Made the Rounds

Spent the last couple of weeks digging up any Open Mic spots in St. Charles county, and have only found Picasso's and Beatniks, which tend to draw almost 100% musical acts.

Picasso's had a wider variety of talent, from bluegrass to reggae, but was very crowded and sometimes it was difficult to hear the performance over the sound of the espresso machine.

Beatniks on the other hand, afforded great acoustics, but the talent was limited to mostly older cover tunes done acoustically, but still creatively.

May have to venture out, see what I can organize...

Until Next Time...
Still Searching,
Michael

Beatniks and Picasso's

Thursdays in St. Charles County is where you should go if you want to experience open mic events.

For those who like the Historic St. Charles District, Picasso's Coffeehouse is the place to go. Thursday evenings starting at 7:30 p.m. is Open Mic night. You can even buy a tee-shirt.

If New Town is more your place, then visit Beatnik's. Open Mic Night every Thursday there as well.

You may find yourself having to alternate between the two places to catch the best area poets and solo performances. This Thursday, I'll be visiting Picasso's. Don't plan to read anything, though, unless they run of those of us crazy enough to bare our souls through a microphone.

Until Next Time...

Thursday'ing It,

Michael

Poets at the Station - Schwartz

The "Poets at the Station" poetry reading series will feature Howard Schwatrz tomorrow, Tuesday, May 3, 2011, at 7 p.m. at the Kirkwood Train Station, Argonne Ave and Kirkwood Rd.

The event is open to the public, and admission is free.

For more information, call (314)-965-7100, or surf over to www.kirkwoodareaarts.org.

Book Review: Strength Training Anatomy Workout

I considered myself extremely lucky when I found out that I was going to have a chance to review "The Strength Training Anatomy Workout" by Frederic Delavier. Yes, maybe I approached it from a biased point of view, but at the same time, that same bias and high expectation could have left me disappointed if this book had done nothing short of astounding me.

I am not disappointed.

Just the opposite.

I love this book as much, if maybe not more, than the previous companion "Strength Training Anatomy." I proudly use and display both books in my health library.

The diagrams are clear and detailed, educational and enlightening. The text is straight-forward and easy to understand. Most of all, the entire package is professional and full of practical and user-friendly knowledge. Each exercise has detailed explanations and diagrams showing exactly which muscles are worked, with examples that take into account real-world limitations and situations. This book also includes workout routines that can be followed precisely, or modified to fit your personal goals and lifestyles.

This book (along with its companion) speaks for itself. You will not regret owning it.

Poets at the Station

The "Poets at the Station" poetry reading series will feature David Clewell this Tuesday, April 26, 2011, at 7 p.m. at the Kirkwood Train Station, Argonne Ave and Kirkwood Rd.

The event is open to the public, and admission is free.

For more information, call (314)-965-7100, or surf over to www.kirkwoodareaarts.org.

"Upgrading The Illusion"

Poet Philip Gounis will be discussing, then later signing, his poetry chapbook "Upgrading The Illusion" at The Archive (3213 Cherokee Street, St. Louis) at 7 pm. on Monday, April 25, 2011.

Admission is free, and music will also serve as part of the evening's entertainment. Beer and wine will be available for a small suggested donation.

Further information can be found at saintlouisprojects.org.

River Styx at Duff's Poetry Reading

Tonight Duff's Restaurant (392 North Euclid, St. Louis) will be hosting a River Styx poetry reading event featuring Cornelius Eady and Michelle Boisseau.

There will be a cover charge of $5 at the door, $4 for River Styx members, students, or seniors. For more information http://www.riverstyx.org/events/index.php

SCC Coffeehouse Open-Mic Night

I'll be reading my poems "Phoebe's Secret Lover (The Hawthorne Reader)", "Ode to Jupiter", and "Pleiades Told" at the St. Charles Community College Coffeehouse Open-Mic Night event this Friday, April 15. Performances will be in the Social Science building in the lobby outside the auditorium and will run from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m.

Hope to see some familiar faces.

I'm Alive

I'm still here, been ultra busy lately, but haven't stopped thinking about this place.

Here is the most recent review I've done (for a book that was promised me last fall but didn't arrive until mid-February). It was worth the weight though. I gave it four out of five stars.

"If you’re a news junkie then this book is perfect for you.

It is a first-rate account of a journalistic institution as it adapts to survive in the 21st century as our major sources of news switch from physical print to 24-hour online access. The easy to read narrative keeps the reader interested and moves with a good flowing pace. The author tells the story of the Washington Post and some of the great events it has covered without bogging down to low into the details, but giving just enough so that the reader can remember the rest while the story of the paper is told.

Kindred clearly likes the unique individuals he chooses to highlight in this narrative, and that fondness comes through in many funny and endearing anecdotes of life in the newsroom. The kind of stories that makes former journalists (like myself) long to return to those days when things were changing so rapidly everyday was a new adventure.

Don’t pass this one up."

Until next time...
Promising to be back soon,
Michael

Brain Candy

I've been reading so much serious stuff lately that I need a little cheese or brain candy to give the ol' grey cells a break.

I always know that's the case when my rate of reading begins to slow, and I start looking at that stack of Star Trek and Star Wars books I have packed in a box.

So since I'm currently watching episodes of Deep Space Nine Season One while I walk on the treadmill, I'm in a Star Trek kind of mood. But I've read all my DSN novels. I could read the new Enterprise ones I picked up, but...I did just land Voyager Season Three fairly inexpensively and I do have some of those around here unread, so I decided to start with the earliest one I haven't read.

I'm only a few pages into it, but I immediately noticed the change in tone, narration, and overall style difference from Charlotte Bronte's "Jane Eyre." It truly is a whole 'nother universe.

But then again, that's exactly what I need right now.

Until Next Time...
Engage,
Michael