Where do mural artists get their materials? This wasn't the question I was asking myself but it was my first thought when I entered Le Sino shop and gallery for the first time last summer while wandering into the city. At the time I was probably on my bike, coming from Hochelaga spotting art tiles pieces or going to the Atomic Cafe and looking left and right if something caught my eyes.
Since then I do come back regularly when the shop is having an exhibition or simply to get materials for drawing sketches, painting and more. It's a real candy store for me: put me in a home supply store and I will stare at the painting samples for ages, so imagine a place that mainly offers colors...
Not to mention the friendly staff: they know their city and product and are very good at promoting their art. The shop has existed since 1998 in this wall but its roots go back longer. So it's a point of reference: if you are in Montreal and are into street art, that's the place to pass by.
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"Léché Desserts" in Montreal hides many promises behind its pink benches and brick building! I recommend getting donuts here and going to watch the trains.
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Zab Café is a coffee roaster from Montreal that has an interesting story, four locations, and good coffee. It's small and smells of good coffee.
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Housed in an art deco building in Old Montreal, the PHI Foundation is focused on making contemporary art accessible to the largest number of people.
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I really recommend their cortado, where the rich, chocolatey espresso meets a dose of milk in a really satisfying combination.
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Sit on the sidewalk and eat the most delicious gnocchi for only $5, with a rich tomato sauce and imagine whatever you want in your own alternate reality.
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I was struck by the enthusiastic staff and the very tender exhibit about window coverings that invited us to consider what is shown and what is hidden.
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Here you will find a strange pyramid of benches that doubles as an art gallery, small fields & greenhouses tended by students from the nearby university.
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Olimpico attracts the young and beautiful. And Club Social feels like it's been there longer, and remains true to its roots. Both have terrific bombolini!
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The cannoli! A crisp shell that shatters a bit as you bite into it, first-class ricotta cheese. Not too sweet. Somehow light and filling at the same time.
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Caffe Italia has been popular with Italian families for decades & it never lost the homey feeling. The coffee is delicious. The vibe is welcoming and loud.
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Jean Talon market is the kind of place where there is a vast choice, but I'd bet that most regulars end up with their favorite sellers.
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The exhibits are free to the public, and very well curated by Isabelle de Mévieus and her team. The converted post office is worth a visit on its own.
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