I believe that it's now actually Spring. Sure, I could be wrong; stranger things happen regularly. It could yet snow record amounts, but I doubt it. Flowers are blooming, grass is greening, and the air smells like life and dirt.

You've definitely seen social media posts about how the returning sun is curing malaise, and people are feeling human again. Maybe you've noticed a pep in your own step; suddenly you're feeling a bit energized, more motivated, even hopeful. Even if you don't have Seasonal Affective Disorder, it’s natural that our energy changes with the seasons. Winter in this part of the world is a frozen hibernation; we put away our cute clothes, and focus on practical wear. Outings are fewer, farther between, and cost more. We rest, work on Self, work on Art, catch up on books. It's quiet, the snow and darkness insulating both the sound as well as ourselves from each other. And now, like a horse nearing home, we feel the urge to run into Spring.

We're shaking out our fave fits, and getting ready to rock stuff we haven't worn in a year. (Keep an eye out for bandaids on the back of women's feet; having been ensconced in boots for so long, those spring shoe blisters are a sure sign of the season.) Do last year's things still fit you, metaphorically? It's a great way to gauge the small changes in ourselves. I'm happy to see some of my summer dresses and can't wait to get into them, while some pieces feel less “me” than they did when I tucked them out of sight, out of mind, last fall. While I haven't (and won't) navel gaze into why, I'm glad to note that my style’s always evolving. Plus, while previous versions of Me would've hung onto these things, Current Me can't get them out of my house fast enough. They’re like shed skin, and I've outgrown them. Other people need them now, so I bring them to a local thrift shop, and then search the racks, continuing the cycle.

Festivals, concerts, parties and picnics are on the horizon, and plans are in the air. Terraces and park shows are only moments away, and we’ll be dancing in the streets in no time. The seeds of all these things were planted months ago, and soon they'll bloom, and we will bask. How are your seeds doing, Dear? With a chill still in the air, but all the snow gone, it feels like only yesterday I was walking in the autumn sun, contemplating Samhain. I was wondering what growth I could encourage under the cover of snow and darkness, who I would be when it was time to take my sandals out again. (I have not yet worn my sandals out, but I've dusted them off and am staring at them longingly.)

Winter felt like a classroom with mandatory hours, but plenty of freedom, too. I hunkered down in my warm little cave, taking turns enjoying solitude and feeling lonely. I released expectations, and gave myself permission to feel all the feels; from singing made up songs at the top of my lungs, to sitting in discomfort and knowing it will pass. There were late night phone calls, shows worth braving the cold for, and long talks with myself. I feel like I've grown in some ways that are impossible to explain.

This time last year, I wasn't living in my cave sweet cave. I hadn't even signed the lease yet. Frazzled, I had unhelpful people in my ear telling me that all I talked about was how I needed a place, my mind circling, panicking, losing sleep. It was a dumbass thing to say: when you don't know where home will be, it's hard to think about anything else. This time last year I was in a fairly new relationship that was already crumbling under its own weight. This time last year, I did comedy for the first time. It all feels like a minute ago, and also worlds away.

Settling into my first winter at home with my sweet cat, Hazelnut, I dug deep and planted seeds. While my house did not grow into a stylish, and well organized spot worthy of Pinteresting, it's homey. It smells like incense, and looks like fun, and it's the perfect place for me to bake bread and watch podcasts. My bread has gotten better; my podcast playlist has expanded. My cooking repertoire in general has improved, as I get creative with things designed specifically for my palette. Less processed food, less meat, less takeout, more care.

I have not hosted the gatherings, parties, or copious amounts of people I planned to. At first I lamented this, but then I realized I had grown what I needed, and that's not always what you think you want. In a way, I've created an oasis; a refuge in which I can escape the world and be wholly myself without witnesses or pressures. It's an unexpected salve, a relief I didn't know I needed. It's been a lovely realization about the way things grow as they ought to, and that we need to embrace the changes we find in our own backyards.

As the sun warms the bricks along with our souls, maybe you can acknowledge what has changed over your season. Where were you as the leaves fell? And who are you now? Maybe you wish you'd planted more seeds, or different ones. Maybe the person you are now has a whole new plan about what your garden should look like. (Yes, I'm riding this metaphor hard all the way to the bank. Yee-motherfucking-haw!) It's the perfect time for such clarity. Just as some bulbs need to hit the dirt before the frost, some stuff grows best when planted right now, before the summer dresses and sandals. It's certainly never too late, and most plans arrive right on time.

So if you still have some growing to do before we hit the pedestrian streets and sweaty nights, let this be the sign you were waiting for. Roll up your sleeves, pull the invasive weeds (but remember that dandelions and other wildflowers are part of the bigger picture, and leave them be). Get your shovel, sort your vision, and don't forget to add love, sweat, and tears as necessary. We’re all always in progress, Dears, but some seasons make it easier than others. Get to it; I can't wait to see what you bloom into.

Anything Can Happen!

Indie Night is a platform to showcase experimental improv sets. Folks try out new formats and styles, and anything can happen! There will be duos, large groups and everything in between. Grab your tickets for an evening of experimental comedy!

$5 In Advance
$8 @ The Door
Free for Montreal Improv Students

WHAT: Indie Night

WHERE: Montreal Improv, 3716 Notre Dame St. W., Montreal, H4C 1P7

WHEN: Thursday, April 24 7 PM

METRO: Place Saint Henri (Orange)

TICKETS: Eventbrite

Collect Them All

Celebrate the launch of two new poetry collections, Requiem by Virginia Konchan, and Francofilaments by Eileen G'Sell. The poets will be reading and discussing their work, joined in conversation by poet Alexei Perry Cox. This event is free, but space is limited, so please RSVP.

Requiem is a collection anchored in personal and collective grief, remembrance, and commemoration, journeying through the loss of a mother in a series of elegies, fugues, and lamentations that draw from the Church’s canonical hours of prayer as collected in a breviary. Historical and religious mourning rites, and the grief work of John Donne, Gerard Manley Hopkins, Roland Barthes, Emily Dickinson, and Mozart, among others, establish a lyric dialogue around aesthetic representations of grief, invoking a doubleness between the griever and the grieved; a mutuality and interconnectedness that illuminate the role of witness in poetry, mortality, and transcendence. Requiem enacts our deepest longing: to honor and immortalize the beloved.

Francofilaments is a poetic exploration of the intersections between Francophilia, feminism, and cinema. Informed by her work as a culture critic, the collection is marked by a blend of sharp wit, inventive wordplay, and a candid voice that traverses themes of desire, sex, and loss. G'Sell's poems move with a rhythmic, almost cinematic quality, conjuring vivid imagery and unexpected juxtapositions that invite the reader into a world where the everyday and the extraordinary coalesce. With a deft hand, she captures the nuanced interplay of language, identity, and the ever-present allure of French culture, offering a fresh perspective on what it means to navigate modern womanhood.

To Garden: To Grave is a parallel perspective novella that wonders what it would be like to garden where the bodies are buried. To unbury the corpses buried by inscription of power and allow curiosity to flourish there instead. Set in a time of unending, following the Battle of Algiers, Ilham performs this project of digging, with an indefatigable spirit. And gives us a reason to spend time in the dirt.

WHAT: Poetry Launch

WHERE: Argo Bookshop, 1841-A St. Catherine St. W., Montreal, H3H 1M2,

WHEN: Friday, April 25 @ 7 PM

METRO: Atwater (Green)

RSVP: TicketSource

Bring Your Own Schmear

The colorful and mesmerizing Bagel Burlesque Expo is back! Local and international artists will dazzle you with their unforgettable burlesque performances.

Hosted by Sugarpuss on Friday, and Frenchy Jones on Saturday, Bagel Burlesque Expo offers two unique evenings with headliner Jake Jockerson, along with special guests Cat Zaddy, and Minx Arcana.

The Friday show will be accessible to the deaf community thanks to the presence of sign language interpreters during the performances and animation (ASL+LSQ). The venue is wheelchair accessible.

Bagel Burlesque Expo is Montreal's sexy, inclusive, fierce and fabulous event that you do not want to miss this spring!

For more information, contact bagel.burlesque@gmail.com

WHAT: Bagel Burlesque Expo

WHERE: Studio TD, 305 St. Catherine St W., Montreal, Quebec H2X 2A3

WHEN: Friday, April 25 & Saturday, April 26 @ 8 PM

METRO: Place-des-Arts (Green)

TICKETS: Ticketmaster

Time Warp Jams

Step back in time and catch a vibe like no other — it’s the ultimate 90s R&B, Dancehall and Reggae Party! Slow jams, sweet riddims, and basslines that’ll move your soul. Dress fresh, bring your crew, and get ready to groove all night to the sounds of classic R&B and dancehall hits. No skips, just vibes.

WHAT: Forever 90s

WHERE: Concordia-Loyola, 7141 Sherbrooke St. W., Montreal, H4B 1R6

WHEN: Saturday, April 26 @ 8 PM

METRO: Vendôme (Orange)

TICKETS: Eventbrite

A Scent-sory Experience

Le Ciel Parfum has a dreamy morning in store for you! Choose from over 50 high quality perfume oils from around the world, mix them with expert guidance, then select a bottle and decorate it to match your style!

Enjoy an artisanal pastry, coffee or drink, plus soup and sandwich!

Get lost in the creativity of crafting your own custom fragrance and enjoying a meal in this dreamy, bohemian café. The spot is an experience in its own right: it has a mystical tattoo studio, gallery, a shop featuring handmade jewelry crafted in-house, unique art finds, and trinkets! (I'm legit so excited to go: making perfume in a fantasyland like this gives the potion powers, obvs.)

Don't miss this unforgettable experience steeped in charm and magic!

WHAT: Scent and Savour - Perfume Creation Workshop & Lunch

WHERE: Impact Galerie, 356 St. Paul St. W., Montreal, H2Y 2A6

WHEN: Sunday, April 27 @ 10 AM - 1 PM

METRO: Square Victoria-OACI (Orange)

TICKETS: Eventbrite

A Hilarious Hang

It's a night of hilarious comedy in the heart of Montreal. The vibe is cozy and warm, and the comics are killers! This week, Aseem headlines a killer lineup, featuring Ksanti, Maddie-Jo Anderson, Stephanie Diamond, Hank Leblanc, Juju Smith, Eugenie Nothomb, Conrad Winton, Roksana Olsinskaya, and Amelie Ambridge.

Want to tell some jokes? Want to watch local comics try their latest funnies? Wet’n’Wild Bucket List Open Mic Competition starts at 10 PM. Show-up / Sign-up. I co-host this bad boy, so while I'm totally biased, I'm also correct when I say it's fantastic. Plus, the hang is hot! (Speaking of hot, if you order tea, they give it to you in the prettiest teacups. They've also got coconut water and kombucha…and booze. They have booze.)

WHAT: Comedy on Mackay #21

WHERE: NsurMackay, 1244 Mackay St., Montreal, H3G 2H4

WHEN: Tuesday, April 29 @ 8 PM, Open Mic @ 10 PM

METRO: Guy-Concordia (Green) & Lucien-l'Allier (Orange)

TICKETS:Eventbrite

World’s Smallest Comedy Night has so many cool things happening, so here are their events this week in order!

Monday Special: JFL Showcase!!!

World’s Smallest Comedy Night presents a Just For Laughs Showcase!

Festival season is around the corner, and Montreal’s top comedians have been sharpening their sets to bring you a night of unforgettable laughs. This is your chance to catch the city’s best and brightest as they showcase their finest material!

Troy Stark hosts this epic lineup, featuring Walter Lyng, Vance Michel, Zak Kik, Abby Stonehouse, Quinn Lague, Chris Venditto, Lou Laurence, Quinn McMorrow, Olivia Benaroche and Ben Cardilli!

Seating is extremely limited, so grab your tickets now and come support your favorite comedians before they hit the festival stage!

WHAT: The World's Smallest Just For Laughs Showcase

WHERE: Hurley's Irish Pub, 1225 Crescent St., Montreal, H3G 2B1

WHEN: Monday, April 28, Doors @ 7 PM, Show @ 8 PM

METRO: Lucien l'Allier (Orange) & Guy-Concordia (Green)

TICKETS: Eventbrite

Dirty Monday

The Monday Night Dirty Mic is the place to be! Hosted by Vance Michel, every show is an unpredictable and unique experience as a hilarious collection of comedians from newbs to pros take the stage. See the best before anyone else, and catch seasoned locals doing their freshest funnies!

Comics: show-up, sign-up