A few new venues for booze and to-dos
A look at some spaces you might not know yet
by RUPERT BOTTENBERG, LORRAINE CARPENTER, and RAF KATIGBAK
Café Silencio 3645 Notre-Dame O., 939-1113
The long-term plans for this big, street-level space on St-Henri's increasingly hopping stretch of Notre-Dame near Atwater are impressive, potentially a cool, counterculture complex. Even now, though, its single room is spacious enough to house quite comfortably all manner of worthwhile events - bands, art shows, screenings, theatre, readings and, well, what do you have in mind? By day it's a lovely spot to take a bite and a coffee, fair trade guaranteed, and hit the books (or watch the changing neighbourhood go by). Live music happens frequently - check out www.cafesilencio.com for updates.
Circus 915 Ste-Catherine E., 844-0188
Found in the prestigious Ste-Catherine Hall in the Village, this two-floor loft style afterhours club features exposed brick walls, hardwood floors and charming upscale décor. Certainly the most ornate of the afterhours clubs, their mandate since last season's opening has been to support an eclectic mix of homegrown electro, techno house and hip hop DJs and performers. "The good thing about Circus," says resident DJ Nivoc, "is that the guy in charge of booking is also a DJ, and he's giving the local DJs and producers more of a chance because he understands it's more long term. It's beautiful."
Euro Lounge 3802 St-Laurent, 282-0386
It's unclear at presstime whether this swank new space on the Main actually accepts euros at the bar, or only the faithful loonie. They take neither at the door - admission is free, and they're open from noon to 3 a.m. daily. Thursday nights see DJ Bear dishing out house and funk, Friday through Sunday it's hip hop, R&B and reggae with DJ Yunik and friends.
Gravity 30 Ste-Catherine E., 879-0009
Boasting a unifying circular motif, next-generation Angel Moraes custom-built sound system, sprung dancefloor, bean-bagged private surround-sound cinema and nifty, foot-operated waterfall sinks, Gravity has style to spare. Low ceilings and a close to the action DJ booth give the club an intimate NYC basement house club feel, almost like a cleaner, classier Playground. "Here, if we get to have a hot DJ," explains club director and resident Angel Moraes, "we want them to be the cherry on top but not the whole cake. The place is the whole cake, the place is the party."
Mhotel 951 Rachel E., 522-9773
"What happens at Mhotel stays at Mhotel," claims the sign in the door at this cozy, kitschy lounge. From the outside, it's an inconspicuous, grey-green shack with smoke-stained curtains, an appropriately sleazy exterior for the '70s explosion inside. DJs spin a mixed bag of music from Thursday to Sunday, when patrons can cap their weekend with Pascal Mantovani's house sound.
Mile End Cultural Centre 5390 St-Laurent
Live shows, CD launches, theme nights and DJ parties are filling the calendar fast at this Greenland Productions-run showroom, set to open sometime in May. With reportedly great sound and sight lines, the 150-capacity space will be put to use for more intimate Greenland gigs and rented out to other local promoters. In the meantime, the Green Room is already open for business downstairs, with a bar and programmed jukebox awaiting patrons. Keep and eye on www.greenland.ca.
Les Nouveaux Barbares 4032 Notre-Dame W.,
Just across the street from Place St-Henri metro is this sleek, chic joint, a gallery/café with the option to rock when the sun sets. Bucking the keep-it-classic trend of other cafés, the owners have gone for a sheer, bold look. A clever, see-through division semi-separates the smaller front room, which is mainly a dining area (great brunch going on here) from the back. High ceilings give the already roomy back room more, uh, roominess and let the wisely-selected art on the walls breathe.
Café Petite Gaule 2525 Centre, 931-1919
"Bière, musik & politik" is the agenda at this thriving café/bar/show spot in Pointe St-Charles, conveniently kitty corner to Charlevoix metro, open at 4 p.m. daily save Mondays. Plenty of local music, art and literary evenings going on at this co-op, generally with a political slant to them - La Petite Gaule aims to be an axis for civil activism and community self-support in its area. Go to www.cafepetitegaule.com for their manifesto and schedule.
Sablo Kafé 50 St-Zotique E., 807-8241
Up Little Italy way, just off St-Laurent, you'll find this bright, cozy, plant-positive nook. The art on the walls is well chosen, the food fabulous and heaping (the jerk chicken sandwich is a standout), so a daytime visit is worthwhile. At night, the party gets rolling. On the live tip, every Tuesday sees the organic improv of the Kalmunity collective, Fridays the acoustic soul of Eclipse Lounge, Saturdays a rotating roster of bands - jazz, bossa nova, synth-pop, what have you. Electric Soul Wednesdays have DJ Hughes Dumontier selecting the tunes.
Tap Room 500 Rachel E., 524-4446
This simply chic space opens every day at 11 a.m., playing sports and music on 14 screens and serving pub food and international brews to Plateau dwellers and local vedettes into the wee hours. Bluesman Carl Tremblay plays on Monday evenings as of May 4, the Tap Room house band mixes it up on Wednesdays, and DJs Simon B, Phil Larochelle and Eric Lapointe spin rock, pop, alternative, funk, hip hop and house on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays, respectively.
Velvet 420 St-Gabriel, 878-9782
Located adjacent to the historic Auberge Saint-Gabriel in the heart of the Old Port, this bar/lounge has quickly become a hotspot for the post-rave, house- and techno-loving mid-20 set. The gorgeous, '60s-cabaret-styled brick, hardwood and red carpet décor creates a warm and inviting atmosphere with a friendly, sensual, yet distinctively non-meat-market vibe. Classy without being snooty, Saturday's popular Monokini tech-house nights feature rotating residents Eloi Brunelle, François LeBaron and Baya.
