McSweeney’s List (3 January, 2023)
Today is just a day. It is neither a holiday nor a holiday eve, and after weeks of gatherings and countdowns to other gatherings, it hits like a truck. The copious amounts of alcohol, hors d’oeuvres, and socializing has to come to an end. At times I even wished the return to normalcy would hurry up and get here, and now inevitably, it has. Now it's just January. Le sigh.
Despite the mild weather, the post holiday season feels like we should be staying home in a blanket at least, but hibernating entirely also sounds completely plausible. Somehow we went from the liminal space between Christmas and New Year, to being thrust into the uncaring arms of Normal Time. I'm currently jiggling the switch in my brain designed to make these transitions, and she is quite glitchy.
Much like returning from a vacation, I now need a break. I figure it’ll take a week, maybe two to get back into the groove, which is perfect because that should distract me from the dark and cold. And I think that a slow, gentle start is the best way to ease into the year. After the dates and deadlines, shopping and shipping delays, no one's ready to hit the ground running, so let's concentrate on going in the right direction at whatever pace.
If you're incorporating changes or quitting habits that don't serve you, remember that it's a marathon not a sprint. You're learning as you go, and things that were old hat are now new adventures as you focus on your best iteration of Self. Yes, that means that each forward step will take longer, probably feel unsure, possibly wholly uncomfortable. That's ok. You're reprogramming, and that takes a minute.
If you're going back to work this week, remember that the pile of mail, messages and emails will get taken care of. No, not all in one day, stop trying to perform miracles. One foot in front of the other, and this applies to all the cans that were kicked down the road into the new year. And I say that one for myself as well, as suddenly everything I knew I didn't have to worry about in 2023 has hit me like a ton of bricks, and part of my brain is demanding I solve it all. Today. It's a demanding and distracting voice, one born of scarcity thinking. It's the same voice that screams about finances when I’m watching a movie, the same voice that panic babbles about the nature of time and existence while I'm trying to sleep. I want to believe this voice is on my side and that its methods are just trash, but I'm not sure that's true. When I search my databases for other times this voice gets in my ear, I find it's also the one that demands immediate answers to questions whose time has yet to come. It's the voice that has conversations with people who aren't there and then panics about the outcome, the one that worries what will happen after the party while I'm getting ready for the party.
I'm pretty sure we all have this voice, but since learning that not everyone has an internal monologue, my reality has been shaken, and I can't be sure. I suppose those people also don't have that voice. I suppose they are fully invested in whatever they’re doing at the moment, that they lie down for sleep and simply switch off. If that's the case, I'm jealous of the apparent ease and disturbed by what I can only imagine leads to lack of insight. I'd like to find the brain switch for this one, take a few days off where I don't once think about death (as a concept, as future grief, as a personal pending crisis). I picture myself drinking coffee with a friend, shrugging with a smile when they ask about the near or far future. “That's not yet,” I would say. “There's plenty of time to figure that out, and things always sort themselves.” Whoever finds that switch will make billions.
While I already had some goals set for this year, both loose and concrete, I realized waking up in 2024 that this voice -- and my relationship with it -- must shoot to the top of my priority list. Despite my attempts here to discuss this (fucking) voice logically, left to my own devices in the four walls of my brain and body, it wreaks havoc. It steals joy from the present, and makes the future more intimidating than exciting. In fact, I often say that my body can't discern excitement from anxiety (which is obviously a topic for a therapist or well stocked Self-Help section).
I can't kill this voice. I'm sure that if I could turn down the volume or filter out the times when it's just jabbering, it probably has a lot (something?) to offer. Don't @ me with CBT recs, challenging the voice’s logic has yet to slow the chemical drip of fight-flight-freeze. But nonetheless, I woke up in 2024, recognized a setback, and have resolved to address it. Slowly. Consciously. With one foot in front of the other. And I have a hunch as I write this, that the destination will be found on that journey.
NEW BEGINNINGS
This one's close to my heart, y’all. Our Creative Director and awesome multidisciplinary artist Andrew Jamieson is opening a new space!
Espace Unité is the newest membership-based arts community, located in the heart of the Plateau. Offering an enormous space, including a beautiful stage, kitchen, and bathroom, Espace Unité is perfect for creators needing to give their work the room to grow. It's an ideal location for workshops, rehearsals, small classes, and more!
Espace Unité aims to foster Montreal’s artistic community by offering a financially and physically accessible, versatile, space where artistic endeavours can grow as big as their potential.
Drop by the Espace Unité Open House this Saturday to check out this beautiful space, learn more about Espace Unité, and sign up early! Member spots are limited, so don't wait!
Launching February 1st, Espace Unité Memberships are 35$/Month!
This includes:
10 Bookable Hours
Additional Hours @ 7$/HR
Discount on Venue Rental for Events
Accessibility
Privacy and Security
COMMUNITY
Accessibility: While there is a large elevator, there are four steps at the entrance to the building. Please don't hesitate to reach out if you need any assistance!
Tell your Art Friends! Hell, tell your Art Enemies (a high tide floats all boats).
WHAT: Espace Unité Open House
WHERE: 10 Pins Ave. W., Studio 412, Montreal, H2W 1P9
WHEN: Saturday, January 6, 2 PM - 6 PM
METRO: Sherbrooke (Orange)
DETAILS: Facebook
COMEDY ON YOUR COUCH
I've found what is possibly the laziest way to support local comedy: watch a short movie.
The World’s Smallest Comedy Night crew gathered a veritable Who’s Who of the Montreal comedy scene to put together a great little film, The World's Smallest Miracle on Crescent Street. Yes, it's technically a Christmas movie, but funny is funny all year round. Ugly sweaters and festive themes aside, the holidays are merely the backdrop to a hilarious flick the length of a sitcom (remember those?!).
It took a load of teamwork to make this as good as it is (and it's impressively good). The cinematography is aces, and reminded me how damn pretty our city is. Zak Kik and Troy Stark are the perfect goofy duo, Vance Michel shows off his serious side, and Walter Lyng delivers an epic (if disturbing) performance.
I knew these folks were funny, but I didn't know they could do all this (which really makes me an asshole for underestimating them, but mea culpa). They want views, you have eyeballs, badda-bing-badda-boom. It's streaming free, so watch it, and then you know, keep that bad boy running while you sleep or something.
CAN I GET YOUR NUMBER?
Do you love romance? Do you love to hate romance? Perfect. This one's for you. The One That Got Away is an improv show inspired by your missed connections. A passing glance, a number you should have asked for…fleeting moments that made you wonder if they were the one who got away. Ever wonder what might've happened? Hosted by Melissa G, improvers are ready to re-imagine your stories. Submit them here, and you might just see yours on stage.
This is the show's debut, so get in on the ground floor and brag about it.
Pay-What-You-Can is available at the door and for pr-sale (for e-purchases, use the donation amount in Eventbrite). No one will be turned away due to lack of funds.
WHAT: The One That Got Away
WHERE: Montreal Improv, 3716 Notre-Dame St. W., Montréal, QC H4C 1P7
WHEN: Friday, January 5, 930 PM
METRO: Place St. Henri (Orange)
TICKETS: Eventbrite
LAST BUT NOT LEAST
It's Avery Jane's very last night hosting open mic! Don't miss a chance to cheers her for all she's done, and all the cool stuff she's off to do. Plus, raise a glass to usher in a new era with host Mr. Artiom Carelov!
As per usual, sign up for the chance to play 3 songs, plus you get a free drink for your courage! They’re ready for you with a full instrument backline including drums, piano, keys, guitar, bass, and microphones! Plusplus, there will be a shot & beer combo special.
WHAT: Avery Jane’s Last Open Mic!
WHERE: Bar de Courcelle, 4677 Notre-Dame St. W., Montreal, H4C 1S7, Canada
WHEN: Sunday, January 7, Sign-up @ 830 PM, Show @ 9 PM
METRO: Place St. Henri (Orange)
DETAILS: Facebook
McSweeney’s List drops every Wednesday with the best events, workshops, and more, each week in Montreal!
