Montreal will soon have a fifth metro line. Construction on the 20-stop Purple Line will begin this June and is expected to be completed by 2028.

Café Depot opened its doors in 1995 (their sign says "established 1994", but I can't argue with their corporate About page). It was definitely one of those years, though from here the dates are fuzzy. My bestie and I spent a lot of time in the Plateau that summer. We'd wake up early and begin the long haul from the West Island via the 215 bus to Côte Vertu, a trip that required more determination than bus fare. If you think transit schedules are sketchy now, check me in the '90s with no phone, no way to know if the bus had passed early, or was coming late.

I'm a city girl.

When I was little, I collected metro transfers. I went to school by city bus, long before I ever rode a yellow one. I was probably around 10 when I got away from city lights long enough to see constellations, and it would be another 15 years before I saw the awe inspiring display you can catch if you keep going farther.

When I was asked to write a review for Counter Offense, I was hesitant. Being an Iranian Canadian, and a survivor of domestic abuse, I knew the play would take me on a convoluted and emotional journey. So naturally I invited an emotional support friend to join me. He's born to Iranian Indian parents and a cinematographer, and we planned to discuss the play while comparing notes after.

Erik Fines has been a fixture of the Montreal indie scene for several years now. It’s a rare night of the week that Erik isn’t found out and about engaging with the local scene, gigging with various bands, or curating the popular weekly open mic at Bar Courcelle deep in the heart of Saint Henri.

My love for live stand up comedy bloomed at the Just for Laughs Festival (JFL) many summers ago. I was swept up by the magic comedians can create with only a few ingredients, primarily a microphone and a room full of lovely people. When I got on stage for the first time my love only deepened.

This spring, stand-up comedy fans will have a NEW festival to express their love and appreciation for the craft. Better yet, if it's your first time, you may just fall in love as I did. Enter: GIGGLEFEST.

By the time you read this, we've already sprung forward. As such, I'm effectively writing this in a different timezone than you're reading this in, which is weird. We rarely really stop to think about how we're time and space travelers…

Because You Never Asked is a dreamlike interdisciplinary work where historical fact meets auto-fictional storytelling in a multilayered, intergenerational experience.

The Diving Bell Social Club is a space fit for the impressive collage of events it hosts. When I first went to the Diving Bell on a cold winter night, its unique nature was immediately evident. After climbing a sizable set of stairs I was through the looking glass, and into a vibrant world where drag queens host fun-filled trivia nights.

Spend your energy wisely. Keep your head high AF. Listen to your gut.