Beat post-holiday blues without the hangover

If the winter blues are starting to set in with the semester now in full swing, pick yourself up with an evening out. Montreal is packed with all kinds of new things to do, so take a break from the rigours of school and check out some of these cool happenings around the city.
Improv Madness with the One the Spot Troupe is playing every Tuesday and Wednesday at The Comedy Works. Stop by for a belly-aching, side-splitting good time. Tickets only cost five to seven bucks, and there’s a full bar. For more information call 514-398-9661.
Simply Montreal: Glimpses of a Unique City is a permanent exhibition on display now at the McCord Museum. With over 800 items that offer a taste of Montreal’s ancestry and culture, including photographs, sports gear, various articles of clothing, and toys, the exhibit is sure to rekindle your spirit in the city. Admission is free on Saturdays from 10-noon, but for full-time students with I.D. it’s only $5.50.
If you’ve never had the excitement of experiencing IMAX, then you have to check out Adventures in Wild California, the latest 3-D movie playing at the Old Port. For ten bucks you can walk on the Golden Gate Bridge, surf some of the state’s gnarliest waves, and hey, maybe even learn a thing or two. Make it an afternoon by walking Jacques Cartier Square or stopping for a Beaver Tail. Call the theatre for show times.
The Canadiens will take on the Ottawa Senators on Saturday, Jan. 26 at 1 p.m. as Montreal tries to gain a higher standing in their conference. Why not meet some friends for lunch at Moe’s across the street before hitting the game? I mean, we’re sure to win (c’mon, we won the last game against the Senators 6-4).
Luciano Pavarotti will grace the stage at the Molson Center with his performance on Feb. 2 at 8 p.m. Ticket prices are a little steep, but it’s definitely going to be the month’s hottest event. Pavarotti, who was recently honored at the Kennedy Center for his charitable work with children, has been an acclaimed singer for forty years. You can purchase tickets online.
At the Montreal Museum of Fine Arts until Feb. 3, large-scale prints by renowned French artist Jacques Callot will be showcased in all their immensity. On loan from the Hood Museum of Art at Dartmouth College, the series entitled The Large Miseries of War depicts the realities of Europeans at the time of the Thirty Years War. Admission costs are reduced for full-time students with an I.D.
Big Sugar will be playing with Staggered Crossing at Club Soda Feb. 2, and it’s sure to be a truly Canadian event. Big Sugar’s rise to fame came with the hit Diggin’ a Hole in 1996, and they’re joined by the Toronto band Staggered Crossing for an exciting rock concert. Doors open at 6:30 p.m., and tickets cost about $13.
The Metropolis, which is the largest dance club in Montreal, will be booming on February 5 when Vancouver band Default pairs up with alternative rock band Nickelback from Hannah, Alta. Nickelback released their CD The State on their own label, and both bands are gaining recognition for their musical talents across Canada after pleasing audiences back home. Tickets are available the night of the show starting at 6 p.m, and the music starts at 8 p.m.
Finally, sooth those winter blues with a little alternative relief when Weezer performs at the Molson Centre Feb. 15 at 7:30 p.m. But you have to buy your tickets now because they’re going fast. They’ll run you about $37.50 if you buy them beforehand. Weezer is currently working on their fourth album.