Saturday the Obar is host to Black Kids (sweet), but tonight is Japanoodle Fever! with Japanese and Jap-inspired bands Peelander-Z, Tsushimamire, Bakubeni and Quaff. If you're into the Jap thing, be sure to check out the Zazen Boys at the Talking Head on Thursday, Oct. 2. They've never toured in the states before, so it should be a memorable experience.

This weekend is the Baltimore Book Festival in Mount Vernon, a great place to shop for gifts or just cruise the neighborhood lit-geek scene (OK, I made that up; not sure such a thing exists in the city that used to pretend to read). If you go, check out the radical book fair at their own pavilion for some political thrills.

Also, Comic-Con is this weekend if you like to read, uh, like a 12-year-old boy (no offense, obviously).

The Locust Point Festival is happening this Saturday if you're in the area and want to suck the last of the warm weather up.

Me? I'm already getting psyched about Halloween. Hester Prine anyone? Anyone?

Thursday's Best of Baltimore party left me feeling pretty stupid but was a great time as usual, free food and drinks and pretty much everyone you've ever met in town. 

B Bistro in Bolton Hill on Friday was like a Parisian fantasy, with the quaint neighborhood location as the perfect setting for late summer dinner. Plus the food pretty much kicks ass. I'd never been before, and I would definitely recommend it.

After dinner, Amanda headed to the Egg Babies show at the Ottobar (how was it?), and I went for some wine at a friend’s house. I did make the last three songs of the Squaaks at the Metro, and I did a drive by of the Grand Opening (?) night of the Windup, which looked really crowded.

Shopping for Halloween costumes Saturday and fliering for Baltimonster, I came across Raven and bought up real estate at Pocket to Penis with her for the remainder of the night, which was cool as I ran into some faces I hadn’t seen in a while.

One partygoer at the Locus Magazine party at MAP on Saturday said that "the gin and tonics didn't last long enough, and Natty Boh did not suffice for the cover charge." But the magazine is rad. The High Zero dance party at the H&H on Saturday was supposed to have been amazing, though.

Sunday's bike ride around Hampden to Old Fall's Road and through Druid Hill and Wyman Parks, followed by riding the streetcar at the Streetcar Museum was a good end to a weekend of general debauchery.

One of my favorite songs says "leaving is hard," but after being gone for a while, I'd say coming back is harder. Somehow autumn snuck up on me again. It's the best season, but it's tricky like that.

Anyone been to High Zero yet this week? It ends this Sunday, so if you're up for some bizarre ear candy, check it out.

Tonight, the Ed Schrader Show comes back to the Metro. The really cool thing about this Wham City production: David Cross was on it, and so was I. That's likely the last time I'll ever be able to compare myself to David Cross sadly. Also tonight is the City Paper's "Best of Baltimore" Party, which if you've ever been, you know should be called, "Everyone in Baltimore, get drunk for free fast." It only lasts three hours, but they're a fun three hours.

Friday the Squaaks will be at the Metro, and around the corner the Windup Space has a new art show inspired by green. On the Station North tip, I'm putting together a Halloween party at 14 North Ave. (next door to Windup) on the 24th (art opening on the 11th) called Baltimonster, so check it out.  

Saturday Locus Magazine releases Issue 5 at Maryland Art Place. A $10 cover gets you a copy of the magazine, drinks, and a night of music from Andy Abelow, Teenage Souls, Beans, and The Owls Go. If you've never been to a party at MAP, def. drop in because it's a nice little spot.  

Squeeze the last days of summer out of the air with a walk on the Gwynns Falls Trail. The trail will feature more than 20 large sculptures of green-themed art through November.

All this green stuff makes me want to start and anti-environmental movement....jk, don't get agro.

 

Wind and rain soaked, I return from OBX like a Hemingway character. Did everyone have a good weekend?

Tomorrow, go check out our favorite Senator at Joe Squared: Landis Expandis spins, Dig?, with DJ Napspace (who is probably better than the name).

Tuesday also brings us the High Zero Festival, with experimental music abounding, all the way through Sunday. No excuses.  

A couplafew (as some here say, yikes) cool things happening this weekend: Hampdenfest, with live music from the likes of Susan Alcron, Baby Aspirin, The Degenerettes, Impossible Hair, The Jennifers, The Lexie Mountain Boys, Lo Moda, The Oranges Band, Pulaski, The Radical Marching Band, Secret Crush Society, The Thrushes, Trintons and The Ubangis.

Also on Saturday, Jason Dove, the Expotentials, the Falsies (a hilarious group not to be missed), and Eureka Birds will play the Metro, where the walls will be hung with the art of Uli Loskot and Jefferson Jackson Steele. Naked Baltimore? Sounds frightening.

Not enough options? Check out The Hexagon (1825 N. Charles) to hear/see all-day/night performances from weird DJs, local acts like T.A. Zook, the Baltimore SDIY Variable Orchestra, Carly Ptak (of Nautical Almanac) and Peter Blasser and video artists at the Baltimore Synth DIY/Circuit Bending/Chiptunes Festival and 8-Bit. Fond memories of your video-gaming childhood perhaps or your noise rock fetish that lasted a day. The event is free from noon to 7 p.m. At 9 p.m., the 8-Bit New York crew will invade and charge $10. Not bad.

Hey, bitches! I'm headed to the Outer Banks for a bit. Cross your fingers that I don't get swept away in a hurricane or my fragile car doesn't die en route. Wanted to say that I did get one birthday present I never wanted: Some aggravation, and it was even wrapped in a thin guise of friendliness!

Case of the Mondays? The Old '97s (yes, they're still touring) are playing Sonar with Caleb Stine and the Desert Boys. It's an Obama fundraiser. We've also got Hampdenfest and the High Zero Fest (experimental music) approaching in the next two weeks...High Zero seems to be the way I judge how fast life goes by because I always feel like it was only happening three days before it's back. C'est la vie!

And now a hilarious list for your enjoyment.

Birthdays make you think a bit about your life. My birthday yesterday turned out to be a really good one despite recent turmoil because so many people, friends I haven't talked to in years, called and sent me presents and stopped by...sweet. My favorite wishes were from the negatives of course: "Welcome to hell" and "Proceed to oblivion," awww.

Enough of that feel-good crap, though. Although it's nice, why should anybody be congratulated for aging or just not having died?

We got Arbouretum coming to the Talking Head on Friday night. Dizzy Issie's is also back open...has anyone been into it yet? The sign says "the Dizz" now, which is (see normally I would say gay and even David Sedaris would understand, but I'm sensitive to readers' natures now) strange. I'm hitting Three tomorrow night with the birthday-come-lately friends, so we'll see how it is as I've never been there.

Ren Fest is still going on for those of you who enjoy any excuse to say "ye olde whatever" in a sentence more than 10 times in a row.

A long and arduous weekend.

Thursday I hit Sam's Midnight Sun blog party at Idle Hour, which was cool. Lots of nice blog fans and general cheer...except the bacon vodka, yuck! What is it about Idle Hour? People love it. It seemed cool, but, you know, much like a regular bar.

D.C. smells like goose shit. The irony from previous blog entries is palpable. I went there solo on Friday to try to get some culture...they were out. All they had was goose shit.

Saturday's pool party got rainy, but was still fun. Anyone else get rained out? After the pool party was nearly killed (srsly.) in speeding car driven by intoxicated (didn't know when I got in) crazy person.

The Shecters' crab feast on Sunday was packed. They even had a moonbounce...so tempted to get in there, but the kids looked like they were having too much fun. Damn kids.

The only truly memorable and noteworthy event was the finale show of Two If by Sea, with headliners the Oranges Band. Both bands put on the best show they've performed in years to a packed crowd at the Ottobar Sunday night. Does anyone remember Monday?