Oh, Medic!

I just got back from Regie Cabico's awesome Sulu Performance Series at Galapagos. I had a whole lotta fun! Regie's legendary rapier wit was in fine form and it was a nice combo of performance/poetry/dramatic writing and music.

Wayne Hsu and his band sounded great -- kinda retro, like '70s pop meets Haircut 100... waynehsu.com

Big huge thanks to Regie Cabico and the multi-talented, Taiyo Na www.myspace.com/wholeheartmusic for the kind invitation!

I think my set went well, but as I was packing up my gear I hit my head on a steel pipe. It was one of those moments where I saw stars, birds were flying around my head and I am almost afraid to touch the top of my head for fear of how big a bump I have...

I left my ear muffs and scarf somewhere in the club. Maybe I'll stop by tomorrow and see if anyone turned them in.

I was so exhausted today, I did not get out of bed until about 5 PM. Now, mind you, I got up around 9 AM, but I just couldn't move...

If Julia Cho were still in town, I swear, I would have called her up and asked her if she might just go over and do my set for me...

Nobody Walks in Washington, D.C.

Okay, so I was told not to walk around Downtown Washington, D.C. last night; so of course, I did... It was somehow not as scary as Downtown Los Angeles, but I must admit I would not recommend it. However; I would recommend Clyde's www.clydes.com for their crab soup. Delish! Oh, and please do come by the shows tomorrow and Wed. night in New York!

Next Shows Jan. 31st and Feb. 1st, '06!

come on by and visit with us!

tuesday, january 31st @ 8pm

highly acclaimed poet/performance artist/impresario
regie cabico presents...

the sulu performance program

at galapagos (in the front room)
70 N. 6th St., between Kent and Wythe
in williamsburg, brooklyn 11211
admission: freeeeeee!
i will be doing a short set of that thing i do...


wednesday, feb. 1st at 9 pm

irene bremis and clara bijl's hysterical

comedy bbq @ bbq (downstairs)
8th/university place, new york city, near nyu

i think this will be the line-up...

Michael Sommerville
Crespo
Catie Lazarus
Florence Yoo
Geoff Kole

big huge thanks to the very funny irene bremis, clara bijl, regie cabico, and taiyo for the spots!

Last Night's Happy Hour Salon in Manhattan

I had a fantastic time at Joanna Parson's Happy Hour Salon last night. I arrived a bit early to help guest host, the multi-talented Andy Christie
slimfilms.com set up. Ripley Grier Studios is much fancier than I had imagined. They have a neon sign of their name, a soda machine and a snack machine. I immediately bought a bag of mini Oreo cookies. They were delicious.

Joanna Parson joannaparson.com made a low-tech/high-tech virtual appearance: a xeroxed photo of her was taped onto the mic stand as Andy hit the laptop, and we heard Joanna's voice greet us, and we heard her sing a song about what to expect of the salon...

I sang shortened versions of my songs, I Love NY and The Early Morning Sun (in an effort to fit everything into the alloted 10 minute slot) and full versions of Shut Up You Suck and Pete's Candy Store -- my mini songs. And told a few jokes since my act is increasingly becoming more talk, less rock...

James Braly read an engaging story about an affair. After the salon, he told me I needed a room that was a little darker, filled with smoke. I thought, that would be fine, except for the smoke...

Janice Erlbaum, aka Girlbomb read a poignant story about Dutch, a young girl leaving a homeless shelter.. 411 on Girlbomb's life story... amazon.com

Watch out for her new book which comes out in March 2006!

I chatted with Girlbomb girlbomb.com for a few moments. I said that I knew I was a bonfide nerd since I had this note scrawled on the palm of my hand. I showed it to her and I asked her if she could read it. She humored me and looked and asked, "Return library book?" I replied, "No, renew library book." She didn't miss a beat and retorted, "Oh, it's not even return? It's renew? You need a note on your other palm: READ FASTER."

The Rob and Mark Show robandmarkshow.com did that Rob and Mark thing that they do... Two guys, a guitar and a microphone... Who could ask for anything more?

Last but not least, Andy Christie andychristie.com recounted the funny tale of his mom, insurance forms and a misplaced cigarette...

Okay, so now I have to go and renew that library book or maybe read faster...

Happy Hour Salon Tonight @ 6:30 PM!

Hello Friends! Here's the latest update from the very funny and talented Ms. Parson...

A reminder-- Andy Christie guest-hosts a fantastic Salon with Girlbomb, James Braly, the Rob and Mark Show, and Florence Yoo cdbaby.com/florenceyoo03 ... and listen to the first ever "Happy Hour Theme Song" recording. Only $18 per download, available Monday. (No, really, it'll be free.)

Also-- I've been doing some work for Bill Boggs, and I'm really looking forward to seeing his show, about his experience as a talk show host for years-- lots of dish and inspiration to boot. He needs to fill the house this Tuesday at 7 pm, so he's offering comp tickets. Tell him Joanna sent you, and enjoy!
Joanna

INVITATION:
FOR COMP TICKETS TO OFF BROADWAY SHOW:

Tuesday, January 24th 7 pm show of BILL BOGGS' "TALK SHOW CONFIDENTIAL" at the TRIAD THEATER, 158 WEST 72ND STREET AT 7 PM. For comp tickets rsvp to Jordan at jagnyc21@yahoo.com

Click here for critics response to show:
http://www.billboggs.com/perform.htm

VISIT:
WWW.BILLBOGGS.COM

******************************************************************************************

Joanna Parson's
Happy Hour Salon

A new works salon for singers, actors, writers and performers. Line-up changes, atmosphere is relaxed.

First and third Fridays
doors open at 6:00 pm, performances start at 6:30 sharp
Ripley Grier Studios
520 Eighth Avenue 16th Floor, NYC (between 36th and 37th)
$5 suggested donation, $3 beers (suggested donation)

Contact: (212) 946-2002

Check out further information at joannaparson.com.

Just show up! It's Happy Hour.

Anomalies of New York

Why does Manhattan Mall close at 8 PM? Back home in IL, malls are open till 9 or 10 PM. Isn't New York "The City That Never Sleeps"?

How is it that when I use a public pay phone in Manhattan it only costs a quarter? In every other city I've been to lately, it costs me double: 50 cents.

Am I the only person living in a metropolitan city who doesn't use a cellular phone? A couple of nights ago, Wendy Ip wendyip.com told me that I held the distinction of being the only person she knows who doesn't use a cell phone. Am I, myself, an anomaly of New York?

Profiling

I told a chef at work that I was gonna stop by the Fairway after work. She said, "Ah, the greatest grocery store on earth!" I've always liked Fairway, but now I feel better about my judgment if a chef thinks that it's good, too.

I was putting some stuff away in a locked closet with my boss, Jean. She lamented that the guy who had a knack with the door was not around. I was perplexed by this. She explained that she did not have the key -- so she normally has this guy jimmy it open with a knife, which she did have. She tried, but didn't have much luck. I confessed that I have never been able to jimmy anything open. Johnny happened to be passing by and she asked him if he could open the door. He told us that he didn't have the key. She told him that we had a knife, and could he please try to "unlock" it for us. In a heartbeat, he had the door open for us. He looked up at us -- since he was bent over the doorknob/lock, grinned and said, "It's because I'm Spanish..." We laughed. Jean (who is African American) looked down at me (literally, since I'm so bloody short) and dead panned, "He said it, we didn't."

Happy Hour Salon! This FRI. at 6:30 PM in NYC!

Good Day Everybody!

Please come on by this Friday night!

From the hilarious, multi-talented JOANNA PARSON...

Joanna Parson's
Happy Hour Salon

A new works salon for singers, actors, writers and
performers. Line-up changes, atmosphere is relaxed.

(First and third Fridays)

Friday, January 20th, 2006
doors open at 6:00 pm, performances start at
6:30 PM sharp
Ripley Grier Studios
520 Eighth Avenue 16th Floor, New York, NY (between 36th and
37th)
$5 suggested donation, $3 beers (suggested donation)

Contact: (212) 946-2002

Check out further information at
http://www.joannaparson.com

Just show up! It's Happy Hour.

1) Line-up, Salon this Friday January 20th

Moth favorite Andy Christie guest hosts for me this
Friday. See crazy chick singer-songwriter, the
delightful Florence Yoo
http://www.cdbaby.com/florenceyoo03 See James Braly
conduct a "live interview"-- and someone capture it
for me, I'm so intrigued. See past Hizza nominees,
musical-comedic duo The Rob and Mark Show. See
fascinating talker Girlbomb... And more!

Ground Hog Day Everyday

Someone at work complained that it was like the movie, Groundhog Day everyday. We all agreed that yes, it did seem like the same day repeating over and over. I love that film. But it never occurred to me how profound it truly was and that we all live our own versions of that story and if I like the story, well, great. If not, I darn well better change my ways...

I complained to this nice lunch room lady about a hotel gift shop I had recently visited. I needed to buy a chapstick. It was $3.99! I just couldn't do it, so I turned my suitcase and my backpack upside down looking for an old or stray one. I finally found one in my parka. The lunch lady (who was not Asian) looked at me and said, "Oh, you think that's bad? Guess how much me and my friend paid for cocktails and appetizers at the New Otani Hotel in Tokyo." I replied, "Gosh, I have no idea. How much?" "$292.00," she concluded. Okay, okay, so as far as justified complaints go, she wins...

You Can Never Be Too Paranoid

In the you learn something new everyday category... I naively thought that if you put the "Privacy Please" sign on your doorknob at a hotel, this means that no one goes into your room. I was sadly mistaken. I had put the sign on my door before I left my room, but much to my dismay, my room had been cleaned in my absence. Normally, this would not have been that big a deal, but on this particualr day -- I, of course, had been reviewing a contract and some other sensitive documents and left them on the desk along with my journal. Frankly, my life is in such a state that my diary entries could be considered lullabyes, but my social security number and all that other junk... Oy...

On a happier note, I discovered that in a pinch, the thread from the little free hotel sewing kit doubled quite nicely as dental floss...

The Maltese Children

I met a nice woman from Malta, the island near Italy. She told me that she moved to New York when she was ten years-old. She recounted the tale of first moving to the States, and her little sister pointed at an African American man and said, "Oh, look, Daddy! That man stayed out in the sun too long!" The guy asked the Dad what the little girl said, and why she was pointing at him. He explained that she had never seen an African American person before, and she thought that he had a very deep tan.

I just heard that Car Max pays pretty well for used vehicles. I wonder if it's good to buy one from them...

There are a whole lotta homeless people in Downtown Los Angeles. I went for a walk, yes, yes, I know, nobody walks in LA, but I did... It was at night, and it ended up being like I was in a real life video game. I kept having to cross the street and dodge and weave to avoid them...

Sex and The City...

I was chatting with my best pal, Carol Little about television. I told her that before I moved to New York, I could not watch intense shows like ER and Malcolm in the Middle. She told me that she could understand the ER thing, but almost busted a gut laughing at me over the Malcolm in the Middle citing. I tried to explain to her that some of the shows were quite edgy. She just laughed more...

We turned our attention to Sex And The City. We are both fans. She asked me who I would be on the show. I said, "No one, really. " She said she would be Carrie, but that she doesn't get quite as lucky as often as her... and that I had a bit of Charlotte in me. Touche...

Also, I never knew before that (That's So) Raven Simone shops at Ralph's... I loved her on The Cosby Show!

HAPPY 2006 EVERYONE!

How do I know if stories in the newspaper are true? Do I really believe that a child, who was asleep in their Queens apt. bedroom, heard an intruder, and asked, "Who's there?" And the guy replied, "Nobody," and climbed back out the window?

A long time ago, a family friend, Robert told me that I should do a little of everything I wanted to do in the coming new year on new year's day. Apparently, this year, I want to sleep in, eat pizza, drink Coke, respond to e-mail messages, write ridiculously late holiday cards, read the newspaper and watch old re-runs of The Honeymooners... Happy New Year and May All Your Dreams Come True in 2006 Everybody!