Thought popcorn was just for movies? Thought it only came in a bag? Wrong and wrong. Turns out it's the perfect stove-top snack to get you through POP Montreal, the annual 5-day celebration of local indie music. Whether that means classic butter and salt, or a mix of cayenne, cloves, cinnamon and sugar, throw out those carcinogen-laced microwave popcorn packets and get yourself ready to check out some great Montreal music. Music recommendations included.

Russ Cooper loves oysters. He may even *love* oysters, judging by his excitement in wanting to cover Montreal's third annual Oysterfest for Midnight Poutine. The event took place this past Sunday in Old Montreal and despite Russ' visceral joy at being besieged by bivalves, he managed to compose himself long enough to write up a report of his excursion. Local photographer Emily Gan joined him to snap some pics. In the end they discovered oysters are more than just a tasty little munchie bit; they're a reason to muster and eat like there are no words to describe it.

Eco-conscious foodies in the downtown area today are going to want to hang out in the Guy/Concordia area for the 2nd annual Concordia Sustainable Food Festival and Crudessence restaurant's 5 à 7 cookbook launch. Taking place behind the Hall building on Reggie's patio, "Turnip the Beet" is trying valiantly to make vegetables sound cool. They're almost succeeding, but they don't do quite as good as Crudessence, who's taking a happy hour shmooze tradition and turning it into a delicious mix of "raw"-food glow-wearing devotees and people who don't understand the concept of choosing to live without a stove or a microwave, but want to take advantage of the free, raw, organic nibbles.

The First Date Series takes a look at restaurants in Montreal where you might want to go -- or might not want to go -- on a first date. A daytime date calls for a different type of place than a soirée, and Cafe Prague is not a bad locale to get to know someone in the afternoon.

Outremont's newly opened Cafe Prague is small and cute, and there's almost a cubist-inspired feel to the place. Photographs of Prague line the walls, cowhide print tiles cover the bathroom floor, and a cuckoo clock goes crazy every hour.

Montreal - city of beer. Whether you just moved to our fair city and are already sick of drinking the cheap frosh beer being literally or figuratively funneled down your throat, or you're a city veteran looking to up your beer game, here's a list of the best Montreal hidden gems, hot spots, and hops-y haunts to get your drink on.

The First Date Series takes a look at restaurants in Montreal where you might want to go -- or might not want to go -- on a first date. If spicy foods really are aphrodisiacs, Cajun cuisine can be an appealing first date option. La Louisiane is a lively little place on Sherbrooke in NDG serving just that - Creole, Cajun and New Orleans-inspired eats.

La Louisiane always seems to be bustling. On my date here last week, the floor-to-ceiling windows were open, and we could hear jazz and blues, interspersed with some Dylan, from the sidewalk. It just seemed like a happening kind of place. The terrasse was jam packed, people were eating inside, and all the seats at the bar were taken - It was busy, but not crowded.