(Author’s note: This is a rough draft of a post I thought up on Christmas and was going to set to post before Christmas next year. I was (am) going to try to find more details and places but I wanted to publish this today because people may actually find it useful. If you have any info on places (especially from outside the areas I’m familiar with), please send it along and I’ll happily include it on this list.)

For many years I worked in tech support and customer service, a job that stayed open 24/7 no matter what, including Christmas and New Years. As I don’t celebrate Christmas, I would generally volunteer to work both the eve and the day of (in exchange for NYE off). I lived downtown, in St-Henri and in NDG. Some years I had a car, some years I didn’t. I don’t cook for myself and I don’t like doing groceries during the holidays. This means I ate out a lot. In doing so, I’ve learnt some important rules about eating and getting things done on the two days (and their respective eves) while the entire city is shut down.

- If it’s marked as a Montreal or Canadian institution and is open 24/7, it is likely to be open . Examples include:

• Second Cup – those that close likely will, but 24/7 ones are available in almost any location on the island.  If it perfectly feasible (though a bit expensive) to survive a holiday shift on coffee you can sneak Bailey’s into and random sandwiches and cakes.
• Tim Hortons – I suspect they are almost all open (exception possibly of those in malls and other completely closed spaces)
• Dunn’s -  there’s one (or more) downtown and others spread out over the island, I’ve never met a closed one on Christmas but it’s always good to call ahead.
• The bagels – I’m reasonably certain both St-Viateur and Fairmount will be open. I plan to check this year.

I would check with Montreal institution The Montreal Pool Room before heading over there.  I only recently found out that they’re not 24/7 (yes, I wanted a hotdog at 4 a.m. – these things happen to theatre people), so I suspect they may not be open on  the big holidays.

- If it’s unhealthy fast food, it’s likely to be open. Examples here include:

• McDonald’s
• Wendy’s
• Burger King

- Some areas of town are better suited to being open on the holidays (especially Christmas) than others. Places you might have an easier time finding an open restaurant:

• Downtown – so many restaurants that if you’re willing to drive or walk down the street, you will find something that’s open.
• Cote-St-Luc, parts of the West Island, Outremount – high Jewish population = better chance of being open on Christmas and New Years. As soon as I get the info for the absolutely awesome Chinese place that delivered in DDO on Christmas Day, I will publish it. Fast, hot, good, no MSG and reasonable price and a ton of fortune cookies.
• Chinatown – something will be open, I am willing to place a bet on it.
• Corner of Jean-Talon and Decarie – this is as close as central Montreal gets to a truck stop. Many of the fast food joints are available here and almost all will be open. I do however suspect that the Orange Julep is closed, but it wouldn’t be if we had Christmas and such in the summer.

But what about the other stuff? Pharmacies and such?

• Pharmaprix on the corner of Queen Mary and Cote Des Neiges in always open, even for the holidays. (There’s a Second Cup two blocks away also). Many of their other stores are open, as are many of the Jean Coutu stores. The larger it is and the later it’s usually open are good indicators. Some may have shortened hours.

• I’ve found most groceries stores closed. If I’m wrong by now or if anyone has any good ones, let me know in the comments.

I’ve got to be heading off to get ready for tonight. Still planning my trajectory.  Take care everyone and have a happy and safe New Year’s Eve.