Adonis in Montreal

[bigguyinpasadena]

Hi guys,there is a rumour-and the folks circulating it are not always reliable thus my checking here-that the adonis in Montreal has changed hands and is now run by straight folks.Anyone have any comment about this ?The addonis has just my tyoe of guys man-twinks with a little street thrown in for an edge.

Had a great time there the last time.I really enjoyed the daytime bartender and server-took them both out for dinner on my last visit(september '02)

Have any of you been back since?

Thanks,

[Guest Tampa Yankee]

This is not news. A dancer informed me about this late last summer. There has been an expansion of women's nights and chippendale type straight dancers for them, and a drop-off in the 'quality' of male dancers hired for the 'gay days' -- at least that was the situation as of Thanksgiving. Business got so bad that some of my favs reduced their work days down to one, then to 'call me when your in town and I'll come in'. Eventually, some decided to switch to women's nights because as poorly as they tip, it was better than the dead weekends. My last 4-5 times there have been a BIG disappointment. ;( Your mileage may vary.

[Guest Tampa Yankee]

Nirvana History?

 

Speaking or rumors... here's another.

 

A Montreal habituae friend in Boston tells me that another friend of his reports that Nirvana has closed. If so then RIP. ;(

[bigguyinpasadena]

RE: Nirvana History?

 

Oh Tampa Yankee,that is sad news indeed if true.I enjoyed Nirvana very much,and I never understood why it never caught on.I found the dancers friendly and the bar staff very friendly.I wonder if the place downtown is ready to die also-it has not been busy at all my last few visits.Oh well,maybe I will just have to put up with the territorial natives at the Taboo-that place has never felt right to me,although I know some posters here just adore it.

OOOOOOOOH I just can't wait til May 17th,

[VaHawk]

Well that truly sucks!! Adonis was my favorite and I was looking forward to going there in May. :-(

[Guest CTguy]

RE: Nirvana History?

 

I was in Montreal a couple of weeks ago and Nirvana was closed. I heard it was because they had a problem with the water pipes bursting. I'm assuming they will be re-opening when everything is repaired. Not sure how true this is but thats what I heard.

[Luv2play]

I don't think these reports on Adonis are true. I was there on the weekend and there were no women. The place was fairly busy for a late afternoon and there were 10 or 12 dancers present. Had a lap dance with a hot looking number (can't recall his name) who was part Italian/part french Canadian. Great big dick and nice six-pack but a bit of a hustler in attitude so I dumped him after 2 songs. Then two young guys joined my friend and me at our table. Nick and Yannick, 18 and 19 resp. altho Yannick looked like a 16 year old, definitely not my type but just what my friend likes. So, to make a long story short, he left with both of them for a tryst at home.}(

[bigguyinpasadena]

Hey,thanks LUV2PLAY,great update.I have heard aqbout this Italian boy-can't wait.Yannick is sweet once you get over the language thing with him.

LUV2PLAY,dod you happen tp get the waiters name?I took him to dinner last time-had a charming time-but I cannot remember his name.

[Guest Tampa Yankee]

>I don't think these reports on Adonis are true. I was there

>on the weekend and there were no women. The place was fairly

>busy for a late afternoon and there were 10 or 12 dancers

>present.

 

Women's nights are Mon - Thurs. As for the crowd, that is good to hear but... it used to be SRO on saturday afternoons when they had serious amateur auditions.

 

Got an email from a long time board member and Montreal habituae who was there twice in March -- confirmed my dreadful experience of last fall. I do hope there is a turnaround underway... the sooner the better.

[Samai139]

I went to Montreal last Thursday--April 3rd and came back to New York State on Sunday, the 6th. Talk about TIMING!! Hit the road Thursday morning and by the time I was in the foothills of the Adirondacks, it was snowing. Snowed throughout the mountains, but Montreal was sunny!! It didn't snow up there until Saturday, and the streets and sidewalks were slush.slush.slush. But Sunday was sunny, if cold. When I got home, I found no heat, no electricity and trees down everywhere and a state of emergency in effect----ice storm. But you are not interested in my dilemma, so here's my update on the strip bars:

Campus in the afternoons was great, but then I really enjoy the guys there. I won't reveal my favourite, I'd like to keep him for myself, but I know better. Trust me, if you like the kind of dancer who used to be at L'Adonis, you'll like Campus in the afternoon. Evenings are still dominated by the muscle guys.

L'Adonis: I was also very disappointed when I went there in December and February. I only stopped in this time because it was cold on Friday night and I wanted to see if Lou, the bar waiter was on duty. To my surprise, two strippers that I really like, one from L'Adonis and one from Stock were performing, so my night was made. I was told by a former L'Adonis stripper in February that the management of the bar was straight, and that he was homophobic and was catering more to the females. Hence the increase in the number of Ladies' Nights. Whether that's true or not, I cannot definitely confirm with an unimpeachable source. I do know that the place is definitely not as "hot" nor as gay friendly as it was two years ago; BUT it is not as dead (in mho) as it was two months ago. Give it a chance, you might be surprised.

Nirvana: Definitely closed: Sign on the door says "for renovations." I heard nothing about water problems--it's possible. Several of the "best" performers (again, in mho) are now at Campus--including the stripper I referred to above. My analysis is that the managers/owners, whoever just could not afford to keep the place going. For some reason(s) it did not catch on. Perhaps it opened at a bad economic time??

Stock: Pretty quiet, but then there were very, very few Americans at any of the bars I went to. I was told by dancers in all the bars that March was a disaster for them, very, very few US customers--- In fact when I was in most of the bars, the strippers would automatically speak French because they were so unused to having American customers. Back to the strippers at Stock. Many of the same fellows who have been there before. If you are fan of Manuel, he's back from a vacation to Southeast Asia, so enjoy. Stock has, in mho, the best lap dance areas, and yet.......

If you like them BIG and ERECT and probably straight, then Stock is your place.

I was "dragged" along to Taboo on Thursday, and couldn't wait to get out, but if you are into very young, twinky-types you might have enjoyed it. A friend went on Friday and said there were only three of about 22 that he did NOT like!!! I didn't go, so cannot say. Apparently the roster of strippers on the weekends is more varied. It definitely has an Quebecois or more Montreal native atmosphere, if that makes sense. Translation: It's like a neighbourhood bar where visitors are tolerated but looked at askance.

A couple of weeks ago, someone posted a question about the safety of travelling to Montreal. I would encourage any/all of you to go. Other than the cold weather and its' unpredictablity, it's a wonderful place, and can only get better as the weather improves, the crowds on the streets thicken, and the restaurants, coffee houses, bars, open up their street-level windows and doors and watching "all the boys go by" becomes the favourite hobby again.

If you stay at the Gouverneur and use the bank near the lobby to change US dollars to Canadian, you might want to know that they have a policy now of charging $5 CN to do that. You get a better rate at the exchange window of the bus terminal on St. Hubert---I paid $3CN on Saturday morning.

Getting into Canada by road is not a hassle at all. Getting back into the US by car is something else: We came through the Champlain customs check at 12 noon and waited in line for over an hour before being cleared. Make sure you have a passport OR at least two forms of photo identification and proof that you were born in the United States to ease your clearance. A baptismal certificate doesn't count for anything any more, I'm told. Get a copy of your birth certificate with a raised seal of authenticity if you do not have a passport.

Bon travais

[bigguyinpasadena]

Hey Samai,thank you so much for that thourough and timely report.Sounds like you had a blast!Hope your weather starts warming up.And thanks for reinforcing my fellings about the Taboo,I felt as unwelcome-suspect as you felt.

Now Samai,is the cute young blond(think his name was Sam!)still there?And did you have the cute man-twink waiter?Dark hair ,kinda short? Did you get his name?

If I walk in there and he is working I HOPE I can remember his name-we had a great time last time and now????Getting older is not a lot of fun for me guys.

[Guest Tampa Yankee]

Thanks for the update Samai. Disappointed to hear about the $5 CD surcharge on ATM withdrawals at the bank next to Gouverneur.Used to be the best conversion rate in the Village. Hope the banks on theother end haven't followed suit. (I thought ATM surcharges were illegal in Canada?)

 

As for Taboo, I have never had any problem there. The waiters and bartenders are very friendly to me as are the dancers. I get free glasses of water for the asking rather than having to pay for bottled water (not in lieu of drinks but in addition). The boys are not as aggressive as they are at other clubs. Sometimes you need to speak to them if they don't know you or better yet, tip $5 US while the dance on stage and they will make a beeline over to thank you when they get off stage. There is no problem getting a back room dance with anyone, just ask. I do understand Taboo is not your cup of tea (some of the guys are very young looking) however I find them friendly, good dancers, and to me they seem to have more fun dancing than some of the dancers at other clubs. Otherwise, there is no way I could sit thru an evening of some 20+ dancers.

 

BTW, I went to Xstatic last Sat. night. Had a great time -- not too bad but it is bit of a haul for me to drive. Open Wed-Sun now. I'll return.

[CT Dick]

RE: Nirvana History?

 

I was in Montreal for MLK weekend in January. Nirvava had almost no clients.

 

The problem wasn't the pipes but that it didn't have anything to offer that the other bars didn't already have.

 

I enjoyed Nirvana but gay Montreal is too small a village to support five male stripper bars.

 

Dick

[jaynnj]

Thanks so much on the run down on Montreal Samai.

I am plaining on going the week of Easter. My last visit

too Montreal was during Valentines weekend and I came back to

the USA and two tons of snow fun, fun, fun, lol. I heard that

that Nirvana has closed but some of the dancers are now working

at campus. I looked for one young dancer who I just found out is

working days at the campus. I cannot wait to see him and the dancers

from the other clubs as well.

[Paul Revere]

Exchange Rate

 

I don't understand why you need to change money ay the bank or the bus station. My ATM card works in almost all of the ATMs in Montreal. Canadian banks do not charge for transactions (a good law), and my bank doesn't charge either. So I get the up to the minute exchange rate, with no fees to anyone. When I get home, if I take out $100 Candian, my bank shows an ATM withdrawal of $67.89 or whatever the current exchange rate is. Very convenient and no extra fees to anyone.

[VaHawk]

Sounds like my type, though. Where is Taboo located? Is that in walking distance of Ste. Catherines?

[Guest Tampa Yankee]

1950 Maissonnueve... one block north of Ste. Catherine and two short blocks east of Adonis.

[Samai139]

RE: Exchange Rate

 

Paul Revere~~

Thanks for the tip on using ATM cards. Until fairly recently I had a Credit Union ATM card which I could use in very few places. But recently I got a Visa Check Card which will allow me withdraw money directly from my checking card at most places where Visa is honoured. I haven't tried it in Montreal, but now that you have said you have no problems, I definitely will.

Thanks for the advice--that's why I love the guys on this site.

[bigguyinpasadena]

RE: Exchange Rate

 

Hi Samai,just be sure you have a 4 digit pin number so you can use it in "foriegn" lands(yes canada is considered foriegn as the banks are concerned)An Samai,there are 4 atm machines at the bank in the Gouv-you will have to slide your card to get access after baning hours.MUCH safer one up the street BANK DES JARDINS.The one at the gouv sometimes has unsavory types hanging around.

[marc anthony]

RE: Exchange Rate

 

The best exchange rate is at the Montreal Casino. They want your American bucks, so they give you a great rate with no surcharge when you change American bills for chips or CND$.

 

I recommend... casino during the day for gambling fun and banking.

 

Taboo at night for every other desire you may have!

 

}(

[Luv2play]

I don't spend an inordinate amount of time in Montreal's stripper bars and never in the winters as I am in Florida then. But this year, given the war and all, I came back a little early to find winter is still here. I've dropped in on Stock, Campus, Taboo and Adonis since my return but on different days and at different times of the day and night. I think it fair to say that business is down, even for winter, but that is not to say fun cannot be found. Au contraire, as they say, there are still some very hot guys dancing, along with the hustlers etc etc.

 

I've enjoyed some lap dances at Stock but not the other clubs, for various reasons that mostly concerned the guys I chose. But hey, it's a hit and miss thing anyway. I agree with those that say the Stock has the best backroom, so if you get a hottie, then anything goes! (with-in limits of course, no anal LOL). The backroom at Taboo sucks, it's too open and most of the time there is a minder who checks to see that nothing untoward happens. Ditto Adonis. My friends told me Nirvana closed because of a plumbing problem but whether it reopens is anyone's guess. Never liked it anyway so no loss for me.

 

As far as ATM charges by Canadian banks, all I know is that mine charges me every transaction I make in Florida ($3.50) on top of the usual 50 cent fee. Canadian banks are NOTORIOUS for their fees, don't believe otherwise.

 

Big Guy, I don't know about your waiter friend at Adonis, the waiter who served me wouldn't win any prize, tho.:+

[Samai139]

Waiter at L'Adonis in the afternoon is named Lou, he's a great guy. Very friendly and will give you some real insights into what's going on, if.....you tip well and are genuine. Whether he's gay or straight or whatever, I have no idea. A fellow I travel with occasionally is convinced he's gay. My gaydar is not very reliable, and I'd be glad to hear some other people's read on Lou.

Bank Charges, etc. on ATM's. I have a Bank Card which draws cash directly out of my checking account, and there are no charges when I use it at any ATM which honours Visa Cards---at least here in the U.S. I haven't tried it in Canada, but next visit, I shall, just to see. I usually prefer to take US dollars with me and then exchange them as I need. If I don't need them, I just bring them home.

I'm not sure where the bank du jardins is--which direction? Toward the village or westward???

I know what you mean about the unsavoury types hanging around that lobby---usually walk by very quickly and do not make eye contact. I try never to NEED to use an ATM way past 10 PM, but I suppose there are times when, hey, it's necessary!!! (In Montreal terms of necessity)

[Guest Tampa Yankee]

RE: Exchange Rate

 

When do you sleep??? :7

[Guest CTguy]

Lou the waiter at Adonis is a Hottie. I asked him once if he is straight and if he does privates and he told me he is straight and does not do privates As far as the exchange rate I used to always use the ATM machines but found that my bank's exchange rate was not quite as good as if I exchanged the money in Montreal. It wasn't a big difference but with the amount I was spending it added up }(

[marc anthony]

RE: Exchange Rate

 

>When do you sleep??? :7

 

Certainly NOT when I am in Montreal!!!

 

:7