Oh, the places you'll go... In Montreal's streets

Author: Joe Bergan

Oh Fall Break! Oh glimmer of hope in that long expanse from Move-in-Day to Thanksgiving. Oh sweet two days! How you fill us with such foolish pride, how you decieve us to believe that it is actually a full break! Oh, how we cherish you! How soon you are upon us! Yes, Fall Break is here, with the all the merriment that it brings. For some, it is Parent's Weekend Part II, where you return home to eat tomatoes, yell at your family and do homework. For those with bigger ambitions, The Campus has searched heaven and hell to find the quintessential vacation destination - Montreal. Allow The Campus to make the most of your short, sweet two days. Montreal has long been advertised as a great getaway for Middlebury students, especially for those under 21. Head north on Route 89 after Burlington to arrive at the US-Canadian border. American citizens need only a valid driver's license or passport. For more information, check out cic.gc.ca, especially if you are not an American citizen. The Emerald city emerges after only an hour and a half drive but once there, what should be done? The Campus has stolen a page from Dante, and has divided the city into three categories: paradiso, purgatorio and inferno.

Paradiso

The curious Midd kid will undoubtedly be drawn to the Musée d'Art Contemporain de Montréal. Rodney Graham, an American artist who re-examines Western culture through intermedia had his opening exhibition this past weekend. The museum includes an impressive and interesting array of contemporary painting and sculpture.

For those with a more classical taste, The Montreal Museum of Fine Arts will more than satiate your hunger. The museum's European collection boasts works by Renoir, Sisley, Monet and Cézanne. Their ancient collection is also impressive with new donations in Asiatic ancient art as well as a solid collection of Islamic art.

For Art History majors looking to escape, perhaps the Montreal Biodome will meet your fancy. Complete with five ecosystems, one can find everything from penguins to tropical flowers to beavers and mountain lions. This is no zoo - it is an actual recreation of ecosystems and the animals within them.

Purgatorio

While Montreal boasts some of the finest culture in the snow belt, the draw for some Middlebury students is not Cézanne, but cerveza. Welcome to Purgatorio. If you want to find Americans or fellow Middlebury students, do be sure to stop by Winston Churchill or Brewtopia. The former offers plenty of mixed drinks, a hefty coat check and plenty of dancing. What would dancing be without strange men staring at you from the dark reaches of the dance floor? Gentleman, hold your ladies close. Brewtopia is a fantastic spot to check out interesting micro brews. The funny thing about micro brews is that they taste good, but are quite expensive.

Your eyes are not mistaken, those fellow bar patrons are lighting up inside the bar. For those of you who cannot stand the smell of cigarettes, Montreal may sadly seem more of an inferno than Purgatory. If you desire to do as the Romans, then grab a pack of the local favorite, Du Maurier.

For those with music on the mind, let us suggest two very different venues this weekend. Metropolis on Saint-Catherine East features DJ Shadow on Friday night at 8 p.m. This California native is a hip hop innovator and a menace on the turntables. If DJ Shadow is not exactly what you are after, you may be in luck. Alice Cooper stops by St. Denis Theatre on Monday night. Alice Cooper is a rock god known for his gory stage antics and black eyeliner. He is also known to be quite a good golfer.

Inferno

After a nice drink and the soothing musical stylings of Alice Cooper, you might be feeling adventurous. For some Middlebury men and women, heaven and purgatory are not enough. They desire to walk through hell, and in this city it is only too easy to find the neon inferno. If you are looking for a clean establishment, Club Supersex is the cleanest, most expensive on the map. If you prefer to spend your time with the young and free spirited, Club Downtown is what you are after. This venue's Web site boasts, "A warm ambience. Often HOT." Several Middlebury students cite it as a favorite in Montreal. Parents, when you see Restaurant Supreme on your credit card, this is what it was for. Prepare a long chat with little Billy if the bill for that supreme meal cost anything north of $30. For those of you looking to lose yourself in a den of complete hedonism, Teasers is what you are after. However, our inside source informs us that this establishment has been closed due to health standards, and you will only find a locked door. After you have completed the circles of hell on Sainte-Catherine, there is a Burger King not too far away to complete your inferno experience.