The Backstreet Boys Will Show up at an Old Montreal Club Tonight

OLD MONTREAL — ‘90s and ‘00s pop boy band sensation the Backstreet Boys are playing a show at Montreal’s Bell Centre tonight (July 15). Those looking to sing along to “Backstreet’s Back” are out of luck, as it’s sold out, but those still keen to see Nick Carter, etc., in the flesh can head to St-Jacques Street club La Voûte, where the boys (now closer to middle-aged men) will appear from 11 p.m. It’s relatively rare for big-name artists playing the Bell Centre to do such a public meet-and-greet type event (usually they just dine somewhere fancy, perhaps a hotel restaurant, then slip out of town), and in this case, not wildly expensive — it’ll set you back $US25 (but a VIP option goes as high as $250, for some kind of up-close contact with the fivesome), and there will be some kind of performance. It kicks off at 11 p.m. and goes surprisingly late for a Monday, and for a group of men who are mostly in their 40s.

IN THE AIR — Quebec-based breakfast and brunch chain Chez Cora is hopping into bed with airline WestJet. The airline will be serving Benedicts, omelettes, and more from the chain on flights over two and a half hours long, although it’s only for Premium customers (read: business class). The average person probably wouldn’t associate moneyed, business-class levels of luxury with the somewhat suburban Chez Cora (particularly when considering that the breakfast foods will be in extra-sad, in-flight form), but you do you, Cora and WestJet.

OLD MONTREAL — There’s a new festival focusing on Quebec-made spirits: Tribute will have its inaugural edition September 6 and 7 (Friday and Saturday) at the Palais des Congrès. It’ll cost $12 per person, which is just for admission, but if you buy before August 1, you get five tasting coupons, which seems like a pretty good deal. The first day (Friday) is for industry types only, with the Saturday open to all.

PLATEAU — Haitian cultural festival Haïti en Folie returns later this month, and with it comes a big culinary fair at Lafontaine Park on July 27 and 28. It runs from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. on the Saturday and 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Sunday — there will be workshops; plenty of rum, Caribbean barbecue, and even a special griot poutine will be on offer. It’s free to go in, you just need to pay for food.

QUARTIER DES SPECTACLES — This year’s edition of YUL EAT food festival will go down from September 9 to 15 (slightly later than its normal placement alongside the Labour Day holiday).

VILLAGE — At the end of summer, Village/Centre-Sud’s Amherst Street will become Atateken Street, meaning “brothers and sisters” in the Mohawk language. This doesn’t change anything for the restaurants on the street (except their address, of course), but for the record, Haitian resto Agrikol supported the change.

• Official Backstreet Boys After Party [EventBrite]
• Festival Tribute [Official]
• Foire Culinaire Haïti en Folie [Haïti en Folie]
• YUL EAT [Official]
• Montreal renames Amherst Street to Atateken to honour Indigenous Peoples [Global]