Avatarded In New Orleans

NOLA SuperJam @ Club Maison; Frenchman Street. 8/8/11

2011-08-09T05:46:00.000-07:00

On Bourbon Street- Horses do the Cupid Shuffle

2011-07-17T16:59:00.000-07:00

FireDance

2011-06-28T12:27:00.001-07:00

FireDance a video by avatarded_media on Flickr.

Awesome street performer on Bourbon Street.

2011-06-27T00:55:00.000-07:00

Golden-throated NOLA native REGINALD RINGO

belts out vintage soul favorites

into the warm and muggy summer night,

in front of the Krystal Burger On Bourbon St.

Bootsy Funks NOLA just right @ Tipitina's

2011-06-16T02:44:00.000-07:00

{EAV_BLOG_VER:195000cb104dd876}

Last night’s BOOTSY COLLINS concert at Tipitina’s was a trip down memory lane for all “Funkateers” who love the music of Funkadelic, Parliment, Bootsy’s Rubber Band and soul music in general.

His new band, composed of the best of funk’s past, present & future, jammed Bootsy classics (“I wanna Be With You”, “Bootzilla” and “The Pinocchio Theory”) and blazed through P-Funk favorites like “One Nation Under A Groove”, “Mothership Connection” and “Flashlight”.

Noticeable mention goes to a well done Jimi Hendrix & Sly and The Family Stone tribute and a new R&B re-working of “Munchees For Your Love”.

Among the wealth of talent on stage were seasoned veterans Joel "Razor Sharp" Johnson (keyboards), Frankie "Kash" Waddy (drums), Bernie Worell (keyboards) and Dewayne "Blackbird" McNight (Guitar).

Highlights included: Bootsy’s in-song monolouge on effective foreplay, a P-FUNK medley sing-a-long and a new song named “Touch”, where Bootsy split the adoring crowd in half and danced up the aisle.

And in the shadow of the Lunar eclipse, It’s was a good night to get funked up at Tipitina’s.

Brass Band on Canal St.

2011-06-15T19:26:00.000-07:00

Here come dat 2nd line!

2011-06-14T05:56:00.000-07:00

ON BOURBON STREET: Snake's a charmer

2011-05-23T15:05:00.000-07:00

The BOURBON HEAT nightclub on 711 Bourbon St. in New Orleans was visited by a 2-year old BURMESE PYTHON who got along just fine with one of the club's go-go girls. The huge lump in the snake's middle is a rabbit.

My Facebook Friends: Annie Katzman, NYC

2011-05-11T18:42:00.000-07:00

My Facebook Friends; "Where's Waldo ?" by Rachel Brinich; age 16

2011-04-14T16:36:00.000-07:00

Click to enlarge.

I have found the Mother of all Pancakes- City Diner; Metarie, LA

2011-04-03T21:23:00.000-07:00

Avatar with big-ass pancake.

Don't you just love finding that little hole-in-the-wall place to eat where the food is really good, the service is great and the servings are plenty?

Well my friends, not only have I found that place, but they serve BIG ASS PANCAKES the size of Pizza pies!!!

Don't look at me like that. I'm serious. The place is called CITY DINER and its located in Metarie, Louisiana- off interstate 10.

Big-ass box for big-ass pancake

With an affordable menu with everything from FireCracker Shrimp Po-Boys to Crab Cakes Benedict, this covert culinary gem is not your average late-night greasy spoon, but a friendly haven of flavor, good times and strong fuckin' coffee.

Formerly a vacant Denny's, this family-owned Diner made the "Best Of Gambit 2009" list as an affordable place to feed the family. It definitely would have won in the "Big-ass food" category.

The B.A.P.'s (Big Ass Pancakes) that you see in these photos are actually ONE ORDER of the "Short Stack". After I placed my order, the waiter asked me in a cautionary tone; "Uh...are you sure you want the short stack?"

What he didn't know is that I stopped in late last night and had an awesome "Striver's Delight" (a variation of Chicken & Waffles with chicken tenders and a huge Belgian Waffle; named after the "Striver's Row" neighborhood in Harlem New York) and happened to see customers at another table getting B.A.P.'s the size of hubcaps on a Segway.

"Hell Yeah!", I exclaimed, wiping a drop of drool from my lip corner, "Bring it, son!".

Ten minutes later my jaw dropped as the massive meal was sat in front of me-hanging off my plate, laughing at me.

"Ha ha. Go ahead and TRY to finish me, you silly man. I own you."

Pssshaw. Ain't that much syrup in the world. Big-ass box, Please?

This is a great place to eat that's off-the-beaten-path and worth every penny.
Open daily from 9am to 2am. Tip Generously.

CITY DINER'S WEBSITE

My Facebook Friends: Rachel Brinich from Metarie, Louisiana; age 16.

2011-04-01T17:47:00.001-07:00

Click to view Larger image.

Pedestrian' Guide to the USA By Hipmunk.com

2011-03-30T21:59:00.000-07:00

Hipmink.com is a new service that makes searching for flights easy.

Live on Frenchman Street #1

2011-02-07T15:25:00.000-08:00

This is why I moved from Harlem NYC to New Orleans. Gone are the days when one could play congas in Washington Square Park (at 3 am) or croon at a midnight acapella "sing-off" in central park. Hallelujah. I have "found The Ground Where My Future Lies...beyond the Yellow Brick Road."-Elton John.

Acts of kindness; NOLA'S secret formula for healing, happy life

2011-01-08T02:04:00.000-08:00

I read some statistic recently about "the best place in the U.S. to live happy" and New Orleans was #2 under Hawaii. After my first year here (from Harlem, NY) I'm starting to think that this "Happy" condition is connected to benevolent gestures of kindness. If you are hungry, you will find food. If you are without clothing, you will be clothed. People engage in charities down here like people join gym memberships where I'm from.

My friend Kevin Polk is program director for The NEW ORLEANS FURNITURE BANK (NOLAFB.org) a non-profit organization that recycles used furniture to help families who are living on the floor in the Greater New Orleans area. I went to volunteer my services (and what's left of my back) to the mid-city location and had a ball helping people "get up off the floor" as Kevin puts it. You can see his work here: ON YOUTUBE

Coming from cold and often lonely New York City life, I can appreciate a warm greeting or a firm handshake. You never miss it until it's gone. So meeting new friends here who exhibit a genuine sense of giving and sharing is a welcome change and I am moved to talk about it.

Ana aka "Cookie" and Ken aka "Smiley The Clown" is part of CHEEP UP MISSIONS, a non-profit organization that transports medical supplies and other materials for disaster relief to countries around the world.

Child care facility BOYSTOWN OF NEW ORLEANS had a merry Christmas when they got a surprise visit from New Orleans band THE MUMBLES at their Christmas party.

Emerging multimedia studio COUNTERPOINT PRODUCTIONS in Algiers Point is developing a music production program for middle schoolers called "BEATSCHOOL", where students learn how to program music with state of the art loop/beat creation software.

With these kinds of things happening around me, I am beginning to understand how helping others improves the quality of life here in New Orleans. Now, excuse me while I go help lift a sofa.

CHEER UP MISSIONS

BOYSTOWN of NEW ORLEANS

COUNTERPOINT PRODUCTIONS

NORTH POLE MEMO: 12 days of XMAS CUTBACKS

2010-12-24T23:07:00.000-08:00

Today's global challenges require the North Pole to continue to look for better, more competitive steps.

Effective immediately, the following economy measures are to take place in the "Twelve Days of Christmas" subsidiary:

The partridge will be retained, but the pear tree never turned out to be the cash crop forecasted. It will be replaced by a plastic hanging plant, providing considerable savings in maintenance.
The two turtle doves represent a redundancy that is simply not cost effective. In addition, their romance during working hours could not be condoned. The positions are therefore eliminated.
The three French hens will remain intact. After all, everyone loves the French.
The four calling birds were replaced by an automated voice mail system, with a call waiting option. An analysis is underway to determine who the birds have been calling, how often and how long they talked.
The five golden rings have been put on hold by the Board of Directors. Maintaining a portfolio based on one commodity could have negative implications for institutional investors. Diversification into other precious metals as well as a mix of T-Bills and high technology stocks appear to be in order.
The six geese-a-laying constitutes a luxury which can no longer be afforded. It has long been felt that the production rate of one egg per goose per day is an example of the decline in productivity. Three geese will be let go, and an upgrading in the selection procedure by personnel will assure management that from now on every goose it gets will be a good one.
The seven swans-a-swimming is obviously a number chosen in better times. Their function is primarily decorative. Mechanical swans are on order. The current swans will be retrained to learn some new strokes and therefore enhance their outplacement.
As you know, the eight maids-a-milking concept has been under heavy scrutiny by the EEOC. A male/female balance in the workforce is being sought. The more militant maids consider this a dead-end job with no upward mobility. Automation of the process may permit the maids to try a-mending, a-mentoring or a-mulching.
Nine ladies dancing has always been an odd number. This function will be phased out as these individuals grow older and can no longer do the steps.
Ten Lords-a-leaping is overkill. The high cost of Lords plus the expense of international air travel prompted the Compensation Committee to suggest replacing this group with ten out-of-work congressmen. While leaping ability may be somewhat sacrificed, the savings are significant because we expect an oversupply of unemployed congressmen this year.
Eleven pipers piping and twelve drummers drumming is a simple case of the band getting too big. A substitution with a string quartet, a cut back on new music and no uniforms will produce savings which will drop right down to the bottom line.
We can expect a substantial reduction in assorted people, fowl, animals and other expenses. Though incomplete, studies indicate that stretching deliveries over twelve days is inefficient. If we can drop ship in one day, service levels will be improved.

How to wake up a drunk-N'awlins style

2010-10-18T20:17:00.000-07:00

NFL Kickoff w/A.D. Berry & DJ Ron Press from 98.5_WYLD

2010-09-09T16:50:00.000-07:00

Prepare for congestion in downtown New Orleans; The SAINTS come marchin' in!

2010-09-08T11:43:00.000-07:00

SUPER BOWL XLIV WORLD CHAMPION NEW ORLEANS SAINTS URGE FANS TO PREPARE AHEAD OF TIME IN ANTICIPATION OF CONGESTION IN NEW ORLEANS PRIOR TO THURSDAY’S NFL KICKOFF EVENTS and GAME

Larger Crowds Than Usual Expected in Downtown Area;

Fans Urged To Allow Time When Moving Between Events & Kickoff Game

September 7, 2010

For Immediate Release

Contact: New Orleans Saints Communications Department

(504) 731-1799

New Orleans – The Super Bowl XLIV World Champion New Orleans Saints have issued an advisory to patrons attending the New Orleans Saints versus Minnesota Vikings game. Due to the expected above-average vehicle and pedestrian traffic in and around the downtown area, the Saints want fans who are attending the game to know that it will be extremely difficult, if not impossible, to attend the NFL’s Parade and concert and still make it to their seats for Pre-Game festivities and kickoff, including the unveiling of the Super Bowl Championship Banner.

Traffic is expected to be very heavy and parking spots will be limited, as is typically the case surrounding Saints’ home games. In addition, fans are advised that Superdome Lot #3 will be closed to public parking this game. Due to the expected increase in the number of people that will be in the New Orleans area for the Parade and Concert, but not attending the game, moving throughout the French Quarter and Central Business District is expected to take longer than it normally would.

The NFL’s Kickoff Parade will begin at 5:00 p.m. CT to be followed with a concert featuring The Dave Matthews Band and Taylor Swift at Jackson Square. Details for those seeking more information on the parade and the concert are encouraged to visit: http://www.nfl.com/kickoff. Pre-game festivities in the Dome will begin at 6:30 p.m. CT with NBC Pre-Game Show, which will feature the unveiling of the Saints Super Bowl XLIV banner.

Through the tireless efforts of the New Orleans Saints, National Football League and NBC, the unique opportunity exists for fans to be involved in the Saints’ first-ever hosting of the Kickoff Event. Viewers from around the world will be able to witness New Orleans and their passionate residents as well as the neighbors and Saints fans from across the Gulf Coast as they celebrate the beginning of the 2010 NFL season. The New Orleans Saints organization encourages those without tickets to the game to attend the Kickoff activities and represent our home and culture.

Champions Square will open at 3:00 p.m. CT on Thursday and will feature drink specials, cuisine from various local restaurants and Saints programming, including:

3:00-4:30 p.m.: Special airing of NFL Film’s presentation “America’s Game: 2009 New Orleans Saints” and highlights of the 2009 season and Super Bowl.

4:30 p.m. Tom Benson, with Vince Lombardi Trophy, greets fans and welcomes them to Champions Square

4:40-6:30 p.m.: Bucktown All-Stars

6:30-7:30 p.m.: Pre-Game Show live from the Superdome

POSTGAME Fox 8 at Champions Square Stadium Show live from Superdome

How to wake up a drunk-N'awlins style

2010-08-25T11:26:00.000-07:00

The "Red Dress" Run

2010-08-15T16:32:00.000-07:00

The New Orleans Hash House Harriers hold the annual "Red Dress" run/walk/crawl through French Quarter watering holes to benefit local charities. This year's event featured an outstanding assortment of Red Dresses (and smashed guys & gals) having a ball on Bourbon street.. Who dat? Dat's WILD!!

Storm Clouds On Burgundy St.

2010-07-07T14:32:00.000-07:00

IF ONLY BP WOULD FOLLOW THE ADVICE ON ITS OWN SIGN...

2010-06-07T15:41:00.001-07:00

JAMES CAMERON; Savoir or Supervillian?

2010-06-03T12:23:00.000-07:00

Hollywood movie director James Cameron has been turned down by BP (British Petroleum) after offering to help solve the gushing oil well problem in the Gulf of Mexico.

The BFD director of "Avatar" has experience working with remote-controlled submarine experts (i.e.; his films "The Abyss" and "Titanic") and said that he was “graciously” turned down by the British energy giant, whose exploded oil rig has been contaminating the Gulf in what is now considered the worst oil spill in U.S. history.

Cameron said he offered his help after observing how the oil spill is being handled.

“Over the last few weeks I’ve watched, as we all have, with growing horror and heartache, watching what’s happening in the Gulf and thinking those morons don’t know what they’re doing,”

Yet the question remains; is Mr. Cameron really concerned about facilitating assistance or is this just an attempt to position himself as the worlds first supervillian?

Check the playbook. First you gain global popularity, then you reveal a giant robot and threaten humanity, extorting billions of dollars from every country. You know the score.

Mr. Cameron has probably seen technology that has not yet been released to the public and he's wealthy enough to buy it or employ the greatest minds on the planet to build it.

We should keep our eye on this man, really.

Maybe BP turned him down cause they didn't want to clone something, use alien technology, or travel to another planet for some rare mineral or something.

For all we know, a benevolent gesture by Cameron could have been a sure way for him to gain mass support, all the while setting up a diabolical plan of world domination under our noses. Calling BP "morons" could be further indication of a latent madman's reaction to missing a golden opportunity to exploit this crisis for evil intentions.

I've studied supervillians for years. I'm no fool. I don't wanna wake up one day and find out that he's created a death ray, or a breed of deadly flying koala bears, or a 200-ft. tall Libertarian hellbent on destroying the nation's capital.

Damn. Now I'm gonna have nightmares.

J/A

Say what you want. Sandra Bullock is OK by me.

2010-05-08T15:04:00.000-07:00

I'm in love with New Orleans. Apparently, so is cheerleader-turned-Oscar winning movie star SANDRA BULLOCK.

Following the devastating effects of Hurricane Katrina, Bullock became a major supporter of Warren Easton Charter High School.

The school, known for being the first public high school for boys in Louisiana, sustained $4 million in damages and Ms. bullock told PEOPLE magazine that she "felt such a profound need to do something for them". Hey F.E.M.A. ...take note.

She donated hundreds of thousands of dollars for renovations, new band uniforms, a new health clinic and established a $10,000 college scholarship. She even debuted her film "The Blind Side" here as a fundraiser for the school earning her an induction into the school's Hall Of Fame. Not too shabby for a gal who once won a RAZZIE award for "worst actress".

The 45 year-old star of "Speed" also purchased a mansion in the garden district and recently adopted an African American baby boy from New Orleans, putting her at the top of my MILF list. Yum.

Yeah, I saw "The Proposal". Nice thighs, boo.

Opposing eyebrows were immediately raised over the adoption, questioning Ms. Bullock's sincerity, due to her Academy Award-winning performance in "The Blind Side" as Leigh Anne Tuohy, a white woman who adopts a black child.

Additional scepticism surfaced involving the controversial marriage to her soon-to-be EX husband JESSE JAMES, the "fashionable" factor of movie stars adopting black children and her ability to maintain a bi-racial household as a Caucasian female.

Even though Sandra Bullock has joined the ranks of celebs who have adopted Black children, like Steven Spielberg (son, Theo), Tom Cruise (son, Connor), Brangelina (daughter Zahara) and Madonna (son and daughter, Mercy and David), I believe that Ms. Bullock understands the importance of being a PARENT, no matter the color, for a child without family.

Essence magazine stated the "well-known (and disheartening) fact" that in the adoption community Black children are less likely to be adopted than White or Hispanic children. In fact, Black children in the US account for 15% of the population and yet are 32% of the foster care system.

The African-American periodical goes on to report that "according to a recent study conducted by economists at New York University and California Institute of Technology, a Black child is seven times less likely to "attract the interest and attention of potential adoptive parents." The study also found that parents were willing to pay upwards of $38,000 more in adoption fees for non-Black babies than they were for Black babies."

I believe that Ms. Bullock is sincere in her efforts to show an act of benevolence. And it must be comforting for her to know that there will be a male presence in her home that won't be dating a stripper any time soon.

That's right, people. I'm gonna cut Sandy B. some slack. Besides, she's had to hold down shit jobs (bartender, cocktail waitress, coat checker), was the victim of a psycho stalker, lived through a plane crash and car accident, had her heart broken by a philandering husband and still found enough chutzpah be to a public supporter of the American Red Cross, twice donating $1 million, first to its Liberty Disaster Relief Fund and four years later in response to the 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake and tsunamis.

One only hopes that she will continue this passionate "Big Easy" love affair with New Orleans by shooting her films here. Her underrated talent and sense of charity is illuminated by her recent notoriety as one of TIME Magazine's 2010 "100 most influential people".

Go 'head, girl. Do yo thang. And do it in NOLA.

WHY I LEFT NEW YORK

2010-04-20T16:03:00.000-07:00

Those who know me are well aware of the fact that I'm a native New Yorker. Born in Harlem during the Motown explosion, raised in the Bronx during the early days of the Hip Hop and returning to Harlem during my middle aged years after bouncing around from borough to borough.
Some of my friends have offered my tour guide assistance to visitors, assuring them that they are destined to receive the "off-the-beaten-path" tour under my watch.

"This guy knows New York like nobody. He's the one you want."

And, yes, I was more than happy to acquaint cheerful tourists with the current goings on of this great metropolis, taking them to glorious dive bars, hidden ethnic restaurants, underground parties and events...even found them affordable places to shop.

At the end of the day, (A term greatly overused, excuse me) I felt positive with a lift in my spirits from the glowing faces of the new friends I had just made. They seemed genuinely entertained and impressed at New York's vast array of activity. They seemed to view me as an elder statesman and an embassador of fun and good times.

I felt like I had established myself as a true New York historian with the ability to articulate the wonder of this great city though the hundreds of true stories I had acquired throughout my personal journey.

And then my heart turned over.

I hate to blame it all on one event or person, but the city changed a great deal after the policies enforced by then Police Commish Howard Safir and Mayor Rudolf Guilianni.

Changes like the "Unnecessary noise prohibited" law that restricts you from banging a drum, singing loud or walking around with a boombox on your shoulder. Yeah. I'm spoiled. I used to play conga in the park on warm summer nights. I sang a mean barritone during street corner doo-wop sessions. I held down a dope beatbox, spit mad verse in vintage Bronx cyphers and blasted my mix tapes at block parties. All of a sudden the sonic textures of the city had been silenced like someone pulled the plug on one of the world's greatest soundtracks.

Talented singer/songwriters went into hiding, feared of being arrested or fined for playing in public without papers and having their equipment locked up. Even mimes disappeared. Not because they were loud, but because frustrated singer/songwriters kept beating them up.

The drug scene changed. No longer could one fine an small & inexpensive amount of "herbal incense" to aid in the tension of city stress. New drugs (based on drugs previously administered during childhood) flooded the market, causing the price of "herbal incense" to skyrocket. These new drugs caused bad press for dance clubs causing them to shut down. No more huge parties below the radar. No more street corner symphonies. No more toke-toke-pass-let's-sing-Bob-Marley-till dawn nights of bonding with cool Euro's or elder hippies.

The city's landscape changed. Escalating rent shut down most mom-n-pop stores. Clubs were replaced by bars with Jukeboxes blaring music you heard on the radio or on your iPod on your way to the bar. Seeing a live band included a cover charge, hefty for those on hard times. At one point, it seemed like the only way you could hear FREE LIVE MUSIC in Manhattan was to hum a tune in the friggin' bathroom at the McDonald's on 42nd St..

You see where I'm going with this?

New Orleans is a vibrant, lively city where amazing brasswork and expert drumsmanship inhale the sweet, warm air and scream an exquisite duet of joy and passion. It is the watering hole for hundreds of muses, drunken with happiness, seducing you with excess in the spirit of abandon. It is where life is celebrated and the human condition is still human.

Yes, there are problems. But even though I am not well traveled, I think it's safe to say that there are problems in every city. N'awlins strikes a chord in me and it is sweet music to my soul. To be living in a place where live music is so commonplace is truly a blessing. And the fact that it's SOUL music is a plus. Signs that say "NO COVER" are all over the place. Free is good.

Performers are everywhere while visitors walk around smiling, carrying plastic cups of booze. And a marijuana alternative called "Herbal Incense" and is sold over the counter.

Beautiful women of all shapes and sizes stroll by, comfortably wearing their clothing. The scantly clad ladies standing outside the "Red light" shops on Bourbon St. remind me of a pre-Disney 42nd St. near 8th Ave. They stand in all their glory as street goddesses and sexy barkers, catcalling any handsome beefcake that strolls by. In the distance, a trumpet pierces the night air followed by the klip-klop-klip-klop of a horse-drawn carriage nearby.

These are the sights and sounds of my dreams, a welcome home-cooked meal for a hungry soul weaned on the breast of "record store" DJ's, 3-part hallway harmony, free night shows in Washington Square Park and the squeak of the conga skin in Central Park.

I no longer love New York. I MISS new York. And I am truly grateful to be in a place now where I am able to fashion new memories from live musical performances, diverse celebration, southern decadence and herbal incense.

J/A

LOGORAMA: Twisted animated short & 2009 Oscar winner

2010-03-22T15:27:00.000-07:00

French Director NICHOLAS SCHMERKIN has won the Academy award for Best Animated Short with a brilliant & disturbing work called "LOGORAMA". I'm not even gonna set this one up. This is one of the most Avatarded pieces of art I've ever seen. Enjoy. Watch it HERE

SAINTS music video

2010-02-18T17:37:00.001-08:00

Fairytale Experiment Tour 2009/New Orleans

2009-08-13T01:35:00.000-07:00

Tues 8/04
Left Ashville. Met ERIN @ Louie Armstrong Airport

Met MARRUS in the 9TH Ward of NOLA .

She introduces to REX (Michael Dingler from NOLA RISING).

He introduced us 2 RANGER DAVE from X/O STUDIOS.

Stayed with Charlotte’s Grand Aunt/Uncle MARY & RON.

Wed 8/05
After a belly full of grits, eggs & sausage, we re-organized the bus (Lunette) at Dauphine & Press

Quick run to the library to make flyers, Rex brings more. While flyering the streets, we were misdirected (on purpose) by locals. A local family helps us and gives us a map.

Thurs- 0/06
(Afternoon)
Set up for FTE show@ Press St. & Dauphine (mean’s “Daughter of the Queen”). We get denied access by NOCA (New Orleans center for Creative Arts) who owns the property.

NOPD arrives, enforces NOCA’s rule. The audience arrives.

FTE relocates to a grassy area nearby. A passing train interrupts the performance, yet the show goes on. Applause.

Meanwhile…in the French quarter...

ROSE & AVATAR set up a PERFORMANCE PAINTING in an empty parking lot on Frenchman & Charters.

A frendly NOPD officer gives us his blessing & a smile. The live perfrormance painting is received well by onlookers who are actually getting into the unique extravaganza.

100 degree weather + dehydration causes Avatars hands to cramp up during drum performance. Rose is covered in paint & sweat And the show goes on.

(Evening)
Lunnete the bus meees Rose & Avatar. After small dinner (And a lot of water) we do an FTE performance across the street at pizza shop/Hookah bar LAZIZA with Josh Bennet’s friend NICK. After the show, we have dinner @ 13 (an overworked LEVI is our waiter).

This is BRIAN. He is our WIZARD.
(Every fairytale has a wizard, right?)

We went on a great adventure with him as he gave us a tour of the levee at Midnight.

The fairies, intoxicated by the full moon, called to the neighborhood mermaids/sirens who began bathing in the moonlight.

This caused a passing tugboat to lose its the barge.
(No, really. The night was suddenly filled with a loud crash.)

The fairies giggled with glee, grabbed their clothing and got the hell outta there. True story. Good times. Thanks, wiz.

FRI 8/07
We return to Frenchman & Charters (the painting stands, untouched.) with tent, tikki torches and small setup for cooking crepes. Brian meets us with Roast chicken, fresh basil, tomato & motzerella for Rose’s savory crepes.

Down the block is the SHRIMP BOIL that happens every Friday. Mounds of gigantic shrimp smothered in spices, whole garlic clove bunches, onions and veggies are boiled in a huge pot then given away FOR FREE. The line goes down the block.

The owner of the parking lot where we were set up (politely) askes us to leave. Someone tells us of a place caled Dragon’s den on Espanade & Frenchman St. They let us set up and Rose paints a huge mural as I sing and dance. It was awesome.

After the show?...Whiskey & Crepes in ANOTHER parking lot.

SAT 8/08
Rose performs her Nude body painting routine during the "Dirty Linen Festival" on Royal St., then has a photo session with Amsey.

That evening we return to Dragon’s den for another performance painting with Rose Robin & Erin Belanger.

Sun 8/09
My first Po’ Boy. Checked out The Green Project. Chill day. Recharge.

Mon 8/10
On the way to perform a trunk show for a group of art enthusiasts, we get our 2nd flat tire.
One hour later, we have 3 new friends. (more to come)

Tuesday 8/11
My first Horse riding lesson. We meet local missionary clown performer COOKIE and go to Jackson Square to perform some fairytales.The show in Jackson square is bust. Touring Brooklyn band THE MUMBLES sees our van but can't stop to Say hi.

We all meet & perform at circle bar. Good times.

Wed 8/12
Chill day. Laundry. Neighbors introduce themselves to us, bringing red beans & rice. Clean & prep Lunette for an 8 hour drive..

Thur 8/13
On the road to Austin. Yay!

2009-08-02T23:31:00.000-07:00

Click here to watch "Obamasong" on Youtube.

Fairytale Experiment On Tour_Thurs. July 23rd-Fri. August 1st

2009-07-31T23:00:00.000-07:00

THURSDAY: Keith, Ethan & FTE fairy MEREDITH (The Mumbles) play a show on a boat. We stage a pirate takeover of the ship and end up tricked by Faries into having sex with an octopus. After this, THE PIMPS OF JOYTIME rock the boat.

SUNDAY: We perform on the WATERPOD, docked at 125th st. After a violent afternoon thunderstorm chase away most of our audience, the "ecosystem-on-a-barge" stops swaying to and fro. The crew then invites us to dine with them.

As they prepare a scrumptious meal of fresh fish and veggies grown on the pod, we sing FTE songs for a crowd that has gathered by the dock. (Rose video coming). After an encore, we dine under a DOUBLE RAINBOW that stretches over Harlem.

MONDAY:Left Brooklyn in the bus (Lunette) to Philly.

Hit a flat tire around Camden, New Jersey.

Rose & I walk 2 miles to get a new tires in he hot sun. Four quarts of sweat spew out from under my black Yankees cap. We buy the tires. Rose leaves to go get a jack and I carry the two bagged tires to the corner & wait for her thinking, 'How the f@#k are we gonna carry these big-ass tires back to Lunette?"

Just then, a kind brother named ROB drives up in a silver SUV and asks me where I'm going. I explain our dilema and he offers to give us a lift.

Rob (and his two youg sons, ages 4 and 7) not only drove us back to Lunette, but he also drove us through the streets of Camden, NJ to look for a tire repair shop, then rounded up a bunch of truckers to help us out. They agreed to help without blinking a lash. One guy changes a tire using Ether & a match. (Video of all of these encounters will be uploaded soon by Rose. You gotta see this.)

All rejoice. The kids recieve homemade candy. They smile, smacking loudly with shiny red & purple lips. Fairy hugs and Obama fist bumps make their rounds. Our Angels Of Camden (actually) drive off into the sunset.

Now we are ready to drive the rest of the way to Philly. It's only ten minutes away.

Yup. Only ten minutes away.

TUESDAY: We are greeted in West Philly at Rachel's crib. (More on her & her peeps later. That tribe is delightfully Avatarded.) We schedule a 2pm performance in the center of RitenHour Park.

Rose & I warm up the crowd performing a new bit called "The Dancing Doll" where I play drum and she moves like a puppet activated by sound. Then the FTE perform 3 skits. A stunned and gracious Philidelphia crowd recieves us warmly.

After the show, a guy named Richard gives us some soap. (By now, I'm needing it. We did the show in the hot sun.) He also invites us over for a home cooked meal. Rose & I Leave for South Philly, her wearing a Tutu and me bangin' a drum.

Richard feeds us as we play with his 16 month old pitbull puppy. His roomates discuss going to a drum circle later in the evening. We leave with Richard for an open mic at a Jazz club in Center City.

Intercepted by a cool social worker who wants to know where the show is.

Please remember: Rose looks great in a TuTu. People stop us and ask us "Where's the show?". They don't just ask. They ask like they want to come. If that's Philly, then give me more. I like it.

The cool social worker gives us a tip on another open mic nearby. We sit for 2 songs, then move on.

Stop by TSOP store. (See Rose for video). Move on to open mic.

Stop by live band playing in a storefront window. We join them, jam out on "No Woman No Cry". Move on to open mic.

Arrive at open mic at Jazz club. Rose interviews the woman at the door. {VID} She gives a tour of the club. The piano player asks us to stop filming.

We catch the trolley back to Rachel's house. We arrive and perform for Rachel, her housemates and her visiting cousin. Rachel tells us about a really cool guy named Cooper, living in a community called Ashville down in "Nawth Cack-a-lack-a". We write down his number. Recount the days events. Music jam. Sleep. Early drive Tomorrow. We're off to Washington D.C.

WEDNESDAY: Arrive in DC mid-morning. Rose & I walk by the FBI Building and meet a cool black laborador K-9 officer named "Power". His badge had a little picture of a dog on it. We continue down Pensylvania avenue and on to the White House.

Rose shoots video of me singing. (NEW SONG: "Obamasong") We shoot additional footage at the Lincoln Memorial. We stop by the Smithsonian Air / Space museum then back to Lunette. Off to Shenandoa National park in Virginia.

Very ironic how I run outta cigarettes in Virginia. Maybe it's a sign I should stop.

We make camp. Rose makes Crepes. We snuggle into place in our tents under a starry sky. In the morning we move to another location called " The Loft Mountain Campground".

THURSDAY: At the camp there is an ampitheater with stunning views of the Shenandoa Mountian range. A perfect canvas on which to paint Fairytale Experiment magic. We immediately put out the word to the people of the camp; "Show tonight in the ampitheater at 7!"

We quickly outline a show, walk through it and pull costumes. After hanging a sign on Lunette that reads: "Performance Tonight", we drive from camp to the theater to see cars in the parking lot. Our audience awaits!

It begins to rain.

We enter the theater playing drum loudly and dancing through the waiting campers and families. They patiently sit & smile in rain gear and watch us do our thing. The rain stops half way through the show. At the end, we sing the magic song & take a bow.

We get back to camp and watch the sunset. Rose makes more amazing crepes. We tell jokes by a roaring fire and laugh till bellyhurt. Huddle in tents. Sleep. Tomorrow we are off to North Carolina.

FRIDAY: A sudden morning fog sweeps across the camp and slings us off the mountian. We zip through Virginia like a bullet. We stop at White's Truck Stop for waffle fries and a peek at the Firearm museum. Yup. There it was. The gun used in the movie "Death Wish" by Charles Bronson. Good fries, too.

The game room is filled with all first-person shooter coin-ops. There's even one video game created by the U.S. Army. Never saw that before. I force a smile as I walk by 50 or so little "Uncle Tom" dashboard dolls.

We drive through Virginia and Tennesee to Mars Hill, North Carolina. We are greeted by our new friends Ryan Cooper and Jason Boyer who treat us like family. They and trusty dog Stella Blue bless us with veggie goodness from the garden in the backyard and more:

Zuchinni Bread

Homemade Cole Slaw

Homemade saurkraut

Picked beets

Picked summer squash

Fresh (from the garden) bean dip

Chicken sausage

& gallons of Honey Mead

Too busy eating now. Planning something special. Stay tuned.

J/A