The Merman Cometh

Well Gossip Lovers,

The rumors– fanned by that McCartin woman in her Portsmouth Herald Spotlight “Gossip Column,” – are true. But I got the real scoop first. (Must be the hat hum : )?

It’s the ultimate combination - the fast fingers and frozen fins of a single man, married to Harbor Light Stage. Translated that means a new, one-man performance piece, the “unbelievably true story of ‘The Accordion Playing Merman’” says HLS’s Kent Stephens.

Kent and the Music Hall’s ED Patricia Lynch have spent months dragging every teeny tiny detail out of Gary Sredzienski regarding his insanely, off-beat life; given it order, (the tales not the life), and convinced him to revel all.

May 7 to 17 the Merman will take center stage at the York Harbor Reading Room.

No Gossip Lovers. I’m not mistaken. The event WILL be at the private club - open for this event to all of us, (they'll even allow their renowned chef to cook for us! It's dinner theater!). It seems they are as impressed by the master musician as the rest of us are. Well kudos for them.

So, tell me G Lovers; did you know Gary spent his earliest years as a performer, (starting at age 10), working with the aging troupe of vaudevillians known as the Hog Hollow Hooters? Well, I’m sure you’re aware he’s a world renown, master accordionist, WUNH DJ, environmentalist and that he swims in area creeks right through the frigid weather.(See earlier postings and video).

Please! You know I’m not making this stuff up. Oh and you can add amateur historian and pro humorist to that list.

What’s wonderful is that someone finally recognized all that talent that could help direct it. Gold star Kent! Gold star Patricia! And lucky, lucky us.

Finally we'll all get a chance to see Gary’s passions bundled and brought to fruition in a single performance. Oh the sweet, sweet bounty!

Yours in the love of seeing potential realized,

Gossip Lady

Note to all: tomorrow night, March 3, Harbor Light’s Bold Face Reading will present “My Name is Rachel Corrie” at the Portsmouth Pearl. They’re always delightful!
And check out G Lady’s video interview with Gary at his Maine home.
First photo: Gary, "the early years."
Photo of "Big Gary," by Grace Peirce.

Extreme Yoga

Greetings Gossip Lovers,

Do you know where your Yoga instructor spends his or her spare time?

Well this one just hangs around - literally; oh and she happens to do an occasional strip tease, a funky dance and whatever burlesque, vaudeville or cabaret move comes to mind.

Carrie Tyler, of Dover Yoga & Dover Pilates, also moonlights as the artistic director of Tricycle Dance Company, which does all those forms of art, along with modern dance, tap, stilting, and spoken word in its cabaret/burlesque style productions. Pictured here is Carrie performing an aerial fabric dance.

Want to learn more? See more? Well THAT McCartin Woman will have a profile in the Portsmouth Herald on Feb. 14 that describes Carrie's path to classy stripper and mistress of movement. Then that evening you can catch Carrie and Tricycle performing at The Red Barn at Outlook Farm, South Berwick, Maine.

These photos make you wonder about the benefits of Yoga don't they?

Carrie actually teaches a form of Yoga with Rasamaya (another of her businesses) that includes Yoga on hung cloth called yoga flying .

And you think you live in a provincial, New England community. PAH!

You just have to get out more.

Hope you enjoy these scrumptious photos.They hit the right spot on a cold winter day eh?

Before I let you go, check out the latest Gossip Lady video for a great interview and peek into the house and head of Gary Sredzienski, the cold-creek-swimmin', accordion-playin' man.

Yours in scrumptious art
G Lady

The Swimming Mad Man: Creek Man

Greetings Gossip Lover,

Nope that’s not the Creature from the Black Lagoon - though the Creature is this guy’s hero.

The man in black is of course Gary Sredzienski, accordionist extraordinaire, also known as Creek Man, Kittery, Maine’s, swimmer of frigid waters. DC snapped a picture of him heading to the creek for a few laps in preparation for Saturday’s benefit swim (January 31).

For the second year Gary is taking the plunge for a local charity, this time it’s a 4.5-mile “romp” for Seacoast Hospice, from Sagamore Creek in Portsmouth to the end of New Castle Island.

Gossip Lady checked in with Creek Man Thursday night to ask how he’d spend Friday, the day before taking to the coldest water in the lower 48. “Relaxing, totally relaxing,” he said. “I was going for one more experimental swim to try out a new neoprene sock, but I decided to skip it.” Instead Gary will put the fins up and chow down. His day’s menu will consist of steak, salmon, bananas, other fruit, oatmeal and sweet potatoes.

Next Thursday check out Gossip Lady’s Portsmouth Herald video, www.seacoastonline.com/gossiplady, when she takes you inside Gary’s, Kittery home. G Lady and DC check out the art, watch him suit up and find out what’s stashed in the cellar.
Join us!

Till then; Yours in Fun & Informative Chatter

Gossip Lady

Donate/sponsor to the swim at www.seacoasthospice.org/donate_form/dform.cfm.\