Canada CityDome: Montreal vs. Vancouver

[Mason]

As far as the bad neighborhoods thing, all my friends in both Vancouver and Montreal say Winnipeg beats both in that category... "it's a *real* dirty Canadian city".. whatever that means.

Murder capital of Canada, from what I've heard.

I'd definitely say Winnipeg is a much dirtier/shittier place than Vancouver. Probably the dirtiest/shittiest in the country.

Though I live in Regina, and the north-central area of my city was voted the Worst Neighbourhood in Canada by Maclean's a while back, so maybe I shouldn't talk.

[connor]

I keep trying to convince the missus to give up on the U.S. so we can move to Vancouver (I love me some Pacific Northwest) or maybe Toronto. She says no.

[Andrew.]

I would move there in a heart beat if housing wasn't so god damned expensive. We talk about it constantly. I guess I just don't know the cool, cheap neighborhoods to look for a place.

Unfortunately there aren't really any cool, *cheap* neighborhoods in Vancouver anymore. A recent national study found that Vancouver has the highest rent in Canada. There are definitely still reasonable deals to be found in completely rad neighborhoods like Strathcona and the Drive, but they're rare and tend to depend on good connections and/or wild crazy luck. The north shore remains affordable for renters, I guess. If you're talking about buying, hat's off. If you don't want to live in the Burbs you gotta have serious dough.

[Schadenfreude]

Never been to either, but I always assumed that everyone in Montreal was rude but the city was beautiful and I have since been informed that everyone in Montreal is super rad and the city is 1970's Detroit ghetto.

I'll pick Montreal solely based upon hockey knowledge. There's like 20,000 goaltenders living in that city.

[chumpchange]

Never been to either, but I always assumed that everyone in Montreal was rude but the city was beautiful and I have since been informed that everyone in Montreal is super rad and the city is 1970's Detroit ghetto.

Perhaps I missed the ghetto district but when the missus and I were there a couple of summers ago it was awesome. If I was to live in a larger Eastern Canadian city, Montreal beats Toronto.

[LBx]

As far as the bad neighborhoods thing, all my friends in both Vancouver and Montreal say Winnipeg beats both in that category... "it's a *real* dirty Canadian city".. whatever that means.

all larger cities have this contingent. Winnipeg's core is incredibly underdeveloped. especially given it's history. it could be a small yet fantastic little area, yet it is not. The Royal Albert Arms being the exception.

idiot's live in the 'burb donut around the city proper and drive everywhere. the cities public transit is laughable at best - total shit. i would love to see this happen.

[LBx]

One more thing on Vancouver: more eligible hot women (and gay dudes) than any other place I've lived. Statistically, the guy-to-gal ratio in Vancouver is weirdly unbalanced (more gals), and then you throw in the highest density of gays in the country, and Vancouver is a good city to be a dude.

really? as far as i can tell the the hot women to normal guy ratio here in Montreal is roughly 5000>1. no joke. it boggles my mind almost daily. i thought this was common knowledge.

i was not single here for nearly long enough...

[Andrew.]

One more thing on Vancouver: more eligible hot women (and gay dudes) than any other place I've lived. Statistically, the guy-to-gal ratio in Vancouver is weirdly unbalanced (more gals), and then you throw in the highest density of gays in the country, and Vancouver is a good city to be a dude.

really? as far as i can tell the the hot women to normal guy ratio here in Montreal is roughly 5000>1. no joke. it boggles my mind almost daily. i thought this was common knowledge.

i was not single here for nearly long enough...

Yeah, friends in Montreal say this too. Plus, the ladies in Montreal are far less likely to be snotty, designer-yoga-mat toting biotches, if also less likely to be frolicking in bikinis at the beach.

[madmanmunt]

One more thing on Vancouver: more eligible hot women (and gay dudes) than any other place I've lived. Statistically, the guy-to-gal ratio in Vancouver is weirdly unbalanced (more gals), and then you throw in the highest density of gays in the country, and Vancouver is a good city to be a dude.

really? as far as i can tell the the hot women to normal guy ratio here in Montreal is roughly 5000>1. no joke. it boggles my mind almost daily. i thought this was common knowledge.

i was not single here for nearly long enough...

Yeah, friends in Montreal say this too. Plus, the ladies in Montreal are far less likely to be snotty, designer-yoga-mat toting biotches, if also more likely to be frolicking naked in your bed

FYP

[eephour]

I thought there was a separate Montreal thread, but this was all I could find. Anyway, I'm headed up to MTL in about three weeks for a bachelor party. We're spending two nights and I just wanted to see about some advice and interesting things to do while up there. Specifically record stores, but good restaurants and bars are always helpful too. Thanks.

[Marsupialized]

I thought there was a separate Montreal thread, but this was all I could find. Anyway, I'm headed up to MTL in about three weeks for a bachelor party. We're spending two nights and I just wanted to see about some advice and interesting things to do while up there. Specifically record stores, but good restaurants and bars are always helpful too. Thanks.

Lunch/coffee: Cafe Santropol

3990 Rue Saint-Urbain
Montreal, QC H2W 1T7
(514) 842-3110



Eat out back in the garden, they have cats!

Dinner: Little Sheep

50 De La Gauchetière Ouest, Montreal, QC, H2Z 1C1
(514) 393-0888



Get the half and half broth, looks like this:



Then load it up with madness! I ate brains and testicles this night.

[LBx]

I can't stop thinking about those god damn cream cheese sandwiches.
If it was not a 40 dollar cab ride from the airport to the city, I'd jet out there one morning this week for one real quick.

jesus i still have not gotten of my ass for this place. their coffee is great though. they sell it unground in all the bigger and smaller grocery chains and at wholesale to the public if you know where to go.

Jonah/eephour - i wouldn't worry about the cab ride any longer either. this new express bus is $7.00 to the central metro station. still haven't used it! most lodging should be $5-10 from here via taxi.



Maison Curry on Jean-Talon is badass. and way affordable on top of it.

Jardin du Cari is a great spot for roti.

tapas at the Sala Rossa is great (and the Bowmore's on me if yr up for it). music upstairs if you have time? sister spot right across the street for more of the same.

Vice Versa in the Italian sect is a fun spot for a pint.

Dieu du Ciel as well for a good selection of micro brews. gets noisy and full quick though. i can fall over twice and be at their front door from mine. pretty great feature!

Cheap Thrills has a decent selection. a fair amount of 'small press' stuff, jazz cd/lp's, noise/nerd section. it's very close to McGill. kind of an oddball in the downtown area aesthetically. can't miss it.

Sound Central is fairly Metal.

Phonopolis on Parc Ave is alright. i don't much bother with the others...

the old Forum is still intact barely if yr a fan, girl watching, olde Mtl is a fun stroll if you've never been, women... plenty to do.

have fun!

[Marsupialized]

Jonah/eephour - i wouldn't worry about the cab ride any longer either. this new express bus is $7.00 to the central metro station. still haven't used it! most lodging should be $5-10 from here via taxi

Awesome!! I will be up there very soon, maybe this weekend.

Hey, do you remember the name of the African Vegan place we said we went to when we were up there? That place was really awesome.

[LBx]

can't say that i do, but i'll keep an eye out...

[eephour]

Thanks, LB and Sup. It'll be my first time up around there and I have a feeling it'll be a blast.

[Marsupialized]

Thanks, LB and Sup. It'll be my first time up around there and I have a feeling it'll be a blast.

Oh, it's a blast. Poutine, my friend. That's all I am saying. It's everywhere and it's the right thing to do.

[Ford]

This ridiculous city can be okay from time to time. You can be going to get a beer out of the refrigerator in a warehouse on Clark Drive and bump into Chavo Pederast.

[Andrew.]

This ridiculous city can be okay from time to time. You can be going to get a beer out of the refrigerator in a warehouse on Clark Drive and bump into Chavo Pederast.

I'll bet he loves it when you hail him as Pederast now that he's a born-again Christian with a wife and kids.

[eephour]

Thanks, LB and Sup. It'll be my first time up around there and I have a feeling it'll be a blast.

Oh, it's a blast. Poutine, my friend. That's all I am saying. It's everywhere and it's the right thing to do.

I can not wait to get some real Poutine. And some bagels. But, since it is a bachelor party, we're probably going to some strip clubs, got any advice for you know, the underbelly?

[LBx]

best poutine here.

Fairmont bagels are the best, arguably, i guess.


i've barely had my share of said underbelly. i've been part way into Pussy Corps. we split when we were told "separate rooms only. pick a room (each)/how much do you want to spend?" or something to that effect. not really my thing... and one other spot.

there's a strip club on Parc ave that has a secret back door to service the hollier-than-thou male Hasidic Jewish population if you can believe that. i'm sure they'll let you in the front. judging by the talent outside on their smoke break most are close to retirement though.

lots of opportunity for t&a by just strolling down St. Catherine between Concordia and the Village. Super Sexe and etc... there's a larger/'fancier' spot on rue *Crescent and de Maisonneuve as well but i've never been.


*avoid the rest of it at all costs.