#paul maurice you are a gem

[ratatatastic]

i was right and if youd like to know colby talked about it on his podcast and apparently he was wearing a coastal carolina shirt and paul couldnt read it so instead of saying "chanticleers" he said "chatelier" because loves bullying colby which is why he said it to colby and then to george (colbys worked with george under fhn) and only afterwards did paul ask what a "chanticleer" and hes like "a rooster" and paul went "oop i cant come up with anything about that"

this just in old man cant read tried to be funny and realised he cant make a cock joke this is so 😭😭😭

[larsnicklas]

I came to the Panthers via Matthew, not gonna lie, but I am here to stay for the whole team, but especially Barkov and Paul Maurice!!

Paul Maurice is such an incredible coach, he has more integraty in his little finger than K.noblauch has in his entire body and soul. The way he is not whining and bitching about the hit and the missing consequences while still making clear what he thinks is top tier. The way he talks about his players, and not only about the top ones or the ones that played well that day, especially how he talks about the others is incredible and shows how much he cares and understands what a team is. He's just so good. They need to win him (and themselves) a cup. Time to get one ring against his son's too 😂

matthew is doing his job if he brought you to the panthers 🫡 and he’d be delighted to know that he brought you with him to florida!!! i’m glad the rest have enticed you to stay 🙂‍↕️ as someone who latched onto this year's squad much more strongly than last year's i think this year’s team is actually much more likable (200% less s.taal) if you just kinda… refuse to acknowledge c.ousins. which i generally do lol.

pomo is a gem!! and he has been in FINE form. he’s a very good communicator and knows how to give a good sound bite — and i honestly think florida has done him good LOL. i do not remember him being nearly this loose in winnipeg! but yes, beyond his pressers, he really does seem like he is very good about making every person in the room feel important and appreciated, and that absolutely plays a factor in the team’s cohesiveness. let’s see if we can start getting him caught up to his son in rings!!! hahaha

[imperatorrrrr]

color code anon here to help! the correct term for bandwagoning the cats and then realizing you love paul maurice and most of their team too is pantherspilled or catspilled. I've seen both of these used. - 🎨

oh! thank you very much, color code, anon! will be using that for the future. I think I prefer catspilled.

I am merely rooting for the Panthers as a means to do away with the Rags and Paul Maurice is a gem, but I have not yet been swayed to like the team as a whole. Other than ERod who has been beloved since his time on the Pens.

also, I have not forgotten about what I owe you.

now that Worlds is over and I don't really have any plans to watch the rest of the postseason/'yoffs and hopefully work will slow down a bit, I will be dedicating time to writing.

I already have the story idea in my head and who is gonna be in it along with Holtzy and what all will be going down.

you will get your prize! I swear it.

[travel-voyages]

20 Historic, Beautiful New York Buildings That Were Demolished

City Hall Newspaper Row Buildings (l-r) World Building (aka Pulitzer Building), Sun Building, Tribune Building - all demolished. New York Times and Potter Buildings are still extant

City Hall Newspaper Row Buildings (l-r) World Building (aka Pulitzer Building), Sun Building, Tribune Building – all demolished. New York Times and Potter Buildings are still extant

New York City real estate developers will always knock down a building if a buck can be made. So it really should come as no surprise that these buildings were demolished because they outlived their usefulness or more often than not, the land they sat upon was deemed more valuable than the building itself.

Nathan Silver’s must-own book, Lost New York (1967) Houghton Mifflin, was the first book to explicitly point out what New York City had lost architecturally over the years. If you have never read it, you should.

For our short postcard essay, there are hundreds of examples we could have chosen from and we picked 20. We omitted places of worship, theatres and restaurants which are the most transitory of buildings.

We’ve covered hotels before, and we could do another story on all the historic hotels that have been torn down, but we’ve included a few in this retrospective.

Rather than comment extensively on the buildings, a brief summary will suffice and the images should convey what we have lost. These postcards have been scanned at 1200 dpi in high resolution, click on any postcard to enlarge.

Singer Building hresSinger Building – 149 Broadway (corner Liberty Street),  A gem by architect Ernest Flagg, built 1908. Once the tallest building in the world. The Singer Building was elegant and sleek. Demolished 1967-68 and replaced by a ugly box of a building built by the Unites States Steel Corporation.

Produce Exchange hresProduce Exchange – 2 Broadway between Beaver and Stone Streets. Architect George B. Post’s splendid work of grace was constructed between 1882-84, and demolished 1957.

Gillender Building 2 hresGillender Building – northwest corner Wall Street and Nassau Street. Architects, Charles I. Berg and Edward H. Clark, built in 1897 at a cost of $500,000. The Gillender Building was the tallest office building in the world for a brief time. The 20-story tower lasted only 13 years. In 1910 it was the first modern fireproof building to be demolished and it was done at breakneck speed, in under 45 days. The Gillender Building was replaced by the Bankers Trust Tower.

St. Paul Building hresSt. Paul Building – 222 Broadway corner Ann Street at end of Park Row. Architect George B. Post, built 1895-1898. Personally one of architect’s George B. Post’s least favorite buildings. Called “ugly” by some contemporary critics, but hundreds of thousands of visitors came to marvel at it. Demolished 1958.

World Building hresNew York World Building (aka Pulitzer Building) (center with gold dome) –  63 Park Row corner Frankfort Street. Another George B. Post architectural masterpiece, built 1890. Demolished in 1955-56 along with 20 other buildings the city purchased in the immediate vicinity to widen the approach to the Brooklyn Bridge.

Tribune Building hresNew York Tribune Building – Park Row corner Nassau and Spruce Street. Architect Richard Morris Hunt, built 1875. Demolished 1966 to expand Pace University’s campus.

Herald Square Herald Building hresNew York Herald Building – Broadway and Sixth Avenue between 35th and 36th Streets. Architect, Stanford White of McKim, Mead & White architects, built 1893. While the area still carries the name Herald Square after the newspaper and its building, the ornate three story Herald Building was demolished in two stages one in 1928, the other in 1940 and replaced by two extremely mundane buildings.

Madison Sqaure Garden hresMadison Square Garden – Madison and Fourth Avenue 26th to 27th Streets McKim, Mead and White, architects, built 1890. When Madison Sqaure Garden was actually located on Madison Square. Demolished 1925. Replaced by the New York Life Insurance Company Building.

Pennsylvania Station hresPennsylvania Station – Entire block Seventh to Eighth Avenues and 31st to 33rd Streets. Architects, McKim, Mead & White, 1901 – 1910. McKim’s masterpiece and the most significant single loss of a public building. Its destruction brought about the creation of the New York City Landmarks Preservation Commission. Demolished 1963-65. Replaced by the hideous mouse maze called Penn Station beneath the Penn Plaza office complex and Madison Square Garden.

Waldorf Astoria Hotel hresThe Waldorf-Astoria –  Fifth Avenue 33rd to 34th Streets. Originally two separate hotels The Waldorf built 1893 and The Astoria built 1897 both by architect Henry Hardenbergh. Demolished 1929. One of the modern landmarks of New York City now stands on the old Waldorf-Astoria site, The Empire State Building.

Astor Hotel hresAstor Hotel – 1507 – 1521 Broadway west side between 44th and 45th Streets. Architects Clinton & Russell built the original portion of the hotel in 1904 and completed the second section in 1910. This beautiful landmark hotel was torn down in 1967. A boring boxy skyscraper now occupies the site.

Hotel Savoy hresHotel Savoy – 709 Fifth Avenue and 59th Street. Architect Ralph S. Townsend, built 1891-1892.  Demolished 1925-1926. Replaced by The Savoy Plaza Hotel which was also torn down in 1966.

Hotel Netherland Hotel Savoy together hresHotel Netherland – Fifth Avenue and 59th Street.  W.H. Hume architect, built 1890-93. Demolished 1926 replaced by the Sherry Netherland Hotel.

Hotel Majestic hresMajestic Hotel – 72nd Street & Central Park West. Architect, Alfred Zucker, built 1894. Demolished 1929. Replaced by the art deco Majestic Apartments.

Clearing House hresThe Clearing House – 77 Cedar Street north side between Broadway and Nassau Street. Architect Robert W. Gibson, built 1894-96. Demolished 1964 for a Skidmore, Owings & Merrill acclaimed nondescript glass office tower 140 Broadway (1968).

John Wanamaker hresJohn Wanamaker’s Department Store – Broadway between 9th and 10th Streets. Architect John Kellum, built 1862. Originally constructed for department store magnate A.T. Stewart, Wanamaker’s expanded to a second annex building in 1905 on Broadway between 8th and 9th Streets connected by a bridge of sighs to the original building which is shown above.

Wanamaker’s closed its doors permanently on December 18, 1954. Wanamaker’s was in the process of being demolished to be replaced by an apartment building, when on July 14, 1956, one of New York City’s most spectacular fires broke out at around 5:45 pm. Fortunately no one was killed but 187 firefighters were hurt, mostly with smoke inhalation, as they fought a blaze for 25 hours which consumed the original building. The Stewart House apartment building which replaced Wanamaker’s, was completed in 1960. The Wanamaker annex still stands.

Hippodrome hresThe Hippodrome – 756 Sixth Avenue between 43rd and 44th Streets Frederick Thompson and Jay H. Morgan architects, built 1904-05. Demolished 1939.

Claremont Inn hresThe Claremont Inn – Riverside Drive and 124th Street. Originally built as a private residence sometime between 1783 and 1807, architect unknown. Wealthy navigator and owner Michael Hogan named the estate Claremont after his birthplace County Clare, Ireland. Claremont became a popular roadhouse and restaurant which was acquired by the city in 1872. As the New York Times wrote in 1949, “By the simple expedient of “doing nothing” the Board of Estimate has converted historic Claremont Inn from a picturesque addition to the Riverside Park landscape into a ‘not very attractive’ boarded-up structure.” As the building was being demolished in 1951, two separate fires a week apart destroyed it.

Vanderbilt Mansion hresVanderbilt Mansion – 1 West 57th St and 742-748 Fifth Avenue between 57th & 58th Streets. Cornelius Vanderbilt II mansion, original portion by architect George B.Post 1883, expanded in 1893 by architect Richard Morris Hunt. The largest private house ever built in New York City. Demolished 1926. Bergdorf Goodman Department Store now occupies the site.

Charles M Schwab residence hresCharles M. Schwab Mansion – Riverside Drive between 73rd and 74th Streets. Architect Maurice Hebert, built 1902-06. Demolished 1948. The apartment building Schwab House occupies the site.

https://stuffnobodycaresabout.com/2015/06/10/20-historic-buildings-that-were-demolished/

[sophia-sol]

Books read in 2020

As always, here's my list of all the books I read in the previous year, below the read-more cut! Only a little late posting. Stars are from one to five in terms of my enjoyment of the book, italics mean the book is a reread, all links are to my reviews of the books. If you have any questions about the books I didn't review (or the ones I did tbh!), please let me know and I can share some thoughts!

(links are all to the dreamwidth versions of my book posts because I don’t want to recode THAT many links for tumblr, sorry not sorry, but if you want to find any of the posts on my tumblr, I always tag my book posts with the author name and book title)

January **** Little Women, by Louisa May Alcott (annotated by John Matteson) **** The Ghost Bride, by Yangsze Choo *** Lord of the Last Heartbeat, by May Peterson **** Tales the Elders Told: Ojibway Legends, by Basil H Johnston *** Tales from the Igloo, edited & translated by Maurice Metayer **** Black Folktales, by Julius Lester **** Gideon the Ninth, by Tamsyn Muir *** The Bird Who Cleans The World, And Other Mayan Fables, by Victor Montejo ***** The Magnolia Sword, by Sherry Thomas February *** Prisoner of Love, by Beverly Jenkins *** In The Vanishers' Palace, by Aliette de Bodard ***** To Be Taught If Fortunate, by Becky Chambers **** The Cooking Gene: A Journey Through African American Culinary History in the Old South, by Michael W. Twitty - nf *** Tempest, by Beverly Jenkins **** Rebel, by Beverly Jenkins ***** The Black God's Drums, by P Djeli Clark **** The Adventures of Nanabush: Ojibway Indian Stories, by Emerson Coatsworth and David Coatsworth March **** Gods of Jade and Shadow, by Silvia Moreno-Garcia ***** An Unkindness of Ghosts, by Rivers Solomon *** The Very Worst Missionary: A Memoir or Whatever, by Jamie Wright - nf ***** The Wolf and the Girl, by Aster Glenn Gray ***** The Lady's Guide to Celestial Mechanics, by Olivia Waite * The Still, Small Voice of Trumpets, by Lloyd Biggle Jr April **** Paul Bunyan, by Esther Shephard * The Naked Anabaptist, by Stuart Murray - nf ***** The Threefold Tie, by Aster Glenn Gray *** The Meaning of Jesus: Two Visions: The Leading Liberal and Conservative Jesus Scholars Present the Heart of the Historical Jesus Debate, by Marcus J. Borg and N.T. Wright - nf *** Black Maria, by Diana Wynne Jones *** After Many Days: Tales of Time Past, by LM Montgomery ** The Convenient Marriage, by Georgette Heyer *** The Best of Robert Service, by Robert W Service *** Songs of a Sourdough, by Robert W Service *** Ballads of a Cheechako, by Robert W Service ** Rhymes of a Rolling Stone, by Robert W Service ** Rhymes of a Red Cross Man, by Robert W Service ** Ballads of a Bohemian, by Robert W Service *** Bar-Room Ballads, by Robert W Service May **** Stories from Pangnirtung - nf *** A Canticle for Leibowitz, by Walter M. Miller, Jr. *** Xeni: A Marriage of Inconvenience, by Rebekah Weatherspoon *** Zel, by Donna Jo Napoli **** Shadow Spinner, by Susan Fletcher *** A Mountain of Gems: Fairy Tales of the Peoples of the Soviet Land, translated by Irina Zheleznova **** Flatlanders and Ridgerunners: Folktales from the Mountains of Northern Pennsylvania, by James York Glimm *** The Merlin Conspiracy, by Diana Wynne Jones **** Paladin's Grace, by T. Kingfisher *** Driven to Distraction, by Edward M. Hallowell * Fake Marriage to her Best Friend, by Kat Cantrell ***** Thick as Thieves, by Megan Whalen Turner *** Conrad's Fate, by Diana Wynne Jones *** The Privilege of the Sword, by Ellen Kushner *** The Worst Best Man, by Mia Sosa **** Network Effect, by Martha Wells *** The Door in the Hedge, by Robin McKinley *** After Hamelin, by Bill Richardson June **** If I Never Met You, by Mhairi McFarlane ***** Work For It, by Talia Hibbert **** Damaged Goods, by Talia Hibbert **** The Proposal, by Jasmine Guillory *** Operation Atonement, by Talia Hibbert **** A Girl Like Her, by Talia Hibbert *** Dragon Pearl, by Yoon Ha Lee *** Minor Mage, by T Kingfisher ***** The Haunting of Tram Car 015, by P Djeli Clark ***** The Deep, by Rivers Solomon **** Playing House, by Ruby Lang ***** Open House, by Ruby Lang July **** Consolation Songs, edited by Iona Datt Sharma **** The Wedding Date, by Jasmine Guillory ** This Is How You Lose the Time War, by Amal El-Mohtar & Max Gladstone ***Anxiety is the Dizziness of Freedom, by Ted Chiang *** In an Absent Dream, by Seanan McGuire ***** Deeplight, by Frances Hardinge ** House Rules, by Ruby Lang **** Girl Gone Viral, by Alisha Rai **** Royal Holiday, by Jasmine Guillory ** Pastwatch: The Redemption of Christopher Columbus ***** Riverland, by Fran Wilde ***** Empire of Sand, by Tasha Suri ***** A Wizard's Guide to Defensive Baking, by T. Kingfisher **** Get a Life, Chloe Brown, by Talia Hibbert *** The Kiss Quotient, by Helen Hoang ***** The Care and Feeding of Waspish Widows, by Olivia Waite August **** The Order of the Pure Moon Reflected in Water, by Zen Cho ** The House in the Cerulean Sea, by TJ Klune ** The Princess Tales Volume One: The Fairy's Mistake, The Princess Test, & Princess Sonora and the Long Sleep, by Gail Carson Levine **** Summer Pony, by Jean Slaughter Doty *** Born to Race, by Blanche Chenery Perrin September ** The Last Emperox, by John Scalzi ***** The Duke Who Didn't, by Courtney Milan *** I Wish You All The Best, by Mason Deaver **** The Wedding Party, by Jasmine Guillory ***** Pride and Prejudice, by Jane Austen *** The Search for Delicious, by Natalie Babbitt ** Prairie Princess, by Margaret Epp **** The Unbeatable Squirrel Girl 12: To All the Squirrels I've Loved Before, by Ryan North **** The Music of Dolphins, by Karen Hesse *** Folktales of Israel, edited by Dov Noy **** The Wonderful Adventures of Mrs Seacole in Many Lands, by Mary Seacole - nf **** The Pilgrimage of Etheria, by Etheria, translation and commentary by ML McClure and Charles Lett Feltoe - nf **** The Midwife's Apprentice, by Karen Cushman ** Glimpses of Bengal, by Rabindranath Tagore - nf *** Where The Mountain Meets the Moon, by Grace Lin **** Take a Hint, Dani Brown, by Talia Hibbert **** The Thief, by Megan Whalen Turner **** The Queen of Attolia, by Megan Whalen Turner October ***** The King of Attolia, by Megan Whalen Turner *** A Conspiracy of Kings, by Megan Whalen Turner *** Return of the Thief, by Megan Whalen Turner *** Papa's book - nf ***** The Blue Castle, by Lucy Maud Montgomery *** Untouchable, by Talia Hibbert **** That Kind of Guy, by Talia Hibbert **** Division Bells, by Iona Datt Sharma ***** Piranesi, by Susanna Clarke **** Stories from a Ming Collection: The Art of the Chinese Story-Teller, by Feng Menglong, translated by Cyril Birch **** Letters to a Young Housekeeper, by Jane Prince - nf **** Letters from Egypt, by Lucie Duff-Gordon - nf *** Harrow the Ninth, by Tamsyn Muir November ** Cinderella is Dead, by Kalynn Bayron **** The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up, by Marie Kondo - nf *** The Kingdom of Back, by Marie Lu ***** No More Dead Dogs, by Gordon Korman **** Spoiler Alert, by Olivia Dade **** The Picts and the Martyrs, by Arthur Ransome *** The Golem and the Jinni, by Helene Wecker ***** The Broken Kingdoms, by NK Jemisin *** The Capricorn Bracelet, by Rosemary Sutcliff *** The Satapur Moonstone, by Sujata Massey *** Pissing in the Snow, and Other Ozark Folktales, by Vance Randolph December ***** Burning Roses, by SL Huang * The Angel of the Crows, by Katherine Addison ***** Scandinavian Folktales, translated and edited by Jacqueline Simpson *** A Duet for Invisible Strings, by Llinos Cathryn Thomas ** Sparks Fly, by Llinos Cathryn Thomas *** The Winter Duke, by Claire Eliza Bartlett **** The Untended Rue, by Caroline Ratajski And now it's stats time! As always, stats are to be taken with a grain of salt, as I may have made mistakes in my counting or misunderstood/misremembered an author's identity or straight-up forgotten what genre a book was. Books read: 136 Rereads: 26 (19% of total) Fantasy: 43 Romance: 41 Historical fiction: 26 Kidlit: 24 Science Fiction: 15 Nonfiction: 12 Folk/fairy tale collection: 11 YA: 10 Poetry: 7 Old books: 7 Short Stories: 7 Literary Fiction: 6 Memoir: 4 Famous/Classic: 3 Mystery: 2 Graphic novels: 1 Books with male authors: 37 (27% of total) Books with female authors: 97 (71% of total) Books with nonbinary authors: 4 (3% of total) Books with authors of colour: 53 (39% of total) This has been a record breaking year for my reading. Thank you pandemic, I guess. I read just so many books this year, well above my previous record since I started keeping records. 136 books! When the average number of books I read per year for the last five years was only 82! Sometimes books are what sustain you through the hard times, and I'm very grateful for it. Especially since I know some people found themselves unable to read as much as usual due to everything going on, and that could have easily been me as well. I have been working over time to improve the number of books I read by authors of colour, and this is the first year I feel like I really got somewhere with that. I'm pleased that I read over 50 books by poc this year, and significantly improved my percentage too. (39% of total, when last year was 23%.) Still room for continued work on this though, of course! Since a lot of my reading comes from the library, I found myself repeatedly frustrated to see that the books I wanted to read by authors of colour or queer authors were stocked in lower proportions. So I had to balance my book buying budget against my desires to read more diversely, unfortunately. Something to keep considering. Though this may improve once the pandemic is over and I can easily and safely access the library's physical book collections as well as their ebooks, since they have more selection in hard copies, I think. Usually in my year-end book roundup I discuss my fave and least fave new-to-me book of the year, and most years I complain about how hard it is to choose a fave, and this year is NOT an exception. I read so many incredible books this year! Idk, just look at the five-star books on the list above and they're all my faves, ok? I'm not going to choose between them this year. Least fave....that's a little easier. I only have a few one-star books to choose between. The Still, Small Voice of Trumpets I think would be the winner in this race to the bottom, though it does have competition. But overall my thesis for the year is Books Are Good, Actually.

[simon-martin]

ON POINT: this Pointillist beach scene feels especially welcome on a grey day in February. With its dots of pure colour, you’d be forgiven for thinking it’s by Georges Seurat or Paul Signac, but in fact it’s by Georges Lemmen (1865-1916) who was a leading figure in the Belgian avant-garde in the late nineteenth and early-twentieth centuries. Lemmen exhibited in the Brussels group Les XX from 1889-1893 and the Sociéte des Arts Indépendants in Paris from 1889 to 1892, but after Seurat’s early death in 1891 he abandoned his tight optical approach of Neo-Impressionism, later returning to painting in intimiste style. Entitled ‘Heyst-sur-Mer’ and painted c.1891, it is part of the @pallanthousegallery collection and the only work by Lemmen in a British museum - it’s currently in the exhibition ‘Degas to Picasso: International Modern Masters.’ To see Lemmen’s work you need to go @museeorsay (which has another view of the beach at Heyst, featuring the same abandoned boat) @museelouvre - or to American museums such as @artinstitutechi (which has the wonderful portrait of the artist’s sister) @harvardartmuseums @ngadc or @brooklynmuseum . It’s interesting to see Lemmen was painting in London in the early 1890s. Heyst was a popular seaside resort in the fin-de-siècle. On the back of the work is a label that traces it back to the Lemmen retrospective at the Galerie Andrè Maurice in Paris, and subsequently to the O’Hara Gallery in London - presumably where it was bought by Charles Kearley, who bequeathed his collection of Post-Impressionist, Cubist and abstract art to @pallanthousegallery through @artfund in 1989. It’s a real gem which packs a lot of punch for a small work. #georgeslemmen #pontillism #divisionism #postimpressionism #heystsurmer #belgium #pallanthousegaery #georgesseurat (at Pallant House Gallery) https://www.instagram.com/p/CK9nDZblEM2/?igshid=coglm8dxy8aw

[lifejustgotawkward]

365 Day Movie Challenge (2019) - #121: Boogie Nights (1997) - dir. Paul Thomas Anderson

As ambitious an undertaking as any Robert Altman epic of interconnected American lives, Boogie Nights was the film that labeled Paul Thomas Anderson as one of Hollywood’s rising stars. Ironically, the film that allowed the 27-year-old writer/director to break into the mainstream is set in an area of the film industry that has always been maligned: pornography. You might not be perceive that a sexier version of Short Cuts (a truly awful movie) starring Mark Wahlberg and soundtracked with wall-to-wall 70s hits by the Emotions, Marvin Gaye and Electric Light Orchestra could be a tragicomic gem, based on his acting track record overall, but there is undeniable pleasure in watching his portrayal of the rise, fall and rise again of Eddie Adams, a busboy in ‘70s Los Angeles who reinvents himself as porn superstar Dirk Diggler.

In the couple of abbreviated glimpses of Eddie’s parents, it’s apparent that Eddie’s uptight, explosively angry mother (the exceptionally underrated Joanna Gleason) and depressive father (Lawrence Hudd) have no affection for him, or at least none that they can communicate. Understandably, the shiny façade of porn beckons to Eddie, appealing to his fantasies of proving his mother wrong by making something of himself. Sex is the one activity that Eddie knows he’s great at doing, so when adult film mogul Jack Horner (Burt Reynolds) and his actress wife, Amber Waves (Julianne Moore), offer him a chance to perform in their next feature, the “Dirk Diggler” name is created and a star is born.

Dirk is surrounded by several other stars and aspiring actors, including Reed Rothchild (John C. Reilly), Rollergirl (Heather Graham), Buck Swope (Don Cheadle), Maurice t.t. Rodriguez (Luis Guzmán), Jessie St. Vincent (Melora Walters) and Becky Barnett (Nicole Ari Parker). Even those who work behind the scenes, like boom operator Scotty J. (Philip Seymour Hoffman), assistant director Little Bill (William H. Macy), producer “Colonel” James (Robert Ridgely) and cinematographer Kurt Longjohn (Ricky Jay), have as much as personality as the people who appear before the camera.

Cumulatively, the entirety of the 135-minute film can be exhausting, but nearly every individual scene is a goldmine, like every interaction between Dirk and hopelessly lovelorn Scotty, Reed’s hilarious introductory scene of mixing an undrinkable margarita for Dirk, Jack’s poor decision to film Rollergirl having sex with one of her former classmates (Kai Lennox) in the back of a limousine and the seemingly endless visit that Dirk, Reed and their drug-running buddy Todd (Thomas Jane) make to the home of wealthy, eccentric cokehead Rahad Jackson (Alfred Molina). Like Dirk Diggler’s anatomy, Boogie Nights might seem uncomfortably long, but you won’t want to look away. Beneath the bell bottoms and halter tops, Paul Thomas Anderson‘s sophomore film tells some bittersweet truths about human nature, exploitation and the tenacity a person can have in seizing their slice of the American Dream.

[superman-returns-playlist]

Return of Superman EP188

Title: The Best Gift of My Life

| YouTube | Spotify | Twitter |

0:11 You Got That Thing by Conal Fowkes 2:22 How To Start A Day by J Rabbit 3:22 Let It Shine (Laneige BB Cushion Song) by Yozoh 6:00 Mer Ham Sinti by Rosenberg Trio & Dan Gharibian 10:20 Mac Gyver by The Hollywood Prime Time Orchestra 10:47 끌림 by Sandy Brown 17:44 Stay by Maurice Williams & The Zodiacs 18:00 Love Is Easy by McFly 20:20 The Power Of Love by Céline Dion 25:40 여름 좋아 by 이한철 26:07 Hello Mr. Monkey by Arabesque 26:30 Welcome To The Jungle by Guns N' Roses 27:50 Groovey Monkey by Doktor Zoil 28:10 뚫훓 (Lounge Mix) by DJ 최민기 33:40 Stay (Just A Little Bit More) by The Dø 35:12 꽃길만 걷게 해줄게 by Daybreak (데이브레이크) 37:33 Little Star by Standing egg 40:10 Oneday by Jungbum Kim 41:39 Feel Alive by 탑독 42:00 Like You By Honeyst 42:35 I Want You Back by The Jackson 5 43:30 You Are My Destiny by Paul Anka 44:30 You Are My Destiny by Paul Anka 48:51 Sugar Sugar by Pullip 51:15 Busan Vacance by Skull & Haha 52:07 Careless Whisper by George Michael 56:50 Young And Crazy by Mark Nolan & David Redwitz 59:25 하늘을 달리다 by Juk Yi 1:03:33 인형의 꿈 by Loveholic (러브홀릭) 1:08:29 Bibbidi-Bobbidi-Boo by Louis Armstrong 1:09:21 Vanishing Paycheck by Stella Jang 1:14:47 니가 좀 짱인듯 by The Gem (더 젬) 1:18:45 She's A Star by David Choi 1:25:43 Wild Wild West by Will Smith Feat. Dru Hill & Kool Mo Dee 1:28:41 Say Goodbye by Lee Hwi Jae, Lee Seo Eon & Lee Seo Joon 1:29:00 트위스트 킹 by 장미여관

[steenpaal]

The 7D - Wikipedia

The 7D is an American children's animated television series produced by Disney Television Animation, which premiered on Disney XD on July 7, 2014. It is a re-imagining of the title characters from the 1937 film Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs by Walt Disney Animation Studios, and their adventures prior to the introduction of Snow White.[1][4] The first season consisted of 24 episodes.[5] On December 2, 2014, the series was renewed for a second season.[6][7] On November 25, 2016, Disney XD announced that the series was cancelled after two seasons. The show aired its final episode on November 5, 2016.

The 7D defend the land of Jollywood from the magical villains Grim and Hildy Gloom, who attempt to dethrone Queen Delightful and rule Jollywood.[1] The Glooms attempt to steal magical gems from the 7D mine to aid in their efforts.[8]

Episodes

Characters

The 7D are a group of dwarves who protect Jollywood from the Glooms and other threats. They are the descendants of the dwarves that founded Jollywood. The members of the 7D are:

Bashful (voiced by Billy West)[1] – Bashful is shy and sweet. He harbors a crush on Queen Delightful and hides in embarrassment when he hears Queen Delightful's name.[9] West describes Bashful as a sweet character who tries to catch up to the others. He also likes that Bashful has another side to him.[10]

Doc (voiced by Bill Farmer)[1][11] – Doc comes up with various inventions to help the 7D on their missions and engineered the sky buckets transportation system for all of Jollywood.[9] Farmer has been the voice of Goofy, and also Sleepy in other Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs projects.[10] Farmer said that in making a new take on Doc, he pinches his voice and makes him a little scatterbrained.[12]

Dopey (vocal effects provided by Dee Bradley Baker)[1] – Dopey communicates with whistles, animal sounds, and visual gags. In an interview with Disney Examiner, Baker said that portraying Dopey was easier and allows for more freedom because he uses only animal sounds and whistles.[13]

Grumpy (voiced by Maurice LaMarche)[1] – Grumpy is the aggressive and short-tempered dwarf who wears a flower pot as his hat.[14] He likes to have cheese and likes to wrestle. He can't put up with noises, disgusting things, or injustice. In portraying Grumpy, LaMarche drew inspiration from his friend who is a stockbroker, as well as parts of Danny DeVito's character Louie De Palma from Taxi and Jason Alexander's character George Costanza from Seinfeld.[10][15] In "Gingersnaps and Grumpy Snaps" and "Finders Keepers," it is revealed that Grumpy has a pet goat named Giselle.

Happy (voiced by Kevin Michael Richardson)[1] – Happy is joyous and is known for breaking out into song, much to the dismay of Grumpy.[16] Richardson said that he drew inspiration from fellow voice actor Jim Cummings with a "country / New Orleans" voice where he is "always upbeat, always positive," and as "if someone just handed him a beer."[10] Ruegger said that Richardson was the first one of the seven to be cast, and that his voice set the tone for casting the others.[12]

Sleepy (voiced by Stephen Stanton)[1] – Sleepy is always tired. In an interview with Variety, Scott Menville said that Stephen Stanton came up with over fifty different ways to snore.[17]

Sneezy (voiced by Scott Menville)[1] – Sneezy has powerful sneezes and has a variety of allergies that causes him to sneeze.[18] In the episode "Welcome to the Neighborhood," he shows off his handkerchief collection.

The Glooms

Hildy Gloom (voiced by Kelly Osbourne)[19] – Hildy is a witch and Grim's wife. Hildy is Osbourne’s first major voiceover role;[12][20] Osbourne was asked after Disney had auditioned 300 girls. She said that she had not seen the character design, which was created before the auditions, until after she got the job. She describes Hildy as "bad with the best intentions" and calls her "my alter ego – my Sasha Fierce".[20][21]

Grim Gloom (voiced by Jess Harnell)[1] – Grim is a warlock and Hildy's husband. In "The Jollywood Jam", it is revealed that Grim's great-great-great-grandfather was a warlock who was defeated by the Founders of Jollywood. Harnell describes him as "a bad-at-being-bad guy". Regarding his role as a Disney villain, he said that "there's a fine line — especially in 7D, which is a broad comedy — because you don't want to scare little kids".[22] He said "Grim is so awesome because he's totally stupid but he's got a really good heart. He's actually not a bad guy, he's just trying to keep up with his wife, which I guess a lot of us can relate to".[12]

Jollywood characters

Queen Delightful (voiced by Leigh-Allyn Baker)[1] – Queen Delightful is the ditzy ruler of Jollywood. Whenever there is trouble, she goes into a tizzy where she spins around and acts like a police light and siren. She then summons the 7D by pulling a rope for the Bing-Bong Bell.

Lord Starchbottom (voiced by Paul Rugg)[1][23] – Lord Starchbottom is Queen Delightful's personal assistant who is often getting annoyed at the 7D's antics. In portraying Starchbottom, Rugg drew inspiration from Jerry Lewis, whom he and Ruegger both admire.[10]

Recurring characters

Magic Mirror (voiced by Whoopi Goldberg)[24] – The Magic Mirror serves Queen Delightful and resides in the castle's treasure room. In the episode "Mirror, Mirror", the Glooms steal the Magic Mirror from Queen Delightful and replace her with a wise-cracking Not-So-Magic Mirror. After the Magic Mirror was rescued by the 7D, she falls in love with the Not-So-Magic Mirror and dates him.[9]

Crystal Ball (voiced by Jay Leno)[24] – The Crystal Ball is an artifact the Glooms use to spy on Queen Delightful. The Crystal Ball also gives the Glooms some information that they seek. A running gag is that Crystal Ball would often tell jokes that are followed by a laugh track.

Sir Yipsalot (voiced by Bill Farmer)[11][25] – Sir Yipsalot is Queen Delightful's pet dog.[17][18] His favorite treat is pickles.[25]

Squire Peckington (voiced by Dee Bradley Baker)[25] – Squire Peckington is Queen Delightful's pet parrot who is seen perching in her crown.[18]

Snazzy Shazam (voiced by Leigh-Allyn Baker)[26] – Snazzy Shazam is a witch with blonde hair who was Hildy Gloom's rival in school. She frequently competes in the witch contests where Hildy feels like she needs to upstage her. In "Sleepytime", she had put a hundred people to sleep. In "Cat on a Hot Grim Roof," Snazzy brags about having a fashionable black cat. In "Hildyrella", she competes against Hilday in the Ultimate Supreme Sorceress Pageant.

Peaches – Peaches is a slow-moving warthog who pulls the Glooms' carriage.

Giselle (voiced by Dee Bradley Baker)[27] – Grumpy's pet goat. In "Finders Keepers", Giselle develops a friendly rivalry with Peaches.[28] In the episode "When Pigs Fly", it is revealed that Giselle's last name is Munchen.[29] In the episode "Whose Voice Is It Anyway", Giselle is said to have been raised by a bloodhound, and in turn raised Dopey.[30]

Production

The 7D was placed into production in June 2012 for the Disney Junior channel with characters redesigned by Noah Z. Jones.[24][31][32] In an interview with Indiewire, Gimeno said that the pilot episode was done in Flash, but the series was changed to traditional 2D which added production value as Flash was design heavy. The storyboards and pre-production were done at Disney. Animation was produced by Digital eMation in Korea and Toon City in the Philippines.[31] Ruegger also said that the 2D is also better suited for the show's style.[12]

The theme song and many of the in-episode songs are done by Parry Gripp. He describes the song as "in kind of a punk rock style...It's pretty fast and has guitars and the tone of my voice is a bit nasal and aggressive. But the music in the show really varies."[16] In an interview with Geek Mom, Gripp said that he was asked to pitch song ideas for various Disney shows, and that The 7D clicked with his style. He estimates he wrote about 120 songs for the first season, although many are very short and their styles vary. Composer Keith Horn does the orchestration in the show.[3]

Entertainment journalist Jim Hill has noted that some have related the voice ensemble to Marvel's Avengers since it features actors who have voiced in popular cartoon shows. He also noted how many of the crew have worked on Animaniacs, including Tom Ruegger, Sherri Stoner, Paul Rugg, Deanna Oliver, and Randy Rogel. Among the voice actors, LaMarche had voiced Brain, and Jess Harnell had voiced Wakko.[10] Voice director Kelly Ward said "God forbid if anything were to happen when they were all in one place because the voice-over industry would be dealt a crippling blow." The cast usually recorded in ensembles of two to four characters when possible, with Ruegger editing the timing afterwards for characters that recorded separately.[12]

Scott Menville, who voices Sneezy, said that the show takes place before Snow White was born so the Evil Queen from the film will not be there. He also said it is a contemporary take on the film as the characters are hip to the current generation and its pop culture references.[4] Jevon Phillips of Hero Complex also placed the series 30 years or so before Snow White. Ruegger said that the show's demographic differed from his previous works with Animaniacs and Pinky and the Brain; however, he was also encouraged by Disney Junior to expand the demographic to include parents.[33]

Broadcast

The 7D debuted on July 7, 2014 on Disney XD,[24] on the Disney Junior block on Disney Channel on December 26, and on the Disney Junior channel in 2015.[6] In Canada, the series began broadcast on July 13 on Disney XD.[34] It premiered on Disney Channel in Southeast Asia on September 7.[35] In Australia, Disney XD began broadcasting the series on December 1.[36]

On December 2, 2014, the series was renewed for a second season,[6] where Ruegger planned to make 39 half-hour episodes.[7] The season premiered on Disney XD on January 23, 2016. The season is slated to have guest stars Ozzy and Sharon Osbourne to play Hildy's parents, Fran Drescher, Amy Sedaris, Jim Belushi, Jay Mohr, George Takei and "Weird Al" Yankovic.[37] On April 25, 2016, co-executive producer Tom Warburton posted on his blog that the second season would be the series' final season and that the crew will be moving on to other projects.[38] The series finale aired on November 5, 2016.

Reception

The 7D premiere broadcast ranked number 2 overall among Disney XD’s animated original-series premieres for kids 2–11 and kids 6–11.[39]

Brian Lowry of Variety wrote poorly of the show, claiming that it has none of the charm of the source material, and that its plots "fall into a sort of No Kid's Land in terms of age groups".[40]Rob Owen wrote in the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette that the characters were blandly drawn, and that the show was just a chance to capitalize on the film.[41]

The 7D was selected by the Behind the Voice Actors staff for Best Vocal Ensemble in a New Television Series in 2015.[42]

Video games

In June 2014, Disney Publishing Worldwide released "The 7D Mine Train App", an endless-runner video game where the player chooses one of the redesigned 7D dwarfs as their game avatar to pilot a mine car through various levels of the mine, picking up gems. It is loosely associated with the Seven Dwarfs Mine Train attraction at Walt Disney World which opened in May 2014.[43][44]

Disney also released an online game on their Disney XD website called "The 7D Dwarf Track Builder" where players can assemble a mine track or sky bucket course according to the dwarfs' specifications.[45]

References

^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q "'The 7D' Report for July 7 Disney XD Premiere". Animation Magazine. April 25, 2014. Retrieved June 16, 2014. DisneyChannelPR (April 3, 2014). "Kelly Osbourne joins the cast of Disney's The 7D, a contemporary, comedic take on the seven dwarfs, premiering this summer" (Press release). Archived from the original on December 17, 2014.

^ "Keith Horn music in new Disney animated series". keithhorn.com. Retrieved January 25, 2016.

^ a b http://geekmom.com/2014/07/parry-gripp/

^ a b Yoshihara, Craig (June 19, 2014). "The Two Sides of Scott Menville: Dadding and Sneezing". Babble. Retrieved August 11, 2014.

^ Shea Fontana [@SheaFontana] (July 28, 2014). "Confirms: "season one is 24 half hours"" (Tweet). Retrieved September 10, 2014 – via Twitter.

^ a b c Kondolojy, Amanda (December 2, 2014). "'The 7D' Renewed for Second Season by Disney". TV by the Numbers. Retrieved December 2, 2014.

^ a b Ruegger, Tom (December 2, 2014). "Disney's "THE 7D" Renewed for 2nd Season". Cartooniacs.

^ Andreeva, Nellie (June 19, 2012). "Disney Jr Orders Seven Dwarfs Toon Series". Deadline. Retrieved June 16, 2014.

^ a b c "Mirror, Mirror / The Big Bash". The 7D. Episode 3.

^ a b c d e f Hill, Jim (July 7, 2014). "Disney Hopes That 7D 's Stellar Voice Cast Will Make Animation Fans Happy, Not Grumpy". Huffington Post. Retrieved August 8, 2014.

^ a b "Disney Legend, Bill Farmer talks about voicing Goofy and new Disney Junior series "The 7D"". mediamikes.com.

^ a b c d e f McLean, Thomas J. (July 18, 2014). "Little Stars, Big Voices". Animation Magazine.

^ Orenda, Tami (July 10, 2014). "Dee Bradley Baker Whistles While He Works as Dopey on "The 7D"". Disney Examiner. Storyteller Media. Archived from the original on August 12, 2014.

^ "The 7D – Sneezin' Season; The Delightful Diamond Mystery – Saturday, Sep 20, 2014 – Ark TV Transcript – Ark TV – Search what is being mentioned across national TV". ark.com.

^ Galas, Marjorie (February 18, 2014). ""The 7D" – New Voices And New Lives For The Seven Dwarves". Variety 411. Variety Media. Retrieved August 8, 2014.

^ a b Plasket, Kelli (July 7, 2014). "The Song of the 7D – TFK gets a sneak peak at Disney XD's new animated Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs prequel". Time for Kids.

^ a b Galas, Marjorie (February 18, 2014). "Voice Actors In Their Own Words: The Talent Behind "The 7D"". Variety 411. Variety Media. Retrieved August 8, 2014.

^ a b c The 7D. Episode 2.

^ Bacle, Ariana (April 3, 2014). "Kelly Osbourne joins Disney's 'The 7D' cast". Entertainment Weekly. Entertainment Weekly Inc. Retrieved June 16, 2014.

^ a b Logan, Michael (July 3, 2014). "Kelly Osbourne Turns Disney Villain in The 7D". TV Guide.

^ Walker, Jodi (April 3, 2014). "Kelly Osbourne joins Disney's 'The 7D' cast". The Family Room (EW.com). Entertainment Weekly and Time Inc. Retrieved August 7, 2014.

^ Kaplan, Don (July 5, 2014). "Disney's new series '7D' draws loosely on 'Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs'". NY Daily News. Retrieved August 7, 2014.

^ "7D Characters". Disneyxd.disney.com. Retrieved June 16, 2014.

^ a b c d Kenneally, Tim (April 25, 2014). "Jay Leno, Whoopi Goldberg Join Cast of Disney's 'The 7D'". The Wrap. Retrieved June 16, 2014.

^ a b c The 7D. Episode 6.

^ "Cat on a Hot Grim Roof". The 7D. Episode 17b.

^ "Interviews". Dee Bradley Baker official website. Archived from the original on January 21, 2015. Retrieved January 21, 2015. Over at Disney Television, we're recording a second season of "The Seven D," (as dwarf "Dopey," parrot "Squire Peckington" and Giselle, the goat).

^ "Finders Keepers / The Queen's Quest". Disney XD Press. Retrieved January 25, 2016.

^ "When Pigs Fly". The 7d. Season 2. Episode 1a.

^ "Whose Voice Is It Anyway". The 7d. Season 2. Episode 5a.

^ a b Desowitz, Bill (July 1, 2014). "Immersed in Movies: Alfred Gimeno Talks Directing Disney's New '7D' Series". Animation Scoop. Indiewire.

^ Amidi, Amid (June 19, 2012). "Disney Redesigns The Seven Dwarfs For "7D"". Cartoon Brew. Retrieved January 25, 2016.

^ Phillips, Jevon (July 5, 2014). "'Animaniacs' creator tackles fairy tales with 'The 7D'". Hero Complex – Los Angeles Times.

^ Quiring, Tami (June 20, 2014). "New Animated Series The 7D Premieres On Disney XD This July 13th". Village Gamer. Retrieved December 2, 2014.

^ Goh, Melody (September 4, 2014). "Move aside, Snow White: It's time for 'The 7D' to shine". The Star. Malaysia.

^ DHiggins (December 1, 2014). "NEW THIS WEEK: The Flash, Jane the Virgin, The Walking Dead 2014 finale, Shark Week and more". Foxtel. Retrieved December 2, 2014.

^ Ge, Linda (December 17, 2015). "Ozzy, Sharon Osborne Join Disney XD's 'The 7D' (Exclusive)". The Wrap. Retrieved January 25, 2016.

^ Warburton, Mr (April 25, 2016). "warburtonlabs: It's a Wrap, 7D-Style". warburtonlabs.blogspot.com. Retrieved June 10, 2016.

^ Kondolojy, Amanda (July 17, 2014). "Disney's Animated Series 'The 7D' Launches Week-Long Event With Solid Ratings". TV by the Numbers. Archived from the original on September 7, 2014. Retrieved November 22, 2014.

^ Lowry, Brian (July 3, 2014). ""The 7D" TV Review on Disney Jr". Variety. Retrieved August 7, 2014.

^ Owen, Rob (July 7, 2014). "A new take on the Seven Dwarfs with '7D' on DisneyXD". Community Voices – Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. PG Publishing. Retrieved August 11, 2014.

^ Stephen Stanton [@Stephen_Stanton] (July 8, 2015). "Congratulations to everyone on Team #The7D for your @BTVA BEST VOCAL ENSEMBLE IN A NEW TELEVISION SERIES Award! :)" (Tweet). Retrieved August 13, 2015 – via Twitter.

^ Mauney, Matt (June 12, 2014). "Disney to release Seven Dwarfs-inspired app, TV show". Orlando Sentinel. Retrieved June 16, 2014.

^ Calimlim, Aldrin (June 13, 2014). "Disney Launches The 7D Mine Train Game Based On 'The 7D' Animated TV Series". AppAdvice. Retrieved June 17, 2014.

^ Quiring, Tami (June 20, 2014). "New Animated Series The 7D Premieres On Disney XD This July 13th". Village Gamer.

External links

[vidovicart]

How to Visit Québec City on a Budget

I’ve visited Canada many times but have always missed is Québec City. I’ve only heard great things from everyone who has ever been there. Luckily, my friend Pamela is an expert on the city. She runs walking tours there and even recently published a guidebook to the city. Given that fall is supposed to be one of the most beautiful times to visit, I thought now was a perfect time to have her share her expertise!

I fell in love with Québec City the moment I stepped off the overnight train from Halifax. The cobblestone streets, outdoor patios, European architecture, and delicious poutine (and French men!) tugged at my heartstrings.

A French colony founded in 1608 by Samuel de Champlain, Québec City was then known as New France. Over the course of its over four hundred years, the city went from being French then British, and then French again, creating a delightful mix of architectural styles.

While most are initially drawn to Québec City by its history and European charm, the people, food, and culture are why they inevitably fall in love with the city. The locals are a community very passionate about all things Québec and wants visitors to experience that same passion, regardless of one’s travel budget. I can’t preach the gospel of this city enough. It’s like a big little village and one of my favorite places in the entire country.

Though Québec City can be expensive, there are plenty of ways to visit this city on a budget and still enjoy everything this place has to offer!

Things to See and Do

Québec City has things to see and do for pretty much every type of visitor; it doesn’t matter what time of year you visit. There are, of course, a few things everyone should see and do:

Explore Vieux-Québec (Old Québec): While doing it on your own can be fun, make time to take a walking tour. If you’re on a tight budget, there is a free walking tour with Samuel Dubois, a funny local guide who lives off the tips he receives from travellers. His tour takes you through the Old City and is filled with humorous facts and stories. Samuel is also a craft beer connoisseur, so if you’re looking for recommendations, he is your man! If you have a little money to spend and want a historical walking tour with a costumed guide, Cicerone’s walking tours are highly recommended!

Visit La Citadelle & city fortifications: Québec City is one of the oldest fortified city in North America. Spend some time at the Citadelle (which is still operational and home to the Royal 22e Régiment). Admission is $16 CAD and includes entrance to the Citadelle, a museum tour, the changing of the guard (in summer), and the Beating of the Retreat.

Dufferin Terrace: The terrace is the oldest boardwalk in the city and runs along the front of Fairmont Château Frontenac. In summer, you can relax on the boardwalk, watch street performers, and buy chocolate-dipped ice cream cones from Au 1884. In winter, toboggan down the slope of the Dufferin Slide, one of the first tourists attractions in the city.

Climb to the top of Terrasse Pierre-Dugua-de-Mons: Capture a postcard-perfect shot of Château Frontenac and the Saint Lawrence River. There is a wooden staircase after the gazebo on Dufferin Terrace.

Ride the funiculaire: From Dufferin Terrace, take the funicular (inclined railway) down the cap (promontory) to Petit-Champlain (one of the oldest shopping streets) and Place Royale (site of the first colony). Rides are $3 CAD one-way. Tip: If you hate hills like I do, walk down the steep hill (Côte de la Montague) and take the funicular back up to the top of the cap.

Musée de la Civilization: Québec has many museums, but this is probably the best one for learning about the history of Québec. Regular admission is $16 CAD but if you are 18-30 years of age, it is only $10 (not including special exhibits).

Cathedral of the Holy Trinity: This cathedral was the first Anglican church built outside Britain, and it houses a silver communion set given by King George III. Be sure to take the guided tour for $6 CAD; it is offered by one of the best English historians in Québec City.

The Morrin Centre & Maison de la Littérature: Located across the street from each other, both of these buildings turned libraries are some of the funkiest attractions in town. The Morrin Centre started as an army barracks, then changed to a jail (where many public hangings occurred), then a college, and now a beautiful Victorian (English) library. La Maison de la Littérature is a French library housed in a converted church (which was once English). Both libraries are FREE.

Take a bus to Montmorency Falls: Skip the tours and take public transportation to Chute Montmorency (Montmorency Falls). While they are not as wide as Niagara Falls, they are 30m taller and are stunning, especially in fall when the surrounding leaves change color. From Place d’Youville, take bus #800 to the falls. A round-trip will cost $7 CAD.

Walk the stairs of Sous-le-Cap: Walk along rue Saint-Paul in Vieux-Port. When you get to the Savonnerie you’ll see a very small path between the buildings; follow it to rue Sous-le-Cap, one of the oldest streets in the city. The street is tiny, with layers of wooden stairs that stretch across the alley. This was once a busy shopping street back when the houses had a front-row view of the Saint-Lawrence River.

Amusement Park at Méga Parc: This is Québec’s version of Mall of America. Méga Parc has 19 attractions/rides, including a skating rink, an arcade with 60 or so games, mini-golf, and a rock-climbing wall. Unlimited access is $30 CAD per person. To get here, take buses #801 and #803.

The Plains of Abraham: Head into the neighborhood of Montcalm and walk around the Plains of Abraham, the site of the famous battle of 1759, which lasted 15 minutes and resulted in the British gaining control of the city. Today the Plains of Abraham is a large park with running and walking tracks, Martello Towers (small defensive forts built during the 19th century), busts of historic figures, gardens, and pretty views of the Saint Lawrence River.

Relax at Place des Canotiers: A new public space beside the Saint Lawrence River, this urban square has places to sit and relax, as well as fountains and mist you can walk through. A go-to spot on hot summer days, this is also where the cruise ships and tall ships dock.

Leave the tourists behind: In the middle of summer, when the Old City is bursting at the seams with tourists, you’ll find me in along rue Saint-Joseph Est in Saint-Roch, rue Saint-Jean in Saint-Jean-Baptiste, and 3e (Troisième) Avenue in Limoilou, where I can enjoy the quiet, local side of life. Prices are generally a little cheaper in these areas, and there are plenty of fabulous restaurants, microbreweries, cafés, and boutiques to keep me happy.

Where to Eat

If you’re a foodie, staying on budget in Québec City can be a bit hard. But to save money, it is always a good idea to venture away from the Old City; by doing so you will find more chef-run restaurants and usually cheaper prices. There are also plenty of options for cheap eats like poutine, burgers, shawarma, etc. Here are some of my favorite restaurants:

Chez Ashton (Vieux-Québec, Saint-Roch, or Montcalm): Delicious gluttony made of fries, squeaky cheese curds and piping hot gravy. Almost every restaurant sells poutine, but the best traditional poutine in the city starts with Chez Ashton. A Québec institution, it serves up poutine in large, round foil containers. In winter the price of poutine fluctuates depending on the weather. For example, if it is -25°C (-13°F) outside, then your poutine at Chez Ashton is 25% off!

La Pizz: Located in Place Royale, La Pizz serves up fairly good pizza, which starts at $9 CAD for a small. (Once you’ve finished, walk next door for some pints at Pub L’Oncle!)

Le Bureau de Poste: This little gem has a yummy $4.95 CAD (!) menu, $6.50 CAD cocktails, and $5.50 CAD pints! Go forth and have fun, and be sure to enjoy the patio in summer.

Fromagerie des Grondines et ses amis: Embrace your inner cheese addict and go here for gourmet grilled cheese sandwiches. So good and not too expensive. Sandwiches start at $7.50 CAD.

Marché d’Emma: Located across the street from the hostel, this small épicerie has a nice selection of Québec craft beers, wine, frozen pizzas ($5), gourmet foods, and non-perishables. They also have fresh baguettes most days.

L’Inter Marché: Located on rue Saint-Jean in Saint-Jean-Baptiste, this small grocery store has a small selection of produce, meats, dairy, non-perishables, frozen foods, and breads. Prices are often better than at the épiceries.

The food scene in Québec City is ever-growing, and we now have a few options for vegans and vegetarians as well. As in other major cities, almost every neighbourhood now also has shawarma or kebab. There is also a sushi craze happening right now. Tip: Avoid the Chinese food in the Old City — it is not that good.

Where to Party

There are a few bars and pubs in Old Québec that can be quite touristy depending on the time of year, but try these:

Bar St-Angèle: A night of cheap beer, live music, and quirky locals. It is a must before venturing into the more “civilised” pubs and bars in the city.

Maurice Nightclub: While Bistro Plus (1063, Rue Saint-Jean) can be fun, the best nightclub in the city is Maurice on Grande Allée. Dance, drink, sweat, and then go eat poutine or shawarma before heading back to the hostel.

Le Drague Cabaret Club: A gay bar/nightclub with drag shows and karaoke.

Pub Nelligan’s: A lively Irish pub popular with locals. Rustic ambiance, live Irish shows from time to time, and a mix of Québec and Irish beers (and liquor).

Le Cercle: A bar and live music venue, Le Cercle is a local favourite. Indie bands sometimes play in a funky room in the basement.

Le Projet: An eclectic gastropub, Le Projet has roughly 24 microbrews on tap. Buy food on-site or pick up a poke bowl from Bols et Poké on your way and eat it there.

La Barbarie: By far the most popular microbrewery in the city. Beer is brewed on-site, there is plenty of seating, and while they don’t have a license to serve food, you can have a pizza, Chinese food, or whatever else you’re craving delivered to the bar.

Where to Sleep

Auberge Internationale de Québec is the best hostel in the city. With a superb location in Vieux-Québec (Old Québec), this hostel is large with a bar, common rooms, and communal kitchen. In high season beds range from $27 CAD to $30.50 CAD per night. In low season, beds range from $22 CAD to $30.50 CAD per night.

Couchsurfing is quite popular in Québec City, which has a very large Couchsurfing community with over 10,000 hosts. Always look for hosts with good ratings and reviews, and bring a small thank you gift for your host (it could be a bottle of wine or craft beer) as you are being invited into their home, for free! (Matt says: Speaking of Couchsurfing, we are hosting a Q&A with Couchsurfing on September 28th, so mark your calendars!)

If you want to experience the local vibe of the city, I suggest mixing things up a little: stay a few nights at a hostel to explore the historic areas, then Couchsurf or rent a room on Airbnb in another neighbourhood to get a true feel for what everyday life is like in Québec City.

10 Ways to Save

Québec City is one of the more expensive cities in Canada but there ways to save money on your visit. Here are ten high impact ways to save money on your visit:

Take a FREE walking tour of the Old City.

Eat poutine (under $10 CAD) at Chez Ashton, one of the cheapest places in the city.

Buy food at a neighbourhood grocery store.

Eat croissants for breakfast, they are only $2.50 CAD! Paillard on rue Saint-Jean (to the right at the bottom of rue Sainte-Ursule) are the best.

Buy a bus pass. A 1-day bus pass costs $8.50 CAD, the equivalent of 2.5 rides. A day pass gives you unlimited travel for 24-hours.

Go to Méga Parc, an indoor amusement park and shopping mall, after 5pm and get in for half price ($15 CAD).

Walk along the city fortifications and atop the city gates. Its FREE!

Visit the churches and libraries as they are FREE and quite beautiful.

Visit Bar Sainte-Angèle for cheap beer!

Couchsurf for most of your visit and save money on accommodation (plus meet amazing and friendly locals).

Getting Around Québec City

Québec City is a walking city. It is very easy to explore the main neighbourhoods (Vieux-Québec, Petit-Champlain, Place-Royale, Vieux-Port, Grande Allée, Montcalm, and Saint-Jean-Baptiste) by foot. The outer neighbourhoods of Saint-Roch, Saint-Sauveur, and Limoilou can be reached by bus.

A single bus fare is $3.50 CAD, unless you go to an authorized seller and buy a ticket; then the cost is $3 CAD. You can also buy passes that cut the cost, especially if you want to venture out to places like Chute Montmorency (Montmorency Falls):

A day pass is $8.50 CAD

An unlimited weekend pass is $15.50 CAD

A 5-consecutive-days pass is $29 CAD ($24 CAD for students)

Download the RTC (Réseau de Transport de la Capitale) Nomade mobile app to check routes while you’re out exploring. The app gives you information on schedules, as well as the closest stop to your location and when the next bus will arrive.

*** Come explore this lovely city, sit on a patio, eat poutine, and drink with the locals, and marvel at the beauty of Château Frontenac as it looms over the lower city. Sit at the top of Terrasse Pierre-Dugua-de-Mons to watch the sunset and snap a picture-perfect shot of the château, Old City, and Saint Lawrence River.

I came to Québec City because I love the architecture, the culture, and the history. I stayed because of the food, people, and the big-village vibe. Québec City has a charm and magic about it that is infectious. It is a Northern paradise of food, culture, and architecture – and I hope you come and visit soon!

Pamela is a Canadian travel writer and blogger who left her job in 2010 to travel the world. While Southeast Asia and Scotland rank among her favourite destinations, she fell head-over-heels for Québec City and now calls it home. While travel is still a big part of her life, Pamela runs Urban Guide Québec City and has recently published a guidebook on the city that focuses on local artisans, producers, and businesses. If you’re going to the city, it’s a must buy!

Photo Credit: 2, 6

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50 Years Ago: 1969 in Rock Music | Best Classic Bands

50 Years Ago: 1969 in Rock Music

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What is the first thing that comes to mind when you think back to the music of 1969? Perhaps it’s Woodstock, the rock festival that still defines the very concept of the rock festival. Or maybe it’s one of the year’s many great albums—if you’re like us, you still listen to Tommy, Volunteers, The Band, Blind Faith,  Led Zeppelin II and amazing debuts rom Santana and Crosby, Stills & Nash, as well as many others that were born in 1969.

Rock was still very exciting as the ’60s came to a close, with bands and artists from both America and across the Atlantic turning out some of their most memorable work. Talk about prolific: Creedence Clearwater Revival, a band that had just made its name known the year before, landed no less than three albums in the top 10 in 1969: Bayou Country, the #1 Green River and Willy and the Poor Boys. The Stones were on a roll, following up the previous year’s brilliant Beggars Banquet with the equally superb Let it Bleed—while saying goodbye to one member and adding a new one. The Beatles were beginning to wind down, but we didn’t know that at the time—when they released Abbey Road, we just took it for granted that they were once again evolving.

Although there was a whole new rock sound, a more mature, progressive approach that found its home on FM radio and in the ballrooms sprouting up around the country, AM radio hitmakers were also still grabbing our ears (and our wallets)—a look at the hit singles of the year reveals numerous gems by artists that never quite made that leap to hipville but whose contributions still find their way to our playlists.

We went back in time 50 years and compiled a chronological timeline of the year’s top events (including album releases) in rock music. Then we listed the bands that formed during that year, and those that called it quits. Finally, we compiled a list of the year’s top singles. Looking at it all now, we have to admit that we were all very lucky to have this music in our lives—and we still are!

1969 Music Timeline

Jan. 5—Creedence Clearwater Revival releases Bayou Country

Jan. 12—The self-titled debut album by Led Zeppelin is released

Jan. 13—The Beatles release the soundtrack for Yellow Submarine

Jan. 17—Dr. John releases Babylon, Iron Butterfly releases Ball, Aretha Franklin releases Soul ’69

Jan. 22—Neil Young releases his self-titled debut album

Jan. 30—The Beatles give their final public performance on the rooftop of the Apple building in London; on the same date, Moby Grape releases Moby Grape ’69

Jan. ?—Tommy James and the Shondells release Crimson & Clover, Donovan releases Greatest Hits, Fleetwood Mac releases English Rose, and Fairport Convention releases What We Did on Our Holidays

Watch Tommy James & the Shondell’s perform “Crimson & Clover”

Jan. ?—Three of the Beatles—John, George and Ringo—hire Allen Klein as their new manager; Paul does not sign on with the American Feb. ?—Paul McCartney hires the law firm of the father of his girlfriend, Linda Eastman, to represent him Feb. 5—Cream releases Goodbye

Listen to “Badge” from Cream’s Goodbye

Feb. 10—The Beach Boys release 20/20

Feb. 15—The Monkees release Instant Replay

Feb. 17—Bob Dylan and Johnny Cash record together in Nashville; the Temptations release Cloud Nine

Feb. 18—British singer Lulu and Maurice Gibb of the Bee Gees are married

Feb. 21—Mary Hopkin releases Postcard

Feb. 22—Ten Years After releases Stonedhenge

Feb. ?—Jefferson Airplane releases Bless its Pointed Little Head, the Flying Burrito Brothers release The Gilded Palace of Sin, MC5 releases Kick Out the Jams

March 1—Jim Morrison of the Doors is arrested for allegedly exposing himself onstage in Miami

March 5—The Byrds release Dr. Byrds & Mr. Hyde

March 7—Genesis releases From Genesis to Revelation

March 12—Paul McCartney and Linda Eastman are married in London; on the same day, George Harrison and his wife Pattie are arrested for possession of hashish

March 14—Free releases Tons of Sobs

March 17—The Rascals release Freedom Suite

March 20—John Lennon and Yoko Ono are married in Gibraltar; several days later, during their honeymoon in Amsterdam, they stage a multi-day “bed-in” for peace

March 24—The Mothers of Invention release Mothermania

March 30—The Bee Gees release Odessa

March 31—Dusty Springfield releases Dusty in Memphis

Listen to “Son of a Preacher Man”

March ?—Steppenwolf releases At Your Birthday Party, 13th Floor Elevators release Bull of the Woods, Blue Cheer releases New! Improved!, James Brown releases Say It Loud (I’m Black and I’m Proud), Spooky Tooth releases Spooky Two, the Velvet Underground releases their self-titled album, the Guess Who releases Wheatfield Soul

April 1—The Beach Boys sue Capitol Records for unpaid royalties; on the same date, Nazz releases Nazz Nazz, and Leonard Cohen releases Songs From a Room

April 9—Bob Dylan releases Nashville Skyline

Watch Bob Dylan sing “I Threw It All Away” on The Johnny Cash Show

April 15—Al Green releases Green is Blues

April 20—At a free rock festival in Venice, Calif., audience members riot and more than 100 are arrested

April 21—The Mothers of Invention release Uncle Meat

April 22—The Who performs their rock opera Tommy in full for the first time, in the U.K.

Joe Cocker at Woodstock

April 23—Joe Cocker releases With a Little Help From My Friends

April 30—Marvin Gaye releases M.P.G.

April ?—The London cast recording of Hair is released, Bob Seger System releases Ramblin’ Gamblin’ Man, Savoy Brown releases Blue Matter, Townes Van Zandt releases Our Mother the Mountain

May 1—Joni Mitchell releases Clouds

May 3—Sly and the Family Stone release their album Stand!; also on this date, Jimi Hendrix is arrested for heroin possession in Toronto

May 9—George Harrison releases Electronic Sound, John Lennon and Yoko Ono release Unfinished Music No. 2: Life With the Lions

Members of the Turtles hang at the White House with Tricia Nixon

May 10—The Turtles perform at the White House at the request of President Nixon’s daughter, Tricia

May 12—Muddy Waters releases After the Rain

May 14—Neil Young and Crazy Horse release Everybody Knows This is Nowhere

May 16—Phil Ochs releases Rehearsals for Retirement, Tyrannosaurus Rex releases Unicorn

May 19—Poco releases Pickin’ Up the Pieces

May 23—The Who releases Tommy

May 26—Diana Ross and the Supremes release Let the Sunshine In

May 29—Crosby, Stills and Nash release their self-titled debut album

June 2—John and Yoko stage another bed-in, this time in Montreal; they record “Give Peace a Chance” live there

June 4—Johnny Cash releases At San Quentin

June 6—Elton John releases Empty Sky

June 7—Blind Faith—featuring Eric Clapton, Steve Winwood and Ginger Baker, with bassist Ric Grech—performs for free in Hyde Park

June 11—Three Dog Night releases Suitable for Framing

June 13—Guitarist Mick Taylor joins the Rolling Stones; Pink Floyd releases More

June 16—Steve Miller Band releases Brave New World, Captain Beefheart releases Trout Mask Replica

June 20—The Grateful Dead releases Aoxomoxoa

June 21—Deep Purple releases their self-titled album

June 29—Bassist Noel Redding leaves the Jimi Hendrix Experience

June ?—The Jeff Beck Group releases Beck-Ola, Elvis Presley releases From Elvis in Memphis, Johnny Winter and Lee Michaels release self-titled albums, Alice Cooper releases Pretties for You, Procol Harum releases A Salty Dog

July 3—Rolling Stones co-founder Brian Jones is found dead in the swimming pool at his home in Sussex, England; Fairport Convention releases Unhalfbricking

July 4—The two-day Atlanta International Pop Festival begins in Georgia

July 5—The Rolling Stones perform a free concert in Hyde Park in London, both to pay tribute to Jones and introduce Taylor; Cass Elliot releases Bubblegum, Lemonade, and…Something for Mama

July 10—Tim Buckley releases Happy Sad July 14—The Film Easy Rider is released, featuring music by the Byrds, Jimi Hendrix Experience, Steppenwolf and others

July 19—The Doors release The Soft Parade

Columbia Records had quite the artist roster, as seen in this 1969 industry ad

July 25—Yes releases Yes

July 29—The Byrds’ Preflyte is released

July 31—Elvis Presley makes his first live concert appearance in years, in Las Vegas; the residency lasts through August

July ?—Moby Grape releases Truly Fine Citizen, Country Joe and the Fish release Here We Go Again, Leslie West releases Mountain, Delaney and Bonnie release The Original Delaney & Bonnie & Friends

Aug. 1—The Atlantic City Pop Festival begins in New Jersey, through the 3rd; also on this date, Jethro Tull releases Stand Up and the Bonzo Dog Doo-Dah Band releases Tadpoles

Aug. 5—The Stooges release their self-titled debut

Listen to “Atlantis” from Barabajagal

Aug. 15—The Woodstock Music and Arts Fair begins in Bethel, N.Y., drawing an estimated 400,000; it ends on the morning of the 18th

Watch: Richie Havens opens Woodstock

Aug. 29—Stevie Wonder releases My Cherie Amour and Jack Bruce releases Songs for a Tailor

Aug. 30—The Isle of Wight Festival is held in the U.K., featuring Bob Dylan, the Band, the Who and many others

Aug. ?—Humble Pie releases As Safe As Yesterday Is, Blind Faith releases their self-titled (and only) album, Boz Scaggs releases his self-titled album, Love releases Four Sail, Muddy Waters releases Fathers and Sons, Harry Nilsson releases Harry, Grand Funk Railroad releases On Time, Santana releases their self-titled debut and Ten Years After releases Ssssh

Sept. 1—Nick Drake releases Five Leaves Left

Sept. 11—Janis Joplin releases her first solo album, I Got Dem Ol’ Kozmic Blues Again Mama!

Sept. 13—John Lennon and the Plastic Ono Band perform at the Toronto Rock and Roll Revival, also featuring Chuck Berry, Little Richard, Jerry Lee Lewis and others

Sept. 19—Fleetwood Mac’s Then Play On is released

Sept. 22—The Band releases their self-titled second album. Read our Album Rewind review here.

Sept. 23—Isaac Hayes releases Hot Buttered Soul, the Temptations release Puzzle People, Diana Ross and the Supremes release Together

Sept. 24—Deep Purple performs at the Royal Albert Hall in London with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra; Laura Nyro’s New York Tendaberry is released

Sept. 26—The Beatles release Abbey Road

Sept. ?—The Guess Who releases Canned Wheat, the Nice releases The Nice, the Flamin’ Groovies release Supersnazz, the Bob Seger System releases Noah, Savoy Brown releases A Step Further

Oct. 1—The Monkees release The Monkees Present

Oct. 9—The Carpenters release Ticket to Ride

Oct. 10—The Kinks release Arthur (Or the Decline and Fall of the British Empire), Frank Zappa releases Hot Rats, King Crimson releases In the Court of the Crimson King

Oct. 14—Diana Ross and the Supremes release their final single, “Someday We’ll Be Together,” which becomes the last #1 hit of the ’60s; Elvis Presley releases Elvis in Person at the International Hotel, Las Vegas, Nevada

Oct. 16—Three Dog Night releases Captured Live at the Forum

Oct. 20—John Lennon and Yoko Ono release Wedding Album

Oct. 22—Led Zeppelin releases their second album, simply titled Led Zeppelin II

Oct. 27—Johnny Winter releases Second Winter

Watch Johnny Winter at Woodstock

Oct. ?—Pentangle releases Basket of Light, Spirit releases Clear, Free releases their self-titled album, the Turtles release Turtle Soup, Tom Jones releases Live in Las Vegas

Nov. 1—Elvis Presley hits #1 for the first time in seven years, with “Suspicious Minds”

Watch the King perform the hit in 1970

Nov. 2—Creedence Clearwater Revival releases their third album of the year, Willy and the Poor Boys

Nov. 4—The Allman Brothers Band releases their self-titled album, David Bowie releases his self-titled album

Nov. 10—The Byrds release The Ballad of Easy Rider, the Grateful Dead release Live/Dead

Nov. 21—The Moody Blues release To Our Children’s Children’s Children

Nov. 24—Tim Buckley releases Blue Afternoon

Nov. ?—The Hollies release Hollies Sing Hollies, the Bonzo Dog Band releases Keynsham,  Joe Cocker releases his self-titled album, Manfred Mann Chapter Three and Mott the Hoople also release self-titled albums, Steppenwolf releases Monster, Rod Stewart releases The Rod Stewart Album, Humble Pie releases Town and Country, Jefferson Airplane releases Volunteers, the Steve Miller Band releases Your Saving Grace

Dec. 5—The Rolling Stones release Let It Bleed. Read our Album Rewind review here.

Watch a 2003 live version of the title track from Let It Bleed

Dec. 6—The ill-fated free concert at California’s Altamont Speedway, starring the Rolling Stones and others, leads to a murder and other violent acts; on the same day, the Jackson 5 release their debut album, Diana Ross Presents the Jackson 5

Dec. 12—The Plastic Ono Band (with John and Yoko) releases Live Peace in Toronto 1969

Dec. 29—Grand Funk Railroad releases Grand Funk

More 1969 albums, release dates unknown:

Mike Bloomfield—It’s Not Killing Me

The Climax Blues Band—The Climax Blues Band

The Fugs—The Belle of Avenue A

The Good Rats—The Good Rats

Norman Greenbaum—Spirit in the Sky

The Hollies—The Hollies Sing Dylan

Howlin’ Wolf—The Howlin’ Wolf Album

Isley Brothers—Live at Yankee Stadium

Jackie Lomax—Is This What You Want

Watch John Mayall live in 1969

Pacific Gas & Electric—Pacific Gas & Electric

Peanut Butter Conspiracy—For Children of All Ages

Rare Earth—Get Ready

Jerry Jeff Walker—Driftin’ Way of Life

The Youngbloods—Elephant Mountain

Warren Zevon—Wanted Dead or Alive

Bands that formed in 1969 (alphabetically) The Allman Brothers Band, April Wine, Atomic Rooster,  Badfinger, Brinsley Schwarz, Brownsville Station, the Carpenters, Crazy Horse, Curved Air, Eggs Over Easy, Faces, Fanny, Focus, Hall and Oates, Hawkwind, Head East, Hot Chocolate, Humble Pie, Judas Priest, Juicy Lucy, Kraftwerk, Lighthouse, Little Feat, Mountain, Mungo Jerry, Nektar, New Riders of the Purple Sage, New Seekers, Osibisa, Pink Fairies, Plastic Ono Band, Popol Vuh, Redbone, Renaissance, the Residents, Seals and Crofts, Sha Na Na, Steel Mill, Steeleye Span, Stone the Crows, Supertramp, Thin Lizzy, Thunderclap Newman, Toe Fat, Tucky Buzard, War, Tony Williams Lifetime, Wishbone Ash, ZZ Top Bands that broke up in 1969 (alphabetically) The Action, Amen Corner, American Breed, Ars Nova, Beacon Street Union, Beau Brummels, Eric Burdon and the Animals, Dick and Dee Dee, Dillard and Clark, Dino, Desi and Billy, the Easybeats, Frumious Bandersnatch, H.P. Lovecraft, the Jeff Beck Group, the Left Banke, the Lemon Pipers, the Lovin’ Spoonful, Manfred Mann, the Merry-Go-Round, the Mojo Men, the Music Machine, the Paupers, Spanky and Our Gang, the Spencer Davis Group, Ultimate Spinach

And finally, a selection of the year’s hit singles (alphabetically by artist)…

The Archies—“Sugar Sugar”

The Beach Boys—“I Can Hear Music,” “Break Away”

The Beatles—“Get Back,” “The Ballad of John and Yoko,” “Something”/“Come Together”

The Bee Gees—“I Started a Joke”

Blood, Sweat and Tears—“Spinning Wheel,” “You’ve Made Me So Very Happy”

Booker T. and the MG’s—“Time is Tight,” “Hang ’Em High”

David Bowie—“Space Oddity”

Watch the video for the rare early version of “Space Oddity”

The Box Tops—“Soul Deep”

The Brooklyn Bridge—“Worst That Could Happen”

James Brown—“Mother Popcorn, Pt. 1”

Jerry Butler—“Only the Strong Survive”

Glen Campbell—“Galveston”

Johnny Cash—“A Boy Named Sue”

Checkmates Ltd.—“Black Pearl”

Lou Christie—“I’m Gonna Make You Love Me”

Classics IV—“Traces”

The Cowsills—“Hair”

Crazy Elephant—“Gimme Gimme Good Lovin’”

Cream—“Badge”

Creedence Clearwater Revival—“Bad Moon Rising,” “Proud Mary,” “Green River”

Crosby, Stills and Nash—“Suite: Judy Blue Eyes”

The Cuff Links—“Tracy”

Sammy Davis Jr.—“I’ve Gotta Be Me”

Tyrone Davis—“Can I Change Your Mind”

Desmond Dekker and the Aces—“Israelites”

Jackie DeShannon—“Put a Little Love in Your Heart”

Neil Diamond—“Sweet Caroline”

Bob Dylan—“Lay Lady Lay”

The 5th Dimension—“Aquarius/Let the Sunshine In,” “Wedding Bell Blues,” “Workin’ on a Groovy Thing”

Fleetwood Mac—“Oh Well”

The Flying Machine—“Smile a Little Smile for Me”

The Foundations—“Build Me Up Buttercup”

Friends of Distinction—“Grazing in the Grass”

Marvin Gaye—“I Heard It Through the Grapevine,” “Too Busy Thinking About My Baby”

The Grass Roots—“I’d Wait a Million Years”

Edwin Hawkins Singers—“Oh Happy Day”

Jimi Hendrix Experience—“Stone Free”/“If Six Was Nine”

The Hollies—���He Ain’t Heavy, He’s My Brother,” “Sorry Suzanne”

Mary Hopkin—“Goodbye”

The Isley Brothers—“It’s Your Thing”

Jay and the Americans—“This Magic Moment”

Tommy James and the Shondells—“Crimson and Clover,” “Crystal Blue Persuasion,” “Sweet Cherry Wine”

Tom Jones—“I’ll Never Fall in Love Again”

Janis Joplin—“Try (Just a Little Bit Harder)”

Led Zeppelin—“Whole Lotta Love”

Mercy—“Love Can Make You Happy”

The Monkees—“Listen to the Band”

Nilsson—“Everybody’s Talkin’”

Oliver—“Good Morning Starshine,” “Jean”

Peter, Paul and Mary—“Leaving on a Jet Plane”

Elvis Presley—“In the Ghetto,” “Suspicious Minds”

Billy Preston—“That’s the Way God Planned It”

Gary Puckett and the Union Gap—“This Girl is a Woman Now”

Lou Rawls—“Your Good Thing (Is About to End)”

Tommy Roe—“Dizzy”

Kenny Rogers and the First Edition—“Ruby, Don’t Take Your Love to Town”

The Rolling Stones—“Honky Tonk Women”

Diana Ross and the Supremes—“I’m Gonna Make You Love Me,” “I’m Livin’ in Shame,” “Love Child,” “Someday We’ll Be Together”

David Ruffin—“My Whole World Ended (The Moment You Left Me)”

Bob Seger System—“Ramblin’, Gamblin’ Man”

Simon and Garfunkel—“The Boxer”

Frank Sinatra—“My Way”

Sly and the Family Stone—“Everyday People,” “Hot Fun in the Summertime”

Smith—“Baby It’s You”

Joe South—“Games People Play”

Spiral Starecase—“More Today Than Yesterday”

Dusty Springfield—“Son of a Preacher Man”

Edwin Starr—“Twenty-Five Miles”

Ray Stevens—“Gitarzan”

The Temptations—“Cloud Nine,” “I Can’t Get Next to You,” “Runaway Child, Running Wild”

B.J. Thomas—“Hooked on a Feeling,” “Raindrops Keep Fallin’ on My Head”

Three Dog Night—“Easy to Be Hard,” “One”

Thunderclap Newman—“Something in the Air”

The Turtles—“You Showed Me”

The Ventures—“Hawaii Five-O”

Jr. Walker and the All Stars—“What Does it Take (To Win Your Love)”

Dionne Warwick—“This Girl’s In Love With You”

Tony Joe White—“Polk Salad Annie”

The Winstons—“Color Him Father”

Stevie Wonder—“For Once in My Life,” “My Cherie Amour,” “Yester-Me, Yester-You, Yesterday”

Charles Wright and the Watts 103rd Street Rhythm Band—“Do Your Thing”

The Youngbloods—“Get Together”

Zager & Evans—“In the Year 2525 (Exordium & Terminus)”

The Zombies—”Time of the Season”

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How to Visit Québec City on a Budget

I’ve visited Canada many times but have always missed is Québec City. I’ve only heard great things from everyone who has ever been there. Luckily, my friend Pamela is an expert on the city. She runs walking tours there and even recently published a guidebook to the city. Given that fall is supposed to be one of the most beautiful times to visit, I thought now was a perfect time to have her share her expertise!

I fell in love with Québec City the moment I stepped off the overnight train from Halifax. The cobblestone streets, outdoor patios, European architecture, and delicious poutine (and French men!) tugged at my heartstrings.

A French colony founded in 1608 by Samuel de Champlain, Québec City was then known as New France. Over the course of its over four hundred years, the city went from being French then British, and then French again, creating a delightful mix of architectural styles.

While most are initially drawn to Québec City by its history and European charm, the people, food, and culture are why they inevitably fall in love with the city. The locals are a community very passionate about all things Québec and wants visitors to experience that same passion, regardless of one’s travel budget. I can’t preach the gospel of this city enough. It’s like a big little village and one of my favorite places in the entire country.

Though Québec City can be expensive, there are plenty of ways to visit this city on a budget and still enjoy everything this place has to offer!

Things to See and Do

Québec City has things to see and do for pretty much every type of visitor; it doesn’t matter what time of year you visit. There are, of course, a few things everyone should see and do:

Explore Vieux-Québec (Old Québec): While doing it on your own can be fun, make time to take a walking tour. If you’re on a tight budget, there is a free walking tour with Samuel Dubois, a funny local guide who lives off the tips he receives from travellers. His tour takes you through the Old City and is filled with humorous facts and stories. Samuel is also a craft beer connoisseur, so if you’re looking for recommendations, he is your man! If you have a little money to spend and want a historical walking tour with a costumed guide, Cicerone’s walking tours are highly recommended!

Visit La Citadelle & city fortifications: Québec City is one of the oldest fortified city in North America. Spend some time at the Citadelle (which is still operational and home to the Royal 22e Régiment). Admission is $16 CAD and includes entrance to the Citadelle, a museum tour, the changing of the guard (in summer), and the Beating of the Retreat.

Dufferin Terrace: The terrace is the oldest boardwalk in the city and runs along the front of Fairmont Château Frontenac. In summer, you can relax on the boardwalk, watch street performers, and buy chocolate-dipped ice cream cones from Au 1884. In winter, toboggan down the slope of the Dufferin Slide, one of the first tourists attractions in the city.

Climb to the top of Terrasse Pierre-Dugua-de-Mons: Capture a postcard-perfect shot of Château Frontenac and the Saint Lawrence River. There is a wooden staircase after the gazebo on Dufferin Terrace.

Ride the funiculaire: From Dufferin Terrace, take the funicular (inclined railway) down the cap (promontory) to Petit-Champlain (one of the oldest shopping streets) and Place Royale (site of the first colony). Rides are $3 CAD one-way. Tip: If you hate hills like I do, walk down the steep hill (Côte de la Montague) and take the funicular back up to the top of the cap.

Musée de la Civilization: Québec has many museums, but this is probably the best one for learning about the history of Québec. Regular admission is $16 CAD but if you are 18-30 years of age, it is only $10 (not including special exhibits).

Cathedral of the Holy Trinity: This cathedral was the first Anglican church built outside Britain, and it houses a silver communion set given by King George III. Be sure to take the guided tour for $6 CAD; it is offered by one of the best English historians in Québec City.

The Morrin Centre & Maison de la Littérature: Located across the street from each other, both of these buildings turned libraries are some of the funkiest attractions in town. The Morrin Centre started as an army barracks, then changed to a jail (where many public hangings occurred), then a college, and now a beautiful Victorian (English) library. La Maison de la Littérature is a French library housed in a converted church (which was once English). Both libraries are FREE.

Take a bus to Montmorency Falls: Skip the tours and take public transportation to Chute Montmorency (Montmorency Falls). While they are not as wide as Niagara Falls, they are 30m taller and are stunning, especially in fall when the surrounding leaves change color. From Place d’Youville, take bus #800 to the falls. A round-trip will cost $7 CAD.

Walk the stairs of Sous-le-Cap: Walk along rue Saint-Paul in Vieux-Port. When you get to the Savonnerie you’ll see a very small path between the buildings; follow it to rue Sous-le-Cap, one of the oldest streets in the city. The street is tiny, with layers of wooden stairs that stretch across the alley. This was once a busy shopping street back when the houses had a front-row view of the Saint-Lawrence River.

Amusement Park at Méga Parc: This is Québec’s version of Mall of America. Méga Parc has 19 attractions/rides, including a skating rink, an arcade with 60 or so games, mini-golf, and a rock-climbing wall. Unlimited access is $30 CAD per person. To get here, take buses #801 and #803.

The Plains of Abraham: Head into the neighborhood of Montcalm and walk around the Plains of Abraham, the site of the famous battle of 1759, which lasted 15 minutes and resulted in the British gaining control of the city. Today the Plains of Abraham is a large park with running and walking tracks, Martello Towers (small defensive forts built during the 19th century), busts of historic figures, gardens, and pretty views of the Saint Lawrence River.

Relax at Place des Canotiers: A new public space beside the Saint Lawrence River, this urban square has places to sit and relax, as well as fountains and mist you can walk through. A go-to spot on hot summer days, this is also where the cruise ships and tall ships dock.

Leave the tourists behind: In the middle of summer, when the Old City is bursting at the seams with tourists, you’ll find me in along rue Saint-Joseph Est in Saint-Roch, rue Saint-Jean in Saint-Jean-Baptiste, and 3e (Troisième) Avenue in Limoilou, where I can enjoy the quiet, local side of life. Prices are generally a little cheaper in these areas, and there are plenty of fabulous restaurants, microbreweries, cafés, and boutiques to keep me happy.

Where to Eat

If you’re a foodie, staying on budget in Québec City can be a bit hard. But to save money, it is always a good idea to venture away from the Old City; by doing so you will find more chef-run restaurants and usually cheaper prices. There are also plenty of options for cheap eats like poutine, burgers, shawarma, etc. Here are some of my favorite restaurants:

Chez Ashton (Vieux-Québec, Saint-Roch, or Montcalm): Delicious gluttony made of fries, squeaky cheese curds and piping hot gravy. Almost every restaurant sells poutine, but the best traditional poutine in the city starts with Chez Ashton. A Québec institution, it serves up poutine in large, round foil containers. In winter the price of poutine fluctuates depending on the weather. For example, if it is -25°C (-13°F) outside, then your poutine at Chez Ashton is 25% off!

La Pizz: Located in Place Royale, La Pizz serves up fairly good pizza, which starts at $9 CAD for a small. (Once you’ve finished, walk next door for some pints at Pub L’Oncle!)

Le Bureau de Poste: This little gem has a yummy $4.95 CAD (!) menu, $6.50 CAD cocktails, and $5.50 CAD pints! Go forth and have fun, and be sure to enjoy the patio in summer.

Fromagerie des Grondines et ses amis: Embrace your inner cheese addict and go here for gourmet grilled cheese sandwiches. So good and not too expensive. Sandwiches start at $7.50 CAD.

Marché d’Emma: Located across the street from the hostel, this small épicerie has a nice selection of Québec craft beers, wine, frozen pizzas ($5), gourmet foods, and non-perishables. They also have fresh baguettes most days.

L’Inter Marché: Located on rue Saint-Jean in Saint-Jean-Baptiste, this small grocery store has a small selection of produce, meats, dairy, non-perishables, frozen foods, and breads. Prices are often better than at the épiceries.

The food scene in Québec City is ever-growing, and we now have a few options for vegans and vegetarians as well. As in other major cities, almost every neighbourhood now also has shawarma or kebab. There is also a sushi craze happening right now. Tip: Avoid the Chinese food in the Old City — it is not that good.

Where to Party

There are a few bars and pubs in Old Québec that can be quite touristy depending on the time of year, but try these:

Bar St-Angèle: A night of cheap beer, live music, and quirky locals. It is a must before venturing into the more “civilised” pubs and bars in the city.

Maurice Nightclub: While Bistro Plus (1063, Rue Saint-Jean) can be fun, the best nightclub in the city is Maurice on Grande Allée. Dance, drink, sweat, and then go eat poutine or shawarma before heading back to the hostel.

Le Drague Cabaret Club: A gay bar/nightclub with drag shows and karaoke.

Pub Nelligan’s: A lively Irish pub popular with locals. Rustic ambiance, live Irish shows from time to time, and a mix of Québec and Irish beers (and liquor).

Le Cercle: A bar and live music venue, Le Cercle is a local favourite. Indie bands sometimes play in a funky room in the basement.

Le Projet: An eclectic gastropub, Le Projet has roughly 24 microbrews on tap. Buy food on-site or pick up a poke bowl from Bols et Poké on your way and eat it there.

La Barbarie: By far the most popular microbrewery in the city. Beer is brewed on-site, there is plenty of seating, and while they don’t have a license to serve food, you can have a pizza, Chinese food, or whatever else you’re craving delivered to the bar.

Where to Sleep

Auberge Internationale de Québec is the best hostel in the city. With a superb location in Vieux-Québec (Old Québec), this hostel is large with a bar, common rooms, and communal kitchen. In high season beds range from $27 CAD to $30.50 CAD per night. In low season, beds range from $22 CAD to $30.50 CAD per night.

Couchsurfing is quite popular in Québec City, which has a very large Couchsurfing community with over 10,000 hosts. Always look for hosts with good ratings and reviews, and bring a small thank you gift for your host (it could be a bottle of wine or craft beer) as you are being invited into their home, for free! (Matt says: Speaking of Couchsurfing, we are hosting a Q&A with Couchsurfing on September 28th, so mark your calendars!)

If you want to experience the local vibe of the city, I suggest mixing things up a little: stay a few nights at a hostel to explore the historic areas, then Couchsurf or rent a room on Airbnb (if you’re new to Airbnb, use this link for $40 off your stay) in another neighbourhood to get a true feel for what everyday life is like in Québec City.

10 Ways to Save

Québec City is one of the more expensive cities in Canada but there ways to save money on your visit. Here are ten high impact ways to save money on your visit:

Take a FREE walking tour of the Old City.

Eat poutine (under $10 CAD) at Chez Ashton, one of the cheapest places in the city.

Buy food at a neighbourhood grocery store.

Eat croissants for breakfast, they are only $2.50 CAD! Paillard on rue Saint-Jean (to the right at the bottom of rue Sainte-Ursule) are the best.

Buy a bus pass. A 1-day bus pass costs $8.50 CAD, the equivalent of 2.5 rides. A day pass gives you unlimited travel for 24-hours.

Go to Méga Parc, an indoor amusement park and shopping mall, after 5pm and get in for half price ($15 CAD).

Walk along the city fortifications and atop the city gates. Its FREE!

Visit the churches and libraries as they are FREE and quite beautiful.

Visit Bar Sainte-Angèle for cheap beer!

Couchsurf for most of your visit and save money on accommodation (plus meet amazing and friendly locals).

Getting Around Québec City

Québec City is a walking city. It is very easy to explore the main neighbourhoods (Vieux-Québec, Petit-Champlain, Place-Royale, Vieux-Port, Grande Allée, Montcalm, and Saint-Jean-Baptiste) by foot. The outer neighbourhoods of Saint-Roch, Saint-Sauveur, and Limoilou can be reached by bus.

A single bus fare is $3.50 CAD, unless you go to an authorized seller and buy a ticket; then the cost is $3 CAD. You can also buy passes that cut the cost, especially if you want to venture out to places like Chute Montmorency (Montmorency Falls):

A day pass is $8.50 CAD

An unlimited weekend pass is $15.50 CAD

A 5-consecutive-days pass is $29 CAD ($24 CAD for students)

Download the RTC (Réseau de Transport de la Capitale) Nomade mobile app to check routes while you’re out exploring. The app gives you information on schedules, as well as the closest stop to your location and when the next bus will arrive.

*** Come explore this lovely city, sit on a patio, eat poutine, and drink with the locals, and marvel at the beauty of Château Frontenac as it looms over the lower city. Sit at the top of Terrasse Pierre-Dugua-de-Mons to watch the sunset and snap a picture-perfect shot of the château, Old City, and Saint Lawrence River.

I came to Québec City because I love the architecture, the culture, and the history. I stayed because of the food, people, and the big-village vibe. Québec City has a charm and magic about it that is infectious. It is a Northern paradise of food, culture, and architecture – and I hope you come and visit soon!

Pamela is a Canadian travel writer and blogger who left her job in 2010 to travel the world. While Southeast Asia and Scotland rank among her favourite destinations, she fell head-over-heels for Québec City and now calls it home. While travel is still a big part of her life, Pamela runs Urban Guide Québec City and has recently published a guidebook on the city that focuses on local artisans, producers, and businesses. If you’re going to the city, it’s a must buy!

Photo Credit: 2, 6

The post How to Visit Québec City on a Budget appeared first on Nomadic Matt's Travel Site.

[fadingfartconnoisseur]

How to Visit Québec City on a Budget

I’ve visited Canada many times but have always missed is Québec City. I’ve only heard great things from everyone who has ever been there. Luckily, my friend Pamela is an expert on the city. She runs walking tours there and even recently published a guidebook to the city. Given that fall is supposed to be one of the most beautiful times to visit, I thought now was a perfect time to have her share her expertise!

I fell in love with Québec City the moment I stepped off the overnight train from Halifax. The cobblestone streets, outdoor patios, European architecture, and delicious poutine (and French men!) tugged at my heartstrings.

A French colony founded in 1608 by Samuel de Champlain, Québec City was then known as New France. Over the course of its over four hundred years, the city went from being French then British, and then French again, creating a delightful mix of architectural styles.

While most are initially drawn to Québec City by its history and European charm, the people, food, and culture are why they inevitably fall in love with the city. The locals are a community very passionate about all things Québec and wants visitors to experience that same passion, regardless of one’s travel budget. I can’t preach the gospel of this city enough. It’s like a big little village and one of my favorite places in the entire country.

Though Québec City can be expensive, there are plenty of ways to visit this city on a budget and still enjoy everything this place has to offer!

Things to See and Do

Québec City has things to see and do for pretty much every type of visitor; it doesn’t matter what time of year you visit. There are, of course, a few things everyone should see and do:

Explore Vieux-Québec (Old Québec): While doing it on your own can be fun, make time to take a walking tour. If you’re on a tight budget, there is a free walking tour with Samuel Dubois, a funny local guide who lives off the tips he receives from travellers. His tour takes you through the Old City and is filled with humorous facts and stories. Samuel is also a craft beer connoisseur, so if you’re looking for recommendations, he is your man! If you have a little money to spend and want a historical walking tour with a costumed guide, Cicerone’s walking tours are highly recommended!

Visit La Citadelle & city fortifications: Québec City is one of the oldest fortified city in North America. Spend some time at the Citadelle (which is still operational and home to the Royal 22e Régiment). Admission is $16 CAD and includes entrance to the Citadelle, a museum tour, the changing of the guard (in summer), and the Beating of the Retreat.

Dufferin Terrace: The terrace is the oldest boardwalk in the city and runs along the front of Fairmont Château Frontenac. In summer, you can relax on the boardwalk, watch street performers, and buy chocolate-dipped ice cream cones from Au 1884. In winter, toboggan down the slope of the Dufferin Slide, one of the first tourists attractions in the city.

Climb to the top of Terrasse Pierre-Dugua-de-Mons: Capture a postcard-perfect shot of Château Frontenac and the Saint Lawrence River. There is a wooden staircase after the gazebo on Dufferin Terrace.

Ride the funiculaire: From Dufferin Terrace, take the funicular (inclined railway) down the cap (promontory) to Petit-Champlain (one of the oldest shopping streets) and Place Royale (site of the first colony). Rides are $3 CAD one-way. Tip: If you hate hills like I do, walk down the steep hill (Côte de la Montague) and take the funicular back up to the top of the cap.

Musée de la Civilization: Québec has many museums, but this is probably the best one for learning about the history of Québec. Regular admission is $16 CAD but if you are 18-30 years of age, it is only $10 (not including special exhibits).

Cathedral of the Holy Trinity: This cathedral was the first Anglican church built outside Britain, and it houses a silver communion set given by King George III. Be sure to take the guided tour for $6 CAD; it is offered by one of the best English historians in Québec City.

The Morrin Centre & Maison de la Littérature: Located across the street from each other, both of these buildings turned libraries are some of the funkiest attractions in town. The Morrin Centre started as an army barracks, then changed to a jail (where many public hangings occurred), then a college, and now a beautiful Victorian (English) library. La Maison de la Littérature is a French library housed in a converted church (which was once English). Both libraries are FREE.

Take a bus to Montmorency Falls: Skip the tours and take public transportation to Chute Montmorency (Montmorency Falls). While they are not as wide as Niagara Falls, they are 30m taller and are stunning, especially in fall when the surrounding leaves change color. From Place d’Youville, take bus #800 to the falls. A round-trip will cost $7 CAD.

Walk the stairs of Sous-le-Cap: Walk along rue Saint-Paul in Vieux-Port. When you get to the Savonnerie you’ll see a very small path between the buildings; follow it to rue Sous-le-Cap, one of the oldest streets in the city. The street is tiny, with layers of wooden stairs that stretch across the alley. This was once a busy shopping street back when the houses had a front-row view of the Saint-Lawrence River.

Amusement Park at Méga Parc: This is Québec’s version of Mall of America. Méga Parc has 19 attractions/rides, including a skating rink, an arcade with 60 or so games, mini-golf, and a rock-climbing wall. Unlimited access is $30 CAD per person. To get here, take buses #801 and #803.

The Plains of Abraham: Head into the neighborhood of Montcalm and walk around the Plains of Abraham, the site of the famous battle of 1759, which lasted 15 minutes and resulted in the British gaining control of the city. Today the Plains of Abraham is a large park with running and walking tracks, Martello Towers (small defensive forts built during the 19th century), busts of historic figures, gardens, and pretty views of the Saint Lawrence River.

Relax at Place des Canotiers: A new public space beside the Saint Lawrence River, this urban square has places to sit and relax, as well as fountains and mist you can walk through. A go-to spot on hot summer days, this is also where the cruise ships and tall ships dock.

Leave the tourists behind: In the middle of summer, when the Old City is bursting at the seams with tourists, you’ll find me in along rue Saint-Joseph Est in Saint-Roch, rue Saint-Jean in Saint-Jean-Baptiste, and 3e (Troisième) Avenue in Limoilou, where I can enjoy the quiet, local side of life. Prices are generally a little cheaper in these areas, and there are plenty of fabulous restaurants, microbreweries, cafés, and boutiques to keep me happy.

Where to Eat

If you’re a foodie, staying on budget in Québec City can be a bit hard. But to save money, it is always a good idea to venture away from the Old City; by doing so you will find more chef-run restaurants and usually cheaper prices. There are also plenty of options for cheap eats like poutine, burgers, shawarma, etc. Here are some of my favorite restaurants:

Chez Ashton (Vieux-Québec, Saint-Roch, or Montcalm): Delicious gluttony made of fries, squeaky cheese curds and piping hot gravy. Almost every restaurant sells poutine, but the best traditional poutine in the city starts with Chez Ashton. A Québec institution, it serves up poutine in large, round foil containers. In winter the price of poutine fluctuates depending on the weather. For example, if it is -25°C (-13°F) outside, then your poutine at Chez Ashton is 25% off!

La Pizz: Located in Place Royale, La Pizz serves up fairly good pizza, which starts at $9 CAD for a small. (Once you’ve finished, walk next door for some pints at Pub L’Oncle!)

Le Bureau de Poste: This little gem has a yummy $4.95 CAD (!) menu, $6.50 CAD cocktails, and $5.50 CAD pints! Go forth and have fun, and be sure to enjoy the patio in summer.

Fromagerie des Grondines et ses amis: Embrace your inner cheese addict and go here for gourmet grilled cheese sandwiches. So good and not too expensive. Sandwiches start at $7.50 CAD.

Marché d’Emma: Located across the street from the hostel, this small épicerie has a nice selection of Québec craft beers, wine, frozen pizzas ($5), gourmet foods, and non-perishables. They also have fresh baguettes most days.

L’Inter Marché: Located on rue Saint-Jean in Saint-Jean-Baptiste, this small grocery store has a small selection of produce, meats, dairy, non-perishables, frozen foods, and breads. Prices are often better than at the épiceries.

The food scene in Québec City is ever-growing, and we now have a few options for vegans and vegetarians as well. As in other major cities, almost every neighbourhood now also has shawarma or kebab. There is also a sushi craze happening right now. Tip: Avoid the Chinese food in the Old City — it is not that good.

Where to Party

There are a few bars and pubs in Old Québec that can be quite touristy depending on the time of year, but try these:

Bar St-Angèle: A night of cheap beer, live music, and quirky locals. It is a must before venturing into the more “civilised” pubs and bars in the city.

Maurice Nightclub: While Bistro Plus (1063, Rue Saint-Jean) can be fun, the best nightclub in the city is Maurice on Grande Allée. Dance, drink, sweat, and then go eat poutine or shawarma before heading back to the hostel.

Le Drague Cabaret Club: A gay bar/nightclub with drag shows and karaoke.

Pub Nelligan’s: A lively Irish pub popular with locals. Rustic ambiance, live Irish shows from time to time, and a mix of Québec and Irish beers (and liquor).

Le Cercle: A bar and live music venue, Le Cercle is a local favourite. Indie bands sometimes play in a funky room in the basement.

Le Projet: An eclectic gastropub, Le Projet has roughly 24 microbrews on tap. Buy food on-site or pick up a poke bowl from Bols et Poké on your way and eat it there.

La Barbarie: By far the most popular microbrewery in the city. Beer is brewed on-site, there is plenty of seating, and while they don’t have a license to serve food, you can have a pizza, Chinese food, or whatever else you’re craving delivered to the bar.

Where to Sleep

Auberge Internationale de Québec is the best hostel in the city. With a superb location in Vieux-Québec (Old Québec), this hostel is large with a bar, common rooms, and communal kitchen. In high season beds range from $27 CAD to $30.50 CAD per night. In low season, beds range from $22 CAD to $30.50 CAD per night.

Couchsurfing is quite popular in Québec City, which has a very large Couchsurfing community with over 10,000 hosts. Always look for hosts with good ratings and reviews, and bring a small thank you gift for your host (it could be a bottle of wine or craft beer) as you are being invited into their home, for free! (Matt says: Speaking of Couchsurfing, we are hosting a Q&A with Couchsurfing on September 28th, so mark your calendars!)

If you want to experience the local vibe of the city, I suggest mixing things up a little: stay a few nights at a hostel to explore the historic areas, then Couchsurf or rent a room on Airbnb (if you’re new to Airbnb, use this link for $40 off your stay) in another neighbourhood to get a true feel for what everyday life is like in Québec City.

10 Ways to Save

Québec City is one of the more expensive cities in Canada but there ways to save money on your visit. Here are ten high impact ways to save money on your visit:

Take a FREE walking tour of the Old City.

Eat poutine (under $10 CAD) at Chez Ashton, one of the cheapest places in the city.

Buy food at a neighbourhood grocery store.

Eat croissants for breakfast, they are only $2.50 CAD! Paillard on rue Saint-Jean (to the right at the bottom of rue Sainte-Ursule) are the best.

Buy a bus pass. A 1-day bus pass costs $8.50 CAD, the equivalent of 2.5 rides. A day pass gives you unlimited travel for 24-hours.

Go to Méga Parc, an indoor amusement park and shopping mall, after 5pm and get in for half price ($15 CAD).

Walk along the city fortifications and atop the city gates. Its FREE!

Visit the churches and libraries as they are FREE and quite beautiful.

Visit Bar Sainte-Angèle for cheap beer!

Couchsurf for most of your visit and save money on accommodation (plus meet amazing and friendly locals).

Getting Around Québec City

Québec City is a walking city. It is very easy to explore the main neighbourhoods (Vieux-Québec, Petit-Champlain, Place-Royale, Vieux-Port, Grande Allée, Montcalm, and Saint-Jean-Baptiste) by foot. The outer neighbourhoods of Saint-Roch, Saint-Sauveur, and Limoilou can be reached by bus.

A single bus fare is $3.50 CAD, unless you go to an authorized seller and buy a ticket; then the cost is $3 CAD. You can also buy passes that cut the cost, especially if you want to venture out to places like Chute Montmorency (Montmorency Falls):

A day pass is $8.50 CAD

An unlimited weekend pass is $15.50 CAD

A 5-consecutive-days pass is $29 CAD ($24 CAD for students)

Download the RTC (Réseau de Transport de la Capitale) Nomade mobile app to check routes while you’re out exploring. The app gives you information on schedules, as well as the closest stop to your location and when the next bus will arrive.

*** Come explore this lovely city, sit on a patio, eat poutine, and drink with the locals, and marvel at the beauty of Château Frontenac as it looms over the lower city. Sit at the top of Terrasse Pierre-Dugua-de-Mons to watch the sunset and snap a picture-perfect shot of the château, Old City, and Saint Lawrence River.

I came to Québec City because I love the architecture, the culture, and the history. I stayed because of the food, people, and the big-village vibe. Québec City has a charm and magic about it that is infectious. It is a Northern paradise of food, culture, and architecture – and I hope you come and visit soon!

Pamela is a Canadian travel writer and blogger who left her job in 2010 to travel the world. While Southeast Asia and Scotland rank among her favourite destinations, she fell head-over-heels for Québec City and now calls it home. While travel is still a big part of her life, Pamela runs Urban Guide Québec City and has recently published a guidebook on the city that focuses on local artisans, producers, and businesses. If you’re going to the city, it’s a must buy!

Photo Credit: 2, 6

The post How to Visit Québec City on a Budget appeared first on Nomadic Matt's Travel Site.

via Travel Blogs http://ift.tt/2vHS1QV

[tamboradventure]

How to Visit Québec City on a Budget

I’ve visited Canada many times but have always missed is Québec City. I’ve only heard great things from everyone who has ever been there. Luckily, my friend Pamela is an expert on the city. She runs walking tours there and even recently published a guidebook to the city. Given that fall is supposed to be one of the most beautiful times to visit, I thought now was a perfect time to have her share her expertise!

I fell in love with Québec City the moment I stepped off the overnight train from Halifax. The cobblestone streets, outdoor patios, European architecture, and delicious poutine (and French men!) tugged at my heartstrings.

A French colony founded in 1608 by Samuel de Champlain, Québec City was then known as New France. Over the course of its over four hundred years, the city went from being French then British, and then French again, creating a delightful mix of architectural styles.

While most are initially drawn to Québec City by its history and European charm, the people, food, and culture are why they inevitably fall in love with the city. The locals are a community very passionate about all things Québec and wants visitors to experience that same passion, regardless of one’s travel budget. I can’t preach the gospel of this city enough. It’s like a big little village and one of my favorite places in the entire country.

Though Québec City can be expensive, there are plenty of ways to visit this city on a budget and still enjoy everything this place has to offer!

Things to See and Do

Québec City has things to see and do for pretty much every type of visitor; it doesn’t matter what time of year you visit. There are, of course, a few things everyone should see and do:

Explore Vieux-Québec (Old Québec): While doing it on your own can be fun, make time to take a walking tour. If you’re on a tight budget, there is a free walking tour with Samuel Dubois, a funny local guide who lives off the tips he receives from travellers. His tour takes you through the Old City and is filled with humorous facts and stories. Samuel is also a craft beer connoisseur, so if you’re looking for recommendations, he is your man! If you have a little money to spend and want a historical walking tour with a costumed guide, Cicerone’s walking tours are highly recommended!

Visit La Citadelle & city fortifications: Québec City is one of the oldest fortified city in North America. Spend some time at the Citadelle (which is still operational and home to the Royal 22e Régiment). Admission is $16 CAD and includes entrance to the Citadelle, a museum tour, the changing of the guard (in summer), and the Beating of the Retreat.

Dufferin Terrace: The terrace is the oldest boardwalk in the city and runs along the front of Fairmont Château Frontenac. In summer, you can relax on the boardwalk, watch street performers, and buy chocolate-dipped ice cream cones from Au 1884. In winter, toboggan down the slope of the Dufferin Slide, one of the first tourists attractions in the city.

Climb to the top of Terrasse Pierre-Dugua-de-Mons: Capture a postcard-perfect shot of Château Frontenac and the Saint Lawrence River. There is a wooden staircase after the gazebo on Dufferin Terrace.

Ride the funiculaire: From Dufferin Terrace, take the funicular (inclined railway) down the cap (promontory) to Petit-Champlain (one of the oldest shopping streets) and Place Royale (site of the first colony). Rides are $3 CAD one-way. Tip: If you hate hills like I do, walk down the steep hill (Côte de la Montague) and take the funicular back up to the top of the cap.

Musée de la Civilization: Québec has many museums, but this is probably the best one for learning about the history of Québec. Regular admission is $16 CAD but if you are 18-30 years of age, it is only $10 (not including special exhibits).

Cathedral of the Holy Trinity: This cathedral was the first Anglican church built outside Britain, and it houses a silver communion set given by King George III. Be sure to take the guided tour for $6 CAD; it is offered by one of the best English historians in Québec City.

The Morrin Centre & Maison de la Littérature: Located across the street from each other, both of these buildings turned libraries are some of the funkiest attractions in town. The Morrin Centre started as an army barracks, then changed to a jail (where many public hangings occurred), then a college, and now a beautiful Victorian (English) library. La Maison de la Littérature is a French library housed in a converted church (which was once English). Both libraries are FREE.

Take a bus to Montmorency Falls: Skip the tours and take public transportation to Chute Montmorency (Montmorency Falls). While they are not as wide as Niagara Falls, they are 30m taller and are stunning, especially in fall when the surrounding leaves change color. From Place d’Youville, take bus #800 to the falls. A round-trip will cost $7 CAD.

Walk the stairs of Sous-le-Cap: Walk along rue Saint-Paul in Vieux-Port. When you get to the Savonnerie you’ll see a very small path between the buildings; follow it to rue Sous-le-Cap, one of the oldest streets in the city. The street is tiny, with layers of wooden stairs that stretch across the alley. This was once a busy shopping street back when the houses had a front-row view of the Saint-Lawrence River.

Amusement Park at Méga Parc: This is Québec’s version of Mall of America. Méga Parc has 19 attractions/rides, including a skating rink, an arcade with 60 or so games, mini-golf, and a rock-climbing wall. Unlimited access is $30 CAD per person. To get here, take buses #801 and #803.

The Plains of Abraham: Head into the neighborhood of Montcalm and walk around the Plains of Abraham, the site of the famous battle of 1759, which lasted 15 minutes and resulted in the British gaining control of the city. Today the Plains of Abraham is a large park with running and walking tracks, Martello Towers (small defensive forts built during the 19th century), busts of historic figures, gardens, and pretty views of the Saint Lawrence River.

Relax at Place des Canotiers: A new public space beside the Saint Lawrence River, this urban square has places to sit and relax, as well as fountains and mist you can walk through. A go-to spot on hot summer days, this is also where the cruise ships and tall ships dock.

Leave the tourists behind: In the middle of summer, when the Old City is bursting at the seams with tourists, you’ll find me in along rue Saint-Joseph Est in Saint-Roch, rue Saint-Jean in Saint-Jean-Baptiste, and 3e (Troisième) Avenue in Limoilou, where I can enjoy the quiet, local side of life. Prices are generally a little cheaper in these areas, and there are plenty of fabulous restaurants, microbreweries, cafés, and boutiques to keep me happy.

Where to Eat

If you’re a foodie, staying on budget in Québec City can be a bit hard. But to save money, it is always a good idea to venture away from the Old City; by doing so you will find more chef-run restaurants and usually cheaper prices. There are also plenty of options for cheap eats like poutine, burgers, shawarma, etc. Here are some of my favorite restaurants:

Chez Ashton (Vieux-Québec, Saint-Roch, or Montcalm): Delicious gluttony made of fries, squeaky cheese curds and piping hot gravy. Almost every restaurant sells poutine, but the best traditional poutine in the city starts with Chez Ashton. A Québec institution, it serves up poutine in large, round foil containers. In winter the price of poutine fluctuates depending on the weather. For example, if it is -25°C (-13°F) outside, then your poutine at Chez Ashton is 25% off!

La Pizz: Located in Place Royale, La Pizz serves up fairly good pizza, which starts at $9 CAD for a small. (Once you’ve finished, walk next door for some pints at Pub L’Oncle!)

Le Bureau de Poste: This little gem has a yummy $4.95 CAD (!) menu, $6.50 CAD cocktails, and $5.50 CAD pints! Go forth and have fun, and be sure to enjoy the patio in summer.

Fromagerie des Grondines et ses amis: Embrace your inner cheese addict and go here for gourmet grilled cheese sandwiches. So good and not too expensive. Sandwiches start at $7.50 CAD.

Marché d’Emma: Located across the street from the hostel, this small épicerie has a nice selection of Québec craft beers, wine, frozen pizzas ($5), gourmet foods, and non-perishables. They also have fresh baguettes most days.

L’Inter Marché: Located on rue Saint-Jean in Saint-Jean-Baptiste, this small grocery store has a small selection of produce, meats, dairy, non-perishables, frozen foods, and breads. Prices are often better than at the épiceries.

The food scene in Québec City is ever-growing, and we now have a few options for vegans and vegetarians as well. As in other major cities, almost every neighbourhood now also has shawarma or kebab. There is also a sushi craze happening right now. Tip: Avoid the Chinese food in the Old City — it is not that good.

Where to Party

There are a few bars and pubs in Old Québec that can be quite touristy depending on the time of year, but try these:

Bar St-Angèle: A night of cheap beer, live music, and quirky locals. It is a must before venturing into the more “civilised” pubs and bars in the city.

Maurice Nightclub: While Bistro Plus (1063, Rue Saint-Jean) can be fun, the best nightclub in the city is Maurice on Grande Allée. Dance, drink, sweat, and then go eat poutine or shawarma before heading back to the hostel.

Le Drague Cabaret Club: A gay bar/nightclub with drag shows and karaoke.

Pub Nelligan’s: A lively Irish pub popular with locals. Rustic ambiance, live Irish shows from time to time, and a mix of Québec and Irish beers (and liquor).

Le Cercle: A bar and live music venue, Le Cercle is a local favourite. Indie bands sometimes play in a funky room in the basement.

Le Projet: An eclectic gastropub, Le Projet has roughly 24 microbrews on tap. Buy food on-site or pick up a poke bowl from Bols et Poké on your way and eat it there.

La Barbarie: By far the most popular microbrewery in the city. Beer is brewed on-site, there is plenty of seating, and while they don’t have a license to serve food, you can have a pizza, Chinese food, or whatever else you’re craving delivered to the bar.

Where to Sleep

Auberge Internationale de Québec is the best hostel in the city. With a superb location in Vieux-Québec (Old Québec), this hostel is large with a bar, common rooms, and communal kitchen. In high season beds range from $27 CAD to $30.50 CAD per night. In low season, beds range from $22 CAD to $30.50 CAD per night.

Couchsurfing is quite popular in Québec City, which has a very large Couchsurfing community with over 10,000 hosts. Always look for hosts with good ratings and reviews, and bring a small thank you gift for your host (it could be a bottle of wine or craft beer) as you are being invited into their home, for free! (Matt says: Speaking of Couchsurfing, we are hosting a Q&A with Couchsurfing on September 28th, so mark your calendars!)

If you want to experience the local vibe of the city, I suggest mixing things up a little: stay a few nights at a hostel to explore the historic areas, then Couchsurf or rent a room on Airbnb in another neighbourhood to get a true feel for what everyday life is like in Québec City.

10 Ways to Save

Québec City is one of the more expensive cities in Canada but there ways to save money on your visit. Here are ten high impact ways to save money on your visit:

Take a FREE walking tour of the Old City.

Eat poutine (under $10 CAD) at Chez Ashton, one of the cheapest places in the city.

Buy food at a neighbourhood grocery store.

Eat croissants for breakfast, they are only $2.50 CAD! Paillard on rue Saint-Jean (to the right at the bottom of rue Sainte-Ursule) are the best.

Buy a bus pass. A 1-day bus pass costs $8.50 CAD, the equivalent of 2.5 rides. A day pass gives you unlimited travel for 24-hours.

Go to Méga Parc, an indoor amusement park and shopping mall, after 5pm and get in for half price ($15 CAD).

Walk along the city fortifications and atop the city gates. Its FREE!

Visit the churches and libraries as they are FREE and quite beautiful.

Visit Bar Sainte-Angèle for cheap beer!

Couchsurf for most of your visit and save money on accommodation (plus meet amazing and friendly locals).

Getting Around Québec City

Québec City is a walking city. It is very easy to explore the main neighbourhoods (Vieux-Québec, Petit-Champlain, Place-Royale, Vieux-Port, Grande Allée, Montcalm, and Saint-Jean-Baptiste) by foot. The outer neighbourhoods of Saint-Roch, Saint-Sauveur, and Limoilou can be reached by bus.

A single bus fare is $3.50 CAD, unless you go to an authorized seller and buy a ticket; then the cost is $3 CAD. You can also buy passes that cut the cost, especially if you want to venture out to places like Chute Montmorency (Montmorency Falls):

A day pass is $8.50 CAD

An unlimited weekend pass is $15.50 CAD

A 5-consecutive-days pass is $29 CAD ($24 CAD for students)

Download the RTC (Réseau de Transport de la Capitale) Nomade mobile app to check routes while you’re out exploring. The app gives you information on schedules, as well as the closest stop to your location and when the next bus will arrive.

*** Come explore this lovely city, sit on a patio, eat poutine, and drink with the locals, and marvel at the beauty of Château Frontenac as it looms over the lower city. Sit at the top of Terrasse Pierre-Dugua-de-Mons to watch the sunset and snap a picture-perfect shot of the château, Old City, and Saint Lawrence River.

I came to Québec City because I love the architecture, the culture, and the history. I stayed because of the food, people, and the big-village vibe. Québec City has a charm and magic about it that is infectious. It is a Northern paradise of food, culture, and architecture – and I hope you come and visit soon!

Pamela is a Canadian travel writer and blogger who left her job in 2010 to travel the world. While Southeast Asia and Scotland rank among her favourite destinations, she fell head-over-heels for Québec City and now calls it home. While travel is still a big part of her life, Pamela runs Urban Guide Québec City and has recently published a guidebook on the city that focuses on local artisans, producers, and businesses. If you’re going to the city, it’s a must buy!

Photo Credit: 2, 6

The post How to Visit Québec City on a Budget appeared first on Nomadic Matt's Travel Site.

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[theladyjstyle]

I’ve visited Canada many times but have always missed is Québec City. I’ve only heard great things from everyone who has ever been there. Luckily, my friend Pamela is an expert on the city. She runs walking tours there and even recently published a guidebook to the city. Given that fall is supposed to be one of the most beautiful times to visit, I thought now was a perfect time to have her share her expertise!

I fell in love with Québec City the moment I stepped off the overnight train from Halifax. The cobblestone streets, outdoor patios, European architecture, and delicious poutine (and French men!) tugged at my heartstrings.

A French colony founded in 1608 by Samuel de Champlain, Québec City was then known as New France. Over the course of its over four hundred years, the city went from being French then British, and then French again, creating a delightful mix of architectural styles.

While most are initially drawn to Québec City by its history and European charm, the people, food, and culture are why they inevitably fall in love with the city. The locals are a community very passionate about all things Québec and wants visitors to experience that same passion, regardless of one’s travel budget. I can’t preach the gospel of this city enough. It’s like a big little village and one of my favorite places in the entire country.

Though Québec City can be expensive, there are plenty of ways to visit this city on a budget and still enjoy everything this place has to offer!

Things to See and Do

Québec City has things to see and do for pretty much every type of visitor; it doesn’t matter what time of year you visit. There are, of course, a few things everyone should see and do:

Explore Vieux-Québec (Old Québec): While doing it on your own can be fun, make time to take a walking tour. If you’re on a tight budget, there is a free walking tour with Samuel Dubois, a funny local guide who lives off the tips he receives from travellers. His tour takes you through the Old City and is filled with humorous facts and stories. Samuel is also a craft beer connoisseur, so if you’re looking for recommendations, he is your man! If you have a little money to spend and want a historical walking tour with a costumed guide, Cicerone’s walking tours are highly recommended!

Visit La Citadelle & city fortifications: Québec City is one of the oldest fortified city in North America. Spend some time at the Citadelle (which is still operational and home to the Royal 22e Régiment). Admission is $16 CAD and includes entrance to the Citadelle, a museum tour, the changing of the guard (in summer), and the Beating of the Retreat.

Dufferin Terrace: The terrace is the oldest boardwalk in the city and runs along the front of Fairmont Château Frontenac. In summer, you can relax on the boardwalk, watch street performers, and buy chocolate-dipped ice cream cones from Au 1884. In winter, toboggan down the slope of the Dufferin Slide, one of the first tourists attractions in the city.

Climb to the top of Terrasse Pierre-Dugua-de-Mons: Capture a postcard-perfect shot of Château Frontenac and the Saint Lawrence River. There is a wooden staircase after the gazebo on Dufferin Terrace.

Ride the funiculaire: From Dufferin Terrace, take the funicular (inclined railway) down the cap (promontory) to Petit-Champlain (one of the oldest shopping streets) and Place Royale (site of the first colony). Rides are $3 CAD one-way. Tip: If you hate hills like I do, walk down the steep hill (Côte de la Montague) and take the funicular back up to the top of the cap.

Musée de la Civilization: Québec has many museums, but this is probably the best one for learning about the history of Québec. Regular admission is $16 CAD but if you are 18-30 years of age, it is only $10 (not including special exhibits).

Cathedral of the Holy Trinity: This cathedral was the first Anglican church built outside Britain, and it houses a silver communion set given by King George III. Be sure to take the guided tour for $6 CAD; it is offered by one of the best English historians in Québec City.

The Morrin Centre & Maison de la Littérature: Located across the street from each other, both of these buildings turned libraries are some of the funkiest attractions in town. The Morrin Centre started as an army barracks, then changed to a jail (where many public hangings occurred), then a college, and now a beautiful Victorian (English) library. La Maison de la Littérature is a French library housed in a converted church (which was once English). Both libraries are FREE.

Take a bus to Montmorency Falls: Skip the tours and take public transportation to Chute Montmorency (Montmorency Falls). While they are not as wide as Niagara Falls, they are 30m taller and are stunning, especially in fall when the surrounding leaves change color. From Place d’Youville, take bus #800 to the falls. A round-trip will cost $7 CAD.

Walk the stairs of Sous-le-Cap: Walk along rue Saint-Paul in Vieux-Port. When you get to the Savonnerie you’ll see a very small path between the buildings; follow it to rue Sous-le-Cap, one of the oldest streets in the city. The street is tiny, with layers of wooden stairs that stretch across the alley. This was once a busy shopping street back when the houses had a front-row view of the Saint-Lawrence River.

Amusement Park at Méga Parc: This is Québec’s version of Mall of America. Méga Parc has 19 attractions/rides, including a skating rink, an arcade with 60 or so games, mini-golf, and a rock-climbing wall. Unlimited access is $30 CAD per person. To get here, take buses #801 and #803.

The Plains of Abraham: Head into the neighborhood of Montcalm and walk around the Plains of Abraham, the site of the famous battle of 1759, which lasted 15 minutes and resulted in the British gaining control of the city. Today the Plains of Abraham is a large park with running and walking tracks, Martello Towers (small defensive forts built during the 19th century), busts of historic figures, gardens, and pretty views of the Saint Lawrence River.

Relax at Place des Canotiers: A new public space beside the Saint Lawrence River, this urban square has places to sit and relax, as well as fountains and mist you can walk through. A go-to spot on hot summer days, this is also where the cruise ships and tall ships dock.

Leave the tourists behind: In the middle of summer, when the Old City is bursting at the seams with tourists, you’ll find me in along rue Saint-Joseph Est in Saint-Roch, rue Saint-Jean in Saint-Jean-Baptiste, and 3e (Troisième) Avenue in Limoilou, where I can enjoy the quiet, local side of life. Prices are generally a little cheaper in these areas, and there are plenty of fabulous restaurants, microbreweries, cafés, and boutiques to keep me happy.

Where to Eat

If you’re a foodie, staying on budget in Québec City can be a bit hard. But to save money, it is always a good idea to venture away from the Old City; by doing so you will find more chef-run restaurants and usually cheaper prices. There are also plenty of options for cheap eats like poutine, burgers, shawarma, etc. Here are some of my favorite restaurants:

Chez Ashton (Vieux-Québec, Saint-Roch, or Montcalm): Delicious gluttony made of fries, squeaky cheese curds and piping hot gravy. Almost every restaurant sells poutine, but the best traditional poutine in the city starts with Chez Ashton. A Québec institution, it serves up poutine in large, round foil containers. In winter the price of poutine fluctuates depending on the weather. For example, if it is -25°C (-13°F) outside, then your poutine at Chez Ashton is 25% off!

La Pizz: Located in Place Royale, La Pizz serves up fairly good pizza, which starts at $9 CAD for a small. (Once you’ve finished, walk next door for some pints at Pub L’Oncle!)

Le Bureau de Poste: This little gem has a yummy $4.95 CAD (!) menu, $6.50 CAD cocktails, and $5.50 CAD pints! Go forth and have fun, and be sure to enjoy the patio in summer.

Fromagerie des Grondines et ses amis: Embrace your inner cheese addict and go here for gourmet grilled cheese sandwiches. So good and not too expensive. Sandwiches start at $7.50 CAD.

Marché d’Emma: Located across the street from the hostel, this small épicerie has a nice selection of Québec craft beers, wine, frozen pizzas ($5), gourmet foods, and non-perishables. They also have fresh baguettes most days.

L’Inter Marché: Located on rue Saint-Jean in Saint-Jean-Baptiste, this small grocery store has a small selection of produce, meats, dairy, non-perishables, frozen foods, and breads. Prices are often better than at the épiceries.

The food scene in Québec City is ever-growing, and we now have a few options for vegans and vegetarians as well. As in other major cities, almost every neighbourhood now also has shawarma or kebab. There is also a sushi craze happening right now. Tip: Avoid the Chinese food in the Old City — it is not that good.

Where to Party

There are a few bars and pubs in Old Québec that can be quite touristy depending on the time of year, but try these:

Bar St-Angèle: A night of cheap beer, live music, and quirky locals. It is a must before venturing into the more “civilised” pubs and bars in the city.

Maurice Nightclub: While Bistro Plus (1063, Rue Saint-Jean) can be fun, the best nightclub in the city is Maurice on Grande Allée. Dance, drink, sweat, and then go eat poutine or shawarma before heading back to the hostel.

Le Drague Cabaret Club: A gay bar/nightclub with drag shows and karaoke.

Pub Nelligan’s: A lively Irish pub popular with locals. Rustic ambiance, live Irish shows from time to time, and a mix of Québec and Irish beers (and liquor).

Le Cercle: A bar and live music venue, Le Cercle is a local favourite. Indie bands sometimes play in a funky room in the basement.

Le Projet: An eclectic gastropub, Le Projet has roughly 24 microbrews on tap. Buy food on-site or pick up a poke bowl from Bols et Poké on your way and eat it there.

La Barbarie: By far the most popular microbrewery in the city. Beer is brewed on-site, there is plenty of seating, and while they don’t have a license to serve food, you can have a pizza, Chinese food, or whatever else you’re craving delivered to the bar.

Where to Sleep

Auberge Internationale de Québec is the best hostel in the city. With a superb location in Vieux-Québec (Old Québec), this hostel is large with a bar, common rooms, and communal kitchen. In high season beds range from $27 CAD to $30.50 CAD per night. In low season, beds range from $22 CAD to $30.50 CAD per night.

Couchsurfing is quite popular in Québec City, which has a very large Couchsurfing community with over 10,000 hosts. Always look for hosts with good ratings and reviews, and bring a small thank you gift for your host (it could be a bottle of wine or craft beer) as you are being invited into their home, for free! (Matt says: Speaking of Couchsurfing, we are hosting a Q&A with Couchsurfing on September 28th, so mark your calendars!)

If you want to experience the local vibe of the city, I suggest mixing things up a little: stay a few nights at a hostel to explore the historic areas, then Couchsurf or rent a room on Airbnb in another neighbourhood to get a true feel for what everyday life is like in Québec City.

10 Ways to Save

Québec City is one of the more expensive cities in Canada but there ways to save money on your visit. Here are ten high impact ways to save money on your visit:

Take a FREE walking tour of the Old City.

Eat poutine (under $10 CAD) at Chez Ashton, one of the cheapest places in the city.

Buy food at a neighbourhood grocery store.

Eat croissants for breakfast, they are only $2.50 CAD! Paillard on rue Saint-Jean (to the right at the bottom of rue Sainte-Ursule) are the best.

Buy a bus pass. A 1-day bus pass costs $8.50 CAD, the equivalent of 2.5 rides. A day pass gives you unlimited travel for 24-hours.

Go to Méga Parc, an indoor amusement park and shopping mall, after 5pm and get in for half price ($15 CAD).

Walk along the city fortifications and atop the city gates. Its FREE!

Visit the churches and libraries as they are FREE and quite beautiful.

Visit Bar Sainte-Angèle for cheap beer!

Couchsurf for most of your visit and save money on accommodation (plus meet amazing and friendly locals).

Getting Around Québec City

Québec City is a walking city. It is very easy to explore the main neighbourhoods (Vieux-Québec, Petit-Champlain, Place-Royale, Vieux-Port, Grande Allée, Montcalm, and Saint-Jean-Baptiste) by foot. The outer neighbourhoods of Saint-Roch, Saint-Sauveur, and Limoilou can be reached by bus.

A single bus fare is $3.50 CAD, unless you go to an authorized seller and buy a ticket; then the cost is $3 CAD. You can also buy passes that cut the cost, especially if you want to venture out to places like Chute Montmorency (Montmorency Falls):

A day pass is $8.50 CAD

An unlimited weekend pass is $15.50 CAD

A 5-consecutive-days pass is $29 CAD ($24 CAD for students)

Download the RTC (Réseau de Transport de la Capitale) Nomade mobile app to check routes while you’re out exploring. The app gives you information on schedules, as well as the closest stop to your location and when the next bus will arrive.

*** Come explore this lovely city, sit on a patio, eat poutine, and drink with the locals, and marvel at the beauty of Château Frontenac as it looms over the lower city. Sit at the top of Terrasse Pierre-Dugua-de-Mons to watch the sunset and snap a picture-perfect shot of the château, Old City, and Saint Lawrence River.

I came to Québec City because I love the architecture, the culture, and the history. I stayed because of the food, people, and the big-village vibe. Québec City has a charm and magic about it that is infectious. It is a Northern paradise of food, culture, and architecture – and I hope you come and visit soon!

Pamela is a Canadian travel writer and blogger who left her job in 2010 to travel the world. While Southeast Asia and Scotland rank among her favourite destinations, she fell head-over-heels for Québec City and now calls it home. While travel is still a big part of her life, Pamela runs Urban Guide Québec City and has recently published a guidebook on the city that focuses on local artisans, producers, and businesses. If you’re going to the city, it’s a must buy!

Photo Credit: 2, 6

The post How to Visit Québec City on a Budget appeared first on Nomadic Matt's Travel Site.

How to Visit Québec City on a Budget http://ift.tt/2vHS1QV

[lifejustgotawkward]

365 Day Movie Challenge (2017) - #324: Flesh for Frankenstein (aka Andy Warhol’s Frankenstein) (1973) - dir. Paul Morrissey

I know I wrote in my last review that The Killer Nun is a necessary experience for tried-and-true devotees of horror cinema, but you really haven’t lived until you have witnessed the decadent extravaganza known alternately as Flesh for Frankenstein or, in honor of its esteemed producer, Andy Warhol’s Frankenstein. The optimal way to view it is in 3D, as I did it in a screening at Quad Cinema last Saturday evening, but the vulgarity is almost as much fun in 2D if can get your hands on a copy of the Criterion Collection disc.

First, disavow yourself of the notion that you are watching a faithful adaptation of Mary Shelley’s groundbreaking novel. I’m pretty sure that Flesh for Frankenstein’s plot has almost nothing to do with its source material - or maybe it would be more accurate to say its “inspiration” - other than the basic idea of a European nobleman named Baron Frankenstein reassembling corpse parts into new and improved superhumans, done in collaboration with a loyal assistant. I don’t actually remember the name “Frankenstein” being uttered even once in the film, but no matter; we all know the genesis of the story we came to see.

Paul Morrissey used the the same three stars from his other campy horror classic, Blood for Dracula (1974), in more or less the same kinds of roles: Udo Kier as Baron Frankenstein; Joe Dallesandro as Nicholas, the stableboy who is hired to “work” (more on that later) in the Baron’s castle; and Arno Juerging as Otto, the Baron’s obsequious second-in-command. Morrissey’s strange array of actors bring multiple accents to the fore, even though Kier and Juerging (German), Dallesandro (Brooklyn), Monique van Vooren (Belgian) and Srdjan Zelenovic (Yugoslavian) play characters who all live in Serbia... meanwhile, the film was shot at Cinecittà Studios in Rome. Wild!

Flesh for Frankenstein is simultaneously a satire of art cinema, a parody of tropes seen within the horror genre and also a sincerely fun, though often extremely disgusting, film that can stand proudly with any other title bearing the Frankenstein name. The story follows the Baron and Otto’s pursuit of a head for their male “zombie” (for some reason that’s how they always refer to the undead servants), which must satisfy the Baron’s quest for “the perfect nasum,“ a word that you’d best believe he repeats several times. This supreme schnoz is found on Sacha (Zelenovic), a local peasant who plans to leave the the fields and become a monk. Baron and Otto spot him when they spy on the local brothel - their objective in this scheme is to construct two extra-horny creatures that will reproduce a “master race” with (you guessed it!) blonde, blue-eyed features - but the joke’s on them; we know that Sacha isn’t a Don Juan. The hypersexual pal who brought him to the house of ill repute is Nicholas (Dallesandro), who entertains all the ladies there while a deeply bored Sacha looks on. (Side note: as a possible response to his disinterest in women, there’s a moment when Sacha none too subtly stares at Nicholas’s naked posterior. Is Sacha a repressed gay character? Or was he merely ogling the bodies on the adjoining bed to get a better understanding of what all the fuss was about? I suppose it’s up to each viewer to decide.)

One bloody beheading later - showcasing one of the most wonderfully awful uses of a fake head I’ve ever had the pleasure of seeing - and we’re back at the castle, observing Sacha’s rebirth as a new Sacha-monster to go with the female zombie (Dalila Di Lazzaro) that the Baron and Otto have already created. At the same time, Nicholas is employed by Baroness Katrin Frankenstein (Vooren) - who exhibits a pretense of uptight respectability in public - as a butler, although her main concern is his ability to satisfy her in the bedroom. Not only is Katrin a nymphomaniac, but we know another important detail about the Frankenstein marriage: Katrin and the Baron are also brother and sister. It makes plenty of sense why the couple’s young son (Marco Liofredi) and daughter (Nicoletta Elmi, who appeared in Dario Argento’s Deep Red and a number of other giallos) give off “children of the corn” vibes.

To see how Flesh for Frankenstein ups the ante for “bizarre violence and sexuality,” as its MPAA “R” rating indicates, I urge you to check the film out this Halloween season. The gross-out moments are not for the faint of heart, but they’re also absurdly funny; the social commentary regarding the Baron’s obviously-Nazi ideology also doubles as a critique of how film and media constantly demand celebrities with impossible physical ideals that end up destroying those idolized people. Morrissey’s take on the Frankenstein legends severely tests the definitions of high/low art and good/bad taste, but if you’re like me and you enjoy pushing your personal limits - as well as watching the deliciously crazy performances by Udo Kier, Monique van Vooren and Arno Juerging and savoring Joe Dallesandro’s shameless nude scenes - Flesh for Frankenstein is unmissable.

P.S. Besides “the line” that lives on infamy (”To know death, Otto, you have to fuck life... in the gall bladder!”), my other two favorite snippets of dialogue are our magnificent introduction to Joe (he walks up to Sacha in a meadow and says “I been wantin’ ta tawk ta ya...”) and the third-act scene where the Baroness explodes in anger at Nicholas (“How DARE you! How DARE you wake me up in the middle of the day when you KNOW I have insomnia?”). Paul Morrissey, we don’t deserve your screenwriting genius.

P.P.S. There are also three standout gems in the Criterion DVD commentary: 1) when describing the frequency of Joe Dallesandro’s nude scenes, film historian Maurice Yacowar remarks upon “the familiar landscape of his buns”; 2) Yacowar pays attention to the evolution of the fashion worn by the zombies during their regeneration scenes, pointing out that “the genital Band-Aids have now grown into full-blown diapers“; 3) Udo Kier characterizes the dinner scene with the Frankensteins, Nicholas, Sacha and the female monster as “the last horror supper.” So great!