Sillery, Sainte-Foy and Cap-Rouge have the reputation of being the more affluent neighborhoods of the capital. This area is home of the main campus of Université Laval, the oldest francophone higher education establishment in America, where the first LGTBQ organization in the capital, the Groupe gai de l’Université Laval, first appeared.

Whether arriving in Québec from the south shore using the highway or the Chemin du Roy, or coming in from the international airport, one inevitably crosses this district before accessing downtown Québec. There are also many hotels in the vicinity of the bridges, especially along Laurier Boulevard. This might be the more practical choices for those coming into the city by car, as the old narrow streets of Old Québec where obviously conceived for horse-drawn carriages and pedestrians, not cars. Shoppers will appreciate the proximity of the shopping malls also found on Laurier Boulevard.

Coming over the bridges from this district, you should visit the Promenade Samuel –De-Champlain park along the river, which was inaugurated in 2008 for the 400^th anniversary of the city. Whether arriving by foot, bike or car, the promenade offers a spectacular view of the city and leads right into historic Old Québec. This is a great way to connect with a natural environment in the heart of the city.

Sillery is certainly the most affluent neighborhood of the capital. Its trendiest street, Maguire Avenue, is an area especially appreciated by our community, offering quaint boutiques, with good restaurants and nice terraces. It also features one of the most remarkable parks in the city, Spencer Wood, which became a showcase for horticulture in North America through the efforts of its owner, Henry Atkinson. For nearly 20 years, the governor-generals of United Canada lived on the property, which was purchased by the Québec government in 1870 and served as the residence of Québec lieutenant-governors until 1966. A major fire eventually destroyed the main residence. Visit the gorgeous park by the Saint Lawrence River, the beautiful gardens and relics of the site's long history.

Villa Bagatelle, with its distinctive irregular forms and ornamentations, was built in the picturesque English architectural style of the 19th century. The cultural centre hosts temporary art and history exhibitions. The Villa is also renowned for its garden where you can admire many native plants and a range of underbrush species.

Also noteworthy is the Aquarium du Québec, with its gardens and outdoor tanks, and a main building featuring many exhibition spaces. The venue includes nearly 10 000 specimens representing 300 species of mammals, indigenous and exotic fish, invertebrates, amphibians and reptiles. Watch marine mammals, such as polar bears, walruses and several seal species, frolic in the outdoor park. Many animals from the Pacific Ocean swim in our huge 350 000-litre tank. The area overlooks the Saint Lawrence River from atop a cliff, an excellent way of discovering these faraway regions.

Trendy locals appreciate their impressive wine list and often drop by for a drink after work, or to dine on one of their many gourmet pizzas. Originality and flavour are on the menu here. Piz’za-za has an urban decor, with brick, wood and mirrors, centering on their impressive bar and open view of the kitchen. It’s on the second floor that we find the pièce de résistance, their large glass wine cellar that would make any oenophile drool. During the summer months, you’ll want to check out their lovely back patio.

The restaurant staff is remarkably friendly and quick, creating a welcoming and inviting atmosphere. Employees receive regular courses on the wines offered in the restaurant to improve their service. The menu has many charms, for example, their tomato gratin with brie and raclette cheese made with Griffon beer. Bold, simple, and exquisite. The pizzas are delicious and made with fresh ingredients like fennel, fig, mango and smoked trout, and their salads and pastas are colourful and fresh. Every season, the chef makes up a new menu inspired by seasonal local ingredients.

The restaurant also offers wine tastings hosted by oenologist Richard Charbonneau. With varying themes, these workshops are a fantastic way to discover the diversity of wines while savouring a succulent meal.

Piz’za-za is definitely worth the detour. Thanks to its proximity to Canada`s capital, it is common for locals and tourists to cross the river for some good food, good wine, all at a reasonable price. To view their menu or find out about their wine tastings, visit their website at www.pizzaza.ca

Piz’za-za Restau Bar à vin 36, rue Laval Gatineau, Québec info@pizzaza.ca www.pizzaza.ca

This June 13^th is the Montreal Fringe Festival premiere of Snack Music, a brand new show from the award-winning creators of the fringe smash-hits Kitt & Janeand Little Orange Man (Playwright’s Theatre Centre Prize, Centaur Theatre Award, Most Outstanding Overall Production.) Snack Music invites the audience to tell their best (or worst) true story, then sit back and watch the artists bring the story to life with improvised puppetry and live music. The snacks are free.

“There is something about puppets that can take the strangest story and make sense of it, take the darkest story and find the humour, take the simplest story and make it an epic tale,” says director Ginette Mohr. “Imagine telling a short story from your life to a dancer and watching them dance it, or giving your story to a composer and having them compose a mini symphony. It’s impossible to explain, you’ve just got to experience it.”

During the post-show Q & A, audience members remarked that Snack Music “feels like a house party, only funnier and with more friends.” If the idea of sharing your story terrifies you, you can also just sit back and watch. “Everyone is welcome,” says Snack Music puppeteer Ingrid Hansen, “We won’t make you open your mouth, except to maybe put snacks in it.”

All this is in an attempt to build a temporary community out of an audience of strangers. Snack Music has only six performances at the Montreal Fringe, and the company’s show Kitt & Jane sold out last year, so get your tickets in advance for this one or you might get left out of the game.

SNACK MUSIC produced by SNAFU

Playing at the 2015 St-Ambroise MONTREAL FRINGE FESTIVAL

Directed by Ginette Mohr

Performed by Andrew G. Young, Elliott Loran, and Ingrid Hansen

Dates:

• Saturday June 13^th @ 22:15
• Sunday June 14^th @ 14:15
• Thursday June 18^th @ 18:00
• Friday June 19^th @ 20:00
• Saturday June 20^th @ 23:45
• Sunday June 21^st @ 13:30

Venue: MAI (Montréal, Arts Interculturels) 3680 Rue Jeanne-Mance, Montreal

Tickets: $10 online at www.montrealfringe.ca

At the Fringe HQ Box Office 3905 St. Laurent 514.849.FEST and cash-only at the door.

Janice is the one-woman powerhouse behind Gâteaux Janice, a made-to-order Montréal cake business that not only creates cakes that are total flights of decorative fantasy, but also bakes everything from scratch, assuring that they taste positively fantastic. Looking through her portfolio, I see the work of a total perfectionist. Elegant roses and lilies with petals so delicate that they look almost too real to eat and playful cakes that imitate flower pots, shoes, books and fish. Apparently no idea is too much of a challenge for Janice.

But this master of icing sugar isn’t a graduate of a fancy culinary school. The only formal schooling she’s had was a night class on basic cake decorating. Through practice and experimentation, Janice taught herself to make cakes that would stand their ground against any reality TV show baker. Nowadays her plate is full with clients who keep her on her toes, looking for more and more complex and off-the-wall creations for their weddings, birthdays and fundraisers. Since the summer season of celebrations is upon us, I asked Janice what’s hot for this year in the world of cake. She replies that berry shortcakes and red velvets are very en vogue right now and that she personally recommends something along the lines of a lemon curd with either blueberry or raspberry. But no matter what the trend, assures Janice, don’t be afraid to order the good old standards because chocolate continues to reign supreme as the most popular flavour of all.

info@gateauxjanice.com t. 514.295.1700 www.gateauxjanice.com

“A few powerful experiences made me passionate about sex education as well as contributing to my desire to build a place to counter the sex negativity in our culture,” says Shelley Taylor, founder of Venus Envy .

This desire for positive sex education is an integral part of Taylor’s store, a welcoming treasure trove of sex toys, accessories, and books. Though Taylor opened the original Venus Envy in Halifax in 1998, she went on to expand in Ottawa in 2001. Recognizing the importance of community, in 2006 VE launched the Venus Envy Ottawa Bursary Fund, a program that “aims to support women and trans people in need who wish to further their education.” On June 15, Fall Down Gallery presents One Night Stand, a fundraiser for the bursary. Aside from monthly workshops, the store hosts a reading every second Wednesday of the month called Voices of Venus, with Toronto spoken word artist Keisha Monique Simpson performing in May.

While Taylor will soon go on a yearlong leave from her day-to-day at VE, she’ll still be organizing all of the store’s special events. This industrious maven will continue to share her knowledge and passion online with passtheherpes.wordpress.com , a blog that demystifies the silence and shame surrounding the subject of herpes. She’s an inspiring leader (and by all accounts a great boss), so basically, a superb role-model as a business woman and activist. Loves.

The Award-Winning 5 Star Shipwright Inn B&B, located in Olde Charlottetown, PEI, “The Gentle Island”, has been rated as the “Best Bed and Breakfast on Prince Edward Island” and one of the “Top Ten B and B’s” in Canada by Frommer’s Travel Guides and is AAA/CAA 3 Diamond approved. We offer warm, Island hospitality and attentive service.

Our accommodation is well appointed but not intimidating and has all the benefits of an hotel and so much more. Quiet and safe. Convenient location, walk to everything in town — fine dining, shopping, the boardwalk, waterfront activities and the Confederation Centre of the Arts. Walking and biking trails nearby.

We provide off street parking and a smoke free home. There are 30-plus courses here (starting only a matter of minutes away) so, given PEI’s small size, you can play a round and still have plenty of time for touring, dining, beaches, Anne of Green Gables attractions, lighthouses, seal watching, Provincial and National Parks, heritage roads, historic villages, antique and craft shopping.