Motréal

07/16/2023

Fin.

07/11/2023

Happy hour terrace for tomorrow’s 5@7 mixer starting at 4:00 (because it’s 5:00 in the Atlantic provinces). Koi fish and ducks may not be included

07/11/2023

Trudeau Airport in its infinite wisdom decided to move its single Uber pickup area to two—doors 20 and 28–on completely opposite ends of the terminal. Make sure your driver knows, or is capable of following basic instructions as to where you are. It was half an hour between the time he first told me he was here to when I finally got in the car, making me carry luggage quite a distance in muggy weather.

07/07/2023

Unless this heat is forest-fire related, it seems pretty lame that tracks are that fragile, but the US not willing to finance transportation and maintenance (see also: the ferry from Portland to Nova Scotia) isn’t exactly a man-bites-dog headline.

This is why we can’t have nice things.

Reduced speed limits due to heat are at the centre of the disagreement.

07/06/2023

Because you get first dibs: I will be on the CBC's noontime local (province-wide) program next Thursday along with Jonathan Berkowitz (Witz) to publicize the upcoming convention, discuss puzzles, and play some games on the air. (The show is streamed on various platforms and should be archived afterward.)

For those who don't know, Witz has appeared on the British Columbia affiliate's weekend breakfast show for many years playing word games and discussing language; I thought of him immediately and forwarded his name to the producer.

Within two hours of sending out the press release, three programs asked if I could put them in touch with Will Shortz. On Tuesday, a producer asked if I'd be interested in being a guest on the air. My first thought was "Will's in 'Who's Who' and I'm in 'Who's He?'" but after two near-misses on appearing on the network--one puzzle-related--I thought, what the heck.

Mercifully, the show will be in English. Until last year, my formal foreign language studies had been focused on the southern side of the Pyrenees. The most neighbourly act I can do to the good people of Quebec is to spare them my Spanish-tinged pronunciation.

I've pushed through my fear of a stammering relapse before; I was fairly smooth on the initial Zoom call this afternoon. And frankly, I'm too occupied (and increasingly, preoccupied) finishing my current outstanding convention tasks to come down with stage-fright.

At noon every day, you and Shawn Apel can talk to each other - about the stories that are getting attention in the news, or about the stories that should be getting more attention. It’s live, unscripted and unpredictable. Radio Noon is the only English language call-in program heard across Quebec,...

07/05/2023

Might save you some time on your return trip.

Travelling through the Montréal airport is a piece of gâteau

07/01/2023

In trying to prepare myself for a marathon of last-minute convention endeavours, it was a delight to listen to this program to bring me back to the days when every night in Montreal was a veritable jazz festival (currently running through July 8). To introduce you to the great pianist Oliver Jones is a public service.

Happy Canada Day.

At ninety years old, Charles Burke can still describe what The Black Bottom looked like when he opened the after hour jazz club in 1957 in Montreal. The building hasn't existed since 1966, when an urban renewal project forced its demolition. Many other businesses and homes on St-Antoine street suffe...

06/29/2023

One last reminder that tomorrow is the last day for registration. (We mean it this time.)

I spoke to the hotel yesterday about a number of things. The bad news is that the original meeting areas where we were supposed to meet have been having air-conditioning issues. The good news is that we have been relocated to comparable spaces (two ballrooms and three official breakout rooms) on the other side of the building where the air conditioning is operational. If anything, these rooms are also somewhat larger. (We will have the entire lower level to ourselves, even if some of the areas may not be as comfortable.)

On another atmospheric issue: my source tells me that recent rainfall has improved the overall air quality of the island of Montréal. But this has been a changing situation, and those with certain health issues may wish to consider bringing masks or limit excessive outdoor activity. (Why would anyone want to coop up in a hotel and solve puzzles all day anyway?) Those so inclined may want to check this link: https://www.iqair.com/ca/canada/quebec/montreal

The happy hour is scheduled to meet on the terrace, but one can easily move to the adjacent indoor space if conditions warrant.

As I have been saying to myself for the last several weeks...take a breath.

Montreal Air Quality Index (AQI) is now Good. Get real-time, historical and forecast PM2.5 and weather data. Read the air pollution in Montreal, Canada with AirVisual.

06/22/2023

Krewe:

I'm happy to announce for any last-minute deciders that the final registration deadline will be June 30.

The hotel room block, however, is completely sold out. If you have not booked lodging yet, you might still be able to stay at the Bonaventure, but not necessarily at the convention rate.

À dans trois semaines!

Noam

06/19/2023

Just a friendly reminder that tomorrow is the last day to officially register for Motréal. You can do so at this link: https://krewe.puzzlers.org/con2023-payments

See you in less than a month!

Noam

Register for the 2023 NPL Convention here! We look forward to seeing you in Montréal.

06/11/2023

Saw this on the Visit Montreal Facebook group. A perfect excuse to go to Parc LaFontaine.

06/10/2023

A few announcements:

1. A reminder that today is the last day that the hotel will guarantee reservations at the convention rate.

2. I received a question about enhanced driver’s licenses as an alternative to passports. They are valid to cross the Canadian border by land and sea, but not air. So if you wish to park your yacht in the Old Port, you’re fine.

3. You might want to check your cellular phone plan to see if you can avoid roaming charges and data limits, especially if you plan to use apps like ClueKeeper. Verizon, which I use, has an option for no roaming charges in Canada and Mexico.

4. Adventure City Games (https://www.adventurecitygames.com/en/montreal/) a hybrid walkaround/escape room in several locations throughout the city, has offered our group a 15% discount. Use the code PUZZLERS15 when registering online.

Go on an Adventure in the streets of Montreal!