Weekend Entertainment, October 3 - 5

Fri. 10/3: The Hogwashers, old-time tunes, at Felicia's happy hour, 5:30.

Gadje, gypsy jazz, at the Lost Dog, 8 pm.

The venerable Second City comedy troupe returns to the State Theater, 8 pm.

* * *

Sat. 10/4: Andrew Bird at the State Theater, 8 pm.

The Black Eyed Susies, old-timey trio, with Steve Gollnick, alt-country guy of renown, at the Chapter House, 10 pm.

* * *

Sun. 10/5: Ithaca ex-pat Kathy Ziegler visits (from new home, Holland) for a reunion, with Mary Lorson and Billy Cote, of the Piano Creeps, playing some innovative and challenging but, essentially, very pleasing collaborative music. Lost Dog Cafe, 8 pm.

Steve Burke
for Ithaca Blog

Forgetting Sarah Palin

We still think, as we wrote here as soon as McCain picked her, that Sarah Palin will not be on the Republican ticket on election day.

Her selection, in the first place, was a typical "maverick" move by McCain. For McCain, the word "maverick" means "kiss my ass."

McCain chose Palin because she is a woman. This would be his way of telling the Democrats, who did not select a woman, to kiss his ass.

So what if there were hundreds of other, better, candidates for the vice presidency? So what if Sarah Palin is completely unqualified? Sarah Palin has the attribute of being an ex-beauty queen. That's the qualification for McCain. Thus says McCain, kiss my ass, all you Hillary Clinton supporters, feminists, women in general, and anyone else who might like to see a qualified woman as a candidate.

But the beauty queen allure has worn thin. Sarah Palin can't talk to the press because, unfortunately, she is unfamiliar with most things they are apt to mention. Her sole area of expertise seems to be the exploitation of natural resources in extreme northern climes, which has limited pertinence.

It would have been McCain's ultimate KMA dream to foist someone like Sarah Palin on the American electorate. Well, technically, he has. But now she is being unfoisted. Recent polls show a tailspin for McCain in the crucial swing states of Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Florida. Palin's approval rating is in the 30th percentile, and falling.

So, we think, McCain's final KMA move will be to dump her. It might happen sooner, it might happen later. Think of whichever makes the least sense, what will confuse and upset the most people, and that's what McCain figures to do.

Steve Burke
for Ithaca Blog

Workers Center Rally For "New Economy" Today

The Workers' Center of Tompkins County is rallying today on the Commons in response to the national financial crises.

The Center cites "failed policies of deregulation, and taxation that benefits only the rich," and calls for "a new politics and new economy that works for everyone, not just the few."

Carl Feuer of the Center spoke on the radio this morning about the core problem of insufficient wages for workers. Working people who can't make ends meet become reliant on credit and mortgages which lending institutions extend, though they don't really have the security to offer. When the whole thing crashes, people have debts they can't pay, own houses worth less than what is owed on them, and it is the lenders who seek relief.

The rally begins at 5:30 today at the Bernie Milton Pavilion on the Commons.

Stephen Burke
for Ithaca Blog

Apple Harvest Festival This Weekend... With A Sale at Small World Music

In an era when society's fabric consists of much texting, twittering, and other remote communication, it's nice to have events such as the Apple Harvest Festival, which is pastoral rather than technological, and temporal rather than, like, constant.

The weekend-long event is billed as "a celebration of food, fun, and Fall." Argue with that.

Also, it is free.

Centered on the Ithaca Commons are hundreds of food and craft vendors, and entertainers.

The complete schedule of music is available at www.downtownithaca.com.

Small World Music carries a lot of the local music you will hear at the Festival, and has all music at 10% off for Ithaca Blog readers. Not just local, but everything - pop and rock, Latin, African, reggae, folk, blues, gospel, jazz various world music - everything we carry. Just mention this posting for the discount.

Small World Music (for our out-of-town readers) is six blocks due west of the Commons, at 614 W. State St., down the driveway.

We hope to see you & hope you have fun!

Steve Burke
for Ithaca Blog and Small World Music

Ithaca Religious Groups Join Campaign To Stop Torture

Over a dozen religious groups in Ithaca have joined a national campaign to condemn torture.

Among the many misdeeds of the Bush regime, the use of torture is the most atrocious and dangerous.

The National Religious Campaign Against Torture began earlier this month with a convention of faith groups. Anti-torture banners are now on display in houses of worship.

In Ithaca, a program called "Audacity To Believe: The Witness of A Political Prisoner" will be held at the Unitarian Church on Wednesday, 1 October, at 7 pm.

"Audacity To Believe" is the best-selling book by British physician Sheila Cassidy, who was tortured by the Pinochet regime in Chile in the 1970's for treating a political prisoner, and will speak at the event.

Stephen Burke
for Ithaca Blog

When My Mother Stopped Dyeing Her Hair

My mother stopped dyeing her hair about 5 years ago, aged 72.

She had cancer and was taking chemotherapy. One of the requisites was no hair coloring.

She had been dyeing her hair for I don't know how long. A son doesn't really keep track of such things.

Nor did I ever mention it, but occasionally I wondered what it would look like natural, and wondered if my mother wondered, herself.

When the time came that she had to stop dyeing it, her hair came in white like cotton, or snow: whichever cliche you like, but it was natural and beautiful.

I said to her, "You know, you should have stopped dyeing it years ago. It looks a million times better." She smiled a smile of irony, mixed with some fatalism. But she said she agreed, it was true.

I remember her going out one night. I don't remember where. But I remember she wore a soft, black jacket, and looked glamorous, and I told her so.

Her first incident of cancer had come in 1991. She survived it in excellent health. She sure stopped smoking. She enjoyed her life with the keen and humorous serenity she always had.

The second came in 2003, and she did not survive. But she had had a decade, more, to live and grow older with her husband, and see her grandchildren grow up.

We miss her terribly, of course. We love her for who she was and what she gave us.

Today, the Cancer Resource Center of Ithaca is holding a vigil in remembrance of those lost to cancer. There will be music, by my mother Patsy's son, Patrick Burke, and his friend Richie Stearns. The event is at 7:30 in Dewitt Memorial Park, at Buffalo and Cayuga Streets.

Stephen Burke

Weekend Music, Sept. 19 - 21

Fri. 9/19: Long John and the Tights play old-timely at Felicia's happy hour, 5:30 pm.

Jeannie Burns and the Jukebox Raiders at Castaways, 9 pm.

* * *

Sat. 9/20: Jason Moran (see prior Ithaca Blog posting) leads a tribute to Thelonious Monk. Bailey Hall, 8 pm.

Black Elastic, with Ken Hallett and Johnny Dowd, at the ABC, 10 pm.

J-san and the Analogue Suns at the Chapter House, 10 pm.

Revision at Castaways, 10 pm.

* * *

Sun. 9/21: Jennie Stearns at Felicia's, 5:30 pm.

enjoy the weekend -
Steve Burke
for Ithaca Blog

Richie Stearns Keeps Plucking - At Red Newt Bistro, Wed. 17 Sept.

Direct from an appearance on network TV last night (see yesterday's Ithaca Blog posting), Ithaca's old-timey banjoist Richie Stearns returns home for a gig tonight at the Red Newt Bistro in Hector.

Richie is mentioned in a prominent piece by Natasha Li Pickowicz in this week's Ithaca Times about his regular gig at Simply Red Bistro, at Sheldrake Point Vineyard.

Simply Red's owner, Samantha Izzo, has published a cookbook featuring recipes from the restaurant. The book includes a CD of Richie's band, Evil City String Band, who play frequent Monday nights at the restaurant.

The Times article describes the combination of food and performance as "transform[ing] a normal dining experience into something seriously terrific."

Evil City String Band will perform at Simply Red next Monday. Richie's performance at Red Newt Bistro is at 7 pm tonight.

Steve Burke
for Ithaca Blog

Jason Moran Brings Thelonious Monk Tribute to Cornell, Sat. 20 Sept.

Ithaca gets the jump on New York City, Washington, San Francisco, Chicago, and other cities this weekend when jazz pianist Jason Moran comes here first with his multi-media tribute to Thelonious Monk, for the 90th anniversary of Monk's birth.

"In My Mind: Monk at Town Hall 1959" takes place at Bailey Hall at Cornell. The performance is open to the public, and free of charge, although tickets are required.

Moran studied classical piano as a child and first heard Monk at age 13. He credits Monk as a central figure in his playing and career.

Only 33, Moran has released half a dozen albums, and recorded with Cassandra Wilson, Joe Lovano, Wayne Shorter, Dave Holland, and many others.

"In My Mind" is an original piece inspired by Monk's historic Town Hall concert. It combines video and audio of Monk and his band with new music by Moran and his ensemble.

The concert is at 8 pm. Ticket information is available at http://www.cornellconcertseries.com/.

Stephen Burke
for Itahca Blog

Richie Stearns, With Kasey Chambers, On Conan O'Brien

Country music singer-songwriter Kasey Chambers appears on the Conan O'Brien Show on NBC on Tuesday 16 September, and Richie Stearns from Ithaca will play banjo with her band.

Chambers' new CD, "Rattlin' Bones", is released the same day.

Small World Music will have Chambers' CD for sale, along with Richie Stearns's solo CD, and his most recent work, with the Evil City String Band.

Steve Burke
for Ithaca Blog

FAQ Last Night: "Why Is Rachel Maddow In Ithaca?"

There were well over a hundred hits to Ithaca Blog yesterday with that question. During the span of Ms. Maddow's MSNBC broadcast from Ithaca, between 9 and 10 pm, there was more than one per minute.

We're happy to have our postings from the past few days answer the question. And we get a kick out of seeing how many inquisitive fans Ms. Maddow has.

Or maybe she has a big family, whom she forgot to call?

Most likely, Maddow show viewers wanted to know what was going on with the technical aspects of the program. They mentioned at the start of the show that it was from Ithaca, New York, but they didn't say why. The show had transmission problems that interrupted it for a while.

The broadcast was coming from a studio set-up in the Fall Creek Cinema building. A truck with a satellite link sat outside.

Having attended Ms. Maddow's live radio broadcast here, from 6 - 8 pm, and seen her TV broadcast, an hour later, we can say that, even for a novice, she is cool, in each slangy sense of the word. She is smart, well-prepared, with an engaging demeanor that is pointed, but good-natured.

We also realized, at the State Theater, whom she reminds us of physically: Jamie Lee Curtis.

Thanks to Rachel Maddow for her herculean efforts here in Ithaca. She was also up quite early today to address the AIDS Ride For Life rally, sometime before 8 am. Congratulations and thanks, too, to Ms. Maddow's broadcaster in Ithaca, the Cayuga Radio company, for sponsoring her appearance.

Steve Burke
for Ithaca Blog

AIDS Ride For Life: Victory Lap, Sat. 5:15 PM

Even if you can't be part of tomorrow's AIDS Ride For Life, you can salute the fundraising bicyclists as they end the day's rides around Cayuga Lake with a "victory lap" of all 400 riders through downtown Ithaca.

After their marathon rides, the cyclists will convene at Cass Park and ride 400 strong, together, to Stewart Park.

They leave Cass Park at 5:15 pm. The route in town is Buffalo Street to Cayuga Street.

Steve Burke
for Ithaca Blog

Steve Earle's Voice of Hope

It is probably unnecessary to review Steve Earle's show at the State Theater last night as a house-rocking, politically charged event, because of course it was. But we would like to note a comment by Mr. Earle about religion, faith, hope, and understanding - that is, in the long run, about living.

It might be no surprise that the iconclastic Mr. Earle subscribes to no religion. And yet, he said,

I'm not a Christian, a Jew, or a Muslim. But I know a lot of people who found wisdom by following those religions.

He spoke of his own guiding philosophy as the religion of recovery from drug addiction.

I don't believe in hopeless cases, because I can't. I believe in miracles, because I am one.

Mr. Earle went on to suggest that hope must be coupled with work; then lead a stirring sing-along to his tribute to Pete Seeger, "Steve's Hammer (For Pete)":

One of these days I'm gonna lay this hammer down.
And I won't have to drag this weight around.
When there ain't no hunger and there ain't no pain,
I won't have to swing this thing.
One of these days I'm gonna lay this hammer down.

Steve Burke
for Ithaca Blog

Rachel Maddow Tickets, & Preview

Tickets for the Rachel Maddow show at the State Theater tonight are going fast, but right now, at opening time here at Small World Music, we still have some.

The show begins at 6 pm. It will be broadcast on the Air America radio network, where Ms. Maddow hosts a popular nationwide program about politics and world events. A Rhodes scholar, and humorous, Ms. Maddow is sort of a counterpoint, or perhaps antidote, to Rush Limbaugh.

Ms. Maddow very recently began hosting a high-profile cable TV program on MSNBC. The State Theater radio broadcast was booked long before her MSNBC job began.

Our understanding is that Ms. Maddow asked for tonight off from her MSNBC show in order to fulfill her obligation here. The request was not granted, but Ms. Maddow is coming to the State tonight regardless.

Her TV show begins an hour after the radio show ends, so she will have a busy night. Hopefully she will be buoyed by a full house at the State.

Steve Burke
for Ithaca Blog

Steve Earle, Rachel Maddow at State Theater This Week

The State Theater continues its season of varied and quality programming this week with a concert by country rocker Steve Earle on Thursday, and a free appearance by broadcast personality Rachel Maddow on Friday.

Among the so-called outlaws of country music, Steve Earle has dramatic credentials. He was a rising star in Nashville in the 1980's, until his imprisonment for heroin possession.

Recovering from addiction, Earle returned to music, though turning away from the country music establishment. A life-long resident of the south, Earle moved to New York City, attracted by its liberalism and diversity. He celebrates these qualities in "City Of Immigrants" and other songs on his recent album, "Washington Square Serenade".

Steve Earle performs on Thursday with his wife, Allison Moorer.

On Friday, broadcast personality Rachel Maddow comes to the State in an early (6 pm), free appearance.

Maddow hosts a show on the Air America radio network, and was recently hired for a high-profile program on cable television's MSNBC.

Maddow's appearance is free of charge, though tickets are required. The free tickets, while they last, are available at Small World Music and other locations.

Steve Burke
for Ithaca Blog

Arnica, Anti-Amputation Medication

We've never done a health segment here before, but will now, to promote the powers of arnica, which saved us from a leg amputation this week, or at least the thoughts of it.

It all started (we will try to keep it brief, from start to end of it) with a terrible leg pain upon awakening one morning. It was like a bad charley horse, such as NFL players must have on Mondays.

But it lasted a few days, and got worse, to the point where we could barely put any weight on it, or move it, which is bad in a leg.

This is the point where thoughts of amputation came in. Not that we are hypochondriacal, more like fatalistic, like this thing is probably cancer, or arthritis, or rheumitism, or all three, and just has to go. A farewell to leg, as it were. We got ready to call our doctor.

Then we remembered a tube of arnica gel in the medicine cabinet, which had helped with a mild carpal tunnel syndrome situation a while back.

Of course, what is a tube of anything going to do in the face of a mighty medical malady like mine. But, we tried it that morning.

By the afternoon, all pain had vanished. Not a little, but completely.

What is this arnica? Is it in the morphine family? What happens if you ingest it? Is it like the drugs God keeps for himself?

We researched it. It is in the sunflower family. That seems humble and benign, but of course heroin starts out as poppy seeds.

Arnica is not good to ingest. Apparently it attracts blood to wherever it is and it will draw blood into your stomach.

It is not possible to apply it directly to the brain, but what if you could? Would you become carefree?

I suppose I am carefree enough as it is. I won't need to call my doctor now, nor pin my pants.

Arnica gel is available at GreenStar and, most likely, at most supermarkets and drug stores. You might want to stock up before surgeons try to criminalize it.

Dr. Burke
for Ithaca Blog

Mitch Hedberg

We miss Mitch Hedberg, a great comedian who died of a drug overdose in 2005 at age 37. He had achieved a modicum of success and recognition, but not as much as he should have.

Next week a posthumous album of his work, "Do You Believe in Gosh?", will be released.

Hedberg had a stoner persona and a self-deprecating presence on stage. His comedy was observational, but with a surreal twist, which made his humor a little harder to grasp, often, than others such as Jerry Seinfeld. But Hedberg's demeanor itself was funny, and it was entertaining just to listen to his distinctive voice and cadences.

Hedberg had an affinity for language reminiscent of George Carlin's, and in many ways seemed a successor to Carlin. He did not share Carlin's proclivity for social commentary, but he avoided the invective which soured Carlin's later work for many fans.

We remember a bit Hedberg did about club sandwiches, and liking club sandwiches, and always ordering and getting club sandwiches, even though he did not belong to the club, and did not know what its "stipulations" were. He decided it must have been people who like three slices of bread with their sandwich, and like it cut twice. "How do you feel about... frilly toothpicks?", he imagines as a discussion.

You can see Mitch Hedberg on various Youtube postings.

Steve Burke
for Ithaca Blog

Prediction: Palin Won't Be GOP VP

Our guess is that Gov. Palin will refuse the Republican nomination for the vice presidency, with the news that her unmarried 17-year old daughter is pregnant.

Her reason will be the scurrilous attention of the press to this personal family matter.

It will be a convenient excuse.

The real reason, of course, is the overwhelming alarm about Palin's complete lack of qualification for the job.

The news of her daughter's pregnancy is irrelevant. Unfortunately for the Republican campaign, however, it will probably prove relevant with Palin's constituency, the conservative right.

Palin can back away now, after a turn in the spotlight which illustrated, supposedly, John McCain's alignment with his party's conservatives, and belief in equality for women.

The McCain campaign can blame Palin's vanishing act on the press and the Democrats, and loftily condemn their scandal-mongering and lack of compassion.

It will be a bizarre twist. But it will befit a campaign bereft of ideas, and dependent on character drama.

Stephen Burke
for Ithaca Blog

McCain: Let's Get A Gal In Pantsuits

It's tough to say whether McCain's surprise choice for his running mate, Gov. Sarah Palin of Alaska, was motivated more by cynicism or stupidity.

It could be cynicism - the idea that McCain can pick up disaffected Hillary Clinton voters by finding a gal in pantsuits of his own. That's what those 18 million Democrats voted for in the primaries, isn't it?

It could be stupidity - not realizing that people voted for Hillary Clinton not only because she is a woman, or not even because she is a woman, but because they considered her more experienced and prepared for the presidency than any other candidate.

The angle of experience is the only plus the McCain campaign has against Obama. The Obama campaign realized that, and picked for vice president one of the most veteran lawmakers in Washington.

McCain apparently doesn't realize it. Instead of building on his sole strength, he obliterates it by picking a vice presidential candidate who seems a lot more like Dan Quayle than Hillary Clinton.

Gov. Palin is a female politician who opposes reproductive rights for women. How is that going to sit with Hillary Clinton supporters - even the most disaffected ones?

After a night of triumph for Obama, McCain follows with a morning of stupefication. The Obama campaign should hasten the debates and press the advantages they have created - and been given.

Stephen Burke
for Ithaca Blog

Evil City String Band, With Richie Stearns, Plays Ithaca This Weekend

After a surprise and semi-furtive gig there last night with his longtime band, the Horseflies, Richie Stearns returns to Felicia's Friday night with his up-and-coming group, Evil City String Band.

Evil City will also appear at the Chapter House on Saturday. The band is promoting their first CD.

Evil City is an old-timey band with Richie on banjo, Steve Selin on fiddle, Pat Burke on guitar, and Ben Gould on stand-up bass.

The band is making formal appearances after a number of loosely-organized gigs around town, most notably at Simply Red's restaurant at Sheldrake Point winery. That gig lead to the production of a CD that is included in a new cookbook from Simply Red's. (The CD is also available independently.)

Evil City played a couple of well-regarded sets at this year's GrassRoots Festival, including one with Willie Watson, of Old Crow Medicine Show, of which Ben Gould is an alumnus.

Evil City's music straddles the territory between accomplished playing and creative fun. Their material includes some originals, and many traditional standards with the distinctive sound that four great players who are also old friends can create.

The band has several songs in live performance posted on its MySpace site.

Evil City's CD, and Simply Red's cookbook, are available at Small World Music in Ithaca.

Stephen Burke
for Ithaca Blog and Small World Music

Surprise Horseflies Gig at Felicia's, Tonight, Wednesday 27 August

Ithaca favorites, The Horseflies, are playing an impromptu gig at Felicia's Lounge tonight, Wednesday 27 August, in preparation for a tour.

They will play in the alley at Felicia's, on West State St., at 6 pm. There is no charge.

Come up West State St. early and visit us at Small World Music before the gig. We are open until 6 pm. We stock the full line of Horseflies releases. Small World is a block west of Felicia's, at 614 W. State St., down the driveway.

Steve Burke
for Ithaca Blog

Obama Acceptance Speech Watch at State Theater, Thursday

The Democrats had a fine night of political theater last night with the opening of their convention in Denver.

Ithacans have the chance to watch the main event of the convention in a real theater, when Barack Obama accepts the party's nomination for the presidency. Local supporters are staging a community event in the State Theater to view the proceedings this Thursday.

Along with the telecast, there will also be videos shot by Ithacans attending the convention. The event is scheduled to start at 8:30 pm.

Stephen Burke
for Ithaca Blog

Ithaca Farmers Market: "A Produce Slam Dunk," Says New York Times

The Ithaca Farmers Market was featured in today's New York Times.

"Macrobiotic eaters mingle with skilled chefs along the covered wooden walkways" of the Market, the Times writes, describing the Market as "a produce slam dunk."

Among the Market's produce purveyors, the article focuses on (literally, with a nice photo) Red Tail Farm. We visit Red Tail's booth regularly for the excellent organic salad mix.

You might want to get to their booth early tomorrow. Along with this publicity, new Cornell students and families arrive today, too, and might be out in force at the Market tomorrow (with families) - even if they didn't know, as the article states, that here in the Finger Lakes region, they are in a "mini-Napa Valley" that is "just a really great place to eat."

Steve Burke
for Ithaca Blog

GrassRoots Musicians at T-burg Fair, Thurs. 21 Aug.

The Trumansburg Fairgrounds is hosting its 158th annual fair this week, with agricultural and mechanical displays, midway rides, circus attractions and children's activities. Thursday the 21st is a special hybrid night, with performances by GrassRoots musicians returning to the Fairgrounds for its other major event.

Performers will include members of Donna the Buffalo, Hank Roberts, Johnny Dowd, Kevin Kinsella, Mary Lorson, Richie Stearns, and many more.

Unlike past years, there is no separate charge for the show. It is promoted as "a gift to the community from GrassRoots." Showtime is scheduled to start at 7 pm, and will go late. Admission to the Fair is $4 for adults, free for children 12 and under.

Steve Burke
for Ithaca Blog

Luckily, the Olympics Are Boring

As a big baseball fan, including televised baseball, I don't need any more reasons to waste my time, so it is lucky I find the Olympics impenetrably boring.

As far as I can tell, the Olympic games take place every day, all day, for an arbitrary period of time, once every four years. An untold number of athletes, more than you can imagine exist, participate in a cavalcade of games, races, and other events that are not that easy to categorize. The best three people in a competition stand on a box at the end of it, and get a medal on a string to put around their necks.

The Olympics reward excellence, which is part of the problem. Excellence is not as engaging as failure.

Baseball is based on failure. Even the greatest hitters fail two times out of three. A championship team can be one that only wins 4 times out of 7, which is just one better than coin-flipping.

There's a lot more to talk about with failure. And of course, more to anticipate. Maybe next time the ballplayer will get lucky. Luck doesn't play much part in the Olympics.

As a result, there's not much to say about an Olympic champ. How did Michael Phelps do? He swam very fast. Really? Did anyone swim faster? No. Okay. Anything else? Well, he did it 8 times. No kidding. Could he have done it 9? Yeah, maybe.

Horse racing is good because you can bet on it. Also, it is very difficult to predict who will win. Nobody wins 8 races in a row, ever. And of course, you don't know if the horse really knows what's going on, so there's an air of mystery.

Baseball is less like the Olympics than it is like soap operas. It's on every day. Nothing much happens. The interesting thing is the foibles of the players. Listen to baseball fans talk sometime. It's like they're talking about Melrose Place. "What the hell is wrong with Billy?" "Do you think Willie is going back to the Yanks?" "These guys got no chemistry."

What baseball and the Olympics have in common, of course, is the aspect of much ado about nothing. But baseball is a lot lighter on the ado. Not so much flags and fervor. Certainly, no surveillance and military. In the 7th inning, you all get up and stretch together, and sing - not an anthem this time, but a sort of lullaby. Soon you go home, and hope tomorrow will be about the same, if you had a good day, or maybe a little better, if you didn't. And that maybe Billy will work out his problems, soon.

Steve Burke
for Ithaca Blog

Musefest, August 22 - 24

Musefest, which dubs itself a festival of "the Ithaca area's diverse music community," celebrates its 9th incarnation this weekend, August 22 - 24.

The emphasis is on local and regional bands. The location is the Newhart Lodge in Enfield.

The roster this year includes, on Friday, Revision; Giant Panda Guerilla Dub Squad; ekoostik hookah; Mutron Warriors; Blue Sky Mission Club; and about a dozen more. On Saturday: Thousands of One; Pete Panek and the Blue Cats; Urban Horse Thieves; Jsan and the Analogue Sons; and again about a dozen more. Sunday is wind-down day, with 6 bands scheduled, including The Thieves Hymn, Sophistafunk, and Ayurveda.

Weekend tickets at the gate are $65. Advance sale tickets are available at Small World Music for $45.

See www.musefest.org for information about camping, cars, food & drink, etc.

Steve Burke
for Ithaca Blog

Ithaca Brew Fest, Saturday 6 September in Stewart Park

The new fun event last summer was the first annual Brew Fest, a celebration in Stewart Park of premium beers and local music.

With only a modicum of publicity, the Brew Fest drew about 2,000 people. Despite the size of the crowd, it was orderly and well-run.

Brew Fest features tastings of beers from dozens of regional microbreweries. The atmosphere, though unpretentious and rollicking, emphasizes the stature of beer as a sophisticated drink. We're used to that perspective with wine, especially here among the many fine wineries of the Finger Lakes. The breweries at Brewfest give the wineries a run for the sophisticate buck.

Advance tickets are $30. The four-hour event (from 3 - 7 pm) also presents some premium local music: Kevin Kinsella, the Sim Redmond Band, and newcomers New York Rock.

A portion of the proceeds go to renovation projects for Stewart Park.

For more details, see http://www.ithacabrewfest.com/.

Steve Burke
for Ithaca Blog

Weekend Music, Aug. 15 & 16

Opportunities prevail for socializing to good music this weekend.

Fri. 8/15: Toivo rocks that Finnish & Tex-Mex squeezebox at a CD release party at Felicia's ever-popular happy hour, 5:30 - 8:00.

The Thieves Hymn play their guitar-less "dance music for people who can't dance" at the Lost Dog, 8 pm.

Food Clothes and Shelter, and the Gunpoets, at Castaways, 9 pm.

* * *

Sat. 8/16: GoGone plays original, regular rock and roll for the Crossing Borders series at the Lost Dog, 8 pm.

Hank Roberts and Wingnut at the Chapter House, 10 pm.


have fun -
Steve Burke
for Ithaca Blog

Big Time Musicians Play Ithaca Bar, Thursday 14 August

Jack Casady, the legendary bassist for Jefferson Airplane and Hot Tuna, and G.E. Smith, for many years the guitarist and director of NBC's Saturday Night Band, play with their band Moonalice tonight at Castaways.

Casady and Smith describe Moonalice as a vehicle for low-key, spontaneous playing for live audiences. The other bandmembers are also veteran players, such as Pete Sears, once of Jefferson Starship.

The cover is $10 and showtime is 9 pm.

Steve Burke
for Ithaca Blog

Big League Baseball(er) in Binghamton, Thursday 14 August

Baseball fans with flexible schedules have a chance tonight to see All-Star pitcher Billy Wagner pitching for the Binghamton Mets.

Wagner is one of the premier relief pitchers in the major leagues, but will be the starting pitcher tonight for the Binghamton Mets. Wagner is on the disabled list with the big league Mets; the start in Binghamton is part of his rehab program.

If you go, though, don't be late. Wagner is scheduled to pitch no more than two innings.

We went to the B-Mets game on Sunday and had a great time, as always. We saw Fernando Martinez, the 19-year old phenom who is the Mets' top prospect, and likely left-fielder next season.

The game starts at 7 pm. Tickets are $8 and $9.

Steve Burke
for Ithaca Blog

Obama, Heading the Democrats' "50-State Strategy" for 2008

After years of Republican error and terror, the Democratic Party thinks it can win elections at every level in every state in 2008: the so-called "50-State Strategy."

No more red states and blue states, they say. The Republicans have so roughly trampled the wishes and well-being of Americans that the Democrats feel not only can they win the national election - they can get Republican voters, in droves, to defect.

The money Democrats have raised is a good indication they might be right. So are their organizing efforts.

A recent story on NPR featured a vibrant Obama office in Winchester, Virginia, a rural Republican stronghold. The Obama campaign has gone there undaunted by demographic and ethnic differences. Local residents expressed admiration for Obama's outreach, and disappointment in the McCain campaign's lack of contact. Apparently McCain has not much to say, is the thinking.

A cursory study of the campaign so far shows that McCain indeed has had little to say in the way of change from Bush's policies. His speaking style itself is not generally conducive to much comprehension or confidence.

Barack Obama might seem an unlikely centerpiece of a campaign to win conservative voters. As he has said, he does not look like the presidents on the dollars. Maybe it is an irony. On the other hand, it is pleasing to think that maybe it is less an irony than a milestone for this country.

Stephen Burke
for Ithaca Blog

Lost Jobs Upstate: The Wal-Mart Factor at Work

Two major manufacturers announced permanent job layoffs in central New York today.

BorgWarner, a car part manufacturer, is cutting 240 jobs in Ithaca and Cortland. Honeywell is closing a plant in Skaneateles Falls that makes scanning devices to read barcodes. 290 workers will lose jobs. Honeywell is shifting production to a new factory in China.

The Wal-Mart corporation, the world's largest retailer, insists on low prices which many suppliers cannot meet without paying substandard wages to workers. This is most easily done in China, where a large population, widespread poverty and a lack of worker protections has created a segment of workers that in the U.S. would be defined as indentured servants.

Replacing 290 workers in New York with workers in China will make it easier for Honeywell to compete for Wal-Mart's business.

In turn, fostering slave labor enables Wal-Mart to drive other retailers out of business, thus increasing its power over suppliers. The job losses today in central New York are another turn in this spiral.

Stephen Burke
for Ithaca Blog

John McCain, Listen To Your Mother

John McCain's mother, Roberta, has commented on the ads McCain is running that equate Barack Obama with celebrities such as Paris Hilton and Britney Spears.

The ads are "kind of stupid," Roberta McCain says.

That about nails it, doesn't it?

Hey, John. Listen up. We're never too old to learn from our mothers.

Steve Burke
for Ithaca Blog

10th Annual AIDS Ride For Life, September 13

On Saturday 13 September, the Southern Tier Aids Program sponsors its 10th annual Ride For Life bike run at Cayuga Lake.

Riders pay an entry fee and solicit donations. There are also business sponsors of the event, which has raised over $1 million for AIDS programs in the Southern Tier of New York.

Registration is open now; the number of riders is limited to 400. Training sessions are scheduled between now and the event.

See STAP's website for details: http://www.stapinc.org./


Stephen Burke
for Ithaca Blog

Live Music in Ithaca, 31 July - 5 August

It is a robust week, not just weekend, of music in Ithaca.

Thurs. 7/31: Samite of Uganda on the Commons, free, 6 pm.
* * *

Fri. 8/1: Radio London plays that old-time rock and roll, outside & free on Cornell's Arts Quad, 7:30 pm.

Triple trouble at Castaways with Go Gone at 5 pm, then a break before a 9 pm show with The Thieves Hymn and Yo Mama's Big Fat Booty Band.

* * *

Sat. 8/2: Trevor MacDonald, ex- of Sunny Weather, has a new band call Who You Are. They celebrate a CD release tonight at a free (except for parking) show at Taughannock Falls Park. 7 pm.

Thousands of One at the Chapter House, 10 pm.

* * *

Sun. 8/3: Three nice shows at three nice eateries, spread throughout the day. Kelly Birtch plays guitar at ABC Cafe's Sunday brunch; music starts at 11 am. Kilpatrick's hosts its weekly Irish Music Session in the afternoon. At 6 pm, Pete and Taz play at Maxie's.

* * *

Mon. 8/4: Gerard Burke plays country blues at Micawber's, 6 pm.

* * *

Tues. 8/5: Hee Haw Nightmare plays for your down-home dining pleasure at Maxie's, 6 pm.

The Irish Music Session moves up hill to the Chapter House, 8 pm.

have fun -
Steve Burke
for Ithaca Blog

Stewart Park Rehab: A Start?

A public meeting was held last night at the Stewart Park Pavilion to address the park's problems, and possible remedies.

About 50 people attended the meeting, which was initiated by a $15,000 grant to create a Stewart Park Rehabilitation Action Plan.

The most vexing negative of the park is lack of maintenance, particularly of the lake shore, which makes swimming ill-advised and illegal. And not even tempting, by the way.

About a year ago we wrote a couple of pieces here on Ithaca Blog about the park's potential. You can see them by typing "Stewart Park" into the Blog's search mechanism.

We're happy to see action (or at least an "action plan") and will follow this issue. We also urge everyone to take part in the project.

Steve Burke
for Ithaca Blog

Brother, Can You Spare $118,000? America's Chronic Debt, and a Community Solution

According to the Federal Reserve, the average household with a mortgage in the United States has debt of $117,952. This includes mortgage debt, credit card debt, home equity loans, car loans, and tuition loans.

The annual savings of the average household is $392.

In 1957, in contrast, 42% of American households had no debt at all.

It must be galling for organized crime, which once had loan sharking all to itself, to have lost it to these supposedly legitimate banks and credit card companies, whose terms are also predatory, but somehow legal.

Ithaca has a local currency, Ithaca Hours, which addresses the scarcity of money in a productive rather than predatory way.

Over $100,000 worth of local currency circulates in Ithaca, creating an entirely new revenue stream which anyone can use.

Members join for $10, or one Hour, and get $20 worth of Hours to spend. Members also get a listing in the Hours Directory - its "Yellow Pages" - to offer goods and services, for whatever ratio of Hours and dollars they choose.

Like banks and credit card companies, Ithaca Hours makes loans of Hours to members. Unlike banks and credit card companies, Hours charges no fees or interest.

Besides benefitting individuals and businesses, studies show that local currencies promote a "multiplier effect" for communities.

If you buy produce at a farmer's market, for instance, with local currency, the money stays in the community (for products that, and vendors who, in this example, come from the community).

If you buy produce at a Wal-Mart store, and use a credit card, a percentage of that money is leaving the community for the credit card lender, some for the far-away grower, some for the food wholesaler, and some to Wal-Mart in Bentonville, Arkansas -never to return to your community. Certainly, never to you.

Local spending (particularly with local currency) means not saying "goodbye" to your hard-earned cash, but instead, "see you around. "

You can find out more about Ithaca Hours at http://www.ithacahours.org/, or by writing or phoning Small World Music, proud Ithaca Hours member (sworldmu@twcny.rr.com ; 607/256-0428).

Regarding that credit card: they're good for emergencies, right? So, a friend of ours who got into some credit trouble a while back keeps one in the house. Literally. Not in his wallet. And the place in the house is in the freezer, in a coffee can of ice. Now if he really needs it, he can get it, but he has to wait for the ice to melt.

The can is metal, so it can't be microwaved.

Steve Burke
for Ithaca Blog

Pete Seeger, Not Stopping

The New York Times last month reported on folk singer Pete Seeger, who at age 89 doesn't appear on concert stages much anymore, but can be seen every Saturday on Route 9 near his hometown of Beacon, New York, keeping a roadside anti-war vigil with hand-painted signs for peace.

It's not a rally at the Lincoln Memorial. But that's the point.

"You do a little bit wherever you are," Mr. Seeger says.

He brings his banjo along and plays for people who stop to join him, or just recognize and want to meet him.

We had the pleasure of meeting Mr. Seeger two years ago, representing Ithaca Hours, the local currency system. Mr. Seeger wanted to start a similar system in Beacon and asked us to address a group he formed for the project.

Mr. Seeger had a particular goal in mind: to fund, with the new revenue stream and increased economic activity of a local currency, the creation of an aquatic pool cage that could be put in the Hudson River near Beacon for summer swimming for children.

It was a productive meeting, though we did mention to Mr. Seeger that a local currency takes a long time to develop. He asked, deadpan, why we would mention the issue of time and duration to him.

We sure retracted that remark. We said (and meant) that we hoped to be at 67 as he was that day at 87. (Mr. Seeger had organized the meeting, and arranged our participation, and his wife Toshi and he cooked dinner for the group of twenty people.)

Since last month's piece in the Times about Mr. Seeger's public vigil, we saw another news article about Beacon.

It announced a new pool cage in the Hudson River for summer swimming for children.

Stephen Burke
for Ithaca Blog

During GrassRoots, Shorter Hours (But Lower Prices) at Small World Music

Small World Music will close at 5 pm rather than 6 pm for each day of the GrassRoots Festival. (Sundays, we are closed.)

If you are visiting Ithaca for GrassRoots, by all means stop in and see where music in Ithaca resides for the 361 days of the year there is no GrassRoots.

Show us your wristband - or simply mention this offer - and get 10% off purchases this weekend.

Small World Music is on the west end of town, on your way out of town towards Trumansburg, at 614 W. State St., down the driveway (that is, not visible from a moving automobile, but easy to see from an exited automobile). We're across the street from Kinko's, with parking down our driveway, or on the street.

You might also notice our sidewalk sign which currently is advertising the new releases by the Horse Flies and Donna the Buffalo.

Steve Burke
for Small World Music and Ithaca Blog

GrassRoots Picks

Regular readers (new and sporadic ones, too) might have noticed a profusion of GrassRoots material on the Blog lately. Part of the reason is simply that GrassRoots is a big deal around here.

Mostly, though, it was because we got so many hits from people, from far and wide, looking for information about GrassRoots, that we thought we would dedicate lots of posts to such info, and also keep the cyberspace gangway cleared for these seekers.

Anyway, we figure our final posting about GrassRoots 2008 will be this: our mail carrier today asked what we consider the don't-miss acts. While this is of course a matter of taste, we thought we would mention a few of our considerations.

We won't give exact times for the acts, but will list them from earlier in the day each day til later.

Friday: Bubba George String Band has the honor of kicking off the Festival, every year, with a set of old-timey beauty and fun. We remember when they weren't, but by now they are probably venerable. Personally, we are big fans of venerable tradition; and this is GrassRoots' own practice of it.

To prove we can be parochial, we recommend Burke and Bone, who do a mixture of traditional old-timey, country blues, and originals. Next in the Cabaret is Evil City String Band, a band with a similar mix and sensiblity, not to mention some overlap in personnel.

The night's headliners are Eilen Jewell and Lucinda Williams, who do back-to-back shows on the GrandStand stage.

Saturday: Ti-Ti Chickapea play early at the Dance Tent. Hank Roberts, Richie Stearns, and Eric Aceto do a very Ithacan turn on Americana (including Native Americana, if you will) mixed with acoustic jazz.

If you haven't caught up with the Balkan hoedown/New York underground thing that's going on, the Luminescent Orchestrii is your chance. They claim their music will make you "kiss and dance." Nothing wrong with that.

Etran Finatawa promise to be the new Tinariwan, which certainly should not be missed.

The Flying Clouds once again bring jumping, sweating salvation to the Dance Tent. They also have the coolest entourage (their families) and t-shirts (at bargain prices ... so they save you in more ways than one).

The Dirty Dozen Brass Band are big, big players in an old, old tradition in New Orleans, and are definitely a must.

We don't get much music here from Brazil, and you can't get too much music from Brazil; this year we have Nation Beat, in the friendly confines of the Dance Tent.

Saturday: The Horse Flies play early (1 pm ) at the Grandstand Stage. At about the same time, jazz guitarist Clay Ross, of Cyro Baptista's band, plays in the Cabaret.

Tobey Foyeh and Orchestra Africa bring a taste of highlife and Afrobeat and, no doubt, ruckus to the Infield Stage.

Galumpha (nee Second Hand Dance) return, at 7 pm. Then, stay in your seats for Cyro Baptista and Beat the Donkey, who also bring theatrics (along with very original music) to their performance, and were a big, surprise hit in 2006.

Plena Libre are big stars in the world of Latin dance music, and they will no doubt please.

Sunday: If you've never gotten it together to get up for the GrassRoots Chamber Orchestra, give it a shot. Beautiful music and a pleasing change of pace to remind us, as Duke Ellington said, there are really only two kinds of music. Similarly, the Bethlehem Youth Choir, from Ithaca, sing right after that, in the Dance Tent.

Jim Miller, longtime guitarist for Donna the Buffalo, returns with his new band, the Rough Gems.

Big Leg Emma are big Ithaca favorites and big favorites at clubs and festivals all over.

So. We have missed many, of course. We trust you won't. Pretty much no matter what you do, you can't go wrong. Have fun at this great event which so well represents our little town and its place in bringing bring this big world together through music, cooperation, understanding, respect, work, and joy.

Steve Burke
for Ithaca Blog

Big Weekend of Pre-GrassRoots Festival Music in Ithaca

One might think there'd be a dearth of music in town before the Festival, but this is unso.

Thursday 7/10, reggae legends Morgan Heritage are at Castaways, at 9:30.

* * *

Friday 7/11, the Irish ensemble Traonach plays at Felicia's happy hour, 5:30 - 8 pm.

It's an all alt-country eve at the Lost Dog, with Steve Gollnick, the Urban Horse Thieves, The Black-Eyed Susies, and the Chicken Tractor. 8 pm.

Sim Redmond Band has a CD release party at Castaways, with IY opening, 9:30.

* * *

Saturday 7/12: Johnny Dowd is at the Chapter House. We have seen the showtime posted as 8 pm, and also as 10 pm. We tend to think 10, but the bar's number is 277-9782.

Chicken Tractor resurfaces at Castaways, with the Macgillicuddies this time. 9 pm.

Gadje plays gypsy music at the ABC, 10 pm.

Tarbox Ramblers at the Rongo in T-burg, 10 pm.

* * *

Sunday 7/13: Kevin Kinsella at Felicia's, 7 pm.

The Sillanpaa Family, from Scandinavia, plays bluegrass and American country, quite well. At Bound For Glory at Anabel Taylor Hall, Cornell. Free admission, and live broadcast on WVBR. First set, 8:30.


have fun -
Steve Burke
for Ithaca Blog

GrassRoots Tickets, and Music, at Small World Music

The festival approaches, and a week remains to get advance price tickets for GrassRoots. We have plenty here at Small World Music, but it's smart not to wait until the last minute, as there's no guarantee that the festival organizers will have time to replenish supplies as show time nears.

We also have a good selection of festival music here, and festival-style music. By that we mean, if you like Lucinda Williams (whose CDs we have), you might also like her musical heroes, whose CDs we also have, such as Sister Rosetta Tharpe, Robert Johnson, Hank Williams, et al.

We have the Dirty Dozen Brass Band. Plena Libre. The new Hank Roberts (lauded in the NY Times). The new Horse Flies CD, "Until the Ocean," which is the #1 selling CD here at Small World Music. Jeff & Judy just brought us another case of 30.

For all you far-flung readers, we do mail orders. We do special orders. We have popular, obscure, new & shiny, used & cheap. Write us with inquiries here at the Blog, or at sworldmu@twcny.rr.com, or phone, 607/256-0428.

Steve Burke
for Ithaca Blog and Small World Music

Ride Share to GrassRoots? Post at Ithaca Blog

Maybe the only tough thing about GrassRoots is transportation to and from.

Parking is easy enough, and free, at the big lot on Agard Road, with free bus service to the Fairgrounds. Sometimes the wait for the bus can be long, though (they break down occasionally), and even crazy long, as is sometimes the case after the last big performance of each night. The lot can also be problematic with mud, after big rainfalls. The memorable deluge of Friday night, 2006, left many wheels interred, and people stranded.

Public transportation would be great, particularly with the price of gas these days, which makes a round-trip from Ithaca to T-burg about a $5 proposition. TCAT's Route 21 bus to T-burg is only 50 cents at off-peak times, and on weekends, in July. But the service stops early in the evening.

Public transportation would also be a great societal and personal boon in the cases of those who consume alcohol at the fest, then have to get home. Get caught over the limit, and you will bring misery upon yourself (hopefully, no one else). Police scrutiny on the roads to and from the fest seems to intensify each year. Fair game for those who drink and drive, we guess, but there are also people getting expensive tickets for going 5 miles over the speed limit, cracked tail lights, and other minor infractions, as the local cops increasingly seem to regard festival goers as cash cow driving ducks.

Taxi service seems out of the question unaffordable (although a lot cheaper than a DWI, of course). It is also probably pretty hard to access. We are not aware of a cab company in T-burg, so it would be a cab coming out there from Ithaca, then trying to find you.

A stop-gap solution might be ride-sharing. Ride sharing is economical and, lately, even trendy. But how does one find or arrange it?

Ithaca Blog will hereby get on board, as the (unofficial) ride board for the festival. If you have car space to offer (for financial recompense, we presume and/or suggest), or have need of a ride or rides, post here at Ithaca Blog, or drop us a line at sworldmu@twcny.rr.com, or phone us at Small World Music: 256-0428. We'll see what happens, and let yous know.

Steve Burke
for Ithaca Blog

GrassRoots Needs Volunteers

The GrassRoots Festival organization sent word today that they still have plenty of need for volunteers in plenty of capacities, particularly help with food prep for performers and staff; trash collection; and post-festival breakdown, which lasts a week or so.

Volunteers get free admission and fed. It's a good way to make friends and do valuable work in a fun setting.

Contact the co-ordinators at www.grassrootsfest.org.

Stephen Burke
for Ithaca Blog

July 4 Weekend Music in Ithaca

The July 4 holiday falling on a Friday sure gets it feeling leisurely, fast. Friday the 4th is a pretty sparse night for musical entertainment, and probably for restaurants, bars, and other indoor entities in general, as it is a number one picnic day.

Nevertheless, Pete Panek and the Rockers, hard-working men of show biz, are at the Lehigh Valley House for their usual Friday night gig, at 8 pm.

* * *

Sat. 7/5: Outside GIAC, at the corners of Court and Albany Streets, a "community unity" block party goes from 2 - 8 pm. Free music from Thousands of One, Mbusi, and Food Clothes and Shelter. Barbecue, and vegetarian food prepared by local churches and community groups. And more. Sponsored by the Race Liberation Alliance.

Thousands of One go from that gig to another at Castaways, opening for Jsan and the Analogue Suns, at 9 pm.

* * *

Sun. 7/6: Another day of good local offerings, as the Irish Music Session resumes its Sunday afternoon residency at Kilpatrick's. Time unspecified; phone is 277-8900.

And at Bound For Glory, local (and upstate NY) troubadour Joe Crookston rambles round in Woody Guthrie's shoes. First set at 8:30 pm.

Have fun -
Steve Burke
Ithaca Blog

Daily GrassRoots Tickets Now Available In Advance, Online

Tickets for individual days of the GrassRoots Festival are now available for advance purchase at the Festival's website, www.grassrootsfest.org.

Previously, only 4-day tickets were available in advance. Daily tickets had to be purchased at the gate, that day.

The Festival website is the only place to get advance daily tickets. Retail outlets continue to sell only the 4-day tickets.

Daily ticket prices vary. Advance prices for Thursday and Friday are each $38; Saturday is $43; Sunday $28. Advance prices are $2 less each day than day-of prices.

Advance sale tickets for all 4 days are $95. At the gate, they will be $110. They are currently available at Small World Music, and other locations.

Steve Burke
for Ithaca Blog (and Small World Music)

TCAT Bus Tries Off-Peak Fares

The TCAT bus system today started a 2-month experiment with off-peak fares of 50 cents, instead of the regular fare of $1.50.

Off-peak times are 10 am - 3 pm, after 6 pm, and all weekend.

The trial period is the months of July and August.

TCAT continues to show a progressive bent in the midst of the gas price crises. Rather than raising fares at a time when people might feel forced to use public transit, TCAT has sought ways to make its service even cheaper. Two years ago, TCAT eliminated zone pricing, reducing fares to destinations such as Trumansburg, Newfield, and Groton from $3.00 to $1.50.

The TCAT system has extensive service throughout the city and county, including campuses, shopping destinations, and parks.

For details, routes, schedules, maps, etc., see www.tcatbus.com.

Stephen Burke
for Ithaca Blog

Southern Fried Sampling: Cookbook Release Party at Simply Red Bistro

The Simply Red Bistro at Sheldrake Point Vineyards has a new cookbook, their first, of recipes for their acclaimed southern-style food. There is a late-breaking announcement of a book release party tomorrow, Monday 30 June, at the restaurant.

The vineyard is located about 20 miles north of Ithaca, off Route 89.

The party will feature free samples of food, and music from the Evil City String Band. The cookbook includes a music CD from the band, which regularly plays at Simply Red's southern nights, on Mondays, and will perform at the event.

Most of the week, Simply Red features American and Continental cuisine that is decidedly haute, and well-regarded. The Monday southern nights are homier, and well-attended, to say the least. At Simply Red's previous location, in downtown Trumansburg, reservations were necessary even for stools at the bistro's bar.

As of today, the announcement gives the time of the event as "around dinner time."

Sheldrake Vineyard's phone is 532-9401.

Steve Burke
for Ithaca Blog

Saturday Night Live Rebroadcasts First Show, With Host George Carlin

On Saturday, June 28, Saturday Night Live will re-broadcast its first show, from 1975, which featured George Carlin as host.

Carlin's historic performance is not included in any SNL compilation, nor re-run on any SNL forum. Our understanding is that SNL does not pay royalties to performers for these deals, and our surmisal is that Carlin was ready to eff with them mightily if they tried to exploit him like that.

Carlin performs three brief monologues in the course of the show, which features early stars John Belushi, Dan Ackroyd, Gilda Radner, Chevy Chase, and the rest of the original "Not Ready for Prime Time Players." The broadcast is also noteworthy for the first TV appearance of Andy Kauffman.

Steve Burke
for Ithaca Blog

Weekend Music, June 27 - 29

Fri. 6/29: Most of the action seems to start pretty early tonight. Happy Hours are the impetus, we reckon.

At Castaways, Rottweiller Nation starts a triple bill at 5:30. Ayurveda, with Absolution Project, play at 9:30.

At Felicia's, Aceto, Lieberman, and Shew play the bargain-laden happy hour, 5:30 - 8 pm.

At the Haunt, 505 Blues start at 6 pm.

At Micawbers, The Purple Valley, 6 pm.

In Trumansburg, Kelly Birtch is at Little Venice at 6 pm; El Caminos are at the Rongo at 7.

* * *

Sat. 6/28: The Yard Varks do particularly nice vocal work with golden oldies (or, classic rock?). At the Farmers Market, 10:30 am.

Hubcap, alt-country rock, at the Chapter House, 10 pm.

* * *

Sun. 6/29: Traditional bluesman Troy Walker performs at what we guess is the final live Bound For Glory of the season, at Anabel Taylor Hall at Cornell. First set is 8:30.

Have fun -
Steve Burke
for Ithaca Blog

Ithaca Carshare Is Rolling

Ithaca Carshare became a reality this week, with the arrival on city streets of 6 vehicles shared by members who pay for their use on an hourly basis.

Ithaca Carshare currently has 6 new Nissan Versa 5-door hatchbacks, and plans to add a pickup truck. We spied one of the cars at its permanent pickup spot at the Seneca Street entrance to the Dewitt Mall.

Members pay $50 annually, 20 cents a mile, and $7.95 an hour, or can pay $200 annually for a $4.95 hourly rate.

Ithaca is the smallest city in the country with a carshare program. It is the first in upstate New York.

More information is available at http://www.ithacacarshare.org/.

Steve Burke
for Ithaca Blog

Ithacan Remembers George Carlin's Protest Help

Ed McGowan, of Ithaca by way of New York City, went to Cardinal Hayes High School in the Bronx at about the same time as George Carlin, who died this week at age 71. They never met there, as Carlin was expelled rather precipitously for bad behavior.

McGowan laughs about it with the remove of years. "The place was run like a prison," he says.

Their paths ultimately crossed in the early 1970's. McGowan was a Jesuit priest and an activist against the Vietnam war. He was part of a group called the Camden 28, on trial for destroying draft records at a Selective Service office in Camden, New Jersey. (John Grady, Sr., of Ithaca's Grady family, was another of the 28.)

The group needed money for their legal expenses. Someone suggested Carlin as a headliner for a fundraising concert.

Though Carlin's comedy was often political, he wasn't known as politically active. None of the group knew him personally. But they thought perhaps his background - subversive city Irish - would help.

McGowan recalls they contacted Carlin's agent, Jack Morris. "Carlin asked a few questions, and said yes pretty much immediately."

The benefit was at a large concert hall in Cherry Hill, New Jersey. McGowan recalls that Carlin met with the group before the show, got some information about their efforts, and created some material around that. He also did much of his regular material - altogether, two hours worth, McGowan says.

"He brought the house down. Uproarious, gut-splitting humor." The show was such a success, McGowan says, "We were the only protest group in the black."

The Camden 28 defended themselves and were found innocent, in an historical trial McGowan recounts in his book, "Warriors For Peace."

We mourn George Carlin's death, and will remember his long and brilliant life of telling the truth.

Stephen Burke
for Ithaca Blog

GrassRoots Festival Posts Schedule

The GrassRoots Festival has posted the full festival schedule at its website, http://www.grassrootsfest.org/.

The most notable news is that Lucinda Williams is performing on Thursday night - an excellent tactical move, as Thursday is usually the sparsest day at GrassRoots, so there should be plenty of room for the scads of fans she is bound to bring.

A surprising detail is her scheduled space: not the Infield Stage (the largest, in front of an open field), but the Grandstand, with a finite number of bleacher seats and a small amount of real estate in front.

Ordinarily, it would be a big boost for whomever performs there before Ms. Williams, as earlybirds will be perching well in advance for seats. In this case, however, the performer before Ms. Williams is Eilen Jewell, who will not need any help.

Advance tickets to GrassRoots are on sale at Small World Music, along with music from many GrassRoots performers: Ms. Williams and Ms. Jewell, the Dirty Dozen Brass Band, Donna the Buffalo, the Flying Clouds, Plena Libre, and more.

Steve Burke
for Ithaca Blog

Ithaca Festival Favorites, Concisely

There is more to see than ever at the Ithaca Festival this year, with activities at Stewart Park all three days instead of just Sunday. We contrive here to construct the concisest possible list of highlights.

Thursday: the parade. For us, the best part of the whole thing. Remember, as of last year, the route is now Cayuga St., not Buffalo. If history is any guide, prepare for some rain.

Friday: Boy With A Fish on the Commons, 6 pm.

Saturday: Wingnut, with Hank Roberts, in Stewart Park, 3 pm. Evil City String Band, featuring Richie Stearns and Pat Burke, in the park at 7:30. Traonach, the celtic outfit, on the Commons at 7:45.

Sunday: the Peace Rally, an attempt to form the world's largest human peace symbol for the Guinness Book of World Records, is at 2 pm at Stewart Park. The Sim Redmond Band closes the festival at the park, 7:30 pm.

Your Ithaca Festival button, $5, helps pay for the Festival. It also gets you free fare on TCAT buses to and from the festival sites all weekend long.

Steve Burke
for Ithaca Blog

Ithaca "Taste of the Nation" Tonight

Tonight at Ithaca College, the Share Our Strength organization holds its annual Taste of the Nation event to fight hunger.

Dozens of our area's finest restaurants, wineries, and other food and drink professionals offer samples of their fare to raise funds for local anti-hunger groups, such as Loaves and Fishes, and the Food Bank of the Southern Tier.

Tickets are $75. Sponsorships insure that 100% of ticket sales go directly to the charitable organizations.

The event is at the Emerson Suites at Ithaca College. It starts at 6:30 and goes until 10 pm. There is live music towards the latter part of the evening. Dress is business casual.

Information about tickets is available at www.ithacatasteofthenation.org.

Stephen Burke
for Ithaca Blog

Weekend Music, June 13 & 14

Fri. 6/13: There's a convention of crooks at Castaways, with Urban Horse Thieves at 5 pm, and the Thieves Hymn at 9 pm. Maddy Walsh opens for the later show. Maybe she will steal it.

* * *

Sat. 6/14: Kevin Kinsella, ex-singer for John Brown's Body, brings his new band to the Chapter House: Food, Clothes, Shelter. 10 pm.


Have fun -
Steve Burke
for Ithaca Blog

Foreign Language Songs Quiz: Answers and Winner

No one won the trifecta for our quiz question last week, asking for the only three foreign language songs - one in French, one German, one Spanish - ever to make the Billboard charts in the U.S.

That trifecta would be: "Dominique", by the Singing Nun; "99 Luftballoons", by Nena; and "La Bamba", by Richie Valens.

"La Bamba" has the distiction of being the first to crack the xenophobia barrier.

(Which brings to mind a popular joke in Queens, NY, purportedly the most ethnically diverse area in the world.

What do you call a person who speaks five languages? Multi-lingual.
What do you call a person who speaks two languages? Bi-lingual.
What do you call a person who speaks one language? American.)

We got a lot of correct answers identifying one or another of the songs in question. Also, some funny ones, like from Joe M., who knew "La Bamba", but also suggested "Tequila." We offered, in reply, that "Tequila" is a title, but only arguably a lyric. Also, that "tequila" might actually be considered an honorary (or adopted) English word, since it is commonly known, and has no alternative. Same as "vodka" (which is actually (we believe) a Russian word, an affectionate diminutive of "water").

Joe also nominated "Louie Louie" as a song that is not in English; but if incomprehensibility were a language, many rock singers would be bi-lingual.

The contest winner, selected at random, is Marc, who gets a $10 gift certificate to Small World Music, the college of musical knowledge. Congratulations to Marc, and thanks to all entrants.

Horseflies: Free Show Tonight, and New CD Sale-Priced Today

The Horseflies, central New York's most venerated music group, play a free concert tonight on the Ithaca Commons, kicking off the Thursday Night Downtown Ithaca Summer Concert Series.

The Horseflies are celebrating the release of "Until the Ocean", their first studio release in 17 years.

The CD is available at Small World Music today for a sale price of $13 to Ithaca Blog readers.

The show is scheduled for 6 - 8 pm, at the Bernie Milton Pavilion on the Commons.

Steve Burke
for Ithaca Blog

Gardening Tip, Or Warning: Buckwheat Flour Repels Animals, Or Else Attracts Them

Gardening can be a pretty confusing proposition to a novice. There are as many different opinions about it as there are about health or dominoes.

Recently we heard that buckwheat flour is abhorrent to deer and rabbits and will keep them out of the garden. We heard that if deer even smell buckwheat flour on a hot summer day, something to the combination fills them with despair.

With a level of excitement we have sometimes experienced at the racetrack, we asked a knowledgeable friend, an actual farmer, about the tip. He said he didn't know, but he did know that when he has grown buckwheat as a cover crop on his farm, the deer take to it like a table of buffet.

Hope springs eternal, though, so we're giving it a shot, and will report our results. If they are positive, look for the price of buckwheat flour at GreenStar to balloon.

Steve Burke
for Ithaca Blog

Music Quiz Question: Hit Songs Not in English

The sporadic Ithaca Blog quiz question surfaces again this week. It's driven by a piece of trivia arisen at Small World Music today that is too good to pass up, or not pass along. Namely:

The U.S. "Billboard" top 40 record charts have included songs in a language other than English only three times: one in Spanish, one in French, and one in German. Name one and we include you for a randomly-selected prize of a $10 gift certificate to Small World Music. Be the first to name all three, and you win a g.c. with no drawing: all yours, champ. (As of Thursday 12 June, no one has accomplished this wondrous feat.)

We'll take entries all this week and pick winners on Friday. You can e-mail your answer to SWM at sworldmu@twcny.rr.com.

Steve Burke
for Ithaca Blog and Small World Music

Weekend Music, June 6 - 8

Fri. 6/6: Pat Burke and Gregor Bone at Felicia's happy hour, 5:30.

Hometown rock-and roll pioneer Bobby Comstock makes a comeback appearance at the Haunt, 8 pm.

* * *

Sat. 6/7: The Crossing Borders series presents a program of young bands at the Lost Dog Lounge, featuring Sugar in the Raw and The Sauce. 8 pm.

* * *

Sun. 6/8: Kitchen Chair, fiddle and guitar, at brunch at the ABC Cafe, 11 am.

Jennie Stearns at Felicia's, 7 pm.

The Black-Eyed Susies at Korova, 214 E. State St.

Have fun-
Steve Burke
for Ithaca Blog

Take Me Out to the Ballgame in Binghamton

The New York Mets have a minor league affiliate in Binghamton, and while a pro sports event is not the first weekend diversion one thinks of in our region, a ballgame in Binghamton is entertaining and affordable.

The Binghamton Mets are a mid-level minor league franchise. The team generally fields a few players who will eventually make it to the big time. A few years ago, we saw David Wright playing there, a week or so before he was promoted to the major league Mets, where he is now an All-Star third baseman.

The outing is easy and, as we say, affordable. Tickets are $8 and $9, which is less than parking at a big league park (parking for the Binghamton Mets is $2, if we remember right, or free and readily available on neighborhood streets around the park).

The park is intimate, seating about 5,000. It is clean and the atmosphere is wholesome and family-oriented. Concessions are reasonably priced, and range from good-quality spiedies (a Binghamton specialty) to steamed franks that require culinary courage more than coinage.

Weekend night games are followed by a fireworks show, which is not bad. Personally we prefer old-fashioned day games, on Sunday.

The B-Mets are home this Sunday for a game that starts at 1 pm. Good tickets are generally available at the gate at game time.

Some Ithacans will be making a group trip to this Sunday's game. Leading us is Kenny Ritter, who produced the Luminary News on local TV until illness deterred him. Kenny is still fighting his illness, but will be sitting behind home plate on Sunday. Come by and say hi.

Steve Burke
for Ithaca Blog

State Theater 2008 Subscriptions On Sale, Monday 8 June

If you're the type who loves good seats, saving money, and supporting the arts in your community, subscriptions to the State Theater's 2008 various series will go on sale this Monday, 8 June.

The State's slate for 2008 includes David Crosby and Graham Nash, Steve Earle, Billy Bragg, Sharon Jones, the Blind Boys of Alabama, the Preservation Hall Jazz Band, Habib Koite, the Flatlanders, Cassandra Wilson, and many more.

Get details at the State's site, www.statetheatreofithaca.com.

Steve Burke
for Ithaca Blog

Bo Diddley Dies at Age 79

Bo Diddley, a pioneering creator of rock and roll music, died of heart failure yesterday at his home in Florida, at age 79.

Ithaca Blog paid tribute to Mr. Diddley, with hopes for his longevity, in a post on May 18, 2007, after he suffered a stroke.

You can check that post for our feelings about Bo Diddley, and see today's New York Times for its thorough obituary and appreciation of his life and music.

For now, we say again, God bless Bo Diddley.

Steve Burke
for Ithaca Blog

Horseflies New CD: Special at Small World Music

The long-awaited (17 years long) new CD by the Horseflies is out - available right now, slightly before the official release date, at Small World Music.

Be the first on your block with a copy of Until the Ocean. Mention Ithaca Blog, and get $2 off the $15 price.

Small World Music is at 614 W. State St., down the driveway. Open 11 am - 6 pm, Tuesday through Saturday. We'll also be open this Sunday afternoon, 12 - 4 pm on June 1.

Steve Burke
for Ithaca Blog and Small World Music

Weekend Music, May 30 - June 1

The Ithaca Festival has a preview on Friday evening and all day Saturday on the Commons. Ten bands, from fresh new ones to old favorites. See the Festival website for details.

Fri. 5/30: The Small Kings play way out there at the Plantation Bar and Grill, 1285 Dryden Rd.

Eilen Jewell, rising folk-rocker and recent GrassRoots Fest favorite, plays an intimate show at the Rongo in T-burg. 8 pm show with an opening act. Tickets are $10, available at the door.

* * *

Sat. 5/31: Djug Django brings gypsy-inspired swing to the Rongo, 7:30 pm.

* * *

Sun. 6/1: More of that gypsy-style swing tonight, this time at Maxie's, with the Cool Club of Lyon. 6 pm.

Julia Othmer and Jen Cork at Felicia's, 7 pm.

have fun -
Steve Burke
for Ithaca Blog

Presidential Health

Today, Barack Obama released his medical records, and a doctor's report describing his health as excellent. Last week, John McCain reported on his own good health in a document that was unexceptional except for its length: 1,176 pages.

Obama's doctor noted that the senator has smoked cigarettes "intermittently" for most of his adult life, although he is currently using nicotine gum in attempting to end the habit.

It's a lot of information, much of it of questionable value (especially in 1,176 pages).

One ponders the relevance of health documents at all for a job that lasts only 4 years, and where serious disease, in the past, has proven irrelevant to job performance. Franklin Roosevelt had polio when he took the job, and performed well enough (and lived long enough) to be elected to 4 terms.

Maybe the really relevant documentation would be of mental health. If we got that tested and saw those records, we might never have had Watergate, nor the war in Iraq.

Steve Burke
for Ithaca Blog

Ithaca Festival Weekend? No, Festival Preview Weekend

The Ithaca Festival has moved its traditional date, the first weekend after Memorial Day, to summer solstice weekend, June 19 - 22. So you shouldn't miss it too bad, the Festival is scheduling a preview this weekend.

The preview starts on Friday night and continues all day Saturday, with 10 bands playing on the Commons, closing with a performance by Judy Hyman and Richie Stearns of the Horseflies on Saturday night.

The festival is not just later this year, but larger. Events will take place both downtown and at Stewart Park each day, instead of downtown Thursday through Saturday, and Stewart Park on Sunday.

Details are available at Ithaca Festival's website.

Steve Burke
for Ithaca Blog

Ex-White House Spokesman Speaks Out Against Administration and Press

Scott McClellan, White House press secretary from 2003 to 2006, is making headlines with his new book criticizing the Bush administration for consciously lying to the public - and to him, as their spokesman - about weapons of mass destruction in Iraq.

McClellan also reveals evidence of lies in the Valerie Plame case, and "propaganda" to hide the paucity of federal relief efforts for Hurricane Katrina victims.

McClellan criticizes the press for its capitulation to propaganda and manipulation. Of course, the situation hasn't changed much.

You still will not see photographs of coffins coming back to America from Iraq. The government bans it, and the press does not challenge the ban.

Yesterday, the many hundreds of journalists covering the McCain campaign and the Bush White House accepted a measure of news control. President Bush and Senator McCain appeared together to raise funds from Republican stalwarts. The press was banned from the proceedings, as the Republicans wish to limit evidence of the support McCain accepts from Bush.

The press does not protest.

In Spain, when the government failed to protect journalists covering the war in Iraq, or even to discuss it, the press essentially called a strike. They told the government they would not report on their activities until they answered questions.

In the U.S., the press is too afraid, lazy, or complacent for such action: take your pick. Meanwhile, the press reports on Scott McClellan's book like it's history. It's not history. It's current events.

Stephen Burke
for Ithaca Blog

Folk Singer Utah Phillips Dies at Age 73

Utah Phillips, the folk singer, story teller and social activist, died on Friday at age 73 of congestive heart failure.

Mr. Phillip's work was in the tradition of Woody Guthrie and Pete Seeger, rendering traditional music with a dynamic, almost anarchic, creative force, and a committment to progressive poltical and social movements.

Mr. Phillip's music career spanned four decades, with many recordings and countless concerts. He won acclaim with a new generation in the last decade through his work with Ani Difranco.

In recent years, health problems curtailed his schedule and, particularly, travel from his California base. He sold out a performance in Ithaca about 4 years ago which many fans realized would likely be his last in this area.

The "Democracy Now!" radio program has posted on its website an interview with Utah Phillips from 2004. See http://www.democracynow.org/.

Stephen Burke
for Ithaca Blog

Weekend Activities, May 23 - 25

Fri. 5/23: Castaways is a local band buffet tonight, with El Caminos doing an early show CD release party at 5:30. At 9:00, Johnny Dowd opens, and Wingnut, with Hank Roberts, closes.

* * *

Sat. 5/24: A singer-songwriter from Portland OR by way of Brooklyn NY should be at home at the ABC in Ithaca, shouldn't she? Hear what Katie Sawicki brings to the mismatched tables at our favorite cafe tonight, at 9:30.

* * *

Sun. 5/25: Unusual suspects Jessica Flood, ex-of Missing Marcus, and Doug Robinson, prolific veteran prodigal, are at Felicia's , 7 pm.

Steve Burke
for Ithaca Blog

Good Weekend to Try Unbeaten Path Businesses

Ithaca will be host to a city of visitors as big as itself this weekend, with graduation at Cornell. It's a good weekend for locals to get acquainted with businesses off the beaten path, avoiding crowds of well-meaning but confused, possibly harried and anxious, out-of-towners.

We took note of the issue last weekend, with the Ithaca College graduation, which is much smaller. Still, it was impossible to get seated at the Smart Monkey Cafe on Route 13. Usually, seating here is not a problem. But we realized that the restaurant is right next door to the Hampton Inn, which was likely full.

We don't want to go on the record telling you not to go somewhere, of course, except in general terms, such as avoid restaurants that are next to hotels.

We will instead simply emphasize the unbeaten path.

For instance, if you want a sports bar/restaurant, you might opt for Uncle Joe's - which, at the corner of Green and Albany Streets, is less conspicuous than Benchwarmers on the Commons.

At the corner of Meadow and Buffalo Streets, Joe's Restaurant is a highly visible Italian restaurant. A hiddener alternative is Lucatelli's, on Elmira Road at Plain Street. It is less courant than Joe's (or almost anywhere), but is fun for that: very dark, rather chilly with a/c, paintings of Napoli Bay and the Mona Lisa, soundtrack of Sinatra, Dino, et al., and a rolling dessert cart. Hillary Clinton ate here when she was in town.

Northside Liquors is bound to be busy, and deservedly so, with its great selection and knowledgable staff, which have been nationally recognized. But great customer service is also a hallmark at two excellent smaller shops: Sparrow's , on the corner of Fulton and Green, and Red Feet, a charming new place at Rt. 13 and Third St. (the Papa John's plaza).

If you're thinking about Thai, or pan-Asian, you might want to forget it entirely for the weekend, as both Thai Tastes (that is, the one on the Commons, and the one up West State St.) and Thai Cuisine are all bound to be irredeemably packed. There is, however, a new place called Tamarind, on Rt. 13 and Court St., and while we know nothing about it, it might be a good time to find out, as it is probably not known to most Cornellies, nor even in the phone book yet.

If you are looking for music, you should come to the easy-walking, easiest-driving, easiest-parking part of town, the West End, and visit Small World Music, down the driveway at 614 W. State St. We might even think of some other tips by the time you get here. (Like, if you need gas, tank up now!)

Steve Burke
for Ithaca Blog and Small World Music

Changes to Online Ithaca Journal: Not the Final Edition, Surely

The Ithaca Journal made some changes to its online edition this week that turned a navigable site into something confused, so we hope they're not done with it yet.

If you look at today's edition, your eye first lands on a feature that presents the day's top stories, ostensibly, divided into categories. One of the categories, somehow - in fact, the first one - is Softball, and the top story of the day is about the wildcard tie-breaker win of the Newark Valley softball team, which seems to be a school team, although this is not stated.

The rest of the news is located down the page, buried amidst a lot of ads, detours ("explore ithacajournal.com"; a "things to do" calendar, a "Find a Car Dealer" click-on box), and weird features (e.g., GetPublished!, where you click to publish your own news on their pages: "Announce your business, brag about your dog, review your school play", it says).

Maybe the idea is to keep you on the site longer, which makes the traffic numbers for the site look good. Or maybe it's to get you to revert to the paper editon, where you can more readily find what you want. Or maybe they're just trying hard - just a little too hard.

We hope it's the latter, and that the Journal will go back to the drawing board now that the dust has settled.

Steve Burke
for Ithaca Blog

Fighting Cancer

The news about Senator Edward Kennedy's brain cancer is poignant for any of us whose families have been affected by cancer, which is probably most of us today.

Senator Kennedy is described by friends as, above all, a fighter. That is a good thing to be in life. Not belligerent or violent, but a fighter for the things one believes in and loves.

We generally know abstractly that life is to be loved and fought for. Sometimes we really know it.

Hamilton Jordan, of the Carter adminstration, died this week after years of fighting cancer. He wrote a book called "No Such Thing As A Bad Day."

If you have questions about cancer, there is a great organization in Ithaca: the Cancer Resource Center of the Finger Lakes (formerly the Ithaca Breast Cancer Alliance). Their services are expert, and free. Call them at 277-0960, see their website at http://www.crcfl.net/, or visit at 612 W. State St.

If you would like to support the Cancer Resource Center while finding out more about their work, their 15th Annual Celebration and Luncheon is Friday, 23 May, from noon til 2:00. Registration is $20.

Stephen Burke
for Ithaca Blog

Weekend Activities, May 16 - 18

Fri. 5/16: Toivo plays that Swedish squeezebox music at Felicia's Happy Hour, 5:30 pm.

El Caminos and Hee Haw Nightmare play a benefit at the Cayuga Nature Center, 6 pm.

John Simon, Jody Kessler, and Will Fudeman play acoustic tunes at EcoVillage, 7:30 pm.

* * *

Sat. 5/17: Bruce Cockburn at Kulp Auditorium, Ithaca High School, 8 pm.

* * *

Sun. 5/18: Nate Silas Richardson, ex-John Brown's Body and African music aficianado, at the Cayuga nature Center, 10 am. Yes, a.m. !

Piano man Malcolm Bilson at the Carriage House, on Stewart Av., 3 pm.

Have fun -
Steve Burke
for Ithaca Blog

The Preakness, and an Update on Day-Tripping to Cortland OTB

Saturday 17 May is the day of the Preakness stakes race, which means it's time for a road trip to Cortland for big OTB bets. We have a quick update after our definitive posting about this sojourn last year, at Kentucky Derby time.

We made the trip for this year's Derby, and we're sorry to report, we must take away a star from Uncle Louie's eating establishment there. Maybe two stars.

The parking lot was full, but past capacity, so we had to park per dolem next door at the Footy Freeze. That's not so bad, because it gives up the opportunity to say "Footy Freeze."

But Uncle Lou and crew had problems dealing with the full house, which meant a 15 minute wait for us and 3 other people ahead of us. Not an exaggerated 15 minutes, but an actual, and no one even said boo to us in that time. When we were finally seated, it took a lot of action on our own.

Finally, the food was cold, and the drinks were warm.

There is the vast drawing card of the fact that the betting parlor is actually connected to the restaurant, separated only by a curtain.

This trip, however, our culinary standards being what they are, we think we will have to take our dining business to the A&W, where you get to call in your order to the counter from a pink phone on your table. Then we go to Footy Freeze and have something, to pay them back for the use of their parking space. Then we will put some semolians on Stevil to win, a custom-made hunch bet for me if ever there was one.

Steve Burke
for Ithaca Blog

Leaving Ithaca? Preparing for GrassRoots? Local Music at Small World Music

Whether you are a graduate, leaving this transient town, or a resident, anticipating our annual GrassRoots Festival of local and other music, you can stock up at Small World Music on the sounds of Ithaca, either to remember or prepare.

We have it all, or most. Mention this I.Blog promotion and get $2 off any local CD.

Some of the roster:

Boy With A Fish
Steve Brown
Burns Sisters
Chad Crumm
Donna the Buffalo
Johnny Dowd
El Caminos
Amy Glicklich
Crow Greenspun
Michael Hansen
The Horseflies
John Brown's Body
Joejo
Kevin Kinsella
Kitchen Chair
Mary Lorson
Trevor MacDonald
Makepeace Brothers
Mbusi
Plastic Nebraska
Jeb Puryear
Sim Redmond
Revision
Hank Roberts
Johnny Russo
Samite
The Splendors
Jennie Stearns
Richie Stearns
Ten Foot Ganja Plant
The Thieves Hymn
The Thins
Thousands of One
Urban Horse Thieves
Aro Veno
Waterbear
Chris White
Kathy Ziegler

.... and, believe it or not, many more. Sale price in effect through graduation season (month of May).

Out-of-town readers, please note, we do mail orders very nicely. Not only for local music, but for anything. If you are not fortunate enough to live near a top-notch music resource such as us, let us be your neighbor. E-mail or phone us with orders or inquiries: sworldmu@twcny.rr.com,
607/256-0428.

Steve Burke
for Small World Music and Ithaca Blog

Is History Passe?

This morning on Democracy Now, Amy Goodman featured a segment on the general strike in France, 40 years ago this month. Inspired by the anti-war movement in the U.S., it was the largest general strike in European history, and ended the government of Charles DeGaulle, who went temporarily into hiding.

Today it is hardly remembered, and I wondered how many listeners the show lost with the segment. After all, unlike most news shows of the day, it didn't feature Hillary Clinton and the horserace aspects of politics, or speculation on the series finales of popular television shows, or the cow in England that weighs 2,000 pounds.

Not easily deterred, Ms. Goodman next featured the author Gore Vidal, who makes a specialty of erudite historical novels, and refers to his country as the United States of Amnesia, citing our woeful national ignorance of even recent history.

The question is whether history has been obliterated in a highly technological age that prizes instant connection above all else, with no filters for significance. The perpetual onslaught of e-mails, text messages, cell phone calls, and Internet universality doesn't leave much room for anything not current, now.

The competition for our attention is greater than ever. Of course, by definition, the trivial in life outweighs the important. Today, unfortunately, it also outruns and outlasts it.

This morning, discussing the current war, which has already lasted longer than either World War, Mr. Vidal said the condition of constant war had its genesis with Truman, who fostered the Cold War as a means to keep society unbalanced, and people perpetually frightened, rather than confident and sovereign in peace. Vidal sighed when he wondered aloud how many people knew to what, or whom, he was referring.

Stephen Burke
for Ithaca Blog

Weekend Entertainment, May 9 - 11

Fri. 5/9: Bobbie Henry is one of the region's best, most entertaining guitarists. He performs with friends at Felicia's happy hour, 5:30 p.m.

* * *

Sat. 5/10: Ithaca stalwart Kathy Ziegler takes the show on the road a little, before she takes it on the road a lot, relocating to Holland with her husband, Jairo van Lunteran (of the Splendors pop group), and their two children. Kathy gives a going-away performance tonight at 8 pm at the Morgan Opera House in Aurora, joined by many friends and colleagues. Call 315/364-5437 for information.

* * *

Sun. 5/11: Old-time trio the Black Eyed Susies make a CD release party at Felicia's, 7 pm.

Ron "Tater Salad" White, comedy star of stage and cable, brings his stand-up routine to the State Theater, 8 pm.

have fun -
Steve Burke
for Ithaca Blog

GrassRoots Festival Announces Performers for 2008

The Dirty Dozen Brass Band and Lucinda Williams are two big names announced as performers at this year's GrassRoots Festival, July 17 - 20.

Other noted performers include reggae legends the Meditations, cajun progenitors Balfa Toujours, and emerging folk-pop star Eilen Jewell. Among the returning favorites are Preston Frank, Cyro Baptista, John Brown's Body, the Speckers, dance troupe Galumpha, and the GrassRoots Chamber Orchestra.

The Festival website notes that, along with the luminaries, "GrassRoots doesn't hesitate to bring you great music you've never heard of before." Indeed, each year the Festival seems to turn an unknown act into a breakthrough band. The African band Tinariwen went from obscure status before GrassRoots to touring with the Rolling Stones.

More information is available at http://www.grassrootsfest.org/.

Adavnce four-day tickets are available for $95 at Small World Music and other locations.

Small World Music also has raffle tickets this week with a pair of four-day tickets as the prize. The raffle costs $10 and benefits relief efforts for New Orleans. Only 40 chances are available, so the odds of winning are finite. The drawing will be held Mothers Day, this Sunday, 11 May.

Steve Burke
for Ithaca Blog

Buy GrassRoots Ticket Raffle, and Benefit New Orleans

Take a chance at winning a pair of GrassRoots Festival tickets with a raffle drawing to help relief efforts in New Orleans.

The cost is $10. The proceeds go to Alternative School efforts to send students to New Orleans with the local Love Knows No Bounds group.

The odds are 1 in 40, with only 40 chances offered. A $200 value, and a great cause.

Tickets are available at Small World Music, 614 W. State St.

The drawing is this Sunday, Mothers Day, so act soon!

Steve Burke
for Ithaca Blog

As Dollars Dry Up, Ithaca Hours Flow

Times are as tough as any in memory, with the housing market crash, the credit crunch, the high cost of gasoline, and rising food prices.

As dollars disappear, we in Ithaca are lucky to have a complementary currency system, the Ithaca Hours system, providing a cash-money alternative to dollars for spending and earning.

Over $100,000 worth of Ithaca Hours notes are in circulation, in denominations equivalent to one, five, ten, and twenty dollars. You earn them by joining the system, which provides a listing in the Hours Directory for your business, or any goods and services you might offer.

Membership costs $10. Along with your Directory listing, you get two Hours, worth $20, as an annual benefit. So you make money right away by joining.

Members include brick-and-mortar businesses, various professionals, tradespeople, and moonlighters. You can bolster your existing business, start a new one, or turn your skills into income.

Members include well-known businesses such as Ithaca Bakery, Alternatives Credit Union, the House of Shalimar, Significant Elements, ABC Cafe, Maxie's, Sparrow's Wines, Autumn Leaves Books, the Bookery, GreenStar, Ten Thousand Villages, Alta Spa, Ithaca Guitar Works, the Frame Shop, 544 Productions website design, Small World Music, and the Ithaca Health Alliance.

Lately, some prominent members have reduced the amount of Ithaca Hours they take per transaction. It's a logical reaction to the dollar crunch. It stands to reason, though, that the dollar crunch will get worse before it gets better, and that Hours will become increasingly important and vital for expanding business.

Check the Hours website, http://www.ithacahours.org/, for more information. Or feel free to call or visit Small World Music for details: 256-0428, at 614 W. State St.

Stephen Burke
for Ithaca Blog

Where Does NY's Water Flow?: Quiz Question Answered

Last week's Earth Week quiz asked for three destinations for the flowing waters of New York State. By way of example we mentioned one easy one, the Hudson River, which flows into the Atlantic via the Hudson Bays (then flows back a good ways, mixed with ocean water).

Other major repositories are the St. Lawrence River, leading into the north Atlantic (for Lake Erie, Cayuga Lake, etc.); the Chesapeake Bay, where Cayuga's sister lake, Otsego, eventually empties, via the Susquehanna River; and the Gulf of Mexico. Chautauqua Lake empties there, via the rivers Allegheny, Ohio, and Mississippi, taking a long southern route, despite its proximity to big, north-flowing Lake Erie.

We had no wrong answers from our erudite readership. So our two randomly-selected winners of $10 gift certificates to Small World Music are James H., a volunteer worker at Six Mile Creek, and Don L. of Hammondsport.

Thanks to all entrants -

Steve Burke
for Ithaca Blog

Weekend Activities, May 2 - 4

Fri. 5/2: Evil City String Band, 5:30, Felicia's Atomic Lounge. Happy Hour specials til 8 pm.

Kevin Kinsella and Nate Richardson, ex-of John Brown's Body, with Elise Sciscioli. Lost Dog Lounge, 8 pm.

* * *

Sat. 5/3: Highwoods String Band reunion at the Rongo. 7 pm.

Improv comedy with TV stars ("Whose Line Is It, Anyway?") Colin Mochris and Brad Sherwood. State Theater, 8 pm.

IY at the Chapter House. 10 pm.

* * *

Sun. 5/4: The Hogwarshers at Maxie's. 6 pm.

Piano Creeps at Felicia's. 7 pm.

* * *

Have fun -
Steve Burke
for Ithaca Blog