Haven’t been there, haven’t done that—yet

Once again, some neat new joints to check
out after dark

by SCOTT C, LORRAINE CARPENTER and RAF KATIGBAK
photos by RACHEL GRANOFSKY

Barmacie Baldwin
115 Laurier W., 276-4282

Named after co-owner Alexandre’s grandmother Mrs. Baldwin (who for 40 years worked at the Pharmacy on the corner of St-Viateur and St-Laurent, later becoming Café Esperanza), this bright, intimate and chic lounge has a sort of Blizzarts-in-Mile-End feel. While the sunken dancefloor area in the front has a minimalist, design-y feel, the rear is more retro, with vinyl couches and yellow-glass tulip lamps. The hip, 30-something, mostly French crowd ranges from local fashion mavens to collegiate types who are open-minded enough to rock out to everything from Aphex Twin, Beastie Boys, Gorillaz and Tiga in the course of a single mix. With a mostly casual, fun and relaxed vibe, there’s also that tingly suspicion that a monster party is just a song away.

Friendship Cove
933-5518, friendshipcove@hotmail.com

From the folks behind the Electric Tractor comes another semi-secret meeting space for artists and indie rockers. Passed down from one group of artists to another, the old dairy—“Horses used to feed where the bands play,” says co-founder Jack Dylan—is now being used for recording and rehearsing music, playing and spinning it for the public, and metal-working and exhibiting art—though rarely all at once. Make friends at www.myspace.com/friendshipcove.

Lola Lounge
1023 Bleury, 844-7786

After years of late-night lounging on Bleury, Luba Lounge has closed, and reopened further down the same street under the name Lola Lounge. Committed to the same laidback vibe as Luba, Lola is quite a sight bigger than the old place, and there are plans to open a terrasse come spring. This reincarnation has opted to pass on a dancefloor as well, but you should still check out Tuff Guy Tuesdays with Maysr and DJ Masterbeater, Chillin’ Cypherism Fridays with Godfather D, and the sounds of Team Canada on their Saturday nights, the Truth.

Macao Tapas Bar
2070 St-Denis, 223-6411

Tucked in among the restaurants, bars, cafés and head shops on St-Denis below Sherbrooke, this cozy new eatery (capacity: 100) has been packing in the weekend party people with a revolving cast of electro DJs since May. It’s also available to book for parties, for free, so long as the events are open to the public and Macao gets the bar.

Le Manoir
1445 Bishop, 849-8585

Don’t be surprised if you’ve never heard of le Manoir. While it’s been open for over a year, this 120-year-old heritage building has been working below the radar, quickly becoming a late-night hotspot for people who consider themselves in the know. Once the mansion of Montreal building tycoon Peter Lyall (of Sun Life Building, Centaur Theatre and Royal Vic fame), this place is a former brothel (and later, even seedier than that, a lawyer’s house). From the façade of sandstone imported from Scotland to the oak floors and hand-carved banisters, everything about this two-storey space oozes exclusivity (including their door policy). With Thursday nights being a real contender for best party in town, this gorgeous spot has huge potential, if you’re lucky enough to get in (insider tip: being accompanied by a six-foot Amazonian babe will most likely help).

Myst
380 St-Jacques W., 849-6978

If you want to know what Myst is like inside, take a look at what’s parked outside: a Lamborghini, a couple of Ferraris, the odd Porsche—luxurious, sleek, high-end, expensive. This Old Port supper club has become somewhat of a go-to place for Montreal’s high-rolling deal-makers and ball-breakers. With a selection of Zilon prints lining the rear wall next to the raised, curtained-off VIP area, the real centrepiece of the space is an eight-foot-high, glassed-in wine cellar where you can pick up a $1,100 bottle of 2002 Petrus to go with your $69 shrimp plate (three shrimp), if you’re feeling particularly spicy. Saturday-night hip hop and house nights are insane, so don’t even think of coming without a reservation and plans to drop a couple of C-notes on bottle service.

Playhouse
5656 Parc, 961-8306

After a long run as a strip club, this Mile-End haunt has been testing the waters as a non-nudie bar for the past few years, finally taking the rock route this summer. Wax, a member of Evil Boys From Hell and the guy behind club soirées such as Spooky Boogie Nights, has organized garage rock Thursdays, psychobilly Fridays and rock ’n’ roll Saturdays, with members of Gutter Demons, Demon’s Claw, CPC Gangbangs and himself DJing. Style-appropriate live bands are booked whenever possible, and there’s no pay-to-play.

Roxy
1426 Stanley, 288-5258

With creatively alliterative names like Seductive Saturdays and Fusion Fridays, and the particularly blunt Famous Dead People party (aka Music Lust) planned for Halloween, this new two-floor establishment in the location of the former Sphinx is trying hard to throw a little over-21 panache into Montreal’s abysmal downtown scene. Friday nights, it’s house on the first floor with Eddy Lewis and Top 40 and retro with DJ Raw on the second. Saturday, DJ Darren D drops R&B and house all night long. Dress code is “proper and trendy, no hats, caps, sportswear or baggy jeans”—you get the picture.

Vinyl Lounge
2109 Bleury, 844-7786

Picking up where Luba Lounge left off, Vinyl aims to build on the intimate space that was home to many weekly happenings over the last few years. Although there’s still no dancefloor to speak of, there’s a new sound system, and guests are still free to “create” a dancefloor wherever they want. New management means a fresh start for all involved, so whether it’s Golden Oldies Wednesdays with DJ OL.D, Peer Pressure Saturdays with DJ Static and A-Rock, or Friday nights with the KOPS Crew, Vinyl’s got the groove locked.