That new movie 21 that was out Friday felt like watching something you've seen 21 times, but not an entirely unenjoyable experience. Everyone likes a nice money/gambling/sex/highlife montage, no? 

Saturday I checked out that photography exhibit at the BMA, which is the most interesting thing (for a younger crowd) to hit that joint in a long time. Of particular interest was the picture by Eugene Atget of a toupee shop window with some of the creepiest maniquin heads you've ever seen.

Swung around Druid Hill on my sweet cruiser and tried to help some anarchists caught in a critical game of capture the flag. Finally found out where the frisbee golf is there for this summer and managed to make it to the last part of a the season's first BBQ before the vodka overtook me.

I stand corrected: Alex Fine's art opening at Dougherty's is actually this Thursday, so check it out at 7 p.m. And the Metro's having something this Friday that they describe as, "exploring our instinctual reactions to structured social reality and questioning the basics of being human...Asking whether we have to accept things considered normal, even when they feel unnatural, calls to question the routines that are our foundation." I'm stumped too, but it should be some cool art by the likes of G. Payne and Okan Arabacioglu.

Today is a vegan dessert potluck and Rat Radio Benefit show featuring Horn and Tusk, The Owls Go, TC, and Drug Money at Charm City Art Space (potluck starts at 6 p.m. music at 7 p.m.). If vegan isn't your thing, there's also a RR Musical Chairs Benefit on Tuesday, April 1 at 7 p.m. at 2640 St. Paul St. What is Rat Radio you ask? Wouldn't you like to know? Find out soon!!  

Death Set has become a pretty big phenomenon in terms of Mobtown music, getting national attention. You can check out their special blend of punk and electronic tonight at the Lo-Fi. Although Malkmus will be on stage Friday at the 9:30 Club if you feel like a drive and forget your ear plugs. My vote goes to seeing the big bootied Cherrylicious off at Frazier's (where Sunday karaoke is supposed to be live this week) because, well, her laugh and smile will be missed. She's setting sail for L.A. and will hopefully not end up in porn, depending on how you feel about porn.

Has anyone seen the running of the brides event? My friend Kim is going to go to one next week at Filene's, and I think they're the scariest thing ever. They open the doors on these bridal gown shops and the girls run in and beat each other to bloody pulps to get the dresses they like, then barter with each other to get their size. It's a pretty ugly expression of consumerism and materialism, in other words, I'm sure it's 100% entertaining. I may wake up at 4 a.m. to go watch the mayhem ensue and elbow someone in the face to help my girl find the perfect dress to look like a delicate flower in, lol.

Next week will be a busy one with the Urbarn Reforestation Project Party at the AVAM, Alex Fine's poster art show opening at Dougherty's, another Stoop Storytelling night at Centerstage, and whatever else is going on...any tips?

Spring is in the air, and soon it'll be time for regular roller derby downtown, the Kinetic Sculpture Race, the MD Film Fest, then summer. Is it me or is this year flying by already?

 

How was everyone's bunny day? Get any tail? Friday, I saw a twisted art show that I wasn't surprised to discover my friends contributed to: owls in ways you never imagined. It was at Zella's, which is this totally cute pizza joint right by the market in Sowebo. Who knew it was there? I think I may have thought I should eat there at some point when I went by on a tour of the murals down there (did everyone know there's awesome murals all over Sowebo?), then I forgot. Not going to happen again. Def. going to grub there soon.

After the strange owls, I got a chance to stop by Arcos in Fells to see the world-traveling Anna (Schiesty McFeisty) for her 26th birthday. She claims she's old now. I won't say anything else about that. 

Saturday, I tried out Rock Band for the first time. Let's just say that even on the easy setting of bass, I got my band "The Stylish Barbers" booed off stage twice, and then I got kicked out of the band. What can I say? That's the cut-throat music business. Speaking of which, it's a good week for the 9:30 Club if you're feeling nostaligic for the '90s: Tuesday is the Presidents of the USA (don't laugh, just saw them at SxSW and they were awesome) and Friday is Stephen Malkmus (hopefully he left the Jicks at home, but doubtful).

Anything exciting going on this week besides the rising daffodils?   

Hey kids! I'm back from the sxsw craziness...I got to hang out with Britt Daniel, my fave, but Charm City's home, right? Easter weekend brings us a pillow fight in NYC; good thing Baltimore's not lost it like that. Check out the Buck Brothers at the Lo-Fi tomorrow night...they're from the UK, yum. Or hit up Joe Squared for the Second Annual Mustache and Mini Skirt Party with Spank Rock DJ's Devlin and Darko. Spin Magazine (March '08 issue) featured a photo of thier show at the Talking Head here in Mobtown recently. I mean they called the Talking Head a shit hole in so many words, but eff them it's our shit hole.

Go see people get their heads' shaved at the Lodge Bar this Saturday night. Or be brave, and get your own head shaved. It's for a good cause--supporting children's cancer research. From what I heard in NV, these events are a great time even if you walk away sans hair.

Whatever you do, don't forget the Easter bunny, ok? Sunday I hope he brings you tons of jelly beans and chocolate. And if he doesn't, go buy yourself a mimosa or bloody Mary, and tell him to piss off. Brunch spots that are classic for Sunday: Gertrude's at the BMA and Helen's Garden. Make a reservation if you go though; it's sure to be packed.

Friday, the Ottobar's having its St. Patty's Day show instead of next Monday. Good call. I'm all about St. Patrick's Day, but mid-week hangovers are no fun. So be good, and drink all your green beer now before they run out. The Mishaps and The Hot Pursuit are playing Sonar also on Friday. Neil of the Mishaps has got to be Baltimore's happiest rocker. I've never met anyone in a semi-popular, local band who smiles in a genuine-seeming way as much as he does. Plus he has a big red head of hair if you're into minimalism in the way of celebrating St. Patty's. The Hot Pursuit? Well, they have a drummer with a white-man afro, 'nuff said?  The Sidebar's '60s inspired dance party Reaction is busting out with big hair Friday, as well. I'm just in Texas by way of Nevada, so I'm seeing a whole lot of big hair (and my Mom, too, though my Mom doesn't have big hair). I'm still on the Vay-Kay at SXSW...don't be jealous, I'm still working. Check out my Metromix coverage of SXSW for more highlights from my strange voyage out west.

If you haven't been to the Alfred Hitchcock Retrospective, tonight and Saturday are your chances. He's a classic filmmaker, people. Get it together! (No, I'm not quoting the Applebee's commercial.)

Vinylmore! at Atomic Pop is still going on Friday if you want to see what some people think is OK to do to toys. Also still in town if you're just waking from a long hibernation period, is the morbidly disturbing, or educational, Body Worlds 2 at the Maryland Science Center.

Friday night's birthday party for Dirty Trixie at the Kitty Kat made it hard to get out of bed the rest of the weekend. It was packed in there, which isn't that much of a feat considering how small the joint is, but it was party time all around. Perhaps I'm a dork because I still think it's nice to see John Waters in town. Resident celebrity is hard to come by in these parts, so I bugged him to take a picture with the birthday girl...aren't they cute? If only John was giving the shocker with her, it would be the perfect picture.

Afterward we headed to the Ottobar, where there was a dance party going on downstairs, so I headed upstairs where I saw, um, John Waters again. My star-struckness had worn off by then so I didn't bug him again, but I was tempted to be like, "are you following me?" lol.

I missed my friend's party and the Locus Magazine release and probably countless other things due to having to be near the bathroom for most of the day Saturday. Damn DT and her birthday. Getting so psyched about SXSW though. Turns out half of Baltimore will be there, so maybe I'm not special after all. Talk about not special, I'll be surrounded by like 200,000, black-clad hipsters, thinking, "hey, that's my T-shirt and sarcastic phrasing." Oh well, there's no place like home. What's going on this week, my people?