Accessible decadence

My friend Pierre and I have really gotten into Decadence lately. We both work for minimum wage, and live pay check to pay check, but we have a keen eye for the beautiful, and enjoy, when we can, to enjoy the finer things in life. It all started with a free outdoor concert by the OSM last summer. It was overly packed, pouring rain, and dark, but as Nagano conducted the William Tell overture, we were captivated in the moment.

Since then, I`ve made more effort to prepare tasty picnics with wine in beautiful parks. I make multiple course meals on paydays, with candlelight and classical music playing on the free online radio. I`ve started brewing tasty favoured beers which are not only cheaper than your average cheap beer, but taste so wonderful. There are so many little ways to find appreciation in good quality items. Especially when they are rare treats!

So here are some ideas to create a bit more decadence in your life with some great culturally enriching activities.

THE OPERA
Since the company's inception in 2011, Opera da Camera has been excited to create concerts with an eclectic variety of programming, combining works of the classical and musical theatre genres. The company's vision is to promote classical repertoire in an atmosphere (both in terms of where as well as what we perform) of accessibility. As the Mozart buff and the Cole Porter aficionado to sit side-by-side, what emerges is a boundless recognition of universal human truths, regardless of the style in which they may be expressed. Be it thoughts of love, hate, passion, despair, dishonestly or righteousness, our musicians craft an experience where the public is invited to live and breathe alongside some of musicâ€Ts most treasured and illustrious characters.

OPENING NIGHT!
Friday, Feb. 22 and Saturday, Feb. 23 at 7:30pm
Sunday, Feb. 24 at 2:30pm
Theatre Rialto
Opera buffa by W.A. Mozart in four acts - Libretto by Lorenzo da Ponte (after Beaumarchais).
Sung in Italian with English-French surtitles
The Marriage of Figaro is a shining example of an opera’s best qualities: a hilarious story filled with scheming characters, a soaring musical score, and a grand message of love and forgiveness.
In its 2013 season, Opera da Camera is excited to bring to the Montreal stage this classic masterpiece. With an exceptional cast of talented Quebec artists, and in the intimacy of the Rialto Theatre, this production will amaze opera buffs and first comes alike!
The opera chronicles the alliances and betrayals between nobility and staff inhabiting the palace of the Count Almaviva in Seville, Spain, as they live through a single, folle giornata (day of madness) on Figaro’s wedding day.

http://operadacamera.ca/en/


BALLROOM DANCING
Maybe you've always wanted to learn the cha cha but haven't room in your budget to accommodate those desires. Perhaps you just want to meet like-minded dance fans. Either way, Parc Jean-Drapeau's free outdoor Latin ballroom dancing lessons may be a step in the right direction. Learn the steps of salsa, merengue and other Latin styles in the first hour and then practice for the rest of the evening.
Free outdoor ballroom dancing lessons are held every summer at Parc Jean-Drapeau twice a week, Fridays and Sundays. Consult this year's schedule.
Located at Parc Jean-Drapeau. You can reach the park by car (it costs $15 to park for more than two hours). Using public transportation, get off at Jean-Drapeau Metro. Upon exiting the subway station, walk a diagonal line to the left. The dancing square is about twenty paces from the subway station door.
http://montreal.about.com/od/seasonalattractions/ig/Montreal-Free-Ballroom-Dancing/Montreal-Free-Ballroom-Dancing.-3BJ.htm


NATURE AND ART

The Musée de Lachine's outdoor museum, open daily from sunrise to sunset, features 50 sculptures along walking and biking trails following St.-Louis Lake and Lachine Canal. The museum offers a scavenger-hunt for families in René-Lévesque Park designed to educate people of all ages about sculpture. On weekends in September and October, the museum hosts an introduction to archaeology. With a simulated dig, participants help analyze artifacts and learn about discoveries made at the site.
 
DiSH CRAWL
I attended a dish crawl event the other day, and we stopped at 4 great locations with vegan options in the downtown Golden Square Mile. Starting with a series of Lebanese dips and pita, we began our dining adventure at Garage Beirut. I really recommend the walnut dip. Then we tried a sampling of Burritoville`s amazing healthy flavours, including salads and mini tacos. I am a long time fan of Burritoville with their homey atmosphere and affordable healthy food. We finished off the main part of the meal at Kanda, with sushi and tempura and miso soup. Many people believe that sushi refers to raw fish, but it is actually related to the vinegared rice used.We finished off with dessert at Crudessence, with a chocolate banana pie, paired with a avocado key lime pie. Delicious!
I recommend checking out future dish crawl themes, and joining one for a special night out.
They visit 4 restos in 1 night and sample 12 tastings in total!
 http://dishcrawl.com/


MONTREAL MUSEUM OF FINE ARTS
Free Factor: Permanent Collection is always free
Except for Mondays when the museum is closed, the MMFA’s range of permanent collections are always open to the public. European Art (from Monet to Picasso), Canadian Art, Decorative Arts, Mediterranean Archaeology, Contemporary Art and more, there really is something for everyone. Be warned though: their temporary exhibitions host some of the most interesting and wide-ranging shows in the world, so you might want to bring the wallet just to be safe.
1380 Sherbrooke Street West
http://www.mbam.qc.ca/en/

CONTEMPORARY ART MUSEUM
Free Factor: Wednesday nights 5-9pm
Established in 1965, the Musée’s Media Centre boasts Canada’s largest documentary collection devoted exclusively to contemporary art, and is an ideal place for research and consultation in this field. One of the Media Centre’s goals is to stimulate the study and knowledge of contemporary art, both nationally and internationally. In recent years, the Media Centre has stepped up its efforts to publicize and facilitate research using the museum’s documentary archives. The first database provides detailed information on more than 4,500 artists; the other two, currently in production, contain descriptive entries on 2,700 exhibitions, symposiums and other cultural, educational and promotional events hosted by the Musée.
185, Sainte-Catherine West
http://www.macm.org/en/