Montreal /P’tit Train du Nord

You may know this about Montreal: Leonard Cohen, bagels. Also, loads of people speaking French. But did you know this? Montreal is a haven for people who grew up playing Barbies. Scroll on and see.

Here’s a peek at the 2019 festival, a list of places we liked or want to try, and scenes sampling the rail trail. Barbie hopes to see you.

1. Montreal Bike Festival

Above, the Friday night Tour la Nuit; below , the Sunday Tour de l’Île, Montreal, 2019 — Cal, Gerald photos

Eric photo, left, from Tour la Nuit

At the Old Port

Places

Burrito Borracho 2110 Crescent St., Justine Short photo

Comtoire 400

Burrito Borracho 2110 Crescent St.

The gang (and Leonard Cohen) at Burrito Borracho

Cafe Vasco de Gama 1472 Peel St. (coffee, lunch)

Cafe Humble Lion 904 Sherbrooke St W (boutique espresso, scones)

Pikolo Espresso Bar 3418B Park Ave (small local shop)

Lov 1232 Rue de la Montagne (vegan, cocktails, wine)

Taverne Square Dominion 1243 Metcalfe St. (dinner)

Cloakroom 2175 Rue de la Montagne #100 (speakeasy)

Siboire Brewpub, Plateau

Plateau: Siboire Brewpub, 5101 St Laurent Blvd.

Old Port/Old Montreal:

L’Escalier Montréal 552 Sainte-Catherine St., 2nd Floor (veg restaurant with hipster feel, live music nightly)

Comtoire 400, 400 Place Jacques-Cartier (lunch)

Parking: Le Cartier building, off Peel St. across from Best Western Ville-Marie, $22/day inc tx

To try:
L’Orignal, 479 Rue Saint Alexis
Lola Rosa veggie 545 Milton St.

Fine arts museum
Montreal Biosphere
Old Port/Old Montreal

Barbie!

Barbie Expo, Michele photos

Barbie Expo :) (free) 1455 Rue Peel, inside Les Cours Mont Royal

2. P’tit Train du Nord Rail Trail

The rail trail

Lunch with Le Baril Roulant’s owner (2nd from left), Val David Mayor Kathy Poulin (3rd from left) and folks from Velo Quebec and the P’tit Train du Nord organization, at Le Baril Roulant, great food, microbrewery and trail-side lodging.

Food-lodging: Le Baril Roulant, 1430 Rue de l’Académie, Val-David and Baril Roulant pub/microbrewery 2434 Rue de l’Église, Val-David

Coffee-bike shop: Espresso Sports, Cafe de la Gare, 1000 Rue Saint-Georges, Sainte-Adele

Baril Roulant

Bike rentals & shuttle

Half the trail is paved, half smooth crushed surface

Louis Carpentier of Velo Quebec

Bike rentals-shuttle: Autobus Le Petit Train Du Nord, at Place de la Gare, Saint-Jerome