McSweeney’s List (5 November 2025)
I missed Halloween last week. I mean, I saw it, I knew it was there, and frankly, even the people who did Halloween had a soggy time of it, and the kids had coats on over their costumes, so did any of us really do Halloween this year?
It's not my favorite holiday. It's fine, I mean, I enjoy all the holidays as much as I can because there are too few days we all agree to celebrate. I'm more of a Christmas gal, personally. Recently I was commended for this; told how very touching it was that I openly enjoy something now considered cringe or enjoyed ironically. It's true: I'm the opposite of non-chalant when it comes to excuses for joy. Chalant, as I like to say, though in one of the many anomalies of the language, that isn't a word, and there's no antonym for non-chalant. We all know what I mean though. The first time I missed Christmas I was around 11 years old. Sure, I woke up and did the gift thing, but real Christmas was the part where we’d pack up and head over to my Jewish grandparents house where we’d feast on either a catered deli spread or take out depending on the year. The rest of my family would be there, and there would be more gifts, and the party (rife with judgements, bickering, and the periodic unpacking of generational trauma) would last past midnight. It was a good time. But that year (whatever year it was; things are blurry at this distance), we were snowed in. Stuck in our suburban bungalow, far away from the sweet NDG semi-detached where I wanted to be, my concept of Christmas shattered ... but only briefly. We would go celebrate the next day. What? But Christmas is a specific day! Technically. But really, Christmas is whenever - and whatever - you make it.
This Halloween, I didn't dress up for work. I was in no mood for people to take me lightly, or make small talk about anything, so I skipped it. Besides, I got a new costume this year, and I had evening plans, and the odds of me spilling something in the course of a day are high enough that it sounded risky. My plans had already changed though: friends had invited us to a show and subsequently had to cancel, so I was trying to stay psyched, thinking of me and my Boo in our costumes, partying out and about on a rare Halloween weekend.
And then the rains came. Ok, still psyched, a little less psyched, but still looking forward to it. That evening we talked about blowing it off, but costumes, and outing, so we stuck to our soggy guns. Until the warning light came on in my Boo’s car. He couldn't make it to the city; everything was toast.
Sure, it sounds tragic, but I whipped off my costume and got into my comfy pants so fast, I knew part of me was relieved. Disappointed, sure! It would've been fun, and we would've been stylish. But I try to go with the flow, and this time I dove right in. I ordered takeout without my usual hemming, hawing, popped an edible, opened a pack of knock-off Legos, and settled in with game six of the world series playing in the background. I thought about where I was last time the Jays won the world series: I was 14, watching at home with a friend who was sleeping over. We jumped and screamed, and stayed up for 36 hours (which, to be fair, we probably would've done anyway). And now, ensconced in my basement nest, the rain pounding fiercely as announcers called plays, and struggling to find puzzle pieces, I felt like I'd earned my adulthood, such as it is. (Sidebar: off-brand Legos don't have their bags as organized as real Legos, and don't have an app for a better step-by-step experience.)
I realized that I was in full control of how the rest of my evening would unfold, and I was pretty pleased with that. My hopes were high that the Jays would win, and I could close a 30 odd year loop, but of course, that didn't happen. Regardless, the only one who I had to worry about pleasing was myself, and ain't that a rare gift? Plus, if holidays are merely a matter of consensus, it wouldn't take many people picking another costume day to get my outfit into the world. In fact, when I see people on the metro in clown makeup (this has happened not at all near Halloween), or random outfits going places, I just assume they've got something planned somewhere. By that token, I could legitimately wear my costume any day, and people would just assume I was doing a thing. The thought of that felt wildly powerful and whimsical at once. Let them look, let them wonder; I am too grown to care.
Today, standing under the overcast sky as the trees blaze their final glory of the season, I thought about beginnings, endings, the petty stuff, and the parties in between. And I thought, maybe a loop has closed after all; maybe this is my season to embrace the adult I am amid all the joy and discomfort. That it's a wondrous feat that I became the grown-up who believes costumes can rock out any day of the year. That it's admirable that I have stuck to my ethics, my standards, my indefatigable mission for justice even in the small stuff. But now instead of screaming, railing, losing my whole head, I can say, with a deep, steady voice, that these are the facts, this is what came up short, this is what I need from you. And in that same tone, I can tell us all not to pack away the whimsy; that these silly little things - costumes, candy, laughter, music - are the juice that keeps the soul young while the body…well, trucks on to its doom. (Too real? Uh, it's good for the soul, yo.) And while there are too few days from here to there, there are fewer holidays. And while the night might not always turn out as you intended, you always have the power to make it something beautiful.
THE OTHER SIDE OF MOUNTAINS
Please join us for this special event. I am very excited to present this exhibition after 1 year of hard work with such amazing collaborators! This project was completed as part of my residency at Atelier Circulaire from 2024-2025, and supported by Canada Council for the Arts' Research and Creation Grant.
The Other Side of Mountains
Le Lin
Co-creation with Kalden Rangdröl Dhatsenpa, Urna, Yutong Lin, Seven Yuan, 一 (Yi), Zahra Buali
Atelier Circulaire 5445 Av. de Gaspé #105 Montreal, Quebec H2T 0A2
Exhibition November 5-8
Vernissage Wednesday November 5, 5-9pm
WHAT: The Other Side of Moutnains
WHERE: Atelier Circulaire, 5445 Ave de Gaspe #105, Montreal, Quebec, H2T 0A2
WHEN: Wednesday, November 5th @ 5-9PM
METRO: Laurier (Orange)
DETAILS: Facebook
CHEERS FOR 20 YEARS!
Join us for a festive evening of free food, drinks, music by DJ Andy Williams, dancing, and performances by past Talisman artists! The event will be hosted at La Sala Rossa on November 5th, starting at 6pm, with dancing at 8pm.
WHAT: Talisman Theatre 20th Anniversary
WHERE: La Sala Rossa, 4848 St Laurent Blvd, Montreal, Quebec H2T 1R5
WHEN: Wednesday, November 5th @ 6PM
METRO: Mont-Royal (Orange)
TICKETS: Zeffy
I SAID A HIP, HOP, THE HIPPIE, THE HIPPIE
Every LeCypherX show is totally unique, pushing the boundaries of the future of hip-hop. This live band creates uninterrupted sets on the fly, all while keeping the dancefloor moving and the imagination racing. With every performance, instrumental and vocal virtuosity of the highest degree are on display, from blazing guitar solos to epic freestyle raps.
LeCypherX features some of the city’s most sought-after musicians and vocalists. They’ve held down residencies at the Montreal Jazz Festival’s after-hours party series since 2015.
Stage experience and familiarity with the repertoire, aesthetics, and genre stylistics of hip-hop are assumed for participation in the jam.
💳 $13.54
💵 $9
💵 $7 before 9 PM & students
WHAT: #LeCypher Hip-Hop Thursdays
WHERE: O Patro Vys, 356 Mont-Royal Ave. E., Montreal, H2T 2G4
WHEN: Every Thursday @ 8 PM
METRO: Mont-Royal (Orange)
TICKETS: LePointDeVente
A ROOM FULL OF WRITERS
Surprise, it's fall! Come join us at the fourth-ever WRITERS' ROOM: a gathering of writers in a room in Montreal.
Same as all the other Writers' Rooms: no readings, no cover charge, no books for sale.
NB: Writers' Room is not a "shut-up and write" kind of event. If you are looking for somewhere to shut up and/or write, please stay home.
Writers' Room is just fiction writers, poets, playwrights, screenwriters, cartoonists, novelists, literary translators, magazine-pitchers, writing students, word-wrestlers, etc, gathered together under one roof.
A chance to meet people you've read, people you'll one day read, other people who sit like you and try to compose worthy sentences.
Please note: there are no scheduled activities at this event, it is just a room with writers!
Feel welcome to bring a writer friend with you!
Écrivain•e•s français•e•s, soyez bienvenu•e•s aussi.
7-11pm only
BYOB + snacks to share (nothing will be for sale)
hosted by sean michaels on behalf of the Writers' Union of Canada
WHAT: Writer’s Room #4
WHERE: Le Dépanneur Café, 206 Rue Bernard O, Montréal, QC H2T 2K4
WHEN: Friday, November 7 @ 7PM
METRO: Rosemont (Orange)
DETAILS: Facebook
HEY, HO, TURBO
MAJORS (Ottawa/South Carolina golf rock) with very special guests Fast Food Fairies (Montreal Pop-Punk), and Rock N Roll Television (Montreal Punk Rock).
MAJORS’ music is a high-energy blend of modern rock and classic 2000s punk. Bringing an unexpected twist to the genre; infusing a rapid musical temperament with the themes and culture of golf. Formed in 2023, the band is proving that punk rock can be about anything—even the highbrow domain of the country club.
Fast Food Fairies - If The Ramones and Elvis had a child, it would be Fast Food Fairies.
Rock N Roll Television - Sticky sweet poppy goodness that'll get your toe tapping!
$10 in advance
$15 at the door
WHAT: MAJORS, Fast Food Fairies, Rock N Roll Television
WHERE: Turbo Haüs, 2040 St. Denis St., Montreal, H2X 3K7
WHEN: Friday, November 7 @ 8 PM
METRO: Sherbrooke (Orange)
TICKETS: LePointDeVente
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: 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
McSweeney’s List drops every Wednesday with the best events, workshops, and more, each week in Montreal!
