Shameless Self (out-of-hood) Promotion

Like most of the work-related calls that I used to make, it was a cold call which brought me to the Second City Training Center. I was attempting to see if SCTC would like to purchase banner ads on the "FormerEmployer.com" site, since education was my preferred "vertical."  

Though it was a no-go on the banners, I called back a few minutes later, this time with a credit card. I hadn't planned to, but I found myself registering for Intro to Sketch Writing.  

Three weeks later I lost my sales job,

 on what CNN called "Bloody Monday."  If I'd lost my job before being in level one, I would have never registered, because I would have been too panicky about finding a new job, and wouldn't have been able to justify the expense. 

It was difficult to stop after level one. There's something about having weekly sketch assignments-- outside of the writing I do for The Pipeline- that I look forward to each week. 

 

I like the structure of having homework. The seeing-it-all-on-stage part in the form of a revue written by myself and seven fellow classmates will be the icing on the proverbial cake. I'm very excited as well as nervous for the show's opening, but I suspect that I like cake more than icing, or the "journey rather than the destination," which might explain why I'm okay with the fact I might not ever arrive at anywhere concrete, professionally or personally or whatever. I used to beat myself up over this, but I've come to terms with driftlessness and on good days can see the courage in it. On bad days I see the fool.  

Songwriting starts this Saturday... It will keep me from covering any neighborhood events for The Pipeline on Saturdays, since if I didn't have class I'd probably delve deeper into the newsletter writing abyss.

Pictured are cast members at work during Wait! It Gets Better's final rehearsal, as well as my writing classmates. I am on the floor taking their picture.  Our instructor Joe Janes is out in the hallway.  Prone to nostalgia, I am already missing everyone. It's been a fun year. 

March Shows at Gorilla Tango

All of the following performances take place at Gorilla Tango Theatre, 1919 N. Milw. 

Visit www.gorillatango.com or call 773-598-4549 for tickets and more information.info@gorillatango.com

War In Pieces (CONTINUING FROM FEBRUARY)

3 people. 2 sides. 1 outcome. War in Pieces, a play by Angela Jo.

Produced by Angela Strohm.

Sundays at 7pm, February 21 – March 7, 2010. Tickets are $10; Rated R.

 

Inner Demons: Three short plays by Nick Cardiff  (CONTINUING FROM FEBRUARY)

Inner Demons is Nothing Special Productions’ Chicago debut and features three new plays by Nick Cardiff which explore the haunting nature of loss, betrayal and love. In Fear and Shadows, directed by Mikey Laird, we see Cupid falling in love with a mortal and the grave consequences that follow. Existence, directed by Robert Quinlan, shows how far the mind may go to explain one’s own reality after life throws an unfortunate curve. Finally in The Room, also directed by Mikey Laird, we see the relationship of two men who have been trapped in a room for as long as they can remember and how they react to finding out where it is they really are. NSP is excited to make their Chicago debut at Gorilla Tango Theatre.

Produced by Nothing Special Productions.

Friday, February 26, 2010 at 11:30pm and Saturday, March 6, 2010 at 10pm. Tickets are $10; Rated R.

 

Policeman’s Log

There are two sides of every story, but only one version of the truth. Pulling actual police reports from recent newspapers, the cast of Policeman's Log will show audiences how the incidents 'actually' happened. This fully improvised show will shine a new light on those who break the law, and those who uphold it.

Produced by W. Tyler Paterson.

Mondays at 9:30pm, March 1 – 22, 2010. Tickets are $10; Rated R.

 

Sketch & Sniff

The second installment of the sold out show that features selected sketches from Second City’s sketch writing program. Don’t miss out on this bouquet of assorted comedy performed by some of Chicago’s best actors. Always new, always fresh!

Produced by Derick Lengwenus.

Friday and Saturday at 8pm, March 5 & 6, 2010. Tickets are $12; Rated R.

 

Improvised Bible

Inspired by the most influential book of all time, Improvised Bible is a show that people of all religions and creeds can appreciate. Every week, a dynamic cast of ten uses one audience suggestion to improvise a full length piece based on the themes and styles of the Old Testament.

Sundays at 5pm, March 7 – 28, 2010. Tickets are $10; Rated R.

 

The Manny Diaries

Three kids. One daddy. Zero idea what he's doing. The Manny Diaries.

Written by and featuring former on-air correspondent at The Daily Show with Jon Stewart, Bob Wiltfong, an Emmy and Peabody award-winning television performer with on-air credits including 30 Rock, Chappelle’s Show, and such films as “Definitely, Maybe” and “The Hoax.” His current efforts with “The Manny Diaries” has already found a television home on WCIU (“The U”) in Chicago with his web cam videos airing every Monday morning on the channel’s “You & Me in the Morning” program.

Produced by Bob Wiltfong.

Saturday, March 6, 2010 at 4pm. Tickets are $12; Rated R.

 

Danny And The Deep Blue Sea

DANNY AND THE DEEP BLUE SEA, a show directed by Ted Hoerl in collaboration with Act One Studios, shows what type of moving and important work can be produced when applying the Meisner Technique. The setting is a rundown bar in the Bronx, where two of society's rejects, Danny and Roberta, strike up a halting conversation over their beer. He is a brooding, self-loathing young man who resorts more to violence than reason; she is a divorced, guilt-ridden young woman whose troubled teenage son is now being cared for by her parents. They decide to spend the night together, and the possibility of a genuine and meaningful relationship begins to emerge.

Produced by Ben Nicholson.

Mondays at 7:30pm, Thursday at 7:30pm, Friday and Saturday at 11:30pm, March 8 – 15, 2010. Tickets are $15; Rated R.

 

The Legend of Ginger Bred

“The Legend of Ginger Bred; A Story of Sex, Salvation & Baked Goods” is the story of rock n' roll ex-food fetish porn star junkie Ginger Bred, a women who resurrects her past on the night of a major electrical storm. Is it God speaking to her? Aliens trying to save her life? A modern day adaptation of the story of The Ginger Bread Man, Ginger and her band take you on a bizarre odyssey from East Texas to Hollywood in this off-beat camp musical roller-coaster ride.

Produced by Cock and Bull Theatre.

Thursdays at 9:30pm, Fridays and Saturdays at 10pm, March 11 – 20, 2010. Tickets are $15; Rated R.

 

This Above All...

Benny loves his home and his family, but he has never really been satisfied. He has no direction in life and grabs motivation from old adages and quotations he's heard over the years. As he happily shares memories and stories of his past, he begins to discover a few things about himself and what it really means to be happy.

Produced by Jack M. Bourgeois.

Friday and Saturday at 8pm, Sunday at 7pm, March 12 – 14, 2010. Tickets are $10; Rated PG.

 

Popgasm

Popgasm [pop-GAZ- em] a pop culture-themed sketch show guaranteed to give you a Perez Hilton addiction.

Produced by Katie Johnston.

Tuesdays at 8pm, March 16 – 30, 2010. Tickets are $10; Rated R.

 

Chug Chicago: A Drinking Party Musical

Ever read "Create Your Own Adventure Books" when you were a kid? Chug Chicago is a Create Your Own Drunken Party show for adults! Upon arriving to the theatre, audience members get to vote on which characters they would most enjoy seeing at a rambunctious, inebriated, Wrigleyville house party! Want to see Oprah and The Pope go shot for shot? Want to hold the Mormon's legs as he does a keg stand? Want your buddy Steve to appear in the show? Every show is individually tailored to that audience's idea of hilarity. This show is 21 and over only; must present ID at door.

Produced by Amy Whittenberger and Gorilla Tango Theatre.

Fridays at 11:30pm, March 19 – April 9, 2010. Tickets are $12; Rated R.

 

Just About Time

A light romp into our take on pop culture and celebrity, (real celebrity, not octo-mom celebrity) with roots in keeping it real with wit, class, and being super pretty. But we all know sometimes keeping it real goes wrong...

Produced by The Donkey Show Rejects.

Fridays and Saturdays at 8pm, March 19 – 27, 2010. Tickets are $20; Rated R.

 

The Interrogation & Last Option

An hour of thought-provoking short plays by new Chicago playwright, Stephen Bastien.

In "The Interrogation", Professor Stepanovich wants to know why he is being interrogated. The cops, who desperately need a confession, want to know too.

In "Last Option", Jack simply wants to confess his sins to a priest before he dies, or does he?

Produced by Stephen Bastien.

Saturday, March 20, 2010 at 6pm. Tickets are $15; Rated R.

 

Born to Be

The world premiere of a one act, interactive comedy by new Chicago playwright, Stephen Bastien.

New age guru and author Stephen Bastien guides six unsuspecting audience members to discover their inner passion and what they were born to do with their lives. The results lead to interesting choices in a humorous, sometimes absurd hour of soul searching and discovery.

Produced by Stephen Bastien.

Saturday, March 27, 2010 at 6pm. Tickets are $15; Rated R.

 

Hijinks & Showdowns

Recounting his misguided adolescent adventures, comedian Prescott Tolk presents a hilarious one-man show about how bad ideas lead to horrible outcomes.

Produced by Prescott Tolk.

Thursdays at 8pm, March 25 – April 29, 2010. Tickets are $10; Rated R.

 

Urban Indigenous presents: Code of Ethnics

Urban Indigenous is Chicago ’s premiere multi-ethnic comedy troupe representing various cultures. In their first full length review, “Code of Ethnics”, they explore a variety of comedic styles, while also playing with “code of ethics” from classes, cultures, linguistics, and other hysterical situations to guide a viewer on who decides what ethnic really is.

Produced by Urban Indigenous.

Saturdays at 10pm, March 27 – May 15, 2010. Tickets are $10; Rated R.

 

Gorilla Tango Theatre Chicago is conveniently located at the intersection of Western and Milwaukee in Chicago's Bucktown neighborhood. Easily accessible by public transportation, GTT is steps away from the Western stop on the O’Hare Blue Line and the #49 Western, #73 Armitage and #56 Milwaukee buses. Street parking is readily available. GTT offers a variety of affordable ($3-$8) beer and wine for purchase.

Worshipping in the House of CIMM FEST

It's coming!

Potential Independent Candidate, Jim Russell

More on this in Tuesday's Pipeline, but longtime Lincoln Park resident, author, drag racer, and retired school teacher Jim Russell would like to be on the general election ballot in November.

He mailed away for the packet and just needs... a lot of signatures.

Kids Sample Sale at Beta Boutique

Click on image to enlarge. 

Two Possible Chicagos: One Built, the Other Uncovered by Local Author

(Janice Metzger, a local author, resident, and SSA #33 Commissioner, passed away yesterday morning. She was an early reader of the e-newsletter, and encouraged me to focus on residents as well as business owners. This story, pasted below, originally appeared in the Sept. 14th, 2009 Pipeline.)

Two Possible Chicagos: 

One Built, The Other

Uncovered 

by Local Author

Two years ago, Janice Metzger had a feeling 2009 would be "the year everyone would be talking about [Daniel] Burnham."

And she's right. In this centennial year, everyone does seem to be talking about the Plan of Chicago, which ushered in the framework for the city as we know it today. A skeptic who wasn't around at the time, though possessing a rich imagination and a curious mind, might, like Janice, wonder: Was there opposition to Burnham's plan?

And there were raised eyebrows, particularly among social activists and leading women reformers, many of whom worked diligently and quietly to make their voices heard. Jane Addams, among the most prominent voices of opposition, subscribed to the "City Beautiful" movement and worked on implementing smaller achievements that, in the shadow of Burnham's larger plan, still resonate today, despite the fact that in the end the clout-heavy Commercial Club of Chicago and vested interests of Burnham's ultimately prevailed in influencing the plan's direction.

Janice spent ten intense months researching this tale of the "other Chicago," the one that could have been, and it left her asking, What Would Jane Say?. Janice, pictured, credits her sense of urgency to tell the story, as well as support from her partner John, also pictured, for helping bring her book, published last month by Lake Claremont Press, into fruition. Readers of The Pipeline are invited to attend a book release party this Friday, Sept. 18th, at the Harriet Vittum Theater of Northwestern University's Settlement House, 1012 N. Noble, 2nd Floor. The reception is free, however, RSVPs are required via email, by calling Lake Claremont Press at 312-226-8400, or via the Facebook invite. Not able to attend Friday's gathering? Copies of What Would Jane Say?: City-Building Women and a Tale of Two Chicagos, can be purchased by clicking here. 

On the Way to the Imaginarium

In addition to innovative Flat Iron happenings of late (The "Now You See It, Now You Don't" show) new Wicker Park art neighbors like the Coalition Gallery and Jackson Junge are staying open late on First Fridays to showcase their galleries as well as to bring more art lovers to the neighborhood. In BizSpeak I think this is called a "win-win." Is there a name for it in the Art World, too? 

 

Pictured are "Mirror World" by Vladimir Ovtcharov and "Serenity," by Daniela Ovtcharov. Click on the images to enlarge them. )

For Immediate Release:  February 17, 2010

Media Contact:   Chris Jackson or Lisa Elkuss   773-227-7900

 

ON THE WAY TO IMAGINARIUM

Artwork of Vladimir and  Daniela Ovtcharov

Special Exhibit    Jackson Junge Gallery   March 2 – 21, 2010

Opening Reception Friday, March 5, 5pm – 9pm

 

The artwork of Vladimir and Daniela Ovtcharov will be featured in a special exhibit titled “On The Way To Imaginarium” at the Jackson Junge Gallery, 1389 N. Milwaukee Ave., March 2 – 21, 2010.  An opening reception, free to the public, will be held Friday, March 5^th from 5pm – 9pm. Both artists will be present at the opening event.

 

Described as “Visionary Fantasy,” the art created by this husband / wife team tell stories drawn from the artists’ vivid imaginations as well as worldwide mythologies and fables.  Thirty acrylic, oil and mixed media pieces will be on the display.  The artists utilize techniques of the European Renaissance masters to convey modern-day themes.   Natives of Bulgaria, the Ovtcharovs currently reside in Albuquerque, New Mexico. The show at the Jackson Junge Gallery offers a rare opportunity for Chicagoans to enjoy their work.

 

Vladimir and Daniela met nearly twenty-five years ago while attending the National Academy of Fine Art in Sofia, Bulgaria.  While each possesses a distinct style, their art is complementary and the couple always show their work together.

 

Daniela originally studied art conservation and restoration. Upon graduation from art school she applied her skills to deteriorating art work from 14^th and 15^th century Europe.  There is clear evidence of that period in her own creations.  “My women have the soft, ethereal beauty of females in renaissance paintings,” says the artist.

 

Vladimir’s art also incorporates old European techniques while capturing modern human behavior and social themes.  Both artists are versatile engaging with a variety of mediums. Their work includes paintings, mixed media, jewelry, sculpture and other art forms.

 

“People are attracted to our work for a variety of reasons,” says Vladimir.  “The main draw seems to be the element of fantasy.  Our paintings are open to interpretation; we don’t try to impose our views. We encourage people to use their imagination and create their own meaning.”

 

                                                               

EXHIBIT HIGHLIGHTS:

 

Mirror World: Vladimir Ovtcharov, Mixed Media, 35” x 23”, 2009

Two women posed side by side appear to be the mirror image of one another. Upon closer inspection subtle differences emerge in facial features, hand positions and costume. Headdresses in the shape of ancient ships contain miniature cities, suggesting the strength and power of the “individual” women supporting them.  This mixed media piece is a replica of the artist’s original acrylic painting. Covered in a clear resin the addition of gold leaf, dry leaf, glass and other materials add texture, dimension and a new aesthetic to the work.

 

Beauty and Her Beast IV:  Vladimir Ovtcharov, Acrylic, 18” x 24”, 2009

A beautiful woman cuddles a troll-like creature who is ensconced in a princely crown. While most people would judge the creature to be “ugly” there is an endearing quality as he gazes at the woman with adoration.  This is one of four pieces in a series of Beauty / Beast paintings by the artist. Vladimir pursues the theme as one indicative of life…the balance between opposites; the subjective nature of what is beautiful and good.

 

Serenity:  Daniela Ovtcharov, Oil, 42” x 24”, 2009

In recent years the artist has painted a series of nude women nestled in sea shells. In this painting a lovely female is snuggled into the pearly mouth of a conch shell.  Viewers read different symbolism into the image…the protection of the womb…Venus rising out of the clam shell free of inhibition and fear…the strength encompassed in a delicate shell.  The colors in the piece are notably muted from the bold reds, oranges and blues more typical of Daniela’s work. Winter whites provide a sense of peace, harmony and serenity.

 

The Ovtcharovs recently published a book that features their work along with narrative composed by their daughter. The book, also entitled “On The Way To Imaginarium,” is available for purchase at the Jackson Junge Gallery for the run of the show. The artists will sign copies at the March 5^th reception.

 

The Jackson Junge Gallery features the work of Laura Lee Junge and other contemporary artists. The Gallery is open six days a week, free of charge. Hours are Tuesday – Friday: 10am – 7pm, Saturday: 10am – 6pm, Sunday: Noon – 5pm.

 

                                                                    # # #

 

High resolution images are available upon request.                                              

 

 

Jackson Junge Gallery

773.227.7900

www.J2gallery.com

 

i want to be her!

Feedback on Yesterday's Issue

my response to "R"- name deleted for privacy. she wrote in response to yesterday's pipeline. 

while i could see how it could be offensive, i was just now thinking about my deceased grandmother...  she called her father a "fishmonger," i am not even sure what a fishmonger is, but when her family came here from eastern europe they had a little fish store in the city where they sold fish, and while i am not sure if masada of sultan's knows if i am jewish or not, when she said she purchased sugarcane from "a jewish guy" i thought that was more cool than offensive. what do other jews think? i am curious. thanks. 

response to R: 

sorry, i am jewish and i was just quoting her, and as a jew myself i did not find it offensive.  my proofreader was not able to proof yesterday and usually catches those types of errors. thanks for your email and in retrospect i agree that it could be considered offensive to some people. will issue a correction next week. thanks for your feedback. 

---

To: streetsofwicker@hotmail.com
Subject: your recent email
Date: Wed, 17 Feb 2010 12:19:01 -0500
From: XXXX@aol.com

I find copywriting such as:

The short answer, 15 years. For the longer version...  In 1984 Masada and her husband purchased Sugarcane Foods at Hoyne and North from "a Jewish guy."

Very offensive and outdated...please get with it!

Thank you,

RXXX ( a Jewish girl)

Spring 2010 Review at the Creative Lounge

Click on poster to enlarge it...

don't judge a sweet potato ball by its looks

A bit of materialism... Yes, I love my camera!!

Truth be told, I wasn't very happy with the image quality in last week's Pipeline because I was using a small spare camera after the button on my nicer camera broke off and disappeared.

 

Yesterday's issue included pictures taken on the now repaired camera which sports a shiny new shutter button, for which a chunk of the repair was paid for with free tarot night tips, which makes me very thankful.

 

Whenever I think about quitting the free tarot night gig I am reminded that the hourly wage paid by the caffe and the tips are more $ than I receive for working so many hours on the e-newsletter, which I guess is kind of fitting considering the state of journalism in general. 

Is it okay to love an object so much? In thinking about all the things I don't own- a working TV, a PDA/iPhone, a laptop, a toaster, a microwave, a laundry machine, etc.-- I guess a camera ranks high on the "stuff I use on a regular basis" scale. 

As for the man who fixed the camera, he was recommended to me by a local camera center that said Chicago Camera Specialists at 5 S. Wabash would be cheaper than going through the manufacturer (my 2-year warranty expired) as well as faster.  The advice proved true. 

I wrote down the owner's name somewhere, but lost it. His business card if I recall correctly- not in front of me at the moment- had no name on it and no website, just a little map on the back. I was so happy that I had to take a picture of him when I picked up my camera last week. The tiny office where Chicago Camera Specialists is located is on the 10th floor of a very old building in the heart of the jeweler's row district, and is worth a visit just to check out its interior.  It feels like one of those places that time hasn't touched. 

Here's George Carlin talking about "stuff."  

2010 Trends Forecast

Though the jobless rate has decreased to 9.7%, mainly because the government is in the process of hiring more U.S. census workers than ever before, there still exists a sense of fear and uncertainty among most Americans who aren't lying to themselves. 

At least a few months back, and maybe because my grandfather worked at a dealership for decades, or because I had a lot of car dealership advertising customers at one point, I was slightly offended by a Tribune columnist who decided the world would be better without car dealers.  Hmm, really? 

Automotive advertising essentially supports traditional newspapers. Or, it did. 

It used to be there'd be a car dealership on every corner. Perhaps it was a sign of too much prosperity, a 2-ton gilded age of guzzling gas that in addition to providing cars, and subsidizing the work of journalists through advertising in newspapers, many dealership channels established a direct 'pipeline' to charities and helped to sponsor community programs and athletic teams. 

In light of this communication pipeline breaking down, will community banks become the new car dealers, because they have money - our money- to give back to the neighborhoods that they serve? 

In other predictions, the transit system will become even more overcrowded and there will be more walking and more bicycling, or more people telecommuting or showing up late to work. An hour-and-a-half commute walking, or cramped on a crowded bus and a train? I'll take the walking. 

"Edit Ignored Friends?"

Is it just me, or does this language seem very harsh? When stripped of its function, which is enabling a person to ignore select friends, the meaning of the phrase denotes cruelty even if it does mimic human behavior. 

If someone is someone you want to ignore, or perhaps a better word being don't have enough time to get to know, you simply 'de-friend' them because it's a good idea to give attention and energies to those you consider to be a true friend, and let other relationships exist in the in-between world of acquaintance-ship, or business relations.  That's a truthful way of doing it vs. creating a complicated hierarchy of virtual relationships that you want to edit partially or entirely out of your life.  Why has Facebook turned us into fourth graders? What's next, a rating system? 

Whatever happened to the simplicity of "friend or foe," and a world where you had less choices in terms of circles you could be part of, yet more assurances?  Today it seems like if we decide to opt-into virtual and social networking we give ourselves the burden of having to establish a structure of community within that framework, or in other words some semblance of a reality. 

The Day in Pictures, and Some Plush Poo

Normally I don't do much "pre-stalking" of new businesses outside of mentioning in The Pipeline that they are to open, but in the case of OhNo!Doom at 1800 N. Milw. I walk by its storefront quite often. Initially I noticed that the shady sign sales company which never had anyone who appeared to be working inside of it was gone, replaced by a depressing and all-too-common Vacant Space. Shortly after that I became intrigued by a window decal announcing that OhNo!Doom would be coming soon.

I liked the fact that OhNo!Doom a) Uses an exclamation point in its name! and b) Was moving into a newly revitalized stretch of Milw. which in just the past four years has welcomed a tea cafe (Tea Essense), a theatre (gorillatango), a video store (odd obsession), a music place for kids (bucktown music), a butcher (sterling goss), a wine shop, (red & white), an art studio (easel), and a yoga place (echo).

Yesterday I received a warm and exclamation-mark heavy email from doom communications crew leader, Lana Crooks, and I welcomed the chance to pop by and meet her as well as the five other folks (Andrew Thompson, Joseph Call, Oscar Alatorre, Jordan Owen, and Max Bare) behind OhNo!Doom. All of the said doomers are talented in different yet complementing disciplines like animation and plush stuff and visual art and painting.

Prior to visiting OhNo!Doom I was at the sneak preview for the Flat Iron's "Now You See It, Now You Don't" exhibit, and before that I popped by a book signing at p.45 on Damen.

The "Body Mates" photo is from that walk.... The smiling woman is novelist Delphine Pontvieux, author of ETA, Estimated Time of Arrest... The canary cage art on the walls is just one of many interconnected panels which will debut tonight over at the Flat Iron and be white-washed over by 10 PM, perhaps proving that art really is about the process and not necessarily the destination or permanency... The other images were snapped inside of OhNo!Doom.

(And, if I may offer a two-cents/two-word take on the budget-friendly $5 plush poo by Lana Crooks:

"Oh, yes!")

"If you're not having fun...

...  it's not working." 

Though I can't remember who said that quote, I do find it to be true, and truth be told I did manage to have a lot of fun with this week's Pipeline.  In some ways I wish there were a Buck Lily and Wicker Tim in every issue.   

A friend made an astute comment which almost made me spew out my beer because I was laughing so hard. Surrounding my usual "space and time, can't include everything, blah blah" plea were two images of dancing cats either holding a heart or leaping through a heart.

Perhaps I was having too much fun, and I somehow made the time for promoting the cat circus out of the kindness of my crazy cat lady heart...

Given that I have at least three jobs now, and I am still not sure that The Pipeline can totally be sustainable,  I am just going to try to have as much fun as possible, and not take anything in life, including the newsletter, or myself, or my fears, too seriously. 

P.S. Pictured is a "love hurts" cake spotted at Alliance Bakery on Division many months back on a warm spring or summer day, and a "love hurts" installation currently in the window of the silver room on milwaukee. 

Happenings Inside Wicker Park, CLICK TO ENLARGE