This week, the three Montrealers perhaps least likely to be found in the suburbs — me, Chris Hand of Zeke’s Gallery and artist Edith Dora Rey — went on a road trip to the south shore. To see art. (I had to drive because Edith doesn’t “do” highways and Chris doesn’t drive at all. Me, my idea of going by car is hailing a cab, so we had all the makings of an indie comedy.)

I hadn’t understood until now that the Quebec government likes to fund art institutions outside of major urban centers. Apparently the province is peppered with excellent small galleries next to shopping malls or CGEPs. Since the south shore is about as close as you can get to Montreal art lovers without actually being in town, it’s especially art rich.

I loved the St. Lambert Museum’s exhibition of star quilts, an interlude in a day of contemporary art galleries. If you have wheels, it’s just across the Victoria Bridge. (Museum of Costume and Textile of Quebec, 349 Riverside Drive in St. Lambert, is open Tuesday to Friday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.; weekends, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tickets cost $4 adults; $3 students and seniors; $2 children age 6 to 12 years. 450-923-6601 or www.mctq.org.)

There was a lot to applaud, though. The big winner of the night was the auteur film Congorama, which I hadn’t seen but am going to rent now. It won for best screenplay, best actor, best director, and best film. (Is there a word for trifecta that involves four?).

Lots of glam, both onstage and in the audience. I’ve never been to the Genies, but the people who had were adamant that Montreal throws a more stylish bash.

What was your favorite Quebec film this year, and why?

Every year, I get towed at least once when a parking spot suddenly changes to a no-parking spot. On the plus side, the city doesn’t tow your car to a central lot unreachable by public transportation (the way New York does). They tow your car to the nearest available legal spot. You can call them at (514) 872 3777, and they’ll tell you where to find your vehicle.

Bad news for the future of the planet, but a boon to the Canadian wine industry. (Note to growers: please stop trying to make Cabernet north of 40. We won’t have a proper Mediterranean climate for, well, at least a few years.)

A couple of insider-ish places worth splurging on in Vieux Montreal are Chasse et Peche (423 rue St. Claude) and the wine bar/restaurant Aszu (212 rue Notre Dame est). Both have the dainty-morsel-on-a-big-white-plate aesthetic (i.e. you might want a snack before or after), but are adventurous in their cuisine.

If you’re not into nouvelle cuisine, go to Aszu just for the wine bar, where you can buy tasting portions from the vast wine collection. (Aszu imports wine privately, so they have things you won’t find at the SAQ).

Any other out-of-the way restaurants you know about? Places without signs, where you just have to know where you’re going? (And yes, I know they’re all listed in the various restaurant guides, but that’s cheating.)

Like to laugh? Check our Montreal’s new animation phenomenon Tete a Claque. The animated funnies are in thick joule, and I had to replay some of them several times only to realize that an unfamiliar word was actually “grilled cheese” with an accent. But they’re hilarious!

The photo above, for example, is from a faux commercial for a snow shovel with a built-in television, to revolutionize your experience of shoveling snow. The only problem? You can’t see the TV when there’s snow on the shovel. The solution? Only shovel during commercials.