Megan James and Corin Roddick grew up in Alberta, Canada. In late 2010 they formed Purity Ring which, according to Megan, was “a fluke, an experiment that turned out really well.” Post their excellent debut album Shrines, they’re interested in moving outside of
their ‘usual’ sound and making something completely different, both for themselves
and for the fans. So you best prepare yourselves for their sophomore album, which they will work on after the tour finishes in August, to sound like a whole different kettle of really good music.
Even if Love Waits, travel definitely shouldn’t. Which is why we present to you the first of The Smirnoff Start Pure City Guides. Not a continent will go un-Smirnoff-Guided! Except for Antarctica. Ain’t nobody got time for Antarctica. We’ve also included a delightful Montreal inspired cocktail recipe which you can feel free to make immediately and enjoy whilst you read on. Mmmm delicious AND relevant to the destination.
Listening to Purity Ring gives you the distinct impression that you are slowly and sensuously being wrapped from behind in a beautiful synth hug. So while she was extremely busy touring this feeling, we got Megan to give us the TOP TEN Local Hangs in Montreal. Because, reasons.
Now, hopefully, when you visit Montreal and take Megan up on her recommendations, you’ll feel the hug in these places too:
Dépanneur le Pick Up
Address: 7032 Rue Waverly Montreal, QC H2S 3J2
Phone: 514-271-8011
E-Mail: deppickup@gmail.com
Website: www.depanneurlepickup.com
Opening Hours: Monday to Friday 7am–7pm, Saturday 9am–7pm, Sunday 10am–6pm
Megan says: Really tiny health food store and restaurant which has an amazing pulled pork sandwich. It’s in Little Italy, in an area that’s renowned for being home of the mafia. They also make a really good coffee.
Café Sardine
Address: 9 Fairmount Avenue, Montreal, Quebec H2T 1C7
Phone: 514-802-8899
E-Mail: cafesardine@gmail.com
Website: www.cafesardine.com
Opening Hours: Monday to Wednesday 8am-12midnight, Thursday to Friday 8am-1am, Saturday 9am-1am, Sunday 9am-12noon
Megan says: Cafe all day, restaurant all night. They make their own doughnuts in-house, the citrus cinnamon one is pretty much the best thing ever.
Olimpico
Address: 124 Rue St-Viateur Ouest Montreal, QC H2T 2L1
Phone: 514-495-0746
Website: www.cafeolimpico.com
Opening Hours: Monday to Sunday 7am-12midnight
Megan says: Famous for their really classic Italian style coffee.
Boulangerie Cheskie Inc
Address: 359 Rue Bernard Ouest, Montreal, QC H2V 4H3
Phone: 514-271-2253
Opening Hours: Sunday to Thursday 7am-11pm, Friday 7am-5pm
Megan says: There’s this Jewish Bakery, Cheskie’s, that serves these chocolate babka, with chocolate in each flake. And cheese crowns which are the best thing ever.
Bar Notre-Dame-Des-Quilles
Address: 32 Rue Beaubien Est Montreal, QC H2S 1P8
Phone: 514-507-1313
E-Mail: notredamedesquilles@gmail.com
Website: Facebook.com/notredamedesquilles
Opening Hours: Monday to Sunday 3pm-3am
Megan says: Bar/Bowling Alley. Cool place but can be sort of intimidating, everyone seems to dress up heaps when they go there.
Pikolo Espresso Bar
Address: 3418 Park Avenue, Montreal, QC H2X 2H7
Phone: 514-508-6800
Website: Facebook.com/Pikolo-Espresso-BAR
Opening Hours: Monday to Friday 7am-7pm, Saturday and Sunday 9am-7pm
Megan says: Corin’s girlfriend works there, it’s really fancy and delicious.
Parc Lafontaine
Address: Rue Rachel Est, Montreal, QC H2L 3A7
Megan says: Big beautiful park. Montreal has a tonne of parks and this one is gorgeous. You’re allowed to drink in the park too, as long as you have food with you.
Marché aux puces St-Martin Laval Inc
Address:1550 Bd Daniel Johnson, Chomedey, QC H7V 3V7
Phone: 450-688-1734
Website: www.visitez-nous.net
Opening Hours: Thursday and Friday 10am-9pm, Saturday and Sunday 9am-5pm
Megan says: Saint-Martin Flea Market is an Antique Market at the end of the blue line.
La Ronde
Address: 22 Chemin Macdonald Montreal, QC H3C 6A3
Phone: 514-397-2000
E-Mail: infolaronde@sixflags.com
Website: www.laronde.com
Opening Hours: Monday to Friday 8:30am-4:30pm
Megan says: A beautiful old theme park.
Joe Beef
Address: 2491 Rue Notre-Dame Ouest Montreal, QC H3J 1N6
Phone: 514-935-6504
E-Mail: contactjoebeef@gmail.com
Website: www.joebeef.ca
Opening Hours: Tuesday to Thursday 6:30pm-11:30pm, Friday and Saturday 6:30pm-12:30am
Megan says: So many cool meat dishes, pretty much everything has meat in it, they even have a cocktail with a sausage on it. Horse meat is also on the menu. They grow their own veggies and herbs, in an outdoor garden and with lamps in the basement when it’s colder.
Visit Purity Ring at purityringsongs.com
10th January – Montreal @ Le National.
Presented by Pop Montreal. Tickets on sale via Blue Skies Turn Black.
5th March – Sydney @ Oxford Arts Factory.
Presented by Pedestrian and FBi. Tickets on sale via Moshtix.
6th March – Sydney @ Oxford Arts Factory.
Presented by Pedestrian and FBi. Tickets are SOLD OUT.
8th March – Melbourne @ Corner Hotel.
Presented by Pedestrian and RRR. Tickets on sale now via Corner Box Office.
9th March – VIC @ Golden Plains Festival.
Tickets are SOLD OUT.
10th March – Brisbane @ The Zoo.
Presented by Pedestrian. Tickets on sale via Oztix.
