It's Christmas day, y’all! It's weird that as a society we only celebrate Christian holidays on a grand scale, so if you feel left out, I wish you whatever joys and feasts you prefer. Personally, I wish we celebrated every holiday we could get our hands on; the calendar would be filled with parties and deliciousness, and we would constantly be wishing each other a happy whatever, and it would be lovely all around. Until then, I'll seize as many as I can, and today, it's all evergreens and pagan traditions in the name of Jesus, who I think was a pretty cool guy. The church system aside, I will happily cheers to Jesus H., (it stands for Herschel, bet), and eat many things, and see people I only have dinner with once a year. With fa-la-las in my heart, and a jingle in all my bells, ‘round yon virgins so I can present my Nice List.

People who smile at (and talk to) strangers

We're all walking around with our headphones on, chilling in our bubbles of perceived reality, scrolling our phones, wondering why we feel disconnected. On sidewalks, in stores, on transit, we regularly find ourselves within touching distance of people we don't even make eye contact with. It's super weird; if we saw zoo animals acting this way, we’d read it as misery. This makes me extra grateful for those who walk with their heads up and their eyes seeking, ready to meet my own seeking eyes. When our eyes meet, a smile feels natural; it's an acknowledgement of our shared human experience as we walk through the cold to make it to our 9 to 5s, our shared boat as we realize our bus is late yet again. It’s so simple, yet it can change a whole vibe, switch up a whole day. Different parts of town handle these spontaneous human interactions differently. Moving back to NDG from the Plateau, I was relieved to find that the Deeg is still out here having full conversations with strangers. While the cool kids in the cool parts of town are reluctant to meet the eyes of someone outside of their clique, I can now have 3 conversations just crossing the street to my dep. It reminds me that we're not alone, even when we feel that we are. For Christmas, I hope you get showered with love and appreciation from strangers in your neighbourhood for the stellar human that you are.

People making space, holding space, and opening gates

Venues are closing faster than I can keep track of them, leading to fewer indie events, and fewer places for artists to strut their stuff. Personally, I don't want my only concerts to be at MTLUS or the Bell Centre; I want small, community-run spaces packed full of people checking out local bands that only their friends have heard of so far. Jamieson says, make your art in Montreal, sell your art in Toronto. Well, if we can't get our reps in here, we’ll quickly lose our artists, and the bragging rights of being an Arts City that attracts creative souls from around the world. Thankfully, there are people committed to holding down the damn fort, and holding spaces open with intention.

Laurie - Lynn and Isabelle at Espace Joie de Vivre opened their venue with community in mind. They wanted to ensure that people of all ages had a place to meet, gather, and display their talents, a place that wasn't a sticky bar. Their open mic is warm, welcoming, and has growth potential: I went from a spectator, to a sign-up, to a co-host all in one whirlwind year. And the open mic isn’t the only jewel in their crown: they have workshops, shows, dance parties, art exhibitions, and markets. If you can think of anything else they should throw, they're open to hear about it, and that's part of what makes this space great. They want to create and serve the community, and that speaks straight to my heart.

Sergio at Turbo Haüs is the embodiment of a good guy taking on a juggernaut. I'm sure you've seen him in the news this year, sounding the alarm about our dying venues, and the way city hall has inadvertently teamed up with condo developers to shatter our artistic dreams. He's saying what we're all thinking, and he's saying it loudly enough for the folks in the back. And he doesn't just talk shit, he does shit. Turbo Haüs isn't a basic bar, it's a meaningful hub. You know they host concerts, but do you know that they have an apartment for musicians to stay in for free (breakfast included, by the by)? And not just the acts playing das haüs: it's open to any musicians touring this way that need a place to stay. That, Dear Readers, is putting your money where your mouth is in the name of Art. Beyond that, unlike so many spots in town, Turbo Haüs hosts unconventional bar events. My first time there was for Chef Molotov’s tasting party, my second time was to watch amateur wrestling (on the floor! We stood around them and cheered, and it was wild!). Recently they hosted a yoga pop-up, which struck me as a beautiful balance of aspects of myself and others like me: I'm the most yogic at the party, and the hardest partyier at a yoga class, y’know? These open minded, open hearted venues are truly the lifeblood of the scene, and if we aren't in a position to open more of them, we must protect the ones we have at all costs.

In the opening gates category, I considered the way we inadvertently keep people out. So often if someone asks for advice, guidance, opportunities, there are people standing guard, blocking the way. I'm sure they feel like they're protecting their place in the hierarchy, but they're really doing it out of fear. See, let's say you want advice on writing bro, I will give it to you. And I have no problem giving you advice because even with all the technical tricks in the world, I'm not afraid you will accidentally steal my voice. Maybe your skill will surpass mine, but frankly, I've got years on you, and if you excel faster, God bless. It's not a zero sum game, it is a tide that floats all our boats, and good quality serves Art, capital A. With that in mind, those who help elevate artists and guide them through the proverbial gates to the next stage of their careers, are priceless, so Imma shout out a couple.

Claudio hosts a great mic at Cafe Eevee, but it's more than just comedy. The show has rotating hosts so comics can get the hang of emceeing. He told me that so often shows need a host in a pinch, and a lot of comics just haven't had the chance to gain the experience and confidence to grab that mic. Plus, it's a warm space to get your reps in: Café Eevee is a non-alcoholic space, and while that seemed weird at first for a comedy show, I think it added to crowd engagement. The night I was there, the crowd was mostly comics, but they were paying full attention, giving each act their due. There was nary a clique in sight, and there were way more ladies signing up than I'm used to seeing. It's the perfect spot to try your hand at jokes, and getting to host is an invaluable experience that's nifty to have under your belt.

While it's technically a FTB initiative, Andrew Jamieson had the genius idea for the Your Show Here series. It's his way of passing on what he's learned as an event producer over the years, mentoring producers to put on their shows. Producing is an intimidating venture, and having someone on hand to help with organization, checklists, schedules and all the nitty gritty lowers the pressure. The more people he mentors, the more shows are on the horizon, and the art wheel keeps turning.

For Christmas, I hope you all get the credit and satisfaction you deserve. I hope people open their hearts and offer you even half of what you give to others, you Gorgeous Mofos.

The people who hold me down, and lift me up

My chosen family gives me life. Not that my own family sucks, just that they’re mostly dead, and besides, chosen family fills a different space. I'm giving short shoutouts here because these aren't public people, they're my favorite people. These are the folks I trust to tell me when I'm crazy, and when my art could be better. I can call them crying or laughing, and whatever random shit I say, I am safe to open my brain and heart to them. They love me enough to tell me when I'm making dumb moves, and they continue to love me even if I ignore them and keep making dumb moves. They keep me grounded when I spiral into the ether, and elevate me when I am unsure of my own abilities. We laugh at tragedy together, plan societal takeovers, compare mental illnesses and horoscopes, and send each other memes. I am blessed to have you in my life, and double blessed that you dig having me in yours (it means my soul is doing something right, you know?). Unlimited blessings to Shannon, Chantal, TJ, Domi, and Andrew. I cannot articulate your importance in my life and heart. For Christmas I hope you get everything you could ever need wrapped up with all the things you could ever want. I hope your ends not only meet, but tie into beautiful bows; that your unique gifts are magnified and reflected back on you so that you might experience a taste of the light you bring to this world. And may your season be as magical as tiny footsteps on a rooftop in a TGIF sitcom.

TONIGHT

My Kiddo asked me why anyone would go to a mic on Christmas day, so she'll obviously never be a comedian or super comedy fan. Whether you need to get the poison out, or the laughs in, Barfly’s got you. Nazeer Khan is doing the Lord's work by hosting, so make sure to give him due props when you see him. Bar opens at 6 PM, sign-up on site, show goes when it goes. Bring your ho ho hos.

WHAT: Open Mic

WHERE: Barfly, 4062 St. Laurent Blvd, Montreal, H2W 1Y8

WHEN: Wednesday, December 25, Doors @ 6 PM

METRO: Mont-Royal (Orange)

DOES ANYONE HAVE CANDYLAND?

Looking for some cozy chill fun? This one's for you. Bring your games to the bar, enjoy the other games there, and sip some holiday sauce!

Have a favorite game you love to play? Bring it along and share the fun with others!

Don’t have a game? No worries! They’ve got’em. Whether you're a fan of strategy games, trivia, or classic board games, there’s something for everyone. Meet new people, enjoy a night of laughter, and celebrate the holiday season!