Were have all the fun places gone?

[Halloween Mike]

Friday Night i got to Sherbrooke to watch Terrifier 3 and after the movie i got to the "Siboire" that is just in front of the movie theatre where the old bus station used to be. I was surprised to see that even at midnight it was packed. It did started to empty around 1:30am tough. I had scouted the place before the movie at around 9 and it was even more full (but its also a restaurant during these hours).

What surprised me was that the place is basically just a "sit and talk" kinda place. No dancing, no pool table, not like what my usual idea is of a bar. Yes they brew their own beer but its available everywhere around Sherbrooke...

So i do think some clubs/bar or whatever manage to still bring peoples. But it seem to be different than when i was 20 myself. Or the 90s for the older peoples. Lots of reasons name in this thread already. Governement restrictions and changes, but also we are in an internet generation and a lot of peoples like to game or spend time online doing podcast and such.

Now sure the "hot peoples" still go out and party, i see a lot of it on instagram, but its often place that look glamour and expensive. Granted sure these girls are instagram models and/or escorts so they make the $

 

[neverbored]

There are tons of places... they just aren't concentrated in the same sector. Downtown is garbage now and rents are rediculous.
But to say there's nowhere to go is crazy. There are tons of fantastic little bars all over town that are filled with plenty of young patrons. Regardless, people don't need to go out to meet girls/guys anymore... tinder, grinder, really removed the necessity to go out to meet. Adapt or die I guess.

 

[maymay]

There are tons of places... they just aren't concentrated in the same sector. Downtown is garbage now and rents are rediculous.
But to say there's nowhere to go is crazy. There are tons of fantastic little bars all over town that are filled with plenty of young patrons. Regardless, people don't need to go out to meet girls/guys anymore... tinder, grinder, really removed the necessity to go out to meet. Adapt or die I guess.

Tinder and online dating from what young and older people tell me is really not that good, young men at my job had a lot of stories on this and they were not good stories. From what i see online dating you need to look like a model to pick up anything on this. But i never been online so.

 

[maymay]

Friday Night i got to Sherbrooke to watch Terrifier 3 and after the movie i got to the "Siboire" that is just in front of the movie theatre where the old bus station used to be. I was surprised to see that even at midnight it was packed. It did started to empty around 1:30am tough. I had scouted the place before the movie at around 9 and it was even more full (but its also a restaurant during these hours).

What surprised me was that the place is basically just a "sit and talk" kinda place. No dancing, no pool table, not like what my usual idea is of a bar. Yes they brew their own beer but its available everywhere around Sherbrooke...

So i do think some clubs/bar or whatever manage to still bring peoples. But it seem to be different than when i was 20 myself. Or the 90s for the older peoples. Lots of reasons name in this thread already. Governement restrictions and changes, but also we are in an internet generation and a lot of peoples like to game or spend time online doing podcast and such.

Now sure the "hot peoples" still go out and party, i see a lot of it on instagram, but its often place that look glamour and expensive. Granted sure these girls are instagram models and/or escorts so they make the $

10 years ago a few people went to Le 2 Pierrots we cross the street and went to a lounge bar do not remember the name but it was really fun place, and most people were 30 and up. But that was in old Montreal. Yes I guess today people don't dance anymore they sit and talk.

 

[Shaytana]

hi! just to counterbalance some of the elements i’ve read in this thread, as a part-time barmaid and occasional wild nocturnal animal, i’ve noticed that the mid-20s party / “cool” scene has shifted from being concentrated downtown to mile end + rosemont + neighbouring villeray. système, double’s, datcha, nouvel établissement, ping pong, sans soleil, le mal nécessaire, on the top of my head.
most parties i’ve recently attended were curated events hosted in different locations, all the advertisement is propagated solely through instagram.
so yeah! if you’re looking for a more mature crowd i wouldn’t be the best referral but you can count on me to know where the party’s at.

 

[Mandouke]

Rocket Paradise, or was it Rock Head Paradise?

Rockhead's Paradise is long gone. It was located in Little Burgundy a stone's throw from the new Bell Center. One of the last remaining Jazz clubs left from the prohibition era in the US when Americans would flock to Montreal to drink, party and have free-wheeling sex. It was also highly regarded in Montreal's black community and considered an economic and social pillar.

Montreal was then known as a sin city then and for its liberal attitude to sex. Ironically, one of the few remaining clubs from this era is the famous Cleopatra's on the Main.

Here is a before and after photo of the iconic nightclub at the corner of Mountain and St. Antoine. Many well-known and highly regarded professional musicians have graced the stage at Rockhead's.

 

[Mandouke]

Downtown never been my COT, I much preferred hanging with my fellow French speaking buddies but, yeah Thunderdome, Limelight, Casa Pedro and Parachute were on my regular rotation.

There was also the infamous Ralphies at I believe the corner of Drummond and Ste Catherine. I remember many a night spent dancing there in the 1980s when New Wave music was the thing.

 

[Mandouke]

Jazz bars and such:
L'Air du Temps, Rocket Paradise, Biddles, Upstairs, Risng Sun and 1 on Crémazie I can't remember the name.

I used to go to shows all the time at the Rising Sun as a teenager. This was a very interesting club, located on the same block as the Spectrum(Club de Montreal) and a swingers sex club right next door.

The Rising Sun was known as a Blues/Jazz Club in its heyday. In the 1980s as musical tastes and styles shifted they started to book many Punk and Hardcore bands. I spent many a night in there in the mosh pit. The last show I recall seeing there was Agnostic Front.

 

[Mandouke]

The loft, alternative Tuesdays.

Located on the corner of St-Laurent-Ste-Catherine. It's a gym now.

I remember that place the Loft and also the shortlived Black Light Bar a few doors up for live bands.

There was also the infamous Montreal Taverne, which was full of drug dealers, hookers, gay men, transvestites and everything else under the sun.

The glory days of the Main have long passed. South of Ste. Catherine was the Midway, the Alouette and Peter's. All of these places were where working ladies of the day frequented. The only remaining bar is the Midway. I remember this bar well as I would hang out at the Foufounes and come over there to buy drugs.

When you entered by the back door on Saint Dominique you were accosted by about 50 skinheads who played pool there on the two pool tables. They sold drugs.

If you entered on the Saint Laurent side you immediately would see all the working ladies, man I miss those days!

 

[Mandouke]

Here are a few from the days when Stanley and Peel Street were the center of activity.

On Stanley, there was the Rainbow Bar & Grill and the Golem Coffee House. There was also a place called the Pam Pam that was full of drag queens and coke dealers.

 

[Mandouke]

Yes those days are gone!! You could go out every day with a different people Action l Scam at Swan limelight St Larent was booming Crescent was amazing and if not we would drive to Bourbon street up north it was fun and the women were beautiful ah good memories!!!

I forgot all about Bourbon Street up north and had many a fine time there. There was also another club up north that I cannot remember the name of I would go to.

 

[maymay]

hi! just to counterbalance some of the elements i’ve read in this thread, as a part-time barmaid and occasional wild nocturnal animal, i’ve noticed that the mid-20s party / “cool” scene has shifted from being concentrated downtown to mile end + rosemont + neighbouring villeray. système, double’s, datcha, nouvel établissement, ping pong, sans soleil, le mal nécessaire, on the top of my head.
most parties i’ve recently attended were curated events hosted in different locations, all the advertisement is propagated solely through instagram.
so yeah! if you’re looking for a more mature crowd i wouldn’t be the best referral but you can count on me to know where the party’s at.

Thanks for the input no not looking for places i will be 46 my days of partying are well over, but just wondering what happen to all the fun places were used to go to, guess the young people at my jobs are special because none of them go out anymore. They rather stay home and play video games. WEIRD i know

 

[maymay]

Le loft, les mardis alternatifs.

Situé angle st-laurent-ste-catherine. C’est un club de gym maintenant.

Le La tulipe, angle mont-royal, Papineau. Fermé à cause d’une erreur administrative de
La ville de Montréal. C’était le meilleur « pick-up » bar pour les 30 ans+

The loft was filled with underage women at least when i went there back in the mid90 i was 28 and with another friend we met 2 18y old girls, not my bag because for me 18 she was still a teen. They were also heavy smokers turn off. But most women i met over there were young and sometimes 16 or 17. Been there like 2-3 times not my bag at all sad because the place was fun.

 

[maymay]

I forgot all about Bourbon Street up north and had many a fine time there. There was also another club up north that I cannot remember the name of I would go to.

You posted so many places i don't even knew excised to add to the already packed places i been too wow.

 

[maymay]

Covid mandates also had a big impact. After two years of covid mandates, the iconic after hours club Circus closed down. It was there since 20 years, but two years of covid mandates made the afterhours club lost a lot of money so it closed down. Many other clubs shut down because of covid mandates.

The government banned the opening of new clubs of this type since the middle of the 2000s. These types of establishments were grandfathered like stripclubs. I remember in 2003, there were a bunch of afterhours clubs, Sona, Aria, Red Light, now all gone. I believe Stereo is the only one remaining. So yes more ways at how government is wiping out the night life.

With all the violence going on in Montreal maybe its a good thing i guess, i remember a club (never went) La Moomba, it was in centropolis laval it closed there were like 3 shootings in there. And that was back in 2006 or something.

 

[Mandouke]

You posted so many places i don't even knew excised to add to the already packed places i been too wow.

I am probably a few years older than you, that is why. I remember a different era in the 1980s. This was before the computer, cell phones and even Merb. We still used phone booths.

If you wanted to get lucky, you had to know where the girls went, it was as simple as that. If you were looking to pay for it you always went to the red light district that was centred around St. Laurent and Ste. Catherine. There were not many other options.

 

[Leto41]

I’m older than that and I can affirm, the ‘80s and the ‘90s were the golden years for hanging out and partying in MTL

Just to name a few places:

Downtown never been my COT, I much prefered hanging with my fellow french speaking buddies but, yeah Thunderdome, Limelight, Casa Pedro and Parachute were on my regular rotation.
Then café Campus, the original one in Côte des Neiges was a favorite.
On Ave du Parc:
5116, le Pit bar, club Soda, la Pleine Lune, Idéfix, Isaza, le Checkers, la Skala and a few obscure after hours.

Le Prince-Arthur, Chez Swann, Taxi, le Business, Vol de nuit, café Central/Quai des brumes, la brasserie La Gare, Taverne CPR,
Chez Queue, hotel Iroquois, Ciparis, le Nelson, La Cave du 15 Novembre, le Lambert-Closse

Jazz bars and such:
L’Air du Temps, Rocket Paradise, Biddles, Upstairs, Risng Sun and 1 on Crémazie I can’t remember the name.

Strip-Clubs:
In the early 80’s I was holding office at le Sex-Tupple, Saint-Laurent/Bernard.

-Castel Tina, Chez Mado, Wanda’s, Sex-Mania, chez Paré, café Caprice and certainly many more lol.

I don’t know if today’s youth is going out less, I don’t go clubbing at all anymore. But one thing I do know is that, as it always been, music is the common denominator for partying. Different music, different clientele, different drugs and different criminality. The latter being the most probable cause for people leaving the scene.

Man, I worked at Hotel Iroquois and Taxi… you are bringing back so many memories…Thanks

 

[Cap'tain Fantastic]

Rockhead's Paradise is long gone. It was located in Little Burgundy a stone's throw from the new Bell Center. One of the last remaining Jazz clubs left from the prohibition era in the US when Americans would flock to Montreal to drink, party and have free-wheeling sex. It was also highly regarded in Montreal's black community and considered an economic and social pillar.

Montreal was then known as a sin city then and for its liberal attitude to sex. Ironically, one of the few remaining clubs from this era is the famous Cleopatra's on the Main.

Here is a before and after photo of the iconic nightclub at the corner of Mountain and St. Antoine. Many well-known and highly regarded professional musicians have graced the stage at Rockhead's.


View attachment 81072View attachment 81071

My dad took me there for my first visit, I was very surprised that we were almost the only white peoples there. He explained to me that the kind of jazz music played over there came directly from the Harlem club scene so was most of the guests musicians.

 

[Cap'tain Fantastic]

Man, I worked at Hotel Iroquois

Damn dude, you worked for the Dubois brothers!!! Lol

Taxi was a great alternative place, with the Business, very different crowd from chez Swann.
Taxi’s location is now Kamasutra!

 

[believe]

Try Rockette bar on Sr Denis they feature once or twice a month which catering to 40 plus early they start 6pm and finishes at 10pm !
Than young crowds take over, lol and even the younger crowds are picking up on this place.Good old day prices and memories....
But great music 80 90S and an average pick up bar like in the good old days,,
My secret dont tell anyone please!