Boulevard Saint-Laurent is a long street that stretches from close to the St. Lawrence River and heads in a northwesterly direction through downtown, ending at the Riviere des Prairies. Start out near Boulevard Rene-Levesque and head north, keeping your eyes peeled for the wealth of vintage shops, used clothing stores and boutiques that dot the street. The shops have a wealth of both low-cost thrift items as well as new, unique specialty items and trendy fashion garb. If you make it as far as Boulevard Saint-Joseph, you've seen much of the shopping the street has to offer.
All that shopping is sure to whet your appetite -- and you'll have a wealth of options to choose from along the street. North of Rue Sherbrooke you'll find Schwartz's, a Jewish delicatessen that's hosted more than its fair share of dignitaries and rock stars. You'll also find a number of coffee shops to while away a few hours and use the free Wi-Fi, as well as brew pubs, fine dining and grocery stores on this strip of the street. This is also a good place to find Quebec's signature dish -- poutine -- a glorified version of fries with gravy and cheese. On the southerly side of Boulevard Saint-Laurent, just south of Boulevard Rene-Levesque, is Montreal's Chinatown, where Vietnamese, Chinese and Japanese residents serve up delights in ramshackle cafes and formal restaurants. It's also a good place to pick up a souvenir waving cat or have your palm read by a street-side fortuneteller.
"The Main" is also directly adjacent to the city's arts and entertainment centers, Place des Arts and Place des Festivals. That's where you'll find big events such as the annual Montreal Jazz Fest in July, featuring world class jazz, blues, soul and rock and roll in a number of outdoor amphitheaters. In February, the area is alight for Montreal en Lumiere, the city's big culinary event. Many of the the large-scale festivals include free events. Check out the city's tourism website for more information on when events are taking place.
Simply walking down the boulevard is an experience in itself, with dozens of large-scale murals gracing the exteriors of the French-inspired buildings. Throughout the summer months, the boulevard is also home to several art events including outdoor art fairs, art exhibitions, temporary galleries and live street theater. Try visiting when one of the events are taking place from June through August -- or just spend an afternoon taking goofy photos in front of murals of larger-than-life chickens or surly men in large hats.
