Montreal Trip June 14-17

[EZEtoGRU]

Well, I went back to Montreal this week after a 1 year absence. Stayed three nights. Went out each night to Stock & Campus. Didn't make it to JP's at all even though I had promised myself I would go there. Anyway, as others have commented recently, St. Catherine Street is indeed closed off to vehicular traffic and is for pedestrians only for the entire summer. Very nice and airy feel to it. Great for people watching. I had dinner in one of the sidewalk cafe's along the street and enjoyed myself. I do like going to Montreal in the winter (yes call me crazy) but I must say that the whole gay village has a much more upbeat happy feel about the place in the summer. I didn't hurt that the weather was glorious during my visit. Still seems that 10-15% of the storefronts are empty along St Catherines.....and there are still quite a few pan-handlers. They were far outnumbered however by people just taking a stroll. Plenty of cute police officers walking the beat along St Catherines as well.

 

CAMPUS

Pretty dull and stale. Mostly the same old dancers from 5-8 years ago....some getting quite long in the tooth. Very few fresh faces at night. There was some newer talent there in the daytime but I did not find anything to my liking. Not at all busy on the three nights I went there or the two afternoons I popped in. Very friendly bartenders. As others have stated, they have re-done the mens room at Campus (you will recall that it was tiny before and awkward to get to) and it is now more spacious with three urinals and one stall. Definitely an improvement.

 

Campus Overall Grade: C- (would be a D if not for Jeffrey below)

Best Private Dancer: Jeffrey at night. Black guy (half Jamaican and half Hatian) with very good english. Good lapdance.

 

 

STOCK

Going strong. My favorite bartender there (Matthew) is gone now. He was one of the most gorgeous & nicest men to ever work at Stock (including all the dancers) and I miss him already. Denis my favorite waiter was there all three nights and he took great care of me. Wonderful to see lots of new faces at Stock. I would say 60-75% of the guys I had never seen before. A couple of really big guys but mostly worked out guys...... not body builder competition types. A few twinks as well. In terms of the ethnics, it was mostly white French Canadians, but a few black & Latino guys as well. One Asian dancer on Thursday night. Oh and one guy from Lebanon!!

 

Unlike many of us, I actually like to go there on ladies night (Wednesday). The place does have a different vibe and it is overwhelmingly a female crowd.....probably 80% female to 20% male. Some of the hottest guys I saw at Stock were dancing there on Wednesday night. I was hoping to see a few that I liked from Wednesday again on Thursday, but no dice. Hardly anyone that danced on Wednesday was there on Thursday.

 

I had a nice private dance with Calvin. I also spent some time (in front and in back) with Steven, a guy that has been dancing only about 5 weeks. Really nice and pleasant guy. Somewhat limited English but we were able to communicate fine if I spoke slowly. He was lots of fun in front and then also in the private dance area.

 

My only minor complaint (and I am somewhat embarrassed to say this....but I will) is that the equipment size of many of the new dancers seemed very average. Surprisingly little that I saw in the way of large or extra large packages. I guess I would have liked to have seen a little more variety in the way of genital size.

 

Stock Overall Grade: A-

Best Private Dancer: Nexon. Hot worked out bod. Somewhat short with an amazing butt and attractive package. Well worth the private dance.

 

I enjoyed my trip to Montreal and plan to return again in the next few months. With the exchange rate roughly 1:1 right now, Montreal has gotten expensive in US$ terms. Also, there seem to be fewer Americans visiting......and I am sure its because of the exchange rate.

[BgMstr4u]

Thanks for this report.

One question: where did you stay? What are your current hotel recommendations?

[imrthr]

Interesting narrative of your recent Montreal visit

 

Hi EZEtoGRU,

 

Thanks for the interesting narrative on your recent visit to Montreal.

 

Your description was pretty much the way I found Montreal over the past few years. One can still have a good time there but the times and possibilities from several years ago are no longer present.

 

I believe the decline in the American dollar has a lot to do with so few Americans seen around the Village area. But, the decline in the value of the American dollar does not explain the decline in the quality or quantity of available dancers (or "escorts" so to speak).

 

It seems one must follow the tide. If the tide now points to Europe (Spain, for example) that might be an alternative to a disappointing or less fulfilling visit to Montreal (or Brazil).

[EZEtoGRU]

Thanks for comments.

 

BgMnstr,

I stayed at the W Hotel on this trip which is located on Square Victoria. About 25 steps from the hotel entrance to the steps down to the Metro station. In the past, I have also stayed at the Westin, Hilton, & Sheraton. None of these are in the gay village and require a taxi or metro ride to get there. I am really not interested in staying in the gay village.....although others seem to like it perfectly well.

 

Imrthr,

As usual, I agree with everything you say. Travel to Montreal is still worth the effort even if not like it was 4-5 years ago

[happyguy2]

I suspect the decline in the quality of dancers/escorts in Montreal might well have something to do with the decline in the value of the American dollar. The last time I was in Montreal I noted that fewer american tourists had resulted in fewer clients and certainly less "big spending" on the part of clients. There is little doubt that the atmosphere which prevailed at that time made it quite worthwhile for many quality dancers and escorts. It could well be that fewer hot guys find it as profitable to dance and escort when the big spending has declined. What do you folks think?

[imrthr]

 

I suspect the decline in the quality of dancers/escorts in Montreal might well have something to do with the decline in the value of the American dollar.

 

 

No question, you are correct. However, that is not the only reason for the decline in dancers/escorts. I think drugs in the village have a lot to do with fewer quality guys. Clearly, all one need do is walk the length of Ste. Catherine and one will smell pot and if one stands near the Berri-UQAM station (across from the Governors Hotel), offers of stronger drugs are available. This cannot be a good thing for Montreal's gay village.

 

 

It could well be that fewer hot guys find it as profitable to dance and escort when the big spending has declined.

 

 

What came first - the chicken or the egg? The guys stopped coming in the same quantity (and quality). The clients stopped coming because there was an insufficient number of guys and the prices got out of hand. One thing led to the other.

 

In the end, we must realize that nothing stays the same. We must seize the moment when it is there.

[EZEtoGRU]

Well I thought I would do an update as I was in Montreal again last week (July 26-30). My experiences were as follows:

 

CAMPUS

Still pretty sad in my view. One exception is Brandon who dances during the day. I have known him for years and give gives a reliably excellent lapdance. Very muscular, but quite short.....which I kind of like. I did not see anything of much interest to me at Campus in the evenings. Having said that, it did seem quite busy most nights.

 

JP's

I finally got to this place. Hadn't been in this location since the old Adonis was there. Mixed bag. Lousy and rude bartender. Don't know what his issue was but it took 10 minutes to get a drink on a Wednesday night......and it really was not busy. Owners need to pay attention to who they have at the bar. Anyway, a mix of twinks (Taboo type) and more muscled guys. I had dances with two of the better built guys. Patrick and Vince. Both very hot interactive for the lapdance. Money well spent. One thing I did not like was that several of the twink guys kept coming after me. I think they were desperate for business since no-one seemed to be paying attention to them. They were surprised that I was not interested in doing anything with them. One of them would not leave me alone. Quite annoying really.

 

STOCK

Quite good really. I had a great time each night. Lots of hunky dancers. I really liked JP allot. Also he was the crowd favorite and got the most applause for his stage show and he also did a shower show with another guy. JP does a great lapdance if you stay with him for at least 3 songs. Steven was fun as well. Nexon does a nice lapdance. Also, I saw two dancers I know from Twist Miami dancing at Stock. Adriano (an Italian) and Orlando (a Venezuelan). They are both still adjusting to the different setup at Stock versus Twist.

 

ALERT ABOUT STOCK: Management is clamping down on activity in the cubicles beyond touching. They keep peeking into the curtains. I understand they are really strick with the dancers about this now. This is a new development for me and has arisen since my June visit. Anyone else experiencing this recently?? The same restrictions did not seem to apply at Campus or JP's.

 

THE VILLAGE

Very busy. Very happy. Lots of people. Overall a great atmosphere.

[+ newatthis]

...ALERT ABOUT STOCK: Management is clamping down on activity in the cubicles beyond touching. They keep peeking into the curtains. I understand they are really strick with the dancers about this now. This is a new development for me and has arisen since my June visit. Anyone else experiencing this recently?? The same restrictions did not seem to apply at Campus or JP's...

I recall this happening at Campus a few years ago. The explanation was that somehow the cops had discovered forbidden activity behind the curtains and there was a threat to take away the club's license. I was under the impression that since then there had been Canadian court decisions which protected non-public (e.g. behind the curtain) activities. Perhaps one of our Canadian posters can fill in the gaps here.

[JR-Mtl]

most strip clubs in Quebec are "common bawdy houses”

 

I recall this happening at Campus a few years ago. The explanation was that somehow the cops had discovered forbidden activity behind the curtains and there was a threat to take away the club's license. I was under the impression that since then there had been Canadian court decisions which protected non-public (e.g. behind the curtain) activities. Perhaps one of our Canadian posters can fill in the gaps here.

 

A "common bawdy house" (maison de débauche), it a place where there are either acts of prostitution or indecent acts.

 

In the 2000 case, the Crown only argued indecency, not prostitution. The court in 2000 only ruled that contact dances were not indecent; the court never ruled on whether or not the contact dances constituted prostitution.

 

In November 2003, the strippers, the bouncer, and a client were arrested for being in a regular contact strip club in Laval (Bar Le Lavalois). No one was naked, or having sex. They were engaging in the common "grinding dances". They were charged with being found-ins in a common bawdy house - and this time the crown argued that the dances constituted prostitution.

 

The common law definition of prostitution is sexual gratification for consideration. There is no requirement of penetration, fellatio.

 

They were all found guilty in municipal court on October 3rd, 2007. That decision was appealed to the Quebec Superior court, which rejected the appeals and confirmed the convictions on January 6th, 2009. The Quebec Appeals Court confirmed the convictions on June 15, 2010. The decision was not appealed to the Supreme Court of Canada, and the time to do so has lapsed.

 

This means that most strip clubs in Quebec are "common bawdy houses”, and are now illegal.

 

You’re not alone if this seems surprising. Most newspapers, and radio shows reported this by asking “is this for real?”. The President of the province-wide strip bar association (who also happens to own SKY in the village) sent a letter to the provincial government asking for clarification, and the police sent out a warning to all strip bars.

 

All this happened months ago, and your comment on Stock managers is the first I’ve heard of behaviour in the Village strip bars changing.

[+ newatthis]

Thanks for the update. If this decision is enforced vigorously, wouldn't it kill what seems to be a major tourist attraction in Montreal (of which the gay clubs are a very small fraction)?