PlanetEye

Montreal's Old Port is one of the city's most popular tourist destinations because of its European-like charm, its many activities and street performances, as well as its fabulous restaurants and hotels. With all the modern-day pleasures it has to offer, it is easy to forget the Port's modest beginnings, which were instrumental in the city's growth and continued success. So that the rich history of the Quays of the Old Port does not escape any visitor, August 31st is Port in the City Day. This all-day activity will allow you to discover this locale for what it truly is.

For the first time in 25 years, you'll be able to get an intimate view of the Port's facilities. You'll learn the Port's history, how it operates, its economic impact, its role in the community, and its environmental commitments. The best part is getting the chance to tour the Port by bus, train or boat, free of charge. Bus tours take place all day with departures scheduled every five minutes, while the train and boat tours are limited and require registration.

Although touring the Old Port on any day guarantees a wonderful time, visit on August 31st for a unique perspective. For more information, go to www.portinthecity.ca.

One of the world's most renowned film events, The Montreal World Film Festival, is back for its 32nd run. With one of its missions being to encourage cultural diversity and understanding among nations, it presents exceptional films from over 70 countries.

The competition is divided into several sections, which include the World Competition, Documentaries of the World and the Canadian Student Film Festival. Like every year, the range of films presented is eclectic as can be, with films from both seasoned and new filmmakers. While a professional jury has the demanding task of selecting the winners, the filmgoer's opinion is just as important. Spectators are invited to vote for their favourites in certain categories, including the People's Choice Award and the Award for the Most Popular Canadian Film.

The Montreal Word Film Festival runs from August 21st to September 1st. For programming and ticket information, visit www.ffm-montreal.org.

As summer slowly winds down, stores are trying to get rid of the excess stock that is cramping their shelves. Lucky for us, items that were beyond our budget at the start of the summer are now sold for a fraction of the cost. One of the most exciting summer events for shopaholics is Main Madness, the biggest street sale in Montreal. The Main (St-Laurent Boulevard), one of the city's top shopping streets, closes down to traffic and brings its merchandise outdoors so that pedestrians can sort through the stock in a mad frenzy.

Expect a packed event with about 300,000 people checking out the goods of over 200 boutiques. When you've shopped until it's impossible to loop any more bags through your hands, rest at one of the outdoor restaurant or bar terraces. There will also be live music to entertain you along the way. Main Madness runs from August 21st to August 24th but for the best finds go as early as possible. For more information, visit www.boulevardsaintlaurent.com.

We all love the fact that in our hotel room mini shampoo bottles and individually wrapped chocolates await us. What we don't love is the credit card bill that it all ends with. No one likes dishing out a hundred dollars a night for a place to stay, no matter how comfortable the mattress or how snazzy the doorman's outfit. So instead, would you sacrifice some of these trivial creature comforts for a free stay on a stranger's couch? Some people wouldn't, but hundreds of thousands have snubbed traditional hospitality by couch surfing all around the world.

CouchSurfing.com is a non-profit organization that unites travellers and hosts from over 46,000 cities. Hosts use the site to generously open their homes to travellers, free of charge, while travellers use it to locate available accommodations. More than just a couch locater, this unique concept brings people together for memorable cultural exchanges that create long-lasting friendships.

Many welcoming Montrealers have spare couches, futons and beds waiting to be used, along with invaluable wisdom to share about their city. To find out more, visit www.couchsurfing.com.

Osheaga, Montreal's music and arts festival, is a mere three years old this year, although it is so hugely successful, it seems as though it has been part of Montreal's mainstay for much longer. The bill is eclectic, showcasing local talent alongside some of the big names in music, both established and emerging. Mirroring a European-style music festival without the camping, this fest packs in over thirty-five acts in just two days. Complementing the music is the Salon des Arts, where a selection of contemporary fine art will be exhibited.

Osheaga is organized on admirable principles. It limits needless corporate presence, it offers quality concession stand fare and most importantly, it is eco-conscious. You can take a water bottle along with you and fill it up at one of the several refill stations (goodbye $4 water bottles!).

Osheaga is on August 3rd and August 4th at Parc Jean-Drapeau. This year, The Killers will headline the first day and Jack Johnson the next. If you're only interested in attending one of the days, tickets can be purchased separately. For a list of bands, ticket information and more, visit www.osheaga.com.

Skip the local movie listings and watch something unconventional next month, like a documentary about stalkers, a horror movie starring a 3000-pound boar, or a short film about two men who are convinced of Bigfoot's existence. This is a small sample of what to expect at this year's Fantasia, North America's premier genre film festival. The festival celebrates all types of film that are not readily accessible to viewers. Its programming highlights Asian films, stemming from Japan, Korea and China, but also includes a promising selection of films from over 25 countries.

Fantasia runs from July 3rd to July 21st and there are close to 100 feature-length films to choose from. Tickets are $8 each or ten can be purchased at a reduced cost. For film descriptions, ticket information and more, visit www.fantasiafestival.com.

One of the most energetic festivals around, the Festival International Nuits d'Afrique fills Montreal with world music, with an emphasis on music with African roots. For its 22nd edition, artists from Africa, the Caribbean, Latin America, as well as local artists, will offer some of Montreal's best summer entertainment. The festival is a true celebration of music and culture, with performances so lively that spectators cannot help but move to the entrancing beats.

Take advantage of the opportunity to see amazing artists you probably won't be lucky enough to see elsewhere. Many of the shows are free, while the ones that are not are very reasonably priced. If you're unable to make the trip to Montreal, you can purchase the festival's official album, featuring a compilation of songs by some of the notable artists performing this year.

The Festival International Nuits d'Afrique runs from July 8th to July 20th. For ticket information, schedules and more, visit www.festivalnuitsdafrique.com.