emember when you were fifteen, and hanging out in the shed with your buddies getting high was literally the highlight of those formative years? Shed aims to replicate those carefree days with a somewhat Gothic dungeon den take on the traditional garden-tool home, however the grungy appeal has drawn patrons for years. If you don’t get down and dirty with the interior, the patio is an escape option where you can bask all day in the sun for a bronzed and healthy glow. For those pasty white skin tones, set up shop on the patio in the evening where risks of melanoma are at a minimum. - E.J.

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The design word of the day is: dark. Even a bar named Shed, which would imply a bit of texture, is following the Gothic dungeon trend, although the deep room packs them in, especially late at night, since the kitchen cranks along merrily 'til 3 am on the weekends. Accommodating both an after work and late-night uptown crowd, Shed Cafe has the frosted personality and mirror chic found in many nightlife districts, but more similar to what you'll find in a café.

If it ain't broke don't fix it-but a little modification never hurts. The city survivor still remains the very heart of the St-Laurent scene, with a seven-night magnetism that is clearly devoted to that all-but-forgotten ventricle. Otherwise it's the same old schedule. Most weekdays reel in new-wave student types, while Thursdays attract a slightly gayer crowd. It's you vs. the crowd on most weeknights, for those who demand a bit of square-footage - be warned.