Fierce Females at USC's Ground Zero Performance Cafe November 9th

The same group of women who put on imMEDIAte Justice are still at it. Women's Creative Collective is presenting spoken word and activist duo climbing poeTree at Ground Zero Performance Cafe on November 9, 7pm-9:30pm, completely free of charge and open to the public.

Ground Zero is a spacious and simultaneously intimate space on USC's campus. I saw Staceyann Chin, anot there in 2008 when she appeared as a part of USC GLBT Assembly's programming. She performed and also read from her then-forthcoming memoir, The Other Side of Paradise.

What's a "Griot"? Is it verb? Is it noun? Is it animal? Is it vegetable? Wikipedia says:

The griot delivers history as a poet, praise singer, and wandering musician. The griot is a repository of oral tradition. As such, they are sometimes also called bards. According to Paul Oliver in his book Savannah Syncopators, "Though [the griot] has to know many traditional songs without error, he must also have the ability to extemporize on current events, chance incidents and the passing scene. His wit can be devastating and his knowledge of local history formidable." Although they are popularly known as 'praise singers', griots may also use their vocal expertise for gossip, satire, or political comment.

Sounds good to me.

Women's Creative Collective presents
Griot and Riot: Poetry, Storytelling, and Writing Workshop for Radical Change with climbing poeTree
November 9, 7-9:30pm
Ground Zero Performance Cafe

615 Child's Way (on USC's Campus)
Open to the public & Free of Charge

Asian Lesbian Web Series 'That's What She Said' at The Dolphin Bar!

Another one of the many reasons I stick around and love Los Angeles is, of course, friends. Wonderful friends with whom projects like this one are undertaken. Completely organically birthed one rainy day nearly two years ago, That's What She Said Web Series is completing our first season and, thanks to tremendous moral support, we've decided to work on a second season! We're having a party to celebrate the end of season 1 and to raise funds for equipment for season 2 (we've been working with a borrowed camera and well, it's time to give that baby back).

A couple of months ago, some of the TWSS girls and a few of our friends visited The Dolphin Bar in Redondo Beach. We found out it had been there for 40 years and allegedly is the birth place of that lovely cocktail, the Wet Pussy (usually a hit-or-miss drink, depending on the bar, and our aficionado friend approved, so we're inclined to believe the lore). As we sat their on the sorta-outdoor smoking patio, we knew that we had to have an event there sometime.

So, when it came time to consider having a season finale/wrap party, this was the first place I called. And Jim, the owner, has been incredibly generous and kind to us. All he is asking is that people drink. We plan on making that happen. Join us!

TWSS Season Finale Party & Fundraiser
Saturday, October 23
9:00pm - 2am

The Dolphin Bar
1995 Artesia Blvd.
Redondo Beach, CA

Screening at 9:45pm
$10 suggested donation
Raffle prizes!
5 raffle tickets for a $10 donation
1 ticket per <$10 donation
tickets will be sold for $1 throughout the night

See more details at our Facebook event page & RSVP!

If you can't make it, I hope you'll consider donating via ChipIn:

CicLAvia - Owning The Streets

I am sitting in the South Bay reading all the #CicLAvia tweets, and I have a smile on my face even though I'm not there and wish I could be. 

I'm seeing Twitpics of people playing tennis in front of City Hall, bikes all over, and people with huge smiles on their faces. It's a gorgeous day to take over Los Angeles streets. 


I'm looking forward to seeing this excitement carry over and hope that the people who are only just discovering a love for Los Angeles because of this event will remember that this Los Angeles is always there, underneath the traffic and the smog. Being able to stand in the center of a usually-busy street in broad daylight, surrounded by people is-- well, anyone who has marched in a May Day Rally or a Pride Parade or AIDS Walk can tell you-- it's empowering. 

Though I'm not there now, I can feel the Los Angeles love in the air, even from twenty miles away, and I'm happy. I hope this love carries on, and that ownership of the streets continues (while respecting traffic laws and safety, of course). Because this is our city, and these are our streets, and this event is only a reminder of that.

Tonight's TNC Focus on Immigrant Rights & the DREAM Act at Señor Fish

The 2nd-to-last Tuesday Night Cafe of the 2010 season will be a collaborative night with APALC, JACL-PSWD, APALA, UCLA Labor Center, IDEAS, NAKASEC, KRC, DREAM Team LA/The DREAM Is Coming

Since the rain arrived, we will be at Señor Fish on 1st & Alameda instead of at our usual Aratani Courtyard. Señor Fish has been such a great friend to TNC. Come, have a taco and a beer and a lot of good energy.

1st&3rd Tuesday Night Cafe

7:30PM at Señor Fish (1st&Alameda)

October 5

 

The rainy season arrives and Tuesday Night Cafe gets tucked away for a few months while Tuesday Night Project will continue to dream and scheme and work-party. 

It's amazing how much a part of my life the Tuesday Night family and work have become in just two and half short years. At least, it seems short. This group of people and the philosophy/mission of ART+COMMUNITY is undeniably one of the main reasons I love this city. 

When I was away at the beginning of 2009, I had no idea that this community would become so much a part of my life. Things happen so fast, and so beautifully.