McSweeney’s List (22 April 2026)
SOLVING THE PUZZLE IN THE BOX
My mind loves a loop. It finds something that doesn't fit, or sit correctly with me, and proceeds to circle it until it's emotionally processed, logicized, or definitively solved. I hate unsolved mysteries, and if I can't find “that thing I was looking for”, the fact that I need to find it burns brighter than why-ever I was looking for whatever in the first place.
My current major spiral is my pending move.
Dedicated readers might remember that two years ago, I moved back to NDG, into a spot of my own. It's wild to consider how much has changed in that short (or, at least speedy in hindsight) time. A variety of expectations crumbled as soon as I got here, friendships morphed, some fizzled. My apartment did not become the meeting spot mega hangout, nor did it evolve into the decor dream I envisioned, but as always, I got what I needed, not what I wanted.
From an aesthetic point of view, I allowed my style to flourish unapologetically. Letting things unfold naturally, I clarified what’s important to me: colours, patterns, toys…I realized quickly that my art books and yoga books were never meant to hang with my other books, they were to be displayed so they are in my eyeline, and thus, on my mind. My tarot cards and crystals were never meant to be tucked away; true I don't use them much, but it changed the household vibes.
From a practical standpoint, I was sitting in the very same seat I am now when I realized I didn't want to drink anymore. It's where I sat with the discomfort and anger and sadness that rose from the ashes of that decision, before transforming into clarity, comfort, and pride. I was living here when I met My Love, and now it's where I sit, brain chasing its tail, as I prepare to move in with him.
Which brings us nicely back to the beginning, my mind looping, as I pack. Anticipatory anxiety is in the house as I run through tasks and details that cannot be addressed until the time comes: how to catch and box my cat with minimal stress to her (and minimal damage to myself), what furniture needs moving, and what big stuff needs tossing. I'm envisioning my pending life changes as I map out my new route to work, and stress about how early I'll have to wake up. I'm trying to foresee the lifestyle changes that will come from moving into a family household (with two teenagers) already in full swing, the new rhythms I'll attune to, and the changes my presence will bring.
A friend who is also accustomed to brain loops, sent me an insightful reel about how our brains often try to solve a puzzle before touching the pieces. In this case, I'm trying to solve the puzzle while it's still in the box. While I'm feeling super lucky that I can move stuff early and gradually, there's only so much I can do two months out. Warm clothes are packed and gone, as are the vast majority of my books. Shelves have gone, plates have gone, and my second string mugs are already getting to know their cupboard mates at my new home. While I've been living in two realities at once for a while now (the Here and the There), my perception of crunch time has arrived, and the rift is becoming disorienting.
Sometime last fall, my stove crapped out. It was my stove though, so I had no one to call, and knowing I had a move in the works, getting a new one was a non-starter. Between my air fryer, dual hot plate, and trusty kettle, I muddled through, laughing to myself about how I was living the dorm life I never had. I've stopped laughing. Now it makes me profoundly aware of how temporary this place is, and how it was never mine, simply a stopover. Right now it feels like a hotel, and the clock is ticking. Well, considering the lack of services, and no big screen, it's more of a motel experience. The TV crapped out before the stove, you see; acknowledging that our time together was coming to a close, it simply gave up its ghost. Appliances can be very dramatic.
Even with this turmoil -- waking up from dreams of packing, boxes by my bed, and a cat I keep trying to explain the process to -- in my best moments, I am reminding myself to be present. This chapter will not happen again, so it won't come to a close again, and as such, I'm trying to be with the journey. Logically, I know that everything will sort itself: the truck is booked, and despite my screaming mind, everything is moving both smoothly, and ahead of schedule. Still, my sleep both Here and There is often troubled, and the sense of what I should be doing is singularly focused on the move, leaving little space for other projects or fresh ideas. It's circular and annoying, a mediocre rerun perpetually playing in the background.
Some of these weird feelings are sheer excitement (a feeling my body has difficulty discerning from panic). I simply can't wait for my new chapter to begin! So eager am I to be writing this new, joyful, chapter, that I want to skip the end of the last one, and just get to the good stuff. (My pockets are filled with years of experience, and I’m aware that rose gardens are replete with thorns, so please don't misread my happiness as naïvety.) Transitional periods are not my favorite (and this includes meteorologically; yesterday was full ass spring, today snow is mixed in with the morning's drizzle, and I'm about to lose my mind with the hovering near zero).
The interesting part as always, Dear Reader, is where your path crosses mine. What chapter in your life is so ready to end that it's hanging heavily on you? What future is calling you so loudly that you're having trouble hearing the here and now? From a practical standpoint, what preparations can you make where you are to ease the transition to where you’re going?
As a perpetual sentimentalist, allow me to remind both of us that even as you outgrow this moment, you will one day look back on it with some amount of wonder, and a dash of nostalgia. So take the pictures, make the mental notes, and try to be aware of the treasure that was this chapter even as you make a mad dash for the next.
See you on the flipside.
THE WAIT IS OVER! THE TIME IS NOW!
The sun is out, the air is warmer, and in Montreal that can only mean one thing: Fringe season is nearly upon us. Here at Forget The Box(.ca), the anticipation has hit a fever pitch as we assemble our review team and prepare for the creative surge of the festival. We are thrilled to announce that the wait is officially over because the Forget The Box x FringeMTL 2026 Review Lottery is now open for submissions. Starting today, artists and companies can put their names in the hat for a chance at professional coverage during this year's festival.
This project is fueled by our deep love for the Montreal arts community and a belief that independent theatre deserves a professional spotlight. Since our relaunch in 2023, we have worked to become a fierce, unaffiliated voice for the festival, standing our ground to ensure that arts journalism remains honest, fair, and critical. We have spent the last few years refining our style because we know a review, in a festival as large as FringeMTL, can change a show's entire trajectory.
This year we are taking our most ambitious leap yet. We have expanded our team to 10 dedicated reviewers covering 51 productions which is HALF of the entire festival!
Why the Lottery Matters
With the festival becoming more geographically spread out this year, visibility is more important than ever. Our lottery system acts as a bridge between the Fringe bubble and the general public, ensuring that coverage is not dictated by buzz or status. Whether you are a first time producer, a Fringe veteran, English or French, official FringeMTL or OFF-Fringe, the lottery ensures that everyone qualifies equally for the chance to receive the poster ready pull quotes and professional validation that helps fill seats.
Important Dates and Deadlines
April 24: Lottery Submissions Open.
May 22 @ 11:59 PM: Submission Deadline.
May 23: Join us on Instagram Live @8PM as we draw the winning productions.
May 25: Winning productions will be officially notified with a scheduled review date.
May 31: Box Office Deadline. All reviewer tickets for winning productions must be secured by this date.
Submit Your Production
If you want Forget The Box(.ca) to be part of your 2026 FringeMTL journey, you must complete the official submission form.
Reminder: we do not accept review requests outside of this lottery process as this is your only way to secure a spot in our 2026 coverage.
GALLERY NIGHT
VOX invites you to the opening of its new exhibitions!
✶ Lynda Gaudreau, Romances:
This new installation by Lynda Gaudreau explores the photonovel as both narrative and conceptual material. Texts, sounds, and images form into an exhibition mode emphasizing ruptures, ellipses, and dramatic suspensions.
✶ Parastoo Anoushahpour, Faraz Anoushahpour and Ryan Ferko. One’s Own Eyes
Visiting several regions of Iran, this exhibition deploys playful and speculative strategies to generate multiple perspectives on these sites, time periods, and spectral presences.
WHAT: Vernissage
WHERE: VOX Contemporary Image Centre, 2 St. Catherine St. E., #401, Montreal, H2X 1K4
WHEN: Thursday, April 23 @ 5 PM
METRO: Saint-Laurent (Green)
DETAILS: CentreVox
GONE TO THE DOGS
We named the exhibition “1000 Dogs” because it originated from a conversation about the ironic project of our former teacher, Dave LeRue: to paint 1000 dogs and sell each one for $1000. Dave would thus become one of the few artists living in an attic to be a millionaire!
Unfortunately, Dave struggled to get past 38 paintings. So his former students and colleagues decided to help him complete his project. However, it won't be finished this year. We haven't even reached 100 paintings! (Ironically, that was Dave's original goal. We mistakenly increased it to 1000.)
Dave is the star of this exhibition, partly because he is an excellent dog painter. However, the students and members of the Pointe-Saint-Charles art school/collective enthusiastically embraced the challenge of this project.
Joking aside, the artists in this canine exhibition provided thoughtful answers to questions about their relationship with the dogs they painted.
WHAT: Vernissage -1000 Dogs
WHERE: Popop Gallery, 372 Rue St. Catherine St. W., Montreal, H3B 1A4
WHEN: Thursday, April 23 @ 5 PM
METRO: Place-des-Arts (Green)
DETAILS: PopopGallery
I DON'T THINK THERE ARE ANY ACTUAL BAGELS, BUT STILL…
Bagel Burlesque Expo is a Neo-Burlesque Extravaganza, celebrating its 9th edition!
Welcoming international performers, this inclusive Neo-Burlesque festival shows how sexy the mind and body can be through original, funny, dramatic, geek, gore, or plain weird acts. Do not miss this key event of the Montreal nightlife!
Friday:
Roxy Reverie (New Haven / Vancouver) headlines, with special guest Yaya Havana (MTL).
Uma & Selma Gahd MC the evening featuring: Chack Bare Again (Calgary, AB), Champagne Sparkles (Victoria, BC), Claude Caprice (MTL), Curly Bright (Washington, DC), Déjà Louve (Salmo, BC), Holly Graphic (Calgary, AB), Kai Rae Khushi (Victoria, BC), Kopy Cat (Kingston, ON), Stretcher Hartout (Edmonton, AB), and Tomboy Selleck (Calgary, AB).
Saturday:
Roxy Reverie (New Haven / Vancouver) headlines, with special guest Malinka Molotov (MTL).
Sugarpuss MCs the evening, featuring: Androsia Wilde (Vancouver, BC), Bea Lissima (Calgary, AB), Glam Gam Productions (MTL), Kuya Atay (Toronto, ON), Lady Drew Blood (Seattle, WA), Lilly EnVogue (Omaha, NE), Madrose (MTL), Randy Boots (Toronto, ON), Stevie Nikki (Toronto, ON), Vanessa Buttercup (Halifax, NS), Yikes Macaroni / Prudence (MTL)
Let's celebrate together!
Two nights, two completely different shows!
Sign Language interpretation by Sage Lovell, Daphnée Leroux, Brooke Nancekivell & Maddie Elias.
Wheelchair accessible.
WHAT: Bagel Burlesque Expo 2026
WHERE: Le Studio TD, 305 St. Catherine St. W., Montreal, H2X 2A3
WHEN: Friday, April 24 & Saturday, April 25, Doors @ 7 PM, Show @ 8 PM
METRO: Place-des-Arts (Green)
TICKETS: Ticketmaster
POPCORN IS MY FAVE
A Tribe Called Love is a Romeo+Juliet story set in the Somali community of Toronto. Told with the pop and pizzazz of Scott Pilgrim vs The World, mixed with the toughness, comedy and tightly-knit community of Spike Lee's Do The Right Thing, the story follows Farah and Halima, first as teenagers and then as adults, as they strive to overcome traditional cultural barriers and claim victory for their love. Can the heart overcome the culture?
After a sold-out advance screening in Montreal (organized by Black on Black Films), A Tribe Called Love opened to sold-out screenings in Toronto. It returns to Montreal for its theatrical opening with a Q&A with writer/director Mohamed Ahmed, producer Andy Marshall, and key cast and crew.
WHAT: A Tribe Called Love
WHERE: Cineplex Forum, 2313 Rue St. Catherine St. W. #101, Montreal, H3H 1N2
WHEN: Friday, April 24 @ 705 PM
METRO: Atwater (Green)
TICKETS: Cineplex
ART PARTY
Scatterbrain Magazine is launching their 7th issue, entitled "All or Nothing", Saturday April 25th! Filled with French and English poems, interviews, and essays dispersed between pages of art, photoshoots, design, and quizzes. This launch encapsulates everything the magazine is, where you'll get to meet artists and creators behind the pages, buy the issue, and enjoy a night filled with live music and vendors.
WHAT: Scatterbrain Magazine - Issue 7 Launch Party
WHERE: La Sala Rossa, 4848 Boul. St. Laurent Blvd., Montreal, H2T 1R5
WHEN: Saturday, April 25 @ 830 PM
METRO: Laurier (Orange)
TICKETS: Zeffy
JOKEY JOKES & SNACKY SNACKS
Come one, come all to Laugh Knights Comedy presents Coffee & Jokes!
Roll through and watch local comedians say funny things while getting a coffee and delicious food!
Laugh Knights Comedy is bringing a pro am night to Café Eevee, where comedians on all levels take the stage to say material, try new jokes, and see what gets the coffeeheads laughing.
Café Eevee has delicious food, pastries, and warm bevvies, so you can settle in to enjoy the show with fab goodies.
Dan Kestler hosts the evening, featuring Dawn McSweeney, Grant Brooks, Jon Allen, Charles Montgomery, Radu Sona, Shosho Abotouk, Gowthaman Kasy, Meghan Evans, Ivan Murcia, and Claudio Capri.
WHAT: Laugh Knights Comedy presents Coffee & Jokes
WHERE: Café Eevee, 1251 Rue Saint-Zotique Est, Montréal, QC H2S 1N8
WHEN: Saturday, April 25, Doors @ 630 PM, Show @ 730 PM
METRO: Beaubien (Orange)
TICKETS: Eventbrite
CRAFT & TEA
Join us for our monthly crafting circle and tea!
We'll have tea, coffee and light snacks! Everyone is welcome to bring snacks or treats to share if they wish.
Whether you're a crafting circular regular or we haven't met yet, you're welcome to join! (You absolutely do not need to use our yarn or products to join.)
Children are more than welcome as long as they are accompanied by a participating adult.
WHAT: Crafting Circle & Tea
WHERE: Sweet Paprika Designs, 4035 St. Ambroise St. #292, Montreal, H4C 2E1
WHEN: Saturday, April 25 @ 2 PM
METRO: Place-Saint-Henri (Orange)
DETAILS: Facebook
STITCH, VENT, AND ALSO TEA
Vent Over Tea is excited to welcome you to our new event series Stitch over Tea, a gathering where fiber arts and community care meet.
Led by Vent Over Tea’s own Marissa, each session explores a different fiber arts practice, ranging from cross-stitching and crochet to sewing, offering a mindful space for conversation and connection.
This edition will focus on cross-stitch, with participants creating coffee and tea cup patterns that feel both playful and personal. Inspired by the comfort of conversation over a warm drink (Vent Over Tea 😉), the session draws on the familiar ritual of sitting together with tea or coffee in hand, where exchange and presence naturally unfold.
Each participant will receive a free cross stitch kit that includes the pattern, a hoop, cloth, thread, and an embroidery needle!
Come stitch, sip, and sit together in a beginner-friendly space open to all levels.
To help us thank Café Pista for hosting us, we kindly ask each participant to purchase a drink or pastry during the event.
RSVP for the event is free and mandatory! Capacity is limited.
WHAT: Stitch Over Tea - Beginner Cross-Stitch Workshop
WHERE: Café Pista (Quartier des Spectacles), 1587 St. Laurent Blvd., Montreal, H2X 2S9
WHEN: Sunday, April 26, 10 AM - 1230 PM
METRO: Saint-Laurent (Green)
RSVP: Eventbrite
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 The Quizzard himself, Zak Kik, featuring Dayna Lieberman, Chris Venditto, and Nazeer Khan.
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
FEMMETASTIC
Funny ladies take center stage this week for Femmes Night! Enjoy brassy broads, classy cacklers, and the funniest femmes in town!
Hosted by Abby Stonehouse, this edition features Julie Santini, Aloe Azimov, Sara Meleika, Rose Ingrid, Emily Sharma, Dawn McSweeney, and Heidi Lynn Weeks.
WHAT: World’s Smallest Comedy Night Femme Edition
WHERE: Hurley's Irish Pub, 1225 Crescent St., Montreal, H3G 2B1
WHEN: Monday, April 27 @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
