Peter Sergakis

Right now in the Ville-Marie borough of Montreal, there is a project referred to as Mega-Bar.

This project would be horrible for the people living in this borough. I'm already afraid to go get groceries because of all the derelicts hanging around the Sports Station and Karaoke bar (not to mention the drunken idiots smoking their cigarettes and weed right on the street next to the taxi-stand). These two bars are owned by none other than Peter Sergakis, the dude that also owns Sky in the Gay Village (which i always boycott).

Now they want to infiltrate the residents' space surrounding the 2 bars and increase the size of their already-over legal limit sized establishments. This will invade the parking lot in front of the local grocery store, and cause surrounding residents to hear the bars' ruckus til last call if their plans to open an over 250-seat outdoor terrace goes through.

We will no longer have peace and quiet in our own homes if this JERK is allowed to continue buying up our whole city. I received a letter stating all the infractions Sergakis has already committed with his Sports Station. Who is allowing him to break the law, and then insist for more to be broken to serve his own purpose?

He ruined the heritage Cock n' Bull pub by ousting its former owners (apparently charging the same price for half-full pints, claiming a machine counts the ounces)

He has made me no longer want to live in the Ville-Marie borough. He has managed within the past year, to turn it into Vile-Marie. I don't feel safe walking near these 2 bars, with yet a third bar across the street (the new and "improved" Cock n' Bull)

I've lived here for 12 years, but I know other residents have been here for much longer. Some are senior citizens. I'm still young, but what about these older people who just want to live their life and occasionally go for a walk down St-Catherine or surrounding areas? They shouldn't have to fear for their life when getting a cab or groceries nearby!

There are also many families with young children in this neighborhood. Is it safe to have this many obnoxious, unruly drunks hanging around this area?

A friend of mine was patted down upon entering the Sports Station recently. If they are doing body-checks doesn't this send a message that crowds are suspected of carrying certain dangerous or suspicious items?

My friend politely told the security guard that he was in no mood to be patted down in order to get a quick beer. Before leaving the premises to go elsewhere, he joked that he understood the doorman was just doing his job, since the concern is probably more about someone walking in with an Uzi, looking for Sergakis himself, rather than aiming to harm fellow bar patrons.

This 'hood is becoming the ridicule of downtown. If citizens don't speak up, it looks like the project will get the o-kay even though it comes in conflict with so many laws.

I feel ashamed to be a downtowner!
(this was in parts, sent to the Gazette newspaper...wonder if they'd publish it)

Anyone in Montreal on Thursday, May 27th should come check out lezzie-fabulous Pamela Pachal and her band The Dirty! Dirty blues-rock with the occasional disco beat (seriously!).

Centre St. Ambroise (5080A St-Ambroise - walk 15 minutes from St-Henri metro, or take the 78 bus from Lionel Groulx metro, to St-Remi and St-Ambroise)
doors at 8pm, show at 9pm sharp!
Pamela will be on at 9, followed by Montreal's The Mittenstrings, and headliner Geri Lee Arie. All the gals have their own style, so music is sure to please everyone's diverse tastes! Be ready for blues, indie folk, sweet harmonies, and dirty guitar (the latter provided by Pamela's band).

htp://myspace.com/pamelapachal

And if you miss this show, you can catch Pamela again before she leaves town to tour the rest of Canada, for a more relaxed atmosphere, jam style shindig on May 29th. She and her band will be opening for Geri Lee Arie, who will be hosting an open jam after her short set. So if you fancy yourself a musician, come jam with the gals!

Burritoville - May 29th
2055 Bishop (near Concordia University)
8pm
(and if you're hungry, Burritoville serves the yummiest vegan Mexican food on the cheap!)