http://www.montreal-by-design.com Eat. Shop. Discover vibrant Montreal. Thu, 24 Jun 2010 15:31:12 +0000 http://backend.userland.com/rss092 en I've been remiss about posting here, and for good reason: I've been inundated with clients traveling to Montreal and Paris. Some go on their own, others travel with me. I've been on the move in one form or another since early spring! Instead of writing longer articles, I've been posting shorter ... http://www.montreal-by-design.com/2010/06/join-me-on-the-streets-of-montreal/ Join us for four days of active exploration in Montréal with an insider at your side! At the heart of our itinerary was the Tour de l’Ile, the greatest cycling event in Canada. We joined riders of all ages and fitness levels, as we rode 50 k (about 30 miles) ... http://www.montreal-by-design.com/2010/04/tour-de-montreal-june-4-7-2010/ I’ve been enamored since I first saw a Monts et Cristaux chandelier hanging above the gorgeous porcelain at 3 Femmes et 1 Coussin. I loved the color, the sparkle, and the whimsy the vintage crystal fixture brought to the room. Finally, more than a year later, I’ve met its creator, ... http://www.montreal-by-design.com/2010/03/monts-et-cristaux-light-that-dazzles/ A couple of weeks ago, hubby and I had dinner at Méchant Boeuf, the lively bar-restaurant in Vieux Montreal. Tall windows define the front of the restaurant, the tiled back wall streams with water. The bar, suffused in red light, runs from front to back. The place is packed ... http://www.montreal-by-design.com/2010/02/mechant-boeuf-for-a-night-out-and-a-burger/ Our self-guided tour, Montreal for Chocolate Lovers, was featured on My Gourmet Connection - a food lover's guide to great flavor. What a great gift for your favorite chocolate lover, and at $14.95, it's outrageously affordable! http://www.montreal-by-design.com/2010/02/chocolate-lovers-montreal-a-valentine-classic/ Hotel Nelligan — a boutique hotel known for great service, luxurious rooms and French cuisine - is offering a winter promotion:  a loft suite for $189 CAD (normally $365-$650 CAD). With two restaurants, a bar and, for added romance, a poet as a namesake, the Nelligan is the perfect place to cocoon. I spent ... http://www.montreal-by-design.com/2010/02/time-out-at-hotel-nelligan/ Last minute shopping to do? Food is always welcome, and my Seven Days article “Global Palate: A Montreal holiday gift guide for foodies” reviews 14 great sources of kitchen tools, wine storage and accessories, cookbooks, and LOTS of food products, from refined gift baskets and gift certificates (Chez ... http://www.montreal-by-design.com/2009/12/holiday-shopping-for-foodies/ I’ve been researching the best Montreal Burger for a year, eating at a variety of diners and restos, including one that specializes in hamburgers. And while much of it was good, nothing completely satisfied me. Then, a few weeks ago, I went to Café Griffintown to meet a friend and ... http://www.montreal-by-design.com/2009/11/best-burger-in-montreal/ I've been wandering Mile End lately, with and without clients.  I love that it's an interesting mix of architecture, commerce, art and people. These photos take you to the neighborhood in ways my descriptions just can't.  I'll be back with a few reviews, but in the meantime, merci mille fois - ... http://www.montreal-by-design.com/2009/11/lots-happening-in-mile-end/ At DHC-ART, the space is beautiful, entry is free, and the work high quality and thought-provoking. The current expo, Particles of Reality, by Israeli artist Michal Rovner, combines video, installation and sculpture. I found the show beautiful, mysterious, intricately designed and socially relevant - a curious combination of abstract ... http://www.montreal-by-design.com/2009/09/particles-of-reality-at-dhc-art/