I was a fan of comedy before I became a comic, and that perspective primed me for a nostalgia I hadn’t anticipated. If you’re into comedy, you have probably listened to many podcasts with seasoned comics waxing poetic about the scenes in LA or NYC.

Social media is a breeding ground for fads. Think about how prominent the "white or blue dress" meme was in actual, factual, real, live conversations -- ever so briefly. Or how everything was cake (my Insta algo still catches me off guard with this one). I have neither the interest, nor the bandwidth to keep up with Tik Tok fads, the turnover of which appears to be hourly, or less.

Oh god, someone I know is approaching me. A former classmate had me trapped at an intersection, the kind of acquaintance you're friendly with but never know what you should say. This would normally be tolerable, but I'd been high since my celebratory wake-n-bake at 4:20 AM, and the brownies I took at 4:20 PM were just starting to kick in. Come on, focus. My bloodshot gaze started burning a hole in their forehead.

An archive of memories and artifacts, a beautiful assemblage of a difficult history. Every object, sound, and written word was representative of intergenerational storytelling. With the opening show being sold out, I was lucky to have gotten there an hour early. I had just enough time to look through the glass enclosures filled with passports, letters, pictures, and a well loved doll before the room was too crowded. Seeing all of these things left me with a mixture of tender nostalgia and hurt.

“Fringe is a verb, and fringing is the action. I Fringe because I believe in the idea, but I also believe in the values of what we're trying to do, which is promote diversity, community [and] artistic freedom."

I don't travel much. I've often wondered if I'd be more inclined to explore had I been born somewhere else, or was born rich AF.

As laid back as Montrealers notoriously are, I'll be the first to admit the weird arrogance I carry having been born here. Visiting Florida, I was shocked by the fact that the oldest building in town had been built in the 1920's. Pardon me? Our cobblestone and architecture are comparatively ancient.

The first warm day of spring. Birds, bees, and fresh air. I’ve been enjoying the shift in weather and energy, rediscovering the joy of sitting on my balcony in a tank top, of having my toes out in the sun, and of looking for reasons to leave the apartment. With the warmer weather, I feel the desire to explore Montreal’s cabaret nightlife. First one on the list, Candyass Cabaret at Cléo’s!

The Montreal FRINGE Festival Corporation was founded by Kris Kieren and Nick Morra, and incorporated in 1991. In 2000, the company’s name was changed to the MainLine Theatre, allowing for year-round productions. Most importantly, MainLine’s venue, situated above Segal’s grocery store at St. Laurent and Duluth, opened in 2005 as a centre for the city’s English theatre community.

"Does this remind you of '98?"

My kid shoots me this question via Snap Chat, which is generally how we communicate, but this time her phone service is down and she can't call. The internet is an underrated miracle.

As a wife and mother, a public high school teacher for over 20 years, a bestselling novelist, and now the first commissioned playwright for Silk Road Theatre, Uzma wears her many hats with grace.