Now That's a Friendly Toast

Greeting Gossip Lovers,

We all know it's not just the "big food," the fun tchatchkis and engaging and surprising outsider's art that get us to the Friendly Toast. That waitstaff sure can be entertaining.

Take note of the fellow on the right. By day Geoff Palmer, the guy with the drawers to match the decor. By night Geoff Useless, vocals and guitar for the Guts. That would be him on the lower left.

Geoff, his co Gut Nate Doyle, voice and bass, and Courtney Denison of The Lanterns, who did a European tour with the Guts, all work the local Portsmouth eatery. You can tell them from most the waitstaff; they usually smile table side. - Artists. - They need the tips.

Listen before I sign off, may I ask - even if you're busy - that you scroll down two segments (to the little black & white witch photo), and start reading at paragraph four. There's a link to a petition that urges the Senate to include arts and culture concerns in the American Recovery and Reinvestment Plan. They vote this week.

Please don't delay.

Sign the petition, tip fairly, and keep the kids off the street!

Yours in Art
Gossip Lady

Name that Majorette

Greetings Gossip Lovers,

So give it your best shot. Who is this "queen of movement?" (Scroll slowly. Answer below).

"This photo is of me in my glory days as head majorette of Taylor Center High School in Taylor MI...don't ask what year!" she says.

If you happen to have a hankering for keeping step and twirling baton this sweetie will be offering a six-week "Baton Twirling Workshop" starting mid February - all age - no charge, but contributions happily accepted. The Leftist Marching Band is looking for new recruits folks!

Final hint: This activity is only a slight departure from her usual.

Good Guessing My Friends
Gossip Lady

The answer:

Pontine Theatre's Co-Director
(a movement theater company)
Marguerite Mathews

Who is that witch & mobilize for art

Greetings Gossip Lovers,

So, who is the little cutie-patutie to the left (snapped pre mover and shaker era)?

Hint 1: The toddler's Halloween witch costume proved an "omen." Many in the art & culture community would credit her with serious feats of magic.

Hint 2: Word is she's cast a spell over employees, board and supporters. They believe she has a knack for seeing the future, and are willing to follow her there.

Hint 3: (And pretty much a give away), leads a major arts concern.

****

Okay before I tell you who it is here's a quick bit of news. Mark Fleisher, former Ballet New England dancer and admin, wrote to hand on a bit of important news. Mark is getting the word out about a petition that urges the Senate to include arts and culture concerns in the American Recovery and Reinvestment Plan. Perhaps more so than in most regions the Seacoast recognizes art and culture as business; one that helps generate revenue for others around them.

But alas, there seems to be others in the dark on the matter. Last night G Lady was shocked to hear national politicians call money for the arts a waste, and pork barrel. Okay, listen up Washington. Ask the employees of said art organizations, and the ones at nearby restaurants and businesses that benefit from the art concerns product if arts' pork. In these parts it's called bacon on the table! Enough with this. Read the research! There's plenty that verifies art stimulates economy.

So gossip lovers - get those fingers flying and send a message to Washington ASAP: art belongs in the package. Contact Senators Judd Gregg and Jeanne Shaheen and tell them we need their vote! You can make your voice heard at: http://capwiz.com/artsusa/utr/2/?a=12426636&i=82686100&c=

Also, our Senator Gregg is on a key committee debating President Obama's economic plan. Call him at 202-224-3324. Ask him KINDLY to support Obama's critical investments in education and the arts.

****

So back to the fun trivia question. Who is that tiny witch? Patricia Lynch, Executive Director of the Music Hall, founder of "Writers on a New England Stage," "Intimately Yours" and the lady that leads the venue's physical and art charge into the future.

Sorry, she can't wave her wand and pass that bill. Sign that petition!

Bruce Pingree doing WHAT?

Greeting Gossip Lovers,

Well this is a sight to behold hum? Here lies one of the well meaning who's getting his do
for what he's done. Or maybe its because of a more recent move. Read on Gossip Lovers!

The Black and White below depicts Larry Simon BEFORE he had his great idea for a jazz and poetry festival. The guy passed out on the floor is also Simon, snapped last week, just months before the fifth annual Jazzmouth - the festival he founded.

Simon says the additional, average 3 1/2 hours a day on top of a teaching job and home life are taking its toll, (obviously). His wife is saying the same thing he adds. Loudly.

So what’s a guy to do? Add to the event of course. You can learn more about all that in that McCartin woman’s Spotlight Gossip Column next week. But for now – here’s proof Larry is coming unhinged.

One of the new events is “Poetry for Kids” at G Willikers the week before the official festival. And you’ll never guess who is working it with him. Bruce Pingree, Press Room manager, radio DJ and music aficionado

Now pause and ponder that a moment. Lots of tiny, noisy tots and Bruce Pingree.

Let’s just say Bruce isn’t what you’d call Mr. Warm and Fuzzy - cool and smart to be sure. But kid cuddly?

When asked why he chose Bruce Simon LAUGHS. “He’s going to terrify the little kids,” he says. “I can see it. … He’s going to stare at them and the kids will go ‘mommy that man is scaring me.’” He ends with another maniacal laugh.

“Nah. Really, I chose Bruce because he’s one of the best readers of jazz poetry anywhere.” It's that teacher thing kicking in. If you want to hook kids, give them the best. And so that’s exactly what Simon is doing.

Bruce will read from Wynton Marsalis's "Jazz: ABZ” and other children's books, accompanied by Larry Simon and Friends.

All joshin’ aside, those will be some lucky, lucky kids.

Yours in fun and arts
Gossip 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.\

A bucket of fun : )

Good Evening

Get a load of this! I'm not saying where I got it, but I will tell you that it's a pic of writer Michael Kimball - "Green Girls" and other novels, and numerous plays including "The Secret of Comedy" which premiered at the Players' Ring a few years ago.

This is Mike a day after arriving back in York, Maine, after a wild trip to NYC early this week. Nope not partying. He was there for a Monday reading of "Secret" at the Abingdon Theatre.

Alas he missed the matinee. He was otherwise occupied at the Lenox Hill Hospital ER, getting 3 liters of IV fluids and anti nausea meds pumped through his system. And you thought your bout with the stomach flu was a drag....

Anyway he did rally and made it to the 7 p.m. reading.

He's also feeling much better. This pic was snapped during a precautionary dip, not the real thing. (Bucket's a nice touch hum)?

You can find out what Michael is up to in next week's "Spotlight Gossip Column." Can't steal that McCartin woman's scoop - she can get so nasty. But I can say Kimball has a whole lot of stuff going on.

Your's in whatever fun comes my way
G. Lady

Hateful Little Cakes

Greetings Gossip Lovers,

So you're probably wondering who the hood in the hood is?

Well it is none other than nice guy, and Music Hall box-office-big-wig,
Chris Greiner.

To the right is the mild-mannered manager version. The hooded edition on your left is Greiner as a Hateful Little Cake.

May I pause here to say it again; Hateful Little Cakes. That has to be one of the best band names ever. LOVE it. Feel the rhythm on the tongue: Hateful Little Cakes.

Anyway, G Lady crashed HLC's rehearsal at its tiny, crammed, cold, room; rugs on the wall, wires snaking everywhere - by musician standards a palatial rehearsal space. The evening's beer of choice , scattered amongst the snaking cables : Geary's, Smuttynose and Pilsner Urqwell.

Alas intrepid videographer DC was unable to come along and tape, so you'll just have to take my word on this, the sound is great. Also enjoyable was listening to vocalist Peter Duschesne and guitarist Rob Braswell (Bobby to those near and dear), pull Chris's chain. Seems the two love telling people the band came in first in the RPM music challenge. Every time Pete says something like "we won hands down," "or we came in first" Chris visibly squirms, clearly afraid Pete will be quoted - and so he is. : )

Yes, yes, the point is RPM is NOT a competition, which is why Rob says (as Chris cringes) "That's why it's so awesome we DID win."

Chiming in on their top prize honors is Michael Palace, synthesizer and and the latest addition to the band Terry Palmer, on bass.

When not engaged in Chris ribbing there's lots of talk about timing - Pete's additional, unannounced moves - and generally who's doing what.

You can catch the boys at Riverrun Bookstore, tentatively April 11. Check the "Portsmouth Herald Spotlight" closer to the date.

Speaking of checking: have you seen Gossip Lady latest videos? This one is not for the sensitive flower, but definitely for the well humored. Gossip Lady and DC dropped in on John Breneman and Chris Elliott while they rehearsed for their "Humor Gazette" video series. See it at www.seacoastonline.com/gossiplady.

All right then, off I go. Drop back in soon. I plan on popping in on Larry Simon this week to find out how things are going with Jazzmouth preparations.

Yours in good natured-gossip
G Lady

(Top two pics, Chris, pic to the left Pete, on right (L to R) Rob, Terry, Michael)