Crescent Street
| Rue Crescent | |
 Crescent Street looking northward. |
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| Length | 0.6 km (0.4 mi) |
|---|---|
| Location | Between Sherbrooke Street and René Lévesque Boulevard |
| Coordinates: | 45°29′52″N 73°34′36″W / 45.497640°N 73.576646°W |
| Construction | |
| Construction start | 1860s |
Crescent Street (French: rue Crescent) is a southbound street located in downtown Montreal, Quebec, Canada. Running perpendicular to Saint Catherine Street, Crescent Street descends from Sherbrooke Street south to René-Lévesque Boulevard.
Crescent Street is a popular attraction for both tourists and locals alike. North of De Maisonneuve Boulevard, one can find many luxury boutiques and art galleries in a Victorian architectural setting. To the south of de Maisonneuve the concentration of nightclubs, bars and restaurants makes Crescent Street one Montreal's most well-known nightlife strips.
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[edit] History
The street which opened around 1860, was originally in the form of a crescent, and was located just north of Dorchester Boulevard.
The first bar on Crescent Street opened in 1967.[1] Prior to that year, the street was home mainly to professional offices. The first bar was the Sir Winston Churchill Pub,[1][2] a discotheque owned by Johnny Vago a Hungarian immigrant who once participated in the Cuban Revolution. Vago's discotheque, originally known as the Don Juan, was first located on nearby Stanley Street. It relocated to Crescent after his property was expropriated to build the Montreal Metro. Vago eventually ended up owning many bars on the block, although has since sold his businesses.[3]
Given the success of the first establishment, other restaurants and bars would settle in the mid-1970s.
Crescent Street merchants formed the Crescent Street Merchants Association in 1998 to promote the street's businesses.[4]
Beginning in the early 2000s, the Crescent Street Merchants Association have organized activities related to the city's sports and entertainment events. The most popular event is the Grand Prix Festival, which takes place each year at the time of the Formula One Canadian Grand Prix in June.
[edit] Features
Crescent Street is home mostly to pubs and restaurants. One such business is the popular Lebanese restaurant Boustan, located north of De Maisonneuve Boulevard.[5]
[edit] Grand Prix Festival
Crescent street merchants hold an annual street fair, known as the Grand Prix Festival, the week prior to the Formula One Canadian Grand Prix with open air free concerts, terrasses for the bars into the streets, street vendors, and racing displays. This festival un-officially kicks off Montreal's festival season.
[edit] References
- ^ a b "Sir Winston Churchill Pub". CrescentMontreal.com. http://www.crescentmontreal.com/en_crescent_merchants_restaurants_sir_winston_churchill.htm. Retrieved 29 May 2012.
- ^ "History". Winnie's Bar. http://www.winniesbar.com/Winnies/history.html. Retrieved 29 May 2012.
- ^ Gravenor, Kristian; Gravenor, John David (2002). "Nightlife". Montreal: The Unknown City (First ed.). Vancouver, B.C.: Arsenal Pulp Press. p. 202. ISBN 9781551521190.
- ^ "About the Crescent Street Merchants Association". Crescent Street Merchants Association. http://www.crescentmontreal.com/en_crescent_about_us.htm. Retrieved 29 May 2012.
- ^ Brownstein, Bill (2012-03-25). "Popular Lebanese eatery changes hands". The Gazette (Postmedia Network). http://www.montrealgazette.com/life/Popular+Lebanese+eatery+changes+hands/6356953/story.html. Retrieved 26 March 2012.
[edit] Further reading
- Ville de Montréal, Les rues de Montréal. Répertoire historique, Édition Méridien, 1995 (French)
[edit] External links
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Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Crescent Street, Montreal |
- Crescent Street Merchants Association Website: Updated list of merchants and events on Crescent street.
- Montreal Crescent Street Restaurant Guide: Greater Montreal City guide to restaurants, cafés and bars. View restaurant profile pages complete with menus, videos, picture galleries and more.
Coordinates: 45°29′52″N 73°34′36″W / 45.497640°N 73.576646°W
