that one random adventure (+3 for monday) ep. 6

LVA c/o 98. God, were we ever that young?

"I never had any friends later on like the ones I had when I was twelve. Jesus, does anyone?"
--from the movie Stand By Me

The beauty and curse of social media is being completely connected and available. On one hand, it's great to find that awesomely quippy friend from 5th period algebra class and catch up with them. On the other hand, the creepy stalker kid from third period biology who confesses in his friend request that he's always been in love with you can find you too. What can you do?

I was very lucky in high school to have found friends like Ryan and Alex. In high school, we're all desperately trying to find our identity, that one thing that sets apart from everyone else. Coming out freshman year, I was well on 
the path of being "the token gay guy." Had I not met these two guys, I would have been stuck with that identity the rest of my life. They grounded me. We palled around and my sexual orientation was never an issue with them, which if you think about is pretty amazing in the late 90's. The three of us were inseparable junior and senior year. When we got to college, I would live with Ryan and our friend Eddy in L.A. during breaks. Alex moved to Chicago sophomore year and we roomed together for a semester.

Then life happens. Marriages. Kids. Grown-up shit. Ryan lives in Chicago now and is pretty much my straight husband. I've seen Alex a couple of times going back to Vegas for the holidays, as has Ryan. My interactions with Alex as of late are all on Facebook, as seems to be the fashion. Luddite Ryan has no social media ties, so he goes the old fashioned route and actually calls him.(What?!) So, in some way, the three of us are connected. But the three of us hadn't been together in the same room since 2003, Ryan's wedding. So when I found out Alex was going to be in town to catch the Notre Dame game with his uncles, I was pretty fucking stoked.


Friday night started pretty chill. Pregamed with some 40's as we do and then went to a bar. With my Foursquare check-in, I added a pic of us, which automatically updated to my Twitter and Facebook. Ryan always gives me shit about needing to be so connected all the time. But literally moments after this pic is shared with virtual world, there is a comment:

After getting confirmation that Ryan, Alex, and I were in the same room (a fact that we were all still in awe over), our dear friend and fellow LVA alum Marie Hale Ramos texts me: "Keep everyone there for 15 minutes." No need to tell her where we were, it was detailed in my Foursquare check-in. And as promised, 15 minutes later, we are joined by the beautiful Marie Hale Ramos.

Memories are shared all around. How when Alex first moved here, Marie had moved to the burbs and we went over there for dinner. How Ryan and I ran into Marie at Market Days 2 years prior with her then boyfriend. Now they're married and expecting their first child. And yes, while the immediacy of social media was responsible for this reunion...




...it was the hours of reminiscing over pints face to face that made this night amazing. No one will argue that real life interactions beats social media interaction any day. But as years go by, and with more distance between you, social media becomes the easiest and most convenient route to stay in touch. You just have to be careful not to take those interactions (or your relationships) for granted.

3 things I'm looking forward to the rest of the week

So I'm going to NYC this weekend. God bless those airline miles. Here are a couple of pre-planned adventures.


Theatre

I've waited for a live version of this movie musical since I was 11. Little girls who wanted to be actresses usually cite Annie as their inspiration. For me, it was Newsies. And Stand By Me. So when they announced this would be premiering at the Papermill, there was no way I was going to miss it. 


Geek



So, imagine if geeks had a pride parade, but instead of down streets, it was housed in a convention center. And instead of floats, there were were booths with sweet merch and seriously discounted books. Instead of politicians trying to gain favor, there's an artist alley where two of my favorite artists, Jim Cheung and Joe Eisma will just happen to be. (Update: Joe Eisma will not be there. Sad day.) And instead of drag queens in loud, crazy costumes we have Cos-Players in...loud, crazy costumes. Huh.


Unfortunately, I will have to run out to get to the Papermill right when the Marvel: Cup O'Joe Panel (with Marvel COO Joe Quesdada) will be taking place. Seriously sucks, as this panel is the highlight of every con for me. But then again, I'll be seeing Newsies closing weekend. Epic win.


Adventure/Family

New Year's Eve 2010 with our fellow trouble-maker Squirrel

Over are many years of friendship, Parker and I have had many adventures and caused a whole bunch of trouble. We have taken over a Midwestern town's gay scene for a weekend, been to VIP parties (of which one of us may have hooked up with a congressman once) and countless road trips and adventures on the West Coast. Now that he lives in Manhattan and I'll be in town for the weekend, the Big Apple better watch out.

When I realize my best male friendships (gay or straight) are best realized in threes, it's time to hit the road, before things get inappropriate LOL. Laters.

that one time i made up for lost time...

So...I've been MIA for a bit. Sorry about that. I planned to blog all throughout Social Media Week, but funny thing, real life got in the way.  How bout that?So, what have I been up to the last couple of weeks? Here are some highlights:


Social Media Week

The global event Social Media Week hit Chicago for the first time this year and I had the great pleasure of producing and moderating a panel discussion at Catalyst Ranch. Titled Social Media & The Next Generation, the topic of improving communication between the generations has been a particular passion of mine ever since I began teaching. Blessed with an awesome panel of social media pros and twenty-somethings, it was a pretty awesome night.









And of course, I had to attend other events and network. Tons of fun. Social Media people like to drink: there was an open bar almost everywhere I went. If you're interested in my new friends, hijinks and shenanigans, just follow my Twitter feed, looking for hashtag #SMWChicago.



Family

Jessa is having a baby. We had a great celebration to welcome Baby McHoffman. It was wonderful to see so many great friends from college. Perry remarked how amazing it is that we're still alive after all the crazy shit we did ten years ago. Seriously. Amazing. It was a great quasi-almost <gulp> ten year college reunion.






















Most importantly, DJ is in town. Nuff said.

Theatre

Besides palling around with my families at Porchlight Music Theatre and Silk Road Rising, I have been rehearsing a very interesting piece with the fine folks at Interrobang Theatre Project. The Argument by Gregory S. Moss is a surreal, post-Apocalyptic piece written in response to Hurricane Katrina. Towards the end there is a fantasy production number that I provide choreography for. The show runs from 10/6-11/6. Check it out: support new theatre and a new company!





















Besides that, I've been doing quite a bit of this



and





and not enough of this

Anyhow...it's fall. Less outside play time, more...well inside writing time. So get ready for more blogging and a different blog look for October.


Have a great weekend!

that one time 10 years later

September 11, 2001

Junior year of college at Columbia. Living on Broadway and Barry in Chicago. Only had an afternoon class that Tuesday, so I was out partying late the night before (remember college?). I didn't set my alarm. Got to bed around 4AM.

Shot up awake at 8:30AM. For some reason, instead of going back to sleep I went to the living room and turned on the TV. And you couldn't escape the tragedy on any channel.

The boy I was dating worked at O'Hare at the time. I called him. He was fine.

I walked out of my apartment and felt weird and numb. I wasn't in NYC, but still... the air in the world felt different. I walked to the corner store and bought a pack of smokes. The Indian guy who owned the shop, who was usually very taciturn and sullen, was angrily watching the news on his portable TV.

"They're going to come after us next!" he said.

"But you're not from Afghanistan," I assured him. "You're an American."

"They put your people in camps!" he asserted. It didn't feel right to correct him.

"It's a different time."

"Worse...you're dark. You're tall. They might think you're one of them. They might come after you." My blood ran cold. "This is bullshit!" he screamed and knocked over a display of gum. I ran out of the store and smoked like 5 cigarettes at once.

The rest of the day was a blur. Trying to get a hold of all of my friends in NYC (which didn't happen until that weekend). Letting my family know that no terrorist activity was happening in Chicago.

That day, people wanted blood. People wanted revenge. The gut reaction was retaliation. A perpertrator was identified and his death would make us all feel a whole lot better.

Before that day, I could get to the airport half hour before a flight and be fine to board. My mom was always able to walk with me to the gate and stay with me until my flight took off when I came home for breaks. That's not possible any more.

War was declared. One that confused us all. The perpertrator was found and killed almost 10 years after the fact. And his death felt cold and meaningless.

I'd like to say the world is a better place. I'll just say the world is a different place. 

I'm not gonna post numbers here as a morbid death toll. Let's just say, we owe it to all the lives lost and effected by the tragedy on the World Trade Center and those lost and effected in this war declared on the basis of retaliation and revenge.

Remember that life is the most precious thing. Living it to your best ability is the only way you can truly pay tribute to those we lost. 

Danny B is new to town (St. Louis) Director's Cut (rating: Epic)

On Russian Hill in San Francisco with Peter & Bailey, June 2011

previously on You KNOW...that ONE guy...

Itchin' for one last adventure for the summer, our hero Danny B buys a one way ticket to a city he's never been to...a city where he doesn't know a single soul. Packed with a change of clothes, his only resource is his smart phone. Can our hero survive in a foreign city while having a kick ass time and make it back home alive?

part 1: The Departure

The only thing planned about the adventure is the ticket being bought. Exciting and thrilling at the same time. When I tell people of my adventure, they either think I'm brave or crazy. Not a lot of middle ground. My co-worker Jason suggests I visit the Central West End and check out a place called Drunken Fish. Erik from Chicago Comics suggests I check out Star Clipper Comics while I'm there. That's pretty much it.

The Friday before was a long ass day. Work, errands, seeing the preview for Putting it Together, shooting some promotional B-Roll for it and then hanging out with my favorite red head princess, Rachel Quinn, back for a visit from Pittsburgh. Ryan and I met up with her and her friends for drinks and stayed out until 3 AM. My bus left at 6:30AM. I'd only be getting like 2 hours sleep. Oy.

Got up at 5AM. Showered. Packed (forgot to do that last night). Pretty sure I was still drunk from the night (RE: 2 hours) before. Get to Union Station, find the Megabus loading zone. And wait. Three Megabuses, none of which is the one to St. Louis. Our bus finally pulls up, thirty minutes late.This is my first time riding the Megabus. Its riders are...eclectic. We're all a clausterfuck mass of people standing in front of 3 empty buses, the drivers not forthcoming with information. We shuffle aimlessly en masse as we try to psychically guess which bus we're meant to be on.

The bus to St. Louis-Memphis arrives. I pick my seat in the back lower level (inadvertently losing the cute skinny hipster guy I was making eyes at.) Instead, a heavy sweaty guy using old 7-11 plastic bags as luggage plops down next to me. Swoon.

"I guess its going to be you and me." Great.

"If I snore, just nudge me. And I WILL SNORE." Fuckin great. 

"We right by the bathroom?" I nod, gesturing with my head behind me. The sounds that came out of the bathroom for the next five minutes were akin to a walrus mating with a rhino while doing the macarena with jackhammers. Gross.

Also, this alleged plug that's supposed to keep my phone, my lifeline, my only resource for this trip charged...is not giving any juice. FML.

part 2: The Pit Stop

I get some sleep, thank God. My seat mate doesn't snore...that badly. I wake up in Lemont, IL. We're at a truck stop called Dixie's and I grab some biscuits and gravy at a booth I can plug my phone into. They had a $7.99 all you can eat breakfast buffet. If I had been there with the Bertucellis and were there for longer than 20 minutes, I probably would've gone for that. But the biscuits were delicious and the gravy was good, if not a bit watery. 

If you ever wanna feel like the most popular kid in skewl, log onto Grindr as you pass through a small town. Every one will say hi. Every one. I got some priceless gems like "Me like new Asian in town" and "Let me smell your feet." Ah, small town gays. Just as weird as big city gays, if not a bit more forthcoming.

One of my former students Ryan Martinez commented on my foursquare check-in that he was 15 minutes away from me! Didn't see it though til I got on the bus. The biscuits and gravy were delicious, but I wish I was adventurous enough to try the Fried Mush, despite the warnings from the very nice waitress. Do me a favor, someone: if you pass through Dixie's in Lemont, IL, try the Fried Mush and let me know how it is, dying to know.

I left without trying to bear claw game to win a plushie Thor. I didn't have singles. Kinda sad about that, but there was some sleep to be had. My seat mate returned from McDonalds and gave me his second apple pie. Maybe I'd misjudged him.

part 3: The Arrival

Lucky enough to sleep the rest of the way through. Woke up to the Arch outside my window. Kick ass. Dropped off at Union Station, watch cute skinny hipster boy pass by and get into a car and it hits me: I'm all alone. Cripes. Exciting and scary.

A sign outside of Union Station told me that Busch Stadium, Scottrade Center and the Arch-Landing Casinos (ooh Casino!) were that --->way. Nothing about where I might catch a subway or a bus. I don't want to go to Busch Stadium or the Scottrade Center. Maybe the casino, but not until way later. How the hell am I going to get around?

Well, first thing's first, I definitely needed a cup of coffee. Union Station is pretty massive. It was a shopping center, actually, and people were actually hanging out. It felt like the shops at Navy Pier. Or the Boulevard Mall in Vegas. Anyhow, I found an Einstein's Bagels and got an iced coffee. The employees were very nice and the conversation I had went something like this:

DANNY B:  (taking iced coffee)Thanks. Hey, is there a public transportation system like a train or a bus around here?
MANAGER (behind the counter, on cell phone) Huh?
EMPLOYEE: Yeah. That's the Metro Link.
DB: Cool, can you point it out to me?
E: I'll do ya one better, boo. Lemme walk you there. Calvin?!
M (behind the counter, on cell phone) Huh?
E: I'ma walk this customer to the train.
M: (to cell phone) Hold on. (to EMPLOYEE) What yer doorin?
E: I said I'ma walk this customer to the train. He new.
M: This ain't your break.
E: I know!
M: So don't have a cigarette or get a snack.
E: I know!
M (back on cell phone) This ain't you break!

She was nice enough to walk me all the way through Union Station, outside (where she lit a cigarette, I promised I wouldn't tell) and to the train station. I told her about my adventure and she told me "You crazy boo." When I asked her where I should go or see, she said "Try Central West End. You'll like it. It's bougie as hell." Done.

I bought a day pass for $7.50 and then started down the stairs to the train platform. I quickly realized there was no turnstile for me to insert the ticket. I thought it'll probably be like a traditional train, where a conductor comes by to check your ticket.

Looking at the train map, it's a pretty easy train system to figure out. Two lines, Red and Blue. Easy peasy lemon squeezey. I was two stops away from Central West End, so I stayed standing when I boarded. A beared guy with rosary beads came in a couple of minutes after me, pretty hurriedly. After we were in motion, he muttered, "Crap," then looked at me and asked, "Is this going to the Airport or Shrewsbury?"

"I'm not sure," I replied. He tells me that he's supposed to meet someone there, just got in from Chicago, yadda yadda and I'm all, "Great. He's going to ask me for money." Instead, he makes small talk, asking about my day. At about that time, I notice no conductor has come by to take a ticket.


"Oh yeah," he says, "We're kinda like on an honor system." What the?! Anyway, I tell him about my adventure and he digs it. "Avoid these areas here," he points out. "That's East St. Louis. You'll love the Central West End. Try to visit the Loop too," he points out Delmar Loop on the map, just two stops away. Navigating this burg's gonna be a lot easier than I thought.


My stop comes and I start to exit. "Have a great day!" he calls "Hope to see you again soon!" Nice guy. Everyone in St. Louis is soo nice so far.




part 4: Central West End

Central West End is the love child of SoHo and Lincoln Park. Trendy, cute and uber fun. Right when I got off the train and began walking to the CWE proper, there was the St. Nicholas festival, a smallish street fest with lots of Mediterranean food. The kabobs were delicious. Seriously, when the first thing you see when you get off the train, you're off to a good start.

What I really appreciate about CWE is how easy it is to traverse. Everything is all of one main street (Euclid) and there are tower maps all up on it. Coffee shops, second hand book shops, a neat place called the Chess Club, bars, and a midst these gorgeous historic manor homes

Seriously, block after block, huge mansions. Some streets completely made private for the residents. Uber bougie, but uber cute. Great neighborhood.

Did some window shopping, but I prolly looked out of place in some of the higher end boutiques wearing my hipster tank, grey shorts and Vans high tops (it was HOT). 

It was about time for late lunch and my co-worker Jason recommended a place called Drunken Fish, which happened to be in CWE. After checking in on foursquare (alas, no specials), I took in the dark wood/loft decor of this uber trendy sushi place. Not bad. Settled on a crispy roll (tuna, avocado and eel deep fried), hamachi (I always judge a sushi restaurant by their hamachi) and a Schlafly. 

As always, whenever a sushi restaurant has a "Spider-Man" or "Peter Parker" roll, it contains crab, the one food I'm allergic to. Oh the bitter irony of my life.


Have I mentioned how nice the people in St. Louis are? I start chatting with my waitress, telling her about my adventure. She thinks it kicks ass and definitely suggests going to the Loop and exploring, going to Fitz's to get a root beer float, and then tells me that there's a kick ass blues festival happening this weekend. WHAT?!

With my belly full of beer and sushi, a new plan a brewing and a (blues) song in my heart. I departed the drunken fish, headed out to the Metro Link and set out for...


part 5: the Loop

Where there was once sun, grey clouds loomed ahead. I thought, "I could just get on the train, I can beat this." The train arrived and as it pulled out, thunder and lightning. "I've got a hoodie," I thought. "I can handle anything." My stop arrives. Delmar Loop. I step off. As I walk away from the protective awning of the platform, the thunder and lightning worsen. I swear I see Miss Gulch ride by on her bike. I look for shelter, I try to figure out the best way to get to the Loop proper so I can seek shelter. All I find are parking lots and alleys. And I'm not talking Gene Kelley doing a tap dance kind of rain. I'm talking about "Auntie Em! Auntie Em!"-Irene, Jr. kind of rain. I'm trapped. Nowhere to go. Soaked completely. Finally, from atop the parking lot structure I tried to make a shelter, I see an East bound train returning. I run as fast as I can, try to get to the protection of the train. God bless the conductor for waiting. I sit dejected. I get off at CWE, wait out the rain in a placed called "St. Louis Bread" that looks a lot like Panera. In fact, when I ask for their wireless password, it's "panera." Odd. Thankfully, I had my change of clothes. As much as I want this adventure to last, I needed to seriously think about if I wanted to stay the night or go home. The rain pretty much closed the deal and using the really easy Megabus mobile website, I booked a really cheap ticket to get me back to Chicago the next morning.

The rain abates. Run to the train. Voyage to the Loop take 2. Home to Chuck Barry's "Blueberry Hill", this strip of eclectic shops and restaurants can be best described as a hybrid of the Melrose in L.A. and Wicker Park in Chicago. 


Per Emily's suggestion, I sat at the counter of the bustling Fitz's and had a homemade root beer float. Needing to burn off those delicious carbs, I continued my expedition of the loop. Working my way past a couple of head shops where I made a new friend (from a distance). Couldn't tell if he was stoned or if it was performance art. You tell me...

I found Star Clipper. Upon entering, there's nothing unusual to note. The surrounding perimeter shelves the weeklies and the central shelves holds the trades. No back issues beyond a month or two, it seems, but very well organized. The guys behind the counter were the perfect balance of too-cool-for-school snarky and helpful which is how i like my shop guys. And there were a lot of Angry Birds displays. What was up with that? Now the coolest thing they had was a mini artists alley that just happened to be going on that Saturday. How serendipitous, eh? I chatted with artists Ben Sawyer and Johnson as they drew my first comission sketch: me as an X-Man.

I spent a ridiculous amount of time at Star Clipper but it was well worth it. Met some really cool people and if I find myself in StL fpr a longer stretch of time, it's nice to know I have a shop away from home.
But seriously, it was getting dark. Time to keep this adventure rolling.

part 6: Big Muddy Blues Festival

So following Emily's directions, I found myself at Laclede's Landing. I was very happy to be able to check-in to the Big Muddy Blues fest on foursquare. I was bummed there was no badge to be earned, swarm or otherwise.

The historic cobblestone streets lent a definite New England flavor. Honestly, it was as awesome as any street fest in Chicago, just a lot more compressed. And the overall focus wasn't the drinking and the shenanigans. It was the music. And the vibe overall was very laid back and chill. It was a good way to spend the evening.

part 7: The Grove

After a walk along the Mississippi River (which was a hop, skip and a jump away from Big Muddy) it was time for me to explore the nightlife. From Googling to asking people on the street, I learned that the gay area of town was called the Grove. 

I hopped in a cab (as there was no Metro stop that went there) and went to the first bar I saw: Just John's. It was a really fun and chill place. If it lived in Chicago, it would be a less uppity Scarlet (they were playing flippy cup!) mixed with the front room and patio of Roscoes.  Made some fast friends (Hi Eric, John, Greg, Scott and James!) and had lots of laughs and drinks. Maybe some random smoochies. My phone was dying, so I was unfortunately unable to document most of the hijinks that occurred at Just John's. Let's just say, we had a lot of fun. 

On the patio, chatting with Greg, I notice this guy walk past about to exit, who looks really familiar. This guy has a beard...wearing rosary beads. Holy shit! It's the guy from the train at the beginning of my adventure. No joke. He was going to leave because he didn't know anyone, but since we ran into each other, he stayed and am I glad that he did. Turns out, he lives right across from Union Station and promised to get me there in time to make my bus. Rob was my guardian angel for the trip and I'm so glad to have met him. Such a nice, salt of the earth guy. The group hopped to another bar (I may have been too drunk to remember the name) and then as the clock struck 12:45, Rob and I hit the road to get to Union Station. There may have been a stop at Jack in the Box for drunk food. (Yes folks, they have Jack in the Box in StL!) The taste of Sourdough Jack always reminds me of leaving the bar with friends in Cali or Vegas, having had a great time, and associating it with the end of my adventure in StL could not be more apropos. PS my socks and underwear were still wet from the torrential storm when I boarded the bus at 1:30AM. Womp womp.


Wrap-Up
For a random adventure, it was a great time. Whole thing probably cost under $100, bus fare included. In 24 hours (bus left Chicago 7A Saturday, 9/3 and returned to Chicago at 7A Sunday, 9/4) I visited a city I'd never been, experienced as fully as I possibly good by exploring three neighborhoods, a street festival and a blues festival. Made some new friends, had some great times, and I would totally visit for longer. 


The people of St. Louis are very warm and hospitable. The city has a great culture to it and lots of really cool, eclectic things to do. I was entertained every second I was there. Grade A+


The only thing I would've changed about this adventure was bringing a blanket: Megabus is FREEZING on their overnight trips and I couldn't sleep very well.


Ultimately, I think I will make this a regular adventure, maybe monthly. Very fun and very freeing. 


Choose my next adventure!
Leave a comment below, tell me where I should go and why! Who knows, I may need a travelling companion, so shoot me a comment below, tell me what you thought of this adventure and let's see if we have compatible travel styles.

Danny B is new to town (St. Louis) - homecoming

I've made it back safe and sound to Chicago. My apologies for dropping off the blogosphere suddenly, but my phone died and well I was too busy having fun to stop and charge it lol.

Gonna crash for a few hours and then continue the awesome times at home, definitely closing out Sunday with live band Maryoke with Shannon Strodel and the Jam at Mary's Attic.

Adventure wrap up (with vid) coming soon. In the meantime, you can still follow the adventure on twitter (#DBisNew2Town).

Here is one of the last shots I took of the night. Night falling in StL



Catch y'all in a few

Danny B is new to town (St. Louis) - the arrival

Huge broad stroke of my first two hours:
Everyone here is really nice. When I bought an iced coffee, I asked how to find the train. The barista walked me there.

The metrolink is pretty easy. Red line and blue line, diverging at different points.

Some guy on the train started talking to me. He didn't look crazy so I talked back. He told me where to avoid (east StL) and pointed it out on the map. For trendy neighborhoods, he suggested Central West End. The people are really nice.

Central West End is the love child of SoHo and Lincoln Park. Trendy, cute and uber fun.

Also in CWE these epic manor houses. Fuckin gorgeous.

Right when I got off the train and began walking to the CWE proper, there was the St. Nicholas festival, a smallish street fest with lots of Mediterranean food. The kabobs were delicious.

Per suggestion from coworker Jason at the Drunken Fish, uber cute and trendy sushi restaurant. Chatted with the waitress about my adventure. She suggested Delmar Loop for some downtown action (and a comic shop suggestion from Erik at Chicago Comics should be there). Also told me that Muddy Waters is this weekend. SERIOUSLY?! She gave me directions to everywhere. Did I mention that people here are really nice?

Arite gonna eat my sushi. Having a great day so far

Danny B is new in town (St. Louis) - the departure

Got up way too early after no sleep hanging with some awesome people last night.

Ryan thinks I'm kinda crazy for embarking on this adventure.

This is my first time riding the megabus. Its riders are...eclectic.

We're all a clausterfuck mass of people standing in front of 3 empty buses, the drivers not forthcoming with information. We shuffle aimlessly en masse as we try to psychically guess which bus we're meant to be on.

The bus to St. Louis-Memphis arrives. I pick my seat in the back lower level (inadvertently losing the cute skinny hipster guy I was making eyes at.) Instead, a heavy sweaty guy using old 7-11 plastic bags as luggage plops down next to me. Swoon.

"I guess its going to be you and me." Great.

"If I snore, just nudge me. And I WILL SNORE." Fuckin great.

"We right by the bathroom?" I nod, gesturing with my head behind me. The sounds that came out of the bathroom for the next five minutes were akin to a walrus mating with a rhino while doing the macarena with jackhammers. Gross.

Also, this alleged plug that's supposed to keep my phone, my lifeline, my only resource for this trip charged...is not giving any juice. Fuck me.

I asked for adventure and so it begins. Gonna sleep. See y'all in a few hours.

that one last adventure for summer 2011

There's no way around it, folks, summer's coming to an end. Air is a little more chill, kids are going back to school, and the last three day weekend is quickly approaching. I've had a mostly good summer with some awesome adventures with my best friends. I was really excited for Labor Day weekend. I wanted it to be epic. A handful of friends and I tentatively planned a getaway but as things go, that fell through last week. Mostly because we'd forgotten to plan it. Another last minute trip for the weekend I was gonna take with fam got cancelled last minute (no comment) and so I'm like, "Fuck. I'm all geared up for adventure, what do I do?"

So it hit me...make your own adventure.

I've seen a lot of the country in my sketch comedy touring days, but I never really got to explore any new city. And there's still a great many cities I haven't seen yet.

I've also been inspired of late (RE:sustain36) at the power of social media and connectivity. How things can be created and supported out of thin air based on connections. So...

What if I bought a one way ticket to a city I'd never been to?
What if I didn't know a single soul in this new city?
What if nothing (including accomodations and return trip) was planned ahead of time?
What if my only means of surviving in this new city (figuring out what to do, where to go, how to get there) were only culled from my smart phone through social media and the interwebs?

That'd be pretty fucking exciting, no?

So, one way ticket is bought. Kids, I'm going to St. Louis. May not be exciting to some, but I've never been there. All I know about St. Louis is the Arch(es?). That's it.

I'll be tweeting, blogging and checking-in via foursquare along the way for those who want to follow along. On Twitter, follow hashtag #DBisNew2town. Shout out things I should do, or things you'd like me to find (like a scavenger hunt). Spread the word: I might make friends with one of your connections or followers.

Can I take on a completely new and foreign city, make new friends, have a great time, and make it back home? Follow along and see.

that one time social media produced and created a play

I've been doing theatre for about twenty years. Scary thought, huh? In that time, I've been very fortunate to have had a lot of good day jobs, but none as fun as social media strategist for my day job Catalyst Ranch. In the year and a half I've been working with social media, I've learned a lot and had a great time. I've grown accustomed to my worlds crossing. Actor A will be a creative consumer for Ideation Group B who is holding their meeting at the Ranch. Actress C dated Actor D in Production E and now we're working on Show F together. No big whoop. But I never thought that social media and theatre would cross significantly. All I've ever seen any theatre use their social media accounts for is blasting ticket specials and promoting their shows. Sure, you'll get some audience interaction on Facebook pages. Some. But ultimately, no theatre group (in my radar) was using social media for anything groundbreaking or innovative. Until last week.

Last Wednesday, I was working at my desk, minding my business. In the white noise that is my Tweetdeck, I see a retweet from social media maven Sue Koch from social media maverick Tim McDonald. We'd all met at a social media luncheon with the Tekkite Group a month ago. What was Tim up to? His company Zaarly was partnering up with the Filament Theatre Ensemble to create a play in 36 hours. It gets better. Not only would they create a play in 36 hours, they would source the content and title through social media channels and use Zaarly (and some extent Twitter) to produce the show. That's right, all props, all costumes, all set pieces were going to be sourced completely through social media. As a passionate theatre artist and social media geek, I HAD to catch this story.

I followed the happenings on Twitter, following #sustain36. I knew when they'd chosen their title. I knew when they were rehearsing. I knew when the Alderman came by to visit. Through Zaarly I knew that they were in need of a red tie, which I happened to be wearing, so I brought it with me. You can still follow the #sustain36 convo on Twitter and it's pretty cool.

The energy when I arrived at the storefront in Portage Park was pretty electric. I'd seen Filament do Sarah Ruehl's Eurydice last season, so knew that their aesthetic was one of true collaboration and sustainability. The artists excitedly rehearsing and rewriting, the social media folks running a tight ship behind the scenes...I mean, I'd never seen so many smart phones and Macbooks out in my life. It was pretty sweet.

What impressed me most was how they utilized the space. They really worked with the architecture of their found enviornment and maximized the artistic potential of it. I won't go on about it too much, as you'll see the full story below. Just know that it was one of the coolest artistic events I've ever experienced. And I hope it happens again real soon.




Bonus video
One of my favorite scenes from the night. More footage coming soon!

that one random adventure (+3 for hump day) episode 5

So August 28, 2011 marks the return of "International Read Comics in Public Day", a day for us geeks to hit public transportation, coffee shops, parks and anywhere one can sit and proudly pull out our old trade paperbacks or new weeklies and spread awareness and appreciation for comics. I'm a big fan of a good "(insert cause) day". I cannot even begin to express how geeked out I am by September's Social Media Week, where your's truly will be moderating an event at my awesome day job Catalyst Ranch. The trouble with this particular day I find is...well...I already read comic books in public. Every day. On both ends of my commute.

But the notion reminds me of this one time this past spring. Free comic book day to be exact, reading the awesome  FCMBD edition of AMAZING SPIDER-MAN. Spidey sacrificed his iconic spider sense saving the city (again) in ASM#654 and was training with Shang-Chi (fresh off the pages of SECRET AVENGERS) to better tune his awareness through martial arts.

Lost in my book, I get a tap on my knee. A mini-me (7 if a day) looked up at me with gleaming almond shaped eyes and asked "awr you weading Spidew-Man?" (Swear to God he said his R's like that). His mother was napping next to him.

"Sure am pal" I replied.

"He's my favowite!" His torn up, third hand velcro Spidey sneaks proved as much.

"Mine too!" I replied.

"He's really funny."

"That he is." And so I nudged my book over so he can read with me, letting him turn pages when he'd caught up.

Spidey was off on Avengers mission. No spider sense, P.Parker is off his game.The turn of the page revealed a training scene between Spidey and Shang-Chi. Mini-Me's eyes lit up.

"Who's that?!" He demanded, setting his little finger on Shang-Chi. He could've cared less as I went over Chinese born Shang-Chi's master of kung fu street cred. His eyes remained fixated and he said in the most awestruck voice "He looks like me."

My stop came shortly after, the book remained unfinished between us. "Keep it" I said. "And make sure you ask your mom if you can read more. There's more Shang-Chi coming up in Spider Island." Standing on the platform, looking through the window, I saw Mini-Me flipping to the front of the book and reading it over again.

So yeah, when I read about NRACIPD, I thought "I don't need a day to celebrate this any more than I need the gay pride parade or Asian American Heritage Month. I celebrate these aspects of myself prudly every day." But like meeting an old drag queen who was there at the Stonewall riots, a closeted kid who suffers bullying in silence or meeting Mini-Me seeing himself represented in his favorite comic, its nice to get a reminder sometimes.

Celebrate yourself every day.

Three things I'm looking forward to for the rest of the week

Theatre (& Social Media)

Filament Theatre Ensemble presents a brand new theatrical experiment in partnership with Zaarly, the marketplace that helps you buy and sell with people nearby, Filament will attempt to create a brand new, locally-sourced, world premiere theatrical production in 36 hours. Community members can then share their stuff or their time in exchange for a ticket to the SUSTAIN36 Theatre Project performance which will be performed Thursday, August 25 at 8:00pm, a mere 36 hours after the playwriting process began.

This such an innovative and collaborative event. Following Filament's Twitter feed in every part of the process is pretty fuckin' rad. In the true spirit of Social Media, I read a retweet of the event on the SM side and was pleased as punch that it was a theatre event. A few tweets back and forth between Filament and lo and behold, I'm involved! Your's truly will be there video taping the process and the event as well as live tweeting tomorrow from 5PM on. For other convos happening about the event, search Twitter for #sustain36 and check for my blog/vlog footage on Friday!

For more info click here. If we had you at hello, get your tickets here. Will I see you there?

New Book Wednesday

X-Men Legacy #254
Written by MIKE CAREY
Penciled by STEVE KURTH
Cover by MICO SUAYAN

FINALLY! Someone's going into deep space to save Marvel Girl, Havok and Polaris. About goddamn time!

Family

I've been an uncle since I was one and a half. All of my nephews and nieces have been more like little brothers and sisters. None more so than DJ. In a blog where I open with a story of a mini-me, I am happy beyond belief to close out this entry to say the ultimate mini-me, not only blood family but best friend family, the fourth bertucelli, my little brother Mikey DJ is now in town and here for at least a month. Let the adventures commence!

Til next time!

that one time God finally said yes

So I've been on the nicotine patch for quite some time. It's a well known fact that when you sleep with it on, you get these crazy vivid dreams. I'm pretty in tune with my dreams as is, so you throw the patch in the equation they get borderline prophetic. I've had dreams about people and interactions and usually within 72 hours somehow it comes true. I dreamt that my father died on a Monday and I got the call that he did on a Friday.

Last night, I dreamt I was with my dad. We were in the cafeteria of the hospital he was at when I last some him alive. We were eating cake. We were talking about everything and nothing. And of all the dreams I've randomly had that randomly came true (friends, family, boyfriends, exes) I wish this one did. I don't remember what my dad and I talked about in this dream. Mostly that he was healthy and at peace.

I was cleaning out through some scrap book stuff and I found this poem. My father had sent it out with the christmas cards when I was a kid (it was my job to color in the holly and ivy). Its about a man asking God to wipe away his bad traits or do things for him and god says no. When he finally asks the right question, god finally says yes.

The poem was titled by the author "and god said no". What struck me as a kid was that my dad had photocopied this poem to send out, then on each page, replaced  (by hand) the word "no" with "yes" and inserted the word "finally" before "said" on every copy.

The message of the poem didn't change. But the frame of mind you go into reading it does: god will say yes.

For the last few months, I've asked god to take away the pain, to dry my tears, to make me forget and move on.

Last night, in my dream, I asked god if my dad was at peace and happy. And he finally said yes.