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Want to travel Canada? Montreal delivers luxury, glam and whimsy
Want to travel Canada? Montreal delivers luxury, glam and whimsy

Vancouver Sun

time23-06-2025

  • Entertainment
  • Vancouver Sun

Want to travel Canada? Montreal delivers luxury, glam and whimsy

Article content Montreal's Golden Square Mile is the launch pad to the city's wistful, whimsical sensory encounters — and Barbie like you've never seen. In the heart of the area is the Four Seasons Hotel Montreal: luxury base camp. From the rosé-hued velvet wallpaper in the reception lobby, to the cheeky photos of — and taken by — Margaret Trudeau that line the walls of the third-floor hallways of the lounge and Marcus restaurant, this five-star hotel is not one to satisfy decor requirements with the generic. Instead, there are ever-changing art installations on each floor, and whimsical touches, such as a crystal infinity crab sculpture that marks the entrance to the adjoining Holt Renfrew Ogilvy store. Executive chef Jason Morris helms the Four Seasons Marcus restaurant and is renowned for elevating Canadian cuisine. On this night, he's creating a personal six-course menu, served with wine pairings. This chef counter tasting experience — a concept popular in Asian markets — must be reserved and typically has the diner, or diners, at the bar with a front-row seat, but it can be reserved for as many as 12 people. From a bar stool at the counter, it's a culinary performance as Morris crafts each dish, such as a creamy potato latke topped with two types of caviar; sustainably caught tuna with Quebec horseradish cream; and cod with white asparagus and Champagne sauce. 'The kitchen is the stage everyone can see, it's like a performance,' says Richard Feldman, the restaurant's general manger. Need to get in touch with your chill side? Head to the Guerlain Spa Care and its Kneipp hydrotherapy, one of the oldest forms of treatment using hot and cold water and a reflexology path and one which is rarely found in North American spas. Start with dipping your feet into the hot bath that features a bed of smooth stones on which to carefully walk, before moving to the cold plunge. A gingerly walk on the reflexology path stimulates blood flow and boosts the immune system with a Zen-like calm. History through art and architecture The Four Seasons abuts Crescent Street, home to the iconic 21-storey wall mural — titled Tower of Songs — of the late Leonard Cohen, one of two murals honouring the Canadian singer and songwriter. Cohen often referred to himself as neither a Canadian, nor a Quebecer, but a Montrealer. You can sit in the Four Seasons' dining room with Cohen for company as he looks down through the windows. Within walking distance is Les Quartiers du Canal, which includes the up-and-coming Griffintown neighbourhood, Little Burgundy and Saint-Henri and is peppered with artistic murals, and 18th century architecture along the Lachine Canal. You can tour these neighbourhoods in an afternoon without breaking a sweat. Griffintown borders the canal on the south, and a biking and walking path snakes through a picturesque neighbourhood dotted with cafés, shops and antique stores. A favourite restaurant for locals is Nora Gray, ranked as one of Canada's 100 best with its take on southern Italian cuisine. And they serve ramps — an exciting surprise. Ramps are a delicacy unique to Eastern Canada and the U.S. and related to the wild onion and garlic family, or perhaps a cousin to spring onions and leeks. You can't buy this delicacy at a grocery store because it takes seven years for a ramp rhizome to become a shoot. Ramps' pungent, garlicky flavour is prized among chefs, and their appearance on menus heralds spring. Next to Griffintown is Little Burgundy, which was home to Black English-speaking residents, most of whom were labourers and sleeping car porters on railway lines and was known as Harlem of the North in the 1920s. The late jazz pianist Oscar Peterson was raised in Little Burgundy and a three-storey mural honours him and his contribution to jazz, as does another mural of Oliver Jones. Montreal's murals are stunning — all 3,500 of them and counting. Take a stroll over to the Atwater Market, housed in an art deco building from 1933 in Saint-Henri — another jewel in Montreal's crown of architectural enchantments. You could try to find some ramps, but local chefs will likely beat you to it. Nearby is the Atwater Cocktail Club — a very cool neighbourhood speakeasy-style bar whose entrance is from an alley on Atwater Avenue. The bar is dark and cosy but with shiny, banquets: brasserie style with sophistication. All dressed up The McCord Stewart Museum, a walk of less than 10 minutes from the hotel, is renowned for documenting the city's social history. Costume Balls, Dressing History, 1870-1927, is a sassy exhibit of more than 40 costumes that runs until Aug. 17 and tracks the lavish parties and skating carnivals of the city's elite. The costumes were created — or were ancestral outfits brought out to vamp at these events — more than a century before selfies took over this performance art. The crowning costume riff is at Expo Barbie, the largest permanent Barbie exhibit in the world with more than 1,000 dolls — and it's just three blocks from the hotel. The exhibit is the creation of a member of a company that owns Les Cours Mont-Royal mall, in which all the Barbies make their home. Admission is free. This is not everyday Barbie, but a glam gal in custom couture gowns and sometimes not even as herself: she is Jennifer Lopez Barbie; she is Rose, from the Titanic movie, Barbie; Mulder and Scully Barbie from the X Files; and Barbie decked out in Vera Wang and Armani, and then putting in an appearance with Daniel Craig, James Bond style. She also undertakes the cutest shilling for brands such as Coca-Cola, Pottery Barn and Ferrari that any mortal woman would be hard pressed to pull off. Go Barbie. Go Montreal.

Want to travel Canada? Montreal delivers luxury, glam and whimsy
Want to travel Canada? Montreal delivers luxury, glam and whimsy

Calgary Herald

time23-06-2025

  • Entertainment
  • Calgary Herald

Want to travel Canada? Montreal delivers luxury, glam and whimsy

Article content Montreal's Golden Square Mile is the launch pad to the city's wistful, whimsical sensory encounters — and Barbie like you've never seen. In the heart of the area is the Four Seasons Hotel Montreal: luxury base camp. From the rosé-hued velvet wallpaper in the reception lobby, to the cheeky photos of — and taken by — Margaret Trudeau that line the walls of the third-floor hallways of the lounge and Marcus restaurant, this five-star hotel is not one to satisfy decor requirements with the generic. Instead, there are ever-changing art installations on each floor, and whimsical touches, such as a crystal infinity crab sculpture that marks the entrance to the adjoining Holt Renfrew Ogilvy store. Executive chef Jason Morris helms the Four Seasons Marcus restaurant and is renowned for elevating Canadian cuisine. On this night, he's creating a personal six-course menu, served with wine pairings. This chef counter tasting experience — a concept popular in Asian markets — must be reserved and typically has the diner, or diners, at the bar with a front-row seat, but it can be reserved for as many as 12 people. From a bar stool at the counter, it's a culinary performance as Morris crafts each dish, such as a creamy potato latke topped with two types of caviar; sustainably caught tuna with Quebec horseradish cream; and cod with white asparagus and Champagne sauce. 'The kitchen is the stage everyone can see, it's like a performance,' says Richard Feldman, the restaurant's general manger. Need to get in touch with your chill side? Head to the Guerlain Spa Care and its Kneipp hydrotherapy, one of the oldest forms of treatment using hot and cold water and a reflexology path and one which is rarely found in North American spas. Start with dipping your feet into the hot bath that features a bed of smooth stones on which to carefully walk, before moving to the cold plunge. A gingerly walk on the reflexology path stimulates blood flow and boosts the immune system with a Zen-like calm. History through art and architecture The Four Seasons abuts Crescent Street, home to the iconic 21-storey wall mural — titled Tower of Songs — of the late Leonard Cohen, one of two murals honouring the Canadian singer and songwriter. Cohen often referred to himself as neither a Canadian, nor a Quebecer, but a Montrealer. You can sit in the Four Seasons' dining room with Cohen for company as he looks down through the windows. Within walking distance is Les Quartiers du Canal, which includes the up-and-coming Griffintown neighbourhood, Little Burgundy and Saint-Henri and is peppered with artistic murals, and 18th century architecture along the Lachine Canal. You can tour these neighbourhoods in an afternoon without breaking a sweat. Griffintown borders the canal on the south, and a biking and walking path snakes through a picturesque neighbourhood dotted with cafés, shops and antique stores. A favourite restaurant for locals is Nora Gray, ranked as one of Canada's 100 best with its take on southern Italian cuisine. And they serve ramps — an exciting surprise. Ramps are a delicacy unique to Eastern Canada and the U.S. and related to the wild onion and garlic family, or perhaps a cousin to spring onions and leeks. You can't buy this delicacy at a grocery store because it takes seven years for a ramp rhizome to become a shoot. Ramps' pungent, garlicky flavour is prized among chefs, and their appearance on menus heralds spring. Next to Griffintown is Little Burgundy, which was home to Black English-speaking residents, most of whom were labourers and sleeping car porters on railway lines and was known as Harlem of the North in the 1920s. The late jazz pianist Oscar Peterson was raised in Little Burgundy and a three-storey mural honours him and his contribution to jazz, as does another mural of Oliver Jones. Montreal's murals are stunning — all 3,500 of them and counting. Take a stroll over to the Atwater Market, housed in an art deco building from 1933 in Saint-Henri — another jewel in Montreal's crown of architectural enchantments. You could try to find some ramps, but local chefs will likely beat you to it. Nearby is the Atwater Cocktail Club — a very cool neighbourhood speakeasy-style bar whose entrance is from an alley on Atwater Avenue. The bar is dark and cosy but with shiny, banquets: brasserie style with sophistication. All dressed up The McCord Stewart Museum, a walk of less than 10 minutes from the hotel, is renowned for documenting the city's social history. Costume Balls, Dressing History, 1870-1927, is a sassy exhibit of more than 40 costumes that runs until Aug. 17 and tracks the lavish parties and skating carnivals of the city's elite. The costumes were created — or were ancestral outfits brought out to vamp at these events — more than a century before selfies took over this performance art. The crowning costume riff is at Expo Barbie, the largest permanent Barbie exhibit in the world with more than 1,000 dolls — and it's just three blocks from the hotel. The exhibit is the creation of a member of a company that owns Les Cours Mont-Royal mall, in which all the Barbies make their home. Admission is free. This is not everyday Barbie, but a glam gal in custom couture gowns and sometimes not even as herself: she is Jennifer Lopez Barbie; she is Rose, from the Titanic movie, Barbie; Mulder and Scully Barbie from the X Files; and Barbie decked out in Vera Wang and Armani, and then putting in an appearance with Daniel Craig, James Bond style. She also undertakes the cutest shilling for brands such as Coca-Cola, Pottery Barn and Ferrari that any mortal woman would be hard pressed to pull off. Go Barbie. Go Montreal.

Sneakers and a suit? It's more the norm for modern business and politics
Sneakers and a suit? It's more the norm for modern business and politics

CTV News

time28-05-2025

  • Business
  • CTV News

Sneakers and a suit? It's more the norm for modern business and politics

Former prime minister Justin Trudeau walks with his mother Margaret Trudeau to their seats ahead of King Charles delivering the speech from the throne in the Senate in Ottawa on Tuesday, May 27, 2025. (Chris Young/The Canadian Press) Online fashion police were quick to notice former prime minister Justin Trudeau's footwear at the throne speech on Monday after he complimented a pair of colourful Adidas Gazelles with a blue suit, shirt and tie. Some said the sneakers were too casual for the royal affair, and others dug his kicks. Trudeau's style, however, is not far from trending attire in the workplace. At lunchtime in downtown Montreal on Tuesday, many were using the sidewalk as their catwalk. 'Today, I went with a long tie instead of a bowtie,' said lawyer Ben Jeske. Jeske said he feels more professional wearing a tie, but also that he's an anomaly. 'In my office, most people do not wear neckties,' he said. 'Men will usually wear sport coats or suits with an open collar.' The sans-tie look is not uncommon. Stylist Jeff Golf said workplace style changes over time. 'Maybe 10 or 15 years ago, it would have been unheard of for men to show up at a corporate workplace without a tie,' said the Ludique Personal Fashion stylist. 'Now, our clients are encouraging their teams to not wear ties to the workplace.' Golf said that the casual style started before the pandemic but that casual work fits are even more apparent now as employees return to the office. 'The whole working from home experience forced people into just not having to dress up, and that has remained, in the sense of wanting to still be comfortable, but also looking work appropriate,' said Golf. Bright-coloured sneakers like those Trudeau was wearing stand out in Montreal, as many professionals say comfortable kicks have become a staple of their work attire. Adidas Gazelles Former prime minister Justin Trudeau's shoes are shown ahead of King Charles delivering the speech from the throne in the Senate in Ottawa on Tuesday, May 27, 2025. (Sean Kilpatrick/The Canadian Press) (Sean Kilpatrick/The Canadian Press) 'I would say like a dress and some sneakers sometimes,' said Fenda Fati. Etiquette expert Julie Blais Comeau said there is a time and place for trainers, but it may not be when greeting royalty. 'When we dress, we communicate,' she said. 'It depends on the activity and where it is. So, yes, the guidelines are evolving.' Belanger was wearing the kind of blue Nike's sneakerheads lust over. 'Don't compare me with Justin Trudeau,' he said. Golf said it's all a way to express personal style, so for businesspeople, the world is their runway.

Justin Trudeau can't run away from embarrassing himself
Justin Trudeau can't run away from embarrassing himself

Telegraph

time28-05-2025

  • Entertainment
  • Telegraph

Justin Trudeau can't run away from embarrassing himself

Justin Trudeau isn't the prime minister of Canada anymore. He's not a Liberal MP. He stayed out of the fray during last month's federal election. He's been under the radar for months, and is reportedly renting a home in Ottawa. Other than a brief excursion to a Canadian tyre store, which led him to take a predictable selfie, he's largely disappeared from public life. Everything came to a crashing halt this week. Trudeau proved once again that he can't run away from embarrassing himself. Literally, in fact. Trudeau was one of three former prime ministers who attended King Charles III's throne speech to open the new session of parliament. He chatted a fair bit with Stephen Harper. He sat within proximity of Kim Campbell. He brought his mother, Margaret, to hear the speech – which was a nice touch. The TV cameras then panned down to his shoes, only to discover he was wearing trainers. You read this correctly. Trudeau's footwear was a pair of green Adidas sneakers. In the Senate of Canada. To hear a speech by King Charles to open a parliamentary session in the country Trudeau led for almost a decade. Some people may not perceive this to be a big deal. To those individuals, I pose one simple question: 'Was anyone else in attendance doing this?' The answer is a resounding 'no,' and it shouldn't be difficult to figure out why. This isn't the first time that Trudeau has embarrassed himself in this respect, either. Three older instances of Trudeau wearing blackface received domestic and international scorn and derision – and deservedly so. His obsession with colourful socks wasn't unique among world leaders, but he kept doing it inappropriately in the House of Commons and elsewhere. Trudeau and his family also wore traditional outfits to India during a February 2018 trip. They were torn apart by the media. 'He wore an elaborate and heavily worked sherwani, more in tune with what a bridegroom would a Bollywood film,' the BBC's Ayeshea Perera amusingly wrote. The Canadian publication Maclean's called him 'The Mr. Dressup prime minister,' using the moniker of the late children's entertainer, Ernie Coombs, who wore various costumes plucked from his tickle trunk. Maclean's also included photos of Trudeau in other ridiculous costumes. This ranged from a Superman outfit worn inside the House of Commons on Hallowe'en to another inappropriate traditional outfit worn during the Chinese New Year. With respect to King Charles's speech, why would Trudeau do something so disrespectful during this important moment in Canadian history? Was it yet another desperate plea for media attention? Was he trolling his haters, as the kids might say? While there were probably elements of this in his thinking, the answer is quite simple: Trudeau doesn't give a tinker's dam about tradition and decorum in politics. He may be a former head of government, but his attitude and outlook on life often resemble the lowest common denominator. And that's why most Canadians are glad he's gone.

Justin Trudeau's Adidas shoes during King Charles' speech causes buzz
Justin Trudeau's Adidas shoes during King Charles' speech causes buzz

Al Bawaba

time28-05-2025

  • Entertainment
  • Al Bawaba

Justin Trudeau's Adidas shoes during King Charles' speech causes buzz

ALBAWABA - Once again, Canadian former Prime Minister Justin Trudeau stole the show during the visit of the British King Charles III over his improper, colorful shoes. The social media platforms were filled with images of Justin Trudeau's green and red Adidas Gazelle shoes that he wore for the opening of Canadian parliament, as the king delivered the throne speech. According to the media, the ex-Prime Minister, who was wearing a formal suit, broke the traditions by choosing casual footwear during the throne speech on May 27, triggering massive criticism from online fashion police who believed that it was inappropriate to wear such colors, especially in the presence of King Charles III. Former Prime Minister of Canada Justin Trudeau's Adidas shoes as he arrives ahead of an appearance by King Charles III and Queen Camilla. (AFP) A social media person said, "Get ready because the right is about to lose their ever-loving mind because Justin Trudeau is not only at the throne speech but wearing the most interesting footwear you wouldn't expect him to wear, and I'm just going to sit back and watch with some popcorn." Another wrote, "This is how the Trudeau's showed up for the King's throne speech. Margaret Trudeau looked awful and looked at Justin's shoes. No class." Nonetheless, a person commented on Trudeau's shoes, "The lack of respect and professionalism is abhorrent."

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