Katakombes
The former owners of the excellent Salle de L'X are responsible for fledging Katacombes, the grease-metal and punk (though, not nu-punk) bar. Live shows tend toward power cords and skulls, but off-night DJ events and a diverse, above-bar artist's space give the joint range and un-beige. On a side note, why do metal bands insist on dark imagery? There's never bunnies, only evil, blood-thirsty bunnies; never rosy cheeks, only cut-cheek, blood-thirsting references. Does blood quench your thirst, or is it a diuretic? If only Varg were here. 1222 Boulevard St. Laurent, Montreal, QC Full Story



Maison Lyall/Le Manoir
In Swingers, talking about sign-less bars, Mikey quips, "it's like you're in on some kind of secret. You tell a chick that you've been some place, and it's kind of like bragging that you know how to find it:" Maison Lyall, or whatever the hell it's called. Of course, struggling actors couldn't afford this swank, swank, chandelier and name-drop place. You'll feel like a peasant if you wear that silly striped button-up, so pull yourself together, refine your verbal job-description (but keep it well-tucked, well-placed, and short) and mortgage something. 1445 Bishop Street, Montreal, QC Full Story



Les Saints
Show crowds in Montreal are amongst the best in the world. It's as though the show god held three straws of varying sizes behind his back, Toronto pulled the stand-motionless-and-look-pensive small one; Vancouver got the sway-and-effuse-ad-nauseum medium one; and Montreal drew the know-when-to-scream, when-to-nod, when-to-jump, when- to-declare-love, when-to-spill-drinks, best-crowds-in-the-country, big-ass one. As a concert theatre, this joint showcases Montreal's show-going supremacy, with solid sightlines, screens, and sound. Look for disparate beat, speak, strum, and tattoo acts, as well as blip and home DJ nights. Oh, and if it weren't for the pole, you'd be wearing a roof hat, so stop complaining and move a little to your left. Hyphen, anyone? 30 Ste-Catherine Street West, Montreal, QC Full Story



Time Nightclub
Supper Clubs are the new Hotel Bars. We spent last year drinking beneath pillow-sitting-mints, so now we're hungry. We'll be good for round two of whatever you want to do, but let us grab a bite first. Oh, and we're swanker now, so you had better be able to differentiate between dessert, salad, and dinner forks. Not that one, that's the olive fork, you philistine. Time transforms into a premier, look-at-me dance club with world class DJs around midnight. Expect an evening of lavish food, lavish dance, and lavish tick (or tock, depending on your mood). 997 Rue St. Jacques, Montreal, QC Full Story