A Few of my Favourite Things (2017 Edition)

[Fiction] Blade Runner 2049: Quebec director superhero Denis Villeneuve pulls off the impossible: take a universally-admired cult classic, and create a new classic of his own while keeping the spirit of the original. The sci-fi film noir meditates on humanity in a hologram-full future. A visual feast of expansive landscapes, absolutely to see in 3D.

[Non-fiction] Hidden Figures: A story of three black women at the nexus of three big revolutions: the quest for space, mainframe computing, and gender/race/civil rights in the US. Incredible to see how these three women broke barriers to be come the “first” at NASA. A feel-good reminder that hard work pays off, and that all firsts are special, especially those that also fix an inequality/injustice.

[Francophone] Plan B: Short Quebec series that explores the timeless question of “If you could go back in time, what would you change?”. After seeing a mysterious ad in the yellow pages for a time travel service, the protagonist decides to try to fix his life and recapture his love, but ends up getting swallowed deeper and deeper. An interesting and fast watch (6 episodes only) reflecting on how we make choices in life, with a jaw-dropping finale.

[Francophone] Formule Diaz: Well constructed weekly debrief of the Quebec music and arts scene, featuring thoughtful artist interviews, intimate performances and always relevant segments. What sets its apart? It’s unrelenting commitment to highlight the best of Quebec’s cultural diversity in various regions, such as the special on Bas-St-Laurent featuring a performance from eclectic Klô Pelgag at the Rainbow Submarine to a traditional storytelling festival at La Forge à Bérubé in Trois-Pistoles. The Abitibi special was also memorable, with a magical waterfront night performance from Saratoga and a segment on the Pikogan Pow-wow which unites locals with First Nations through music. The website is also impressively complete.

Un Chef à La Cabane for constantly making me hungry, but also wanting to urgently find a forest to make maple syrup!

A number of shows on Vice, notably State of Undress (the other side of the global fashion industry, from Congo to Bolivia), Abandoned (explores America’s abandoned places and their communities) and Vice Specials with great documentaries like Shroom Boom or Bust (on nomadic mushroom pickers in Northern Canada).

[Pop] Melodrama by Lorde: This widely-acclaimed album featured more than a half-dozen instantly memorable songs, from upbeat and dancy guilty pleasures to darker emotional anthems to growing pains. Pitchfork adds: “Her second album is a masterful study of being a young woman, a sleek and humid pop record full of grief and hedonism, crafted with the utmost care and wisdom”. My favourite full album effort of the year.

[Francophone] Désherbage by Tire le coyote: A beautiful introspective folk gem full of vivid metaphorical imagery. Its vulnerable and melancholic poetry heals wounds of the heart over a soft balance of guitar, harmonica and high-pitched trembling voice, while occasionally making us feel the cold of Quebec winter. «Je veux faire fondre ton absence» (“I want to melt your absence”), he sings in “Pouvoirs de glace”. “Le ciel est backorder” and “Désherbage” are also definitely worth a listen. Highly suggested for Bon Iver fans.

You would have to lose your mind by the Barr Brothers: There was one only song in my head for the whole year, and this was it. I was regularly humming along to the melodic buildup of this smooth but intense ode to folly, which also haunted my head. Surreal moment listening to this track walking the streets of the Mile-End on an autumn night, knowing it was recording probably a few streets over earlier in the year. The recently released video, shot in Gaspé, is also mesmerizing. “You can really feel the moment when she capitulates and makes the transformation from sweet girl on vacation to blood-thirsty demogorgon capable of unspeakable things.”, mentions lead singer Brad Barr.

Up All Night by Beck: A kickass teenage heroine in armour braves the house party to save her not-so-shining drunken knight. A peek into a bizarre and hallucinatory night. Brilliant concept and production which garnered a Grammy for best video.

Sigur Ros at Place-des-Arts: This was my favourite show of the year, especially after wanting to see them live for a decade. I left thinking “How was that entire sonic universe created by only 3 people?”. True to form, the group oscillated from quiet brooding buildups to mesmerizing magical explosions of music. In the same song, you could feel both like falling asleep under the stars to experiencing the beginning of a strobe-fuelled epileptic seizure. A wide ranging tour de force.

Homodeus by Yuval Noah Harari: If you need a guide to the twenty-first century, this is it. On the agenda: immortality, bliss and divinity. This book made me think: are we really ready for our future?

Let my People Go Surfing by Yvon Chouinard: The iconoclastic Patagonia founder challenges our beliefs about how to run a business, reminds us that all of the essential answers are in nature, and makes a strong case that sustainability is a worthier goal than growth at all costs.

Nouveau Projet by Atelier 10: Local french-language magazine has been delivering for many years on its mission to help us gain a more thoughtful understanding of the issues of our times and the society we live in. Every issue is a treat, rallying various contributions around a high-level theme. A go-to for high quality prose for your lucid weekend reading.

Beside by Abitibi & Co: Brilliant local bilingual magazine Beside is a vibrant ode to nature, with in-depth stories on the great outdoors and conservation, bringing together a variety of perspectives from ecologists, farmers and adventurers, that range from the pragmatic to the philosophic. Their online content is equally impressive, from canoe concerts to a documentary episode on coral gardeners.

Honorable mentions: Quebec magazines L’Actualité and Voir both enjoyed timely and well-executed facelifts to rejuvenate content and format.

Jay-Z & Dean Baquet in New York Times: Legendary rapper Jay-Z sits down for a candid open-book video interview where he talks about therapy, marriage, the state of rap and being a black man in America. The 35 minute conversation is well worth it, capturing the progress in race relations in America, but also how much more there is to do ahead.

Discover Weekly by Spotify: Never have I had “this product gets me” moments as often as with Discover Weekly. The feature creates a AI-driven weekly mixtape of fresh music based on your own tastes. The more you use it, the better it gets. Helped me discover 500+ songs that I liked this year. Now an indispensable part of my work day.

Masters of Scale with Reid Hoffman: The co-founder of LinkedIn and Partner at Greylock puts together the snappiest, best-edited and most thoughtful business podcast of the year, featuring some of the biggest names in the game (Zuckerburg, Chesky, Sandberg, et al). The recent two-part interview of Barry Diller episode on infinite learning is a must.

Patagonia repair counter: Probably my happiest “retail experience” moment this year. After ripping my winter jacket, I discovered that Patagonia offers a free repair service. Great for me, great for the planet. Definitely entices me to become an even more loyal customer in the future. Unfortunately not available yet in Canada, but the New York store did the trick in about two weeks, making my jacket feel like new. Shipping options from Canada also available.

All-birds loungers: This Silicon Valley shoe company claims to make “the most comfortable shoes in the world”. Almost a year after my purchase, I find it hard to argue with them. Made with New Zealand superfine merino wool, they are light and even machine-washable. Plus, awesomely, they are a B-Corp company. The loungers model in particular has an extra side-benefit: the featherweight slip-on loafers make airport security a breeze. I clearly remember a moment this year feeling on top of the world rolling through the airport with my carry-on luggage wearing these comfy shoes. :) The runners are great too.

La Rupture by Fillactive: In my book, this was the ad that mattered the most this year. This video for Fillactive, a non-profit that helps teen girls adopt a healthy and active lifestyle, was smart and well-executed by ad agency Sid Lee, plus features a catchy tune. In a major inflexion year for gender relations, this Youtube video (and the #sportsismybf social media campaign) used the analogy of a relationship as a powerful reminder to teen girls that obssessing over sports is probably more important that obssessing over boys.

Mile End Neighbourhood: This unexpected and charming marketing campaign from the Mile-End Business Association (AGAME) serves up relevant friendly illustrations to showcase many great local retailers and commerces such as St-Viateur Bagel, Société Textile, Boulangerie Guillaume and Baltic Club. The street posters were colourful and awesome, but so are the Instagram account and the website, which seem to perfectly embody the ethos of the hood: “An open mind & true heart is what roots us in this place where past and present collide, new perspectives form, ever-evolving, & stronger together. This is our Mile-End. The fabric of who we are. A space to experiment, take risks, & build a dream.”

Butterblume: Amazing everyday local cafeteria with an airy feeling, beautiful natural light, welcoming staff and comforting meals. Sitting at the back with the garage-style window open in the summer is always a treat. The slightly salted chocolate chip cookie is heaven. Nice selection of local products, flowers and magazines. Also opened up a sister grocery next door with some take-home options.

Mousso: Single-handedly the best meal I had this year. The seven-course tasting menu was a gastronomic feat that left me scratching my head about all the texture, colour and ingredient combinations lighting up my tastebuds. Minimal decor, and an awesome soundtrack to boot. Famed Gazette food critic Lesley Chesterman says Mousso has it all, and she is spot on. Perfect for a special occasion.

Bref: This Bernard street store in the Mile-End is possibly the most original shopping experience in Montreal. Its passionate staff masterfully assembles each month a neat set of items around a theme, such as “forest” or “space travel”. This results in a feeling of a ever-changing but permanent pop-up store, with a wide array of juxtaposed crafts creating an interesting ephemeral product universe. Most impressive is the constant focus on emerging local artists and artisans.

Drawn and Quarterly: The place I stroll into with no particular book in mind, and leave with 3. The superbly curated sections stockpile an eclectic treasure trove of the best in print. Always a pleasure to browse its aisles on a Sunday afternoon.

J’aime Hydro: The unanimously acclaimed play was an undeniably powerful force, igniting a rebirth of interest for the under-explored format of “documentary theatre” and showing the medium’s potential to understand complex social issues. The culmination of many years of work, the play is an impressive performance proving that all of us should care greatly about our natural resources — and stay informed.

Leonard Cohen by Kevin Ledo: This beautiful mural that took more than three weeks to make graced Montreal’s Saint-Laurent street not long after the passing of our own homegrown poet, our “bard of the boudoir”, featuring a scarf-like purple ribbon representing his artistic energy.

Never Apart: This non-profit space focuses on social change through diverse cultural programming and gatherings (music, art exhibitions, panel discussions, etc). It’s versatile 12,000 square feet has become a true community hub for the Mile-Ex neighbourhood. Come for the programming, stay for the moon room. Their online magazine is horizon-expanding as well.