If you happened to be downtown last Friday night, you may have wondered why thousands of people were walking around Montreal dressed head-to-toe in white, carrying everything from tables and chairs to elaborate picnic baskets.
They were on their way to Dîner en Blanc, which celebrated its 16th edition on Aug. 28. More than 3,000 guests took part in the annual outdoor picnic dinner, following volunteers from designated meeting points to a secret location that, in true Dîner en Blanc tradition, was not revealed until the very last minute.
This year, the mystery destination was right in front of the Bell Centre, at the intersection of Avenue des Canadiens-de-Montreal and rue Stanley.
The theme for this year’s dinner was “Soirée Parisienne- La Belle Époque”, and one of the best parts of this event is how seriously guests and organizers take it. There were so many extravagant white outfits, and plenty of old-world Parisian touches everywhere.
I can’t quite put my finger on what made this event feel so special this year, or even if it was one specific thing. Maybe it was having dinner and dancing with a group of mostly strangers outside the Bell Centre as our beloved Montreal Canadiens are about to embark on what could be their most exciting season in years, or maybe it was just the high level of excitement and enthusiasm that everyone brings to this event. Whatever it was, we had a blast.
And speaking of special experiences, I had the chance to go behind the scenes at The Lion King last week and get a closer look at what goes into bringing this remarkable production to life. The musical, which is in town until Sept. 6 at Place des Arts, features 232 puppets throughout the show. I got to meet some of the puppets up close when I interviewed the show’s longtime puppet supervisor, Michael Reilly, about the process of creating and caring for them.
I also had the opportunity to speak with Karen Parlato, The Lion King’s assistant stage manager, about what it takes to put on a production of this size. She walked me through the set and gave me a behind-the-scenes look at what goes on before, during, and after the show.
Check out both interviews and the entire behind-the-scenes experience at thesuburban.com
Coming up this week, Taco Fest returns to the Old Port’s Clock Tower Pier from Sept. 5 to 7, bringing together some of the city’s best chefs for three days of tacos, guacamole, churros, and plenty of tequila. There will also be music, dancing, and entertainment, but take note: the festival is open to all ages at the beginning of the day and adults only after 3:30 pm.
JOAT Festival is also back from Sept. 1 to 7, celebrating street dance and the artists behind the culture. The festival will feature high-level battles, live music, performances, workshops, exhibitions, and more, with programming taking place throughout the Quartier des Spectacles.