15 curfew-friendly things to do in Montreal this week: April 12 to 15

Montreal, Lanaudière, Laval, Laurentides, and Montérégie remain in the government’s COVID-19 red zone (Level 4–Maximum Alert). Restricted measures in red zones prohibit non-essential activities where the risk of the virus “cannot be sufficiently contained.” The government urges citizens to avoid gatherings, wear face masks inside public spaces, maintain two-metre physical distances, limit their social bubble, and frequently wash their hands.

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There are still plenty of things to do in Montreal while the city remains under red zone COVID-19 restrictions and the newly reinstated 8 pm nightly curfew.

If you plan on hitting the town or staying in, here are a bunch of things to keep on your radar this week.

The weather is expected to be pretty marvellous all week, with highs of 16ºC on Tuesday and Thursday, while hovering close to 15ºC every day until next week.

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Here is what’s worth checking out across the island this workweek, all before the 8 pm curfew.

Bagel making workshop

You’re good at eating bagels, why not try your hand at making them?

This in-person masterclass teaches you how to mix and knead the dough using all the classic techniques so you can fire up your own bagels in no time.

The event, which costs $65 per person, follows all COVID-19 protocols and ensures customer safety.

Check out some art galleries

Montreal has (finally) welcomed in springtime — so what better way to spend the weekend than checking out some local art galleries?

Though many museums like the Montreal Museum of Fine Arts and the McCord Museum now require reserving a spot in advance, some of the city’s smaller galleries allow spontaneous visitors to stop by as well.

Check out Never Apart, La Guilde, OBORO, and so many others.

Espace pour la vie

The newly renovated Biodôme de Montréal has reopened amid Quebec’s latest round of eased COVID-19 restrictions.

In fact, both of the Espace pour la vie venues have reopened as of two weeks ago. The Jardin Botanique is open to the public as well.

The Biodôme is open every day from 9 am to 5 pm, and the Jardin Botanique is open daily from 7:30 am to 5 pm. Tickets cost a smooth $19 to enter each one.

In September, before the second wave of COVID-19 shut down venues and museums across the province, Espace pour la vie reopened after more than two years of construction and refurbishment work.

The iconic space’s renovations are highlighted by a new “multisensory and immersive experience,” as guests can make their way through five ecosystems of the Americas.

La Grand Roue

 

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For $22.50 a pop, hop on the largest observational wheel in the country and soak up some seriously gorgeous views of the skyline.

The OASIS Immersion Gallery

The OASIS Immersion Gallery in Montreal opened last week, and the pictures of it look just as cool as we thought they would.

If you don’t already know what it is, OASIS is a new permanent immersive art centre at the Palais des Congrès. With 119 surround-sound speakers, 105 laser projectors, and a whole LED lighting system, Montrealers are in for a breathtaking experience.

The Montreal Museum of Fine Arts (MMFA)

 

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The Montreal Museum of Fine Arts (MMFA) is displaying four exhibitions that are “brimming with artistic discoveries and reflections on the major issues of our time.”

The MMFA follows all COVID-19 protocols and “ensures customer safety.”

Go thrift shopping

 

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If there’s one thing Montreal and Macklemore have in common, it’s their love of thrift shopping.

Truly, there’s nothing like diving into a colourful rack of secondhand clothes and finding the sweatshirt you’ve been trying to find for months, or a skirt that fits like a glove and matches with everything you own.

Time travel back to Montreal

If you’re in the mood for a little bit of time travelling, why not check out some photos of what Montreal used to look like in the 1940s, 1950s, and 1960s?

The photos, courtesy of Archives de la Ville de Montréal, feature rue Ste. Catherine, The Plateau, St-Henri, and more from over eight decades ago.

Go house shopping

If you’re on the hunt for a new home in Montreal, we’ve put together a list of spots that are for sale, under the city’s average home cost.

Pointe-à-Callière

 

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Pointe-à-Callière is an exhibit in the heart of Old Montreal that shows centuries of history from the settlements of our First Peoples to the present.

Helicraft

If you’re willing to cough up a few bucks ($200), you can soar 1,500 feet above the island, taking in views of Montreal from a one-of-a-kind vantage point.

The helicopter ride takes off from the South Shore and lasts 30 minutes.

Bota Bota

 

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We could all use a little relaxing these days, and Bota Bota has reopened its massage centre and water circuit.

Get a 60-minute Swedish massage, deep tissue, Thai, couples, or therapeutic massage starting at $160.

The spa is following all of the necessary COVID-19 protocols.