The top 5 things to do in Montreal: Oct. 2 to 14
Before the crunch of midterms, take a breather — or a date — out on the town.
1. DISNEY NOIR
Mickey Mouse in Black and White | October 6, 7 p.m. | Free
Think Mickey Mouse, and what do you picture? His red shorts, white gloves, and those big, yellow shoes.
Now’s your chance to discover the character’s debut before he became a colourful mascot and the world’s most recognizable cartoon. It all started with the black-and-white Steamboat Willie in 1928, the first animation to feature both music and sound effects. And there are more black-and-white films starring Mickey to tickle your funny bone.
2. RAP SESSION
Just Watch Me | September 5 to October 11 | Free
Inspired by the artist collectives that formed during the Quiet Revolution, the Leonard and Bina Ellen Art Gallery is hosting a groovy new social club.
This participatory event, initiated by Romeo Gongora, promises to be a compelling mixer. Come and enjoy the festive environment, featuring a disco-bar, a fair trade café, and a venue for shows and screenings. Just Watch Me is about dialogue and collective creation. They used to be called rap sessions, back when first-generation hippies roamed the campus … ask your grandparents.
Hot tip: the opening party will be a disco with DJ Poirier!
DJ Poirier will be playing at the opening party. | Photo courtesy the artist
3. MASCARA MELTDOWN
Eyelash Wars | September 2 until October 19, 7 p.m. | Free
What’s more sensational and vicious than a beauty pageant? A scathing experimental film and video installation called Eyelash Wars. FOFA Gallery showcases this unique offering from artists Emily Pelstring and Jessica Mensch, who pit two beauty vendors against each other in competition for the best commercial display.
BYOK — bring your own Kleenex for any mascara smudges that occur spontaneously during the screening and installation.
4. LEAN IN
Concordia Volunteer Fair | October 2, 10 a.m. – 3 p.m. | Free
All hands on deck! Now’s the time to learn how to give back to the community.
Concordia’s LIVE Centre is having their annual volunteer fair today. Meet representatives from 50 community organizations, and discover the opportunities you have on campus, in Montreal and abroad. Helpers are sought in sectors you may not expect, such as sustainability, social justice, human rights, youth development and sports.
5. PRELOVED LITERATURE
18th annual Concordia Used Book Fair | October 6 to October 7, 10 a.m. – 7 p.m. | Free
Advice to all you bookworms — be the first in line.
There are enough books to quench anyone’s thirst for reading at the 18th annual Concordia Used Book Fair. Forsake your Amazon wish list and fill your bookshelves with preloved fiction and non-fiction, school manuals, genre writing, and how-tos.
Just walk in the McConnell Library Building. You can’t miss it.
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About the author
Andy Fidel is a Montreal-based freelance journalist, photographer and writer with dreams of living on a submarine. She enjoys metro rides, writer's block and cold instant coffee.