I've booked a VRBO in Montreal on Rue de Champlain. It's in the 1200 area. How is the neighborhood? Any nearby restaurant recommendations?

I believe this is in the gay village. I'm not too familiar with this area, but there are plenty of interesting restaurants nearby.

Yes, you're in the heart of the Gay Village; the area does have some vagrants (some older but an equally heartbreaking number of youth too), some problems with drug addiction and petty theft, and you may see male sex-trade workers. Due to its central location and unique character, more and more professionals are choosing to live there that are bringing more and more interesting amenities, but I won't pretend like the above doesn't exist. This said, in many ways, I like the neighbourhood; it's vibrant with life and there's a kind of playful ebullience, optimism and incredible openness about it, despite all the problems. As a predominantly Gay/Lesbian urban neighbourhood, it has a feel like few others in North America.

Restaurants: I like Bangkok on de Maisonneuve for Thai food, Pica Pica I enjoyed for tapas/mojitos (not cheap), La Mie Matinale is a charming bakery that feels like a shrine to popular Egyptian/Italian French-language singer Dalida.

Best wishes, Daniel

I just saw this article in the Globe yesterday

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/life/...ontent=2192143

Might be some good tidbits there.

Thanks to all.