A son of Greek immigrants, Andreas Kessaris has spent his career documenting the high-energy, multicultural grit of Montreal's Park Extension. From community columns to his latest books, The Butcher of Park Ex and The Grand Tour of Park Ex, he blends a sharp, humor-driven voice with an authentic commitment to the city’s literary fringes.
SteinZ is a Montreal-born rapper redefining alternative hip-hop by blending dramatic delivery with eccentric, visionary aesthetics inspired by anime and video games. With a performance style defined by wit and relentless energy, she is an unforgettable force breaking through the boundaries of the genre.
Villeray-based portraitist Gustavo Salinas rejects the digital in favor of the slow, naturalistic beauty of 35mm and 120 analog film. Treating the camera with the weight of a weapon and the precision of a bow and arrow, he seeks to capture his subjects with a "royal swagger" and genuine, dignified admiration.
Gabrielle Drolet is a Montreal-based writer and cartoonist whose debut book, LOOK MA, NO HANDS, was published in 2025. Based between Villeray and Little Italy, she is a regular contributor to The New Yorker and The Globe and Mail, with additional written work featured in prestigious outlets such as The New York Times and The Walrus.
On the corner of St Laurent and des Pins lies a tall yet unassuming building that you might recognise from the bold lettering that spells out “HALBRO BLDG.” For the past few decades, its lofts have served as a sort of haven for artists looking to rent studios or find a place to stay.
Before I even stepped into Barfly, I was greeted by the crowd spilling out into the streets of St. Laurent. I walk past the vivid, brightly painted fly mural on a weekly basis, and I have to say I was more than a little thrilled to finally peek behind the curtain and enter the iconic bar.
During a long, lazy, blazing-hot summer day on school break, a group of neighborhood kids and I were shuffled off to a local library’s community room for my first-ever improv workshop.
Behind the unassuming vintage swivel chairs, and the classic blue and red swirling pole of a barber shop lies the long bar, dance floor, and carefully placed stage of the Blue Dog Motel.
If you've ever seen a comedy show at Hurley's Irish Pub, it was probably produced by the World's Smallest Comedy team. With a trivia night, a booked show, and an open mic every week, plus a variety of one-off shows, they're keeping the laughs alive on Crescent Street, and they've been doing it for years.
Tucked upstairs on the ever-touristy St. Paul Street in Old Montreal, is one of the safest comedy rooms in town. Well, sort of. On the surface, Saanya Nanda’s monthly The Heckling Show would be the last thing most people would call safe; the name says it all, and every month comics take the stage knowing exactly what they're in for.
In the back room of N sur Mackay every Tuesday, something special is stirring up. And no, it’s not just the bar’s famous cocktails or the excellent whiskey tastings (though those are worth checking out). It’s Comedy on Mackay, a vibrant new weekly comedy show that’s quickly becoming a staple in Montreal’s comedy scene.
The atmosphere was reminiscent of a high school play, or at least that’s what my date leaned over to whisper into my ear as the lights dimmed. With its knots of young people huddled in their respective corners and coats hung up on wooden pegs near the stage, in a way I did feel transported back to high school, the fun part where I joked around with my friends in the stage wings before a production.
