Mexico City, A Philanthropic Adviser and Montreal Michelin Star Guesses
Let's Do This!
Mexico City - The Big City Everyone’s Visiting Now
I just came back from 5 days in Mexico City and while I’m no expert, I do have… you got it… 3 Good Things to Know. Actually, I have way more but I’ll stick to three for now.
First off - why visit?
Mexico City is definitely having a moment. Its leafy, architecturally beautiful neighbourhoods, the food, the artisans and the overall vibe are amazing. Plus, it’s only 5 hours from Montreal and a 2 hour time change! Mexico City is HUGE, but the central neighbourhoods are surprisingly quiet and walkable. More and more people are going which means now is a great time to visit.
The FOOD. This is probably the number one reason to visit and you can find it all from beautiful restaurants to street food stands selling every type of Mexican food possible. For restaurants my favourite was Meroma and for street food I recommend a tour with The Curious Mexican.
Walk & Shop - As much as I loved our Condesa neighbourhood where we stayed, Roma Norte had more shops and cafés and was probably more interesting to walk around. Colima and the offshoot streets have tons of beautiful stores and cafés. If you prefer more of a market we loved El Bazar Sabado which was small and beautiful (combine it with a tour of Frida Kahlo’s house which is also in the south).
Learn - Museo Nacional de Antropología was amazing. We did the free tour to learn more about what we were looking at. The restaurant in the museum was also beautiful as was walking around the huge park surrounding the museum.
Fast facts:
We were recommended to use Uber to go everywhere, but honestly I found the metro faster and very convenient. The metro might also feel familiar - the trains were built by Bombardier and are the same rubber wheel cars as we have in Montreal. Tip: The cars at the front are for women and children only.
If you want to learn more about the culture before you go I highly recommend this book.
Dinners at what I would consider a fancy restaurant were generally around $75 for a starter, main and one glass of wine. For a 20 minute drive, Ubers were around $4.
I never felt unsafe, and I was solicited by sellers only once and it was pretty minor.
I went as a part of this tour extending my time by one day on either end. I wasn't, sure about doing a guided trip but in the end we had access to experience and places I wouldn’t have had on my own and it was nice to get personalized recommendations. If you decide to do a tour I recommend you do your research and find a company and itinerary that works for you.
If you want to see more photos from my trip please follow my personal Instagram.
As an aside:
The biggest take away I learned from this trip is the importance of experience. Talking straight to the owners of the shops or the chefs in the restaurant and learning from them was the highlight of my trip.
I decided that I am going to create a website for travellers to Montreal - so they can also directly connect with interesting experiences.
Just today, I was solicited by a website billing themselves as experts in Montreal. The website looked legit, but they told me they wanted to list me as one of the best wedding photographers in Montreal. I don’t have a single wedding photo on my website, nor do I list myself as a wedding photographer. It made me realize how terrible these websites really are. I think people are looking for truly authentic experiences and I hope to create a space to showcase that. Stay tuned…
Rebecca Darwent - Philanthropic Adviser and International Speaker
Rebecca Darwent is a Philanthropic Adviser and International speaker based here in Montreal. She specializes in helping people and organizations align their giving with the impact they want to see in the world. If you want to hear more about this profession and what she does, Rebecca dives into it much more on the podcast. I encourage you to listen to our interview which expands on all the questions.
Why did you decide to work for yourself vs someone else?
In 2020 I was part of the team that launched the Foundation for Black Communities but I always wanted to be an entrepreneur. I just wasn’t sure how I would do that in the social impact space. In the end I decided to take what I learned and apply it to running my own business. I decided to jump in and go for it without thinking too much about the downside.
Can you remember when you first learned about your field of work?
I was part of a fellowship called Women Leaders for the World and I was matched with a global adviser who is now a dear friend and mentor of mine, Jaimi Cortes. She is actually a philanthropic adviser and she shared what she did.
Can you name the biggest lesson you’ve learned in running a business?
As an entrepreneur, it really all falls on you. You are the legal department, you need to procure support - it’s up to you to think about all aspects of the business. It’s my responsibility to make sure all components of the business are functioning.
Can you name your greatest success or something you’re most proud of in your business experiences?
I am most proud of the Ted Talk I did in February 2023. It taught me a lot about myself and how I communicate. I was proud when I delivered it and even more proud now that it has gone viral and I know that for every person who viewed that talk they are potentially changing their community and making a difference in the lives of the people around them or the planet.
What has been the biggest sacrifice you’ve made in starting your business?
Time. Maybe everyone says that, but for me it’s especially time with friends. I tend to prioritize time with my family. There are a lot of tough times and I haven’t necessarily leaned into friends to talk about those times. Probably because of that, time with friends has probably gone down.
What business books resources would you recommend to someone starting a creative business of their own?
I often look to Podcasts and I am a longtime listener of the Tim Ferriss Show and The Diary of a CEO. There is also a book by Steven Pressfield called The Art of War. It doesn’t take long to read, and I love to lean into it in the tough times.
In your opinion, what are the top three things someone should consider before starting their own business?
1. Look at cash flow. How much are you investing upfront? Are you generating revenue? Are you a business or are you a hobby?
Who is your ideal client? Who is the client that is going to be paying you?
What is your stamina and how you can continue to preserver year after year. A lot of business don’t make it past 1-2 years. Are you in it for the long run?
If you were magically given 3 more hours per day, what would you do with them?
I would split that time up between activities that are fun and pure joy - going bowling or playing pool - and I’d write more. There’s something about writing and getting your thoughts onto paper that I wish I could do more.
I strongly encourage you to listen to Rebecca’s Podcast. We really dive into each topic so much more and it’s a fascinating listen.
Rebecca’s current faves:
Bookstore
Maktaba Bookshop - a concept bookshop and boutique nestled in a heritage building in Old Montreal. Follow them on Instagram here.
Location: 165 Saint-Paul St W, Montreal, Quebec H2Y 1Z5
Bakery
Kouign-Amaan Bakery is my Montreal fave for the kouign-amann or croissant
Location: 316 Mont-Royal Ave E, Montreal, Quebec H2T 1P7
Tech
reMarkable digital notebook is seriously amazing and has actually changed my life in notes taking
Books
Afrominimalist’s Guide to Living with Less by Christine Platt (nonfiction book, better than Marie Kondo)
All My Rage by Sabaa Tahir (fiction, best book I’ve read in last 3 years)
Rebecca’s Rwanda Recommendations (even if you aren’t heading to Rwanda!)
Haute Baso is a contemporary Rwandan fashion brand that blends traditional craftsmanship with modern design, creating high-quality, ethically made clothing and accessories. Known for empowering local artisans, the brand highlights Rwanda’s rich culture while promoting sustainability and social impact. Follow them on Instagram here.
Sonia Mugabo is a Rwandan fashion brand that combines modern elegance with local craftsmanship, offering stylish, high-quality garments that celebrate Rwanda's vibrant culture and creativity.
Rebecca Darwent Global Inc. is rooted in Rebecca’s personal advocacy to be a bridge builder connecting capital to communities that need it most.
What We Do
We specialize in building bridges and creating new philanthropic models to address the challenges of our society. Read more about my business here and listen to my Ted Talk here.
Michelin Stars in Montreal
Did you know that a tourism board has to pay Michelin to come and give Michelin stars? If you’ve ever wondered why we don’t have any in Montreal, that’s why. But not only are they coming to Montreal, but to the province as a whole.
I’ve never been to a Michelin starred restaurant but I can imagine that it must be quite an experience. I also know that restaurant prices tend to increase once a rating has been provided, so now is a good time to guess what restaurants might make the list and go.
I’m trying not to look at any official lists but simply poll my friends and Instagram. Here’s the possible contenders according to no official system at all but a bunch of random opinions. Regardless, it’s a list of some very good restaurants!
Vin mon lapin (lots of votes)
Beba (lots of votes)
What do you think?
I loved all of Dr ? Sheila with Amy Poehler, but this episode with Chris Parnell and Ana Gasteyer is particularly funny.
I read this book. I have to admit that all the names had me confused, but it was a good look into the experience of Chinese Americans especially in New York.
Podcast Links for This Week’s Episode
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Michelle Little is a photographer who specializes in family, maternity, newborn, headshots and boudoir. I offer studio, in-home and outdoor photography. You can see her website here and get in touch here.
I also have an insanely popular photography newsletter you can sign up to here for news, mini session announcements and more. Once a year I giveaway a free studio session to a lucky subscriber (maybe that’s why it’s insanely popular?)
It's such a great city!
Thanks for sharing your thoughts about Mexico City! It's always great to add to the list of places to explore in this amazing place!