Replanning the Autumn Calendar
While summer is always short here in Montreal, đẹp trai and I had a stimulating and condensed season. June was all about the FIFA World Cup 2026 and our brief but lively trip to Portugal. Upon our arrival at home, my partner reorganized his suitcase to go to work in NYC while I was going through a sprint at work. We still found time for date nights on the weekends while he was going back and forth between Montreal and New York City. Having come back home from his business trip, we packed our bags once again and headed to Toronto for remote work as Karol G’s Viajando Por El Mundo Tropitour concert awaited us. As tradition, the foodie couple had to explore the food scene in Toronto. July was about intensive work and exceptional leisure. Then came August, when we were finally back home for good and enjoyed local restaurants, festivals, and Myles Smith’s My Mess, My Heart, My Life Tour concert.
As summer’s fast-paced energy fades and Montreal’s air turns crisp, my focus shifts inward. While most people get excited for layered knits and hot drinks, I find my joy in resetting our calendar, trading packed travel itineraries for a slower, more intentional autumn rhythm. Here is how we are easing into the new season.
Music Concerts Lineup: Montreal doesn’t always consistently receive big international or niche artists, which is why we went to Toronto to see Karol G at Rogers Stadium. It’s always a pleasant surprise to us when we find out who actually comes to perform in our city. We talked about keeping an eye out for this LA-based band for a while without too much hope. Little did we know, I was researching all the upcoming music concerts out of curiosity and landed on Cannons’ North American Everything Glows tour. We love their music. We couldn’t be happier when their song Fire For You was featured in Spider-Man: Brand New Day! You know that feeling when you know the band before they get onto a mainstream platform?
Movie Watchlists: While working in the film industry, I must admit that I don’t watch enough movies. Ironically, my partner, who’s not in the industry, goes to the movie theatres more often than I do. We can definitely do more movie date nights. I cannot miss a Christopher Nolan’s movie; The Odyssey is the movie to watch this summer. As we roll into the next season, I’m eyeing the psychological thriller adaptation Verity with Anne Hathaway, Dakota Johnson, and Josh Hartnett. I also want to catch up on a couple of indie films such as Olivia Wilde’s The Invite, an adaptation of the Spanish film The People Upstairs (I also love a movie with Penélope Cruz), and a 19-year-old Anthony Bourdain’s Summer in the restaurant kitchen story, Tony. I’ve always been into character-driven movies. I also like a restaurant or food scene story. Can you tell?
Book Picks: Talking of catching up on things, I feel like I’m missing out on so many good books. I’m working on finishing Kristin Hannah’s The Women, a historical fiction about young nurses who serve in the United States Army Nurse Corps during the Vietnam War. I’m looking forward to the Library Science pick for September. It’s a book club co-founded by Kaia Gerber, Cindy Crawford’s daughter, and Alyssa Reeder. They showcase books by debut writers and underrepresented voices that aren’t on the typical bestseller lists. I love the aesthetic of their website and Instagram account too; it’s very minimalistic and editorial. As a reader, I struggle to stay focused on one book at a time. I’m not saying I need to read multiple stories simultaneously. Still, I do need to balance fiction and non-fiction genres.
Restaurants: If you know me, my vibe is wine bars. I appreciate discovering small-producer natural wines and bite-size meals using seasonal local ingredients. Inspired by our brief stay in Toronto this past summer, we indulged ourselves in Jamaican and Middle Eastern food. It’s an ideal transition to adapt to the cool weather that’s just around the corner. There’s something comforting about spices. Rather than sharing the traditional small plates at wine bars, feasting on mezzes with others is the same concept that’s fitting for the new season. I’m already looking forward to going back to Salon Mogador for classic tajines and HENI for their carte blanche menu, the chef’s inspirations of the moment, once they’re back from their summer hiatus. I also feel excited to try out the new Persian elevated cuisine BOUS. Whenever friends ask where to eat in the city, these restaurants are always top of mind.
Rituals & Routines: While autumn calls for a calendar update with new events or activities, there are specific habits I seek to keep on top of my daily routine. As the sun sets earlier, I find comfort in lighting candles in our home. It definitely sets the mood for our evenings, especially after a long day of work, for intimacy and winding down. Scent is also something that shapes the feeling of home for me. Within the cozy context, we block time for off-screen attention and for focusing on personal projects or hobbies.
At the end of the day, a well-curated season isn't about doing more; it's about making room for the things that actually anchor you. The pages are blank again. How are you choosing to fill yours?
