For some reason I do not see this blog every too often as usual these days, and yet here I go blah bloggng about events of the day again because I see them listed everywhere and also because hey, it’s less writing sometimes, especially when I find myself in bloggerland with blogger burnout approaching. And in my attempt to maintain my other blog, that other blog seems as if it wants to confuse me and give me twice as much work sometimes, and it also seems as if it is becoming a replica of this blog. So as I was blah blogging again, what’s up with that Frigid New York Festival 2008 February 27th – March 9th, that has been listed everywhere this past month. Is that another version of that Fringe Festival? Well, it seems as if there a lot fun plays to check out at their festival. Their website describes it as 3 theaters, 12 Days, 30 shows, and over 150 performances. Here are some of the 2nd Annual Frigid New York Off Broadway shows, and some of these plays seem funny as heck:

American Badass:
Written by: Chris Harcum
Directed by: Bricken Sparacino
Cast: Chris Harcum

American Cake:
Written by: Jonathan Pereira
Directed by: Kristen Williams
Produced by: Prickly Pear
Cast: Jonathan Pereira

Antonin…Mon Artaud:
Written by: Roi ‘Bubi’ Escudero
Produced by: ETdC Projects’ Lab
Cast: Roi ‘Bubi’ Escuder

Clinical Depression (the funny kind):
Written by: Drew Winniger
Directed by: Bilgin Turker
Presented by: Jonathan Tessero
Cast: Drew Winniger

Diversity Harbour:
Written by: Marisa Wegrzyn
Directed by: Annie Coburn
Produced by: Don’t Eat the Pictures
Cast: Dana Berger (Grace), Dorien Makhloghi (Dennis), Avery Pearson (James) and Amanda Sayle (Stephanie).

Great Hymn of Thanksgiving/Conversation Storm:
Written by: Rick Burkhardt
Produced by: Nonsense Productions
Cast: Rick Burkhardt, Andy Gricevich and Ryan Higgins

Speedo and the Straight Man:
Written by: Gerard Karabin
Directed by: Peter A. DuBo’
Produced by: MeLu Communications Group
Cast: Lucio Fernandez

Sporknotes:
Conceived by: Jason Tyne
Directed by: Jason Tyne
Produced by: Rising Sun Performance Company
Cast: Andrea Snell, Julie Bain, Nicolette Callaway, Josh Hyman, Brian Schell, Courtney J. Boddie, Chris Enright, Kerri Ford and Ben Rameaka

Stuck!:
Written by: Jennie Franks
Directed by: Sasha Cucciniello
Produced by: Jennie Franks Production
Cast: Jennie Franks

Telegrams:
Curated by: Alexander Carson
Cast: The crew – Alexander Carson, Nicholas Marti, Kyle Thomas, Zachary Cox and Benjamin Carson

Diary of a Mad Fashionista:
Written by: Elisa DeCarlo
Presented by: S&D Production
Cast: Elisa DeCarlo (Fashionista) and Shannon Sutherland

Fool For A Client:
Written by: Mark Whitney
Cast: Mark Whitney

Hap Scotch:
Presented by: Sapling Players

Her Majesty:
Written by: Sean Owens
Presented by: EXIT Theatre production
Cast: Christina Augello and Sean Owens.

Korean Badass:
Written by: Stevie Lee Saxon
Presented by: Korean Kneivel
Cast: Stevie Lee Saxon

Leaving Normal:
Written by: Melissa McNamara
Cast: Melissa McNamara

Preparation Hex:
Written by: Bob Brader
Directed by: Suzanne Bachner
Produced by: John Montgomery Theatre Company
Cast: Bob Brader

Rebel Without a Niche:
Written by: Kurt Fitzpatrick
Directed by: Gabe Hakvaag
Presented by: Too Much Free Time
Cast: Kurt Fitzpatrick.

Working It Out:
Written by: Amanda Sage Comerford
Directed by: Helena Gleissner
Produced by: An International BTC

Boom:
Written by: Andrew Connor
Produced by: IL Productions

Chosen:
Written by: Rick Vorndran
Directed by: Rick Vorndran
Presented by: A Dysfunctional Theatre Company Production
Cast: Rob Brown, Danaher Dempsey, Allison Sell, Amy Beth Sherman, Theresa Unfried and Alexander R. Warner.

Excess Secret Circus: Guess What ‘It’s’ About?:
Conceived by: Theatre Reverb
Choreography by: Miranda Zukowski
Presented by: Theatre Reverb
Cast: Kristin Arnesen, Radoslaw Konopka, Christopher Thomas Gilkey, Rachael W. Gilkey

Giant Invisible Robot:
Written by: Jayson McDonald
Produced by: Stars and Hearts
Cast: Jayson McDonald

Modern Medieval:
Written by: David Tyson
Presented by: A David Tyson’s Weaver of Tales Theatre production
Cast: David Tyson

Subway Series:
Written by: NewFormat Improvsation
Produced by: NewFormat Improv Production
Cast: Jason Surratt, Jeff Stevens, Dan Levy, Chris McCue, Megan Bernard, Greg Moss, Cole Stitelman, Aaron Stoker-Ring.

Thanks for the Scabies, Jerkface!:
Written by: Dan Bernitt
Produced by: Dan Bernitt Production
Cast: Dan Bernitt.

Two in the Bush!:
Written by: Tracey Erin Smith
Directed by Anita La Selva
Produced by: Burning Bush Productions
Cast: Tracey Erin Smith.

Whence Came Ye Scarlett O’Hara O’Hanrahan?:
Written by: Melle Powers
Directed by: Anita La Selva
Produced by: 53 Hysterics
Cast: Melle Powers

XY(T):
Written by: Kestryl Lowrey
Cast: Kestryl Lowrey

And now there are even more events, so many that the list could seem endless, especially in New York. Here is an excerpt from this weeks nonsense nyc that seems interesting, and their list is even more extensive:

The Fifth Annual NYC Grassroots Media Conference 2008, March 2nd, at Hunter College. Participate in one of the most exciting, local, grassroots media and activism events in New York City. In addition to a full day of workshops and panels, there will be a full day film festival, exhibition room featuring displays by local organizations, and tons of networking opportunities. free103point9 “Protest Radio” workshop will explain how free103point9 will use the open-source Asterisk software, and other streaming software, and how it can be used at other events and shared by many media outlets. Their schedule of workshops, speakers, panelists, and presenters include: FAIR, Center for Media Justice, Marymount Manhattan College, Coalition of Institutionalized Aged and Disabled (CIAD), Arts Engine, Inc., Hunter College, Tiltfactor Game Research Lab, Radical Reference, Reporters Without Borders, Learning Matters Inc., Listen Up!, Groundswell, Connecting.nyc Inc., Time’s Up!, Transportation Alternatives, Street Films, Street Memorial Project, Manhattan Neighborhood Network, Center for Digital Democracy, Name.Space and WiFi-NY, Common Cause, Sarah Lawrence College and the New York Solidarity Coalition for Katrina/Rita Survivors, movement in motion, The Media Justice Fund of the Funding Exchange, The North Star Fund, The Social Science Research Council, People’s Production House and ChicaLuna Productions, The Indypendent – Newspaper of NYC Independent Media Center,
Workers Independent News, Queens Community House, Paper Tiger TV, The Lower Eastside Girls Club, MNN Youth Channel, Global Information Network, Guttmacher Institute, Brooklyn Museum, Youth Views and POV and more.
And this social media evolution of that web 2.0 user generated content thing has really got me going, and it makes me want to say “Power To The People”, when I read their schedule.

And in my ventures and travails of going to and fro in this city, I picked up a copy of this weeks L Magazine from one of those corner newspaper boxes that are to be found on every other corner throughout the city with a ton of other free newspaper boxes next to them. And that L Magazine can sometimes be funny and hilarious as heck with its articles. And then there are those Amanda Park Taylor columns that have been very interesting and educational to read for a while now, as she seems as if she wants to save the environment and the world from itself. And in this weeks edition, she seeks to save the world from plastic. And as I turned the pages an ad appeared, the same ad that appears in this weeks Village Voice. It is an ad for The Brooklyn Next Festival, and I thought to post it because hey, it’s less writing sometimes. And I see the Drumadics are listed. The Drumadics are this really cool drum and horn band, or is it buckets and horn band that play underground in the New York City Subway as part of the Music Under New York Program. They should be a fun band to watch play. Have a great music, art and festival day.

Brooklyn Next, Feb 15-24. 175 shows, 17 venues, 2 weeks. Around the borough: Shows at partner venues start Feb 20.

BROOKLYN NEXT

Brooklyn Next (Feb 15—24) highlights the innovation and diversity of Brooklyn’s music scene with two weekends packed with shows all over the borough. See the listings below for what’s going on at BAM and around the borough.

Note: Programming subject to change. Check venues for pricing information.

AT BAM

FEB 15
BAM Howard Gilman Opera House
Soulive with Noble Society at 8pm

BAMcafé
Black Rock Coalition: Power Douglas with Dragons Of Zynth and Tunde Adebimpe & Kyp Malone (TV On The Radio), 10pm—2am

FEB 16
BAM Howard Gilman Opera House
Citizen Cope with Len Xiang at 8pm

BAMcafé
JellyNYC: White Rabbits with Miss Fairchild and EFFI BRIEST, 10pm—2am

FEB 22
BAM Howard Gilman Opera House
The National with My Brightest Diamond at 8pm Sold out!

BAMcafé
Soul Summit Music with Special Guests DJ Spinna and Strafe,10pm—4am

FEB 23
BAM Howard Gilman Opera House
The National with My Brightest Diamond at 8pm Sold out!

BAMcafé
Soul Summit Music with Special Guest Danil Wright, 10pm—2am

FEB 24
BAM Howard Gilman Opera House
Dan Zanes and Friends at 11am & 2pm

AROUND THE BOROUGH

FEB 20
Southpaw
Brooklyn Next Launch Party: Tortured Soul with Pimps of Joytime / Turntables on the Hudson at 7:30pm

FEB 21
Barbès
Sanda Weigl at 8pm
Matt Munisteri at 10pm

Five Spot
Da Feel w/Nate Jones at 10pm

Frank’s Lounge
Soul Cycle at 8:30pm
Myoshia at 9:30pm

Goodbye Blue Monday
Yva Las Vegass, Kenny Forsh & K-Men’s Crew, Ching Chong Song, The Pizzas, and The New York Howl (Doors 7:30pm)

Le Grand Dakar
Kaissa at 8 & 10pm

Magnetic Field
Charles Burst at 9pm
Takka Takka at 10pm

Monkey Town
The Rebel (Country Teasers) at 8pm & 10:30pm

Pete’s Candy Store
Sasha Dobson at 9pm
Meowskers at 10:30pm

Solomon’s Porch Cafe
Karen Bernod at 9pm

Sputnik
DJ Premier’s Year Round Showcase: NYGZS / Blaq Poet / Fabid / DJ Evil Dee (Doors 10pm)

Union Hall
Favourite Sons and The Mugs (Doors 8pm)

Williamsburg Music Center
Williamsburg Youth Jazz Ensemble at 9pm

Zebulon
The Interpreter featuring Skeletons and Kings of All Cities and Bee’s Nest Groupat 9pm

FEB 22
Barbès
Les Chauds Lapins at 8pm
Chicha Libre at 10pm

FiveMyles
Gato Loco (Quarteto Y Orquestra) with Dancers, and Drumadics with Trixie Little and The Evil Hate Monkey at 8:30pm

Five Spot
Tantra w/Rhythm Justice band at 8pm
Kelly Renee at 10pm
Alkebulan at 11pm

Frank’s Lounge
Dj Adam Scott at 10pm

Goodbye Blue Monday
Skeleton Breath, The Woes, Greg & Hawk, Naomi Shelton & the Gospel Queens, and Zest Rock (Doors 7:30pm)

Le Grand Dakar
Hiro Homma Group (with Headhunters’ Jerry Z) at 8 & 10pm

Magnetic Field
Goes Cube at 10pm

Monkey Town
Excepter 7:30pm & 10pm

Pete’s Candy Store
Mike Wexler at 9pm
Death Vessel at 10:30pm

Solomon’s Porch Cafe
Jeff King Band at 9pm

Southpaw
Nuclear Family, Junk Science, The Dugout, and The Project at 9pm

Sputnik
DJ Reborn with Mrk Drkfthr (Doors 10pm)

Union Hall
Laura Cantrell and Mia Riddle & Her Band (Doors 8pm)

Williamsburg Music Center
Lines of Reason at 9pm

Zebulon
Charles Gayle Trio at 9pm
UB 313 at 11pm

FEB 23
Barbès
Brian Carpenter’s Ghost Train Orchestra at 8pm
Life In A Blender at 10pm

Bedford-Stuyvesant Restoration Corporation
Doors Open at 8pm
Wumni, Restoration Youth Arts Academy African Drummers, and Special Guest DJs

FiveMyles
Female Jazz Vocalists: Maritri Garrett, Desiree Gordon, Sarah Holtzschue, Nzinga Job, Da’neesa Monk, Yolanda Sangweni, Jane Wang, Hosted by Iowan Tribal at 8:30pm

Five Spot
Rasheeda Wallace at 10pm
Nakia Henry at 11pm

Frank’s Lounge
Angela Johnson Listening Party at 8pm
Claude Gomis at 9pm
Moneh at 10pm

Goodbye Blue Monday
Diana Joy, Alana Amram and the Rough Gems, Twi & Humblefeather, Ras Moshe Trio, and Complex (Doors 7:30pm)

Dakar Restaurant
Tribe Of Judah at 8 & 10pm

Magnetic Field
The Mess Arounds at 9pm
The A-Bones at 10pm

Monkey Town
Tony Conrad at 7:30pm & 10pm

Pete’s Candy Store
Louis at 9pm
Ola Podrida at 10:30pm

Solomon’s Porch Cafe
Buyu at 8pm

Southpaw
Johnny Cash Birthday Bash With Alex Battles Whiskey Rebellion And Friends, and Sit & Die Co. at 8pm

Sputnik
DJ Spinna (Doors 10pm)

Union Hall
Travis Morrison Hellfighters and A Sunny Day In Glasgow (Doors 8pm)

Williamsburg Music Center
Gerry Eastman Ensemble at 9pm

Zebulon
Baye Kouyate Et Les Tougarake at 9pm
Amayo’s Fu-Arkistra at 11pm

It’s Nonsense NYC time again. I received yet another one of those weekly emails of these really cool events that happen around town from jstark. And this list always seems to have tons of loft parties, art openings, parades, dances and other burlesque type of events and more. And so I decided to repost of few of the events that are listed for this week because hey, it’s less writing sometimes.

Friday, January 25

A Week of Freegan Fashion You are cherry-cordially invited to the Second Freegan Fashion Show: Threadbare! Come see our trashy models walk the beige carpet runway in one-of-a-kind handmade costumes spun out of scavenged scrap material. Cheer on amateur Freegans as they strip off the outfits they’ve been wearing for the last two weeks and threadbare it all. This is a night to reject commercial control of our self-images and reclaim pride in the sexiness of creativity. All are invited to participate as models or fashion designers. Freegan Fashion Week starts this Tuesday, with a design workshop, and continues Wednesday and Thursday with more clothing making and preparation for Friday night’s party. Food is free. Dresses will be raffled. Following the show, stay and dance till the wee hours. El Dompe, 15 Thames Street, Brooklyn 10p; $7 donation supports Freegan Bike Workshop

Also on Friday

Experimental Music series at the Ontological Incubator The concert: Nachtstimmung (2007/8) by Michael Pisaro, for speaker, two vocalists, three performers, piano, violin, guitar, mandolin, saxophone/bass clarinet, trumpet, objects, sine tones, field recordings. Performed by Alex Barreto, Eric Clark, Gisburg, Avi Glickstein, Kara Feely, Travis Just, Jonathan Marmor, Aaron Meicht, Michael Pisaro, Quentin Tolimieri, Jennifer Walshe, and Harris Wulfson. Michael Pisarow is a composer and guitarist, a member of the Wandelweiser Composers Ensemble and founder and director of the Experimental Music Workshop. Ontological Theater Parish Hall, at St. Mark’s Church in the Bowery 131 10th Street at 2nd Avenue, Manhattan10p; $5

Saturday, January 26

Rubulad presents: Vacationland, or Around the World in a Night Live bands: Les Sans Coulottes, Paprika, and Sakura Madams Belly Dances by Paige Stevenson. DJs: Repoman with MC Kapitol K, Small Change, Joro Boro, and Peter Gunn. In the cruise ship lounge: Joe McGinty’s Keyboard Karaoke. With DJ Greything. In the airport departure lounge: G. Scopitrinc’s Non-Stop Film Fest Yummy Dub Pies and hot cider. With Norm Francoeur’s Light Circus Chow by Vicious Delicious Sweets by Brownie Points, Hot Shot Photo Booth by Carl Saytor, ViewMaster Travel Slide Show. Dress: as a tourist or as someone from a far away land. Rubulad Home Base, 338 Flushing Avenue, Brooklyn. Doors, 11p; $10 before 11, in costume, or way late; $15 beans

Also on Saturday

The Hot Blood Cabaret Dances of rage. Acts of Despair. It’s a game show. It’s a vaudevillian extravaganza. It’s violence and mayhem with a heart of gold. Plus cheap drinks and free popcorn. Followed by a big party, a fundraiser party for the future of Hot Blood Productions, featuring a live performance by MaginMike&Dave, a fabulous raffle, cupcakes and grilled cheezes provided by Catmeat Inc., crafts and merchandise for sale, plus live spinnings provided by DJ Sugarcane, more cheap drinks and fun for all. Come for the show, stay for the party, or just come for the party, or don’t come at all and be haunted by regret forever. Featuring the talents of Kelli Rae Powell, Alanna Medlock, Adam Lerman, Dave Edson, Jessica Delfino, Normand Sherwood, Sophia Amieva, Ryan Edwards, Stephanie Larriere, Tom Lipinski, Zina Anaplioti, Carrie Getman, Julia May Jonas, Mike Iannantuono, Dave Treut, Monika Heideman, and Magin Schantz. Sanford Meisner Theatre 164 11th Avenue, between 22nd and 23rd streets, Manhattan 8p show, 9:30p show; $15, $10 for students

And also elsewhere…

The Galinsky Brothers really cool Manhattan Monologue Slams that have taken place at Bowery Poetry Club are happening.

The next showdate: Friday February 1st- at the New York Film Academy – 100 East 17th Street Between Park Ave South and Irving Place. 6:30pm Doors 7:30Pm Curtain, $6 admission

Sponsored by NYCastings, Backstage Magazine, The Hollywood Reporter, and Cippaghila Photograph

MMSlam Judges February 1st

Jay Potter, Actor “Rescue Me”, Tuffy Questell, Casting Director TEC Casting, Mackenzie Westmoreland, Director, Robert Russell, Casting Director, Warner Brothers Pictures

MMSlam Actors February 1st

Current National and NYC Champ Leslie Goshko with Deanna Gibson, Amanda Boekelheide, Marc Raco, Taren Sterry, Kevin Kelleher and TBD

What’s at stake?

Championship Set, 1st Set: The title of “The Manhattan Monologue Slam Champion,” $100 sponsored by NYCastings assorted gifts and a sit-down with any one of that evening’s judges for a career consultation.

:30 Set, 2nd Set: $30 sponsored by MMSlam, assorted gifts and a spot in next month’s 1st set.

Sign up and perform in the :30 Slam at the show…

“The MMSlam brings the actor, director, producer and audience together without all the Hollywood studio crap.”

James Foley, (Director- Glengarry Glen Ross and Perfect Stranger with Bruce Willis and Halle Berry)

(Always the first Friday of each month in NYC Judges subject to change)

and also elsewhere…

Umbrella, that former squat building on Avenue C is having an art opening and people will be performing there.

Umbrella House presents Photographer Marlis Momber, Opening Reception February 8, 6-10pm. Closing party auction February 16, 4-7pm. Wanted: Live music, dance performers to be presented. Vintage/Archival/Digital Prints on View/For Sale February 8-17. Daily and by appointment.

And today is the day Martin Luther King is honored. No one is free while others are oppressed. Peace on earth and goodwill to all mankind. And in a change of topic as I blah blog away on this holiday, I received one of those ABC No Rio COMA emails the other day. ABC No Rio seems to have been doing these COMA events for a while now and they have a really cool MySpace page. And I remember ABC No Rio for seemingly forever now as one of those radical, alternative squat community spaces in the neighborhood of the Lower East Side that has seemingly survived gentrification, genocide, the sellout and buyout of the squats and still exists to function with their cool and hip events over the years. ABC No Rio has been all art and politics for as long as I can remember. And so there is the COMA series emails again that I have been receiving, and that first show listed was actually yesterday, though the series seems to be ongoing. And I thought to repost this email because, hey, it’s less writing sometimes. And the subject of this email is:

Improvised Music @ COMA/ABC No Rio NYC
what is C.O.M.A.????C.O.M.A. – citizens ontological music agenda – started March 199 and has presented improvised music on Sunday evenings at ABC No-Rio 156 Rivington NYC…the sets are 35-40 minutes followed with an open session at the end with various configurations of players.

Jan 20th, 2008 @8:00 PM

1. Judy Dunaway & Jennifer Walshe duet

2. Open Music Ensemble
“A Little Late Night Music (For Mozart’s Birthday)”
Created by Marcy Jellison
Performers:
Philip Foster, Voice and Surpeti, Marcy Jellison, Voice, Dawoud Kringle, Sitar and Dilruba,Manuela Le Chler, Alto Saxophone, Jason Vitelli, Alto Saxophone, Zachary Leader, Tenor Saxophone

3. An Open Session

Jan. 27th, 2008 @ 8:00 PM

1. Stephen Gauci tenor sax Terence McManis guitar Ches Smith drums

2. Out Tents, Zachary Pruitt Guitar, Daniel Rovin Sax, Austin White Bass and
Anders Zelnski on Drums

3. An open session

C.O.M.A. is an open series for all creative improvising musicians whether they’re melancholy, slightly deranged, extremely moody, happy beyond comprehension, geniuses in their own minds, or just down right normal who want to experiment, develop their craft and expand the limits of the imagination…. there is a $5.00 suggested donation at the door for the musicians.
The Santa Con Carols are now available on C.O.M.A. Radio!

Rasio Show One and Radio Show Two .
you must have real player to listen via your web browser…..

or stop by COMA’s myspace…

coma updates and history @

Blaise Siwula

peace,

Blaise