What people really think of Montreal's Gay Village - it's NOT pretty

[twinkboylover28]

 

I agree with Tazmanian that Montreal is a better place without you.

 

You also want Trump impeached so apparently what you think doesn't really matter! Lock her up!

[twinkboylover28]

during my one and only visit to Montreal in January, 2016, homeless people were immediately outside my hotel (Governeur (sp?)) sleeping on the heat grates......and a dude tried to sell me some cocaine on St. Catherine......I'm tolerant and aware of my surroundings and none of this bothered me in the least......fearing Montreal would be the Paris of North America (pretentious and rude), I, instead, found Montreal to be utterly unpretentious, friendly, low-key, fun, and easy to navigate......

 

I'll take Paris over Montreal any day of the week!

 

People who like things when they were good are now labelled "bitter"! I love it.

 

Speaking of the Gouverneur hotel, the reviews make it sound like another classy hotel right up your ally:

 

 

https://www.yelp.com/biz/h%C3%B4tel-des-gouverneurs-montr%C3%A9al?sort_by=rating_asc

[twinkboylover28]

Reviewed June 10, 2018 via mobile

Avoid at all costs

 

 

We came for for Formula 1 and stayed nearby so had to walk the street every day. It has to be the most depressing place I have ever been to. Homeless people begging for money, junkies - young people and very old ladies of the night except it was day time. I did not dare step out of my door after dark.

The shops were run down and like the whole place - depressing. Glad I am leaving in the morning

 

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Ask Karen C about Gay Village

[tazmanian5230]

[P Gren]

Reviewed June 10, 2018 via mobile

Avoid at all costs

 

 

We came for for Formula 1 and stayed nearby so had to walk the street every day. It has to be the most depressing place I have ever been to. Homeless people begging for money, junkies - young people and very old ladies of the night except it was day time. I did not dare step out of my door after dark.

The shops were run down and like the whole place - depressing. Glad I am leaving in the morning

 

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Ask Karen C about Gay Village

This one made me laugh. The girl needs to get out of Celebration, Florida and join the real world.

[+ newatthis]

what about the Montreal escorts? any general comments?

There are many more escorts listing themselves in Montreal than there were, say, 10 years ago.

When I started visiting Montreal, I could expect less than a 25% success rate in hiring dancers out of the clubs, and that often required an elaborate courtship of multiple backroom dances over days until they felt comfortable. As time has progessed, a much larger percentage of dancers seems open to escorting and they are much more open about it.

[BostonTom]

Haha! The same can be said about Skid Row!

 

Nothing like not being judged by junkies and homeless.

 

Pure heaven!

Well, I just got back from a week in the Pines on Fire Island - which is just about the most monied gay enclave in the U.S. And it's lovely - hot boys in speedos are always running around the private pools and gardens, or toting their yoga mats between hook-ups. Everyone was very beautiful, or very rich (but rarely both) - and it's funny, people were still trying to sell me cocaine. And some of the party boys didn't know who they'd be sleeping with next week - they were basically homeless. And there were junkies - or alcoholics (or both) - just about everywhere. So it, too, was a lot like Skid Row. Only there was also a ton of snobbishness and judgment! Oh well - c'est la vie!

Edited July 20, 2018 by BostonTom

[+ tassojunior]

A lot of people think because many in Montreal primarily speak French, they're in another culture. They forget these are Americans who share more with the US than France. (Their French is even American French, which the French hate). In fact, the area is much more like Detriot or Buffalo. They watch American shows and many worked at the General Motors 3-Rivers plant, etc. It's somewhat blue collar. The Montreal greater metropolitan area includes Burlington, VT.

 

Quebecers.

Edited July 19, 2018 by tassojunior

[+ SundayZip]

If you're rating the Montreal Gay village based on the prevalence of Michelin 3-star restaurants, you'll might be disappointed. If you're looking for word-class architecture, go elsewhere. If you're looking for Rodeo Drive type shopping, ooops, you're in the wrong place. But if you're looking for "an inclusive, funky, friendly, non-judgmental vibe in Montreal like almost nowhere else. You can see disabled people out enjoying themselves next to the ripped stripper boys. Street performers can suddenly dive into real acrobatics, or a singer can start belting like the next Celine Dion. I love it." (thank-you @BostonTom)

 

I love the Montreal gay village, warts and all (or maybe its the warts that I like best).

 

NYCMan makes a good point. There's not much architectural distinction to the Gay Village, true. And there are actually some poor people there, and some with substance abuse issues - also true. So it's a little rough, but there's also an inclusive, funky, friendly, non-judgmental vibe in Montreal like almost nowhere else. You can see disabled people out enjoying themselves next to the ripped stripper boys. Street performers can suddenly dive into real acrobatics, or a singer can start belting like the next Celine Dion. I love it.

Edited July 19, 2018 by SundayZip

[P Gren]

A lot of people think because many in Montreal primarily speak French, they're in another culture. They forget these are Americans who share more with the US than France. (Their French is even American French, which the French hate). In fact, the area is much more like Detriot or Buffalo. They watch American shows and many worked at the General Motors 3-Rivers plant, etc. It's somewhat blue collar. The Montreal greater metropolitan area includes Burlington, VT.

 

Quebecers.

They're Canadians speaking Canadian French. What is American French? Are you thinking Louisiana Patois?

Edited July 20, 2018 by P Gren

[+ tassojunior]

Pointing out the obvious, their Canadians speaking Canadian French. What is American French? Are you thinking Louisiana Patois?

 

 

A Canadian accent and a US accent are usually the same in French. French don't hear a Canadian accent or a US accent, just an American accent.

[P Gren]

A Canadian accent and a US accent are usually the same in French. French don't hear a Canadian accent or a US accent, just an American accent.

Canadian French in Quebec is mostly a first language - and there is no English accent, whether that be Canadian or USA. So it's not "American French." In terms of Quebecois not being able to pick out accents between their fellow English Canadians and foreigners (such as USA) … that's a grand and dumb statement. There is a high percentage of Quebecers that are bilingual

Edited July 19, 2018 by P Gren

[+ tassojunior]

Man, all I know is everytime I speak French in France people assume I'm Quebecois. The same American accent the French hate.

 

You always respond to people that something's a dumb statement? You must be awfully smart

Edited July 20, 2018 by tassojunior

[P Gren]

Man, all I know is everytime I speak French in France people assume I'm Quebecois. The same American accent the French hate.

 

You always respond to people that something's a dumb statement? You must be awfully smart

I'm not taking the bait of the pointless insult. I'm more interested in solving a misunderstanding.

Your first message was commenting about Montreal/Quebec French and now your talking about France. I don't know about France (that you mention in your last post), I was commenting on Quebec (in your first post). Quebec French and France French are quite different, accent and vocabulary - which you probably know given you say you speak French. There is no "American French" in Quebec, which is what your first message said. And Quebec IS a different culture, with a distinct history, language and legal code from the rest of Canada.

Edited July 20, 2018 by P Gren

[+ tassojunior]

I'm not taking the bait of the pointless insult. I'm more interested in solving a misunderstanding.

Your first message was commenting about Montreal/Quebec French and now your talking about France. I don't know about France (that you mention in your last post), I was commenting on Quebec (in your first post). Quebec French and France French are quite different, accent and vocabulary - which you probably know given you say you speak French. There is no "American French" in Quebec, which is what your first message said. And Quebec IS a different culture, with a distinct history, language and legal code from the rest of Canada.

 

My exact words: French don't hear a Canadian accent or a US accent, just an American accent.

 

Read what someone wrote before you insult them.

[mike carey]

And Quebec IS a different culture, with a distinct history, language and legal code from the rest of Canada.

I think Tasso was referring to American French-speakers not American-French speakers (and by American, of the continent not of the US). At the risk or Anglo-splaining (if there were such a thing), the misunderstanding seems to hinge on overlooking a distinction between two separate groups of (North) American French speakers, [non-bilingual] anglophones who are speaking in French and francophone Quebeckers. Anglos speaking French, whether they are from the US or Canada would probably have similar accents, and may be disparaged by people in France. Quebeckers, as you note, speak French differently than other francophones, and as I understand it, they are also disparaged by the French. Obviously the two groups can't be lumped in together.

 

*I deliberately referred to people who speak Quebec French because I know there are francophone immigrants (form Haiti, Africa and Lebanon for example) who form yet another group of North American French speakers.

[P Gren]

My exact words: French don't hear a Canadian accent or a US accent, just an American accent.

 

Read what someone wrote before you insult them.

What difference does it make if the French in France hear a Canadian or US accent in a thread about Montreal, Quebec?

You are the only one throwing insults.

[P Gren]

I think Tasso was referring to American French-speakers not American-French speakers (and by American, of the continent not of the US). At the risk or Anglo-splaining (if there were such a thing), the misunderstanding seems to hinge on overlooking a distinction between two separate groups of (North) American French speakers, [non-bilingual] anglophones who are speaking in French and francophone Quebeckers. Anglos speaking French, whether they are from the US or Canada would probably have similar accents, and may be disparaged by people in France. Quebeckers, as you note, speak French differently than other francophones, and as I understand it, they are also disparaged by the French. Obviously the two groups can't be lumped in together.

 

*I deliberately referred to people who speak Quebec French because I know there are francophone immigrants (form Haiti, Africa and Lebanon for example) who form yet another group of North American French speakers.

Yes, that's all I was saying (without as much detail). I hope he hears it better from you than me.

Edited July 20, 2018 by P Gren

[BostonTom]

If you're rating the Montreal Gay village based on the prevalence of Michelin 3-star restaurants, you'll might be disappointed. If you're looking for word-class architecture, go elsewhere. If you're looking for Rodeo Drive type shopping, ooops, you're in the wrong place. But if you're looking for "an inclusive, funky, friendly, non-judgmental vibe in Montreal like almost nowhere else. You can see disabled people out enjoying themselves next to the ripped stripper boys. Street performers can suddenly dive into real acrobatics, or a singer can start belting like the next Celine Dion. I love it." (thank-you @BostonTom)

 

I love the Montreal gay village, warts and all (or maybe its the warts that I like best).

Just btw, O'Thym, on the edge of the Village, is quite a good restaurant - better than anything on St. Catherine. Noisy though. https://www.othym.com/

[twinkboylover28]

Just btw, O'Thym, on the edge of the Village, is quite a good restaurant - better than anything on St. Catherine. Noisy though. https://www.othym.com/

 

Sounds delicious. I liked their Facebook page.

 

I usually go to the Keg Steakhouse in Old Montreal where my hot twink waiter Eric works.

I also enjoy an italian restaurant off of McGill and Ste. Catherine called MONZA.

 

I ALSO made my reservations 3 months in advance for the famous Joe Beef restaurant in Old Montreal. It was a restaurant featured on Anthony Bourdain's CNN show.I can't wait to visit this Fall.

 

I went to a restaurant called Le Serpent in Old Montreal, but the only thing I really enjoyed there were the appetizers.

 

I've always wanted to try M7 burritos and the steakhouse called Moishe's, as well as Pavillion 67 at the Montreal Casino and a famous little deli called Wielenskis who's matriarch just passed away this Spring.

 

Of course my favorite dessert are cream-filled twinks.

[bigvalboy]

Just btw, O'Thym, on the edge of the Village, is quite a good restaurant - better than anything on St. Catherine. Noisy though. https://www.othym.com/

 

It's absolutely wonderful, food quite good, service most accommodating, but yes...a bit noisy, although dining in close quarters, allowed for conversations with adjoining tables. It was almost like having dinner at a friends house. Two thumbs up.

[tazmanian5230]

"I ALSO made my reservations 3 months in advance for the famous Joe Beef restaurant in Old Montreal. It was a restaurant featured on Anthony Bourdain's CNN show.I can't wait to visit this Fall"

 

After all your crying and bitching your going back in the fall?

My dream didn't come true.

[muscmtl]

u want food... they serve pizza at gijoe during cumunion

[Bearman]

You guys can try and re-write history and reviews all you like.

The bottom line is 92 positive and 44 "average/negative" is pretty BAD by anyone's standards.

 

Words in those reviews that keep recurring are: "dump," "neglected," "abandoned," "junkies," "homeless," and "dirty". Don't take my word for it, read the reviews (but be sure to remove your rose-colored glasses first!).

 

This was exactly my impression the last few times I visited a few years ago and why I stopped visiting! Those same words you quote plus many closed businesses boarded up wasn't the Gay Village I used to love in Montreal back about the early 2000's. I stopped going when it was obvious it had taken a turn for the worst. My favorite restaurants were gone, shops closed, bars changed or closed, B&B's and hotels gone or became dumps yet charging the same high prices, guys making eye contact weren't cruising or hustling but selling drugs! I stated traveling to other places instead of Canada.

[twinkboylover28]

This was exactly my impression the last few times I visited a few years ago and why I stopped visiting! Those same words you quote plus many closed businesses boarded up wasn't the Gay Village I used to love in Montreal back about the early 2000's. I stopped going when it was obvious it had taken a turn for the worst. My favorite restaurants were gone, shops closed, bars changed or closed, B&B's and hotels gone or became dumps yet charging the same high prices, guys making eye contact weren't cruising or hustling but selling drugs! I stated traveling to other places instead of Canada.

 

Exactly! Thank you!

 

Anyone can read the unbiased reviews! Plus look at my screen name. I think I would know how to spot twinks after 45-years on the planet.

 

Here is some more frosting on the cake for those Montreal pollyannas who refuse to remove their rose-colored glasses:

 

https://www.yelp.com/biz/campus-montréal-3?sort_by=date_desc

 

and

 

https://montreal.gaycities.com/bars/725-taboo

Edited August 9, 2018 by twinkboylover28