You’ve been doing New Year’s wrong
“What?” you reply with indignation. “You don’t know me! I have the best New Year’s Eve every year on the planet! I party with my closest friends on a raft and sing Kumbayah at midnight when we dance naked in the moonlight!”
If that’s the case, go you, man, you live your life. Also, try not to catch cold. But let me tell you about what my New Year’s Eve used to look like and see if it’s at all familiar:
- “New Year’s Eve is coming! I hope I do something special and get invited to a cool party!”
- “Oh, gee, no one has planned anything. Hope I don’t end up at home alone this year.”
- “Hey, I got sort-of invited to this acquaintance’s party, but I’m sure something better will come up.”
- “Okay, acquaintance party it is.”
- (Cut to me, in a stranger’s basement, drinking vodka-cranberry and pretending to have fun watching the ball drop on tv. If I’m lucky, I have a date to kiss at midnight.)
Let’s be real, this is a weak way to start a brand new, glorious year! Don’t passively wait and hope, create for yourself an active life that guarantees a good time. New Year’s Eve is a world-wide holiday- unlike Thanksgiving, you can be pretty much anywhere on earth to celebrate. In that case, might I make a suggestion?
MONTREAL
Montreal, my darlings! If you live in New England, Montreal is less than a six-hour drive away and it is glorious. It is the best parts of North America and Europe in a gravy-infused and reasonably-priced smoked meat platter of goodness. It is a snow-globe of gentle holiday festiveness. And, as a surprise bonus, nowhere parties like Montreal.
Whether you’re looking for a family-friendly holiday or a rock-n-rock party-all-night, Montreal has what you’re looking for. That’s why I’ve been there every New Years six years running.
Our first year was also my first time in Montreal, although I had visited it’s frostier cousin, Quebec. Fed up with boring plans, I had looked up New Year’s Eve parties to find the most interesting and stumbled onto Cirque De Boudoir. I’m not into the S&M scene, but I know a good party when I see one and “Venetian themed New Year’s bash in a former YMCA with an open bar, cage dancers, and burlesque” sounded right up our alley.
The city was beautiful- sparkling with fairy lights and chinese lanterns, warm with holiday cheer, stuffed with hearty food. Notre Dame is one of the most lovely cathedrals on the planet. The party was wild- airbrush artists doing full body makeup, a dance floor in the former pool, and great performers all night. Awesome. We’d be back.
The following year, we dragged a good friend with us and rented an entire apartment for $20 a night. Instead of buying party tickets this time, we explored the city and discovered The Greatest Cocktail Bar in the World, Le Lab.
There’s going to be an entire article about how amazing this place is in the future, but suffice to say, we have been all over the US and much of Europe sniffing out speakeasies and cocktails and this is still our favorite cocktail bar (sorry, New York.) And at midnight on New Year’s, they have a wild fire show.
Ever since then, we grab a van full of friends, rent an entire apartment, and explore the city. We always are at Le Lab for midnight. Prices are very reasonable, even for a fancy dinner, and the food is excellent. Splitting the costs with friends lowers our overhead even further. We have yet to have a bad time. How can you have a bad time in such a beautiful place?
But it’s cold!
Yes, my friends, but Canada is used to cold and has many fantastic warm drinks to keep the frostbite away! Dress well (another article on that will be forthcoming) and feel free to bar-hop your way down the street. Wear good shoes and toast yourself at the fireplaces in the central areas. You’ll have a wonderful time despite the cold!
But I don’t speak French!
Although Montreal is 100% French-speaking, pretty much everyone can speak English as well. Remember, half of Canada doesn’t speak French very well either. As long as you are polite and learn a simple “Bonjour!” and “Merci” for when you enter shops, you shouldn’t have much trouble. They will appreciate it if you at least try.
But I don’t have a passport!
….Seriously? Go to your post office. It’s time.
Have you been to Montreal yet? Do you have any specific recommendations you’re looking for? Hit me up here!