9 things to do in Montreal today: Monday, May 20

Mondays can be pretty draining but holiday Mondays are welcomed bonuses.

If you’re looking to keep the weekend going, here are nine things happening around the city today, May 20.

See also

• Montreal ranked best city in North America for cyclists (STUDY)
• A laughable amount of Montrealers are taking pics of their shoes at this metro station (PHOTOS)
• Artist creates mesmerizing 'loop videos' from all around Montreal (VIDEOS)
• Cherry blossoms and flowers are blooming at the Montreal Botanical Garden (PHOTOS)

Invasion Cocktail

Returning for its sixth edition, Invasion Cocktail will take place in over 30 bars and restaurants across Montreal and Quebec City. Throughout the week, more than 250 cocktails will be crafted by the province’s greatest bartenders and mixologists.

The festival’s goal is to “allow cocktail lovers to discover new spirits, brands and establishments,” reads the Invasion Cocktail website. “The festival also aims to promote education to industry professionals by introducing Pro Days, a series of seminars hosted by the biggest names in international mixology.”

When: May 20 – 31
Time: Varies per location
Where: Various locations around Montreal
Time: Varies per location

May The Force Be With You

Join FCConnect at Force Academy for a legendary light saber battle tournament. They sabers might not be real, but the pride is.

When: Monday May 20
Time: 5:45 pm – 7 pm
Where: 4767 rue Dagenais
Price: Free

Nous Pour Vous – Stand Up Show

Rachid Badouri is hosting a stand-up gala with event proceeds going towards the province’s flood victims. The French comedy show features a slew of great Quebecois comedians at the timeless Olympia Theatre.

When: Monday, May 20
Time: 8 pm – 11 pm
Where: Olympia de Montreal, 1004 Ste. Catherine Est
Price: $61.24, available online

The World’s Smallest Open Mic

From big-time comics to the more localized scene, comedians Walter J Lyng and Vance Michel host what they call “the smallest open mic show in the world.” The acts aren’t small, the venue is.

The weekly show features some veteran comics sprinkled in with newbies.

The event organizers warn that only 20 seats are available. Cozy, intimate stand-up comedy is the best kind.

When: Monday, May 20
Time: 8 pm – 10 pm
Where: Hurley’s Irish Pub, 1225 rue Crescent
Price: $5

McKibbin’s Pub Stumpers

Test your trivia knowledge at McKibbin’s Irish Pub. The pub’s trivia has 5 rounds; general knowledge multiple choice, short answer, a picture round and a music round. The winner of each round receives free drinks or a round of shots. A round for a round – good trade.

When: Monday, May 20
Time: 7:30 pm – 10 pm
Where: 1426 rue Bishop
Price: Free to play (with purchase of a beverage)

Encore Books & Records

Encore Books & Records is a cozy, family-run bookshop that sells and buys used books and records.

It’s primetime park and reading time and the store is crammed from the floor-to-ceiling and their prices are just as good as the selection.

Head into Encore and grab yourself a cheap book, find a nice park (Girouard Park is right out front of the shop) or patio, and get lost in a little bit of literature.

When: Encore Books is open year round
Time: 11 am to 9 pm
Where: 5670 Rue Sherbrooke Ouest

London Pub’s Industry Night

If you want to keep the long weekend party going on Monday night, head to London Pub.

They offer industry nights on Mondays. It’s designed to offer inexpensive drinks to bar, pub, and restaurant staff from around the city but it’s slowly morphed into drink deals for everybody. Grab a $4 single or a $3 shot of Jameson. Plus they have a free dart board and an in-house jukebox.

When: Monday, May 20
Time: 7 pm – 3 am
Where: 1337 Boulevard Maisonneuve Ouest
Price: Free to enter, drink deals vary.

Putting Edge Mini-Putt

With golf season quickly approaching, you might want to hone your putting skills.

Putting Edge is an indoor mini-putt course that (besides having a great name), glows in the dark. Every hole has Canadian-based trivia questions plus the venue has an arcade and they serve alcohol. Need we say more?

When: Monday, May 20
Time: 10 am – 1 am
Where: 1259 rue Guy
Price: $11.99

21 Swings

Spring won’t be the only thing in the air as Montreal’s musical swing exhibition has returned to the Quartier des Spectacles.

The interactive, music art installation, 21 Swings, will have Montrealers feeling like kids again as guests can swing back and forth, creating musical melodies.

The 21 Swings (or Balançoires) installation was custom-made for the Promenade des Artistes in the Quartier des Spectacles. The work was created by Daily tous les jours, in collaboration with animal behaviourist Luc-Alain Giraldeau from UQAM and Radwan Ghazi Moumneh, the installation’s composer.

When: From now until May 28
Time: 10 am – 12 am
Where: Promenade des Artistes, Quartier des spectacles
Price: Free