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— A month after Prince played two sold-out, last-minute shows at Place des Arts, Montreal bars and restaurants scrambled to pay homage to the musical legend after news broke of his untimely death yesterday at the age of 57. Mile End's Snack N' Blues held an impromptu live Prince tribute last night. A farewell Prince dance party kicks off at Bar Le Ritz PDB as of 11 p.m. tonight. Little Italy's Notre Dame Des Quilles is also holding its own Prince celebration, as of 10 p.m. tonight. Over in Old Montreal last night, it was all Prince all the time at sister restaurants Barroco and Bocata. And how about this Prince homage from Mile End bakery Hof Kelsten.
— Meanwhile, new plywood images have emerged of the Barroco group's imminent restaurant and cocktail bar in Saint-Henri, Foiegwa and Atwater Cocktail Club.
— The office and café revamp of one of Old Montreal's most recognizable landmarks is slated to open at the end of the month. The makeover of the Royal Bank tower at 360 Saint-Jacques Ouest comes courtesy of Crew, a freelancer marketplace that began at startup accelerator FounderFuel.
— Bird Bar, the fried chicken restaurant in Griffintown from Kimberly Lallouz, the restaurateur behind Miss Prêt-à-Manger and Monsieur, is almost a go. Lallouz tested recipes, and posted photos to social media this week — customers should have an opportunity to taste the results soon.
— Another anticipated restaurant, the relocated Portus Calle Portuguese restaurant on top of the Evo student residence tower, is about to open as well. Portus 360, in the former Delta Hotel Tour de Ville restaurant, will feature a panoramic dining room of 188 seats, and an oyster and tapas bar with 77 seats. The new restaurant is now live on Facebook.
— Enjoy your first look at El Gordo, the new Mexican restaurant from Pizzeria Geppetto in Little Burgundy, slated to open soon.
— Les Premiers Vendredis returns to Olympic Park on May 6 with 50 food trucks, dozens of artists and artisans, and sufficient seating to accommodate 1,200 people. It's the fifth season for the Cuisine de Rue de Montréal initiative, so expect a large turnout, and pray for good weather.