 |
|
photo:Joe
Putrock
|
CHAIN
OF FOOLS: PETA (People for the Ethical Treatment of
Animals) have been responsible for some of the more entertaining
protests of the last year. Remember, for example, the disabled
chicken guy in front of the KFC on Delaware Avenue
in Albany last year, which, if nothing else, made a great
photo spot for this paper. And, to be fair, highlighted the
often disgusting lives of the chickens we eat. In that great
tradition, PETA sent their Tiger Lady (pictured, in
chains) to the state capitol on April 21 to protest the appearance
of Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus at
the Pepsi Arena this week. Why? The circus, you may have heard,
is alleged to not treat their critters very well; PETA loves
animals; and nothing gets press like mostly naked, attractive
people. The circus, however, still attracted a large crowd
for their parade of animals on S. Pearl Street Tuesday (April
26); it was reported that the baby elephant, in particular,
was very cute.
—Shawn
Stone
 |
STICKS AND STONES MAY BREAK MY BONES, BUT BOOKS CAN GIVE ME
A NASTY LUMP ON THE BACK OF MY HEAD: At last Thursday’s
early start to Word Fest, a featured reading by poet Amy
Ouzoonian at the Lark Street Bookshop’s monthly
open mic, things got a little more exciting than intended.
In the pause between the second open-mic reader’s introduction
and his first poem, the new-arrivals bookcase broke free of
its teetering top-heavy balance, pouring hundreds of books
on the audience in front. Luckily, the shelves didn’t land
on anyone, so a few packs of ice and 10 minutes of clearing
piles of books were enough to send the reading sailing forward.
Slightly shaken by the excitement, Ouzoonian, up from Brooklyn
just for this reading, nonetheless pulled off a stellar set,
pulling a breathless audience through ups and downs on topics
from parents to war without a cliché to trip over. (She sold
out the copies she’d brought of her book, Your Pill,
if that’s any indication—selling poetry ain’t easy.) That
heady start primed Albany’s poetry community for the full
weekend of open mics, readings, and a poetry CD-release party
that was Albany Word Fest 2005.
—Miriam
Axel-Lute
|
A ROSE IS STILL A ROSE: This week, Proctor’s Theatre
received its largest private gift in the Schenectady theater’s
history—a $750,000 donation from the Golub family,
owners of the Price Chopper chain of supermarkets. The Golubs
have been longtime supporters of the theater, a local landmark
that’s become a (the?) key component of the city’s downtown
revitalization efforts. The most notable aspect of the donation,
however, is that it won’t require a name-change to “The Price
Chopper Theater.” While the shopping arcade outside the theater
was renamed the “Golub Arcade” in appreciation of the gift,
the theater won’t go the route of venues like the Knickerbocker,
er, Pepsi Arena.
—Rick
Marshall
|
BLIND EYE: Alas and alack, the elusive blogger Albany Eye
remains, well, elusive. The Eye had tentatively agreed to
participate—through the sweet anonymity of instant messaging,
of course—in Blogging 101, a program held April 27 at the
Business Council of New York State building in Albany, and
sponsored by the Women’s Press Club of New York State.
According to spokesperson Holly Cargill-Cramer, however,
Albany Eye—“he, she or it”—backed out, explaining that as
the Web log is currently on hiatus, it wouldn’t be appropriate
to participate. Albany Eye hasn’t posted the usual news tidbits,
mildly snarky commentary on local media and effusive praise
for the Times Union since February; instead, it’s been
song lyrics. (Memo to Albany Eye: loose the Tweedy and Dylan,
but run more Jobim.) As for Blogging 101, it went on without
the Eye. Cargill-Cramer said that it was “a very good program”
that went very well.
—Shawn
Stone
|
Columns
& Opinions
