52nd City: Festivals & Events

Maplewood : Friday : Organized Fun

Amy VanDonsel was kind enough to send along word of Friday's "Let Them Eat Art" event, taking place throughout the Maplewood business district. We enjoy what's going on over there and like to support our friends and supporters, so here's the note (which does mention "dream interpretation" for the confused sleepers among you):

=========

This Friday, July 11, I'll be painting "live" and selling work at Maplewood's "Let Them Eat Art" event from 6PM to 11PM.

You can find me at the Well Body Clinic at 2716 Sutton Blvd.

Check in locations for a map of artists and entertainment located at various Maplewood businesses are:

Schlafly Bottleworks, 7260 Manchester
Downtown Maplewood, 7300 Manchester
Studio Altius, 3518 Greenwood Blvd.

Attractions include belly dancing, dream interpretation, spinning tops, face painting, live music, DJs, gallery openings, a fire-shooting ice cream truck, silent auctions and who knows what else.

Gumbohead (7PM) and New Punk Hippies (9PM) will play at the Mill on Sutton, with Scott Kaye and the Continentals at Schlafly Bottleworks and Harvest Band at Studio Altius. Also: Terri Langerak, Jane Godfrey, Maple Jam, and Elliot Ranney.

The Firecracker Press will printing at Schlafly and Ben Goeke will be making t-shirts at Bugaloo. Other featured artists include Charlie Houska, Fern Taylor, Jaxon Noon, Emily Hemeyer, Jeffery Sass, Kate Duncan, Carmelita Nunez, St Louis Craft Mafia, Michael Bolton, Jeff Kapfer, Jessi Cerutii, Henryk Ptasiewicz, and Solomon Thurman.

A shark bite tattoo'ed on your ankle

As part of its Outdoor Cinema Series, Movies Around Missouri will screen Steven Spielberg's Jaws at the Heman Park Pool (at 7200 Olive Boulevard, University City) at 8:30 p.m. June 28. The event is free and attendees are allowed to bring food and beverages.

Face it, watching the opening sequence of Jaws from the deep end is better than the drive-in anyday.

Jazz Improv with Kids

Last year’s appearance of Hamiet Bluiett at Ivory Perry Park’s concert series was a true highlight of the many free outdoor activities St. Louis offers every summer. (Recap) We really are a lucky town.

This Sunday, June 22nd, Hamiet fulfills his dream of creating an Improvising Youth Orchestra. Thirty-five students from twenty schools throughout the metropolitan area started rehearsing Bluiett’s Suite Children on Monday and will play this Sunday. The promotional material I received claim this type of event has not been done before. So I encourage you to enjoy this world premiere. I have no doubts it will be spectacular. Stanley Coleman will conduct the youth orchestra. Time is 6-8pm and more information and directions can be found at the Ivory Perry Park Concert Series website.

The World of Bill Boll

Walking past South Grand's Urban last night, I was reminded that Bill Boll is hosting a Tuesday night open mic session at the li'l club, which doubles as a songwriting workshop. The reminder was simple: Bill was standing in the window, after huddling over an amp. Ah!

Mere hours later, lo!, an e-mail from the one-and-same Bill Boll, this time about a gig tonight at the Way Out:

========

Just one nagging final reminder... I'll be at the Way Out tonight. I'm going on at 11, but as usual, I'll be there early, er, uh, "preparing" for the show.

Tonight's motif is: The Big Eighties!

OTSL SEASON 32

I am the last person you’d expect to like opera. I like theater but am not partial to musicals. I don’t like heavy drama or lavish sets. Usually.

But as I soon discovered the work done by Opera Theatre of St. Louis is so interesting and of such quality that it was difficult to not be lured in.

Although it may make me a savage in some eyes to admit it, I prefer the opera in English. It’s just easier to follow and it takes a lot of the stuffy, hoity toity air out of the genre.

There are a few things I DO love about OTSL productions.

For starters the repertoire is different and diverse each season. Each seasonal program offers a very bold blend of popular favorites with daring and new pieces. Second, the on stage quality is par excellent. The performance, musical scoring, staging and costuming are fascinating. The end result is that watching it all work in syncopation is marvelous.

Before you read on you should know that OTSL makes every effort to keep their art affordable and snob free to the average Joe or Jane. The company often offers discounts, special presentations and affordable pricing in an effort to get their operas seen by as many different types of people as possible.

This of course leads me to the current (32nd) season of Opera Theatre St. Louis.

MADAME BUTTERFLY

Madame Butterfly’s standing as one of the most beloved operas stands as a testament to the resolve and tenacity of Giacomo Puccini

Puccini was a wild man. He loved fast boats, good booze and fast cars. It was his love of speed that did him in but brought him success in a roundabout way. Puccini wrote Madame Butterfly while recuperating from a nasty auto accident in 1902. This accident gave him a permanent nasty limp physically and a confidently edgy swagger artistically.

When it was first performed at La Scala in February of 1904, people hated it. Really hated it. Undaunted he tried his luck again that May for a revamped production in Brescia, Italy. In this version he tightened up the second half, creating a sleeker opera.

Madame Butterfly is based on actual events in Turn of the Century Japan. During this time it was perfectly normal for Western men to enter into temporary marriages that could easily be nullified after a 30-day absence form the male.

Out of this historical background steps a fifteen-year-old Geisha named Cio-cio-san. Cio-cio-sen, a Nagasaki girl who hails from a once wealthy family, enters into an arrangement with Benjamin Franklin Pinkerton, a US Naval officer. Pinkerton has everything on his mind but a long marriage. During Act One he cunningly beguiles the young geisha for his own interests.

In an attempt to pacify her new husband Madame Butterfly renounces her religion and is eventually shunned by her family and village.

Act Two opens three years later with Pinkerton nowhere in sight. In fact he has returned to the US and taken on a ‘real’ wife named Kate. Madame Butterfly meanwhile has been left with a child and a stipend form her ‘husband.'

But despite banishment, poverty and abandonment Madame Butterfly remains resolute that her husband will come back for her and take her off to America.

Her fortunes could all change but don’t when she repeatedly refuses the hand of the wealthy Prince Yamadori. Yamadori is a persistant fellow who goes home tme after time disappointed. This sets the stage for Pinkerton’s return to Japan.

Pinkerton returns to Japan but wants nothing to do with Madame Butterfly until the American consul brings him word of her steadfast waiting. Pinkerton finally wakes up and realizes the level of devotion his geisha wife has to him and Goes to see her.

To say that she is waiting for him would be an understatement. Her aching and waiting for Pinkerton borders on the neurotic.

In the second scene of Act Two they meet again, bringing the percolating tension of the opera to a close with potent emotional resonance.

Madame Butterfly tugs on so many emotions because of the riveting turn from soprano Kelly Kaduce. Kaduce debuted in 2004’s Sister Angelica and has knocked over OTSL audiences ever since. Here she takes every small gesture and word and turns it into a powerful and intense performance. Known as a performer who inhabits her roles. With Madame Butterfly she completely cocoons herself in the part and transforms the opera.

David Pomeray is a more than suitable accomplice as Pinkerton. The duo spends most of the first act engaged in a long duet that sets the stage for the tragic events of Act Two. Pomeray helps fill in the gaps by making Pinkerton so enjoyably loathsome that you can’t help but feel affected by his equally intense performance.

Rounding out this fine ensemble are powerhouse performances from Lester Lynch as Sharpless, the American consul, and Jamie Barton as Suzuki, Cio-cio San’s loyal servant.

OTSL’s production of Madame Butterfly never tires or becomes played out because the cast never relinquishes emotional control to the audience. They clearly call the shots and deal the emotions. Thus freeing the audience from a world of night by the end of the production.

Simply put, this version of Madame Butterfly is marvelous stuff indeed.

Upcoming performances of Madame Butterfly at Opera Theatre of St. Louis

June 11, 1pm
June 13, 8pm
June 18, 1pm
June 22, 7pm
June 24, 8pm
June 28, 1pm

All performances are at the Loretto-Hilton Center on the campus of Webster University.

For more information visit www.expereinceopera.org
-Rob Levy

How do you tune a taco?

Ugh, I just learned that this year's Rock 'n' Roll Craft Show will not be until Nov. 28. I was really hoping for another summer festival. I mean, what if between now and November, I find myself in desperate need of a guitar pick made out of an old Visa card or a pin cushion shaped like a chicken? At least, with the craft show five months away, I'll have time to give my willpower a workout and save some cash.

Tomorrow on Delmar Blvd.

Our main man at Vintage Vinyl, Jim Utz, sends along word of an event on Delmar tomorrow. I would describe this as "fresh," "fly" or "ill," but have no sense of the current hip-hop vocabulary to summarize this. (Help an old person, please.) But we digress...

========

June 7th
2:00 - 5:00PM
Saturday

DJ Needles brings the beat back to the street Delmar style with special guest DJ Alejan!

For those that visited us on Record Store Day, chances are you felt the good vibes before you got in our doors as Soulition's DJ Needles rocked a mini-block party in front of Vintage Vinyl outside underneath our marquee. The spin which featured guest breakers and MCing from Lifestyles and Nato Caliph was a breakout success at Record Store Day so we've partnered up with DJ Needles to keep the beat alive on Delmar with a monthly party on the sidewalk outside Vintage Vinyl.

The monthly jam will be the first Saturday of each month, starts at 2:00 p.m. and will feature DJ Needles along with various MCs, breakers and guest DJs dropping in and out of his sets. Launching the series in a BIG way for June's installment DJ Needles has secured a special guest DJ set with St. Louis turntablist legend, DJ Alejan!!! Yes, DJ Alejan is dusting off his gear and will be coming out of retirement to spin with DJ Needles while promoting the recent reissue of his classic mixtape, "Originality Iz A Must."

Beat Street with DJ Needles kicks off on June 7th at 2:00 p.m..

Best of Idaho Avenue Film Fest

Looks like it's tonight, according to organizer Brian Spath. By the by, he's looking for short films for the next round of showings this fall. Here's the info on tonight's Feasting Fox screening:

========

I just wanted to send a quick note to let you know that the Idaho Avenue Film Festival is holding a best of screening tonight at the Feasting Fox in conjunction with FrontYard Features. The screening will start closer to 9 pm (since it will be darker then) and the weather should be perfect! Remember to bring a lawn chair with you and be prepared to laugh!

Firecracker Officially Open

Our main man, Eric Woods at Firecracker Press, sends along word that his already up-and-running new location will be given the official baptism in early June. We'd encourage you to go and to drop into Apop Records, just across the street, while on the block.

========

GRAND OPENING - Show and Sale
-----------------------------
FRIDAY - JUNE 6th from 6-10pm
-----------------------------

The Firecracker Press recently moved! We've expanded our letterpress print studio and added a spacious retail shop. Please join us for our Grand Opening show and sale.

- Press demos
- New posters and artwork for sale
- Music by MAID RITE
- and tons more.

Make a night of it! There are shows and openings at Fort Gondo, Snowflake, Typo, PHD, and Boots not to mention all the great food and funky good times that Cherokee Street has to offer.

The Firecracker Press
2838 Cherokee St.
STLMO 63118

Gondolfi : Champaign : Sunday!

Galen Gondolfi tipped us to an amazing show in Champaign this weekend. For those who remember these sorts of things, Champaign cranked out an inordinate amount of quality rock bands in the early/mid-'90s and a bunch of them are reuniting this holiday weekend. More than a few of these groups were regulars at Cicero's, the Side Door and other great rock clubs of STL lore. I am sorely tempted by this one!

The details, compliments of G-squared:

=========

In short, this Sunday, May 25, various bands on Champaign's Mud/Parasol label will be reuniting with their original line-ups. Tix are $10 and the show is expected to sell out. Ticket purchasers are pilgrimaging from NYC, Boston, LA and London. Some of the bands have myspace pages; Parasol also has a website as does The Highdive - the club hosting the show.

Bands:

Driver Has No Cash

Corndolly (has members residing in Brooklyn and SF; Matt Friedberger of the Fiery Furnaces was their sole male member)

Dick Justice (I drummed for this band, the bass player Rob Arrol now also resides in St. Louis. The myspace page is very embarrassing - a bit over the top. We were named after the Dick Justice of the University of Illinois' Senate Committee on Judiciary Affairs - no joke. He will actually introduce us that night. The last time we played St. Louis was at the Gargoyle with Arcwelder in 1992 or so. We opened for Pavement, Yo La Tengo and Joan Jett back in the day. We later put material out on Thick Records out of Chicago).

Moon Seven Times (released material on Roadrunner)

Mother/Menthol (eventually signed to Capitol Records)

Honcho Overload (included members of Hum who eventually signed to MCA)

Showtime is 8:00 pm.

Sorry, no Judge Nothing.

Geriatrics in the Hall

On Tuesday night, I took a break from making nonfat lattes for ungrateful Claytonites and trekked to The Pageant to see Canadian comedy troupe Kids in the Hall. I’ve been a Kids in the Hall enthusiast since middle school — a time when the group’s eponymously titled show was in syndication on Comedy Central and teenagers swathed their legs in generous folds of denim bearing names like JNCO and KikWear. Today, Comedy Central airs four hour-long blocks of “Mind of Mencia,” a show as banal as original-flavored oatmeal, and all the hip kids have traded their ultra wide-legged JNCOs for skinny jeans. What with the shifts in Comedy Central’s programming and the circumference of pant legs, I wondered if the Kids in the Hall had changed too. For one thing, the Kids in the Hall aren’t really kids anymore. In fact, their composite age is 235, and they have been on hiatus since 2002. I had my misgivings, but that didn’t keep me form requesting off work, plunking down $25 for a ticket and attempting to sneak into The Pageant’s VIP section. (I was booted from the VIP area when a flashlight-toting usher reviewed my row’s tickets and discovered mine was standing room-only. I could appreciate the irony of being made to leave the section the same way an unruly kid is asked to leave class and sit in the hall.) In the end, it didn’t matter if I sat, stood or maintained a painful stress position. Showing no signs of their age, the Kids in the Hall delivered a spirited, two-hour sketch comedy routine, with Bruce McCullough and Scott Thompson reprising their roles as the Cathys (two white collar women who prattle about inconsequentials, like their most recent diets and favorite Yankee Candle scents, while performing clerical work) and Mark McKinney redeeming himself for that awful cameo in “Spice World.” Okay, Kevin McDonald’s knee did give out during the first skit, but otherwise, the Kids performed tirelessly. Filing out of The Pageant, humming the Kids in the Hall theme song under my breath, my face ached from smiling widely.

Crunchy Cool is Back

Jim Ousley reminds of us of an event coming up next week, in which we're a name sponsor. Win some 52nd City's! And get yourself cast in the next Crunchy Cool film.

========

We're holding a benefit concert and scouting talent for a walk-on role in our upcoming feature film, "The Bloodfest Club,” at the Lucas School House on Friday, May 23. The horror/comedy is the next exciting project from Crunchy Cool Films, the creators of the award-winning mockumentary, "Hooch & Daddy-O.” Actors and non-actors alike will be encouraged to pose for headshots at the event which will be used to make a casting

selection. Doors open at 7 p.m. and music begins promptly at 8 p.m. Tickets are $8 and can be purchased online at: http://www.lucasevents.com or in person at the Lucas School House box office (314-621-6565). The event will be hosted by the legendary Beatle Bob and include performances from
local bands Cavo, Jonathan Cour, Vijoy Rao and the Removers, and Willow. A raffle including CDs, DVDs, and Cardinals tickets will be awarded at the benefit. The event is sponsored by 52nd City, Jupiter Studios, PlaybackSTL, Slackers, St. Louis Actors’ Studio, West End Grill & Pub, and West Model & Talent Management. A portion of the proceeds will benefit the American Red Cross.

"The Bloodfest Club" is the sophomore effort from the St. Louis-based film production company, Crunchy Cool Films. Their first film, "Hooch & Daddy-O" attained nation-wide distribution from Echelon Studios and is available through Netflix, Amazon.com, and AT&T Video-On-Demand. In "The Bloodfest Club," a Chuck Norris-obsessed janitor leads a brat pack of prep school students in a
battle against alien zombies on the eve of graduation.

Previous honors for "Hooch & Daddy-O" include:
'Best Comedy' - Planet Ant Film & Video Festival (2006 – Detroit, MI), 'Audience Award' - Faux Film Festival (2006 – Portland, OR) and 'Outstanding Original Story/Screenplay' - Dixie Film Festival (2005 – Atlanta, GA).

What the critics are saying about "Hooch & Daddy-O":

"Wild! Funny! An excellent multi-purpose parody." - Film Threat
"Smart. Irreverent. A Scream!" - CBS Radio
"A wholly original, delightfully edgy debut." - Riverfront Times
"Laugh out loud funny!" - PlaybackSTL

Learn more about The Bloodfest Club at: http://www.bloodfestclub.com
Learn more about Hooch & Daddy-O at: http://www.myspace.com/hoochanddaddyo
Learn more about Crunchy Cool Films at: http://www.myspace.com/crunchycoolfilms

Free Candy: now with details

Via co-founder Amanda Doyle:

========

Remember last week, when I said to clear your calendar? Well, if you've been waiting to exhale, here are all the pertinent details to make you wish away the days until Sunday arrives...

Sunday, May 4
6 p.m.
Free Candy Baby Shower and Last Show Before Maternity Leave!
Hartford Coffee Company, 3974 Hartford (@ Roger) in Tower Grove South

First, the baby shower part: well, I'm pregnant to bustin', so you're going to have to endure a little pregnancy talk. I'll try to avoid the gorier parts of the childbirth class, but I can't make any promises on behalf of my guest co-host, Maddie Earnest.

No gifts for me, please, BUT: we'd love you to bring a little something to donate to Nurses for Newborns, a fabulous nonprofit here in town (and known nationwide) that sends trained nurses on home visits to the most vulnerable babies (like those born to teens and the mentally and physically challenged.) We will have a collection bin and hope you'll consider donating things like: diapers (ONLY size Newborns, 4, 5 & 6); baby wipes; baby sunscreen; receiving blankets; baby towels; etc. See the list here for their needs: http://www.nfnf.org/mo_wishlist.php

Once you've helped out, your rewards will overflow: guests on Sunday's show include Cupcake Stef (she of cupcakeproject.blogspot.com fame, natch...and yeah, she's packin' cakes) and Post-Dispatch columnist Sylvester Brown. Bring your questions! Bring your appetite! Bring some diapers, for Pete's sake!

And don't worry. We won't let you get outta there without a healthy dose of Town Talk.

How About Some Soul Yoga

Toby Hicks is the DJ. Beyond that, I'll just go to the tale of the tape, as there's nothing else I can add to this event posting:

========

Soul Yoga: A DJ Yoga Experience. Come and let your soul dance!

We'll move through a flow of lively sun salutations and fun yoga postures and have the chance to creatively explore movement.

All with the background of a live DJ playing a mix of funky and spirited beats!

After this high-energy event, you'll feel invigorated, liberated, and maybe a little more in touch with your soul!

Join us for this unique experience!

Saturday, May 10th from: 7-9pm cost: $20

With Laurie Brockhaus & DJ Toby Hicks
Urban Breath: Dogtown Location
1220 Tamm Ave.
Phone:421-9642
www.urbanbreath.com

Free Candy Returneth

A note from Free Candy HQ. Whoa. My thougth is that this will be a baby-themed edition:

========

People:

Make no plans, cancel any you already have. Free Candy returns....

Sunday, May 4, 2008
6 p.m.
Hartford Coffee Company, 3974 Hartford (@ Roger)

So much more detail to come, but for now, clear your calendar.

That is all.

Free Candy HQ

Books for kids - always a good cause

There are many reasons to appreciate Left Bank Books. On April 5th they give us another one when they kick off a partnership with CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocates for Children) that will both raise money for the organization, and give customers opportunities to purchase books for children in the foster care system. Below are details about the initiative which begins on Saturday with a visit from author Ashley Rhodes-Courter, a former foster care kid, who recounts her experiences in her memoir Three Little Words.

From the West End Word ...“Beginning with Rhodes-Courter’s visit at 4 p.m. April 5, Left Bank Books is partnering with the Court Appointed Special Advocates for Children in St. Louis County — volunteers who act in the best interest of foster kids in court and elsewhere — to create a list of books that Left Bank customers can purchase for local foster kids. The permanent program will help kids own their own books, another rarity for kids in foster care.

Left Bank will also donate 10 percent of its sales of Rhodes-Courter’s book through the end of April to CASA, and on April 5, following Rhodes-Courter’s visit to the bookstore, Duff’s, Sapphire Pan Asian and Dressel’s Pub will donate 10 percent of their sales to CASA of St. Louis County.

“It’s not just Left Bank Books doing an event, it’s the whole neighborhood coming together for this cause,” said Lisa Greening, co-owner of Left Bank.”

So if you are looking for a place to go to dinner on Saturday night, perhaps consider one of the spots above. If you are looking for a gift for someone, consider buying a book for a foster child in the name of the gift recipient. Seems like a nice idea for Mother's Day...

www.casastlcounty.org/three-little-words.htm
www.left-bank.com/

AES Summit #2

The audio department of the School of Communications is sort of low on my list of priorities. I am sorry! This is late notice, but it deserves notice nonetheless.

The Audio Engineering Society at Webster is throwing their second annual Student Summit. There will be panels, displays, exhibitors with audio equipment (complete with fancy buttons and knobs, I hope) and a few guest speakers, featuring two Bobs of the Katz and Heil type.

The events are held all around campus, but thankfully the majority of them are in the University Center and Sverdrup (a very long building), which are very close to each other, separated only by a short sidewalk or a very soggy field we call the Quad.

The WU AES website has everything.

Here's what I got in my inbox today:

The Second Annual Central Region AES Student Summit is coming up soon, from Friday April 4th - Sunday, April 6th at Webster University in St. Louis, Missouri. We are expecting Bob Katz, Bob Heil, John Storyk and more as guest speakers. There will be panels and tutorials on loads of events -

Go to the schedule to see all the proposed tutorials, panels and demos, along with our guest speakers and presenters!

We will be holding a Recording Competition with great prizes. We are modeling it on the AES conventions, on a small scale.

Students have been approaching audio businesses and organizations of all types as exhibitors and sponsors, and many have already confirmed, including:

Shure, Ozark Pro Audio, AVA Audio, Solid State Logic, Sweetwater, Meyer Sound, Silent pc review, Roland, Genelec, Gotham Audio, Neutrik, Bag End, Grammy U, AEA, Audio-Technica, Martin Audio, AES, Stanco, Ironman Sound, Webster University

Did we mention that award-winning band Illphonics will be playing on Saturday night? http://www.myspace.com/illphonics
And did we mention that event, along with the Friday night Welcome Mixer is included in your $20 early registration fee? Did we mention that we’ll even throw in lunch on Saturday?

This will be a great opportunity for students from the Central Region, some of whom cannot attend the conventions in New York or California, to mingle with their peers from other educational institutions as well as professionals. It will give you the same opportunity to put your hands on gear and network with the pros, just like on the exhibition floor at the Javits or the Moscone Center.

We hope you will attend. We also hope you will spread the word to everyone you know in the audio community: students, educators, pros, AES members and non-members alike.

To Do

An assortment of happenings happening in the next week or so....

Today 1:30-4pm
Family Farm Lobby Day
State Capitol Building – Jefferson City
Citizens concerned about legislation that affects small farmers and locally grown food will be gathering to speak with legislators at the Capitol about these issues today. If you would like to learn more about what is going on, please refer to
www.slowfoodstl.org/2008/03/17/family-farm-lobby-day

The Washington University Assembly Series presents...
(free and open to the public)

April 2, 4pm @ Graham Chapel
Ken Paulson
“In 2004 the veteran newspaper executive became editor of USA TODAY. Prior to that position, he ran the Freedom Forum’s First Amendment Center, a nonpartisan foundation dedicated to free press and free speech for all.”

April 3, 4pm @ Steinberg Hall Auditorium
Calvin Trillin
“Combining a reporter’s eye with a wicked sense of humor, Trillin turns every subject into masterful pieces. With more than 30 years of writing books, essays, columns, articles, novels and poetry on an astounding array of topics, he is an extraordinary chronicler of American culture.”

Over the past 50 years The Assembly Series ( http://assemblyseries.wustl.edu/ ) has presented a number of tremendously interesting people to St. Louis including: Shirley Chisolm, Studs Terkel, Cornel West, BF Skinner, Margaret Mead, Gwendolyn Brooks, Elie Wiesel, Edward Albee, Ed Muskie, Harold Ramis, Nikki Giovanni, Uta Hagen, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., Coretta Scott King, Saul Williams, and Susan Sontag, to name a few. The full list of past speakers can be found here - (http://assemblyseries.wustl.edu/biglist/speakerindex.html )

April 4-6
Les Pays des Illinois Colonial Trade Faire & Musket and Rifle Frolic
Fort des Chartres
Prairie du Rocher, IL
Cool fort over in southern Illinois. A piece of our French heritage lovingly restored. Every so often they put on 18th Century period/reenactment type events. Period-dressed people doing period things. Not my usual bag, but I dig the fort and the drive over is beautiful. Something out-of-the-ordinary to do on a spring afternoon.
http://chasseurs.homestead.com/TradeFaire.html

April 4–6
St. Louis Marathon
Runners impress me. Particularly marathon runners. How can a non-bionic, regular person possibly run 26+ miles? At The St. Louis Marathon next weekend people will be gathering to accomplish that great feat and I salute them. For info on the marathon, and the many other events that make up marathon weekend, please go to http://www.gostlouis.org/

April 4 – 19
Italian Film Festival
Brown Hall 100
George Warren Brown School of Social Work on Washington University's Danforth Campus.
“Screenings are free and open to the general public. In Italian with English subtitles. All films in 35mm.” Another interesting thing in St. Louis that is free and open to the public. For film schedules and descriptions please go to http://www.italianfilmfestivalstlouis.com/

April 6
The Black Artists Group (BAG) Presents..
“Rivers of Women, a National Poetry
Month Tribute to Women featuring Shirley Bradley
LeFlore, Marsha Cann, Blue-Mashibini and more!
BAG honors women and the spoken word in what promises
to be a lively and diverse offering of spoken word and
poetry in performance on Sunday from 7-9pm, in the Rosebud Café
at Scott Joplin House State Historic Site, 2658 Delmar Blvd. This free event
will feature original BAG poet Shirley Bradley LeFlore
whose mark on the St. Louis and East Coast creative
scenes spans five decades.”

April 16
Dr. Peter Raven, renown Director of the Missouri Botanical Garden, will be the final speaker of the season in the Social Justice Speaker Series at Manchester United Methodist Church. From the series' website...“In its debut season, from September to April, the Social Justice Speakers Series invites you to expand your understanding of our global impact through five free evenings of intellect, wit, insight, experience and discussion with internationally recognized leaders, trail blazers, and authors. At the end of each evening the audience will have the opportunity to ask questions and sign up for further discussion and action opportunities related to the evening's topic.” For directions and other series info, please visit http://www.manchesterumc.org/article93992.htm

Please refer to event websites to confirm all details. Have a great week!

Missed it.

I knew I was missing something this weekend. Friday it seemed like I had places to be... and so today I check on Anime St. Louis. It goes from the 28-30...

Well then, fine then! Maybe next year. I missed all the events I was interested in. But, uh, what exactly is Anime St. Louis?

It's a fine, fine weekend of anime, video games, comic books and gaming all put into one place for a few days. San Diego Comic Con, New York Comic Con and Otakon are the biggest conventions of them all, but I'm probably missing a few.

Anime St. Louis has been around for a couple years, and will hopefully go on. It's a joint venture between the Webster University Anime Society and the Maryville University Anime Club. And maybe it will get bigger? There's no large anime conventions in the midwest remotely close to St. Louis, so Anime St. Louis seems to have the market cornered.

So the "anime" part of the convention doesn't appeal to me that much. I liked Japanese cartoons and movies, but the interest died as soon as I discovered good manga (Japanese comics). Although it made sense for me to watch them, since I studied the language for three years. (Still not sure why.) Anime, however, is not the only thing present at the conventions, but it is rather prominent and colorful and sometimes extremely confusing/annoying/just plain weird -- it depends on its presentation.

Perhaps around this time next year you can catch me at Anime St. Louis. I'm sorry I missed this year, but I had to work today anyway.

Early in the Morning

If forced to pick a favorite DJ in town - please don't make me, it can only yield trouble!!! - Mark Early'd be high on the list. He's involved with a few musical projects outside of the strict realm of the ones-and-two. Some of those different spins and things will be on display in the coming week:

========

Friday March 28th - Post-Punk Funk-Junk - 10pm til 1:30ish am - The Royale

Mark Early will be joined by special guest Jamie Hayes from Chicago. You may remember Jamie from when she worked at the old Zeizo and Meshuga Coffee locations.

**************************************************************************************************************************************
Tuesday April 1st - Modulation Monthly Edition 3 - 10 pm til 3 am - Upstairs Lounge

The long delayed third edition hits at the Upstairs Lounge next Tuesday. Join your editors Matty Coonfield and Mark Early as they bring the best shit they own for you to dance and get drunk to. PBR specials. Josh behind the bar.

****************************************************************************************************************************************
Thursday April 3rd - Nerve Parade/Glass Teeth - 10ish til 3ish - Mangia

Free show featuring your two favorite bands featuring members of way too many other bands. Come out and connect the dots to virtually every other band who has played in the St. Louis scene.

******************************************************************************************************************************************
Friday April 4th - Macro Meltdown/.e/Broken Letters/Shiny Around the Edges - 8pm - Camp Concentration under APOP

Mark, Liz, Ben, Joe and Matt bring their version of lo-fi analog/digital to the confines of Camp Concentration.

******************************************************************************************************************************************
Saturday April 5th - Wall Ball & Wall Ball After Party - 7 til 11 pm & 10 pm til 3 am - Third Degree Glass Factory & Atomic Cowboy

Wall Ball 2008
When: 7-11 pm on Saturday, April 5, 2008
Where: Third Degree Glass Factory, 5200 Delmar, St. Louis
Cost: $30 per ticket

Pulsating. Hypnotic. Electrifying. Wall Ball is arguably one of St. Louis' most notorious annual events, engaging an eclectic mix of artists, patrons and admirers. The cornerstone fundraiser for St. Louis City Open Studio and Gallery (SCOSAG),
Wall Ball 08 will be from 7-11pm on Saturday, April 5, 2008
at Third Degree Glass Factory, located at 5200 Delmar.

Wall Ball is an interactive event that features more than 40 artists working live on pieces of artwork that guests bid on throughout the evening's festivities. In its fifth year, Wall Ball will overtake Third Degree Glass Factory for one night. Expect energizing DJ mixes by DJ INNOVATION, Barbara Cliffe, Mark Early and KDHX's Doug Morgan, savory appetizers courtesy of L'Ecole Culinaire and satiating cocktails from Cooranbong Vodka. All proceeds benefit SCOSAG, including the cash bar, so show your support by sharing the news or buying tickets today.

Join The After Party
Where: Atomic Cowboy
What: More cocktails, art and music!
Cost: $3 after 10pm or FREE with your Wall Ball wrist band

Mark Early and Barbara Cliffe will be spinning. Jumbling Towers will be playing.

Drinks and Mortar : Thursday : Duff's

Details here.

One Ring Zero: 2 STL Shows

Sent by a New York reader, this note. Thanks!

If ever I read a band description and thought, "Hmm, this is up the alley of Thom Fletcher and/or Brett Underwood," well, this'd be the one:

========

Thursday, March 27th, 2008 (7:00pm)
One Ring Zero
at
VINTAGE VINYL
6610 Delmar Blvd
St. Louis, MO

Friday, March 28th, 2008 (7:00pm)
One Ring Zero
at
ST. LOUIS ART MUSEUM
1 Fine Arts Dr
St. Louis, MO

Also, we still have a few copies of the limited edition "One Ring Zero - Ten Years Of Extra Stuff" cdr.
*****ONLY 300 COPIES MADE, EACH COPY NUMBERED*****
Only $7 … or free with any other CD you purchase from www.oneringzero.com ... while supplies last!

John Doe At Vintage Vinyl Tonight

John Doe of X, and movie fame (Roadhouse, Boogie Nights), will be "in-store" at Vintage Vinyl tonight performing selections from his body of solo work. 7pm. X plays over at Pop's later in the evening.

Here is the info from Vintage Vinyl - "St. Patrick's Day is always a day filled with massive celebrations and Vintage Vinyl wants to add to your joy that day by hosting an instore with punk rock legend John Doe. Founder of the seminal Los Angeles punk rock band X, John Doe has also had a substantial solo career and will be stopping in at Vintage Vinyl on Monday, March 17th at 7:00PM to perform some tracks from that live before his show later that evening at Pop's with X. After his instore performance he will be hanging out and signing records including his latest Yep Roc Records release "A Year in the Wilderness"."

Perfect for a rainy Monday.

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

http://www.vintagevinyl.com/instores.asp
http://www.popsrocks.com/calendar/x.php

Q-Fest

I type up Webster University's calendar page every week that there's a newspaper. It's really boring work, but sometimes I find some interesting things going on. The St. Louis LGBTQ (mouthful!) Film Festival is going on from March 12-16.

QFest, as it has been dubbed, starts out at the Mad Art Gallery in Soulard, but from the 13th-16th the films will be screened at the Winifred Moore Auditorium at WU.

All the information: Walk this way.

I have the bad habit of judging a film by its title, or its IMDB page, whichever I come across first. Jamie Babbit's (The L Word, Gilmore Girls, Ugly Betty, The Riches, etc) film "Itty Bitty Titty Committee" caught my attention. Fun title, sounds like a fun movie. It's being screened at 6 and 8 p.m. on the last day of the festival.

"QFest, a new Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgendered, and Queer themed film festival, launches in St. Louis March 12-16, 2008. QFest is a cooperative project founded by members of Metropolis St. Louis' Out & Urban committee, Cinema St. Louis, and The Lesbian Gay Bi Transgender Community Center of Metropolitan St.Louis. The primary mission of this new film festival is to utilize the art of contemporary gay cinema to spotlight the diversity and inherent complexities of living an alternative lifestyle in today’s society. This inaugural five day event will feature a variety of short subjects and narrative feature films, plus a powerfully moving documentary on gay marriage. The participating filmmakers represent a wide variety of new voices in queer cinema including Jamie Babbit (But I’m a Cheerleader, The Gilmore Girls) and the out-rageous Minneapolis-based Lesbian filmmaker and punk rock musician Lisa Ganser."

www.stlouisgreen.com Launch Party Tonight

As we all take on the important challenge of trying to lead lives with greater sensitivity to our environment, we are bombarded with “green” this and “green” that. All sorts of things we should or shouldn't do, buy, consume. Various ways we should dispose of the things we use, etc. I am pleased and anxious to do all of the things I can, but sometimes I am unsure of what to do or I don't know where to start.

Many times I have thought to myself how nice it would be to have a central resource or starting point for finding green information, and www.stlouisgreen.com has come along to provide just that.

In their own words - “STLOUISGREEN.COM is Your Online Source for Everything Green in the St. Louis Area. STLOUISGREEN.COM connects you to: green companies and products, green events and activites, green jobs and opportunities, green education, and what ifs."

www.stlouisgreen.com is already up and running, but officially launches tonight with a party from 5:30-9:00pm at Tarlton's extremely green St. Louis Headquarters (5500 West Park Avenue - one block east of the intersection of Manchester and Macklind). The building alone is worth the trip!

For further information about the event, please go to http://www.stlouisgreen.com/WebLaunchParty08.php.

Treeweasels, You Say?

A note for local music fans of a certain vintage only: the Treeweasels may be back in June, for a reunion show. Even if no one else digs this news the same way, I am excited to NO END. Details to follow, as they become public.

In the meantime, here's a video, from that YouTube site I keep hearing about.

Hat Design Contest for a Cause

Friends of the late Marti Frumhoff are organizing another fundraiser for Marti's memorial garden (which will be located on Utah and Morgan Ford Road in Tower Grove South). The fundraiser will take place at The Royale on Sunday, March 30 at 3 PM.

It's a hat design contest with three categories:
Most Outrageous Hat
Hard Hat
Movie theme Hat

First prize is 100.00
Second prize is 75.00
Third place is 50.00

Donation entry fee is 30.00. Please email Christian Herman if you would like to enter.
xianherman(at)cs(dot)com

The judges are from area theater costume shops. One is Betsy Krausnick
from the St. Louis Rep and two more will be announced on the Contest
Website.

Here are the plans for the site that the city is working on. Money raised from this event will fund planting and maintenance of the site.

Marti received a posthumous Kick Ass Award in 2007 from 52nd City.

Aviation Club: Monday

I was fired up about an Aviation Club reunion a few weeks back at Off Broadway, and must say that's it's good news that the group's returning for another show, this coming Monday at the Bluebird. Danny Hommes sends along the word, and I'll note there's a reference to yours truly here, as I sorta/kinda suggested the opening groups for A.K.A.C.O.D., the Club and Bill Boll.

If you like clean, honest pop/rock, this is a show for you - and pack a few extra bones, since Jet Lag's will probably be for sale. That's just a guess.

========

Hello to all,

Well the last gig (which was supposed to be "the last gig") was loads of fun. We actually pulled it off to the degree that we can pull it off. Our apparent friend, music scribe Thomas Crone referred us to what some say is the new hot spot for live music in town "The Bluebird" and so it goes, we're booked for another show. Its funny how that works out. The rest of the band is really busy preparing for a huge Lettuceheads show in March and we promised to not let Aviation Club interfere with that effort, but alas, it looks like we've got to go have another evening of great fun playing music almost everyone has forgotten or never knew in the first place.

I've been New Year purging the crap laying around my house and came across this collection of actual press quotes about Aviation Club. (full disclosure; I wasn't in the band when these were written, just coattail ridin' as it were)

"They're from the Midwest? Too bad they're stuck here where probably no one will notice them" referring to an opening slot for Violent Femmes

"Aviation Club may be top original band in town" circa 1983

"It's no secret they're great"

"Aviation Club bears watching like no other band in St. Louis"

But enough about "them", if you missed the last show, you should make it to this one, it might just be our second to last.....

Aviation Club
@
The Bluebird
2706 Olive
Monday, February 11
9:00 p.m. (two other bands on the bill, we're probably first)

LucaBrasi on Saturday

Any day now - any day! - we'll going to roll some delightful new flyers for 52nd City and the designer of those is going to be rocking this weekend. So we give Matt McInerney a nod of thanks for his design skills, while plugging the rock:

=========

LucaBrasi
With Extra Special Guests
STELLA MORA
PRINCETON
CLANKY’S NUB

Date: SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 9th
Venue: CICERO’S in the U City Loop
Time: Doors @ 8:30/Show @ 9
Cover: $7 over/$10 under

LucaBrasi’s self-titled debut is available at Vintage Vinyl, CD Warehouse, Euclid Records, Slackers, www.cdbaby.com and at all live shows!!

South City Karaoke

Two unlikely spots for South Side Karaoke now have... karaoke.

Okay, I suppose some would think that Monday night karaoke at Mangia Italiano isn't such a jump. Replacing the long-running open mic night at the South City club and restaurant, karaoke's the rule from 10 p.m.-close on Monday nights.

Now, with the quiet laptop brigade in attendance last night, it was surprising to see/hear karaoke at Hartford Coffee Company, where Wednesdays are now given over to "Sweet Child O' Mine" from 6:30 - 9:00 p.m. on the midweek.

Plan your life accordingly.

Typewriter Tim

Ordinarily, when posting up a little press release from folks, it's our tradition to add a pithy introduction. In this case, the text itself is so wow-worthy that there's not a whole lot else to say:

--------

Typewriter Tim Hits a St. Louis Return with "Typedelic"JGB
(January 7, 2008, St. Louis, MO.) He's the King of the Keys, The Shaman of the Shift, The Ringmaster of the Return: St. Louis' own Typewriter Tim Jordan returns to the stage with a whole new act: Typedelic. Known for his daring performance art and musical experimentation in the 1990s, Typewriter Tim was talked about in all the papers, radio, and on the street as 'the naked dude who paints wild, intense canvases, JGB onstage and makes some bitchin' rap-rock-pop music with a typewriter.'

Ten years later, after successful stints in Atlanta and LA, he's still all that. But he's put some clothes on and funked up the music a bit with a fresh new back-up band. Never fear, the typewriter—and Tim—remain up front, and they're kicking off this new carriage arrangement with a big DING! at the Lucas Schoolhouse on Wednesday, January 23rd.

The sound? "Think organic, anti-pop music," Tim says, interspersed with lots of music-backed readings from children's books and classical literature. "We're talking everything from Dr. Suess and Shel Silverstein to Plato, Burroughs, Keats and Men are from Mars, Women are from Venus. Tim says the productions have a very stream-of-consciousness vibe, and no two shows will be the same.

"However, it's done in a psychedelic/funkadelic 70s style and execution. This will be high energy—every song is designed so that it's impossible not to nod your head and dance. We’re talking sexual. Verrry sexual!" he says.

Despite the sexual vibes, it is an All-Ages show in a smoke-free venue. The party should start around nine and taping of the show is welcome and even encouraged. "We want to get the word out about Typedelic," Tim says. "We're not selling our music, we’re giving it all away and every live show will later be posted on YouTube." Typewriter Tim guarantees the audience will be keyed up enough to hit return again and again.

The Lucas Schoolhouse is located at 1220 Allen Avenue, at Allen and Gravois, in Soulard. Call 314.621.6565 for more information.

(Says Brett Underwood:) ...and I've got him down at the Schlafly Tap Room on Saturday, February 2nd with Illphonics.
http://www..myspace.com/schlaflybeer

Ska's the Limit Anniversary Show

Well, there's not a lot lacking in the release below, so we'll let it speak for itself, though we will note that the recent Ska-liday show at Off Broadway, featuring MU330 and the Murder City Players, was an SRO affair, with little room for stragglers; the show sold-out well before 10 p.m. We'd guess that this one may have a similar outcome, so if it's of interest, purchase tix early:

Seventeen cheers for Paul Stark!

--------

88.1 FM KDHX SKA'S THE LIMIT 17TH BIRTHDAY PARTY
Saturday February 23, 2008
Off Broadway
3509 Lemp Ave., St. Louis, MO 63118
Doors open at 6:30 pm – Music Begins at 7:00 pm
All Ages Admission : $15
Advance tickets available and encouraged at
www.offbroadwaystl.com
Proceeds to benefit KDHX St. Louis Community Media

"KDHX Ska's The Limit," the longest continuously running Ska radio show in the world is celebrating it's seventeenth anniversary. Since it's inception in 1991, "KDHX Ska's The Limit" has presented a weekly showcase of a variety of musical styles related to early 1960's Jamaican Ska music. The original Ska music, a precursor to Reggae, combined elements of Caribbean Island Mento and Calypso rhythms, big band, swing, jazz, boogie woogie, and R&B to create a unique musical style.

In the years since, contemporary Ska music has been influenced by Rock and Roll, Punk Rock, and many varied sources of international Pop music. "KDHX Ska's The Limit" host Paul Stark continues to highlight the history and modern innovations in Ska every Friday evening on 88.1 FM KDHX St. Louis Community Radio and world wide on the internet at www.kdhx.org.

On February 23rd, In celebration of it's seventeenth anniversary, "KDHX Ska's The Limit" is presenting an evening of performances by some of the leaders of
contemporary Ska music: The Toasters, formed in New York City in 1981, are
beginning their 27th year as an international touring band. The band has logged a staggering 4,000+ live concert appearances on stages all around the world,
and amassed a humongous catalog of music, including 15 albums and DVDs, countless videos, singles and EPs and innumerable compilation appearances. In 1997, Billboard Magazine's lead article dubbed them "New York's Ska Pioneers." With their eclectic, instantly recognizable and idiosyncratic sound the group has
been branded as the "Miles Davis of Ska" and the "Ramones of Ska" alike.

What do you get when you mix the chugging rhythms of Jamaica, the energy and emotion of American Motown, and the over-the-top pub/rock of the Pogues? Now in their 15th year, Chicago's Deal's Gone Bad draws its influences from classic Jamaican and American artists, to create a sound that is a uniquely modern combination, unlike anything else on the scene today. Deal's Gone Bad shows are a combination of soul rave-up and island dance party, with the force and energy of any punk band worth their salt.

Also appearing that evening in the non-smoking, all ages environment of Off Broadway Nighclub is the debut of a new band of St. Louis musical veterans dubbed Jesse Irwin and The West Memphis Country & Western Ska Destroyers and local Ska-Punk trio The Red Light Runners, as well as other surprise guests.

Proceeds from the show will benefit KDHX St. Louis Community Media, a non-profit organization dedicated to building community through media, with diverse and independent voices that enrich the perspectives of their audiences. KDHX promotes civic and cultural participation by providing the tools, technology, and training vital to informed, creative expression.

Ska-liday Reminder: Dec. 29th

Paul Stark of KDHX's long-running Ska's the Limit was kind enough to send along word of winter's biggest ska party - which happens to be a benefit for the station that broadcasts his show. Yup. It's next week. Looking forward to this.

--------

KDHX Ska's The Limit
Winter Ska-liday Party

Saturday, December 29, 2007
7:00 pm (doors at 6:30)
Off Broadway
3509 Lemp Ave.
St. Louis, Mo 63118

Santa will be skanking at the KDHX Ska's The Limit Winter Ska-liday Party, featuring MU330, Murder City Players, Zeda's Beat Box, The Kickbacks, Secret Cajun Band & surprise guests.

Admission is $12 in advance, $15 at the door, and proceeds will benefit KDHX Community Media.

Just like the 88.1 FM KDHX Ska's The Limit radio show, this benefit spotlights an exciting variety of ska-influenced music.

Murder City Players bring a 10 piece band, now in their 23rd year of performing Jamaican ska and rocksteady-styled music circa 1959-1965.

Combining ska rhythms with hard rock, MU330 are celebrating 18 years as internationally touring, third wave veterans.

The talented teenagers of Zeda's Beat Box met at Dave Simon's Rock School and now combine ancient Hebrew texts with bouncing ska and reggae music.

The Kickbacks, absent from Saint Louis stages for five years, return with their mod and 2-tone influenced sound for this special reunion show.

And, another reunion, just announced, by 1990's college party ska-rock regulars: The Secret Cajun Band.

This benefit party is an all-ages evening (with a $3 surcharge for minors) and families are welcome in the non-smoking environment of Off Broadway, 3509 Lemp Avenue in Saint Louis.

Discounted advance tickets available now at www.offbroadwaystl.com.

Bluiett

Is back. With CAPS!:

-----------------

WORLD PREMIER
BLUIETT'S IYO (IMPROVISINGYOUTHORCHESTRA)
Last Sunday of the Year
Dec. 30, 2007, 3-5pm
UNION AVENUE CHRISTIAN CHURCH
733 UNION, STL 63108

This program is supported in part by First Civilizations.

Please send this email to all of your family and friends and tell them about us.

Art Weekend #1: IAM, Tonight-Sunday

Just got a note from Eric Woods, reminding one-and-all of the Independent Art Market, kicking off Downtown tonight.

See you there on Sunday and, perhaps, tonight.

--------------------

THE INDEPENDENT ART MARKET HOLIDAY SALE IS HERE!

Great holiday gifts from local artists are YOURS this weekend!

This winter's Art Market event will take place at the corner of 10th and Locust in lovely Downtown St. Louis! There will be 20 artists selling their creations in a boutique style atmosphere.

Art, gifts, fun, music, holiday spirit and so much more!!!

Friday, December 7th 6p - 12a (opening reception!)
Saturday, December 8th 12p - 10p
Sunday, December 9th 12p - 6p

Happy Holidays! We hope to see you this weekend!!

The Independent Art Market

BioSonar on Sunday @ Mad Art

A number of folks who performed on the 52nd City CD "Sound" will be taking part in an event at Mad Art Gallery this Sunday afternoon-into-night.

Here are the details:

--------------

BioSonar: music and art festival / potluck / indoor picnic
4-11PM this Sunday, November 18, 2007
Mad Art (2727 S. 12th Street, St. Louis, Missouri 63118)
$7, or free if you bring a dish that can serve 10 or more

Echolocation Recordings inaugural festival featuring dozens of regional artists from the improv / experimental / electroacoustic / free / deep listening / eclectic / concrete / new music / avant garde / noise / drone / field recording / lowercase / uncategorizable circles, as well as regional literature, video art, and potluck.

The line-up so far includes Peanuts (Jeremy Brantlinger, Eric Hall, Nazeer Sadeeq Holmes), Ghost Ice, Mike Pitts, Y Toros, Andrew Hefner, Raglani, Ajay Khanna and Chris Smentkowski (of Brain Transplant), Mark Sarich, Worm Hands, Dave Stone, Joseph Potthoff, Tony Renner / Learn Artist!, James Weber jr. (of Julia Sets and Museum Mutters), Catholic Guilt, and more to be announced. These performers are encouraged to explore extended technique, long-form composition / improvisation, and collaboration.

This will be an afternoon / evening event designed as an indoor picnic, so bring a blanket or pillow to lay out on the floor as you enjoy the various approaches to non-traditional musics, food provided by the organizers and audience, video / film projections, books from local writers and publishers, and a mini-shop set up by Cherokee St.'s Apop Records (offering a hand picked selection of music to compliment the event).

The cover will be $7, or totally free if you bring any dish that can serve 10 or more people. Refrigeration will be available if needed, and be sure to mark any dishes you need back with your name. Per the liquor license at Mad Art, no outside liquor may be brought, but a full-service cash bar will be available. Smoking is allowed only in the fenced-in outdoor garden area. The all-ages event goes from 4-11 PM.

SLIFF @ PFA: Greenaway, Water

In the haze of SLIFF's various programming, I've forgotten one other thing over the past few mornings, namely posting a note about a Pulitzer event this coming weekend.

(EDIT: Minutes after posting this, I learned that Greenaway will not be coming to St. Louis for this SLIFF event. The event below will occur, with the caveat that Greenaway will not be attending. The films should still be an inducement for some to attend, but read the following the a different eye.)

----------------------

Films at the Pulitzer : Water Films with Peter Greenaway

St. Louis, MO – The Pulitzer Foundation for the Arts and Cinema St. Louis are pleased to present an evening with acclaimed filmmaker Peter Greenaway on Saturday, November 17th at 7:00pm.

Greenaway will present and discuss a selection of his water-related films, in conjunction with the Pulitzer’s current exhibition Water. This will be an exciting opportunity to not only view these rarely-seen films, but also to engage in discussion with the filmmaker himself.

Born in Wales and educated in London, Peter Greenaway trained as a painter for four years, and started making his own films in 1966. He now lives in Amsterdam. He has made 12 feature films and some 50 short-films and documentaries, been regularly nominated for the Film Festival Competitions of Cannes, Venice and Berlin. His first narrative feature film, The Draughtsman¹s Contract, completed in 1982, received great critical acclaim and established him internationally as an original filmmaker, a reputation consolidated by the films, The Cook, the Thief, his Wife & her Lover, The Pillow-book, and most recently The Tulse Luper Suitcases.

The event is free and open to the public. The program is a collaboration with Cinema St. Louis and a part of the AT&T St. Louis International Film Festival. In addition to the event at the Pulitzer, at 2:30pm November 18th at the Saint Louis Art Museum Greenaway will screen his film Drowning by Numbers, receive a Lifetime Achievement Award, and participate in a career-spanning Q&A with filmmaker and teacher RD Zurick.

Cinema St. Louis is a not-for-profit organization that emphasizes film as an art form. Its mission is to enhance cultural diversity by bringing American independent productions, horizon-expanding international films and high-quality studio films to audiences before their commercial release.

The Pulitzer aims to foster a deeper understanding and appreciation of art and architecture. With the works of art themselves, along with programs, collaborations and exchanges with other cultural and educational institutions, the Pulitzer is a resource for artists, architects, scholars, students and the general public. The Pulitzer is located at 3716 Washington Blvd., St. Louis, MO, 63108, Telephone 314.754.1850, www.pulitzerarts.org.

###

Free Candy is Back

After the sometimes outrageous field trip to the Royale for the last installment, this month's Free Candy finds the two (two?) co-hosts of Free Candy returning for more fun and mirth at the old home of Hartford Coffee.

Not sure I can make this one, due to remaining SLIFF commitments, which breaks my callous heart. That doesn't mean you can't enjoy this wonderful stuff, even if the note about this week's show doesn't exactly give a sense of the identity of the guests and "bits." Gotta love the intrigue!

-------------------------

Good people of Free Candyland:

We're back to the old skool ways, and you simply must join us for the next Free Candy, kickin' it at our old stomping grounds -- Hartford Coffee Company, 3974 Hartford -- next Sunday, Nov. 18, at the new, improved hour of 6 p.m.

Simply put, you don't want to miss this show. Guests include a local legend of independent retailing, holiday gift ideas (yes! we are just like Oprah, only with less schoolgirl abuse), Town Talk dramatic readings and so much more. Still reeling over the implications of cleanishappy.com? We're gonna blow you mind with our new web site selection.

Tom and Amanda will be holding it down, but without you, we're just a sad pair of clowns. With you, we're a sad pair of clowns with an audience! Please join us.

And big ups to our November Sugar Daddy/Candy Sponsor, Big Small Town Designs. You'll be able to buy the very latest in local greeting and Christmas cards, hot off the presses, so bring your checkbook! Check 'em out at bigsmalltown.com

Toodles, and see you Sunday,
Amanda & Tom

SLIFF Day 4

Before I jump into the fare for today a few quick things...

God bless Norman Mailer

Muchas gracias to the Tivoli staff and SLIFF posse who came to my DJ gig at The Royale last night!

Sunday Morning Coming Down
The wear and tear of seeing a lot of films has set in. Still, I knew what I was in for when I opened the program.

But I digress...
There are a lot of really great films lined up today. No Sunday blahs here!

Forget the Rams, there's a new team in town, the St. Louis Reels. They would be the awesome staff who assembled the program for SLIFF this year.

Documentary Abundance!
If you are more suited for documentaries then this is a big day for you. The doc programming this year is stellar and Sunday's lineup is amazing. You would be hard pressed to plan your film day without including a documentary.

A Walk Into The Sea
Danny Williams was Andy Warhol's lover. This film looks at his life and deconstructs The Factory scene that propelled Warhol to iconhood. 12:30pm, SLAM

A Walk To Beautiful
A powerfully moving doc about five women in Ethiopia who are struggling to overcome childbirth injuries. The film follows their trek to the hospital of
Dr. Catherine Hamlin, who was featured on Oprah. Just a warning that this is pretty bleak stuff! 2pm, Tivoli

We Are Together
This touching and award-winning documentary is about the AIDS crisis in South Africa and the orphanges it has left behind.
2pm, SLAM

First Saturday In May
So you want to see a doc without politics or international despair. This could the tonic for you. The film follows six Kentucky Derby hopefuls and their trainers, owners and caretakers as they run for the roses. 2:30pm, Tivoli

Hear & Now
Sponsored by the Central Institute for the Deaf, a daring film about deaf parents who get their hearing restored. A profound film.
4:30pm, Tivoli

Election Day
An examination of Election Day 2004, one which was as full of intrigue, wheeling and dealing and chicanery as any Hollywood blockbuster.
This is the forum on the Election Day crisis our country seems to have, but this film will certainly reopen the discussion just in time for 2008.
4:30pm, Tivoli

Banished
A film that confronts the racial injustice experienced by African Americans in 3 towns from the end of the Civil War through the Great Depression. Director Marco Willaims explores the social, cultural and politcal scars left on the fabric of these communities today. 7:15pm, Tivoli

Features Featured

Waiter
A Dutch co-worker of mine waxed poetic on the films of Alex Van Warmerdam. so much in fact that I got a ticket to see his new film. The screenplay won the 2006 Netherlands film Festival. 2pm, Plaza Frontenac.

Getting Home
I went on about this one earlier. A terrific film from China and a nice break from the heavy doc schedule. 4:30pm, Tivoli

A Year In My Life
The French are finally here at SLIFF. A charming film set in the 1950s about a family that takes in a hard luck kid. 5pm, SLAM

Before the Devil Knows You're Dead
A new suspense film from Sydney Lumet is nothing to miss. Destined for wide release, this Oscar Buzz film features Philip Seymour Hoffman and Marisa Tomei naked. EEAHH! 7pm, Plaza Frontenac

Children of Glory
I loved this Hungarian film set in Budapest in 1956 that mixes geopolitical tension with waterpolo. A sleeper to win best of the fest! There was a buzz about this film from those who saw it last night!
9:30pm Plaza Fronteanc.

Nina's Heavenly Delights
Yay! A film about curry set in Scotland! Part Bollywood, part Scottish black comedy, this film is sure to please viewers with an eye for quirky cinema. 7:30pm, Tivoli

On a final note, I encourage those wanting to see films in the next week to get tickets now. After today it gets heady and the slam of sellouts and long lines begins in greater intensity.

'Nuff Said!

SLIFF DAY 3

Sorry this is just a recap. Yesterday was excruciatingly busy.

A change of pace was in order as I ventured off to other SLIFF venues besides the Tivoli.

Enough!
I began the day with this gorgeously shot Djamilla Sahraoui film about two women searching for a missing husband in Algeria during the turbulent 1990s. The music was great and the picturesque seascapes and landscapes framed the onscreen drama. Great performances from a solid cast and an intense plot made the movie pretty powerful. Enough! screens again next Thursday at 12:30pm at Plaza Frontenac.

Mahek
Mahek is Hindi for 'smell' which has a little to do with the symbolism of the lead character in this film.

Mahek is a twelve-year-old girl with gifted intelligence and energy. The problem is that she is also a dreamer with delusions of grandeur. Her dreams aren't simple--she dreams of big stuff like becoming prime minister, winning awards and saving lives.

Unfortunately she does it at the worst possible moments, often with cataclysmic results. This creates a seemingly endless series of adolescent John Hughes-esque escapades as Mahek ends up a runner-up.

What Mahek needs is a good swift kick in the arse to get her going. This is provided by a visiting fairy who leads Mahek towards an inward journey in search of her best attributes.

I hate to use the words 'family comedy' but this film reminded me me of a Hindi Afterschool Special. It was charming and funny and the characters were very basic, but after a few days of searing intense films it was a nice reprieve.

I wish more Indian films were in the fest but I understand the complications of getting current titles brought over that a large segment of that community has not already seen. Still, with this film in particular, I wish the word had gotten out to the Indian community because it would make a fine afternoon trip to the cinema. Mahek screens again on Tuesday, November 13th at 12:30pm at Frontenac.

Jujiro
After a break I went to the St. Louis Art Museum to see Jujiro (Crossways)
a brilliant 1928 silent film from Teinosuke Kinugasa.

I'll save the rabid semantics on Japanses silent film for anojther time but all I can say is this: kudos to SLIFF and SLAM for brinigng this amazing film to our city.

Jujiro (Crossways) tells the story of a Ronin who runs the table on lust, anger, blindness, madness and obsession in pursuit of a geisha. When everything goes to shit he turns to his older sister for protection, which subsequently forces her down a path of misery, rape and humiliation.

This triumph of the silent era relies on Kinusaga's moving camera techniques, hallucinogenic shots and his adept usage of expressionistic costuming, lighting, makeup and set design.

New Music Circle provided a wonderful accompaniment for the film.
This was really something special!

A few final bits...

A quick word about the Frontenac films...
First, the volunteer staff was top notch. Sometimes this venue gets a bad rap because it isn't as heavily staffded as the Tivoli. But I have to say the staff there bent over backwards to be outgoing, recommend films and be generally helpful.

Second, the attendance at both films was woeful when held up against the quality of the material. My point is this, more people should have taken a chance on these films and come out to see them.

The St. Louis Art Museum has really stepped up to make its auditorium a good place to see a film. It still could use a bigger screen, but they have done a nice job with programming films on-site.

We cinephiles are responsible for getting people we know out to see some films that they wouldn't normally see. So why not bring a family member, co-worker or member of your crew to see a movie?!

SLIFF DAY 2

A quick program note....

Tickets for the November 15th 7pm screening of "Bill", the film with Aaron Eckhardt and Jessica Alba which had some location filming shot in St. Louis has sold out.

But fear not. There still are plenty of cinematic options for that time on that date. There is a great program about Walt Disney that same night at the Art Museum hosted by Neal Gabler.

I however am looking forward to "Orange Revolution" which also screens at that time at the Tivoli. This documentrary about the 2004 Orange Revolution in the Ukraine is important in light of Vlad Putin's recent power grab and the fact that the film was made by St. Louisan Steve York. This doc is a compelling option for history poli sci nerds like myself.

But back to today.....

A few ideas of stuff to see.

Global Shorts
Screening at 2:30pm today at Frontenac. I am excited about the offering but have to work and will miss it. Urgh! This means that you, intrepid reader, should go in my stead. The program features short films from places like India, Iran, Morocco and Brazil amongst others. The SLIFF shorts are always compelling and this one is a particulalry strong package.

The Collector
This Polish film screens at 4:30pm at Frontenac. A debt collector has a 'moral epiphany' with interesting results on his love life.

Getting Home
This Chinese film is terrific. I had an opportunity to see a screener of it and I highly recommend it for its warmth and humor. It's kind of like "Weekend At Bernie's" in a way. Zhao, a Chinese worker honors a promise made to his friend Liu and carries (literally) his dead body all the way across China to his family home in the 13 Gorges. What happens along the way is both a testament to the human spirit and a panoramic social commentary on contemporary China.

The 13 Gorges has been in the news recently because it forced the relocation of over 4 million people. Cities in the gorges were leveled brick by brick its citizens to make way for this super dam. Knowing this helps understand the film at the end a bit better but I digress...

Enough about hydraulics already. This funny, touching and powerful and funny film is one of the best offerings of the Fest!

Those wanting to see a great international film should scurry over to Plaza Frontenac and catch this 7pm screening.

The Melon Route
Screening at Frontenac at 9:30pm this Croation entry to SLIFF chronicles the tragic drowning of Chinese immigrants on the Bosnian/Croat border. The plot deals with the relationship between the one survivor of the incident and the smuggler who got her into Croatia.

The Sacred Family
Much has been said about the burgeoning South American film scene. Director Sebastian Campos' use of hand held cameras and improvised dialogue makes this film about the disintegration of family an interesting film to see.

Slither
SLIFF brings out zombie nation in full effect with a 7pm screening at Webster screening of James Gunn's 2006 B movie scaretacular. The onscreen presence of zombies and Firefly's Nathian Fillion means that this will be a geek fest of epic proportions. This clever film was grossly overlooked at the box office. Charles Guggenheim Cinema St. Louis Award winner Gunn will be in attendance to intro the film and conduct a Q&A afterwards.

Grace Is Gone
Hey it's John Cusack as a dad! This is a powerful film about childhood innocence war, love, marriage and tragedy. Not the most cuddly of films at this year's festival, but a pretty good one nonetheless. See this! It has contemporary themes that loudly resonate with us all and Cusack usually makes pretty decent movies. Shown at he Tivoli at 7pm.

Punk's Not Dead
Punk rock is 30! scary! As the Sex Pistols tour again and countelss old school punk bands reform to cash in comes this film about the halcyon days when wearing boots, ripped jeans, shredded shirts and lots of safety pins was a statement against authority.

I like many others cut my adolescent teeth through the music of The Sex Pistols, The Damned, Fear, Black Flag, Dead Kennedys, Minor Threat, the Vandals and the like, so this is an interesting trip down memory lane.

Susan Dynner loved this stuff too, except she knows all these people and got them to be in her film about Punk rock. Her film examines the culture of punk and explores how the DIY ethos of punk has been co-opped by crappy bands, MTV and Hot Topic.

Although there won't be a pit there'll be plentry of adrenaline and rage at 9:15 at the Tivoli!

SLIFF DAY 1

The 16th Annual AT&T St. Louis International Film Festival is now underway. What lay ahead is a long grueling ten days of cinematic darkenss fueled by reels and Red Bull.

By this time most of us die hard film lovers in the STL have gotten their SLIFF schedule books and feverishly planned out the next ten days and procured tickets.

For these intrepid souls mapping, planning and organizing the Festival is an arduous undertaking along the lines of D-Day or Live-AID.

Choosing a film can be difficult if you are not a big film person of if you are with someone who isn't and you are. I recommend you start with somethnig popular and work inward to the other stuff.

After all there is no better way to move out of the kiddie pool and into the big kid deep end of the pool then by taking a chance and dipping both feet in the deep end and watch something new and different.

But if you, or someone you know fears change or new things, then there is a film for you, "The Honeydripper" by John Sayles. "The Honeydripper" screens at 7pm tonight at the Tivoli Theater. Sayles will be on hand to get his Lifetime Achievement Award with his partner Maggie Renzi.

Sayles is one of nation's best filmakers. He alwasy gets the best from his actors and his use of narrative is terrific. The movie has a Bluesy theme as well so lovers of music can come and check it out with satisfaction as well.

While you are at the Tivoli tonight pick up advance tickets for other movies. If you love music take a chance on a great doc called "Punks Not Dead" which screens at 9:15 tomorrow.

All the films, events and miscellany can be found at and www.cinemastlouis.org

More Nader

Only a day after posting about Ralph Nader's upcoming STL appearance, I found a flyer detailing the bio-pic "An Unreasonable Man." The flick, which will debut on PBS on December 18, will be playing some select cities/events prior to its going live on PBS' "Independent Lens."

The STL info is:

Thursday, November 8 * 7 - 9 p.m.
Lee Auditorium at the Mo History Museum * Lindell & Debalivere
314-746-4599 * www.mohistory.org

A free event with guest speakers: Dr. Don Fitz; Dr. Art Silverblatt; and Ms. Liz Forrestal.

Big Friday

Don't know about you, but I wish I could doppelganger myself tonight. Thomas posted previously about Harvest For Art (The Black Diamond Heavies, Bob Reuter, Fire Dog, Jessica Butler and our town's art hoi polloi in one spot - the doors will blow off the Lucas Schoolhouse!) which takes place tonight. But also taking place this evening is Day of the Dead Beats, Brett Underwood's annual marathon reading of dead Beat poets, always a mind-bending experience. That'll be taking place at Schlafly Bottleworks (7260 Southwest) at 8pm. Usually I feel squeamish about posting stuff I'm involved with, but I'll only be reading a homeopathic dose of Ann Waldman (who, for the record, is NOT dead) but there's lots more than that: for one, Ann Haubrich reading Kerouac, backed by Dave Stone; the Get Born poets reading various spitfire poets like Herbert Huncke and Bukowski; and Mr. Underwood himself, who traditionally has read Bukowski, but has handed over those duties and will be channelling one of St. Louis' own, William S. Burroughs.

And if you're pleasantly exhausted and/or hung over after attending one or both of the above events, may I recommend a vicarious walking trip, via Claire Nowak-Boyd's new blog, Curious Feet, which is all about exploring our fair city on foot.

Fishbone @ City Museum

I never thought I'd get a digital press release announcing a Fishbone show at the City Museum, but that's just what my last few minutes have yielded.

Ah, Fishbone. So many memories for a gentleman of a certain age. Having the band "explained" to me by a fellow, teenaged drummer, on the way to a baseball game. Seeing that t-shirt on John Cusack every time that "Say Anything" is played on the ol' DVD player. Thinking back to getting swallowed up by the pit at a CMJ in New York in the early '90s. Watching a bouncer/local drug dealer rough up fans at the Firehouse, years later, with the band commercially on the wane, but still possessing a distinct, live snap.

Anyway, enough nostalgia for the moment. Here's that unexpected release:

----------

Fishbone CD Release Concert at City Museum

This November, City Museum is proud to present L.A. based band, Fishbone, featuring original members Angelo Moore (aka Dr. Madd Vibe), John Norwood Fisher, John McKnight (of Ben Harper’s Band), Rocky George (of Suicidal Tendencies), Dre Gipson, and John Steward. This will be the first time the band has returned to St. Louis since 2000.Opening for Fishbone will be a special performance by St. Louis’s own Alley Cat Revue. This is a 21-and-up show. Seating is limited, so purchase your tickets today!

WHO: Fishbone featuring Alley Cat Revue Burlesque Show

WHAT: Concert and CD Release Party

WHERE: City Museum, 701 North 15th Street, St. Louis, MO 63103

WHEN: Wednesday, November 21, Doors at 7:31pm

HOW MUCH: $10 in advance, $15 day of show. Advance tickets available by calling 314.231.2489

WHY: Part of a year-long series to let adults enjoy City Museum without stepping on six-year-olds

Dock Ellis @ Royale - tonight

I thought I had something special with the Dock Ellis Band. A few months ago, the band and I spent a morning together that I thought was meaningful for all involved, as I took snaps of them in the old Powell Square Building. Well, this morning, I checked Myspace and found that the band not only picked up another member, they took photos with someone else! And the kicker: they did so at the Carondelet Coke Plant! Oh! The horrors!

Through tears of rebuke and guilt, I have to note that the Docks are playing the Royale tonight, which might seem a strange place for a classic country band to be playing a Sunday night gig. But it only gets weirder, when you consider that a non-broadcast talk show and jackets-only coronation ball are also slated for the same evening, which should feature basically everyone I know in some form or another.

Wiping away tears, here's the bulletin from the Dock Ellis Myspace page:

-----------------------------------------

Sunday, 14 Oct 2007, 06:30 PM - The Royale
3132 Kingshighway
St. Louis, Missouri 63139

Cost: free

Description:
The Royale is presenting the third annual Free Candy show with the formal Royale Coronation. This exclusive party will be held on Sunday, October the 14th from 6:30 to 9 with a variety style show by Tom Weber and Amanda Doyle of Free Candy featuring the Dock Ellis Band, Clownvis Presley and many more fun acts. This is a look sharp event/dance, so please dress accordingly. They will be unveiling the Royale’s new neon and bejeweled crown which will sit atop the sign.

We hope to see you there!

Sunflower Cinema @ CAMP

Found a lovely yellow flyer for a continuing film series at the Community Arts and Media Project, CAMP, found at 3022 Cherokee. The film series, Sunflower Cinema, has two slated films, with a $4 donation accepted. (It took me a minute to sort out the NOTAFLOF phrase, but I beleive it to mean "no one turned away from lack of funds.")

The pair of films slated, with blurbs:

Thursday, Oct. 11: "Majados: Through the Night": "Mojados" is a revealing documentary that follows four men into the desperate world of illegal immigration on their 120-mile, cross-desert journey across the U.S./Mexico border.

Thursday, Oct. 25: "Paris is Burning": Filmed in the mid-to-late 1980s, "Paris is Burning" chronicles the ball culture of New York City and the poor, African American and Latino gay and transgendered community involved in it. Many consider it an invaluable documentary of the end of the "Golden Age" of the New York City drag balls as well as a thoughtful exploration of race, class and gender in America.

Blessing of the Animals

St. Louis being the Catholic town it is, it makes sense that a Blessing of the Animals would be announced via the Gateway Arts listserv as well as through liturgical channels. From what I hear, all of the mounted police have a tradition of taking their horses down to Christ Church Cathedral for this; and if ever there was a Catholic Saint for me, it's the animal-loving St. Francis, whose feast day falls this week (hence this event). It looks acutally looks somewhat secular, as the invitation is to "all people and their pets." Judging from the exotic creatures that show up for the Krewe of Barkus Pet Parade, arguably one of the most popular parts of Mardi Gras, I wouldn't be surprised if some alpacas, goats and chinchillas weren't part of the procession. Certainly there will be a parking lot full of waggy, sniffy happy dogs:

"All people and their pets are invited to 'The Blessing of the Animals.' This special prayer service features music, multimedia images of pets and a memorial to departed animal friends. There will be treats for dogs and cats as well as refreshments for their human companions. All animals must be on leashes or in carriers or cages. Free parking on the Cathedral lot and on the street.

Start Date: 10/7/2007
Start Time: 4:00:00 PM
End Date: 10/7/2007
End Time: 5:00:00 PM
This event is free.
Address: 1210 Locust Street
City: St. Louis
State: MO
Zip: 631032322
Phone: (314) 231-3454

Quirky Reading @ Mad Art, Friday

Having only just poked out my head from my new home under a rock, I got notice of an interesting reading at Mad Art tomorrow evening. Given some play in this week's mega-RFT, the event's a melange of reading and performance. Gotta be quick on the computer tonight, so I'll just pass along the blip from the Mad Art site, content that I'll fill in the blanks at the gallery tomorrow:

-----------------------------------

Left Bank Books presents an evening of literature, comedy, and live music at 8:00 p.m. on Friday, September 28, 2007, at Mad Art Gallery. Jonathan Messinger, author of Hiding Out will perform original comic writing along with writer Jason Toon and photographer Nathan Keay.

Jonathan Messinger celebrates the release of his new short-story collection, Hiding Out, by bringing his long-running reading and comedy series, The Dollar Store, to St. Louis. The show invites participants create stories and other performance pieces from junk Messinger finds in dollar stores, what he likes to call "evocative crap." The show has run for three years in Chicago, selling out for the past two. For this special engagement, St. Louis native Nathan Keay will present a slideshow for various uses of a shoe horn, and local Woot.com creator and writer Jason Toon will explore the virtues of a trick golf ball.

Live music will be performed by Chicago's Stephanie Morris and John Huston. Also featuring live music from St. Louis' own Jason Toon's The Help.

This is an all ages event, free and open to the public. Cash bar available.

This event is also the kickoff of the "New and Improved" Left bank books reading group! Now dedicated to bringing you the finest in fresh, intelligent, culturally relevant, enjoyable, mentally invigorating, and unapologetic new literature, and giving you the chance to meet the authors! To be a part of Left Bank's kickoff event, buy the first selection, Hiding Out by Jonathan Messinger, by September 21 at Left Bank Books. All reading group picks are 20% OFF. Meet at 7:00 p.m. at Mad Art Gallery before the show for a reading group discussion (free snacks provided). Meet the author and receive your very own Dollar Store modern relic!

Art Outside: This Weekend

The reality is: I meant to post something about Art Outside coming up the weekend. The other reality is: I kept forgetting to do so. A quick reminder note from our boys at Firecracker Press has got me at the keys.

Here's hoping that the rains stay away (enough) for some fun to be had on the streets and parking lots of Maplewood.

----------------------------

Please join us Friday night and all day Saturday for the 4th annual Art Outside Art Fair at the Schlafly Bottleworks in Maplewood. We'll be debuting new drink coasters, giant 40" posters, stationary, as well as new rock posters and greeting cards. It's always a good time!

Say hello when you stop by.

Go to www.schlafly.com/artoutside.shtml for more info and for direction.

Crafters United

The spate of craft-induced shows and fests continues unabated, but the original RnR Crafters will be back in December. (Personally, my kinitting is really coming around, so this is quite exciting.) A call for Crafters has been announced and here're the details:

----------------------------------

You may already be crafty, or you may be unknowingly craftier than you think!

Your town's favorite craft show beckons... check it out at www.rocknrollcraftshow.com, and submit your application today!

Fest, Fest, and Fest Some More

One of the things I love about St. Louis is the spazz-out at the end of August, where suddenly, there's a festival almost every day - it almost seems like a collective reluctance to let summer go. (Which as a person who never acclimated to the cold, even though I grew up in a climate with four distinct seasons, I can appreciate.) I was at the Festival of Nations on Sunday, and was really pleased to see the park crammed with people, eating tibs wat and burek and boat drinks (served in hollowed-out coconuts) and watching Farshid Etniko play Persian music. If you stood in the shade, the temperature was absolutely pleasant; I couldn't quite muster the fortitude to go last year because it was a skull-splitting 100 degrees. (Even us heat-loving maniacs have our thresholds.)

Now, the finale comes over Labor Day weekend, with the Japanese Festival at MoBot, the St. Nicholas Greek Festival in the West End and the Big Muddy Blues Festival on the Landing. There's probably a baseball game in there somewhere, too. I remember hitting every single one of these things the first summer I moved here, in '01, on the freakin' bus. I don't know how I did it, but I remember dashing across Forest Park to catch a MetroLink downtown and feeling a little dizzy because it was, once again, about 99 or 100 degrees outside. In fact, right before my last bus ride home, standing at the bus stop near the old Busch Stadium, I spied a hot and weary Fredbird, leaning over the balcony, trying to get some air in that beak as fireworks exploded and black smoke hung in the air. Ah, good times, good times. Well, maybe not for Fredbird on that particular day. Now that I'm a lazy girl with a car, it seems almost incomprehensible to me that I managed to do so much without wheels, but Father Time is a public-transit traveling festival-goer year-round; in fact, I have no doubts that he's probably on Metro's site, plotting his route for Labor Day weekend.

The Lot

While it's certainly late-notice, you're probably already booked and lord knows that the hits counts are smaller on the weekends... The Lot music festival is happening today at the parking lot of the Schlafly Tap Room. 52nd City will be sharing a tent with our pals from Firecracker Press, so if you come down to the event, do drop by and say hello. Buy 10 mags for the Christmas season. And check out the new FCP coasters, whydoncha?

Mad Music: Sunday, Aug. 19

A note from Brett Underwood reminded me to note this gig at Mad Art, coming up on Sunday evening. Attending this event would mean missing my weekly trip to the Casino Queen for Channel 11's "Fan Show," but I may have to succumb to the freakout sounds of this trio of acts:

Mad Art
9 pm Sunday August 19, 2007
$5 All Ages

Dylan Posa And Three Cheers For One Dead Man
(member of Cheer-Accident, Bobby Conn, The Flying Luttenbachers, Brise-Glace, etc.)
dylanposa.com

Skarekrauradio
(members of Quief Quota, Shed Shot, and Two Lips)
myspace.com/skarekrauradio

Peanuts
(Jeremy Brantlinger, Eric Hall, and Nazeer Sadeeq Holmes)
myspace.com/ehallstl

Mad Art
9 pm Sunday August 19, 2007
$5 All Ages

Artica Outing

Perhaps my West Coast roots show too much in my vast affection for Artica, which pulls its inspiration, somewhat, from the Burning Man festival that takes place each year in an alkalai lake bed in Nevada (but is populated by a goodly number of East Bay folk). The nice thing about having a Burn-type event in the Midwest is that St. Louis pragmatism prevents some of the sillier and more self-indulgent stuff (pink furry cowboy hats, glo-sticks, a psychedelic lack of irony) that seems to manifest when there's a critical mass of Californians about. If you haven't been to Artica, or aren't familiar with Burning Man, Artica's organizers describe the event as "an outdoor multi-media art festival, parade and workshops series developed to provide the people of the St. Louis metropolitan area with the opportunity to come together as a community through creative self-expression." It takes place down the road a piece from the Riverboat casinos, near the old power station, in "an area that has been polluted, neglected and abandoned for far too long. Although our audience is primarily all of the citizens of the St. Louis metropolitan area, the whole world is invited to attend and expected to participate as creators during the festival. Artica's development will be as fluid as the river it celebrates, and its scope will depend greatly upon the emotional involvement of the community."

I remember walking around down near the Riverfront a few years ago during Artica, and noting that it was infused with the same sparkly, magical atmosphere found in the best corners of Burning Man (and I swear I'm not clenching a glo-stick in my teeth as I write this). So it's with great happiness that I note that the organizers are working on breathing new life into their "urban wilderness festival." This Saturday they're inviting interested parties to come down to the Artica site to brainstorm about future events:

"Over the years, the Artica project and festival has manifested in different ways, large and small events throughout the years and seasons. It is time for grassroots resurgence. Come down to the site on Saturday, August 11th, observe the changes the space has experienced, and see how it inspires your creativity. We will be there to BBQ, play and make art. Come join us, plan to be self-sufficient, creative and ready to brainstorm about future events. Enjoy the heat of the day, and come as early as 2pm on Saturday August 11th. If you cannot make it, but are still interested in participating in future activities then e-mail us at artica2005@aol.com. Also, the web site will be undergoing an update and facelift, so perk up your ears and Internet browser with Artica in mind..."

Artica Outing
Saturday August 11th, 2-8pm
Near the Cotton Building
Dixon and Lewis streets
http://www.artica.org

Quickie Q'n'A w/ Steve Ewing

I'm somewhere between byside myself and over-the-moon about tonight's gig at the Old Rock House, featuring a ton of local bands of yore, in various forms. Steve Ewing, the organizer of the event took a few minutes of his day (on Tuesday, yikes!) to answer questions about this intriguing show.

How long has this show been coming together?

We have been talking about this for a long time and I got STL Sound to really help out on it and they thought is was really cool idea.

Who will take part?

We have various players from a lot of bands. Sinister Dane, Finn Bros., Unconscious, Orange Tree, Son of Starchild, Stranded Lads. I wanted to get the whole bands but it was impossible without a years notice on it.

Do you have a feeling that there will be a high school reunion feel to some of this?

I wanted it to have that high school feel to for sure. It will be a great networking tool for all those musicians who are still out playing these days. This is how bands get formed.

What's the Steve Ewing Band's role in the show?

Steve Ewing Band will do the host set first and the other acts will follow for a couple hours then we do a closing set.

Can you tell us anything about the Old Rock House?

The venue is beautiful: all the production is in-house and it’s in a good location. The bottom line is they cater to the musicians sort