Last summer, Montreal’s Gay Village offered its customary seasonal flourish with the return of “Le Projet de Boules Roses,” artist Claude Cromier’s annual stringing of “Pink Balls” above a kilometer-plus long stretch of Sainte-Catherine Street. Part of the annual May to September Aires Libres public art event, the installation featured 200,000 balls this year, up from 170,000.
With Sainte-Catherine Street closed to vehicular traffic between Saint- Hubert to Papineau, the enhanced pink canopy provided its usual ambassadorial welcome to the summer surge of gay tourists enjoying the Village’s clubs, outdoor patios, restaurants, bars, shops, and other establishments. According to Community Marketing Inc.’s 2014 LGBT Tourism & Hospitality Survey, Montreal is an equal favorite alongside Toronto and Vancouver for gay travelers from the US, with Canada heading the list of preferred international destinations.
All would seem swell in the heart of one of the world’s most popular LGBT tourism destinations, n’est-ce pas? Well, not completely. As publicized earlier this year by the Montreal Gazette, the Village has been experiencing off-season blues for some time.
In keeping with the general trend of these technological times, the Internet is reportedly to blame, as Montreal’s younger gay crowd steers toward mobile dating applications instead of hitting the Village’s bars and clubs. As I learned from renowned Montreal journalist Richard “Bugs” Burnett, however, there is more to the story.
By Jeff Heilman – Full Story at Passport
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Periodically we’ll feature one of our properties here to let our readers know about some great gay friendly places to stay:
Situated in Montreal downtown east (Gay Village), Le Cartier Bed & Breakfast is 10-20 min walk to main city attractions: Old Montreal, downtown core, fireworks, Latin Quarter, Formula One Track, Palais du Congres, Summer Festivel (Intl Jazz, Just for Laugh, etc), Bell Centre, China Town, universities, casino, Mount Royal, cycling path, and much more.
All of our b&b rooms and suites are equipped with A/C, cable TV, audio CD, wood floor, and a high speed wireless internet connection. We also offer kitchenette facilities (microwave, refrigerator, etc) for guests (no cooking). Laundry service is available at extra cost (long term customers only). Continental breakfast is included.
We also offer private furnished apartment (please inquire).
Le Cartier Bed & Breakfast is just 1 minute away from the Montreal subway (Metro Papineau), bus station & Jacques-Cartier Bridge. We’re also close to the train & central bus station.
Le Cartier B&B is one minute from Ste-Catherine street (but away from noise on quiet side street) – a lively Montreal neighborhood surrounded by restaurants, cafes, shopping centers, night clubs, theatres, supermarkets, and more.
The Bed and Breakfast is newly renovated & decorated by local artists, and the 100-year stone house provides warmth and charm. The B&B is cozy, quiet and stylish. Le Cartier B&B has a beautiful front/back yard & balcony, providing ideal relaxing & meeting places for guests.
Fun local host who knows Montreal from A to Z offers great advice in exploring the city.
Periodically we’ll feature one of our properties here to let our readers know about some great gay friendly places to stay:
Welcome to Montreal’s La Logia Art B&B, where you’ll find casual elegance and a romantic atmospherein each of our guest rooms & annex accommodations. Our Montreal guesthouse is furnished with unique art and furniture that your hosts have purchased from the local antique & retro boutiques.
Each of our guestrooms features private & shared bathrooms, king/queen sized beds, central air conditioning, and cable TV.
Each of our guest rooms includes exquisite linens on our antique beds, cotton towels and bath accessories.
We serve a complimentary expanded continental breakfast in the dining room, outdoors on the terrace (in the summertime) or in the common breakfast area. We also have snacks and refreshments available all day long. We want you to feel at home while you to enjoy your stay in total privacy.
We’re also happy to help with directions, reservations for local restaurants, information about plays or any other local evetns.
Our rooms also include fax service and computer hook up for your convenience. The subway (the metro) is only three blocks away and will connect you to all parts of the island.
Just three minutes away from La Loggia on foot, and you’ll be in the heart of every available diversion you may need, shopping, restaurants, clubbing – everything’s close-by.
There is plenty of metered and private parking right outside the door.
Pur Montreal accommodations also offer daily newspapers, magazines, and books. There’s even a barbeque area available for any guests who may want to grill a steak and enjoy the privacy of our beautiful terrace area before going out to the clubs.
The Terrace also has plenty of room to take in the sun as well as an outdoor shower just to cool off when the temperatures start soaring.
Looking for a great friendly place to stay in Montreal? Come stay with us at La Loggia Art B&B!