What You Need to Know About Frost Week

If you’re like me, “Montreal” was all youneeded to hear before you packed your bags and bought your Frost Week ticket(in that exact order). If you’re like me, you probably also asked around (afteryou got your ticket) to see what last year’s trip was like and what to expectthis year. When I asked Kiril Fadeeff, the Vice President of Student Life atUBS, to tell me a little about the trip (also after buying my ticket), he toldme, “I feel like at a commuter school like York University and Schulich,it's super important to come out to social events and really take advantage ofwhat the university experience is all about. In terms of what to expect duringthe trip, we've tried to leave it up to the discretion of the students aboutwhat to do and all of our events are optional. You can choose to come out to aski trip with us, visit museums, nice restaurants or just go clubbing with yourfriends!”.

Summary:It’s more than just a getaway trip - it’s a once-in-a-lifetime experience.

However, if you haven’t heard of Frost Weekyet, or if you’re just about to finish stuffing the last pair of extra-warm socksinto your suitcase and suddenly find yourself wondering what you’ll do there,here is what you should know:

1. This year, we’re staying at Le MeridienVersailles.
   
   Isat down with Kassandra, a friend of mine from suburban Montreal, whoshowed me all of Downtown Montreal via Google Maps, of course. She firstpointed out the hotel, Les Meridien Versailles, which is a convenientthree-minute walk from Guy-Concordia (pronounced ‘Gee-Concordia’), theclosest subway station on Montreal Metro’s green line. The hotel is hometo the chic Branzino Montreal restaurant (open until 11 PM for thoselate-night cravings), a 24-hour fitness center, and my personal favorite,The Hub, a classy lounge known for its video art, fragrant Illy coffee,and free Wi-Fi.
   
   
2. Le Meridien Versailles is three streets awayfrom Rue Sainte-Catherine.
   
   Three streets down from the hotel is what Kassandra declared the “KingStreet” of Downtown Montreal - we’ll refer to it as Saint Catherine Streetfor now. This over-seven-mile-long street is known to offer some of thebest nightlife, coffee shops, restaurants, and shopping (including a mock EatonCenter) in Montreal. If cafes aren’t for you and you’d rather have yourcaffeine the way you do at Schulich, you can find Tim Hortons, Starbucks,and Second Cup not too far from the hotel. Further down the street is “PlaceDes Arts”, famous for its exhibitions and art shows - between February 21stand the 24th, you can visit the complex to see Prince: His Purple Majesty exhibition (for free) or buytickets to one of the symphony, ballet, or theater shows happening duringthat time.
   
   
3. A trip like this would otherwise cost $313.58.
   
   Becauseof the group discount Student Life has obtained for this trip, tickets aremuch cheaper than if the trip was independently organized. With almost$100 going towards a round-trip with VIA Rail Canada and $213.59 for aroom of four at Les Meridien Versailles, the Frost Week ticket price of$220 seems ideal. Student Life has also made arrangements to take studentsto Ski Mont Saint-Bruno, the closest ski resort to Montreal, for anafternoon of cross-country skiing and snowshoeing.
   
   
4. Mount Royal isn’t too far away, either.
   
   FrostWeek is your chance to visit the mountain that gave Montreal its name (say“Mount Royal” really fast and you’ll see what I mean). A little overthirty minutes away by transit from Les Meridien Versailles, the top ofMount Royal has been said to provide arguably the best view of the city.Also at the top is Chalet du Mont-Royal, a small cafe where you can enjoya cup of (very) hot coffee in the spacious sitting area and appreciate theview from behind the cafe’s glass windows. 
   
   
5. Old Montreal is a must-see, and Guy-Concordiawill get you there.
   
   Well,Guy-Concordia will get you halfway there - you’ll have to switch to theorange line and walk a bit, too. However, if sightseeing is what you’regoing to Montreal for, it’s worth bearing the extreme temperatures andtransit. During my Google Maps exploration with Kassandra, she suggestedlooking out for the Clock Tower, the Montreal Science Centre, and the BotaBota, Spa-sur-l'eau (translated to ‘Spa-on-the-water’ - it’s literallyinside a river ferry). She also recommended checking out the stores andrestaurants there; some of the food places she highlighted are The Keg,Taverne Gaspar, and for some real poutine, Valentine, in Place JacquesCartier.
   
   
6. While you’re at Old Montreal, pick up on somelocal culture at Marché Bonsecours.
   
   TheBonsecours Market was the final destination on my trip through DowntownMontreal with Kassandra - a Parliament building at one point in time,Bonsecours is what she described as a “fancy artisan market by the port”.At least fifteen local boutiques can be found here, all selling qualityQuébécois crafts, accessories, and clothing. Bonsecours is also one subwaystop away from Underground Montreal, whose pathways have been indevelopment since the 1960s and are said to be the most extensivelydeveloped in America. On these pathways are restaurants, cafes, departmentstores, the Places Des Arts, an independent movie theatre, a skating rink,and information desks (in case you’re lost and you need a map) - it’sbasically a very, very large mall connected to the Metro, and you couldlive down there practically forever.

Ifany of the above things sound appealing to you, there’s still time to buy yourticket; just head on over to Student Life’s Frost Week page (hyperlink: https://www.universe.com/events/frost-week-tickets-montreal-8JMHG7). If you’ve already bought yourticket, don’t forget to dress extra warm (the forecast changes every time Icheck it, but so far it's ranged from -1°Cto -17°C).

See you there, Schulich!