Weekend plans | A perfect weekend for those thirsty for culture

First Fridays in extended version

A popular cultural and gourmet event every summer, First Fridays are back in an extended version. The festivities, which will be held at the beginning of June, July and August, will take place not only on Fridays, but also on Saturdays and Sundays. During the summer, visitors will be able to enjoy nine days of musical and culinary discoveries. This 12^e edition begins this Friday, on the Esplanade of the Olympic Park, where Asia will be in the spotlight. Access to the site is free.

Véronique Larocque, The Press

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Souldia and Lost at Club Soda

Robot portrait, a joint album by rappers Souldia and Lost released a little over a month ago, will be presented to the Montreal public during a show at Club Soda on Saturday, June 8. Souldia’s raw style combined with Lost’s quiet strength created a powerful work. “What sets them apart reinforces each theme,” we wrote in the album review. The chunky rhythms by Gen1us, Toosick and TWT should make the venue on Boulevard Saint-Laurent vibrate. Souldia will also be at the Solstice Festival, in Saint-Georges, this Thursday, June 6, in Saint-Eustache the next day, then on the Bell stage, on June 15, as part of the Francos de Montréal. Lost will be at FRIMAT on July 26.

Souldia and Lost at Club Soda, June 8, 7 p.m.

Pascal LeBlanc, The Press

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A Grand Prix in Little Italy

While the Formula 1 cars will race around the Gilles-Villeneuve circuit on Notre-Dame Island, it is a very different Grand Prix that will animate Little Italy this weekend. The very first edition of the Grand Prix des Saveurs will take place on Saint-Laurent Boulevard, between Beaubien West and Jean-Talon streets, which will be transformed into a festive pedestrian zone for the occasion. From Friday to Sunday, a dozen artists and groups will take turns on two stages, including Zoo Baby, Funk Lion and Mon deux saigneur. Family shows, dance classes, exhibition of classic cars and various activities hosted by restaurateurs and merchants in the sector will also take place during the event.

Véronique Larocque, The Press

Visit the Little Italy Facebook page

The 125^e anniversary of the Westmount Public Library

This Sunday, June 9, the Westmount Public Library celebrates its 125^e anniversary with free activities that will take place in its magnificent gardens 4574, rue Sherbrooke Ouest, from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. On the program: free ice cream and popcorn, face painting, typewriter poetry, and croquet under the theme ofAlice in Wonderland. There will also be a concert by Ensemble La Cigale.

Emilie Côté, The Press

Read “Life, the city: the Westmount Public Library celebrates its 125th anniversary”

Ukrainian presence at the Orthodox Saint Sophia Cathedral

The vocal ensemble Les Rugissants offers an foray into Ukrainian cultural heritage with its series Arches: Ukrainian presence, under the direction of chef Xavier Brossard-Ménard. This concert where sacred, classical and folk Ukrainian music is performed is presented in emblematic places of this community which has been based in Montreal since the end of the 19th century.^e century. The June 8 performance will take place at the Sainte-Sophie Orthodox Cathedral, and that of the following weekend at the Ukrainian Federation of Quebec. A guided tour of each place is even offered, with of course historical reminders. It’s free, but you have to register.

Josée Lapointe, The Press

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A new circus festival

A new circus festival is making its debut in eastern Montreal. From Friday to Sunday, the first edition of PointÔ – Cirque et rue will be in full swing in the heart of Vieux-Pointe-aux-Trembles. Around twenty outdoor and indoor performances, most of them free, will be offered during the three days of festivities. Among the programming of the event organized by The company of others on the sidelines of the 350^e anniversary of Pointe-aux-Trembles, there are some intriguing proposals. Examples ? A vertical dance number on the facade of the deconsecrated Saint-Enfant-Jésus church, by Look-Up Arts Aériens, as well as the circus show for infants The cellphonecreated by The Crab Walk.

Véronique Larocque, The Press

Consult the program

Murals on the street

A sign that summer has indeed (unofficially!) begun, on the 12th^e MURAL urban art festival begins this Thursday in Montreal. The event will last 10 days, with enhanced programming on weekends. For the shows, take a look at the musical offerings which are partly being transported this year to the Quais du Bassin Peel. For fun, we advise you to go see the mural artists at work on Saint-Laurent Boulevard, between Sherbrooke Street and Mont-Royal Avenue, which is pedestrianized during the 10 days of the event. Perfect walk to do alone or with the family, since there are several activities for little ones.

Stéphanie Bérubé, The Press

Visit the MURAL festival website

A Quebec crazy about punk rock

Quebec has already been crazy about its children, but this summer it will be more crazy than ever about punk rock from the turn of the millennium and the groups that contributed to video games. Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater (1999) its soundtrack. While Guttermouth, Goldfinger and Pennywise will participate in the FestiVoix de Trois-Rivières on 1^er July, and The Offspring at the Quebec Summer Festival on July 7, NOFX will bid farewell to Montreal on August 24 and 25 at the Olympic Park. The beautiful season of the show’s former faithful 1-2-3 Punk already begins this Thursday, in Granby, during the second edition of the Festival au lac, with Lagwagon, Mustard Plug and Millencolin, three groups who also appear this weekend on the poster of the Red Bridge Fest in Pont-Rouge. The perfect opportunity to tell your children about a wonderful time when someone could host a TV show with a skateboard stuck to their face.

Dominic Tardif, The Press

Visit the Festival au lac de Granby website