"Night of the Living Dead" director George Romero is the keynote speaker at the 2006 Eerie Horror Film Festival. He'll be showing his film "The Crazies" (According to imbd: "A biological weapon gone awry is only the start of problems in the little town of Evan's (sic) City, Pennsylvania. Bouts of insanity in the populace are leading to murder and rioting, until the US Army turns up - and things really start going to hell" Wait a minute, isn't Arthur the Aardvark from Evans City. My God! No!)






Oh, it's Ellwood City. Never mind.



According to Times News, Greg Ropp, Festival Director's "...shortlist included Romero, Wes Craven, and Rob Zombie". Ironically - that's the short list for my answer to "What three people would you most like to have dinner with?" You have to dig a little deeper to find what this story is really about -- the fact that this strange little fest is exploding - moving to a bigger venue (from the Roadhouse to the Playhouse) and separating itself from the Great Lakes Film Association and picking up a big corporate sponsor in the Horror Channel.

Bob Hoover, book editor at the Post Gazette - doesn't think he's gong to blog, He's decided not to, because, although "There's been little or no feedback to [my] columns . . . I don't write them because I'm lonely and want mail. I do it to let you know what's happening." I think we can all sleep a little sounder knowing that you promise to continue to be irrelelvant, Bob. Wow.

I killed Kerouac (again) last night in the Beat Generation book I'm working on now. Leading up to his death, several witnesses saw him drinking 14 boilermakers AN HOUR during the time he was awake. You'll never guess what he died of, right?

This politician, a ''Professional Common Man,'' executes his rise by relentlessly attacking the liberal media, fancy-talking intellectuals, shiftless progressives, pinkos, promiscuity, and welfare hangers-on, all the while clamoring for a return to traditional values, to love of country, to the pie-scented days of old when things made sense and Americans were indisputably American. He speaks almost entirely in ''noble but slippery abstractions''-Liberty, Freedom, Equality-and people love him, even if they can't fully articulate why without resorting to abstractions themselves." - It Couldn't Happen Here - Upton Sinclair.

Local bands might want to check out tunecore - a service that will put your work on itunes and rhapsody for small price...
If that fails, you can always shill for PETA...
Midwest Book Review has a great list of book lover's resources online

And Neglected Books is a great time suck as well..

Listen up Erie Times News, "I want a daily newspaper that looks as good as Vogue but smells like a cinnamon bun instead of perfume."

...statistics on readership have been pointing downward, significantly downward, for some time now. Four-fifths of Americans once read newspapers; today, apparently fewer than half do. Among adults, in the decade 1990-2000, daily readership fell from 52.6 percent to 37.5 percent. Among the young, things are much worse: in one study, only 19 percent of those between the ages of eighteen and thirty-four reported consulting a daily paper, and only 9 percent trusted the information purveyed there; a mere 8 percent found newspapers helpful, while 4 percent thought them entertaining.


"The height of art-house snobbery? laughing at an unsubtitled bit of dialogue in a foreign film." Which reminds me, Cheaper By The Dozen 2 is playing at the Iris Theatre.

Don't forget tonight, Jan 23, Big Jack Earl at the North Country Brewing Company (Slippery Rock PA) from 7-10 pm all ages, no cover.











Also, via erieblogs, I see that The Chautauqua Wine Trail's Wine and Chocolate Weekend is coming up. I went on their 2004 Christmas tour about two years ago and it was horrible. I was expecting something a little more civilized. Instead I found drunks shouting at each other. The real topper was the group that reanted a schoolbus with a keg on board. It turned out they were teachers, one of whom disintguished himself from the others by pissing himself at Penn Shore wine cellars. I'll pass on the romantic Wine and Chocolate then.

This is venangago-go's 100 post!

This is venangago-go's 100 post! Have a drink! Celebrate!

Titusville Council on the Arts has realized a 1,000 percent growth in its annual budget since 1996 (full disclosure, I was the featured speaker several years ago at U Pitt's Day of Poetry sponsored in part by the TCA). With all that money, though, you think they could afford a nicer website.

Living in an old house (~150 year old Victorian), I joined the The Historic Preservation Society. They're putting on a presentation of now vanished Venango County amusement park, Monarch Park, but here's the thing; this presentation like so many of the others is at 2 pm on Thursday the 19th (at the First Presbyterian Church on Elk St in Franklin), thus guarenteeing that only retirees will be there. Tell me again that NWPA is interested in serving it's younger residents? Grrrr.....

John Edwards' review of the Erie Art Museum's exhibit Cabinets of Curiosites is a wildly mediocre piece of writing and about 300 words too long, (in the intro alone, there's language like, "The magic of Showcase is based on the ability of wood to express and be expressed upon. It is not a forgiving medium and . . . a harsh taskmaster" - oh my god, were all the people who were let go editors?) but I do agree with him on one point -- the exhibit is no fun without a museum staffer -- look for my review and experience glomming on uninvited to a guided tour closer to the reception next month on Friday, February 10, from 8 to 10 p.m.

Local weaver Patricia Vedneris profiled in the Meadville Tribune.

Speaking of Meadville ( which I notice I do quite a bit, which is funny because I rarely go there anymore since my brother graduated), I was looking for the real name of The Penny Bar, when I found this with all the details of the new brewpub opening there. I think the explosion of brewpubs locally is really odd - I thought that was over and done. Still, I'm not complaining, especially since places like North Country Brewing continue to book good local talent and have a socially responsible mission statement.

Historic Foltz School was located just south of Slippery Rock on Route 8. If you have photos of it, Jennings Environmental Education Center is trying to restore it and needs help. Contact them at jenningssp@state.pa.us or (724) 794-6011.



Talk about synergy - last week, I wrote in this blog about how much I enjoyed overheard in pittburgh, then the writer of the blog, Chris Griswold write to say that he's from Franklin. Turns out he's a comic book nerd like me and has another blog dedicated to that. Then, just as I was writing about how Erie needed an alt-weekly, I picked up Pittsburgh's City Paper to find , yup, Chris Griswold interviewed.

Along those lines, I'd be remiss if I didn't mention that local roots band (ich, what a horrible label to put on my favorite band) Big Jack Earl will be playing at North Country Brewing from 7-10 pm Monday night. Look for me, I'l be the short, dark, handsome guy.

While I think that "Gus, the second most favorite groundhog" is one of the most disturbing mascot around, it turns out that Phil, after all winter underground, is a litlle unhinged too...

Finally, unrealted to everything, if you're headed to Erie Discount Beer, pick me up one of their free "Koozie" or Keychain Bottle Opener

Bud Post and dreams of a new Erie Weekly paper.

Was it just me, or did the Franklin News Herald's photo of recently dead millionaire look like a study for a Chuck Close print?





















via erieblogs.com
saw on WSEE that the Erie Times-News is laying-off 24 employees.
Hmmm, does it have anything to do with the writing? I mean, they do a great job with the listings of events, but for example, how about this article. You know the one by, ahem, "Dr. Rock", detailing that the way to keep the kids in Erie - is Jazz? The one that includes writing like, "Jazz is not only alive in the region, it's exploding like a John Coltrane sax solo." - insert derisive snort here.

I'd love to see Erie get a weekly alternative paper. A couple of years ago, I even put together a business plan for one, as an exercise (yes, when it comes to the arts, I really am that nerdy). Now if I just had a rich dad to bankroll it. Or a sugar momma. There is a market for one (an alt weekly, not a sugar momma) and Erie could support one (again the paper, not the momma), so perhaps this bad news for Erie Times News is good news for the region's media consumers. Certainly a little competition never hurt anyone....

Finally, not arts related, but still sounds like a lot of fun :
A dodgeball tournament to benefit Saegertown High School girls softball and volleyball teams is Jan. 28 and 29 at French Creek Valley Christian School. The tournament is open to all ages. Cost for a team of six players is $30 and $50 for the business tournament. On Saturday, the divisions include: fifth- and eighth-grade girls, fourth- to sixth-grade boys, seventh- to eighth-grade boys, and men 35 and over. On Sunday, the divisions include: ninth- to 12th-grade girls, ninth- to 12th-grade boys, open division, and women over 35 (teams of six must include three grade school girls). Team applications are due Jan. 25.

- More information or for an application: Call Wally Schultz at 763-6721.

If only, I had five friends...

Venangago-go will be on hiatus until next week due to a death in the family. Thanks.

Chainsaw Carvers' Rendezvous, grant money, Franklin On Ice meltdown

A funeral away from home gives you some downtime. I spent mine reading the local papers in Elk County, so if you're in the mood for a roadtrip :

The final design of the T-shirt for the 2006 Ridgway Chainsaw Carvers' Rendezvous is based on the cover of “The Art of Chainsaw Carving,” by Jesse Groeschen. The Rendezvous is scheduled from Feb. 17 to Feb. 26.

Straub brewery will be issuing a special label in honor of the Rendezvous.

Giant deer statue planned to draw I-80 motorists to Clearfield

Erie area poet, Mary Moodey, is working with Ridgway students as part of the Artists in Education program - a fine program which I myself participated in. She's also an Allegheny alum.

Closer, the City of Titusville has been awarded a $1,836 grant by the Pennsylvania Council on the Arts to help the Titusville Council on the Arts cover the cost of providing programs.

This month the Oil City Library will feature a display of 25 old poscards featuring old buildings in the city during the oil boom days.

How sad, the year I finally convince my wife to sponser an ice sculpture for The Franklin on Ice Festival, they annoucne that it's only one day, Saturday, Feb. 11, this year. I've always found it much more enjoyable than Applefest. In a wildly ill advised move, they've added a retro prom this year, so now grownups too can vomit on rental wear. Wheeee!

Finally, moving south, I love Overheard in Pittsburgh.

We change our grease twice a week

How can you tell when you're reading a local restaurant review? When the phrase, "We change our grease twice a week," is used as high praise.

Franklin and Oil City are busy throwing money at consultants to bring small quirky stores to their downtown. Meanwhile, it's happening organically in Meadville.

Via Erie Blogs: Tickets for the Nine Inch Nails March 7th show in Erie go on sale Saturday, January 14th. This show WILL sell out.
I'd add though that this Erie Civic Center show goes on pre-sale for "fan club" (aka "The Spiral") on the 11th. For $30/year this hooks you up with among other benefits, access to designated (members only) spiral entrance at venues on day of show, so it might be worth it for die-hard fans. The opening has yet to be announced, and yes, Trent is originally from the area, fill in your own, "my friend's friend used to hand out with him and...." story.

Finally, non-locally:
Thought the erosion of privacy was scary before - how about data mining Amazon wishlists to find people who like "subversive" books?

Best local headline this morning? The Clarion News' "County appoints King following Pope resignation"

The 2006 Eerie Horror Film Festival has officially opened its call for entries and is seeking independently produced feature length and short horror/sci-fi films and screenplays from around the world. The 2006 Eerie Horror Film Festival will be held October 4-8, in Erie, Pennsylvania. They announced their first ever Student Film Competition for ages 5 - 17 as well as more stream-lined and easy to understand submission categories. Submission categories for the 2006 Eerie Horror Film Festival are Horror Feature; Horror Short; Experimental Horror Feature; Experimental Horror Short; Psychological Horror Feature; Psychological Horror Short; Sci-Fi Feature; Sci-Fi Short; Animated Horror Feature; Animated Horror Short; Horror Comedy Feature; Horror Comedy Short; Student Horror Feature; Student Horror Short; Foreign Horror Feature; Foreign Horror Short; Short Screenplay; Feature Length Screenplay. They will also accept horror related documentaries. (via erieblogs)
Don't forget there's less than a week left to vote for the Bloggies.

dollar cinema, carp, growlers, SantaCam, and Big Jack Earl.

Played around with some different designs for the blog yesterday.

When The Movies at Meadville opened, I wrote that I feared for the survival of Meadville's downtown theatre, the Meadville Cinemas. I think that a theatre presence in the downtown area of small cities is vital. So it was with mixed feelings that I saw this article detailing the Cinemas' shift to a "dollar theatre" format. While I'm pleased that a long term lease has been signed, I'm hoping they won't let this almost 40 year old theatre fall into further disrepair. One of Epic Theatre's other properties, the Butler (PA) Drive-In has the worst bathroom I've ever seen, outside of India...




Erieblogs.com has a short note about Erie author James Stumpo. It looks like a self-published book, not that there's anything wrong with that, but what really interested me was the title that erieblogs compared it to, The Mad Cook of Pymatuning : A Novel Has anyone read this? How did a Brooklyn boy end up writing about the place where ducks walk on the backs of carp?









Area performers may want to strike while the iron's hot and line up a spot in Clarion's inagural First Night celebration.

I stopped reading the Pittsburgh Post Gazette with any regularity when they stopped buying freelance articles, but I stopped by their web site today, only to find an article on brewpub takeouts that quotes both the Titusville area Four Sons Brewery owner Thom Sauber and Slippery Rock's North Country Brewing Co. co-owner Bob McCafferty.

Speaking of North Country, Big Jack Earl will be playing there on Monday, January 23 at 7 pm.


Finally, without a doubt, the scariest thing I've seen lately is the Erie Art Museum's webcam, focused on a Santa display (via The Film Chair). Check it out, but I warned you...

Depressed about your chances of ever publishing that novel you have stored away in the drawer? The NY Times says what I always tell my students - you have a better chance of being struck my lightning - even if you're a big famous author.
Locally:

The HO scale holiday train display is being held over in Elmenton. Viewing time is noon to 5 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays. Further information can be obtained by calling (724) 867-2203. While you're there, take the drive over to Foxburg and enjoy some of the sulfite free wines of the Foxburg Wine Cellar.

Most interesting temp job in the region? Obit writer at the Erie Times News.

Self-promotion and the Meadville Bluegrass Festival

First, a little self promotion:


You can check out my article on the St Vincent Archabbey Gristmill
in this month's Pennsylvania magazine (available at the Franklin Public Library if you don't want to buy). You can also go their web site for a free sample issue, if you want to take your chances...






I just received a note that the cover art for my book Small Brutal Incidents is completed.

You can preorder it for the low, low price of eightbucks and change at Amazon.









I spent all day working on my next manuscript, an introduction to the Beat Generation, which , yes, was due in my editor's hands last week. Sigh... Hopefully, I'll soon end up with some interesting magazine or newspaper assignments that will further distract me from finishing this beast.

But enough about me.

I'm incredibly frustrated that I can't find out more about the Bluegrass Festival at the Meadville Days Inn from January 20-22. If anyone knows anything about the Festival, drop me a line, please.

Conneaut Lake Park has been named to Preservation Pennsylvania's 14th annual listing of the state's most endangered historic places, "Pennsylvania at Risk 2005."