Montreal End of Summer Update

[eeyore]

I decided to drive up to Montreal for Labor Day weekend for another visit while the summer weather was still holding and before Ste. Catherine’s street reverted back from a pedestrian to a traffic zone. The boundless energy of Pride Weekend was gone but there was still plenty of fun, energy and festival atmosphere in the Village. And lots of beautiful boys everywhere.

 

Much of this report will reaffirm what the previous poster, Jake, has already written with a few additions and personal anecdotes.

 

Club Narrative Update

 

At the Campus I had a nice time with the dancer Jake mentioned, Alexei (sp?). He has lived in Montreal for about fourteen years but was born in Russia. He was all over me the moment I walked in (I have to stop wearing that sign on my head that says ATM…) but I had no objections since he was so adorably cute and smooth… and cuddly… and pleasantly flirty… without being overly pushy about a backroom dance. Of course we eventually did go in the back. He can be quite a tiger but he can play it wild or mild. I liked it much better when I toned him down to a more cuddly ‘meow’ level.

 

But that’s not the end of the story. The next day while passing the Campus on my way to dinner he was taking a break outside in the front (shirtless – Montreal is wonderful that way on a summer night). He blew me a kiss, motioned me over and gave me a nice hug and a real kiss. We chatted for a while and I told him I would probably be back later.

 

After dinner I was in my usual voyeur mood. One of my favorite stops is at the Second Cup where you can sit on the deck and watch beautiful boys stroll by while sipping your coffee. Unfortunately there was no sitting room that night so I ordered a decaf to go and moved on to my alternate stop. There is a park bench just opposite the Stock Bar. Behind the bench is a convenience store. The Stock boys often walk over (shirtless of course) to fetch a soda, energy drink, cigarettes, etc., which gives you a perfect sneak preview. You get to see the front torso on the dancer’s way over and then you can check out his back and shoulder definition upon his return. All this for free. Unfortunately someone was occupying my backup spot, so it was on to the second alternate: the park bench in front of the Campus – I had to finish my coffee somewhere. Well after a few minutes out comes Alexei on break again. When he saw me he ran over and sat down next to me for a chat (shirtless of course on this warm summer night). He left shortly to fetch his energy drink but said he would be back. I thought that was the end of it, but he soon returned and sat down next to me again. We chatted about his life, his plans and goals and, oh yes, about his beautiful body. He was concerned that he wasn’t muscular enough and he said he wanted to try to get bigger. I told him I thought he was beautiful just the way he was and, being the wise gentleman that I am, counseled him not to abandon his target market at the Campus by overdoing it lest he find himself applying for work at Stock. He thought about that for a while and we finally both agreed that he would just try to tighten up his abs a bit.

 

Well I must be living right because then some fireworks started further down to the west on Ste. Catherine (not the international competition fireworks that are launched from Isle Ste. Helene but a brief display celebrating some event in the straight part of town). So we sat and watched them together. I guess the Buddhists call this good karma. Where else but in Montreal could a miserable old donkey queen minding his own business while sipping coffee on a street bench enjoy an impromptu friendly visit and chat with a beautiful smooth shirtless Russian boy on a warm summer night with fireworks displaying in the distance. After the fireworks, at my suggestion, we went inside and did a few dances – I’m sorry, I just couldn’t help myself. Alexei has taken the art of the soft sale to a new level.

 

Later that evening I somehow found myself on the bench again and who should walk over but one of my other favorite dancers: Criss. Unfortunately he was leaving for the night and fully dressed in his motorcycle gear for his trip home but that didn’t stop him from giving me a hug and the proverbial French cheek to cheek greeting kiss followed by a brief chat. So I doubled down on my karma that night. I’m getting a little worried since I also had two episodes of good karma on my previous visit. I’m worried that if I use up too much good karma in this life I may come back in my next life as someone’s pet toad…

 

Where was I going with this post…on to JP’s Bar (formerly Adonis). I went in on a Saturday night (Labor Day weekend) and the place was almost dead with respect to patrons but there were some very nice looking dancers. I spent some time and dances with one of my favorites, Max/Maxime (see previous post). There was also a new dancer there named Rick/Rich. It was his first night and I think his first time doing backroom dances. He is an ethnic blend of African and Swedish and the combination is truly stunning. It also looked liked he had a touch of Asian but he said no. He totally took my breath away, which is why I took him in the back. Unfortunately, he is also 100% straight (what a misread) so there was almost no intimate interaction in the back. But he is incredibly beautiful. You are probably better off just enjoying him on the stage. It was his first night so maybe he’ll warm up.

 

I was hoping that there would be more finish work done to the upstairs booths by now but that was not the case. They really could use some sprucing up. Apparently, not all the booths have adjustable rheostat lighting as I previously reported. Actually I think only one of them does. And they all could use more comfortable and intimate furnishings. On Saturday night (Labor Day weekend) there were only a handful of customers so I guess business is slow. There were a few female patrons there but they were unobtrusive, polite and seemed to blend in OK. But the only business the dancers seemed to get was from the men. A few more customers started drifting in later as I was headed out. There is still a three dollar cover which I guess is only relevant to the evening’s bankroll if all you want to do is check the place out or drop in for a quick look see.

 

I also dropped in at Taboo on two nights and there were decent crowds on both nights with a reasonable collection of strictly twink types. The place seems to be gradually improving since it much publicized demise.

 

I only dropped in to Stock briefly and then headed out so I have nothing new to report on that front.

 

Ste. Catherine’s street – the entire street from Rue Berri to Papineau was cordoned off and made into a pedestrian traffic free zone this summer. On a warm summer night the street is filled with fun and energy and oh so much eye candy. I asked several people who should be in the know (waiter, hotel concierge, dancers) when it was being converted back and got just as many answers. When I left on Tuesday (9/8) it was still blocked off to traffic but some of the patio decks were being dismantled and the big flower pots removed, so I guess things are finally winding down for the end of the season – so sad. Summer didn’t arrive in the Northeast until August, so the season was way too short.

 

For those of you looking for an excuse to travel there this fall, the Chinese Lantern festival at the Botanical Garden will be held from Sept. 11 – Nov. 1 and will be open until 9:00 pm. They were setting things up when I went over on Sunday so I got a sneak preview and it looks like it will be an awesome exhibit at night. There will also be an indoor pumpkin festival in October. If the weather is bad there is always the Casino. Be sure to bring your raincoat - scuttlebutt has it that the coat check boy is to die for.

[Guest DuchessIvanaKizznhugg]

Great Narrative

 

Made me feel like I was there enjoying it with you.

Glad you had a good time, and thanks for sharing.

[LD19847]

I paid a visit to the MTL clubs last week and would add the following:

 

I went into JP Cabaret and left without finishing my drink. The place was virtually empty and of the patrons who were there the split between male and female was about 50/50. I noticed quite a few faces from Stock including Anthony and Danny (both still on the Stock website). A mixed club doesn't work. Why would I want to go to a mixed venue when I have a choice of three (excluding ladies nights) exclusively gay venues? Watching a dancer flirt with two female customers and then move onto a male customer just doesn't work for me. The seating area is also lit quite brightly and doesn't do much for the ambiance.

 

Stock in most respects is as good as ever IMHO. However, there are some gripes. Unless I'm mistaken in remembering how things used to be, there seems to a definite trend now for some dancers to do their second slow dance without full nudity and an erection. Some dancers only flashed very briefly and some didn't dance fully nude at all. I think they could do with tightening up the show a bit. Some dancers get onto stage quite late into their songs and a couple of times in the "360 degree" shows on Friday and Saturday only two dancers appeared on stage, instead of the announced three. I didn't see any shower shows when I was there or any couples dancing - would be good to see more of these.

 

Also, I don't go to MTL that often, but when I do go to Stock I notice the local regulars who are there almost every weekend, and if there is a VIP member in the club (don't know how exactly you become a VIP) that night with clearly a lot of money to spend at the bar and on the bars, there is little chance of getting attention from most of the dancers. One VIP customer can have 5-6 dancers with his group all night.

[MTLover]

"if there is a VIP member in the club (don't know how exactly you become a VIP) that night with clearly a lot of money to spend at the bar and on the bars...."

 

I believe you answered your own question there...arriving in a strip bar with lots of money to willingly spend, will elevate you to the VIP status quite quickly...

 

Also, I would agree with your observation about some of the dancers failing to be fully nude for their slow songs at Stock...a recent trip there (along with newatthis and Oliver) left us all guessing whether the dancer on stage even 'had' the equipment to display...we never did confirm it before we left...

[DanseurMTL]

How become a member of the VIP Club

 

1. The time of arrival doesn't matter.

2. Invite the first dancer that comes by for a drink, tip well the waiter so that the dancer watches HOW MUCH you give; a +$5 tip is extremely good, considering that the standard is $1 per drink purchased.

3. Signal other dancers to come to your table, and invite them drinks.

4. Repeat.

 

It helps a lot to put a few Coronas or other similar generic beers on the table for your group to grab.

Tipping many dancers on stage.

Or ask for a tab, which is paid on a regular basis (every hour or so); every time you pay, tip well.

 

This is all about giving people (yes, and the other customers too!!) the impression that you don't care about money; because you "have lots of money"!

[Cooper]

huh???

 

... Invite the first dancer that comes by for a drink...Signal other dancers to come to your table, and invite them for drinks... Repeat...It helps a lot to put a few Coronas or other similar generic beers on the table for your group to grab. Or ask for a tab, which is paid on a regular basis (every hour or so); every time you pay, tip well.

 

Sounds like the advice only a bartender or club owner would give.

[Jake]

excellent recap eeyore! fun to read someone else's perspective from the same weekend.

 

Alexei definitely has got his customer service skills down!