Pop Montreal is here! Have you figured out what you're going to see? Are you low on cash like me and you and everyone we know? Maybe you'll be among the hundreds, the thousands -- or hundreds of thousands?! -- of people that will most likely take over downtown's streets tomorrow evening for the golden children of the Montreal music scene to give their free show. Arcade Fire will go on stage at 9pm, only after Kid Koala and Karkwa warm them up.

I've no intention of actually seeing the stage, but conceptually, the whole thing should be an interesting spectacle. Alternately, you should check out some of the dozens upon dozens of other shows going on that night.

There are also lots of non-music events going on this weekend. Aside from Puces Pop, a veteran favourite, one event that's sure to please is the book launch of Anders Nilsen's Big Questions. Taking place at Mile End's charming bookseller, Drawn and Quarterly, at 211 Bernard on Thursday evening at 7pm, the new book is a hefty tome, and is "the culmination of 10 years of beautiful work... it's a haunting postmodern fable, an existential masterpiece complete with talking birds, plane crashes, and philosophical inquiry." The author will present a slideshow about his work, including a question-and-answer session and book signing, if you so desire. I'd say that's the best alternative to being one of 25,000 people singing "No Cars Go" into the night downtown.

Anders Nilsen's Big Questions
Drawn and Quarterly
211 Bernard
Thursday, Sept. 21 at 7pm