I wish I was in Dixie...

Yes, I am on vacation to sunny South Carolina to visit some friends. See y'all back here in December.

Random Notes....

So anyway, regulars readers will note no Weekend Whirligig was past last Friday. After all that Turkey coma and for some a great deal of traveling, was there any need for one.
But anyway, some important notes that should be made.

DAMN THE MAN, SAVE THE NEIGHBORHOOD...Those in favor of so-called progress have been gaining the upper hand. The Zoning board has approved Venice One; the Manayunk Neighborhood Council will be appealing that one. Bully for them. Secondly, it looks like Germany Hill will be the target of rape by developers. The area has been a hidden piece of green space for more than 60 years. Should be some fireworks on this one.


HOLIDAY HEROICS...This Year's Christmas Story manuscript is freshly completed. It goes before a secret editing committee before submission to the Executive editor. It comes to a whopping 13-page, 7,038 word count. Its author, i.e. ME, feels that serialization may be an option. But we'll check with our illustrator to smooth out any deadline rushes. The storyline is still being kept under wraps but is titled "Nightmare on Noel" So far, reactions from the editing committee have been positive.

AND WE DANCED...We got to see one of favorite bands over the weekend at the Electric Factory, The Hooters. A great band out of Philadelphia and a huge influence on my life. The band and their opening act, The A's sounded great. Even the new stuff is good. After the show, guests got a copy of the new album Time Stands Still. And most exciting is that Pierre Robert of WMMR took a sound bite of me asking how the show was.

So anyway, back to work...

Happy Thanksgiving...

Enjoy your meals and remember to give thanks to those who provided, cooked and served. While you sit and watch football remember about those who can't. Enough preaching, hoped you enjoyed our little excerpt; still needs a little editing I know but it is turning out well and the artwork will be crackerjack. See you back here on Friday.

Exclusive Christmas Story excerpt...

It was just before the impact that broke his nose that Jake realized that Christmas was more of a hassle than a holiday. For Jake, it was planned a simple get in-wait in an incredibly long and winding line-get out maneuver that everyone experiences when shopping at the last minute. Jake had not counted on fisticuffs with an apparently desperate housefrau and her bowling ball bag.

“Gahwah!” was the only thing Jake could say at impact.

This year’s popular craze was these life-like dolls called Wannabes. It was the absolute rage. These dolls were highly detailed (in every respect) and came in small batches and even family groups. Also, every doll wears a piece a jewelry with the same red-green crystal. The great upscale collectible maker, Lennox, was stumped as to how something so meticulously made be so affordable for the holiday.

Jake was only home from University for a few weeks and this is how had he ended up only a few short hours of coming home. Jake looked down at himself. Blood had started to dribble from his swollen nose.

“Here, my dear boy, I think you are in need of this,” said a man.

He was holding out a white handkerchief to him. There was something in the man’s kindly expression that made Jake accept the offering.

“I saw the whole thing,” the man continued as Jake worked to staunch the bleeding, “I say, you look like a hacked up Marty McFly, what a tragedy.”

Jake felt a little dizzy. The man helped steady him.

“Hold on, let’s get you looked at,” said the man.

The man drove Jake to the emergency room at Roxborough Memorial Hospital. Not much in the way of conversation in the man’s car unless on counted the man repeating orders of “Keep your head tilted!” “Keep the pressure on!” and “Don’t worry about bleeding on my car seat!”

The man continued his silence while waiting at the hospital. He had a brooding expression on his face. The man looked up when the nurse called Jake’s name. The man walked ahead of Jake and had a few words. The two conspired like old friends; the nurse looked over a Jake and chuckled.

“Oh my, that injury won’t be hidden by any amount of make-up,” said the nurse, looking at Jake’s swollen proboscis. “This way, sir. Everything has been taken care of by your gentleman friend.”

Jake turned as the mysterious gentleman was making his way out of the hospital.

“Who are you,” asked Jake.

“Oh, dig deep enough and you’ll find out,” said the man. “A demain”

The man left twirling his walking stick. Jake reach into his pocket for his cell phone and felt an object that wasn’t there earlier. It was a business card that read:

Roxborough-Manayunk Herald Tribune, Sebastian Collins, editor and business address a few blocks from the hospital.

Jake walked out into the early evening. Since it was after business hours, there was no use going to the office listed on the card and Jake was not ready to go home he did the only thing a college senior could do: he went to the bar.

* * * * * *

With Turkey Day just a speed bump until Chrismahanakwanzakah, thought I'd share some Holiday spirit. It is turning out to a crackerjack of an adventure.

Weekend Whirligig...Contemplative Edition

This piece from the LOLCats reminds us of how bare our own walls here at The Review editorial office is right now. Between getting stories done, this years Christmas Fiction piece and generally going out of my skull. I hope to get something up on the walls by New Year's Eve. I grow tired of the Absurdist-like lavender walls and the single clock that hangs on it.

But enough of the state of affairs here, This is the FINAL weekend in which you can catch Myself, Andorra's Kathy Leslie and The Review's own editor George E. Beetham, Jr. performing in An Ideal Husband by Oscar Wilde. It is a very witty and highly enjoyable show that is full of laughs, drama and sex appeal. And if that doesn't get you, there is a man in a kilt as well. So give you liver some rest and take in some culture in East Falls this weekend.
If our not so very interested, here is your usual mixers, for Grape St., click here. For Kildare's Manayunk, click here . For more Manayunk-Roxborough places, stop here .

Taking care of business...

Been busy keeping the grand ship of state afloat but a multitude of things events have been going on and we'll try and keep you posted my freaky darlings. Now enjoy your entertainment, some Spike Jonze.

Weekend Whirligig...Authentic Irish Edition

So anyway, got a press release from these kooky Celtic experience peddlers this week. Apparently, they added a new chef and have revamped their menu at the Headhouse Square location. This new menu will also apparently also be creeping up to Manayunk in the future (when all's well.)
We often get things from this organization quite often mostly about their second tier locations. What got our attention is that the new company chef is Mr. Brian Duffy. Duffy, once a Food Network talking head, was also the executive chef at the defunct Sonoma in Manayunk. (Sonoma is now been transformed into Derek's) Often the chefs of Kansas City Prime would often jeer the man out of ear shot. Now, not knowing him enough to slag him off here, I reserve my judgement until after I have tried his new additions. I do thank him for getting the "DeBella DeBurger" off of the menu. While it was a tasty morsel, it doesn't do justice to such a complex and mouthwatering mountain of a man.

And speaking about the Irish, Myself (partly Irish), Kathy Leslie (Very, very Irish) and George E. Beetham Jr. (Not so very Irish) are performing in An Ideal Husband by Oscar Wilde. It is a very witty and highly enjoyable show that is full of laughs, drama and sex appeal. And if that doesn't get you, there is a man in a kilt as well. So give you liver some rest and take in some culture in East Falls this weekend.
If our not so very interested, here is your usual collection of assorted bangers and mash, for Grape St., click here. For (new and improved) Kildare's Manayunk, click here . For more Manayunk-Roxborough places, stop here .

Weekend Whirligig...An Ideally shameless edition!

Well, it is my shameless self-promoting piece about how you should come to the Old Academy and see myself, the Editor of The Review, George E. Beetham, Jr., the sexy, feisty and glowing Kathy Leslie (seen sitting here on my knee). We are performing in An Ideal Husband by Oscar Wilde. It is a very witty and highly enjoyable show that is full of laughs, drama and sex appeal. And if that doesn't get you, there is a man in a kilt as well. So give you liver some rest and take in some culture in East Falls this weekend.

If not here is your usual bottle of anti-freeze. For Grape St., click here. For Kildare's Manayunk, click here . For more Manayunk-Roxborough places, stop here .

I should also mention that tonight's opening night will be followed by a champagne reception afterward.