Nerd Nite at the Philadelphia Science Festival: What It Means To Be Human
Apr
27
to Apr 29
Literary Arts, Performing Arts

Nerd Nite at the Philadelphia Science Festival: What It Means To Be Human

I will be performing A Litany on the Death of my Body. 

A Litany on the Death of my Body is a prayer while your heart pumps blood into your digestive tract. It is interpreting the stiff upper lip of health care workers’ pity. It is how life is most desirable when it is slipping away. It is an epitaph.

Official Event Page

The Philadelphia Science Festival and Philly Nerd Nite team up to consider the perennial question of what it means to be human. Join us and five local researchers as we examine this inquiry from a scientific perspective by looking at exciting developments in anthropology, morphology, psychology, neuroscience, and robotics, including brain enhancements, 3D organ printing, and how robots learn. Though we won’t promise any definitive conclusions, you’re guaranteed to walk away feeling slightly more evolved at the end of the night.

$5 at the door

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Co-Hosting Poets on the Porch V
Jul
11
1:00 PM13:00
Literary Arts

Co-Hosting Poets on the Porch V

I'll be co-hosting this year's Poets on the Porch. Please come on by, if the last two that I attended are any indication, it's gonna RAWK!!!

Mark your calendar, grab a porch chair and join us for outstanding poetry on the porch of Ryerss Museum and Library. Fifteen poets will read on a balmy summer day atop the hill at Burholme Park. Please visit: https://foxchasereview.wordpress.com/poets-on-the-porch-2015/ We hope to see you there and bring a chair!


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Nerd Nite Philly Turns Five at Johnny Brenda's
Jul
9
7:00 PM19:00
Performing Arts, Literary Arts

Nerd Nite Philly Turns Five at Johnny Brenda's

I'm excited to help celebrate Philly Nerd Nite turning 5 with a 10-minute poetry set. 

Expect from me the usual mix of tragicomedy and boombast.

Tickets are available at https://www.ticketfly.com/purchase/event/864297

Hey Philly,
Have you heard that Nerd Nite Philly celebrates our 5 Year anniversary soon? We’ve changed neighborhoods, bars, days of the week, times and even co-bosses (don’t worry, no one got fired)! Now settled comfortably into Fishtown, typically on the 1st Wednesday of each month, we look forward to many more years of nerdy speakers and entertainment washed down with steins of beer. Our 5 year party will include abbreviated renditions from some of the best nerdy talks and talent our city has offered over the last few years.
Among the topics will be Victorian-era burial practices, forensic anthropology, and there will definitely be a nod to wacky pop culture memorabilia thrown in there. We’ll be changing up the format with shorter iterations of some of the best nerdy presentations we’ve enjoyed throughout the years, we promise that we’re still striving for the same inebriated, salacious, yet deeply academic vibe as we party like it is, indeed, our birthday.

 

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Feb
6
7:00 PM19:00

The 11th Annual Fun-A-Day Art Show 2015 Day One

During the month of January, I'll be sculpting...

The Diorama of D.O.O.M.!
or
BWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!

About My Sculpture

A series of tiny sculptures set in an imaginary world of mystery and adventure where anything could happen... literally anything... it's a world of imagination... I can make up anything I want except for the things I can't because it's so real... not even imaginary... really real... so real it hurts your head to try to fit the concept of its realness in your brain cells... it's like that time when Doctor Strange and Doctor Doom... I've digressed... I have no idea what I'm making really... Sorry to have mislead you... I feel awful... Please accept my deepest apologies... I'll think of something to make this diorama about sooner or later... I promise...

About Fun-A-Day from www.artclash.com

The premise is simple: pick a project, do it every day in January, then show your work the following month in a big group show.

Started in 2004 by a group of friends in Philadelphia, Fun-A-Day began as a way to stay creative and motivate each other to make things through the winter. Now in its seventh year, Fun-A-Day has grown from its Philadelphia roots–in 2010 there were 10 Fun-A-Day shows, organized by different art collectives and groups of friends across the country.

Facebook Page

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Fun-a-Day-Philadelphia/208489292567077

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Jan
27
6:00 PM18:00

Suppose an Eyes Poetry Workshop Showcase Reading

Each of us in this on-going workshop has 4 minutes to read.

Suppose An Eyes is an ongoing workshop for poets sponsored by the Kelly Writers House. Formed in 1999, the group meets two evenings per month, providing a workshop for poets to explore, share and improve their work as part of a supportive community of writers. Though often full, the group is open to anyone interested in writing poetry — any type of poetry, from traditional forms to "found" poetry, flarf, and even computer-generated work. In addition to workshop meetings, Suppose an Eyes participates in readings at various locations in the greater Philadelphia area.

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Dec
6
to Dec 7
Comic Books

24 Hour Comic Challenge

So, I've never written or drawn a comic book. Sure, I've tried; but I've never actually done it.

So I figured, what better way to try it than to sign up to do one in 24 hours?

(I'm not an official participant since I signed up late and am not a pro.)

Atomic City event page: http://www.bestphillycomics.com/2014/11/14/annual-24-hours-comic-book-challenge/

Facebook Calendar event page: https://www.facebook.com/events/798805640192450

“The annual 24 Comic Book Challenge is BACK! We’ll have 6-7 local artists on hand to take a crack at making a 24 page comic in 24 HOURS! That’s right, we’ll be open for the ENTIRE run of the challenge!
Stop by, check out some great artists and help cheer them on!
We hope to see you there!”
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Nov
20
7:00 PM19:00

Bill Walton: artist to artist Pop-Up Residency Poetry Reading showcase

I will be reading for about 5 minutes as part of this showcase of Poetry written in response to Bill Walton's artwork.

It is free and open to the public. RSVP on the Facebook event page: https://www.facebook.com/events/887640351246407

For more information about the Bill Walton exhibit, the Leonard Pearlstein Gallery page is http://www.drexel.edu/westphal/resources/LeonardPearlsteinGallery 

This is the official blurb:

“Join us for the culmination of our first ever Pop-Up Poetry Residency here at the Leonard Pearlstein Gallery! Presented in collaboration with the department of English and Philosophy, poets from Drexel and Penn have written poetry in response to our current exhibition, Bill Walton artist to artist. Come listen to these works surrounded by the art which inspired them.”


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Nov
5
7:30 PM19:30

Philly Nerd Nite

I'm totes reading again at Nerd Nite. Rockin'!

This time, I shall be prepared with a SLIDESHOW OF DOOM and INCIDENTAL MUSIC OF DESPAIR and POEMS OF THE APOCALYPSE!!! or something.

I'm not joking. I'm going to make a slideshow and music and stuff. Will it be Nerdy? Geeky? Dorky?!? Who even knows?!? Not I!

But seriously, it's going to be awesome. Please come. Don't make me be alone. Not again. Always a wallflower, never a flower or a wall...

If it's like the last time, My set will be interspersed between the lecturers. I'll be playing a slideshow with music while I read.

A note for parental units: I am not reading material suitable for your children. 

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Asians Misbehavin' Reunion @ AAI's Family Style
Oct
17
7:30 PM19:30
Performing Arts

Asians Misbehavin' Reunion @ AAI's Family Style

It's reunion time with Philadelphia's Asian American performance group Asians Misbehavin'. What? You've never heard of us? How dare you!

The format, as I understand it right now, is that there will be video shown of some of the old sketches that were made into a short with solo performance interspersed.

Admission is $5-$10 sliding scale. Sign-ups for the open mic are welcome. 

Asians Misbehavin' site

Asian Arts Initiative page

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24-Hour Too Much Light Makes The Baby Go Blind
Oct
4
3:30 AM03:30
Performing Arts

24-Hour Too Much Light Makes The Baby Go Blind

I'm in the 3:30am - 8:00am blocks.

A Special 24-Hour presentation of Too Much Light Makes The Baby Go Blind

Wherein the New York Neo-Futurists attempt to perform 600 plays in 24-hours...

Created by Greg Allen

Written by the New York Neo-Futurists

UPDATE: I'm writing a performance journal for the show: 24HRTML Performance Journal.

UPDATE UPDATE: FORM LETTER

Dear [you fill in this part],

I'm writing to invite you to a one-of-a-kind and one-day-only event that's coming up in just a couple weeks with my theatre company, the New York Neo-Futurists: 24 Hour Too Much Light Makes the Baby Go Blind (600 Plays in 24 Hours). The marathon begins Friday, October 3rd @ 10:30pm at the Kraine Theatre and goes until the next evening.

Too Much Light Makes the Baby Go Blind has been in continuous performance in New York City for 10 years and we are celebrating that feat by attempting to perform as many Neo-Futurist plays as we can in the span of a single day. Over 25 Neo-Futurists past and present are participating in this event and I want to invite you to be a part of it!

Tickets are on sale now and can be purchased HERE. There are several ways you can see the show:

1. Go easy and see any 2-hour block of plays - morning, noon, or night - that you choose. There's a block to fit your time-frame, guaranteed.
2. Go medium with a 1/2 day pass, gaining you admission to any five blocks you want to see.
3. Go hard with a 24 Hour pass, gaining you admission to as many blocks throughout the 24 Hour period as can handle.

Did I mention each of our blocks has a unique theme? That's what happens when you have almost 4,000 plays to choose from! Oh, and if it makes your decision easier, I will personally be performing in the following blocks:

Block 1: 10:30pm-12:30am -- "firsts!" classic, early plays by the New York Neo-Futurists
Block 2: 1:00am-3:00am -- "our most successful failures" in which we take risk and randomness very seriously

I'm in these bits:

Block 3: 3:30am-5:30am -- "dream plays and bad decisions" what goes on in the wee hours of the morning
Block 4: 6:00am-8:00am -- "get smart/get dumb" wake your brain up, then hit the snoozed with our smartest/dumbest plays

​
Block 5: 8:30am-10:30am -- "breakfast with the Neos" we'll turn the Kraine into an interactive morning show
Block 6: 11:00am-1:00pm -- "family-friendly TML" this block will be appropriate and fun for any age 5 to 105!
Block 7: 1:30pm-3:30pm -- "the all-women block" 8 female Neos perform plays by, about and for women
Block 8: 4:00pm-6:00pm -- "sing out!/vocal rest" an hour music and mayhem followed by our quieter plays
Block 9: 6:30pm-8:30pm -- "I heart NY/I hate NY!" plays about our love/hate relationship with New York
Block 10: 9:30pm-11:30pm -- "grand finale" 18 Neo-Futurists (including Neo-Futurist founder Greg Allen!) on stage, performing our biggest and most beloved plays

Thank you in advance for supporting the New York Neo-Futurists and me in this insane endeavor. Can't wait to see you there!

P.S. Put your face on our FACEBOOK INVITE and tweet us on the TWITTER.

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Jul
13
1:00 PM13:00

F. Omar Telan - "Poets On A Porch" hosted by the Fox Chase Reading Series @ Ryerss Museum & Library

7370 Central Avenue
Philadelphia, PA 19111

UPDATE: I have a 10-15 minute set.

Come out early to enjoy the coolest, little museum you never knew existed, even if you've lived in Fox Chase all your life. Seriously, Ryerss had a lot of stuff. How often do you get to see ivory sculptures? Okay, that might be distasteful for some of you, but it's like going to the Mütter Museum and seeing the anatomical volumes bound through anthropodermic bibliopegy. (Look it up, it'll blow your mind. [I've digressed...])

After your visit to the museum and independent library (with a great kids section), stay for a showcase of exciting area poets... and me rocking it out with the backdrop of rolling hills of green... well, they're not as much rolling as sloping... and there's only one hill... and the house--I mean library/museum is on top of it... so really the backdrop is a the vast valley where the children play... sometimes somebody flies a kite too. Wait. What am I talking about again? Oh, right. Come to the show. It'll be a good time. 

Event lineup from the Fox Chase Review blog in no particular order:

Diane Sahms-Guarnieri 
g emil reutter 
Hayden Saunier 
John TImpane 
Bernadette McBride 
Frank Wilson 
Mel Brake 
Paul Siegel 
Noah Cutler 
F Omar Telan 
Mike Cohen 
Tree Riesener 
George Wylesol 
Kelly O'Neil

 

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Oct
9
7:30 PM19:30

Reading by F. Omar Telan @ Philly Nerd Nite

I'm going to be doing two 15-minute sets at Philadelphia's Nerd Nite.

F. Omar Telan: poet ∧ computer technician. You have never seen this mutha fuggin Venn diagram before. He will be reading from a collection of tech poems currently codenamed "sudo make me a sandwich: believing in social justice for all things great and small is difficult when one eats this much pork."

Wednesday, October 9, 2013
doors at 7pm, show starts at 7:30pm
Frankford Hall at Frankford and Girard
$5 cover gets you a night of nerdy fun, plus food and drink specials
Official Site: http://philadelphia.nerdnite.com/2013/10/04/nerd-nite-no-30-october-9-2013/
Facebook Event: https://www.facebook.com/events/1420944428122046

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Jun
30
2:00 PM14:00

Featured Reading @ Fox Chase Reading Series

Hey, people, I'm doing a poetry reading. Hells yes, it's been a long time since I got 20 minutes to talk at people. You should swing by. You'll laugh. You'll cry. You'll swear I'm better that a bunch of people dressed up in spandex singing about... Wait, what were they singing about? Who were they? How do you put that on your resume? Hi, I was Cat #9 lives? Zing. I'm sorry. That was unwarranted. The zing, I mean. The zing was unwarranted because that cat joke was on point. Wait, what was I talking about again? Oh, right. Come listen and watch me read some poe-emz about my emo feelings.

Facebook Invite: https://www.facebook.com/events/529301973773505/?ref=14

Also featured is Richard Okewole.

There is an open mic after the features so bring your poems to share your emo feelings with me.

Tickets: FREE (That's a lot of bang for your lack of a buck! Though you should bring a buck so you can tip the museum. Yes, you heard me, the museum. I'm reading poems in a museum. Boo-yah!)

TRAIN DIRECTIONS

Take the SEPTA Fox Chase Regional Rail line to the Ryers Station, located three blocks from Ryerss Museum & Library. Walk west on Cottman Avenue, and turn right onto Central Avenue. Walk along the park and turn left at the sign for Ryerss Museum & Library.

BUS DIRECTIONS

Take the SEPTA bus route 70 to the intersection of Cottman and Central Avenues. Walk north and turn left at the sign for the Ryerss Museum & Library. 

ACCESSIBILITY

Both the museum and library are accessible to visitors with mobility impairments. There is a ramp entrance in the rear of the museum, next to the parking lot, and an elevator that reaches all floors of the building that are open to the public.

AREA ATTRACTIONS

Ryerss is situated in Burholme Park, a 65 acre recreational area operated by the Philadelphia Department of Parks and Recreation. In the park there are numerous ball fields, a playground, miniature golf courses, a driving range, batting cages, and picnic areas.

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