Bluish Barn

This Friday, 9pm. Daniel Kahn and Annie Palmer will play some songs by the fire in our backyard. (Or in the parlor if it’s raining.) Daniel comes to us all the way from Berlin, so there’ll be a modest suggested donation.

This particular Annie Palmer “has never had a song featured on Dawson’s Creek.” And the Metro Times calls Mr. Kahn “the hottest damn songwriter you’ve never heard of.” Come hear for yourself.

The first ever Shadow Art Fair, held July 15th, 2006 at the Corner Brewery in Ypsilanti, was a resounding success.  The next one is scheduled for December 2nd, and we’re looking to fill a small number of tables with some good work - especially work by local artists and work that complements what’s already represented at the Fair.  Deadline for applications is October 15th.  Apply here.

Every Thursday, 9pm. Rain or shine. Free unless noted.

Sep 14: Papillon (McQueen and Hoffman in classic prison escape flick)

Sep 21: City of God (Brazil; growing up gangster in poor Rio de Janeiro)

Sep 28: Titticut Follies (Wiseman doc about mental institution talent show)

Oct 5: Wizard People, Dear Reader (Harry Potter re-narrated)

Oct 12: the Celebration (Denmark; Dogme #1; family dinner gone wrong)

Oct 19: Plague Dogs (animation; escaped lab dogs hunted as Bubonic carriers)

Oct 26: the Fearless Vampire Killers (Polanski vampire spoof)

plus two special screenings:

Tues Sep 19: [Bollywood night] (to honor Twitch microcinema; curated by Vinh/Zack)

Mon Oct 9: Who is Bozo Texino? (secret history of hobo graffiti; $5-$10 sliding scale to Bill Daniel, travelling filmmaker)

Screenings will always end by midnight. Please arrive on time and be respectful of our house and our neighbors, so we can keep doing this.

The Summer series ended with a heartwarming screening of Breaking Away. For those of you who witnessed my ‘orneriness’ that night before I basically kicked everyone out, I apologize: I was coming down with a cold that resulted from my most hectic week all Summer and lasted all weekend.

It’s between seasons this week, so we’re taking a break to orient the new housemates and figure out the Fall schedule. Plus, I have a wedding and bachelor party and all that to go to in Detroit.

Please post your suggestions for movies to screen here. We give special attention to people who actually read and post on this blog. Some things we like: movies that DESERVE to be screened at a small microcinema, obscure movies, local movies, documentaries (especially Wiseman), movies that take place all (or mostly) in one place, movies without explosions (and some with), and much more.

Or, in keeping with Godard’s formula - it’s not a question of screening a political film, but of screening a film politically.

1. My last screening at the Bluish Barn happens tonight (don’t worry — they’ll continue throughout the year; I just won’t be there). The film is “Breaking Away” (1979). Our first sports movie, this one features skinny cyclists with hilarious haircuts and a Midwestern college town. Sound familiar? It’s students vs. townies, Americans vs. Italians; it’s the perfect way to end the summer and figure out your next move. It starts at 10PM. Oh, and, if you have one, bring your bike. The plan is to do a victory lap around Ann Arbor after the film.

2. I’m leaving town this Saturday. On Friday night, I’ll be at Old Town starting at around 11 o’clock for some going-away drinks and goodbyes. If you can’t make tonight, come by tomorrow and give me a big ol’ hug.

3. I’ll miss all of you. Ann Arbor has been very good to me, and I hope to see you all again soon. If you ever find yourself in New York, please stop by:

38-38 43rd Street
Long Island City, Queens, NY 11101

thanks for everything.

=mikey=

I’ll be at the Wolverzine Fest all day tomorrow, sharing a table with my friend Eric who does nice screenprinted band posters. It’s free and open to the public. Stop by and say hi and I’ll give you a map to the bonfire….

Speaking of which: the End of Summer Bonfire has been moved to Sunday, because it’s going to be wet and hot tomorrow night and dryer and cooler on Sunday.

Maximum Summer. Top Secret Summer. Whatever you called it, it’s almost over. So it’s time for the annual End of Summer Bonfire!

last weekend in August, 11pm - ?
at the awesome bonfire spot, NOT at the Bluish Barn
Call or email me for details or directions.

If you have wood to burn, please bring it. If you’re walking up the path and you see the wood we dropped there, please pick up a log or two. If it’s raining, then we’ll do this Sunday instead. Call or email to make sure.

See you at the race tonight! Look for the cart and riders who look like this:

I’m playing a quiet and intimate show with Jay Mephi at 7pm tonight at the West Park Bandshell. We might do some Songs for Dead Blondes and some newer older stuff. After not having played for most of a year. Should be interesting.

Also tonight: premeire of Snakes on a Plane.  Mikey and I will be going to the midnight screening at Showcase and throwing little rubber snakes around every time they mention snakes and being generally obnoxious.  Join us.

That’s right, it’s the anniversary of the 2003 North American Blackout. We’ll be shutting off the power in our house, lighting candles inside and a fire in the backyard, and boiling all our water. We encourage you to do the same, and to join us as we give away all our cold beer before it skunks and ice cream before it melts. Bring acoustic instruments or other noisemakers if you want music. Let’s make the statistical jump in birth rate more than just an urban legend.