Will be in Montreal 7/8-7/10. Recommendations? Cool jazz clubs, outdoor events, good (not fancy) food, where friendly people go?

Answered by Gregory B. Gallagher , Montreal, Canada

Try some excellent sushi and jazz at Kaizan on Sainte-Catherine Street West (www.70sushi.com), or if you want neighborhgood-style go to Tataki on Duluth Street just east of Saint-Laurent Blvd (no jazz but great sushi at a fair price). If you prefer a classic Montreal nosh, stay on Saint-Laurent and eat smoked meat at Scwartz's, either getting the full floor show with a sit down experience jammed together with the rich and famous and the locals, or try their new take-out location next door. Food is everywhere in this city, even on top of Mount Royal, where you can visit Maison Smith for fresh soups, sandwiches, coffees, and desserts, or at the Beaver Lake Chalet, where the same kitchen serves either a la acfeteria, or upscale at Le Pavilion. Watch the ducks and the pastoral scene for a real cross-section of humanity. Rue Saint-Denis is another good bet for food, and just above Sherbrooke Street, you will find Luca E Franco for excellent wood fired pizza, tapas munchies, and a full array of traditional and contemporary Italian dishes. Just past Carré Saint-Louis park, do not pass by Mamie's without trying some of their decadent fare made fresh daily. A popular activity is now to order some food at Mamie's to go, and find a park bench to eat and watch the special gatherings in Carré Saint-Louis. If you are looking for an original place to dine for dinner, without worrying about the paocketbook, try Cocagne, also on Saint-Denis, for wonderfully inventive French contemporary "au terroir" cuisine. Any of these choices will make you happy.