Becs: You're In The Loop - we're here to discuss the ups, downs and sideways of the sport of figure skating, and maybe give you +5 GOE along the way. Let’s introduce this week's hosts.
Gabb: Hi, I'm Gabb. I'm your Montreal local who's very excited to have her friends come over to visit for a week. You can find me on Twitter @tegomass.
Becs: Hi, I'm Becs. I am super excited to get to Canada, although I'll be doing a sojourn in Banff first, but I'm really excited for the World Championships. You can find me on Twitter @becsfer. So, Gabb, this is our master transformation of ITL. We managed to turn it into a travel podcast somehow.
Gabb: Yes, finally!
Becs: This was our dumb scheme to help out people. So a couple of months ago, we had the idea that since we have Gabb, who is our resident local in Montreal-
Gabb: Yes, I've lived here my entire life so I know most things about the city.
Becs: Our treasure trove of Montreal resources. You know what, so many people are coming for Worlds so we should put together some recommendations and tips and give them all the fruits of your spying on the Bell Centre for us. All your excursions to talk to them about their arrangements and stuff for Worlds.
Gabb: We have a very detailed guide on our website, so you can also look at that while you listen to the podcast or afterward - which will be very helpful.
Becs: Yes, so we've written up an accompanying article with slightly more fleshed-out details so that you don't have to listen to Gabb give an entire thesis on the Montreal public transport system.
Gabb: Yes, but I did make a very nice graphic to make it as easy as possible for everyone to figure out.
Becs: We don't want you to get lost on the way to Dance practice, is basically the goal!
Gabb: Yes, basically!
Becs: This is basically just our effort to make sure that everyone has as much of a smooth and fun trip to Worlds as possible because most of our whole team is going and we're really excited and we want to make sure everyone has a good time. Alright so, Gabb, why don't you start off by giving us a little breakdown of some of the stuff about the rink and the Bell Centre, where it's being held, because you actually did some scouting for us.
Gabb: Actually, I've been there in 2018 for Stars on Ice because that was the venue for that show and I did some scouting, just like figuring out which rows are the closest and what the view was like. But then I went back in December [2019] for the Cirque du Soleil "Axel" show, so I did more scouting with more actual information on what I should look out for. So I noted everything down and put it all into this guide but also I will speak about it now.
Becs: We're really excited that there are water fountains at this rink because, if anyone went to Skate Canada [2019], we suffered on the available water front.
Gabb: Yeah, when I went in December that was the first thing I decided to do when I had downtime like "Wait! I gotta know if there are water fountains!"
Becs: So we do have water fountains, which is a good thing. One thing that I think is really important to pay attention to at the Bell Centre is that it's a pretty tightly packed venue, so there's not a lot of room between the seats.
Gabb: Yeah, I'm pretty tiny so even if I'm on a flight, I have a lot of legroom, I don't have to worry about that. But I found that when I went in December, it was pretty tight just moving around. Even just crossing my legs, I had to really lift my foot up over my leg so that I could cross it.
Becs: Yeah, it's a bit pinchy. So basically our advice is- Gabb and I, we usually pack tonnes of banners to events and lots of fun, dumb things and flower crowns, but be aware that seat space is going to be pretty limited. During some of the earlier groups, there might be more room, but it's not the comfiest of venues. It's a little pinchy and there's not going to be a lot of room for like your 17000 best plushie friends that you're going to chuck at people.
Gabb: One thing that's nice though is that there is space underneath the seats because, when I went in December, people were asking me on Twitter if there was space underneath the seats because in GPF this year in Turin, there was no space underneath the seats. But at least here there is!
Becs: We don't have to hold all of our worldly possessions on our laps - so there is some hope for this event!
Gabb: Just be mindful to make space so that if people want to go to the bathroom or get some food in between events it should hopefully be an easy access kind of thing.
Becs: Let's talk a little bit about what is around the rink and what you found are some of the convenient points of interest that some people might want to hit up.
Gabb: First of all, we already mentioned that there are water fountains, so bring an empty water bottle and stay hydrated! There's also a lot of food stuff around!
Becs: Yay! Everyone eat, please!
Gabb: Yeah, basically! So there's a restaurant that's directly connected to inside of the rink where you can eat like burgers... It's like a sports bar and brewery, so they usually play hockey on the TV screens and then you can get drinks and eat some burgers and fries - whatever you want. So that's a really nice thing to have around just because it's actually something that will bring you sustenance and actually make you full. It's a nice warm meal-
Becs: It's conveniently accessible.
Gabb: But I also saw that there's a downstairs area and there was a sort of food court, I guess? It wasn't open at the time that I went but they seemed to have many stalls. I looked this up online and they actually have various food stalls like sushi, tacos, and they also have drinks so you can get beer and cocktails.
Becs: Is this all accessible from inside the rink without having to go back out through security? Gabb: Yeah, it's inside the rink!
Becs: That's so handy! That'll be great for people.
Gabb: So you'll have lots of options.
Becs: Yeah, cause I think some of the main issues - luckily, the Bell Centre is downtown, so there's stuff in the area but it depends on if you want to go through the hassle of running in and out through the security line because, depending on how many entrances they have open, that could be quite a logistics issue.
Gabb: Especially with bag search and how long that will take.
Becs: We don't know if they will be more lax, but I think that the Bell Centre itself has a pretty strict bag policy - like they only let you take in one small tote in.
Gabb: On the Bell Centre website, they say that you're not allowed a backpack and I saw someone bring a backpack and they weren't allowed to bring it in, basically. So they actually do look at stuff like that.
Becs: Yeah, so just be careful especially because - we're staying very close to the rink, about an 8 minute walk away but - if you have to take a bus or if your lodging isn't that conveniently located, just make sure that you're not going to be lugging something to the rink that you're going to be denied entrance for.
Gabb: When I was doing research to write this article, I saw in the Bell Centre FAQ that they have a coat check but just specifically for coats, you're not allowed to coat check a bag - which is really odd but it's also important to note. If you have a bag and you're not allowed to bring it in then you really don't have anywhere to put it.
Becs: Right, so if you're trying to go straight from, say, the award show to the airport or if you're trying to go from the airport to the rink either for the competition or practices, they might deny you entry. You also mentioned that near the rink there's-
Gabb: Some food and coffee.
Becs: Yes, so we have a bit of a breakdown on that.
Gabb: I feel like the most important part is the coffee just because practices are really early and I remember that at Skate America we had issues with finding coffee places because there were no concession stands nearby that were open.
Becs: Vegas was not about you being awake at 6 am practice and serving you coffee - let's put it that way. They're like "No..."
Gabb: But right in front of the Bell Centre, there is a Starbucks and a Cafe Depot, which is basically similar to Starbucks, and those two should be open early in the morning and it's right in front of the rink. You barely have to walk outside, less than three minutes for sure.
Becs: Yes, and Montreal winter, get all the hot drinks. It will be highly necessary for surviving. I think a couple of other things are that there's a grocery store nearby too?
Gabb: Yeah, there is a grocery store so you can buy snacks - hopefully, maybe, smuggle it in. But if you just want to get some small snacks to share with your friends and eat around, that's great.
Becs: And also the McDonalds, if you have to charge your camera batteries. Gabb: Yes, [the McDonalds is] like two floors, so it's great!
Becs: Perfect! Because this [episode] is so close to the event, for lodging, we're not doing super detailed recommendations because, hopefully, if you're going, you have a place to stay sorted out. But we did, in the article, that we wrote up on logistics and the nitty-gritty, we do give a couple of recs. Lodging in Montreal is, thankfully, quite cheap. There's tonnes of affordable Airbnb's - just be very careful because of potential scammers and whatnot.
Gabb: Yes, that would not be fun.
Becs: No, especially in winter. Do you have any tips to survive the grueling winter or for packing?
Gabb: I would just suggest packing layers. Just because that way if you're really hot, you can remove layers. If you're really cold, you can put on more. The weather changes a lot. This week for example, over the weekend until mid-week it was really nice outside. I was able to wear a leather jacket, something really nice. Yesterday it started freezing raining and then tonight it's supposed to be 10 to 15 centimeters of snow. So that's not fun!
Becs: It's very mercurial. It's like "We will give you the full spectrum in one week, it's fine." So just be prepared. I'd say having good shoes that can deal with slush and snow and have traction is probably one of the more important things because I know that March can be really up and down kind of dicey in terms of the walking conditions. Gabb also flung in - in-case you don't get enough skating from all-day practices and being at a rink from potentially 7 am to 11 at night - some recs for skating rinks in the area.
Gabb: Yeah, I wrote down three of them just because I wanted them to be kind of close to the rink. I recommended Gadbois too just because, even if it's not as close to the rink, I feel like people would want to go there just because so many Ice Dancers train there.
Becs: Right, if you just want to absorb the essence of all that talent and good edges and twizzles.
Gabb: Good skating skills, exactly! There are also some options for outdoor skating but, sadly, most of them close right before Worlds. So not that much of a viable option but still I put one in just because it closes right before Worlds, if the weather permits it.
Becs: Right, so if you go the weekend before or the week before, if you really want to take up residence in Montreal temporarily, you can check it out. But hopefully this gives you guys a bit of an idea of just some of the logistics and the nitty-gritty but, more important, Kar sat down with Lilah Fear, because we talked to her and she loves doing local recs.
Gabb: And she trains over here.
Becs: She trains over here, she moved over here - so she knows all about what it's like to explore. So we will have an interview that Kar did with Lilah to give all of her favorite recs for great spots to hit up in Montreal so, hopefully, you can get some ideas and maybe find some cool new spots to drop by and actually get outside the rink and enjoy the city!
-end segment-
START: Lilah Fear's Montreal Recommendations
Karly: Hi guys! I'm Karly. You may know me as @cyberswansp on Twitter and as a regular host. Today we have a special guest. Lilah, would you like to introduce yourself?
Lilah: Hi everyone! My name is Lilah Fear. I'm an ice dancer representing Great Britain and I live here in Montreal, so I'm very excited that Worlds will be in Montreal this year.
Karly: So this is kind of like a little special minisode featuring some Montreal natives, well not [entirely] natives but-
Lilah: Enthusiasts!
Karly: Yes enthusiasts! And we're just here to kind of give you some fun recommendations and guides to Montreal. We did an interview with Lilah and Lewis [Gibson] a while ago and Lilah mentioned that she really likes giving out recommendations and guiding people around things she knows. So we invited her here! And we're going to talk about the recommendations she gave us!
Lilah: Very happy to be here!
Karly: So we got into contact with Lilah and she gave us a list of lots of recommendations. We're going to be releasing an accompanying article with all of these recommendations but episodes are more fun so we'll talk about some here! Lilah, you gave us coffee, brunch, dinner, shops, and activities. Where would you like to start?
Lilah: I think we should start with coffee and brunch because how are you supposed to do activities without caffeine? [Karly laughs] Right?
Karly: You are very right! How are you supposed to survive 10 hours in a rink without caffeine?
Lilah: That's the truth! So yes let's start with that. So I have an addiction to coffee as many other skaters and humans do, and I have a few favorites here in Montreal. One of them is near the rink. So I always stop off either before or after training before tackling my homework. It is called Campanelli and it's Italian, it's family-run, and it's very charming and rustic and the coffee is fantastic.
Karly: Do they have a variety of drinks? Like I'm not a huge coffee person but I love hot chocolate.
Lilah: They definitely have hot chocolate, they have a variety of teas. It is more on the simple side, so you wouldn't go for some matcha latte or something that's more fancy or elaborate there. It's definitely the basics there. You can buy ground coffee too. A lot of the skaters love that.
Karly: Oh yeah? You're just like "Oh, you went to Campanelli again ?"
Lilah: Yeah and everyone comes into the rink with the same cup. They actually just started selling the eco-friendly cups.
Karly: Oh nice!
Lilah: So I'm just flashing that all around town really now.
Karly: Gotta be good to the environment! I am very glad for that.
Lilah: Yeah and then otherwise, I love one in Westmount called Cafe Bazin. It's small but very elegant and beautiful and bright and airy on the inside. They have a beautiful selection of pastries as well, they make right in front of you behind a glass case. So it smells amazing all the time. You're basically drooling the entire time you're there. The staff are so warm and friendly. They actually gave me a free laptop sticker saying Cafe Bazin because I'm there so much and I'm very adamant to fill out my loyalty card there.
Karly: Yes!
Lilah: And then we have some other favorites among the skaters. One example of that is September, which is called September Surf Cafe. It's very hipster, artsy, it's a cool place to bring a book or laptop and work on weekends. They also have a little booth set up there called The Snack Box that you can order food there on weekends too.
Karly: Oh nice!
Lilah: Yeah it's cool! It's definitely one of those places you'll see on Instagram. Whereas Campanelli you wouldn't see on Instagram, I wouldn't say. It's more local.
Karly: Yes, it's nice to talk with someone who knows those really cool spots!
Lilah: The hidden gems!
Karly: Exactly, that's exactly what we're looking for! We trust Lilah with that!
Lilah: Yes! And I've done my research too. When I first moved here I tried out all the places and I feel like I've narrowed it down to my tried and true favorites.
Karly: How long have you been living in Montreal?
Lilah: I've lived here for two years.
Karly: And you've reached the local level?
Lilah: Yes definitely. Actually, it's funny because I was with a friend today and she was born and raised in Montreal and she was telling me that I know way more places than she does and she's lived here twenty-one years. So yes I think I'm just very passionate about it and I love exploring it and I love the city so much so it's something that I like to do.
Karly: Are you excited to welcome everyone to Montreal for Worlds?
Lilah: Oh my gosh, I'm so excited. I think it's going to be very special for all of us who train here to get to welcome so many people and to celebrate the city and our skating home. Even though we're from so many countries all over the world it's somewhere that we all have in common and is so dear to our hearts. It's going to be very special, I'm so excited.
Karly: Yes a lot of people are very excited.
Lilah: Yes, especially if people haven't been to Montreal before. Which I assume this episode is primarily for [those people]. I think it will be a really great experience for everyone to get to explore in between all of the practices and competitions and all that.
Karly: A lot of people are going for the week so they have a lot of that downtime.
Lilah: Yes so we're going to get through plenty of suggestions for everybody. I think I'll give you one more cafe recommendation. Actually I'm going to give you two more. So one of them is called Barley. And I don't know if anyone has seen it on my Instagram from last year but it's a cereal bar and it's so cool. It's definitely an Instagram location.
Karly: That's where they featured the Lilah Jo porridge right?
Lilah: Exactly! I did a collaboration with them because I love porridge. It's the start to my day every day and we worked together to do a limited edition porridge with all my favorite toppings. The staff there are so wonderful. I'll go in with my laptop and we'll just chat. They have delicious lattes - this is the place you go if you want a beetroot latte, turmeric latte or a cereal latte. It's very aesthetically pleasing inside, the decor is beautiful and the brunch menu is very unique and delicious.
Karly: I'm like all about brunch.
Lilah: Me too! It's something I love. And people tease me about it but I don't really care.
Karly: My mom yells at me about it because every time I ask her to go to brunch with me because I don't want to go alone.
Lilah: No! And she's not a fan?
Karly: Nope! She doesn't like brunch.
Lilah: Well I think we can persuade her to change her mind. Hopefully. Karly: I'll bring her to Canada and take her to Barley.
Lilah: I think just stick to this list and she'll change her mind.
Lilah: And then the final one I'm going to suggest is, it's perfect for sightseeing because one of my later suggestions is to walk around Old Montreal because it's so beautiful and historic and the architecture and contrast is huge to the rest of the city. It feels like years and years ago. Almost Paris vibes in a way. It feels very European. There are cobblestone streets. So you could really just wander around there but there's one restaurant that is such a classic called Olive et Gourmando. It's amazing for brunch. It's so cozy. Definitely get there early because there's a huge lineup, rightly so. They have freshly baked pastries, goodies, and then the brunch menu is so delicious. It's just a classic I couldn't recommend it more.
Karly: I'm definitely liking all these recommendations with pastries. So that I can buy them and then bring them into the rink.
Lilah: You got it! That's the way to go!
Karly: If I'm going to be there for eight hours I need good food.
Lilah: Yeah you have to smuggle in the pastries. And they have plenty of options there. Karly: That's awesome. So that wraps it up for cafes and brunches. Shall we do dinner next?
Lilah: Let's do dinner.
Karly: I'm very excited for dinner places. I love going out to eat.
Lilah: Oh yes. And in Montreal, the food scene is just beyond and I think it has such a reputation for being so diverse and delicious in the food scene. So I'm going to start off with, it's a safe bet for anyone no matter your tastes, it's called Number 900 Pizza and it's one of the first restaurants I went to when I moved here. I think it was a suggestion of someone I met at school. It's a very simple pizza restaurant but I have to recommend a specific pizza it is called the Porcini and it has hazelnut cream, white truffle oil, and mushrooms. It's so good. This is what got me into truffle because I'd never liked it before. And ever since that pizza I'm a changed woman. So definitely go there. When my sister is in town we always go together when she's in town. Sasha, she's also a skater. I think she can vouch for me on this one. They also have some other options if you don't like pizza. But I'd say if you do this is the place to go.
Karly: It's hard to go wrong with pizza.
Lilah: I know! And people that don't like pizza I don't really understand. Unless you're intolerant but even then you don't really have an excuse because they have gluten-free crust here.
Karly: Oh they do? That's awesome.
Lilah: They do at Number 900! So you really just have to go, you do!
Karly: You have no excuse.
Lilah: Yeah there's no option here people. And it's definitely one of the more budget-friendly ones on this list. There are a couple of higher-end ones like the next one that I'm going to recommend. Which is Jatoba. It is... wow, it's out of this world. It is Japanese. Firstly just the ambiance there is so elegant and sophisticated. It's darker and moodier for sure. But it's one of those places that you'll go for a special occasion. Like for example, I had my birthday dinner with my mom and sister there this year. I'm going to give you specific menu items that you have to order otherwise I will be very angry. Firstly you need to order the Chinese eggplant to start. It's so funny whenever I go I tell Lewis, my skating partner, and I'm like "Don't worry Lewis. I will bring you the leftover Chinese eggplant." Because he loves it. So I always bring him cold vegetables the next morning but it's so good.
Karly: You're just like "Here is my thanks for being my skating partner."
Lilah: Yes! This is your prize for the day. And then for the main course, I really love the black cod. It's just very fresh and the quality of the fish is delicious. Everything here is very light. Like you won't leave feeling very heavy and gross. It's very fresh and well prepared and of great quality. For dessert, to finish, you have to order the Caramel Dream and thank me later. I think they title it perfectly and I don't want to ruin it but it's basically a blondie, marshmallow, caramel concoction of heavenly, beautiful flavors.
Karly: Oh my god.
Lilah: You better have a sweet tooth for that one otherwise it's a little overwhelming I'd say.
Karly: I was going to say you're kind of winning me over because I have a sweet tooth. So I'm prepared to go here.
Lilah: Yes just a disclaimer for anyone listening, I have a serious sweet tooth, so if everything is very sweet I apologize but it's just...it's who I am I can't really change it.
Karly: Don't worry these are the kind of people that matter.
Lilah: [laughter] Okay. Another great one is Makro and it's in Griffintown which is a really cool area to visit. So I would recommend going simply for the location of Griffintown. It's where all of the young professionals live. It used to be where a lot of factories were but now it's very cool and artsy and there are so many great restaurants near there. Makro I believe is known for their seafood and it's for the younger crowd. They have a moody atmosphere and some great options too. It's less pricey than Jatoba but it's more pricey for sure. And then my final recommendation is called Satay Brothers and it's literally a hole in the wall. You would walk past and never dare enter because it's so unassuming from the outside. It looks very dodgy from the outside actually but you just have to give it a chance.
Karly: Those are the best kinds of places.
Lilah: Yeah! It's honestly a local favorite. I would recommend the papaya salad and also they have these pork buns. I think it's Vietnamese I might be wrong though but it's very delicious and flavorful. It's a classic you definitely need to check that out too. So those are my dinner recommendations!
Karly: Dinner is definitely an important recommendation because well obviously it's one of the best meals of the day. But do you remember, you were at Autumn Classic, in the rink they had a little stand that was selling pizza and popcorn and that was your food options?
Lilah: I do remember! You're so right. I think that's the majority of skating competitions. One time I was in Germany and I think it was my first Junior Grand Prix and they had a pretzel stand in the rink and I loved it.
Karly: Oh my god, that's so nice.
Lilah: But definitely, Montreal - you want to pack some snacks. I'm not sure what the food will be like at the rink, but you definitely have plenty of options surrounding the rink.
Karly: Exactly, and Montreal is a big city, there's something for everyone.
Lilah: Yeah, you can find anything.
Karly: Let's talk about your specialty - let's talk about sweets.
Lilah: So this was really hard for me to narrow down, and I'm going to try to keep it concise so we're not here for 4 hours [hosts laugh] but - so, this is something that you would not find necessary on Google. Actually, all 3 of these you won't find on Google necessarily. So, the first one is called Dalla Rose and it's an ice cream shop and it's tiny, but all of the flavors are made in shop and they are so unique. They have tonnes of different flavors; they have season ones, so for example in the Summer, they have raspberry from Quebec and incorporate that into their ice cream. They have vegan options too, they have a delicious coconut chocolate one. The flavors change every time I go but they're always absolutely fantastic, and the guy that owns it is so nice. He knows that we're skaters so he's feeding our addiction to ice cream as well, and they recently came out with little ice cream sandwiches too [Karly: Oh nice.] They're vegan too, if you're vegan, or they do gluten-free cookies, and then you can put vegan ice cream in the middle, and you're golden. They also have one stuffed with nut butter which is something that I'm very passionate about, so definitely go to Dalla Rose, it's also just a great atmosphere inside, and you can take pints to go so you're set. You can bring a pint of ice cream to the ice rink.
Karly: That's like the ideal situation.
Lilah: And it'll stay cold, so you're golden, right? That's the best place to bring it.
Karly: I'm just imagining you're at the World Championships, and you're like I got my ice cream.
Lilah: I got my ice cream, it's all about balance. That's what I say. This one, this is in West Bound which is another neighborhood here, and it's called Boulangerie Le Fournil and it's downstairs and it just gives me Christmas vibes every-time I go. [Karly: I love that] The windows are always foggy from the inside and you go in and it's really kind of cramped, but it just smells - the aroma of baked goods is so overwhelming and delicious. I'm going to tell you, you have to order the coconut blondie. [Karly: That sounds so good.] It's a butterscotch blondie with chocolate chips and coconut on top. Honestly, anything you order here you'll be in heaven. Actually, I bought it when I interviewed Nathan Chen - he was staying with Jean-Luc Baker, and I brought them a bag of baked goods from this place and they loved them.
Karly: Here's my peace offering.
Lilah: Yeah, it's bribery kind of. Peace offering.
Karly: It would work.
Lilah: It does, it's really... it's a gem, and the final one for pastries, once again, is Rustique, and they're known for their pies. So, Thanksgiving, definitely go in advance. I went on Thanksgiving and they had run out of pumpkin pie, my bad, but, really great options. Once again, the cozy atmosphere - you can go for a cup of tea and just relax and it's a great place to check out.
Karly: So, what I'm getting is that for people throwing gifts on the ice, we should throw you desserts?
Lilah: Yes, is it that obvious? That would be amazing! [laughs] Wow. Karly: I'll just go buy a pastry and be like, this is for Lilah.
Lilah: But you might need to get stale cookies so they don't break. [Karly laughs] Throw stale baked goods on the ice.
Karly: You just get a bag of crumbs.
Lilah: But honestly, I'm just so excited for everyone to try these places because they're so great, and I love sharing the love.
Karly: That's what I love about welcoming people to cities. I get to show you around.
Lilah: It's exciting. It's very exciting.
Karly: Alright, so what kind of shops do you recommend?
Lilah: So, I'm not a huge shopper, but I found some really cool places here. One place I will start with, I went to yesterday so it shows that I do love it, and it's a bookshop called Indigo, it's a classic chain that many people know in Canada, and I could spend hours in there. I usually just go, walk around for an hour and leave empty-handed, because it's so fun. They have so many books, you can see the best-seller picks, you can see the hottest of the moment, and there are all the different categories. You can go to the Psychology and Well-Being section, or you can go read poetry or business. It's a classic bookshop but I think the amount of books is what makes it so special, and the range and diversity there. Another thing I love about it is they have a Starbucks inside [Karly: Nice!] and they also have a homeware section, so you can look for interior design decor. I bought a pillow yesterday for my apartment just to spice it up a little bit. It's one of those places where you just feel happy and inspired. You can pick up a good book, which is always great.
Karly: Bookshops are just the best.
Lilah: They are. I really love bookshops. I'm trying to read more, it's hard when I have school because I have forced reading and textbooks, but I'm trying to read more for pleasure and to kickstart that journey, Indigo is the place to go.
Karly: I definitely feel that about college. You get to college and you're like I can read for pleasure?
Lilah: Is that a thing? [Karly laughs.] Next, we're going to go for another Canadian classic which is Roots. I'm not sure if you know what Roots is but...
Karly: I've never heard of it.
Lilah: Okay, you need to buy stuff at Roots to feel like a Canadian person. It's basically the epitome of Canadian living and it is... so, a lot of checkers - red and black plaid situation and they have onesies that my sisters and I all have matching, and they're so cozy, but with the same lumberjack print but on the inside of the hood. You just feel Canadian when you're in it. They have cozy sweaters. They have socks - I have 4 pairs of their socks, and I just rotate them throughout the week because they're so warm and I think that if you did not pack wisely for Worlds, go to Roots, do yourself a favor, buy some socks and you will be warm for the rest of your stay.
Karly: Got to prepare for that ice rink.
Lilah: Certainly. It's a great place for souvenirs too. They sell mini maple syrup, they have maple candles, and really beautiful leather bags too.
Karly: Oh nice.
Lilah: I really recommend Roots actually for clothing. That's the only clothing recommendation I actually put on this list because I think you can't go wrong no matter who you are or what you're interested in. Another one that I love - I didn't actually know what it was called so I had to google it - but it's called Peridot and it's nearly Barley, so if you keep walking around you'll find Peridot. It's definitely on the more feminine side, it's a boutique, but they have a huge mix of different things, so they have candles, jewelry, postcards, cards, artwork, random pieces of furniture, and beautiful pajamas. That was the selling factor for me. I went in and they had these gorgeous pajamas, so cozy. I love pajamas too by the way. It's one of those places you look around for a while and find little treasures.
Karly: Honestly, goes to World Championships, comes back with pajamas. Lilah: I think people wouldn't blame you.
Karly: You gotta get comfy.
Lilah: You do. That's where you feel best. It's all about self-love.
Karly: I love those places that you can just pick out little trinkets, you know?
Lilah: Exactly. That's this place. It's really beautiful, and even for inspiration if you are thinking of moving things around in your apartment, or your dorm, or whatever, it's a good place for that aesthetic and the way they present things is really inspiring.
Karly: Kind of like interior design inspiration?
Lilah: Yeah, but without meaning it to be. It's weird. It's just the way that they align things in the shop, and then it's beautiful. It's beautifully constructed. My last recommendation is in the Old Port, and it's Le Petit Dep, and we stumbled upon this when we first moved, or when I first moved - I was with my sister and my mom, and it's so adorable from the outside. Basically, in Montreal, depanneur is a corner store, so where you go to buy ice cream, or whatever you need last minute for gum - classic corner store, but we call them deps for short, so that's what the name means, small dep. This place has candy, like jars of candy so you can do a little pick n mix, but they also have coffee and they also have little trinkets and souvenirs too, so it's a play on the usual depanneur, but it's more of a tourist attraction I'd say, and a nicer version of a dep. They have classic Montreal things like we're known for poutine, and they have t-shirts that say poutine, and instead of Supreme hats, they have poutine hats. You can go in there to pick up some Montreal things, but it's one of those places that's just fun to explore and you'll find a lot of tourists going in and out.
Karly: I forgot about poutine. I need to try poutine when I'm at Worlds.
Lilah: You do. I have to admit something, on-air... it's kind of embarrassing. I haven't had poutine since living in Montreal. [Karly laughs.] Should I be fired?
Karly: So you're fake?
Lilah: I'm fake, but also, like I said, I'm a sweet tooth. If I had to pick between pastries and poutine, I think we know the answer.
Karly: Maybe if they offered like hazelnut poutine.
Lilah: With chocolate sauce.
Karly: Exactly. I would try that.
Lilah: And sliced up cake instead of fries, but that just defeats the purpose. Anyways.. maybe I'll join all of you and we'll go get poutine.
Karly: New experiences with Lilah Fear.
Lilah: With our poutine t-shirts. We'll go buy those at Le Petit Dep and go have poutine. Karly: I'm going to throw you a poutine hat.
Lilah: Oh my gosh, I would love that. I would love that. So, those are my shop recommendations. I definitely recommend that you plan all of the places you want to go based on where you're eating and need to be next so that you can be most effective with your time.
Karly: And after we talk about activities, if you have any tips for getting around, feel free to tell them, because you can never have too many tips on how to not get lost.
Lilah: I know. I will gladly do that.
Karly: So, the final segment of recommendations - the fun stuff, the activities.
Lilah: Yes, so I tried to be more vague here because I think part of the beauty of seeing a new place is the spontaneity and being open to exploration and whatever catches your eye, and going in that direction and seeing what you find, and finding things for yourself So, these are just starting points for you. Number 1 is going to the Atwater market, which I'm sure you've heard about or seen on Instagram from the skaters because it's near the rink, so a lot of us live nearby. It's a beautiful indoor/outdoor market - not so much outdoors when it's minus 30 and snowing, but mostly in the summer outdoors. It's beautiful as the seasons change to see fresh flowers and pumpkins, and Christmas trees and now everything’s shut off and it's inside because it's so cold, but we all go for our fresh groceries every day and they have specialty pie stands and maple syrup stands. They have a butcher and a bakery and everything you would need. It's just an array of flavors and scents and sights and colors. It's a tourist attraction for sure, but also for a local favorite, so it's a great mix of that.
Karly: A little bit of everything.
Lilah: It is, and it's a feel-good place. I went for a walk there this morning - it was a beautiful, sunny day, and it's right on the canal which is another recommendation so I'm going to segue into that. It's called the Lachine Canal and it's beautiful. It's surrounded by industrial buildings because that's where all the factories used to be and now they are apartments so it's more of an industrial vibe, and there's an old train track next to it, but in the Summer it's so beautiful. In the winter too because the canal's covered in snow, so if it's a sunny day, it's just a great experience, so I would recommend walking along the canal. So go to the market, get your snack- fresh fruit or whatever, get a coffee- and then go walk along the canal. And then from there, you could actually stop off at Barley or Peridot because that's all in a similar area. So once again, just map it out and plan accordingly. I also suggested walking around the old port; you can find so many boutiques there. There's a lot of tourist shops if you want the classic souvenirs, but then there's also a lot of just a random assortment of boutiques, so it's fun to explore, give yourself a lot of time to walk around. Definitely stop off at the Cathedral - it is so beautiful. Yeah, I recommend that, and in the Old Port is also Bota Bota, which is a floating spa.
Karly: I looked up pictures of that-- it looked really cool!
Lilah: It's the best! I have to tell you-- actually, I was so lucky because as I was moving to Montreal, I was on the plane, I was nervous, new experience, a new city that I had never lived in before or really visited. And I was on Air Canada, and there was this Montreal suggestions tab on the TV screen. So I was bored - and it was a long flight - I clicked it and then this recommendation came up and otherwise I don't think I would've known about it as soon as I did. And it's one of the first things I did in Montreal. So, they have 3 different floors and there are water circuits. So you do like a sauna or steam room, then there's a eucalyptus steam room, then you do a cold plunge, and then there's a relaxation area with a hot tub - it's indoor or outdoor - and then they have hammocks, so you can basically pass out and just spend all day there. They also have a restaurant, and you can book massages and different treatments there too, so it's unbelievable. It is such a favorite among the skaters just for some relaxation on the weekends and if you have time - I know it's gonna be a busy week for everybody, but if you need to relax at the end or just to prep for the week ahead, make sure you go to Bota Bota.
Karly: Sounds like self-care central!
Lilah: It is, that is definitely what it is. Let's see here, so if you go downtown, definitely check out Musee de Beaux-Arts, which is the art museum here in Montreal. They have some really great exhibitions, for example, they had the Thierry Mugler one recently, so I could see a bunch of the costumes that he did for Madonna and all of the various celebrities and the beautiful designing that he did throughout his career. If you need some culture, that's a way to tick that box for sure. And then if you go to the Plateau, which is definitely the coolest part of Montreal, I'd say. It's very artsy, eclectic, there are so many random things to do there; I was there today and I went and painted pottery. [Karly: Oh that's so cool] It was so cute. So can do that if you want - it's called the Ceramic Cafe. But it's fun to wander around and there are so many vintage shops and different markets going on, and they have the most famous bagel places in the Plateau. So that's another thing in Montreal - you need to try the bagels. And they have two competitors, both located in the Plateau, which you need to check out. And then also, the Plateau is conveniently located right next to Mont-Royal, which is the main mountain in Montreal and is so great to go on a walk. It's not that intense, you can stroll, you can go on the flats, or you can go uphill, whatever you want. They have a beautiful place called Beaver Lake there too, which I recommend visiting.
Karly: Oh yeah, I've heard of Beaver Lake.
Lilah: Yeah, and you can actually skate there in the winter! (Karly: Oh that's awesome!) So if you really wanna go for the World Championships of Figure Skating, go skate, it's very on-theme and on-brand. And the final thing I'd recommend is a bar called Randolph's and it's a cool bar where you can go and get board games, and it's very fun just to go with friends. So if you wanna experience nightlife in some way in Montreal, Randolph's is very fun. There will be a line up though so definitely factor that in.
Karly: Game bars are always fun.
Lilah: Yeah, over Christmas I was in Toronto and we went to a board game cafe and it's just so fun, even with the family it's such a fun thing to do.
Karly: Board games are fun.
Lilah: They are! And they're underrated. I think we forget about them, we forget that they're fun.
Karly: That's what I love about them; they're like a nice reminder of how fun board games are. [Lilah: Absolutely.] So do you have any tips for getting around as someone who was new to Montreal at one point?
Lilah: Yes, so I'd say definitely get an OPUS card, which is the public transport card here. So I came from London, and everyone knows the Tube map there is so overwhelming. I show my friends here and they just can't believe it, that's the public transport system of London. But Montreal is so much simpler in comparison, so it's very straight forward. Definitely invest in that, and you can choose either daily or two-day, or you can do weekly unlimited which might be a good bet. The bus system is very reliable. You can buy an app, it's called Transit, and it basically gives you a live location of the bus you wanna take and it plans out routes for you too. So that's something that was recommended to me when I first moved here, and that helped me a lot with getting the bus to the rink or the metro to school. But the metro is very reliable, and also Montreal is a great place to walk because it's not that big. You can get around on foot surprisingly easily, especially downtown, there's no need to Uber necessarily, especially because the metro stops are quite nearby one another, so you can get off and walk and hop back on the Metro. I'd say it's gonna be okay to get around. It's not the most overwhelming of cities for sure in that regard.
Karly: And then, the only problem I can see with that is the cold.
Lilah: Okay, I have something to say about the cold. So this is from my grandma--this is what she always tells me. She says, “There's no such thing as bad weather; there's only bad clothing.” And this is something I've learned to be true because I did not have the right coat when I moved here and the first winter was pretty rough. And now I have a coat that's pretty much down to my lower calf/ankle, and it is so warm. And if you have a good coat and a good pair of boots, a hat, gloves, scarf - you will be fine. I really just think, prioritize the layers, and you'll be okay.
Karly: That is the best advice for the cold.
Lilah: Yeah, it's all about the layers and obviously a warm drink helps for sure. And in Montreal, there's a lot of underground parts of the city too. Like there's tunnels, and there's underground malls and things like that, so there's ways to not go outside if you really don't want to.
Karly: But definite recommendation is get a good coat.
Lilah: Get a good coat and boots -- and Roots socks! Remember what I told you.
Karly: Before we close up, how has prep for Worlds been going?
Lilah: Oh it's been great. Everyone's back now from Four Continents and Europeans and all the various nationals, so we're all training hard, we're motivated, and I just think there's just the anticipation of having Worlds here in Montreal, and we're just so excited. Whenever I drive past the Bell Centre I just get shivers and it's gonna be very strange because my friends will be able to watch me skate live.
Karly: Have they ever seen you skate?
Lilah: No because - I mean, they're always invited to training, but people don't really come to training. It's usually just the skaters. So they watch YouTube and everything but now they got tickets, so that will be very exciting. It will be fun for me too to have it here because I can go to Campanelli or Olive et Gourmando in between competing. So I'll be joining everyone with these recommendations.
Karly: That's awesome - I'm really excited for it.
Lilah: Me too. Yeah, it's coming up soon! It's weird how quickly the season passes though. It's crazy.
Karly: Every single season I'm like, oh it's the new season, oh it's already Europeans. Lilah: I know, it's kind of sad. But it's a great way to end the season here in Montreal.
Karly: Yes, I'm very excited. Do you have any closing remarks? I think we've badgered you enough.
Lilah: Oh this was so much fun. I'm so excited to have shared these recommendations. I hope that you use the recommendations and I'd love to - I don't know if there's a way that you guys get comments - but if anyone finds out new places, if there are new places, if there's a way of sharing those too so we can build a community of recommendation and advice while everyone's here in Montreal, that could be really fun. (Karly: Of course!) Because I'd love to learn too! I'm open to suggestions.
Karly: Thank you so much for joining us, this was a lot of fun!
Lilah: Oh I had so much fun! I really appreciate you including me in this.
-end segment-
Becs: We just wanted to say a massive thank you to Lilah for taking the time to sit down with us and put together all those really thoughtful, fun recommendations for enjoying Montreal. So thank you so much, Lilah, we really appreciate it! It was awesome working with you. And thank you so much to Karly for getting the segment together and getting everything sorted. Thanks, guys! Also if anyone has recs, or is also a Montreal listener, please write in or leave in the comments! [Gabb: Or tweet at us!] Give a heads up so everyone can just share and enjoy the recs. And we can all have the best possible time exploring Montreal.
Gabb: Yeah, especially since most of us are here for a whole week, we have so much time to explore!
Becs: But yes, hopefully, you guys enjoy this slightly unconventional divergence from our usual skating coverage to our Enjoy Montreal Theme!
Gabb: Yes, hopefully, anyone going to Worlds actually takes any of this in note then has the chance to explore basically.
Becs: Also if you have any more questions, some of us have done extra research or have been to Montreal -- Gabb is a native -- so feel free to hit us up with questions or ask for more clarification or details.
Gabb: Yes, we would be happy to answer.
Becs: But thank you all for listening. Do you have any final words of advice, Gabb?
Gabb: I would just say, look out for the weather just cause it's all over the place.
Becs: Yeah check it closely before packing and just be prepared for changes.
Becs: So fantastic, thank you all for listening, and we hope to see you again for our next episode. And also Worlds! If you're at Worlds, come say hi to us. We would love to meet you!
Gabb: Yes! I actually have gifts and stickers to give out, so I'd be happy to give some out to anyone who comes.
Becs: Come hit us up for swag!
Gabb: I have some really good stickers too - I consulted Becs for this!
Becs: Yes, I was consulted so they're fabulous. Don't miss out on Gabb's stickers! And if you wanna get in touch with us, feel free to contact us via our website inthelopodcast.com or on Twitter. And you can find our episodes on Youtube, iTunes, Google Play, Stitcher or Spotify.
Gabb: If you enjoy the show, and want to help support the team, then please consider making a donation to us on our Ko-fi page. We also have a merch store, so if you want to buy any merch from us, designed by me-
Becs: If you want more Gabb designs in your life, which everyone should want more Gabb merch designs in their lives so!
Gabb: It is all available on our Redbubble! And we’d like to give a huge thank you to all the listeners who have contributed to our team thus far.
Becs: You can also find all the links below to our social media pages and our Ko-fi on our website. If you’re listening on iTunes, please consider leaving a rating and a review if you enjoyed the show. Thanks for listening, this has been Becs-
Gabb: And Gabb.
Becs: See you soon!