Things to do in Montréal this week: October 25–31

This week's weather splits clean: Sunday starts overcast but dry, Monday turns wet, then Tuesday and Wednesday clear into crisp autumn days — ideal for moving between stages and neighbourhood walks. By Friday the rain returns light, but Saturday finishes clear. The marquee draw is Mariza, the Portuguese fado singer, performing Sunday night at the Maison Symphonique de Montréal in Place Des Arts at 8:00 PM. Fado's reputation as a genre built on longing finds its most recognizable voice in her work; if you have never heard her live, the hall's acoustics and her command of the form make this a rare enough event to reshape your Sunday.

If you want to stay in the city Sunday evening, Saida Fikri performs at L'Olympia at 6:00 PM, giving you time to catch her before heading downtown for Mariza. Harbour, an indie alternative rock band from the States, plays Bar Le Ritz PDB at 8:00 PM the same night if you prefer a smaller room.

Comedy carries the second half of the week. Philippe Laprise takes Salle Pierre-Mercure on Tuesday, October 27, at 8:00 PM — a clear, cool night, good for heading directly into the room without weather friction. Mariana Mazza, the Quebec comedian and actress (Bon Cop, Bad Cop 2, Father and Guns 2), performs Friday, October 30, at the same venue at 8:00 PM. Friday's forecast shows light drizzle in the morning burning off by evening, so plan dinner beforehand. Head to Tiramisu Saint-Laurent on Boul. St-Laurent for solid Italian pasta and wine in a room warm enough to shake off the damp, then walk over to catch her set.

If you are willing to drive out to Brossard, Claude Dubois — the Canadian singer-songwriter — performs at Théâtre Manuvie on Sunday at 4:00 PM, roughly 12 km south of downtown. André Sauvé performs two shows at Club Dix30 in Brossard Thursday and Friday, October 29–30, if you want comedy in the suburbs. Daniel Grenier also plays Club Dix30 on Friday at 8:00 PM.

For dining with actual weather strategy, Tuesday and Wednesday — the clearest days of the week — are your window for patio time if you can catch an early dinner. La Medusa on the Plateau holds that Italian warmth and good wine list if the afternoon stays clear enough. By Thursday night, heavier drizzle moves in, so retreat indoors: Maggie Oakes, the bar and grill with proper cocktails, becomes your refuge. Friday clears enough for a final push, though the evening stays cool; dress warm and move between venues rather than lingering.

The week's best single night: Mariza at the Maison Symphonique on Sunday — a fado master in one of the city's finest rooms, on one of the few dry evenings, with enough time to build the evening around it.