Quebec City to celebrate 400 years with food, festival and fun

By STEVEN HOWELL
Contributing Writer

May 11, 2008 04:00 am

— It's the city -- and celebration -- of the year!
Quebec City celebrates its 400th anniversary throughout 2008 -- Samuel de Champlain pulled into town July 3, 1608, and the city has never looked back. Four centuries later, Quebec City is renowned for its rich history, magnificent architecture, inventive cuisine, Old World charm and friendly residents. Bon voyage et bonne fete 400 Quebec City!
ANNIVERSARY EVENTS
Dozens of special events, exhibitions and activities are planned for Quebec City's 400th birthday. Here are a few highlights (visit the official Web site at www.monquebec2008.com):
The big day takes place July 3. Official commemorations include a formal high Mass, the pageantry of the Freedom of the City Ceremony and a salute to Champlain, the man of the year, at Basilique de Quebec.
Festivities also include a military parade, the opening of the Quebec City Summer Festival on the Plains of Abraham and a torch-lit parade to the Louise Marina.
Located along Louise Marina in the Old Port, Espace 400e is anniversary central. The site features concerts, exhibitions and the Ephemeral Gardens, 11 artistically-styled, landscaped spaces. The cost is $7 or less, with the site open June 3 through Oct. 19.
An Espace 400e highlight is "The Image Mill," by artist Robert Lapage and Ex Machina. It's a free 40-minute multimedia presentation that tells the history of the city in a big way -- it's projected onto the nearby Bunge grain elevators June 20 through July 29.
Art with your party? Musee National des Beaux Arts du Quebec presents "The Louvre in Quebec City," an exhibition of the collections of the famed Louvre Museum June 5 through Oct. 26.
Celine Dion and other invited musicians will perform a free concert on the Plains of Abraham Aug. 22. Expect a festive crowd for this one.
Cirque du Soleil winds down the celebrations with a new show Oct. 19 at the Pepsi Colisee.
FESTIVALS
Quebec City offers its share of festival fun, including the musically-inspired Quebec City Summer Festival July 3 through 13; colorful fireworks at nearby Montmorency Falls July 19 through Aug. 6; and period costumes and Old World charm at the New France Festival Aug. 5 through 10.
MUSEUMS
A museum card offers access to 20 museums and attractions for a three-day period for $50. Visit Quebec City Museum Card at www.museocapitale.qc.ca for more information. Cardholders can visit Musee de l'Amerique Francaise, which explores the arrival of the French language in New France; Musee de la Civilisation, a fun space of the human race; the Capitol Observatory, which offers panoramic views of the entire city; and a ferry ride across the St. Lawrence River to Levis and back.
FOOD FETE!
There are hundreds of restaurants in Quebec with tastes ranging from poutine to haute cuisine. Here are a few recommendations: Bon appetit!
Old Port/lower town: Families to the front of the line at Le Cochon Dingue -- 46 Blvd. Champlain, (418) 692-2013.
Poisson d'Avril -- 115 Quai St. Andre, (418) 692-1010 -- offers causal seafood fare, including all-you-can-eat mussels served a dozen tasty ways.
Savvy sommeliers and creative cuisine rules at Restaurant Toast! -- 17 Rue du Sault-au-Matelot, (418) 692-1334.
Le Cafe du Monde -- 84 Rue Dalhousie, (418) 692-4455 -- offers boisterous French bistro flair at very reasonable prices.
Foodies come first at Laurie Raphael -- 117 Rue Dalhousie, (418) 692-4555 -- one of the best restaurants in town. The Chef Chef menu -- $60 for dinner or a bargain $23 for lunch -- is a culinary treat.
Old Quebec/upper town: Portofino Bistro Italiano -- 54 Rue Couillard, (418) 692-8888 -- serves up tasty brick oven pizza and Italian fare. After dinner, stroll along nearby St. Jean Street, which is open to pedestrian traffic only come summertime.
Romance fills the air, and fine cuisine satisfies the palette at Le Patriarche -- 17 Rue St. Stanislaus, (418) 692-5488.
Pub D'Orsay -- 65 Rue De Buade, (418) 694-1582 -- has plenty of beer on tap and a satisfying plate of ribs. Steak, fries, salad and profiterole of puff pastry, vanilla ice cream and chocolate sauce is the successfully simple formula at L'Entrecote St-Jean -- 1011 Rue St. Jean, (418) 694-0234.
Downtown/upper town: Trendy Grande Allee offers 20 eateries in a short stretch, including the colorful casual and affordable Cosmos Café -- 575 Grande Allee Est, (418) 640-0606. Stick around for cocktails.
St. Roch/lower town: Finally, save some room for the St. Roch neighborhood, where you'll find two-dozen great restaurants and nightclubs including Bistro Les Bossus -- 620 Rue St. Joseph, (418) 522-5501 -- for affordable bistro fare and an inviting bar.
HOTELS
Old Quebec/upper town: Chateau Frontenac -- 1 rue des Carrieres, (418) 692-3861. Whether you stay there or not, all tourists are drawn to the most iconic building in the city -- it is said to be the most photographed hotel in the world. Opened in 1893, the Chateau Frontenac was built as a luxury stopover when the Canadian Pacific Railway joined one end of Canada to the other.
Famous visitors have included President Franklin Roosevelt, Prime Minister Winston Churchill and Canadian Prime Minister Mackenzie King, who met there to discuss D-Day invasion plans during World War II. The rooms offer full amenities in refined elegance, but they don't come cheap. Stays start at $259 a night in high season for a small room with no view. If the room rates are out of your budget, you can still take a guided tour of the hotel for $10. Call (418) 691-2166.
L'Hotel du Vieux Quebec -- 1190 Rue St. Jean, (418) 692-1850 -- is a midsize hotel that's clean, comfortable, affordable and in the center of it all.
Downtown/upper town: Large downtown hotel brands include the Hilton and Delta. But perhaps the oddest-looking building in the city belongs to the Loews Concorde -- 1225 Cours du General de Montcalm, (418) 647-2222. It's located near trendy Grande Allee and the Plains of Abraham and offers updated accommodations and great views.
Old Port/lower town: Hotel Dominion 1912 -- 126 Rue St. Pierre, (418) 692-2224 -- offers Old Port Boutique chic. Nearby, Hotel Le Port Royal -- 144 Rue St. Pierre, (418) 692-2777 -- began life as a warehouse and then a condo, so suites feature a bedroom, kitchenette and living area with pull-out couch. Also in the Old Port, Hotel Le Priori -- 15 Rue du Sault-au-Matelot, (418) 692-3992 -- offers contemporary design, exposed brick walls and mod colors.
SHOPPING
While it teems with tourists, Rue de Tresor in the shadow of the Chateau Frontenac offers artists selling original works for as low as $10.
An abundance of souvenir shops are concentrated a short funicular ride down to Lower Town's Petit Champlain, Place Royale and the Old Port. The selection ranges from typical tourist fare to dozens of art galleries. Fine hand-blown glassware is available at Verrerie la Mailloche -- 58 Rue Sous-le-Fort, (418) 694-0445. If antiques are on the shopping list, make your way to Rue St. Paul for no less than a dozen shops.
Atelier de Luthier Moustache -- 249 Rue St. Jean, (418) 529-6340 -- in the St. Jean neighborhood, highlights the work of artisans who handcraft guitars, mandolins and banjos.
The Doll Economuseum -- 2 Rue d'Auteuil, inside Artillery Park, (418) 692-1516 -- is a working atelier/museum devoted to doll making. You can purchase souvenir dolls dressed in traditional New France costumes.
And even though they moved to Colorado in 1995, Quebec Nordiques hockey memorabilia remains a bestselling item at Logo Sport -- 1047 Rue St. Jean, (418) 692-1351.
GETTING THERE
Quebec City is about 220 miles from Plattsburgh -- a four-hour drive. Take 87 North to 15 North to 20 East to Quebec City. Gas up before you hit the border, as gas is more expensive in Canada. Parking is available at larger hotels -- about $20 a night and up or at municipal lots at about $16 a night.
VIA Rail offers four departures daily from Montreal to Quebec City. The Supersaver round-trip fare costs about $90 (Canadian). Call (888) 842-7245 or visit www.viarail.ca. Plattsburgh to Montreal service is available on Amtrak, but not worth the travel time -- it's scheduled just shy of four hours!
Also visit Quebec City Tourism at www.quebecregion.com.

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