All Habs Hockey Party in Montreal: Habs vs Flyers

by Amy, HabsTweetup.com (AllHabs.net)

PHILADELPHIA, PA -- Our mission here at All Habs is "to build a world-wide network of Montreal Canadiens fans who are informed, engaged, entertained, and connected".  "It's more than just meeting for hockey - it's growing potential friendships," says our friend Karine - perfectly summing up the reason why All Habs Hockey Parties are the premiere way to bring Habs fans together!

Karine and her boyfriend James attended their first All Habs Hockey Party last weekend.  James is a writer for All Habs and says, "I knew about the All Habs parties before, they are quite famous on Twitter."  A Laval native (and life-long Habs fan), James admits that a little bit of shyness had prevented him from attending in the past but decided it was time to find out what all the festivities were about.  "I was very excited at the thought of meeting new people that shared the same passion I have for hockey!"

It was the March All Habs Night at McLean's Pub in Montreal and the Habs were slated to take on the Flyers.  As is the case with every monthly All Habs event at McLean's, attendees who had RSVP'd via Twitter or Facebook had special reserved seating in the center of the pub with fantastic views of the surrounding television screens, along with beer specials and menu discounts.  This was also James and Karine's first visit to McLean's.  "The multimedia setup (TVs, sound) was awesome and when I saw the menu I thought, 'Oh well this is a great start!'" says Karine.

Soon they were joined by dozens of other Habs fans who were just as thrilled to meet each other and reunite with friends.  They, along with the full house of bar patrons, were ready to cheer on the Canadiens in a conference rivalry matchup.  Karine was pleasantly surprised at how warmly she and other first-timers were received.  "It was easy to relate with other people, there was no pressure at all!  Everyone was so welcoming!"  James agrees, stating, "I felt at home, I felt like I found a new group of people where I belonged."

At intermission it was time for the All Habs Trivia Challenge, which focused on Habs vs. Flyers history.  Jay Farrar took over the microphone from behind the bar and led the entire pub through the Trivia Challenge (with some jokes along the way of course!).

The competition was tough but after the results were tallied we had quite a few winners!  Prizes included tickets to the Habs Hall of Fame and gift certificates to McLean's Pub.  Even our server-extraordinaire Adrienne won a Habs car flag!

But we didn't stop there - other participants were awarded for having "alternative" prize potential.  A t-shirt honouring the participant who answered every question with the same answer went to Katherine.

It also pays to NOT win!  The award for the person who had answered the most questions incorrectly was a signed Toronto Blue Jays baseball.

And finally the prize for the most creative answers went to Karine. "I had no clue what to write, so I decided to go with funny answers."  Looks like it paid off!

Even though the evening didn't end with a Canadiens win, James says it was a definitely a night to remember.  "It was an experience I will never forget, and I look forward to future All Habs Hockey Parties!"

Luckily there isn't long to wait since the next All Habs Hockey Party at McLean's Pub is Saturday, April 7th for the Habs vs Leafs game, which is the final game of the regular season.  You don't want to miss out on all the fun!  Be sure to click HERE to RSVP and reserve your seat at the best Habs fan event around!

And don't worry, the All Habs crew celebrates hockey 365 days a year, so be sure to follow @All_Habs and @habstweetup on Twitter to stay updated on Hockey Party announcements for events throughout the summer!

Check out the complete photo album from this event by clicking HERE!

Photo credits:  Pablo Ortiz

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All Habs Hockey Party in Montreal: Habs vs. Leafs

by Amy, HabsTweetup.com (AllHabs.net)

PHILADELPHIA, PA -- Sometimes there's just nothing better than a Habs win over the Leafs, you know? Well, nothing except a Habs SHUTOUT over the Leafs! And to top things off, getting to watch the Canadiens blank the Maple Leafs surrounded by a fun-loving and excited group of devoted hockey fans makes the whole evening even more memorable.

I must say a big thank you to Old Man Winter for having such a calm temperament this year in order to allow me to make the road trip to Montreal during a season that's usually too unpredictable weather-wise for driving.  (Although admittedly I was quite giddy to see so much snow on the ground when I arrived in Montreal.)

But even if it HAD snowed, nothing could have kept me from trekking north for the inaugural All Habs Night at McLean's hockey party! Recently, a new partnership was announced between All Habs and McLean's Pub (you can read more about it HERE) and one of the most exciting parts of that announcement involves a monthly All Habs Hockey Party fan event at McLean's.  So what better way to kick things off than with a Habs/Leafs matchup on Hockey Day in Canada? We also dubbed the evening as "Bring a Buddy" night - because more is always merrier!

As a result, we not only had the chance to reconnect with friends and familiar faces, but we were also thrilled to welcome some new folks into the mix as well.  Some of them came to us courtesy of a new promotion outreach via the All Habs Facebook page while others, like Emily (@hockey_princess) were enticed to come out because of the excitement of All Habs/McLean's partnership news.

Emily (@hockey_princess)

"I was a little hesitant to go at first because I figured everyone would already know each other and I would be the odd one out.  But that wasn't the case, I was welcomed with open arms!"

A native of a small New Brunswick town named Stanley (about thirty minutes north of Fredericton), Emily just moved to Montreal two months ago, at the beginning of December, and has been a Habs fan for as long as she can remember (thanks to her dad).

"I had heard of tweetups before and they looked like a fun way to enjoy a game.  I also thought it would be a good way to make some new friends in the city."

Thanks to our friends at McLean's, Emily and the rest of the attendees who had reserved their seat with the All Habs group via Twtvite or Facebook were given the VIP treatment:  prime seating in the center of the dining area with perfect views of many of the big-screen televisions, discounted prices on the pub's hockey menu, and beer specials.  With more than twenty people seated in our group, it was great to see so many people in the pub sporting an All Habs nametag!

Throughout the evening, manager Jay Farrar was master of the microphone, getting the entire bar pumped up for the rivalry game against the Leafs and playing the part of emcee for the All Habs Trivia Challenge.  This time we took the Trivia Challenge to a whole new level - trivia was open to everyone in the pub!

The questions were focused on Hockey Day in Canada - something to really test those trivia gurus!  Enticed by the prospect of winning one of many prizes, more than 80 people battled to get the most answers right or, more importantly, come up with the most creative answers.

Needless to say, we had lots of winners!  Prizes included a very chic Montreal Canadiens hat, two sporty All Habs t-shirts, as well as two gift certificates to Mac's Taps, an Alexander Keith's t-shirt and a hat all generously donated by McLean's Pub.  Of course the most coveted prize of all was a NASCAR mug awarded to the person with the worst answers.  Who says we don't have a sense of humour?

People all around the pub were buzzing, asking when the next event would be held and looking forward to the next chance to win prizes and test their trivia skills.  Others wanted to know how to be included with the All Habs VIP group at the next event.

Perhaps you're wondering the same thing as you read this?  Just be sure to RSVP for our next All Habs Night at McLean's on March 24th - it's that easy!  So sign up, tell your friends and family to do the same, and make sure you don't miss out on the next All Habs Hockey Party.

Oh, and as for that shutout?  Well the Habs REALLY made it a special night by completing dominating the Leafs in a 5-0 win.  It was a very fun game to watch with so many friends!  And we're happy to report that our friend Emily went home at the end of the evening having made a whole group of friends to interact with in her new home.  "It was great, the atmosphere in the pub was awesome."

Check out the complete photo album for this event by clicking HERE!

Also, be sure to reserve your seat early for our next All Habs Night at McLean's on March 24th when the Habs take on the Flyers AND on April 7th for the last game of the season against the Leafs.

Go Habs Go!

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Kicking Off 2012, Habs Tweetup Style!

by Amy, HabsTweetup.com (AllHabs.net)

PHILADELPHIA, PA -- Happy New Year! It's hard to believe that we've already rung in a new year - have you kept your resolutions so far? If so, congratulations! Perhaps "try something new this year" made your list of goals? Well if you're a Habs fan why not try a Habs Tweetup? There's no better way to kick off the new year than getting together with a great group of Habs fans and friends to cheer on the Montreal Canadiens!

If you've never attended a Habs Tweetup (or even if you have and are looking forward to your next one), we've got plenty of opportunities for you right around the corner.  Be sure to click the RSVP link at the bottom of the page to reserve your seat!

First up, we kick off 2012 at McLean's Pub in Montreal on Saturday, January 14th to watch the Habs take on the Senators. Good food, good friends, an All Habs Trivia Challenge, and prizes make a winning combination for a fun night you won't want to miss!

Planning on being in the Pittsburgh area on Friday, January 20th for the Habs vs. Penguins game?  A Vasco bus tour from Montreal will be heading down for the event and we're planning a Habs Tweetup for fans to meet and mingle before the game!  Stay tuned for additional information regarding the venue, or contact us for more details.

Next we join our friends from TSN 990's "The Franchise" on Saturday, January 21st for a Habs Tweetup and "Guaranteed Win Night" Hockey Party at Brasserie Sports 40 in Anjou, Quebec. All Habs readers will be given special VIP passes for food and drink as well as chances to win great prizes like tickets, a jersey, gift certificates and more! Tickets for the drawing can be purchased at the event, with a portion of the proceeds benefiting "Team In Training" (a nonprofit fundraising program of The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society).

Looking ahead to February, our Habs friends in Toronto will also have a change to get together for a Habs Tweetup!  The place to be on Saturday, February 11th is Hoops Sports Bar & Grill on Bremner.  The Canadiens take on the Maple Leafs this night and Habs fans will unite to cheer their team on to victory!  An All Habs Trivia Challenge and prizes will also be on tap for the event, so be sure to reserve your seat early.

To reserve your seat for any of the events listed above, click on the "RSVP for a Habs Tweetup" tab at the top of the page.  When you arrive at any Habs Tweetup event, ask to be seated with the All Habs group to join the fun.  Be sure to show your Canadiens pride and come dressed in your best Habs gear!

These are just a few of the fun-filled fan events we've got planned for this year, so keep checking HabsTweetup.com and follow @habstweetup on Twitter to stay updated on events as they are announced.

Go Habs Go!

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Habs Tweetup in Montreal: 2011-12 Season Kickoff

by Robyn, HabsTweetup.com (AllHabs.net)

MONTREAL, QC -- Despite the fact that the Habs lost 2-0 to the dreaded Toronto Maple Leafs, spirits were high last Thursday night at Mclean's Pub for the first Montreal Habs Tweetup of the regular season.

Amidst the many fans packed into the pub to cheer on the Canadiens in their the season opener, it was easy to spot our enthusiastic group.  With our tables adorned with Habs balloons, our section added even more cheerfulness and fun to an already energetic atmosphere. The wait is over, friends; hockey is back!

Several familiar faces turned up to cheer on the bleu, blanc et rouge, along with a few new ones (like mini-@ladyhabs, @__flynn! She was very excited to attend her very first Habs Tweetup!)

Our lovely waitress extraordinaire, Adrienne, once again took care of our large group with her regular ease, and the pub's several televisions made watching the game a cinch, no matter where you were sitting.

The famous Habs Tweetup trivia was just as challenging as ever - prizes were well-earned!  @TheAbraxasCo walked away with a fun set of Habs socks, @EP31 took home a Habs prize pack that included several Habs-themed goodies, @HabsWatch made off with a Habs wallet, and @theactivestick & @HeyMyNameIsWill both scored a Habs Stanley Cup banner plaque and Habs stickers.

The next Habs Tweetup events take place in Toronto on October 22nd for the Habs vs Leafs game and then back in Montreal again on October 27th when the Habs take on the Bruins. Don't miss out on your chance to win great prizes, meet other Habs fans and have a good time...RSVP to reserve your seat today!

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Habs Tweetup in Montreal: Rolling Out the Red Carpet

by Erica, AllHabs.net (special to HabsTweetup.com)

MONTREAL, QC -- As a pop culture junkie turned hockey fan, I love awards shows. I still remember how excited I was to watch my first NHL Awards telecast, and how disappointed I was by it. I still watch the Awards every year. As odd as it is to see hockey players act like real celebrities, I love the NHL Awards. And I think it's exactly that - the excitement of seeing NHL players after the season ends, combined with the campy awkwardness of the awards show - that will make a great Habs Tweetup.

We're all a little disappointed that this year's nominations didn't show any love for Carey Price or the rest of the Canadiens, but we can look forward to cheering on our other favourites. Perhaps local boys Roberto Luongo (Vezina Trophy), Ian Laperriere (Masterton Trophy), and Martin St. Louis (Lady Byng and Hart trophies)? Or former Habs coach and current Jack Adams Trophy nominee Alain Vigneault? I know we might be split on who should win which trophies, but there's one thing I'm betting all Habs fans can agree on: No one is looking forward to hearing "Congratulations to the Boston Bruins on winning the Stanley Cup" over and over again during the telecast.

Watching Canadiens games at Habs Tweetups this season was a blast. Since there are no games of which to speak, we thought we'd try throwing the sports equivalent of an Oscar party. So, Habs fans, get your Awards predictions ready. Dress up if you'd like to, since the dress code is "hockey formal" - interpret those words however you want! And do whatever you like to make this awards show as competitive and entertaining as an NHL game. I personally might make a poster that reads "Not Chara for Norris."

See you at McLeans Pub for the 1st Annual NHL Awards Habs Tweetup! And for you hockey fans in the greater Toronto area, you can also party with the All Habs crew on Friday, June 24th at Kilgour's Bar Meets Grill for the 3rd Annual NHL Draft Habs Tweetup!

Be sure to check out the All Habs article "What Offseason? Attend an All Habs Fan Event!" for more information on these exciting events.

Want to reserve your seat at a Habs Tweetup? Click on the "RSVP for a Habs Tweetup" tab at the top of the page. Sign up today!


photo credit: www.thevegaseye.com

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Montreal: Autograph Signing Event This Weekend

Would you like a chance to meet Johnny Bower, Jacques Demers or Jean Béliveau? Check out the public signing event happening at the International Collectors Show this Saturday, March 26th and Sunday, March 27th.

Held at the Pierre-Charbonneau Center in Montreal, you can register to meet your favorite athlete and have an item of your choice autographed.

Visit the A. L. Collections website for more details and ticket information!

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Being a Habs Fan in a Social Media Age

by Amy, HabsTweetup.com (AllHabs.net)

PHILADELPHIA, PA -- Thanks to Habs Tweetup, I have met (in real life!) dozens of really fun Habs fans and made some really wonderful new friends in the process. And while I truly enjoy each and every event and look forward to meeting even MORE people, one of my other favourite aspects of Habs Tweetup is seeing others discover that same sense of "family" that comes along with getting together with fellow fans.

Robyn (@ladyhabs) attended her first Habs Tweetup in October 2010 in Montreal. She was, as they say, "hooked" after that and always seems to be enthusiastically looking forward to the next gathering.

We asked Robyn to tell us a little more about herself and her Habs loyalty...here's her story!

by Robyn Flynn, special to HabsTweetup.com (AllHabs.net)

MONTREAL, QUEBEC -- I am a Habs fan. I’ve supported my team through thick and thin for the greater part of my life. I’ve cried, I’ve cheered, but most of all, I’ve never given up. While being a die-hard fan is an enormous commitment, the most time consuming aspect is making sure I have a way to watch or listen to every single game, regardless of where I am or what I’m doing.

On any given game day, I can be found in one of several locations: at work, ignoring customers while I listen on the radio; at home in my living room screaming with my dad; or in a crowded bar cheering with my friends. Wherever I am, I always have my iPhone handy so I can partake in one of my favourite activities; tweeting.

When I first signed up for Twitter a few years ago, it was a self-indulgent way for me to stalk my favourite celebrities (namely Ashton Kutcher and Lady Gaga. Mock me if you must, but please don’t judge me). Eventually, just as I was starting to lose interest in Twitter, I noticed the hashtag #habs. I started following several Habs fans and media personalities, and Twitter suddenly was interesting again.

The Habs community on Twitter is extremely close, despite the fact that communication is restricted to 140 characters. So when I heard about the Habs Tweetup, I was very stoked.

I went to my first Habs Tweetup at O’Hara’s Pub in Montreal in November of 2010. The Habs lost to the Preds that night, but it was really cool to meet some of the people I had been following for several months. The combination of Habs fans, a Canadiens game, hockey trivia and beer is a recipe for a successful evening.


Eventually, the list of people I followed on Twitter grew to include mostly Habs fans, some of which I was beginning to consider good friends, despite never having met most of them. We often think of the internet as a place for shady online dating, and not for creating new friendships, but that was exactly what was happening. By the time the next Montreal Tweetup came around, I was even more excited than I was the first time around.

My second Habs Tweetup was at Macleans Pub in February 2011. The Habs won in a shutout against the Leafs. I was the proud winner of a Habs scarf and a pair of Habs mittens. It was my best friend’s birthday. I got to wear my awesome Habs Tweetup nametag. Best of all, I got to hang out with some of the people I talk to almost every day on Twitter. It was pretty rad, if I say so myself.




As my third Habs Tweetup approaches, I’m yet again excited. I’m someone who has always embraced social media and all it had to offer. Despite still maintaining a Facebook addiction, I find Twitter has taken over as my favourite social media platform.

I read somewhere that Facebook is to keep in touch with the people you didn’t like in high school, and Twitter is to keep in touch with the people you wish you went to high school with. I find this saying to be extremely appropriate. I’ve met some pretty awesome people thanks to Twitter and Habs Tweetups, and that is social media working at its finest.

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Would you like to join Robyn and other Habs fans at the next HabsTweetup? Click on the "RSVP for a Habs Tweetup" tab at the top of the page. The next event is being held in Montreal on March 26th, hope to see you there!

photo credits: @PabloJinko, @FlyersRule, @ladyhabs and http://eaglerockartguild-idaho.org/newsletters.html

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My trip to Montreal for the Habs Tweetup

by Amy, Habstweetup.com, (AllHabs.net)

PHILADELPHIA, PA -- One of my most favourite aspects of attending a Habs Tweetup is actually an essential part of each event's mission - to connect Habs fans from all over the world. I hail from the greater Philadelphia area and enjoy meeting many new friends and faces from all over the United States and Canada.

Recently the Habs Tweetup crew kicked off 2011 with a gathering in Montreal for a Habs/Leafs game and I was pleased to discover that I wouldn't be the only out-of-towner in attendance. One fellow traveler, @smalrus, trekked from Massachusetts - be sure to read his article on AllHabs.net, "Montreal, Mon Coeur".

Another friend, @emihawk, made his way from Quebec City for his second Habs Tweetup and has shared with us his experience from the weekend.

by René-Carl, special to HabsTweetup.com (AllHabs.net)

Quebec City, QC -- Avant de commencer, je dois dire que j’attendais avec impatience ce tweetup depuis mon premier en mars 2010 où j’ai rencontré pour la première fois certains partisans aussi et même plus passionnés que moi. Donc cette rencontre du 12 février je l’attendais avec impatience après avoir manqué le premier Habs Tweetup de l’année' marquant le début de la saison.

C'est donc le 12 février au matin je quittais Québec pour Montréal en train et attendais avec impatience que le début du tweetup pour revoir tous ses gens fantastiques que j'avais rencontrés lors de la première fois. Amy, Rick, Anne... Rendu au Pub je demandais à la serveuse ou se trouvait le groupe du Tweetup et j'ai vu Smalrus et Amanda qui quittaient pour le début du match au centre Bell. Par la suite, sont arrivés Steve, Kathy, Erica et tous les autres. La soirée se déroula comme un charme et en plus le Canadien gagna le match, par blanchissage de surcroît. Après le match, j’ai socialisé avec la plupart des gens présents et ils sont tous aussi sympathiques que je me l’imaginais.

J’attends avec impatience de pouvoir retourner a mon prochain tweetup a Montréal ou même a Québec si tout se passe bien...

==========

Before anything, I'd like to state that I was really looking forward to this Habs Tweetup since my first in March 2010, when I met for the first time some fans as passionate if not more than myself. So, if anything this February 12th reunion, I was expecting it with utmost impatience, especially after having missed the first one of the year, marking the new season.

So, on February 12th, I was leaving Québec City by train for Montreal and was so anxious for the tweetup for a chance to see again people I'd had met before like Amy, Rick, anne... Once at the Pub (Mcleans) I enquired where the group was at and I was able to catch Smalrus and Amanda on their way to the game at the Bell Centre. After that, Steve, Kathy, Erica and many others poured into the place. The whole evening went like a charm and moreover the Habs won by shutout. After the game, I socialized with all present and they were all as pleasant as I imagined beforehand.

I'm looking forward to the next Habs Tweetup in Montréal, or even in Québec City, if all goes well..

==========

Additional reading:

Habs Tweetup Kicks Off 2011 in Montreal

Habs Hockey: Better with Friends, Old and New

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Habs Tweetup Kicks Off 2011 in Montreal

by Amy, HabsTweetup.com (AllHabs.net)

PHILADELPHIA, PA -- Those of you who have read my articles in the past know by now that I won't hesitate to travel far and wide for a Habs Tweetup. But for the first event of 2011 I was thrilled to see even more Habs fans packing their bags and trekking to Montreal!

More than thirty supporters of the bleu, blanc et rouge got together at McLean's Pub on February 12th to cheer on the Montreal Canadiens as they faced off against the Toronto Maple Leafs...but not everyone in attendance was a local. I represented Philly, while @smalrus traveled from Massachusetts and @emihawk arrived from Quebec City. It was a Planet Habs convergence!

Every Habs Tweetup that I attend reaffirms for me the reasons why I keep coming back for more - and this one certainly did not disappoint. There are the traditional things you look forward to like visiting with friends you haven't seen in a while, tackling the All Habs Trivia Challenge during intermission, and cheering on the Habs with a bunch of people who are equally as crazy about hockey as you are.

But then there are things that really make a Habs Tweetup stand out...you get to meet new people and make new friends at each event, for instance. All Habs photographer @PabloJinko was on hand to snap some professional shots of everyone. (Click HERE to check out all the pictures from the night!) And, we all joined in a rousing version of "Habby Birthday" for @adzeee.

It's things like these that, for me, transform the evening into something a lot more special and memorable than just going out somewhere to watch the game.

Another thing I enjoyed was getting to know everyone a little better by capturing our first set of Habs Tweetup testimonial videos. It was very interesting to hear the different reasons why people liked to attend these events and to also hear stories about why they became a Habs fan! (A common theme seems to be "Well I grew up in a Habs household...)

The Habs Tweetup crew looks forward to sharing our collection of video testimonials with our readers - but there is still time for you to submit your entry too! Click HERE for more details.

I heard a lot of people that night talking about how much they enjoyed themselves and that it was one of the most fun Habs Tweetups they'd been to yet. There were others asking when the next one would be held. There are actually three Habs Tweetups planned for the Heritage Classic and one scheduled for Thursday, February 24th in Toronto. Click on the RSVP For a HabsTweetup tab at the top of the page for complete details and to reserve your seat!

Montreal certainly kicked off 2011 in true Habs Tweetup style and I'm looking forward to seeing what the rest of the year has in store!

For more about this memorable evening, be sure to read Rick Stephens' article on AllHabs.net: "Habs Hockey: Better With Friends, Old and New"

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Montreal Habs Tweetup: A New Venue & Exciting Prizes!

by Amy, Habs Tweetup (AllHabs.net)

MONTREAL, QC--Social media websites like Twitter can be very useful for busy Habs fans like Stuart Ashton whose days are jam-packed with activity. "I often miss the hockey games due to work, family, commuting, etc., but I find that I am able to keep involved in the game through the people I follow on Twitter."

Stuart considers All Habs to be one of his premiere resources for keeping up with news regarding his favourite hometown hockey team. Not long after he started following @All_Habs Stuart began reading about Habs Tweetups happening all over Canada & the US and says he instantly knew that he wanted to join in the fun. "I thought to myself, 'Damn I'd love to tweet-it-up with these people!'"

Well that wish is about to come true on Thursday, November 18th when the Habs take on the Predators! Did I mention that Stuart also runs O'Hara's Pub in downtown Montreal? And it's the site of our next Habs Tweetup!

Located on Rue University, O'Hara's is described as "a public house in the true sense of the term" and offers daily food and drink specials in a welcoming pub atmosphere. "There's nothing pretentious about us...just good food, good beer and always good conversation."

Stuart believes his bar and restaurant is a prime location to watch a Habs game, with a staff and regular patrons dedicated to providing a fun and inviting environment. "O'hara's is a great place to watch the game because we've got great TVs and sound and some die-hard Habs fans as regulars. We've also got a couple Nordiques or Bruins or ABC (Anything But the Canadiens) fans which adds to the good banter!

"Simply put, we take pride in what we do, we love what we do, we try to do it well and we do not pretend to be something we're not."

Adding to the coziness of the pub, Stuart appeals to Habs fans with some special decorative elements. The walls of O'Hara's boast large photographs from the 1953 Stanley Cup championship game, as well as dressing room shots of Jean Beliveau, Rocket Richard and Boom Boom Geoffrion. The pictures are blown up from original negatives he discovered in his father's photo collection.

Of course what would a Montreal Habs Tweetup be without some prizes and giveaways?! Well Stuart and the team at O'Hara's are rolling out the red carpet so-to-speak in honour of this event. Here's some of the "extras" you can expect to find:

• Happy Hour all night - Deals on 3 litre "Beer Towers" of Bud Light
  
  
• Purchase a "Beer Tower" of Bud Light and enter to win 2 tickets in the REDS for the November 24th Habs game against the Kings!
  
  
• Trivia with Livia - Come early for pub trivia before the game with Livia, one of O'Hara's "crazy intelligent, crazy Habs fan" bartenders - the winning team gets a free round of drinks!
  
  
• Livia will also be back for more trivia during intermissions with gift certificates up for grabs!

The night promises to be another unforgettable Habs Tweetup event - you don't want to miss it! Click on the "RSVP for a Habs Tweetup" tab at the top of the page to reserve your spot today - we'll see you there!

O'Hara's Pub
1197 rue University
514-390-8881

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New Habs Tweetup Photo Galleries

by Amy, Habs Tweetup (AllHabs.net)

PHILADELPHIA, PA -- Has it really been over a week since our first Habs Tweetups of the season? I don't know about you, but I'm already looking forward to our next gathering! Games just aren't as fun to watch when you're not surrounded by dozens of friends all cheering together!

To commemorate such a successful opening weekend, and to help us remember all the fun we had, be sure to check out the Habs Tweetup photo galleries posted in the "Multimedia" tab at the top of the page! We've got photos posted from our New York City and Toronto events, as well as the newly posted Montreal pictures.

Also, if you attended ANY of last weekend's Hab Tweetup events and have your own photos you'd like to share - hop on over to We Are Canadiens, the official All Habs Network fan photo gallery. You'll find albums already created for Habs Tweetups and we welcome you to upload and add your own pics to them!

Didn't make it out to one of last week's events? I'm sure just by browsing through the galleries and seeing all the excitement, you'll want to make sure you don't miss the next one! We already have Habs Tweetups planned in Buffalo and Toronto in the next few weeks, with more locations in the works. Just click on the "RSVP for a Habs Tweetup" tab at the top of the page to reserve your spot. Hope to see you there!

Photo credits for the Oct. 9th Montreal gallery: @FlyersRule, @All_Habs, and @PabloJinko

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Habs Tweetup in Montreal: Hockey Season Has Arrived!

by Amy, Habs Tweetup (AllHabs.net)

MONTREAL, QC -- It's Saturday night, around 6:00 PM, and already Ye Olde Orchard is filling up with plenty of patrons adorned in bleu, blanc et rouge. The countdown to puck drop for the second Habs game of the season is underway and a sense of anticipation hangs in the air. On one side of the room, a group of fans begin to gather - warmly greeting old friends, shaking hands and meeting new, smiling faces and affixing "Hi, my name is..." stickers to their Canadiens shirts and jerseys. Ahhh yes, another Habs Tweetup is underway!

About thirty tried and true Habs fans gathered together in front of Ye Olde's large projection television screen to eat, drink, laugh and cheer on their favourite team - and did so loudly enough to help the Habs land their first win of the season. (And yes, it was TOTALLY our cheering that helped them win. Totally.) Many thanks go out to Joe, Ye Olde Orchard's Manager of Operations and bartender extraordinaire, for accomodating our group and reserving such prime seats for our event!!

Many familiar faces were in the crowd - but I was also thrilled to see many new faces in attendance too! It's sometimes intimidating to "take the plunge" and head out to meet up with a slew of people you've only ever talked to online, but after you do it once - you simply can't wait for the next event! I was glad to see all of the newcomers enjoying themselves and everyone spending lots of time chatting and getting to know one another.

The trivia challenge during the first intermission, an activity which is quickly growing into a Habs Tweetup tradition, quizzed everyone about the Habs and Penguins and the newly built Consol Energy Center. As usual, trivia guru Rick (aka @All_Habs) came up with some very interesting (and hard to guess!) questions which had many people stumped. (Thankfully points are also awarded for creativity!) Lots of people went home with some fantastic prizes donated by Rick, @HabItHerWay and @Celia83 - many thanks to all who participated in the challenge and who donated prizes!!

I would be remiss if I didn't mention our honorary guest from Vancouver - during the second intermission I logged onto Skype to video chat with @chile_pepper (which is also becoming a bit of a tradition when I come to town!) and passed my laptop around to everyone there to say hi to our friend from the west. Well, we said hi to HER but she had to resort to sign language to communicate back with us - my poor little laptop speakers were no match for the sound system in YOO!

There was a lot of really fun energy in the crowd at Ye Olde Orchard that night - many of us stayed well after the game was over to keep the party going and to talk about what happened in the game, possibilities of future Habs Tweetups (like I said, one is never enough!) and to simply hang out together OFFLINE. Even though we were still tweeting like crazy (old habits die hard, y'know).

Thank you to Rick for organizing another memorable Montreal Habs Tweetup - and thank you to everyone who came out that night. I, for one, had a fantastic time - always feel so welcomed when I travel to Montreal - and I can't wait to go back :)

Now what are you waiting for? Go click on the RSVP For a Habstweetup tab at the top of the page and get yourself signed up for another one! See you there!

Habs Tweetup in Montreal Quiz

Prize Winners:

Pablo (@pablojinko) -- Jewelry
Erin (@E_84) -- Jewelry
Kyle (@kyleroussel) -- All Habs t-shirt
Erica (@Habitherway) -- Carey Price autograph
Korina (@kptome) -- Montreal Canadiens poster
Gary (@thefranchiseca) -- Canadiens travel mug
Joanna (@flirtyjo) -- Canadiens tote bag
Mike (@habslaughs) -- Mini jersey

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Habs Tweetup in Montreal: Is It October 9th Yet?

by Amy, Habs Tweetup, AllHabs.net

PHILADELPHIA, PA--I know, I know - the saying we're most familiar with sounds more like "Is it October yet?", but that's been done a gazillion times, right? Don't get me wrong, I'm VERY excited for that fast-approaching Thursday night when the Habs and Leafs face off in their very first regular season game of the year.

However, I'm even MORE excited to watch the Habs take on the Penguins just two nights later on October 9th - why, you ask? Because that's the night of the first Habs Tweetup in Montreal! (and yes, I'm traveling from Philadelphia to be there for it!) Join us at our tried and true gathering place Ye Olde Orchard (just one block from the Bell Centre) for an evening of good fun, food and friends!

Here's a couple of things to keep in mind for this exciting event:

1. RSVP, RSVP, RSVP!
2. Arrive early - FREE appetizers will be served at 5:30 pm. Don't miss out!
3. Wear your Habs gear! Show your team spirit and break out your best in bleu, blanc et rouge.
4. Did I mention you should RSVP?
5. Watching the Habs game isn't the only activity of the evening...we've also got games and giveaways lined up too!

It promises to be an exciting evening, so be sure to RSVP today. Simply click on the "RSVP for a Habs Tweetup" tab above and choose YES, or choose MAYBE if you're not quite sure if you can make it. (Please note it's very important for planning purposes that we get an accurate head count of attendees, so get those RSVPs in early!)
Now I know that some of you out there have never been to a Habs Tweetup and might be a bit unsure if you want to come out for one. Well if you like the Habs, if you like to have fun, and if you want to meet other people just like you, then a Habs Tweetup is just the thing! Feel free to contact any of our contributors for more information on what these events are all about.

If you have questions you can email Rick, our Montreal Event Coordinator, for more details! You can also catch up with him via his Twitter name @All_Habs.

Don't wait another minute - get your RSVP in today and mark your calendar! We'll see you there!

Ye Olde Orchard

1189 de la Montagne

Montreal, QC

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2nd Annual NHL Amateur Draft HabsTweetup

by Flyers Rule, Habs Tweetup

PHILADELPHIA, PA -- It's a weekend still talked about today - people fondly reminiscing about the good times they had and the friends they met at the 1st Annual NHL Amateur Draft Habstweetup in Montreal. Well this year the draft may have moved on to a different city, but that wouldn't stop the fun-loving folks in Montreal from resurrecting another Draft Habstweetup!

For me, it was the anniversary of my first-ever trip to Canada so of course I had to make the return trip again...the drive is definitely worth attending any HabsTweetup! The venue was our reliable meeting spot: Ye Olde Orchard...with perfect seats for viewing the draft coverage on the main room's projector screen TV. It was a great mix of people from the first Draft Habstweetup together again, joined by a few folks who had recently discovered Habstweetups, as well as some friendly new faces. I was also pleasantly surprised to see that Gary Whittaker and Nick Murdocco (hosts of The Franchise on the Team990) had stopped by to find out what the HabsTweetup craze was all about!

Friendly debate and conversation ensued as everyone filled out an informal poll to determine who they believed the Canadiens would select as their 1st Round pick (27th overall). Possibilities for whom the Habs should sign as a backup for Carey Price were also discussed as free agency loomed right around the corner. Later, attendees competed against each other to answer as many questions correctly as they could in the All Habs Draft Trivia Challenge. Congratulations to @kyleroussel and @theactivestick who tied for first place! Prizes were awarded to them, as well as the second and third place runners-up (@EP31 and @HabItHerWay). There was even a prize for "creative answers" which went to @metricjulie!

Of course all of this was happening in and around the main event - the 1st Round of the NHL Amateur Draft! It was an evening filled with some predictable choices along with some unexpected moves (see the corresponding article on the All Habs site by clicking HERE). Overall it provided some interesting conversation and speculation regarding the upcoming season. Another fantastic HabsTweetup in the books! If you weren't there, you missed out for sure - but you can still check out the night's photos (and many more) by clicking HERE!

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One Montreal Weekend in March / Ode to a Habs Tweetup

by chile_pepper, HabsTweetup.com


VANCOUVER, BC -- Hi there, my name is Veronica and I am a Habs fan of the only variety of Habs fan there is: die-hard. Have been since I can remember. Many of you know me on Twitter as @chile_pepper and about 50 of you I've MET/met, for real. And it was all thanks to a magical event known as a Habs Tweetup.


Also, if you know me, you know that I talk, A LOT, and you may also know that I recently started blogging. Okay, so if you either know me 'IRL' or have read any of my blog posts, you know that I am verbose and veer in different directions. I will try to keep this as succinct as possible, but with the primary focus here being my love for my 'tweeps', I can't make any promises that it'll be short but I can promise that the love for the tweeps is a straight road, no exits. Meaning, I'll remain focussed.


It all started a long, long time ago in a little hospital in Santiago, Chile. JUST KIDDING. It all started a little over a year ago, on a little social networking site called Twitter. I joined Twitter at the urging of a friend, but looked at it once and left it for about 6 months. Didn't get it.

Then I looked at it again, and I still remember this, even though it was over 25,000 tweets ago: I was watching a Habs game (I watch every single game thanks to the RDS channel), and I tweeted (something like) 'I love watching the Habs on RDS, because there's no mistaking who they're rooting for.' Then I got my very first @ reply, EVER. It was from Mr. @All_Habs himself, asking what I thought about RDS's obtuseness and lack of objectivity (or something like that). Then he followed me. And I thought, I'm having a conversation! I'm in a Twitter relationship! Whee!


And that was it. Day after day, after tweeting the word 'Habs', I was gaining & following tens upon tens then hundreds of fantastic, fabulous, wonderful, beautiful, shiny, delightful, amazing people who were HABS FANS. Habs fans, yo!! After living in Vancouver for years and only having my brothers to talk to about my beloved team, all of a sudden, there were HUNDREDS of people who loved les glorieux as much as I. They were from all over the country too - concentrated mainly in Montreal of course, but there were tweeps in the Maritimes, Ontario, the prairies, and even, yes, B.C. Even the U.S.!


We had a great time 'getting to know' each other during last year's off-season. And we had A LOT to talk about. Naming a coach. And who could forget the 'smurfs'? Then the season began, and I was watching the games 'with' everyone on Twitter. Swoon with love.


One morning in January, I decided to treat myself to a Montreal getaway. First to-do: see when I could possibly manage that - it had to be before April because, let's face it - a lot of us were worried we wouldn't be making the playoffs. Found a Friday I could easily take off in March, then spend a whirlwind weekend in Montreal.

Here's how single moms do it: get my mother to keep that weekend free to spend it with my kids. Book an Air Canada flight on points. Book a room at very nice hotel downtown, also on points.

Then, the last order of business: send an e-mail to my friend @All_Habs saying: What are the chances of a Habs tweetup in Montreal when I go there in March? His response, bless his HEART, was: "100%." And he and the All_Habs team proceeded to organize an event that would surpass my wildest expectations - by a million miles.


My flight landed in Montreal the evening of Friday, March 19th. I was met at the airport by @All_Habs (I didn't even know what he actually looked like, by the way - on Twitter his avatar is simply the All Habs logo!!), @metricjulie and @kyleroussel. You have no idea how touched I was - 3 people whom I'd never met in person met me at the AIRPORT. In MONTREAL. During rush hour. Unbelievable.

The hospitality simply blew me away. And I was thrilled they were each exactly as I'd imagined they would be. @All_Habs has a dry wit, and sober, measured thoughts. His is the voice of reason. Julie is kind, funny and smart, a girl involved in the man's world of sports radio - no easy task. She's amazing. Kyle has a punchline for everything, and had a funny story of watching the Canada/USA gold medal hockey game in Central America. The 4 of us went to wait out the rush hour and get a couple of drinks at some fine establishment near the airport. It was like we already knew each other! And I guess we already did.



Next, off to downtown Montreal to get checked in to the hotel & go meet the fabulous @amanada11 for dinner at l'Académie on Crescent. Again, like meeting an old friend - she even brought wine, and a little gift - you guys, can you even imagine? Our conversation picked up from many mini-Twitter conversations we'd previously had. And she was exactly like I knew she would be: sweet, thoughtful, and intelligent. Guys: she's a doctor!! @Sabotek joined us there, and I hadn't engaged as much with her on Twitter before meeting her, and oh, is she FUNNY. Had me cracking up.



We left from dinner to meet @Sabotek's sister, @Sam_Cat, equally as funny as her big sis, and @Jump4Jay, whom I hadn't had the pleasure of previously meeting on Twitter. When he agreed with me that neither Timmy Ho's nor Starbucks could make as good a cup of coffee as good ol' homemade French-pressed, I was sold. I found him on Twitter and followed him then and there.



Next morning: game day!! Soooo excited. The second-to-none gorgeous and amazing @FlyersRule came to pick me up from the hotel, after having spent the previous day driving in from PHILADELPHIA. This girl doesn't mess around. She also came bearing gifts. So thoughtful. First time meeting in person, again, like old friends. This is going to be a recurring theme. She took
me to Old Montreal where we had lunch and girl talk, then took me to where I'd been dreaming of: the Bell Centre.


@FlyersRule played patient photographer as I had my picture taken from various angles with the

statues of the greats. I then dropped a gross amount of money at the
store. I had to have one of everything, including jerseys & foam fingers for my kids. It was like a CANDY STORE. But BETTER. @emihawk (sweet and perfect gentleman) met us there and went in to the store to have Kenny Dryden's name put on to his jersey. I practiced a little French with him, he practiced his English. @Anne_Laur joined us soon thereafter. She is the cutest thing you can imagine, and took the famous picture (famous? Why not) of me reaching up to kiss the giant poster of Markov in the Habs' store window. @guccipucciprada came too, all model-fabulous and excited for the Habs Hall of Fame tour. It's my one regret from the trip - I couldn't squeeze that in. I had to rush back to the hotel to get dressed and ready for the tweetup. Next time! And I'll do it right. I was so jealous when I saw all the pictures later on Facebook.

And then it was time - an hour or so before puck-drop we began to gather at Ye Olde Orchard for the Montreal @ Toronto game. The place was ridiculously jam-packed due to the Bon Jovi concert actually about to happen at the Bell Centre a few blocks away (our tweetup and the Bon Jovi contingent got a mention in the Montreal Gazette the following day, by the way). As soon as I was in the door, I spotted some Habs jerseys near the front. I

recognized sweetheart @Cathie_AK27 right away - and again, like an old friend after some of our Twitter chats. I was so excited to finally meet her! She introduced me to the vivacious and uber-friendly @MaryK_AK27, whom I hadn't yet met on Twitter but already recognized from the moment at the January Ottawa @ Montreal game, when she and Cathie got their closeup on CBC (and Cathie managed to turn to proudly show the camera that her

jersey bears Sergei Kostitsyn's name).

Among the other early arrivers was blogger and Habs fan extraordinaire @HendricksHockey, who also made the drive up from the States. Finally got to meet the adorable @EP31 too (who's so cute she inspires feelings of wanting to pop her into your pocket), and the famous @robertopanetta and his sweet wife @MeredithBedard.

The Bon Jovi riff-raff finally started vacating the premises to go to the concert, and we started filing into the back room to watch the REAL event. There were more than 50 of us there and I could hardly keep up with all the introductions, but I recognized the lovely @FlirtyJo, the sweet and amazing @IFC4 and @guyl4rj, the massively-muscled @mduchesneau, hilarious blogger @HabsLaughs, and another hilarious, genius blogger whom I'd been very remiss to not previously meet on Twitter, the inimitable,

fabulous @theactivestick.

Then, a little late but finally, my 'amigo del alma', the fantastic @kuyaz arrived. Exactly like he is on Twitter, he is friendly, engaging and awesome. Also brought me a gift. You guys. He even had a 'Veronica' tattoo on his forearm! Okay, so it's not because of me but because of a very important other Veronica, but still. Too cool.

Also finally arriving after expressing a 'maybe yes, maybe no' RSVP and I'm so glad he finally did, was the funny & sweet @theHabituals. His twitter avatar is of a 6-year old version of himself, but he's a little older than that in real life. @amanada11's buddy @michellesquared was another highlight introduction.

We watched the game in that packed room, and I can't tell you what a thrill it was, after years & years of being too far away from Montreal, to be somewhere where people were cheering and 'aaaawwww'ing right along with me to a Habs game, standing up to high-five all around with the Habs goals. Okay, so whatever, the Habs lost in a shootout to the crappy Leafs, but the Leafs were left out of the playoffs because they sucked so bad and we went on to almost make it to the Stanley Cup finals, so there.

I got about 2 hours of sleep that night but I just wanted to soak in my all-too-brief Montreal experience and was so happy to be with all these people I'd made friendships with on Twitter, and it is a weekend I'll never forget. Missing from the tweetup who I would have loved to meet were @beezee05, @yves_on_habs, @brirob9 and @smalrus. These guys are a staple on Twitter for all the Habs games & must-follows for Habs fans. And technically not a Habs fan but a hockey-blog wizard was sorely missed: @HockeyJoePHT.

I boarded a plane early that Sunday morning and it was over so fast. I hope to see everyone again sometime soon, be back in my beloved Montreal for much longer next time, and bring my mini-Habs fans in tow.

See you at the next #habstweetup! Until then, see you all on Twitter! #gohabsgo #isitOctoberyet <3

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