Where Are the Freebies?
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Having been a student on a tight budget for the past four years, I’ve had to be pretty resourceful in this city to be able to eat, make art and have fun.
The most essential place to know about for the average hungry Concordian is The People’s Potato, located on the 7th floor of the Hall building. They give out vegan meals every weekday between 12:30 and 2 p.m. Donations are welcomed, but no one is turned away. The food is delicious and if you have a bit of time to spare they are always looking for volunteers to help out with the cooking, serving and cleaning.
“The Potato” is also a pick-up spot for the city wide Good Food Box. Every other week you can sign up for one of three sizes. The small box starts at $7 and has enough fruits and veggies to feed the average student for two weeks. Look for the sign up table during the People’s Potato serving times.
Every Sunday, ISKCON gives out a free vegetarian feast starting at 5 p.m. They are located at 1626 Pie IX Blvd., and though they are a religious institution, there is no pressure from anyone and everyone is welcome.
Food Not Bombs Montreal is also fairly active during the non-winter months and give out free meals around town—find them on Facebook to see when their next event is.
If you fancy a pint with your meal, McKibbin’s Pub has three locations around town, one right on the downtown campus, and they have a free buffet for their customers during happy hour, Monday to Friday, from 5 to 7 p.m.
More beer? Les Foufounes Electrique is one of the cheapest bars in town. On Tuesdays, pitchers of beer can be bought for around $5. The bar also has good happy hour specials, and is located at 87 St. Catherine St. E.
For all you art lovers, the Musée des Beaux Arts has free entrance on Wednesday nights from 6 to 9 p.m., with new exhibits every few months.
If you’re into movies, Dollar Cinema is a short ride down the orange line at Namur Metro. A movie ticket costs just $2.50 and all snacks are $1. They mostly play newly released Hollywood movies, but at times show classics or B-rated movies as well.
Every Monday night during the fall and winter semesters, Cinema Politica plays documentaries in the Hall Building Auditorium. Donations are welcomed and after the screenings there is always a discussion, often with the director, or with someone associated with the documentary.
If you’re looking for something a little more XXX-rated, Cinema L’Amour at 4015 St. Laurent Blvd. is free for couples on Mondays and Tuesdays. They also offer a VIP service, featuring a tour of the private rooms at cost of $35. Not for the sexually timid.
One a similar note, Queer Concordia located in the P-Annex on Mackay St. often has free condoms and lube for everyone! They are also a great resource for anything LGBT related.
Another club on campus, Überculture, has a monthly Really, Really Free Market, usually held on the 7th floor of the Hall Building. At the RRFM, you can find clothes, books, and kitchen supplies—basically anything that has been donated by other people! Check the boards around campus for event flyers.
The loading docks of the Hall Building is also a great place to find scrap metal, wood, and other supplies. Enter beside the mailroom, find the big blue dumpster and dive in! The apartment complex near Mackay and Notre Dame also often has tons of furniture, canvases and other ‘junk.’ While you’re there, you might as well stop by The Salvation Army just around the corner on Notre Dame. Happy thrifting!
This article originally appeared in Volume 32, Issue 02, published September 6, 2011.
