Montreal/Gay Village
From Wikitravel
Le Village Gai is a district of Montreal.
[edit] Gay Montreal
Canada's contributions to gay rights have recently become widely known, but Quebec was the first province in Canada to pass a non-discrimination law for sexual orientation and to provide same-sex civil unions. Same-sex marriage is legal in Quebec (neither residency nor citizenship are required for a marriage license, but there is a three-week waiting period after you receive the license). Canadian and Quebec immigration law allow residents to sponsor their same-sex partners or spouses.
Montreal has the largest gay village in North America (rue Ste-Catherine E from rue St-Hubert (métro Berri-UQAM) to avenue Papineau (métro Papineau). The métro station halfway between the two, Beaudry, is marked with rainbow pillars. Come to enjoy Montreal's pride celebration, Divers/Cité [1] (last week of July, first week of August) is the second largest in North America after Toronto's. Then the Montreal Pride Parade event [2] follows in mid-August with more fabulous fun to be had by all attendees. Come on over for a trip and stay for the terrific times.
The city is separated into West and East on the length by the buildings civic addresses. So be sure you ask in-which direction you plan to visit, for the correct street location of any place in the downtown or in the eastend around the Gay Village Area [3]. Most visitors make this common mistake often.
[edit][add listing] See
[edit][add listing] Do
A great place to go and have some sun in the middle of the winter is Mi Burrito Cafe, a little Mexican place featuring a very gay friendly ambiance with the Latino charm. There is also nightlife at the SKY Complex in the village area, where you can find very pleasant ambiance for gay and straight people and Saturdays you can enjoy the Latino nights with all the excellent dancers that congregate in this great club.
[edit][add listing] Buy
[edit][add listing] Eat
- Au Petit Extra, 1690 rue Ontario Est (metro Papineau), 514-598-0709. Exquisite French bistro cuisine at reasonable price, relaxed and friendly atmosphere that is very popular with locals. Excellent selection of wines.
[edit][add listing] Drink
[edit] Clubs
- Unity, Ste-Catherine E and Montcalm. The dance club in the village with a male erotic dancers downstairs.
- Sky, Ste-Catherine E and Alexandre-de-Sève. Great roof bar with several floors to enjoy.
- Parking, Ste-Catherine E and Amherst. The trash club in the city with lots of after-hour fun in the basement area.
- Le Drugstore, 1366 Ste-Catherine E. A more casual and attracts a large lesbian clientele for happy hour on Fridays.
- Stud, Ste-Catherine E and Papineau. Caters to leather and manly bear clientele, though not exclusively leather.
- Aigle Noir, Ste-Catherine E and Panet. Caters mostly to a male leather clientele.
- Cabaret Mado, Ste-Catherine E and Amherst. A drag show with outrageous spectacles every night, run by the city's chief drag queen, Mado Lamotte.
- Station 1160 (formerly Agora), Mackay and René-Lévesque W (metro Lucien-L'Allier). Located outside of the village, quiet, friendly neighbourhood westend bar in the downtown area.
- Mystique, Stanley between Ste-Catherine W and De Maisonneuve (metro Peel). Old style bar and outside of the village, quiet, friendly neighbourhood type in the westside of downtown.
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[edit] Budget
- (English/French) CAN Reservations [5] The gay community room bookings to lodgings network for visitors and globetrotters. All types of places available. Use the online E-mail service open daily 24hrs. Provided by CAN-Reservations.Info (local community service).
[edit] Mid-range
- Atmosphere[6], 1933 Panet Street (5 min walk from metro Beaudry in gay area). Private Rooms with shared bathroom. Gourmet three course breakfast included.
[edit] Splurge
[edit] Contact
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