McSweeney’s List (7 June, 2023)
Accessible Audio for McSweeney’s List will be available soon!
This week’s McSweeney’s (Play)List serves up a taste of this year’s Fringe Park musical performers!
I'm lucky enough to know some great people. Funny people, smart people, insightful people, and giant hearted ones too. This piece is dedicated to a group of generous hearts doing great things without ever asking for praise, which makes them deserve it all the more.
It starts with friends, and friends of friends, a loosely knit group of acquaintances trading memes and well wishes in a group chat. I guess it was about three years ago that one of them suggested that we should do something to help people experiencing homelessness. But what to do? Do we all show up at a soup kitchen? Then a better idea came along: what if we get together and just go give things to people? Thankfully, a group of friends comes equipped with a variety of skills, and some people are gifted with the ability to organize things. (Some can even herd cats. Always keep a diverse network.)
All it took was the seed of that idea into the open hearts of people who want to do something bigger than they could do by themselves. Right away, donations were popping up in chat. Small, important, useful things that could make a person's life a tiny bit easier, could brighten a day, signs of thoughtfulness.
It was winter when we went out the first time, a few people armed with ziplock bags containing socks, a Tim Hortons gift card, lip balm and soap donated by the local artisan who makes them, and female hygiene products. I'd never done anything like this, and based on the response we got, very few folks have. The people we approached sometimes looked suspicious, understandably sceptical. Once they understood we were just trying to give them something, and then saw what it was, their demeanour changed, and others would come over to see what was up.
We weren't doing it for the response, of course. Even when I handed the care package to people who didn't say anything, I was glad to do it. We left packages near sleeping people, gave them to people who approached us, left them on park benches to be taken by those who needed them.
At the end of the day, I felt amazing. And listen, call that selfish, but am I supposed to feel bad after I do things that hit me on the heart? Don't be ridiculous. Good things feel great, and that's ok…better than ok, even.
Last summer we did it again, and we did it better. Dog food was donated for the loyal companions, and cloth masks marked the Covid times. We brought a cooler filled with bottled water to give out, rolling it around downtown, our weird, happy crew excited to give everything away and roll back empty.
That time we ran into a woman we had seen before, and when we gave her the package, and told her what was in it, she cried. And then all the women in our group cried. Sure it was touching, it was human, but I cried because no woman should ever have to be grateful for tampons.
This time it's a birthday celebration. A wonderful friend who is among the few who has known me as a child, teen, and adult dropped in chat that this is what he wants for his birthday. And when you make beautiful, selfless wishes, I believe the universe is inclined to align in your favour.
A scheduling glitch meant I didn't make the outing, but I followed along in the chat, catching the good vibes from a distance. What struck me is how many people were giving thanks for the opportunity to do good. We all feel so detached and powerless in our lives, we feel so overwhelmed by the day to day, and the bills, and the job, and -- we don't even feel like we have anything left to offer. And yes, we probably each have much less than we wish we did, and we each want to offer more than we have, but many hands makes for small work. And yes, doing good makes us feel good, and if we're all destined to have dragons, that's the one I want to chase.
As for the birthday, it takes a helluva human to use their birthday wish to hope better for others. It gives me pause, and makes me feel unworthy of my friend's greatness, which isn't what he's going for. It reminds me that regular ass people can inspire other regular ass people, and together, we might yet do great things.
So happy birthday, you know who you are, and may all the kindness you do come back a million fold.
Park Party
Sun’s out, guns out! And gams. And bands, and beer, and what’s that? WHY, YES! Fringe Park opens this week! The wildest outdoor venue in Montreal is back with events, performances, music, and #FringeBuzz. Whether you’re between shows, or just looking for fun, Fringe Park’s got you covered. Read my piece all about Fringe Park here!
WHAT: Fringe Park
WHERE: Parc des Amériques (corner Rachel/St-Laurent)
WHEN: Thursday, June 8 - Sunday, June 18
METRO: Mont Royal (Orange)
DETAILS: Facebook
Summer Reading
Willow Loveday Little and Devon Gallant are both launching their latest books this week! Willow's (Vice) Viscera and Devon's Bootleg Sake take centre stage at their double book launch. Join them for a reading, a signing, a conversation, and some Q&A.
Drawn & Quarterly Accessibility information:
We encourage the wearing of masks at our events.
Our event space uses StopGap.ca ramps in an effort to encourage accessibility. Both the step at the entrance, followed by a half step and a door have StopGap ramps. The door opens inward and is not automated. Once inside, there are no additional steps.
It is not a sober space, our events sometimes offer alcohol.
WHAT: Double Book Launch
WHERE: Drawn & Quarterly Bookstore, 211 Bernard St. W., Montreal, H2T 2K5
WHEN: Friday, June 9 @ 7 PM
METRO: Rosemont (Orange)
DETAILS: Facebook
Stage To Stream
Roger White and Helen Simard's acclaimed piece Because You Never Asked is coming to your living room! Well, it's coming to your computer, so I guess you can be wherever, really. It takes place in a dreamlike setting where past and present collide to explore the way our memories are formed and reconstructed over time. Based on conversations between Roger White and his grandmother, Marianna Clark (née Goldmann), about her experiences fleeing Nazi Germany and arriving in the UK as a refugee, the piece combines texts mined from diaries and letters that Marianna wrote in her late teens and early 20s with the recordings of her speaking in her 90s. I saw this piece live, loved it, and can't wait to see it again.
WHAT: Because You Never Asked - Web Broadcast
WHERE: The Internet
WHEN: Monday, June 12 - Friday, June 16
DETAILS: Facebook
Classy Comedy
Make it a Bonne Nuit with the best English comedians from Montreal (and around the world)!! The beautiful M Hotel sets the stage (so you'll want to snap a selfie), while comedian podcasters Amer Rez and Gabriel Omassi host (and bring!) the humour. This one was sent to me by a comic, so the laughs are guaranteed. Stay after the show to mingle, and chat with funny humans. Check out their podcast, out every Thursday (It Was A Bonne Nuit).
WHAT: Good Night Comedy Show
WHERE: M Hotel Bar, 1245 Rue St. Andre, Montreal QC, H2L 3T1
WHEN: Sunday June 11 @ 8PM
METRO: Berri-UQAM
DETAILS: Facebook
McSweeney’s List drops every Wednesday with the best events to catch each week in Montreal. Don’t forget to SUBMIT YOUR EVENT to be listed!
