McSweeney’s List (1 April 2026)
IN GLORIOUS BOREDOM CREATIVITY BLOOMS
With the sun slowly creeping up to a healthy, normal level, I'm feeling myself normalize as well. In fact, everyone’s got more pep in their step, both colour and pattern have returned to store shelves, and people are posting their first ice cream runs (jackets notwithstanding). People are talking plans; trips, renewed hobbies, spring and summer limited time happenings they intend to hit. In fact, I started a list of things I want to do before the leaves change once again, painfully aware of the short seasonal window, and how often I miss out on a million tiny things while doing a million tiny others. It was my daughter -- planning her first solo trip later this month -- who reminded me to intentionally leave blank spaces in my itinerary in the name of stopping to smell the flowers.
She's the type of person who keeps schedules and charts. She has lists, goals, and various things to check off at any given time. Yet as she plans this trip, she’s aware that so many of her favorite memories stem from spontaneity: a train being delayed, leaving an awkward length of time where exploring is more efficacious than going back to the hotel, or finding a destination is closed that day, leading to a quick recalculation and discovering something beautiful that wasn't on The List.
From a psychological point of view, she's absolutely right. We have scheduled and distracted ourselves out of boredom, and as it turns out, boredom is good for us. It's the time when our brains are free to roam on their own, asking questions and making connections that our regularly scheduled programming doesn't allow for. Those are the moments in which we explore “what would happen if…”, and “why don't I try this”, the moments we conjure our fictional characters or notice a certain colour combination that later sparks a creation.
If you were born before the digital age, or had boundaries on screen time as a child, you’ll remember the feeling of having time to fill. Times where you would have to create your own fun, or at the very least, find something to do. You probably flopped on your family's couch more than a few times lamenting how very bored you were. Soon after that, you probably had an idea that kept you occupied for hours, whether that was knocking on your friend’s door to play soccer, or realizing your imaginary friends were calling. As time passes, things get busy, and we never quite feel that way again.
Because we grew up, you might snort, but that's not the real reason. By definition it isn't the responsibilities that steal our creative juices, nor do we become fundamentally less creative with age. In fact, as we age we have more experiences to draw from, so connecting dots should become easier. What we have is a sense of urgency about the things that need doing, a sense that what isn't needed is somehow unimportant. We develop a sense of how precious time is, how limited our energy is…and for the in-between spaces, we developed apps to scroll, games to play, and forums to argue on to make sure we have something that feels important or fun to do every single minute of the day. When was the last time you were on your way somewhere in silence? Or pooped without scrolling? We’ve managed to occupy every space with the content and commentary of others, relegating our brains to the passive role of consuming instead of creating, never sitting alone with our thoughts.
I do this, too, of course. I have a podcast going in the background right now, but I'm writing ideas I came up with elsewhere. Walking, for instance, gets my brain going, and the time right before falling asleep is a treasure trove (you will forget; you must open your eyes and write it down). Smoking a joint behind my apartment is a pretty good way to be alone with my thoughts. My place is in the basement, so when I go out back, I'm still below ground, eye level with hubcaps in the parking lot. The facing building is a mirror image of my own; above that 3 storey building, and to its side, from my vantage there's simply sky. There are no distractions beyond the things our brains can easily take for granted, and it pulls me into brief boredom, which takes my brain off leash.
Right now, I'm articulating thoughts I already had. I set aside different chunks of time for each part every week: time to do the writing, a process that can't be sped up because there's only so fast I can make with the words, and much less defined chunks of time for uh, I dunno, contemplation, I guess. That part can be instantaneous or take much longer, can be intuitive or the mental equivalent of a very vague school assignment you need to ace to pass. Sometimes my mind blanks, the panic sets in. I wonder if I've said all I have to say in polite company, and I start poking people, asking what they would write about or want to read about, sussing out what the general vibe of the moment is. And at least one of those times, I interrupt my daughter talking about her upcoming plans to ask her what I should write about this week, and she says smelling the flowers.
It's not just about artistic endeavors either. Giving yourself space to be bored encourages self-reflection, allows for the daydreams that might lead to tangible goals, and sets your brain up for problem solving. That last bit can be a curse, as your brain creates problems to solve, but stay with the discomfort for a bit, and you’ll likely get to a problem worth solving: oh, the shelf would fit better there, or maybe a work puzzle falls into place, or maybe you realize a void in the market that you have the skills to fill. The trope of asking someone who climbed a mountain why they climbed it, and them saying because it was there, can only happen if you have some time and boredom in your life.
The most effective way I've found to cultivate boredom, is to intentionally put space into my schedule. Planning to get somewhere too early forces me to explore, and observe. Taking myself out to a coffee shop is a sure way to get me writing: I set a minimum time to stay there, and I don't scroll. The discomfort of being alone and stuck there with strangers, drives me inward while still providing sensory distraction; I’ll start writing before I have an idea, and keep writing as they unfold. I'm not gonna catch a Pulitzer off what I write in those moments, but it sparks the beginnings that might develop into something more poignant later.
This is your cue, Dear Reader, to give yourself back some of the glorious boredom we've lost, and see what grows in that space. Your responsibilities, stressors, and the entire internet will be there when you get back, but for a slice of time, your brain can run free, and there's no telling where that can take you. You might even make it to the mountaintop.
THE POETRY OF MUSIC
We will have the opportunity to hear sevdalinka, a traditional musical genre originating from Bosnia and Herzegovina, known for its deep and melancholic love songs. These songs, imbued with poetry and nostalgia, tell stories of passion, desire, and separation.
Merve Melodia & Ensemble offers a sensitive interpretation of this repertoire, highlighting the emotion and richness of these timeless melodies. Through an authentic and immersive approach, the ensemble invites the audience to discover the full depth of sevdalinka.
The musical guests will be Merve Melodia, on vocals and bendir (drum), along with her ensemble, and Vytautas Bucionis on accordion.
Our themed evenings take place every Thursday at La Place Commune. Each week, a different people, region, or country is chosen to inspire us to create an extraordinary dinner. This week, a delicious Bosnian vegetarian dinner will be served from 6 PM.
No reservations required for groups of fewer than 10 people. Children welcome.
WHAT: Bosnian Night
WHERE: Café La Place Commune, 7669 Av. Querbes, Montréal, QC H3N 2B7
WHEN: Thursday, April 2 @ 6 PM, Music @ 8 PM
METRO: Parc (Blue)
DETAILS: Facebook
LIKE A BULL IN A CHINA SHOP, BUT DIFFERENT
All are welcome to the vernissage of the duo exhibition, Elephant. Addressing the 'elephant in the room' of the connection between male identities and violence with astuteness and sensitivity, the artists present works both oblique and compelling. All are welcome.
WHAT: Vernissage - Elephant - Josh Vettivelu & Alex Pouliot
WHERE: Warren G. Flowers Gallery, Dawson College, 4001 de Maisonneuve W., Room 2G.0, Montreal, H3Z 3G4
WHEN: Thursday, March 26 @ 5 PM through May 1
METRO: Atwater (Green)
DETAILS: Facebook
WE ALL NEED THIS
We are so excited to announce the launch of our new event series: AURA!
Did you know that the word Aura exists almost unchanged in more than 25 languages? It represents energy, presence, and the invisible field that surrounds us all — which made it the perfect name for this project.
In collaboration with Revibe World, we are launching this series with one clear intention: to give back.
Revibe presents AURA 001, a simple workshop to help relax and reset your nervous system. You’ll learn easy self-massage techniques and daily practices that can help reduce stress, improve sleep, support digestion, and release tension in the body.
Starting this spring, we will be hosting one event per month.
Each gathering will feature workshops, talks, and immersive community experiences designed to bring people together in real life — to reconnect, recharge, and elevate the human within us.
To keep the spirit of giving alive, at every event we will randomly select one participant from the previous edition who will get to choose a cause close to their heart. A portion of the profits from the following event will be donated to that cause.
For our very first edition, 100% of the profits will go to support Toolia in her fight against breast cancer.
The 75-minute session will be led by Isabelle from Blu Wellbeing
Please feel free to bring:
• A small snack to share (simple is perfect — even cookies!)
• A reusable water bottle
• A yoga mat if needed
Thank you for supporting this initiative.
And for those who can’t attend, donations are always welcome — we promise they will go directly to support our beloved Toolia Ulvik.
WHAT: AURA 001 - Nervous System Workshop
WHERE: Halbro Building,10 des Pins W., #228, Montreal, H2W 1P9
WHEN: Thursday, April 2, Arrival @ 645 PM, ending around 845 PM
METRO: Sherbrooke (Orange)
TICKETS: MySway
EMBODY THE PROCESS
It's a choreographic process workshop geared towards arts professionals!
Can feeling be a way of knowing? In this workshop, Lu will guide participants through scores and practices from their new work The Conditions, a hybrid performance-exhibition conceived for an art gallery. By reaching into the sensory present, we will unfold fields of speech, sound, and movement. Inspired by Tarot and Micro-phenomenological interviewing, we will explore perception in the hazy zone between divination and improvisation, spilling across the floors and walls and prying open channels between the world and our subjective inner landscapes. The physicality of our emotions will be an anchor as we engage with the substances of our attention via somatic portals, hearkening back to our felt-connections to land.
WHAT: Practising the Practices
WHERE: La Poêle, 5333 Casgrain Ave. #307, Montreal, H2T 1X3
WHEN: Sunday, April 5, 11 AM - 2 PM
METRO: Laurier (Orange)
REGISTRATION: lapoele307@gmail.com
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.
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)
RSVP: Eventbrite
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.
WHAT: 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
