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MAY 19: LES JARDINS GAMELIN OPEN FOR A THIRD SEASON

Communiqué de presse | For immediate release

Montreal, May 8, 2017 – Montrealers and the media are invited to participate in the opening night festivities for the third season of Les Jardins Gamelin, on Friday, May 19 starting at 5:30 p.m.. With their warm ambiance, illuminated canopy, friendly patio surrounded with greenery, delicious snack bar and activities seven days a week, Les Jardins Gamelin have become an essential gathering place for Montrealers and visitors. From May 19 to October 15, everyone is invited to have a drink or a snack, take part in family fun, dance, see a show and discover something new – all for free.

A BIG OPENING PARTY ON MAY 19

The evening’s festivities will provide a taste of the atmosphere to be found in Place Émilie-Gamelin until October 15, as well as kicking off the spring-summer season in the Quartier des Spectacles. DJ Speakeasy Electro Swing will get the ball rolling at 5:30 p.m.. The evening will follow with a dance lesson by Salsafolie (6:30 p.m.) and music by pianist Henri-Pierre Noël (7 p.m.), originally from Haiti, who will bring some sunshine to the Jardins with his kompa funk tunes. Rounding out the evening’s entertainment, the Montreal-based duo Skinny Bros (Paul and Christophe Cargnello) will perform a groove, R&B, soul and rock set to get the Jardins hopping at 8 p.m., followed by POIRIER and his legendary energy from 9 p.m. until closing.

NEW THIS YEAR: COMICS, KIDS’ WORKSHOPS, DANCE AND TRIVIA!

The Jardins bring a high-energy touch to spring and summer in Montreal with a rich, diverse program of activities and entertainment, including some new features and the return of the classics that have made the Jardins a huge success since their inaugural season in 2015.

Les chroniques dessinées des Jardins: Comic-book artist Cyril Doisneau will make Les Jardins Gamelin his office for the summer. As a discreet observer of life in Place Émilie-Gamelin throughout the season, he will create short illustrated stories depicting select moments and memories of summer in the Jardins.
La Maison jaune is a game library especially for kids and families, in a shipping container transformed by designers Castor et Pollux. The new space will host creative workshops and short performances every Sunday morning from 9:30 to 11 a.m. The activities, presented by Petits Bonheurs, among others, will give children the chance to explore different aspects of the performing arts (dance, music, theatre, puppetry, singing, circus arts). In addition to their Sunday activities, the facilitators at La Maison jaune will be on hand with books, games and creative materials for kids throughout the season.
Every Wednesday from 7 to 11 p.m., the public is invited to discover a new dance. The evening will begin with a dance lesson, followed at 8 p.m. by an evening of dancing led by a DJ who will play the featured genre’s greatest hits. By popular demand, the Salsafolie evenings will return every Saturday from 7 to 11 p.m. You’re invited to a big fiesta with salsa, bachata, mambo and reggaeton dancing under the stars.
Let the games begin! Randolph pub ludique returns in 2017 with two new activities on Sundays : Club de jeux (2 to 7 p.m.) and trivia nights, Quizz aux Jardins (7 to 9 p.m.). Fun afternoons are guaranteed for friends who get together for skill, strategy and role-playing games led by Randolph’s crew, and the fun keeps going with trivia night. May the best team win!

Whenever Les Jardins are open, there will be self-serve board games, a ping-pong table, and games like Passe-trappe, giant Jenga and Mölkky.
Other new features this season include Tupi Collective, who will provide music for the patio every Wednesday at noon and during happy hour (5 to 7 p.m.). Canicule tropicale and Speakeasy Electro Swing will play DJ sets exploring world-music beats and swing on Thursdays and Fridays at 5 p.m.

Montrealers will be happy to see the return of 1.26, the iconic hanging sculpture by Janet Echelman, as well as the illuminated sculpture by Melvin Charney and video projections on the side of Place Dupuis. In collaboration with MU, there will be a new work on the ground by artist Ilana Pichon, who will decorate the entrances to the Jardins on Sainte-Catherine St.

A FEAST FOR THE EYES AND EARS

After last year’s success, Notre cinéma aux Jardins, presented by Radio-Canada, returns with three open-air movie screenings: Ça sent la coupe (Sunday, June 11, 9 p.m.), Les mauvaises herbes (Sunday, August 6, 9 pm.) and La Chasse-Galerie (Sunday, September 3, 9 p.m.).

Les Jardins will once again be the place to discover new art and music – and have a lot of fun in the process. Several programming partners will fill the air with music every Thursday and Friday at lunchtime, while live music kicks in at 7 p.m. Indie folk, blues, world music, chanson: there’s something for everyone. Plus, ICI Musique will provide ambient music throughout the season.

In July, get ready for Les Jardins Gamelin complètement cirque, an entire month of exciting circus events presented in collaboration with Montréal Complètement Cirque! Their all-new show, Rouge, will play every evening at 7:30 and 10:30 p.m. from July 6 to 16 and at 7 and 10 p.m. from July 17 to 30.

Throughout July, the public can enjoy acrobats and other circus artists weekdays at lunchtime and happy hour. There will also be a participatory zone, to get everyone in on the fun. Be there weekdays at noon and 5 p.m., and Saturdays at 11 a.m.

To make it possible to present an eclectic program for all audiences, the Quartier des Spectacles Partnership is once again working with its many partners, including several festivals and community and cultural organizations:

BAnQ - Centre culturel marocain - Donner pour aider- École Nationale de Ballet du Canada - Les Escales improbables de Montréal - Festival Accès Asie - Festival international de la littérature - Festival TransAmériques - Fierté Montréal - Francouvertes - Haïti en folie - La gamme.mu - Ma première Place des Arts - Festival international Nuits d’Afrique - MUTEK - Pop Montréal - Pwa’s friends for Life Bike Rally - Révélations Radio-Canada – Le Sac à dos - Sans oublier le sourire - Terre en vues - Théâtre Sainte-Catherine - Vision diversité - UQAM - Yo-Yoga - 375^e anniversaire de Montréal.

A DAIRY BAR JOINS THE SNACK BAR IN LES JARDINS GAMELIN

Dominic St-Laurent and his team from BallPark restaurant are returning to serve their modern snack-bar fare with a Montreal touch. Check out the lunch specials, have a snack with a cocktail, or enjoy dinner with the kids – there’s a new menu just for them. You’ll love the snack bar’s delicious salads, homemade burgers and fries and other seasonal dishes inspired by the nearby vegetable gardens or activities taking place in the Jardins. For a little something sweet, the Jardins will also include a dairy bar this year. Yum!

Plus, the snack bar in Les Jardins Gamelin will serve breakfast on the lawn every Saturday and Sunday this summer, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Come pick up a picnic basket and blanket, find yourself a spot on the lawn and revel in a delightful Montreal morning.

The snack bar, including bar service, will be open weekdays from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m., and weekends from 9 a.m. to 11 p.m.

EVEN MORE GREENERY FOR LES JARDINS

The ever-popular urban agriculture activities will be back, once again led by Sentier Urbain. True to its mission of encouraging communities to be greener, for three years the organization has been designing and running the urban agriculture portion of the Jardins Gamelin program. This season, the Jardins will feature seven theme gardens and nearly 60 planters around the patio and Place Émilie-Gamelin.

Members of the public interested in gardening, growing food and enjoying the season’s harvest can participate in the Découverte des Jardins activity every Tuesday from 5 to 7 p.m., including a tour of the gardens and a presentation on one of several urban agriculture themes. Focusing on the ins and outs of vegetable gardening, the Sentier Urbain workshops return every Sunday from 11 a.m. to noon with a variety of practical topics: planning a kitchen garden, making bird houses, treating sick plants and more.

ABOUT LES JARDINS GAMELIN

In the spring of 2015, Place Émilie-Gamelin showed a new face to Quartier des Spectacles residents and visitors with Les Jardins Gamelin, open from May to October. A large, green and inviting civic space in the heart of downtown, Les Jardins Gamelin is an original temporary layout comprising a set of versatile facilities. The space’s unique, accessible and human-scale programming has become a part of daily life for residents and visitors, making Les Jardins Gamelin an inclusive gathering place in true Montreal style. The initiative, led by the Quartier des Spectacles Partnership, is produced in collaboration with Pépinière & co, Sentier Urbain and numerous partners, with the financial support of the borough of Ville-Marie.

ABOUT THE QUARTIER DES SPECTACLES

The Quartier des Spectacles is Montreal’s cultural heart, boasting North America’s most concentrated and diverse group of cultural venues. The district is the year-round host to countless festivals and events, many of which include free outdoor shows and activities. The Quartier hosts innovative urban installations involving cutting-edge lighting design, immersive environments or interactive digital spaces. Year round, the Quartier presents artistic video projections on several building façades. The Quartier des Spectacles is a showcase for new multimedia technology, making Montreal a global leader in the urban exhibition of digital content.

More information: quartierdesspectacles.com.

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