14 things to do in Montreal today: Saturday, May 25

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Graham Kay at the Comedy Nest

As seen on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, Just For Laughs, and The Comedy Network, Graham Kay combines optimism with sarcasm in a very unique way for a hugely entertaining stand-up comedy experience.

Check him out tonight along with Julie Kim (CBC’s Winnipeg Comedy Festival) and Fergus Craig (BBC’s EastEnders) at one of Montreal’s most renowned comedy clubs, the Comedy Nest.

When: Saturday, May 25
Time: 8 pm
Where: 2312 Rue Saint Catherine
Price: $12 general, $6 students. Tickets available at the door or online

La Fête du Croissant

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Foodies searching for a cheap, tasty croissant (or several) will be in luck today.

The province’s event celebrating the buttery and flaky pastry returns to over 100 spots around Quebec for one day, dishing out the delicious treat for just under a buck.

Essentially, it’s not a lot of dough for a lot of dough.

Pastry fans can also visit the event’s website to specifically search which local shop is boasting the stellar deal, as well as the event’s European participants in case you want to take this one-day deal real seriously.

When: Saturday, May 25
Time: Various hours per location
Where: Various locations
Price: $1.25 per

Give Peace A Chance – The Exhibition

From May 26 to June 2 of 1969, The Queen Elizabeth Hotel welcomed John Lennon and Yoko Ono for their famous Bed-in for Peace.

In honour of the couple’s 50th anniversary of the famous bed-in, the hotel’s lobby will transform into a showroom that showcases photos and guest testimonials pulled from the book, “Give Peace a Chance: John and Yoko’s Bed-in for Peace” by Joan Athey and photographer Gerry Deiter.

Deiter was the only photojournalist covering the 1969 event.

The free exhibition will be on display until October 9, Lennon’s birthday. Visitors are encouraged to share peace vows on their social networks with the hashtags #bedin50 and #givepeaceachance.

When: May 25 – October 9
Time: 8 am – 10 pm
Where: Fairmont The Queen Elizabeth Hotel, 900 René-Lévesque Boulevard Ouest
Price: Free

21 Swings

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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

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

La Ronde

La Ronde – PAGE OFFICIELLE/Facebook

Quebec’s biggest amusement park opened two weekends ago and it’s sure to be busy this one as well.

Though the weather forecast may not be on our side, try battling The Goliath, get rocked on Le Ednor or check out the park’s newest ride, Chaos.

When: Saturday, May 25
Where: 22 Chemin Macdonald
When: 10:30 am – 8 pm (11:30 pm during the fireworks)
Price: Available online or at the box office

Our DNA

Quartier des Spectacles

A centrepiece of Montreal’s architectural heritage, this spiral staircase, created by local artist, Patrick Pérubé embodies “neighbourly culture and friendly back alleys.”

Suspended in mid-air, the double helix of a DNA molecule aims to remind on-lookers that our differences, put together, make up our collective identity.

When: From now until May 28
Time: 24/7
Where: Quartier des Spectacles
Price: Free

La Grande Roue de Montréal

http://www.lagranderouedemontreal.com

Hit up Canada’s largest observational wheel and take in some absolutely breathtaking views of the city, during the weekend. Not to mention, some primetime photo ops that’ll make your Instagram crowd jealous.

When: Saturday, May 25
Time: 10 am – 11 pm
Where: 362 rue de Commune Est
Price: $14.79 – $25

Yoko Ono’s Arising

Vigfus Birgisson/Reykjavik Art Museum

Yoko Ono’s new art exhibition debut in Montreal at the end of April.

As part of the Japanese multimedia artist’s ongoing installation called “Arising,” Ono is asking women to share stories of harm that has been brought on as a result of being a woman. Participants are asked to also send in a photo of their eyes as part of the project.

The installation will be shown accompanied by other interactive works by Ono in which specific instructions will be given to visitors.

When: From now to September 15
Time: 12 pm – 7 pm
Where: Fondation Phi pour l’art contemporain, 451 rue St-Jean
Price: Free

Mondial de la Bière

Cold beer! Bière froide!

If you’re into the hops, suds, and buds, the Mondial de la Bière Festival Montreal might be right up your alley.

Established in 1994 by a trio of beer enthusiasts, the Mondial de la Bière returned to Montreal this week for its 26th anniversary.

The festival is a celebration for beer lovers and connoisseurs, allowing participants to sample over 500 different types of brew from all over the world.

When: From now until May 25
Time: 11 am-11 pm
Where: Windsor Station, 1100, avenue des Canadiens-de-Montréal
Price: Admission is free, VIP tickets available online

Invasion Cocktail

Invasion Cocktail

If you’re not feeling beer, how about some cocktails?

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: From now until May 31
Time: Varies per location
Where: Various locations around Montreal
Time: Varies per location

U-Pick Tulip Field

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Flower fans can get a whiff of springtime in Laval as the city is boasting fields-worth of the plant, featuring half a million tulips.

Yes, half a million.

And you can pick them, purchase them, and picture them.

When: From now until June 2
Time: 9 am – 6 pm
Where: 1270 rue Principale, Laval
Price: $8 – $10 admission

Cirque Du Soleil: Alegria

Alegria by Cirque du Soleil

The world-renowned Cirque du Soleil production is returning home all May.

Alegria, which was first performed by Cirque in 1994, stole the eyes and ears of more than 14 million spectators. Performed under a traditional Big Top tent, the show made its way to 255 different cities over 19 years of touring, until its last performance in 2013.

The show mixes the high energy acrobatics which Cirque du Soleil is famous for with a “rallying theme for change, hope, and optimistic renewal.” The cast is made up of more than 50 performers and musicians, all renowned internationally for their craft.

When: May 25 and 26
Time: 8 pm
Where: Big Top, Old Port – Jacques-Cartier Quay, de la Commune Street Est
Price: $150 – $412, available online