gatewaygroupies

Valentine's Massacre II: This time, it's personal

Some of you may remember last year's Valentine's Day Observable event at The Royale. We came, we drank, we performed the lyrics of our favorite love and love-to-hate-you songs, and some that didn't fit in any category, yet were still damned funny. Wildfire! That one still slays me.

This year, we're at it again, this time with two rock star emcees: Julie Dill and Byron Kerman. Here's how we're working it:

FIRST
Decide on a perfect song, one that fully encompasses your personal philosophy on love, relationships, sex, or the commercial empire that governs all things affectionate in these United States. Keep in mind, ODB's "Hey Dirtay (Baby I Got Your Money)" was pulled off with stellar skillz last year, so you'll want to pick something fresh this go round.

SECOND
E-mail that bad boy to observable.events@gmail.com , along with the creative and unique name you'd like to use on stage, and get put on "the list." This is a crucial step, folks, as we have to know what song you're performing by February 12th or you might not get to play with us. Don't ask us twelve times to put you on the list to do "D!ck in a Box" like you did last year. We reserve the right to refuse a song if it's lame. And it's first come, first served, so we won't be hearing two performances of "Hit Me Baby One More Time" this year.

THIRD
Practice, practice, practice. In front of a mirror, in front of your dog, in front of your grandma. Hone your skillz so you don't forget what you're doing after two or three beers. We want to see a precision operation, no matter what song you choose. Bring your words with you!

FINALLY
Show up the night of and make yourself known to be present, by whatever spectacle necessary. Show starts at 6:00. We'll do three blocks of 30 minute performances, on the hour through nine o'clock. The last block will be reserved for walk ins. Each set will be followed by sweet, sweet music. Performers will be assigned to the block of their choosing as long as spots are available. Come early and there will be plenty of time to eat, drink and be merry.

Alright, start raiding your mixed CDs for the perfect song, and keep checking back here for more details as they become available.

As you were.

an annual in a perennial world

Along with ice, sleet, snow and slush, December brings with it the three busiest weeks of our calendar year (what does "calendar year" mean, seriously?). On top of fantastic one-time only events, December is also home to the birthdays of (in order of appearance on the monthly calendar, not on earth) my father, my sister, me, Cathy and Jesus. Me, Cathy and Jesus—we tight.

This weekend features:

Friday, December 8: The start of the Independent Art Market, which runs all weekend long at the Shaw Art Gallery. Tonight is the 52nd City (not 52nd Street, as the egregiously erroring edit staff at the St. Louis Post Dispatch wrote)'s Variety Show. Stefene and Thomas worked hard at this, so come watch the fun!

Saturday, December 9: Sake, Sushi and Fashion at the Shaw Art Gallery, followed by bursts of poetry readings from local poets. I have it on good authority that THIS is the place to be seen Saturday night, because all the dorks in the area (including Laine and I) have to go to the rescheduled Saint Louis University Information Technology holiday cocktail party at Orlando Gardens. I know you're crushed that you won't get to hear me quickly mumble read year-old, stale poems for ten minutes, but you'll soon forget when you hear the real writers lay down their lyrical stylings. The fashion show is a must-see, too. You'll want to be on the inside when St. Louis as a center for indie fashion finally catches on, and you know we don't take on fence sitters once the sails take wind.

Friday, December 15th, we'll be at Fruitcakes!, the Gateway Men's Chorus Holiday Concert, thanks to Lisa B., who generously got us tickets as a thank you for putting her up for a weekend layover. If you've never watched these guys, you should! Feast your ears on the beautiful man voices of dozens of gorgeous, stylish guys in tuxedoes. Just make sure your shoes match your purse.

My birthday is the 17th, and it's a big one: The very first year I'll be 29 years old! As usual, Cathy and I are having our dynamic duo birthday party. This year, she gets the early shift from 7:00 to 8:00, and I get from 8:00 to 9:00. E-mail me if you don't know where the party is.

Then we get a bit of a breather before Mother Marschik comes to visit (no one ever calls her that), and we're having a nice, laid back holiday at home. No food poisoning this year! The Friday after Christmas, we're heading to the vineyards of Hermann, Missouri for our second annual B&B getaway at Hermann Hill Inn. And holy crap, by the time we get back, it'll be darn near New Years Eve!

Ask me when I'm going to fit Christmas shopping in there, I dare you.