Behind The Curtain (21 April, 2023)
Where in Montreal was this photo taken?
Some people, those who pass by the area almost every day, will get it in a second. Others who have been to this exact spot a few times will have to think about it. Some in this second group may find the answer, probably using background clues, while others won’t. And then there are those who won’t come close to a reasonable guess. Andrew, if you guess it at this point, before reading on (as I will be peppering this post with a few hints), I’ll buy you a beer. Maybe from the grocery store that is close to this spot (there’s a hint).
Testing your knowledge of the city you live in can be fun, especially when the photo you’re looking at intentionally obscures location markers or shifts focus away from the recognizable and important to the proverbial red herring. That was the idea behind a series of photos we shared on Facebook a few years ago, back when we were hangin’ out at the old .net domain. We’d simply post a photo of graffiti, a metro station shot from a unique angle, a bike path with unusual markings, or an intersection close to something people might know, but with the street signs cropped out. The accompanying caption would read: “Where in Montreal was this photo taken? Let us know in the comments.” The first correct respondent would win bragging rights, nothing more, nothing less. And everyone would have a fun time guessing.
Last weekend I had a bit of a brainstorm and thought that this would be a great thing to bring back on our present-day Facebook and to try out on our Instagram, which are quite rockin’ these days. So I started writing a proposal and even snapped a photo when I was out buying groceries on Tuesday. That’s a hint for people who know where I live (I’ve mentioned it in previous articles if you don’t), and also know that during the week, I’m rather sedentary and don’t stray too far from home unless I have to or really want to go somewhere. The weekends are when I really hit the town. But enough about my lifestyle. I got a bit carried away with writing my pitch and on Wednesday morning I realized I had nothing for this weekly series…or did I?
Montreal is the kind of place where the unique, the iconic, and the mundane happily co-exist. It’s the kind of town most appreciated by those who visit or move here, and generally only liked or grudgingly accepted by us lifers. Yes, Auntie Em, there’s no place like home, but I know a guy from Kansas who lived here for several years, currently lives on another continent, and might someday return home…to Montreal. I once reviewed a burlesque show on our old site by Glam Gam called Peter Pansexual where Neverland was…wait for it…Montreal’s underground loft party scene: "second loft to the right, with a light on all night"
So Montreal is special. But how do we see it as such when we are so used to it? One great way is to change our perspective and see things we might have missed or looked past. Another is to test our knowledge of this city. If you are able to rediscover your city, you may just get a new appreciation for it, and a new sense of wonder about it. You can start by figuring out where in Montreal the photo above was taken (I’ll let you know the answer next week).
And now it’s time for a possibly recurring sub-segment of this weekly series (for a guy who doesn’t like putting things in boxes, I sure do it quite a bit):
NOTES THIS WEEK
Dancing My Candyass Off: This week on the site, Sandra Soulard spoke with the indomitable Velma Candyass about the upcoming Candyass Cabaret as part of our Events Series. Do yourself a favour and give it a read, then before heading out to the show, come back here so I can tell you that it’s also possible to win stuff at the Candyass Cabaret. Specifically, I’d like to brag that as a member of the audience, I won a dance contest! Was I the best dancer on that stage? No. Did I know people behind the scenes? Yes, but none of them were on the stage at that time, so my victory was legit. Chalk it up to a combination of crowd work and inebriation, but I won!
Elon vs the CBC: Last week, I mentioned the brewing row between Twitter boss Elon Musk and our beloved CBC. This week things got much worse. Musk went ahead with labeling our public-funded broadcaster’s accounts as “Government-funded media” before changing it, as a schoolyard prankster would, to “69% Government-funded media” (69, get it?). The CBC paused activity on all of its Twitter accounts in response, causing right-wing trolls everywhere (and in Parliament) to claim victory. Then on Thursday, Musk’s spaceship blew up (no one on board, no one injured). Is it wrong that I take joy in the partial setback of human space travel if it means the guy ruining part of my social media experience is probably embarrassed? Finally, this morning (Friday), the labels disappeared from CBC’s account. No word yet on why.
Free Transit for Seniors: As of Tuesday, Montrealers 65 years old and up can get a special Opus card that gives them free access to the STM’s bus and metro network on the island (Zone A) starting in July of this year. This is great news for seniors, but also for the rest of us, as it’s a small step in the right direction. I’ve said it before and I will say it again, if we want to discourage private car use for the sake of the planet and/or to make getting around the city easier for everyone, public transit needs to be efficient and free for the user, or at least as affordable as possible. For that to happen, transit companies need to see riders as passengers, not customers, and they need to see themselves as an essential public service, not a for-profit company. There is no such thing as financial losses, only investments in providing the service. As of July, the STM will be just that, at least for seniors.
Strike Time: On Wednesday, Federal workers represented by the Public Service Alliance of Canada (PSAC), including Canada Revenue Agency and Service Canada staff, went on strike across the country. This means picket lines are back, including here in Montreal. I’m a firm believer that you don’t ever cross picket lines, though I can’t imagine people doing so to pay their taxes. Crossing to get a passport is another story, but the wait was already long before the strike, so hopefully people won’t. Also, I always welcome Montreal protests for progressive causes, and labour rights certainly is one of those. If the strike is still going on May Day, things could get interesting.
Fun Times Ahead: In just two weeks, we've gone from ice storm apocalypse to summer by day to early spring normal. Now that the weather matches the date, we're all realizing that we're about to enter the biggest time of the year for Montreal's arts communities, and that means big things ahead for us at FTB. I can't say too much now, but let's just say that we'll be kickstarting the season right and showcasing some of the best this city has to offer, which is what we do already, but this time it will get me out of the house and in public on a Wednesday. Check McSweeney's list next week. What I can say at this point is that we're now in a partnership with the Montreal Fringe which started yesterday with Fringe 101. We're also going to be shining the spotlight on a number of other community-based events and local festivals around town.
That’s it for this week. A happy belated 4/20 to those who celebrate, and see you all next Friday!
FTB Founder Jason C. McLean will return every Friday for another installment in his series, Behind The Curtain.
