Members of the foodie blogosphere never hesitate to declare their local faves "the best (whatever) in the world." But the best bagel? Any claim is a recipe for a fight, whether you're partial to New York's Zabar's or to LA's Bagel Broker.

But according to a particularly passionate online fan base, the very best bagels can be found in... wait for it... Canada?

St.-Viateur Bagel isn't just the home of the best bagel in Montreal, but Washingtonian.com's Best Bites blog calls it the best in the world:

Smaller and lighter than their New York cousins and with a larger hole in the center, the bagels are artisanally handcrafted--no machine stamping--and baked in a wood-burning oven.

We have to admit we're a little skeptical, but Montreal does know what they're doing with the smoked meat and the poutine. Has anyone out there actually tried these bad boys?

Related Stories:
· St.-Viateur Bagel [Official Site]
· The Best Bagels in the World? Oui! Oui! [Best Bites Blog]
· Best Steamed Bagel Sandwiches in the US? [Jaunted]]]> BS 2008-08-04T10:00:04-05:00 http://www.jaunted.com/story/2008/7/18/11303/4810

Ivan and Jason Reitman opened the final weekend of Montreal's comedy festival last night with reminiscences of working with Bill Murray (Reitman the elder) and turning down "Dude, Where's My Car?" (Reitman the younger).

Our picks for this weekend may not be as funny as "Ghostbusters," but they will make you laugh more than Ashton Kutcher:

Russell Brand: US audiences know him as Kristen Bell's new boyfriend in "Forgetting Sarah Marshall" but the British comic, currently filming a movie with Adam Sandler, is poised to hit it big over here any minute now. Fri. and Sat., 9:30 pm, Centaur Theatre

Patrice O'Neal: Some call the former "Best Week Ever" comic confrontational; maybe in his solo show he'll do it in a sweet way. Fri. and Sat. at 11 pm, Theatre Ste-Catherine

Apatow for Destruction: Speaking of "...Sarah Marshall," producer Judd Apatow drags Canuck buddy Seth Rogen for--well, we're not sure exactly, but it's bound to be hilarious. Sat., midnight, Metropolis

Related Stories:
· Just for Laughs Festival [Official Site]
· Remembering George Carlin Travel [Jaunted]
· Comedy Clubs coverage [Jaunted]

[Photo of Greg Proops and Ryan Stiles at Just For Laughs: anirudhkoul]]]> egw 2008-07-18T15:05:19-05:00 http://www.jaunted.com/story/2008/6/3/113053/6901

Last week we asked someone, anyone, to marry British-Sri Lankan singer M.I.A. so she could stay in the US after her visa expires. And you came through! Ms. Arulpragasam is now engaged to rocker (and, we assume, Jaunted reader) Benjamin Brewer of the rock-reggae band The Exit.

Brewer's dad is the CEO of Warner Music Group, whose rival Universal put out M.I.A.'s last album. Should make for some awkward family dinners!

Catch M.I.A. in concert tonight in Montreal and later this month at Tennessee's Bonnaroo Music Festival. And sorry, scenesters, her Brooklyn show on Friday is already sold out.

Related stories:
· M.I.A.'s Eye-Bleedingly-Bright Page [MySpace]
· M.I.A. to Wed Bronfman Son [Canoe.ca]
· Deportation Travel: Marriage or Montreal For M.I.A. [Jaunted]

[Photo: ONTD]]]> egw 2008-06-03T12:00:02-05:00 http://www.jaunted.com/story/2008/5/29/20912/9726

Earlier this week we gently suggested that Tourisme Montreal provide an calendar for visitors to the Paris of Canada.

Hey, we here to help you out! If you want to find l'amour (ou le desir) over the border, our weekly picks for dating and mating avec Craigslist are good any day of the week. (Note: We browsed the listings in English because it's Friday... Désolé!)

Café Santropol :: A Guy Maddinesque interior sets off the sandwiches perfectly, while a girl or guy can see or be seen in the garden. 3990, St-Urbain

Museum of Contemporary Art :: Check out the Quebec Triennial in this boxy art plant, or catch an art-house flick. 185, Ste-Catherine Ouest

Foufs :: Don't be afraid to rock out alone at this "wild punk club." 87, Ste-Catherine Est

Related Stories:
· Missed Connections coverage [Jaunted]
· Montreal Hotels [HC]

[Photo: michelemarypeti]]]> egw 2008-05-30T14:30:01-05:00 http://www.jaunted.com/story/2008/5/29/02123/1723

In rapper M.I.A.'s video for the song "Paper Planes" she claims, "If you catch me at the border, I've got visas in my name." But the artist, real name Mathangi Arulpragasam, just told the press she had to cut her US tour short because her work visa is about to expire.

British by birth, M.I.A. has run afoul of border patrol before because her estranged father has been involved in anti-government groups in Sri Lanka. She's probably headed to Montreal, but Arulpragasam has joked that Kanye West, who's been after her to guest on his records, ought to marry her so she can stay in the States.

Seriously, somebody marry this woman so she can stay in the country! Women of Massachusetts and California? Flavor Flav? The most recent Bachelor?

Related Stories:
· Kanye West Launches Travel Site; We Retire [Jaunted]
· Celeb Travel coverage [Jaunted]]]> egw 2008-05-29T09:00:01-05:00 http://www.jaunted.com/story/2008/5/27/133610/023

You may not realize it, but Montreal has been a global cultural mecca for decades. Sure it's frequently visited by University of Vermont students interested in legal boozing, but the city is also home to one of the most progressive electronic music, fashion, design and cuisine scenes in all of North America. Lucky for you, then that the good folks from Tourisme Montreal have made planning a long weekend there even easier with a new website.]]> DanielR 2008-05-27T16:00:01-05:00 http://www.jaunted.com/story/2008/5/26/2326/27629

From June 26 through July 6, the 29th Annual Montreal Jazz Festival will take over the city and dish out more than 650 concerts, with shows from noon to midnight every day. This year's festival is dedicated to the memory of jazz giant Oscar Peterson who passed away in late 2007.

The stellar jazz on tap this year includes Leonard Cohen (on his first tour in 15 years!), Woody Allen playing clarinet with his New Orleans Jazz Band, Aretha Franklin, Joseph Arthur, JazzLab and awesome saxophonist Joe Lavano. And of course there'll be tons of others rounding out the fest line-up.

Another great perk? Save your money and attend one of the festival's 450 free outdoor performances--to be announced on the website June 2. For festival-affiliated hotel and package deals (some with tickets thrown in) check here. Or see what place HotelChatter is hitting up.Ayez l'amusement!

Related Stories:
· Montreal Jazz Festival [Official Site]
· Datebook: Montreal [NYT]
· Festivals coverage [Jaunted]

[Photo: MontrealJazzFest.com]]]> sedona 2008-05-27T10:15:01-05:00 Search Jaunted string http://www.jaunted.com/search/