WEDNESDAY JUNE 5

9pm. Montreal Strip Spelling Bee – Fringefest Edition @ MainLine Theatre, 3997 St-Laurent. Like strip poker, but with the alphabet and an audience! Sign-up is at 8:30 (10 spellers max, so come early!), the bee begins promptly at 9pm. $10 at the door + $2 fringe fest fee. Further rules and details can be found on the event’s FB page.

THURSDAY JUNE 6

8pm. Bloc Party @ Metropolis, 59 St-Catherine East. Our Brit boys Bloc Party are back in town, lighting up the Metropolis stage with their new album “Four.” Bear Mountain will open the evening. Buy tickets here ($41.65 each).

THURSDAY JUNE 6 TO SUNDAY JUNE 9

Nuit Blanche sur Tableau Noir @ Mont-Royal Street, between St-Laurent and Fullum. Mont-Royal turns into a foot-traffic, art and activity-filled space for four days this weekend, as Nuit Blanche’s summer edition turns 18! Expect great music, multi-media art performances, poetry workshops and more. Check out the full schedule and program here.

FRIDAY JUNE 7

7:30pm. OSHEAGA presents The XX and Grizzly Bear @ Lachine Canal, Esplanade du Centenaire corner Pitt and St-Patrick. English indie pop band The XX will perform alongside the beautiful Lachine Canal, accompanied by Brooklyn boys Grizzly Bear. Tickets are $54, purchase them here.

FRIDAY JUNE 7 TO SUNDAY JUNE 9

Grand Prix Weekend @ Parc Jean-Drapeau & Peel/Crescent Street. It’s that time of year: when you can hear the sound of a race track from basically any location in the city, and crowds and beautiful cars line the downtown streets. For race car enthusiasts, tickets and information about the races can be found here. For everyone else, just wander downtown and check out the action!

SATURDAY JUNE 8

7pm. 6th Annual Mac n’ Cheese World Championship @ MainLine Theatre, 3997 St-Laurent. Montreal’s Fringe Festival presents a delicious way to spend your Saturday evening: a macaroni and cheese cooking competition, featuring contestants from Montreal and abroad. Free entry. Check out the Fringe Festival website for more great city-wide events, from June 3-23, 2013.

SUNDAY JUNE 9

6pm. Grindhouse Crew presents Day of the Dead @ Terrasse St-Ambroise, 5080 St-Ambroise. A zombie-themed outdoor film event, hosted by the Grindhouse Crew, along the beautiful Lachine Canal, featuring performances by the Montreal Improv All-Stars (7pm), and the Bloodshot Bill Trio (8pm). “Day of the Dead” will be screened around 9pm. $5 in advance, $10 at the door, in participation with Head and Hands.