This Easter, Metrocentre is inviting younger visitors and their families to step back in time with a journey through its playful and immersive ‘Retro Mini Metro’, one of several special attractions planned to celebrate the centre’s 40th anniversary.
Running in Exhibition Square from Monday 6 April to Sunday 19 April, the Retro Mini Metro experience gives children the chance to explore a vibrant, creative world of role-play where their imaginations can run free.
There’s the chance to explore what it might be like to work behind the counters of make-believe toy and clothing stores, give or receive beauty treatments in the salon, even serve tickets and hotdogs in the cinema. All of which gives children the chance to learn and practice real-life skills in communication, teamwork and money basics.
Merging past with present, there are also throwbacks to the iconic Metroland Arcade and Clockworks Food Court, offering youngsters a glimpse into what Metrocentre was like in the 1980s, 1990s and early noughties – while parents relive memories from their own youth.
Metrocentre Retro Mini Metro Beauty Salon
Centre Director, Gavin Prior, said:
‘Retro Mini Metro really brings to life, in a fun and interactive way, just how much Metrocentre has evolved over its four decades – and continues to evolve.
‘From revisiting highlights from the centre’s past to showcasing its present-day appeal, this family-friendly attraction celebrates the dynamic nature of Metrocentre, aiming to inspire shoppers for generations to come.’
Catering primarily for children aged seven years and under, Retro Mini Metro will be open from 11am until 4pm daily, with no need to book.
Admission is free but a donation of £2 is encouraged, with all proceeds raised going to the Daisy Chain Project to support their work empowering autistic and neurodivergent individuals through the provision of holistic person-centred services.
Alongside these essential support services, Daisy Chain also promotes training, wellbeing, inclusion and acceptance, both regionally and nationwide, and operates a charity megastore just down the road in Team Valley creating jobs for neurodivergent people in a safe, understanding environment.
<img src="https://www.mtlblog.com/media-library/russell-crowe-poses-with-kitchen-staff-members.jpg?id=61076145&width=1200&height=800&coordinates=97%2C0%2C98%2C0"/><br/><br/><p>Montreal was buzzing with an <a href="https://www.mtlblog.com/montreal-grand-prix-celebrities-2025" target="_blank">array of celebrities last weekend</a> for the <a href="https://www.mtlblog.com/tag/montreal-grand-prix" target="_blank">Canadian Grand Prix</a>, but another A-lister has quietly been making the rounds around town.</p><p>Oscar-winning actor Russell Crowe has been spotted exploring the city's food scene, with several local restaurants sharing surprise visits from the <em>Gladiator</em> star.</p><p><span></span>On Wednesday, Crowe dropped by St-Henri's beloved Tacos Frida, where staff got a chance to snap a few pics with him.</p><blockquote class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/DLDu2Y9xahu/?img_index=2" data-instgrm-version="4" style="background:#FFF; border:0; border-radius:3px; box-shadow:0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width:658px; padding:0; width:99.375%; width:-webkit-calc(100% - 2px); width:calc(100% - 2px);">
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<a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/DLDu2Y9xahu/?img_index=2" style=" color:#000; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; font-style:normal; font-weight:normal; line-height:17px; text-decoration:none; word-wrap:break-word;" target="_top">See on Instagram</a>
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</blockquote><script async="" defer="" src="//platform.instagram.com/en_US/embeds.js"></script><p>"Today we had the honour of hosting Russell Crowe at Tacos Frida! Thank you for a memorable visit—what a nice surprise for our team and clients!" the restaurant wrote in the post's caption.</p><p>Apparently, the feeling was mutual, as Crowe gave the spot a glowing review on X, telling his 2.8 million followers:</p><p>"Tacos Frida on Notre-Dame in Montreal … We are a long way north of Oaxaca here but, wow… superior."</p><blockquote class="rm-embed twitter-tweet" data-partner="rebelmouse" data-twitter-tweet-id="1935441393780130284">
<div style="margin:1em 0"></div> — (@) <a href="https://twitter.com/russellcrowe/status/1935441393780130284"></a>
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<script async="" charset="utf-8" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script> <p>But that's not the only local gem the Hollywood icon has checked out lately. Over the past few weeks, he's also been seen at Mai Thai Cuisine on St-Denis.</p><blockquote class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/DKsdwWaJiEK/?img_index=1" data-instgrm-version="4" style="background:#FFF; border:0; border-radius:3px; box-shadow:0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width:658px; padding:0; width:99.375%; width:-webkit-calc(100% - 2px); width:calc(100% - 2px);">
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<a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/DKsdwWaJiEK/?img_index=1" style=" color:#000; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; font-style:normal; font-weight:normal; line-height:17px; text-decoration:none; word-wrap:break-word;" target="_top">See on Instagram</a>
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</blockquote><script async="" defer="" src="//platform.instagram.com/en_US/embeds.js"></script> <p>Italian downtown staple Il Cortile shared a post of Crowe in front of their establishment, too.</p><blockquote class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/DLDYbbDpFLA/" data-instgrm-version="4" style="background:#FFF; border:0; border-radius:3px; box-shadow:0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width:658px; padding:0; width:99.375%; width:-webkit-calc(100% - 2px); width:calc(100% - 2px);">
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<a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/DLDYbbDpFLA/" style=" color:#000; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; font-style:normal; font-weight:normal; line-height:17px; text-decoration:none; word-wrap:break-word;" target="_top">See on Instagram</a>
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</blockquote><script async="" defer="" src="//platform.instagram.com/en_US/embeds.js"></script> <p>With all this time to explore the Montreal food scene, it seems Crowe has been in Canada for a while.</p><p><span></span>He posted the following shot of what appears to be the Jacques Cartier Bridge back on June 5, with a caption that read "Where am I now?"</p><blockquote class="rm-embed twitter-tweet" data-partner="rebelmouse" data-twitter-tweet-id="1930750279802122306">
<div style="margin:1em 0"></div> — (@) <a href="https://twitter.com/russellcrowe/status/1930750279802122306"></a>
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<script async="" charset="utf-8" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script> <p>Then, on June 16, the Wellington, New Zealand native shared a few snapshots of what appears to be Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island.</p><blockquote class="rm-embed twitter-tweet" data-partner="rebelmouse" data-twitter-tweet-id="1934770028261593151">
<div style="margin:1em 0"></div> — (@) <a href="https://twitter.com/russellcrowe/status/1934770028261593151"></a>
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<script async="" charset="utf-8" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script> <p>As for why he's here? That part remains a mystery. But if his restaurant trail is anything to go by, he's making the most of the trip — and probably eating pretty well, too.</p><p><em>Love this? Check out our <a href="https://www.mtlblog.com/notices/" target="_blank">MTL Blog noticeboard</a> for details on jobs, benefits, travel info and more!</em></p><p><em>AI tools may have been used to support the creation or distribution of this content; however, it has been carefully edited and fact-checked by a member of MTL Blog's Editorial team. For more information on our use of AI, please visit our <a href="https://www.mtlblog.com/editorial-standards" target="_blank">Editorial Standards page</a>.</em></p><p><br/></p>