How we’re coping with the cold

The winter of our discontent? Photo via Flickr

Welcome to the shittiest time of year — the roughly four-month stretch between New Year’s and warmer temperatures. This week, we hit the streets to find out what Montrealers are doing to pass the cold, snowy time.

Cassandra, bank employee, 22
“Read a good book and have a chai latte.”

Vanessa, 25, grad student
“Study. And watch TV. I watch a lot of Say Yes to the Dress. I’m obsessed.”

From left to right…
Sarah, 25, student and waitress: “I drink here.”
Evan, 24, bar employee: “Weed, TV and liquor.”
Birdie, 25, baker: “Ditto.”
Chris, 24, bartender: “Chronic masturbation. It’s not just a winter thing.”
Megan, 31, transport company employee: “Chronic masturbation. And drinking.”

Sam, 21, busboy
“I’m honestly not used to it a lot, because I am from Southern California, so I never had to live to live in this my entire life. I’m not a fan of the cold, but I’ve gotten used to it. I came here in board shorts and sandals. It was just lovely.”

Becky, 25, playwright and puppeteer
“Lately I’ve taken up snowshoeing, and that’s an excellent way to hang out on the mountain. In terms of inside, a constant barrage of art projects keeping my hands busy. Lately it’s been a lot of mixed-media collage work, building puppets, painting. A little bit of everything.”

Gabriella, 21, student
“I go and have some beers or buy smokes. Have fun with my friends. We go skating.”

Ahmad, 20, student
“You can go snowboarding or ice skating outdoors. The gym is a good idea when it’s really cold outside, but sometimes it’s too warm inside when it’s too cold outside. I work out—some cardio sometimes. I play some soccer, mostly indoors during the winter, of course.” ■