Welcome, Dear Reader, to the shitty part of winter.

The parties are over, the sparkly hits have been packed away, and now…well, now it's just cold and dark.

Yes, the days are getting longer, and I'm grateful for every increasing minute. Yes, we’re getting closer to spring with every passing storm. Yes, the temperature has granted us a brief reprieve, but the sun’s been playing peekaboo like a sidetracked situationship.

January is the peak hibernation period for animals in our neck of the woods; in the deep freeze of this part of winter, the dangers of the cold, and the dire lack of food mean it's critical for the animals to be as dormant as possible. We, on the other hand, egotistical idiots by nature, keep running around, chasing our tails.

Everyone I've spoken to is struggling to keep their eyes open, and their schedules on track. While pre-holiday prep had us motivated only a few weeks ago, the post holiday crash has hit us all. We invested our energy into too much shopping, too many parties (some of them certainly obligatory and emotionally taxing), and probably had to fight some germs picked up from well meaning, but perpetually sticky children. There's never a post holiday rest period: we just go back to regular life, dreading all the things we swore we'd address in the new year, while Mother Nature reminds us that we are small meat bags kept alive by her whims alone. Well, her whims plus modern heating systems and infinite food delivery, but I think you get it. Winter is always on the verge of mass manslaughter if not intentional murder.

If there was a time of year to scrub your plans in favor of blankets, PJs, binge watching and oversleeping, this would be it. But for some reason -- most likely a combination of capitalism and our own disconnect from nature -- we keep trying to truck on like nothing is wrong. Cut to some stock video of young women in open toed shoes, minidresses, and no jackets shivering under neon lights, teetering on the ice. Cut to a whole thread of men in shorts and slides walking along pretending this is exactly how they like the weather, and that the slush isn't freezing their feet clean off. As a species, we do love our denial.

I can't blame us for trying. Feeling oppressed by the sky and winds can lead to some crazy attempts at control and rebellion. That's probably how ice baths got so popular. The usual advice to get out there and socialize, make moves, be the change, immediately hits the wall of I-Don't-Wanna. And hey, unpopular opinion, but you don't have to. This isn't the season for pushing yourself; it's the season for rest. And I suggest we offer ourselves some grace.

If your friend told you they slept all day, you'd probably say that they obviously needed it. So how come when you stay in bed, you shit on yourself for being a lazy bum? It's Stay-In-Bed season. It's Short-Notice-Cancel season. It's I’ll-Get-Around-To-Washing-My-Hair season, and Just-Five-More-Episodes-And-Then-I’ll-Make-Dinner season.

It's fair to say we're all feeling a bit overfed after the holidays, eager to get back on track (or on track for the first time), but don't be surprised if your body isn't fully on board. From a strictly mammalian point of view, this is the season for thick soups, and high fat content -- all the comfort foods that will certainly throw off your beach body schedule, but your body is screaming for. Salad seems like a joke right now, or at the very least the first course before a steak and potatoes hit the table. Again, give yourself grace. I believe our bodies crave things for good reasons, and the smartest thing we can do is to heed the call. Sure, maybe put down the box of donuts, but now's not the time to count every calorie, especially if it leads to you judging yourself harshly.

Personally, my overfed ass (uh, I say that with gratitude for the abundance of food, and the way my proportions stay true no matter my size, adding jiggle to my wiggle without subtracting any sexy from my Earth Mother vibes) -- let's try that whole sentence again:

Personally, my ample and amazing ass is struggling to stay in the present. I'm daydreaming about the smell of spring, counting down to the sticky sweat of summer. While I love my Blundstones (how did such a southern clime birth such snow-proof boots?!), I'm fairly certain I won't feel like myself again until it's time to take out my Tevas. It happens every year, and every year I hope it won't happen, but here we are.

While I'm uber-conscious as I navigate the ice, very present as I step into deep piles of snow, unsure what lies beneath, I'm mostly in Future Mode. I'm making lists of things I want to do when spring finally breaks, and painfully aware of what a limited time opportunity summer will be, even while there are months yet to go. I'm already creating things to look forward to, even if that takes me out of the here and now; or more accurately, because it takes me out of the here and now. And when I catch myself feeling guilty for it, I remember grace.

Let's consider this the season of grace, Dear Reader. Grace for those who cancel plans last minute because ugh, the weather, the dark; I could make it, but I'd be miserable and don't want to. Grace for ourselves as we lament the things we aren't doing, but would be doing if we felt better. Grace for those in our social circle who’ve been non-communicado since the festivities were finalized. Grace for Mother Nature as she does exactly what she's supposed to be doing despite the discomfort it causes; that's truly Queen shit, and I fundamentally commend it, despite my complaints. Grace for all the ways we thought we'd feel because we had a plan for winter, and it finally faltered in the dark, damp, morning as we made our way back to the office. And if we practice grace until winter bleeds into spring, there's no telling what gently empowered people we’ll become when it's time to blossom.

SOLO DOLO

Unbound is a solo exhibition by Denise Buisman Pilger that marks a turning point in her practice. Created over a year of experimentation and instinct-led making, the work embraces risk, material exploration, and creative freedom.

The exhibition brings together mixed media works on wood and paper alongside new three-dimensional wall sculptures created using Japanese washi fibres that the artists processed herself.

WHAT: Unbound

WHERE: POPOP Gallery @ The Belgo Building, 372 St. Catherine St. W., Montreal, H3B 1A2

WHEN: On now through Sunday, January 18, Opening Night viewing: Thursday, January 25, 5 PM - 8 PM

METRO: Place-des-Arts (Green)

DETAILS: Facebook

THE DARK SIDE OF THE MOON UNDER THE STARS

Back under the starry dome: The Dark Side of the Moon tribute show returns to the Planetarium for a new series of performances. Pink Floyd’s iconic album, which appeared in March 1973, continues to fascinate more than 50 years after its release, and no place is more appropriate than a planetarium for exploring its full depth, as it mixes music and images together.

Created with the enthusiastic approval of the band Pink Floyd itself, this show combines the original musical score with spectacular visuals of the solar system and immersive effects in a surround-sound environment.

The studio NSC Creative was responsible for the show’s visual production, collaborating closely with Aubrey Powell, a longtime creation collaborator of Pink Floyd’s working at the art design group Hipgnosis.

All the songs – some of them futuristic and forward-looking, others nodding in the direction of Pink Floyd’s retro visual iconography – explore a distinct theme.

This immersive and total visual happening transcends reality and takes audiences well beyond the limits of 2D experiences.

WHAT: Pink Floyd - The Dark Side of the Moon

WHERE: Montreal Planetarium, 4801 Pierre-de Coubertin Ave., Montreal, H1V 3V4

WHEN: Fridays & Saturdays, now through June 21

METRO: Viau (Green)

TICKETS: EspacePourLaVie

DOING THE WORK

This workshop includes 3 parts:

Part 1: Techniques to reset the mindset, and set goals for the new year. Getting rid of negative thoughts and feelings and turning your dreams into achievable goals.

Part 2: The solutions and techniques to detoxify the brain and nervous system to increase brain performance.

Part 3: Meditation for refreshing energy in your body and aura.

There will also be a tea / coffee time.

WHAT: Refresh & Rise for New Year

WHERE: Meta 1111 Studio, 5440 Queen Mary Rd., #103, Montreal, H3X 3V3

WHEN: Saturday, January 17, 2 PM - 4 PM

METRO: Snowdon (Orange & Blue)

TICKETS: Eventbrite

TROMBONIST ON TOUR

Boston trombonist Michael Prentky is bringing his 12-piece orchestra on the road, performing his debut genre-defying album, sad boy:ADD:apocalypse. His orchestra includes a string quartet, 4 trombones, tuba, and rhythm section. Prentky will conduct, play trombone, sing, and recite original poetry. In addition to performing the entire album, Prentky will be premiering new original Klezmer compositions. He’s bringing a fresh perspective to Klezmer music with his high-energy trombone band and harmonically-rich compositions while staying rooted in Klezmer traditions. He'll be teaching audiences traditional corresponding Yiddish line dancing, such as the zhouk (aka hora) and terkisher, with the intention of reviving endangered dance steps.

Six years in the making, Boston trombonist Michael Prentky’s sad boy:ADD:apocalypse, is an epic, Zappa-esque suite for small orchestra – string quartet, four trombones and rhythm section. This mammoth odyssey is Prentky’s unwavering commitment to authenticity. The writing is lush, emotive and cathartic. Prentky’s sonic worlds showcase his eclectic interests: dreamy Beach House guitar riffs, avant-pop orchestral strings, breakbeat klezmer, pacific brass chorales, confessional poetry and raucous instrumental frenzies. Prentky conducts the orchestra, plays trombone, sings, and recites original poetry.

“The subject matter is intense, but Prentky’s music is as satisfying as it is daring” – Noah Schaffer WBUR

It’s an “adventurous extravaganza… Frank Zappa would’ve loved it” – Mike Greenblatt, Beyond Genre, Goldmine Magazine

“Deep revealing of some personal feelings on these tracks, it’s a very nice work” – Ken Field WMBR

Michael Prentky’s freelancing on trombone can be summarized in three words – chameleon, omnivore and polyglot. Navigating performances with rapper 50 Cent, Mozambican Funk band Kina Zoré (featured on NPR Tiny Desk), avante-garde jazz with the Walking Cliché Sextet, or Balkan Romani music with Sarma Brass Band requires an adventurous and flexible musicianship. It’s this musical synthesis that Prentky crystallizes in his artistic debut, sad boy:ADD:apocalypse.

Listen to sad boy:ADD:apocalypse here!

WHAT: Michael Prentky x Kallisto sad boy:ADD:apocalypse Album Release Show

WHERE: La Sotterenea, 4848 Boulevard Saint-Laurent, Montreal, H2T 1R5 (In the basement of Sala Rosa)

WHEN: Saturday, January 17, Doors @ 830 PM, Show @ 9 PM

METRO: St. Laurent (Green) & Laurier (Orange)

TICKETS: VenuePilot

WORDS TO CELEBRATE WITH

Accent is back! Kicking off the new year with a very special Cactus Press event. In honour of CP turning 20 this year, we are welcoming back a bevvy of Cactus Alumni to take to the stage. Including: April L. Ford, Carolyne Van Der Meer, Tamara Nazywalskyj, Kim Abi Zeid Daou, George Slobodzian, Lou Vani, Jerome Ramcharitar, Samara Garfinkle, Matthew Rettino, Kirsten Shute, Daniel J. Rowe, and Rose Maloukis.

WHAT: Accent Vol. 129: Cactus Press 20th Anniversary Bash!

WHERE: Bar Le Record, 7622 Rue St-Hubert, Montreal, H2R 2N6

WHEN: Sunday, January 19 @ 8 PM

METRO: Jean-Talon (Orange)

DETAILS: Facebook

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

What Do You Know? Like, Seriously…

Tonight! Come to Hurley's for Trivia Night, and get bonus laughter! Enjoy delicious pub fare, and get ready to show off your trivia skills. Grab your team, and enjoy this night of comedy, friendly competition, and great company!

This edition is hosted by Vance Michel, featuring Dayna Lieberman, James Mancini, and Christopher Venditto.

WHAT: Trivia Night at Hurley's

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

WHEN: Every Wednesday @ 8 PM

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

DETAILS: Facebook

Classic Coke

Beat the Monday Blues with WSC’s OG offering, The World's Smallest Comedy Night!

Enjoy a showcase of the best comedians in the city, hot up-and-comers, national and international touring comics, and surprises!

Hosted by Vance Michel, featuring Jeffrey Weinstein, Nash Taved, Andre Raymond, Jonathon Burello, Sean Carson, Jon Allen, Collin Ryan, Matthew Bourjeli, Dawn Mcsweeney, and John Cotrocois.

WHAT: The World's Smallest Comedy Night

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

WHEN: Every Monday, 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

WHAT: Monday Night Dirty Mic

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

WHEN: Every Monday, Sign-up @ 10 PM, Show @ 1030 PM

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

DETAILS: Facebook