Montreal Just for Laughs Festival - Mom Com

"Hey moms out there. Your let your kids live in you for 9 months rent-free. You pushed your kids out like a Pez dispenser into this world. You raised them and let them live at home until they were 35. You somehow put up with all of their complaining, BS, and are always there for them even when they're a schmuck. It’s time for the moms of the world to speak up, unite in laughter, and gab about everything MOM related!" - Just for Laughs

As we've mentioned over and over, Montreal is FULL of fabulous summer events, and the Just For Laughs Festival is one of them. The Festival that recently kicked off their street art performances with the Pinkarnaval Parade runs through the end of July and hosts tons of amazing comedians including Russell Peters, Craig Ferguson, Eddie Izzard and many more, all ready to make you fall on the floor laughing.

One noteworthy, upcoming show, perfect for all our Montreal Fashion Mom readers is Mom Com, and just as the name suggests, it is a comedy show especially for moms. Hosted by Montreal’s own Caroline Rhea, the Mom Com show features of a group of comedians including Bob Marley (no, not that one - obviously lol), Tammy Pescatelli, Leanne Morgan, Paula Bel and Fiona O'Loughlin, who will all share what is sure to be hilarious, honest stories and jokes about all things mom. These comedians will say what you've been thinking, but have been too afraid to actually express out loud. You know that saying, it’s funny cause its true? Well, we're thinking that will probably apply with this show.

I think it’s time to grab a few friends and have a moms night out to check out Mom Com and share a good laugh. It is showing in Théâtre Jean-Duceppe at Place des Arts on July 29th and 30th. There are also tons of other great shows to check out, and lots of free events, perfect for the whole family! Visit the Just For Laughs Festival website for scheduling and tickets at hahaha.com

After all, laughter is the best medicine!

Pinkarnavale Parade Honoring Jean Paul Gaultier

Yesterday evening, Montreal Fashion Moms headed downtown with our sons to check out the Pinkarnavale Parade. The Ready to Wear Carnival parade kicked off the street arts part of the famed Just for Laughs Festival and was inspired by the legendary French couturier Jean Paul Gaultier.

Sporting our stripes in honor of Gaultier

The fashion-forward parade that ran down St-Catherine Street to Place des Arts, had 8 groups of dancers, from 8 different boroughs of Montreal, that creatively showed 8 themes from Gaultier’s famed designs. DJ and model muse, Eve Salvail even spun some tracks for the final tableaux.

 

Themes ranged from Gaultier’s signature stripes to the iconic cone bra. Each group was full of colorful costumes, exaggerated hair and elaborate makeup. The dancers were also accompanied by huge inflatable marionettes, bright floats and lots of confetti.

Gaultier even returned to Montreal to participate in this over-the-top fashion parade. “The fact that Gaultier will be here again shows his commitment to Montreal,” said one of the designer’s model muses, Quebecer, Franciso Randez. “From his first collection in the late ’70s, Montreal has shown its support for Gaultier from the beginning. He’s not just a designer but an artist who is open to the crowd and close to the people. We want people to come out and party, and feel just how awesome it is to be in Montreal in the summer. Our goal is to make it warm, happy and fun.”

Photo: Lolitta Dandoy

Gaultier also agreed to dress the event mascot, Rose, the fiancée of the Just for Laughs green bonhomme. In true Gaultier and Just for Laughs style, Rose sported a cone bra..on her head!

Since his exhibition, The Fashion World of Jean-Paul Gaultier: From the Sidewalk to the Catwalk opened at the MMFA, Gaultier has certainly taken over the city!

The fabulous parade produced by Danielle R O Y in collaboration with the Montreal Museum of Fine Arts created a new definition of Pop Art with this event, using the POPulation and the ARTists of Montreal. All kinds of Montrealers, young and old, participated and came out to see this elaborate parade dressed in stripes, as the invite suggested, honoring the designer.

We had a great time at the parade and so did the boys! They really enjoyed all the action and bright lights. It was a beautiful night full of fun, friends, family and fashion!

Thanks again to our photographer Hugo Trottier for always showing up at fashion events and sharing his photos with Montreal Fashion Moms.

Montréal Complètement Cirque

You have to admit, Montreal is the place to be for all the best summer festivals, and that includes the Montreal Circus Arts Festival - Montréal Complètement Cirque (“completely circus” in English)

Today kicks off the second edition of this fun family event that will feature more than 100 circus professionals from across the world, performing traditional and contemporary circus acts like contortions, flips, juggling, balancing, clowning, flying and other surprising physical feats for the public.

The newest summer festival comes as no surprise since Montreal is quickly becoming the world capital for circus arts. The city is home to the famous Cirque De Soleil main headquarters as well as the National circus school.

Hosted by circus arts performance centre, TOHU, the Montréal Complètement Cirque festival runs from July 7 to July 24, and is perfect for some summer family fun with lots of free events, the return of Cirque De Soleil’s Totem, and much more!

Visit the Montréal Complètement Cirque website for a complete list of events.

Montreal International Jazz Festival

Isn’t Montreal just an amazing place to be in the summer with all the fabulous festivals and events that hit our city? Well, tomorrow, the 32nd edition of the amazing Montreal International Jazz Festival begins with tons of musical talent from around the world here to entertain us, and pleasure our ears!

The Montreal International Jazz Festival has been the world’s biggest jazz festival for 30 years and has brought in amazing international superstars like Ray Charles, Miles Davis, Ella Fitzgerald, BB King, Tony Bennett, Stevie Wonder and so many more! Even Prince is performing two midnight shows tonight and tomorrow, to officially kick off to this year’s festival, because of course, they always have to start off with a bang!

The best part is that the festival hosts 750 FREE concerts, perfect for the whole family to see and enjoy. Its definitely worth checking out!

The festival takes place at the heart of Quartier des Spectacles (the entertainment district) in downtown Montreal, and runs through to July 4. Click here to access the official Jazz Fest website for full listings of all the upcoming shows.

*JAZZ HANDS*

Weekend Rainy Day Activity

Looking for something fun to do with the kids this weekend but all this bad weather in Montreal is getting you down? Why not get out of the rain, and hit up the movies? The much anticipated sequel, Cars 2, is out in theaters today. 

Star racecar, Lightning McQueen, voiced by new dad Owen Wilson, is back with tow-truck buddy, Mater and they’re headed for a world championship. Cars 2 is said to be and international adventure that’s even more action packed than the first, with more high-speed chases, and a James Bond (for kids) type feel.

Check out the extended Cars 2 trailer below, and click here for a full movie review and local listings, from the Montreal Gazette.

Kids POP

Looking for something fun and creative for your kids to do this weekend? Check out Kids Pop, the kid-focused part of POP Montreal, which offers children's workshops and concerts that both empower and educate youth, in a fun, creative environment.

Pop kids will definitely bring the creative, artistic side out in your children. Their wonderful workshops are geared toward kids between the ages of 5 and 12, and include awesome activities like building time capsules, making instruments, writing songs, designing concert posters, green screen technology, animation, movie making, and more!

They even have a Kids Pop Idol, where your whole family can perform on stage, and sing karaoke style with a live band! How awesome is that?

Sounds like great family fun to us! And a perfect place to go for your budding artist or musician. Check out the Kids POP website for more details on all the activities, times and locations.

Have fun!!

Opening Day at La Ronde

Need something fun to do with your kids this long weekend? Want to take advantage of the sunny weather? Well, just your luck! Today is opening day at Six Flags La Ronde Amusement park in Montreal. Great family fun for you and your kids ages 2 to 18.

For more info on rates, opening hours, rides, etc, visit www.laronde.com

Have fun!!