small town scale. You get pockets of it in Toronto due to its sheer size, but it isn't the dominant vibe unless you're in key neighbourhoods like Parkdale or Roncesvalles.

[isaidso]

Originally Posted by Acajack

Personally, and I am sure many will agree, I find that it's pretty cool that Canada's three biggest cities all have fairly different personalities and vibes.

It's not limited to the 3 largest cities either. Canada is such a vast nation that cities coast to coast to coast offer lots of variation. Calgary, Winnipeg, Sudbury, Windsor, Halifax, St John's, Yellowknife, etc. They all have their own thing going on.

[Loco101]

Originally Posted by lrt's friend

Montreal has the advantage of being the home of Canada's old money giving it a richness in architecture unlike any other city. It has also had a major resurgence since the turmoil of the 1970s, 80s and 90s and can now proudly present its French flavour and cosmopolitan nature at the same time. There is a new confidence making it a welcoming city to everybody. The result is a city in a constant state of celebration especially during the summer months.

I think that Canadian cities in general have weathered the storm of change much better than their American counterparts, giving our cities a step ahead as each Canadian city develops its own unique character.

Extremely well said!!!

[shappy]

MTL's civic celebrations are generally engaging, well thought-out and contribute to the overall vibe of the place. The city does an excellent job with this, IMO. This is in contrast to the more shallow, unfocused affairs Toronto tends to put on... Cavalcade of Lights, anyone? It's somewhat better but the fromage is still palpable. The independent stuff is done well though like TIFF, Pride after party, Christmas market, etc. I think it's a purely political thing. The city needs to take it seriously - hire people that know what they're doing on this front, reassess any laws that act as obstacles, allocate an appropriate budget, etc - because it contributes greatly to the atmosphere of a place at a macro level (something which has been mostly elusive here though debatably important at all).

Originally Posted by ssiguy

Montreal has a bohemian atmosphere that no where in the country comes close to.

Not exactly I would say. I think Kensington has no peer on that front meanwhile places like Mile End and W Queen W are comparable. But I do think that someone living in say St. Leonard has more of a connection with the bohemian side of Montreal than say someone living in North York. So it's more a part of Montreal's civic culture than it is Toronto's. And if that's what you meant, then I kind of agree.

[Acajack]

Out of curiosity, did Toronto organize big celebrations for the 200th anniversary of the first settlement in 1993, or the 150th of the foundation of the city in 1984?

[Rico Rommheim]

Just came back from a 3-day trip in Toronto. It was the most fun I've ever had in that city (been there on average once a year as a child, but 4 times in the last 2 years or so), and this was because this time around I got to hang out with a bunch of true Torontonians my age.

From a stoner banker who lives in a 2,400$/month box-sized condo on Simcoe, to the high-society cocktail party in the beaches, to the late-night korean bbq with a bunch of hipster doofuses, to the shady friend-of-friends I pooled with somewhere in the west-end of town. I got to ride Toronto's surprisingly relic of a streetcar system extensively, I finally got to use the subway. The subway was one of my top highlights of that trip. An old, clunky, dirty, ugly and slow big old relic of a system. People use tokens and paper transfers! It was a lot of fun. Usually I got to TO and meet my boring relatives in Mississauga and get to spend maybe 1 or 2 hours around the bus terminal or Union, but this time around I got to see the inner neighbourhoods and got to visit places tourists wouldn't usually see.

I got to eat at momofuku (best ramen bowl I've had this side of the lake), I got to eat at a 24h fish and chip shop on like Dupont, I got to run around frantically down this opera reception, and in general I got to meet absolutely zero assholes.

Toronto is just a different place than Montreal. It isn't better or worse. Outside of a few downtown blocks it doesn't feel or look bigger than Montreal. Of course, I've told a bunch of my montreal friends about Toronto and they were blown away by my experience. I told all my Torontonian friends (currently exiles in montreal) about it and they were all very uninterested. Strange.

For me, Toronto is the answer to the question: what if NDG were allowed to grow out as its own city?

[niwell]

Originally Posted by Rico Rommheim

Juts came back from a 3-day trip in Toronto. It was the most fun I've ever had in that city (been there on average once a year as a child, but 4 times in the last 2 years or so), and this was because this time around I got to hang out with a bunch of true Torontonians my age.

From a stoner banker who lives in a 2,400$/month box-sized condo on Simcoe, to the high-society cocktail party in the beaches, to the late-night korean bbq with a bunch of hipster doofuses, to the shady friend-of-friends I pooled with somewhere in the west-end of town. I got to ride Toronto's surprisingly relic of a streetcar system extensively, I finally got to use the subway. The subway was one of my top highlights of that trip. An old, clunky, dirty, ugly and slow big old relic of a system. People use tokens and paper transfers! It was a lot of fun. Usually I got to TO and meet my boring relatives in Mississauga and get to spend maybe 1 or 2 hours around the bus terminal or Union, but this time around I got to see the inner neighbourhoods and got to visit places tourists wouldn't usually see.

I got to eat at momofuku (best ramen bowl I've had this side of the lake), I got to eat at a 24h fish and chip shop on like Dupont, I got to run around frantically down this opera reception, and in general I got to meet absolutely zero assholes.

Sounds like you got to experience TO as it's meant to be experienced!

[ScreamingViking]

Originally Posted by Rico Rommheim

Just came back from a 3-day trip in Toronto. It was the most fun I've ever had in that city (been there on average once a year as a child, but 4 times in the last 2 years or so), and this was because this time around I got to hang out with a bunch of true Torontonians my age.

From a stoner banker who lives in a 2,400$/month box-sized condo on Simcoe, to the high-society cocktail party in the beaches, to the late-night korean bbq with a bunch of hipster doofuses, to the shady friend-of-friends I pooled with somewhere in the west-end of town. I got to ride Toronto's surprisingly relic of a streetcar system extensively, I finally got to use the subway. The subway was one of my top highlights of that trip. An old, clunky, dirty, ugly and slow big old relic of a system. People use tokens and paper transfers! It was a lot of fun. Usually I got to TO and meet my boring relatives in Mississauga and get to spend maybe 1 or 2 hours around the bus terminal or Union, but this time around I got to see the inner neighbourhoods and got to visit places tourists wouldn't usually see.

I got to eat at momofuku (best ramen bowl I've had this side of the lake), I got to eat at a 24h fish and chip shop on like Dupont, I got to run around frantically down this opera reception, and in general I got to meet absolutely zero assholes.

Toronto is just a different place than Montreal. It isn't better or worse. Outside of a few downtown blocks it doesn't feel or look bigger than Montreal. Of course, I've told a bunch of my montreal friends about Toronto and they were blown away by my experience. I told all my Torontonian friends (currently exiles in montreal) about it and they were all very uninterested. Strange.

For me, Toronto is the answer to the question: what if NDG were allowed to grow out as its own city?

As for Montreal... it's just got that... that... that thing, ya know? (I could say it, but I won't... because cliché )