At the Council meeting in September the Liberal Democrats and Tories who run Brent Council rejected a Labour motion to pursue the compulsory purchase of land adjoining the new Crest Academies (formerly John Kelly schools) to ensure outdoor sports facilities. They rejected the motion on the basis that further delay would jeopardise government funding. The Council’s failure to pursue the purchase of the land will also prolong the construction period from 18 months to four years and the £5 million earmarked for the purchase will be wasted on temporary accommodation.

It was apparent at the September meeting that the Lib Dems and Tories had made no attempt to meet with Government ministers to ascertain whether Government funding would in fact be at risk if the compulsory purchase was pursued. Accordingly, Brent South Labour MP, Dawn Butler arranged a meeting with Schools Minister Vernon Coaker on 21 October 2009 and that meeting was also attended by local Labour Councillors Ralph Fox and Lena Ahmed who both represent Dollis Hill ward and by Labour’s Education spokesperson, Cllr Mary Arnold.

Mr Coaker has now written to Dawn Butler to confirm that full government funding would still be available should the Council revisit its decision on the CPO (compulsory purchase order). If you would like to see a copy of Vernon Coaker’s letter, email me on krupesh@bclabour.org.uk.

The Leader of Brent Council’s Labour Opposition, Cllr Ann M John, OBE, thanked Dawn Butler for brokering the meeting with Mr Coaker and thanked her colleagues for attending.

Cllr John welcomed the Government’s decision and said:

“The Minister is effectively asking the Council to look at this again and pursue Labour’s original plan for first rate academies with first rate facilities, including outdoor sports facilities to be built with the minimum of disruption to the existing school community. The Lib Dems and Tories now have no excuse for building the new schools without acquiring the adjacent land”.

Mette quasi paura.
via swissmiss

John Kelly writes:

…I am a Charlottesville writer and wanted to share news of a book I recently co-authored with Charlottesville native Kate Atwood.  A Healing Place, which was released just last week by Perigee, is a practical guide to helping parents and caregivers help kids to live lives colored by, but not defined by, their grief.

Kate is the founder of Kate’s Club, an Atlanta-based not-for-profit she started six years ago to help ensure other kids would not have to walk their grief path alone as she did after her own Mom died when Kate was 12.

She and I will be doing a signing at Barnes and Noble on Saturday, November 21 from 2-4PM.

Por Ana Paula Novaes

Contribuir com o conteúdo elaborado pela grande mídia, atuando como fonte e produtor de informação; ser um ‘citizen journalist’. A ideia soa muito bem. No entanto, é necessário refletir sobre até que ponto essa participação acontece e o quanto ela é benéfica.

Com as possibilidades tecnológicas trazidas pela internet, publicar uma informação ficou mais fácil. Fato. Assim, ao redor do mundo as pessoas comuns têm realizado o antigo sonho da participação. Blogs, vídeos, posts no twitter inundam a web a todo instante. Nem sempre, conseguimos ‘digerir’ este grande prato de notícias.

Para John Kelly, autor de “Red kayaks and hidden gold”, a principal característica do jornalismo no século 21 é que ele não precisa mais ser feito necessariamente por jornalistas.  Em todo o livro ele enumera as vantagens deste novo modelo. Trazendo mais pontos de vista e nuances que ainda não tinham sido exploradas, os jornalistas cidadãos tornam a cobertura de grandes eventos mais complexas.

Além disso, é através dos relatos de pessoas comuns que notícias que pequenos acontecimentos locais chegam aos ouvidos de quem está longe.  A grande dúvida sobre a produção cidadã de notícias é: dá pra confiar nas informações? A gigante CNN resolveu apostar que sim. Através do portal ireport.com permite que seus seguidores produzam vídeos e textos, que precisam ser noticiosos.

O grande diferencial em relação a outros processos colaborativos feitos por redes de notícias, é que no i-Report não há nenhum tipo de edição. Jornalismo cidadão puro, sem gelo. Na descrição do próprio site:” i-Report te convida a tomar parte nas notícias com a CNN”. E o conteúdo postado recebe nota e indicação dos editores. Alguns vídeos ainda ganham espaço na programação dos canais de tv da rede.

No entato, talvez o maior poder destes cidadãos jornalistas esteja na influência que exercem sobre sua pequena comunidade de seguidores. No Brasil, um bom exemplo é o caso da Twittess. De publicitária desconhecida a celebridade da internet, hoje dita tendências e ganha dinheiro (R$500 por mensagem comercial) com seus posts.

Hoje, os blogs e twitters são fonte de informação dos jornalistas e, cada vez mais, ditam o que estará na agenda do dia. Nem sempre, porém, se distingue o que é informação confirmada do que não é. Na sede de estar na frente dos concorrentes, os veículos fazem o caminho contrário: deixam de informar os leitores e passam a se informar através deles. Mesmo John Kelly, defensor empolgado do jornalismo cidadão, assume: muitas vezes, o produto não é muito bom.

Não dá pra confiar em tudo que os blogs postam. Jornalistas, então, têm que ficar com a pulga atrás das duas orelhas. Assim, casos como do blog do jornalista Ricardo Noblat, que noticiou o suposto ataque de neonazistas a uma brasileira na Suíça e pautou toda a imprensa nacional, não se repetirão.

* Exercício I – aula 7/011 – proposta 3

by John Kelly

Por Fabio Ornelas

Em seu livro “Red Kayaks and Hidden Gold” o escritor e jornalista John Kelly destaca o blog como uma ferramenta singular no contexto do chamado ”jornalismo cidadão”. Isto porque os blogs exerceram papel crucial na passagem dos leitores de meros receptores de informação a produtores de conteúdo, a ponto de representar uma ameaça e até mesmo abalar as velhas estruturas do jornalismo tradicional .

“Havia um receio de que os blogs existissem de alguma maneira fora da esfera objetiva jornalística. Os jornais demoraram para adotar os blogs, enxergando no seu estilo formal livre e sem edição algo de antiético ao jornalismo tradicional”, diz o autor.

Mas a problemática dos blogs vai além da mera questão formal – ela é acima de tudo uma questão de conteúdo.

Enquanto no aspecto formal os blogs são definidos como uma coletânea de posts em ordem cronológica negativa, produzidos por um ou mais autores, geralmente incluindo links para outros sites (ou seja, quase não há variações de nível formal, salvas algumas variáveis estéticas); no aspecto conteudista eles podem variar radicalmente, oscilando desde histórias investigativas, narradas de maneira objetiva e com credibilidade, até textos altamente subjetivos que pouco ou absolutamente nada teriam de cunho “jornalístico”.

Não é de se admirar, portanto, que os motivos que induzem esses “cidadãos comuns” a publicarem seus textos na internet sejam de natureza igualmente diversas. Em função disso, John Kelly nos apresenta uma relação de fatores motivantes que levariam uma pessoa a manter um blog na rede mundial.

Vejamos a seguir algumas dessas motivações, exemplificando com blogs brasileiros.

Por reconhecimento ou para reafirmar a própria reputação:

Kelly destaca a possibilidade de um indivíduo se tornar popular e ser reconhecido nos mais diversos nichos como um dos principais fatores motivantes para as postagens em blogs. No caso de pessoas já reconhecidas do grande público, ou celebridades, o blog pode ser uma ferramenta poderosa para reafirmar a notoriedade do blogueiro.

No Brasil temos como exemplo o Blog do Tas. Nele o apresentador de TV Marcelo Tas, notabilizado atualmente como um dos apresentadores do fenômeno de televisão CQC, utiliza o blog para divulgar seus trabalhos e se autopromover, como fica explícito no post “Tas, 50″ em que ele celebra os seus 50 anos de vida, com direito a vídeo do Youtube.

Por ativismo:

Neste caso a principal motivação do autor é uma causa. O blogueiro se identifica com uma causa (política, social, ambiental, etc.) e busca através de seus posts chamar a atenção de seus leitores para esta causa com o objetivo de engajá-los.

Um exemplo atual de blog ativista no Brasil é o Blog da Dilma, que se aproveita do selo dos Jogos Olímpicos de 2016 no Rio para promover a ministra Dilma Rouseff como candidata à disputa presidencial de 2010, incluindo artigos sobre a petista e uma enquete prévia das eleições de 2010.

Obs: é claro que o referido blog também não deixa de ser uma maneira de promover o reconhecimento e inflar a reputação da candidata para as próximas eleições, mostrando que os motivos para a criação e manutenção de um blog pode partir de uma ou mais motivações.

Para criar um senso de comunidade:

 Outra das principais motivações para a criação de blogs é a possibilidade de agregar pessoas que tem interesses em comum e pensam mais ou menos da mesma maneira para discutir questões de interesse do grupo.

 É o caso do blog brasileiro Papo Calcinha, criado com o intuito de promover “reflexões sobre os encontros e desencontros da vida sob uma ótica feminina e inteligente”, que com pouco mais de 300 seguidores (ou melhor, seguidoras) já figura entre os TOP 3 blogs eleitos pelo júri popular do portal Top Blog na categoria Comunicação a ponto de vender espaços publicitários no blog.

Outros fatores:

Mais dois fatores motivantes para a criação de blogs são mencionados por Kelly em seu livro: a necessidade de se expor (uma cultura bastante comum sobretudo nos sites de relacionamentos) e o simples prazer de criar ligado à arte de fazer blogs.

Independente da motivação que explique a existência de um blog, o fato é que os blogs se tornaram mecanismos poderosos de expressão individual e coletivos capazes de influenciar a mídia tradicional e ditar novos rumos para o jornalismo e a comunicação em geral. O resultado disso é que cada vez mais jornais e jornalistas estão se voltando para os blogs como fonte de informações para suas pautas. Afinal, como o próprio John Kelly ressalta, os blogs tem um poder multiplicador da notícia. “À medida em que mais e mais blogs se ligam a um artigo, ou uns aos outros, uma história pode ter uma vida além do ciclo noticiário tradicional”, diz.

Por Ana Carolina Cortez

O advento das novas tecnologias trouxe incontestáveis avanços na forma de produção jornalística. A socialização da informação, hoje disponibilizada pelos leitores por meio de blogs, twitter, youtube, facebook e inúmeras redes sociais mundo a fora, tornam o agente da passiva, que antes apenas recebia informações do meio, em criador e distribuidor de conteúdo. O jornalista John Kelly aborda este tema passionalmente em seu livro “Challenges – Red Kayaks and Hidden Gold: the rise, challenges and value of citizen journalism”.

Já é de se imaginar que, do ponto de vista jornalístico, esse tipo de produção de conteúdo deve ser observada com muita cautela quanto à veracidade dos fatos publicados. Enquanto a tecnologia transforma todo cidadão em Publisher, o novo modelo, baseado em uma transmissão de conteúdo de vários (internautas) para vários ao invés de um (jornalista) para vários, traz um sério problema de credibilidade. Se todo mundo munido de um computador conectado em rede é capaz de gerar informações, como é possível filtrar os conteúdos disponíveis e extrair apenas o que for verossímil?

Esse problema existe tanto quando falamos de um cidadão comum, quanto de uma empresa que disponibiliza informações nas redes sociais. Os interesses particulares movem as publicações provenientes desse tipo de distribuição de conteúdo com mais força. As histórias, por este motivo, são contadas de um único ponto de vista em sua maioria. Por exemplo, imaginemos uma corporação polua muito o ambiente e viva de desastres naturais. Ela decide fazer um blog. Nele, postará conteúdos voltados para responsabilidade social e trabalhará sua imagem de forma mais positiva que as matérias dos jornais. Neste caso, as redes se tornam um grande instrumento de manipulação de informação.

Sem a menor sombra de dúvidas, o boom das redes sociais trouxe melhorias para o jornalismo de forma geral, forçado a atualizar seu modelo de distribuição de conteúdo, explicando acontecimentos e aprofundando temas com a participação mais ativa e colaborativa de seus leitores.

Kelly está correto em afirmar que a mídia pré-redes sociais poderia ser considerada de massas por conta de seu alcance, mas não de produção de conteúdo. Mas devemos estar muito atentos quanto ao tipo de informações encontramos em rede, filtrando cada material criticamente. Da mesma forma em que músicas como “United breakes guitars” viram hits no mundo todo por conta do youtube, e forçam a empresa a se redimir publicamente – além de tornar anônimos em celebridades, a guerra de interesses se intensifica na internet e a manipulação de conteúdo se torna cada vez mais perigosa nas mãos dos “jornalistas cidadãos”.

“Publicado pelo Reuters Institute for the Study of Journalism, está disponível para download gratuito, mais um livro sobre Jornalismo Cidadão e Participativo. Coisa rápida, de apenas 50 páginas, mas incluindo tópicos como a incorporação da participação pelo mainstream e algumas predições para o futuro. O Institute tem uma considerável coleção de publicações disponíveis para download.”. Grande dica do GJOL por meio do Ponto Media de António Granado

Por Pollyana Ferrari

Produzir resenha de 15 linhas em formato de post hipermidiático sobre o novo livro de John Kelly. Entrega prevista para os dias 03 e 04 de novembro, respectivamente. Publicado pelo Reuters Institute for the Study of Journalism, a obra está disponível para download gratuito. Leitura rápida, de apenas 50 páginas, mas incluindo tópicos como a incorporação da participação pelo mainstream e algumas predições para o futuro. O Institute tem uma considerável coleção de publicações disponíveis para download.

Por Pollyana Ferrari

Produzir resenha de 15 linhas em formato de post hipermidiático sobre o novo livro de John Kelly. Entrega prevista para os dias 03 e 04 de novembro, respectivamente. Publicado pelo Reuters Institute for the Study of Journalism, a obra está disponível para download gratuito. Leitura rápida, de apenas 50 páginas, mas incluindo tópicos como a incorporação da participação pelo mainstream e algumas predições para o futuro. O Institute tem uma considerável coleção de publicações disponíveis para download.

Langsam wächst die Vorfreude auf DAS Highlight für jeden Fantasyfan:  Die Ringcon 2009 im schönen Bonn. Vom 2.-4.10. wird den Fans im Maritim Hotel so manches geboten. Auf gehts in den Vorbereitungs-Endspurt: Koffer packen, Akkus aufladen und Fragen übersetzen.

Da sich seit unserem letzten Bericht einiges geändert hat, hier noch einmal die wichtigesten Facts:

- Stargäste aus “Twilight” in diesem Jahr:

• Christian Serratos, Edi Gathegi, Daniel Cudmore und Alex Meraz

- Stargäste aus “Harry Potter”:

• Tom Felton, Matthew Lewis

+ viele weitere Stars z.B. aus den “Herr der Ringe” Filmen oder der Vampirserie “Blood Ties”

-  Bobby Long sowie Maite Itoiz und John Kelly geben ein Konzert auf dem Vampirball am Freitag Abend

- Es wird Autogrammstunden und Fotosessions mit den Stars geben.

- Neben den üblichen Merchandise Artikeln wird es dieses Jahr auch brandneue Artikel zu Twilight, Harry Potter und co. geben.

weitere Infos findet ihr auf: www.ringcon.de

There was an East River Drive… once upon a time.  But now it’s called Kelly Drive.  Named after John B. Kelly Jr., a four time Olympian, Olympic medal winner, Philadelphia councilman and owner of “Kelly for Brickwork”.  It’s “The Country”… green and open and prettie in that pastoral way that you start to miss after six years in the city.

I went running there tonight.  Not under my own power, of course.  Lauren made me.  It’s not like she held a gun to my head or anything.  Reallie all she did was ask, and I gave in.  I’m easie.  It’s a basic trait.  I made it a mile and then walked back, but I’m thinkin’ of taking my new bike down the whole length (8.56 M).  But I’ll need a helment first.

Still, I had a good time, I saw a man free climbing and many rowers stroking away in memorie of John Kelly.  It’s beautiful in a way that parks in rural areas aren’t.  It’s like that saying you can’t have real happiness without real sadness.  Trees in the country aren’t special they’re just landscape.  Trees against steel and glass skyscrapers is magic.    the trees and the river with the city rising behind them makes walking in a park special.

And as I said earlier Lauren is over tonight, as she will be every Monday night for 11 to 12 weeks.  And it’s nice.  Sitting on Cloud with her reading “Sleeping Around” to me, the smell of baking apple pie filling the room.  It’s good… but it also means that today was the first day of class.  Pediatrics Round Two.  It wasn’t as bad as I expected.  The teacher actuallie seemed prettie interesting.

New hobbie things:

Bike Helmet and possiblie lights for biking
material for pillow cover and corset
Halloween costume shopping

can’t wait!

Já baixei e estou adorando a leitura que compartilho com vocês. “Publicado pelo Reuters Institute for the Study of Journalism, está disponível para download gratuito, mais um livro sobre Jornalismo Cidadão e Participativo. Coisa rápida, de apenas 50 páginas, mas incluindo tópicos como a incorporação da participação pelo mainstream e algumas predições para o futuro. O Institute tem uma considerável coleção de publicações disponíveis para download.”. Grande dica do GJOL por meio do Ponto Media de António Granado

The John Kelly Schools on Crest Road opened up last week as a new Crest Academy. Pupils started school following the summer break in their new purple themed uniforms entering what promises to be a new era for the school. However, the opening at the same time has uncovered scandalous failings of the Lib Dem led Brent administration.

In 2005, when Labour had control of the Council, £5 million was put aside specifically for the John Kelly School(s) to purchase extra land adjacent to the building for the purpose of rebuilding the school. The agreement was also in place to purchase the much needed land through what is called a Compulsory Purchase Order (CPO). However, the Lib Dems have failed to act on this and follow through the CPO process meaning that the site will now have to be built on the existing inadequate site.

If the extra land was purchased, the new school would be built within two years with creation of a second accessable entrance to the school. Under the Liberal Democrat plans, construction will now take four years to complete. Children of the school will now have to continue to carry on with inadequate recreation, sports and play areas. For sports lessons and sports days, the children will have to travel off-site to use external facilities, costing the school extra money.

At a Council meeting this week, the Labour group this week tried its luck again and according to Kensal Green Councillor James Powney:

Labour made another attempt to get Brent’s Liberal Democrats and Tories to return to their previous policy of a full expansion of the Crest Academies (formerly John Kelly Schools). After a chaotic debate, the Tories and Liberal Democrats voted down our motion to buy more land so that it had greater sports facilities (which Ofsted has identified as the schools’ Achilles heel).

Source: James Powney

The whole saga is just another example of why Brent cannot afford to have the Lib Dems in charge any longer.  Dawn Butler has opened up a petition on the BrentLabour website. To support the campaign, visit the following link:

PROTECT OUR CHILDREN’S FUTURE Petition

It was a busy day yesterday so I thought I wouldn’t do the regular Taebo but try out a 40 minute Ab workout instead. It would be mostly floor work, I would have done something and I would still have the energy to deal with the evening ahead. Normally if I have one hour to go before 12 guests arrive, I would be in bed before you could say Blueberry Cheesecake. I would need the nap to help me get through mentally and physically. Yesterday found me in my gym shorts, switching on my laptop to do the said 40 mins (giving me 10 mins to shower after and get ready). Boy was I in for a surprise. This Ab workout (Ab Bootcamp by Billy Blanks – unfortunate last name) was almost as tough as the Taebo. I never knew that the back of my EARS could sweat. But it was less soul destroying than the Taebo in that that I got THROUGH the whole thing. I Hate doing crunches so a relatively crunch free routine was lovely. Plus its common sense that you must MOVE your body to get fitter and boy did this make me move. The exercises had me doing oblique crunches STANDING UP. It was brilliant. Whats even more great is that the pace stops your brain from kicking in and start conjuring reasons for stopping.

On another note, I am reading a book by Tom Clancy called Without Remorse. Its part of the whole series of Clear and Present Danger, Red October etc. In this book is a Navy Seal called John Kelly who gets shot and he then sets himself on the road to recovery. He pushes and pushes himself until he cant feel pain in one muscle or the other anymore. It made me think. This extra weight is like a sickness. I have been sick for some time now. I just need to get better. I have to nourish myself, get plenty of rest, ease up on the stress and push my body physically. Its like rehab. If I look at it this way then the journey makes sense. And then the mind gets into gear, especially around the 10 minute mark into any workout when I am ready to quit. If the game changes and becomes one of “recovery”….boy, it could be powerful. My sad resignation about my weight turns to anger. And anger is a great tool to have in your utility belt.

x MBFLB Mama

*Andrea’s Secret*

Buried deep in the heart of every family, lies a story no one wants to tell…….

In early 1974, a pregnant Andrea Steedman leaves home to conceal the birth of her daughter Mary Therese. A few months after she has given birth, depressed and confused, she agrees to an adoption under highly irregular circumstances.

Twenty two years later on her deathbed, Andrea reveals the existence of her daughter to her wealthy brother Warwick, who as executor, must find Mary Therese and ensure that she receives her rightful share of the estate. On the same day a near fatal car accident thrusts taxi driver, Julian Knowles into the malaise of the troubled Steedman family, tenuously held together by the matriarch Elsie, who is forced to confront sibling rivalry and jealously.

In the ensuing days, Warwick asks and old university friend Brad Murphy to begin the search for Mary Therese. Brad’s investigations however, reveal that all is not as it seems and events conspire to bring the family to the threshold as younger brother and sister vent their anxiety and frustration over the terms of Andrea’s will.

The story unfolds in such a way that the reader is forced to take sides. A carefully crafted piece of writing keeps you guessing until the last few pages.

* HIROSHIMA SUNSET*

In 2007, self-publishing author, Amanda Blackburn accepts an assignment in Japan to help exonerate the name of a former soldier who served in the post-war Australian occupation army in 1946. The soldier’s damning exploits are revealed in a journal written by an unidentified veteran. On arrival in Japan however, Amanda soon discovers that things are not quite as they seemed.
A tender love story set against the background of the all-but-forgotten Australian military contingent, which made up the bulk of the British Commonwealth Occupation Force, sent to Japan in February 1946 following Japan’s surrender at the end of WW2. Assigned responsibility for the Hiroshima prefecture by General Douglas MacArthur, thousands of Australian soldiers disarmed the Japanese war machine, and helped repatriate Japanese soldiers returning home. They were ensconced into an area devastated by a nuclear bomb, where civilians were suffering serious physical and psychological trauma. Inevitably, some of the soldiers fell in love. This is one such story.

*Saints and Relics *

A casket containing a remarkable relic of a 17th century nun, Saint Margaret Mary Alacoque, is stolen from a devout society in France by one of its members, a priest from Sydney. The priest, Father James, secretly entrusts the casket to two women in Monterey Creek, a small country town in New South Wales. The Society immediately sends Monsignor Henri Pascal from Paris to Australia to recover both the relic and a manuscript written by the nun, which describes her final revelation. When one of the women dies suddenly, and her house is ransacked, the Monsignor becomes embroiled in the town’s affairs, including the young parish priest’s involvement with a single mother whose daughter claims to have had a vision of the Virgin Mary. When tragedy strikes during the Monterey Creek annual Festival of the Flowers, events threaten the Monsignor’s quest to find both the relic and the manuscript.

Set in a small country town in New South Wales, and complete with
an assortment of colourful characters, this intensely human story poses
questions for devotees of saints and relics, confronts long standing
theological convictions, and articulates a major dilemma for the
Catholic Church: What to do when a priest falls in love.

A powerful and absorbing drama about ordinary people, played out in
Australia and France, it captures the essence of human frailty,
and that unique Australian spirit of scepticism.

*SATAN’S LITTLE HELPERS

*While watching the demolition of his old school Placidus College, Simon Hickey looks back on ten turbulent, life defining years, when the first crop of Australia’s baby boomers were awakening to their sexuality. Seduced by the power of the pulpit, the Aquinine Brothers, and an ever¬present fear that Satan would snare him in an unguarded moment, Simon’s attention is directed toward a religious vocation. At the vocational training college, he encounters a serial paedophile, with far reaching and shocking consequences. A few years later, Simon becomes one of the `unlucky ones’, balloted into the Army for two years National Service in 1965.
A heartfelt, humorous, and poignant story, these two vastly different experiences are linked by a tender romance that defies Catholic conventions of the day, and reveals how two people who choose not to be conformist, cope with the social, religious and political nature of their time.

Author John Kelly

This was a week of great music.

Thursday we went to Castle Clinton in Battery Park to watch John Kelly perform his Joni Mitchell Songbook: “Songs for a Shiny Hot Night”. I cannot tell a lie. I found out that I am not a Joni Mitchell fan. Sure, I like Big Yellow Taxi and there’s a song from Love, Actually that I really like, but it turns out that I just don’t dig it like the rest of the crowd. Also, it turns out that the crowd who comes to see a man dressed in Joni drag perform a collection of her songs for free are either a) women over 50 b) husbands dragged along c) The Gays over 40. As everyone was getting seated, The Mister turned to me and whispered, “I think you’re the youngest one here.” Until I saw an eight year old, I had to agree. The crowd watching was pretty spectacular, as was John’s performance. Apparently he normally loses the drag for the last song, but this time he did it about halfway through. What ensued was a half John/half Joni mix performance that was pretty funny. I’m still amazed when I realize, again and again, that John Kelly is famous. I’ve met him multiple times at art shows in which he and The Mister are showing at the same time. He’s sweet and down to earth and really amazing and generous, and since I know him in that context, it’s always a mindfuck to realize that whoa, the New Yorker writes about him.

Other thoughts of the night: John has killer arms. You can see one of his other performances here [via The Awl].

The other day at work I was talking with a colleague about concerts. I was saying that I hadn’t been to a huge, huge concert in a very long time. I really can’t even remember the last one I went to. I wasn’t sad about it, although I guess I should be, because maybe that signaled a loss of innocence and singing along to bad (or good) pop music with a giant crowd. Eh. Mostly I was glad that the live music I had seen recently was tiny and intimate. But I did mention to her that the only huge show I’d like to see these days is Britany.

The next day I got a message from The Company I Work For. They were selling Britney tickets for quite a large discount. I clicked on Ticketmaster for the first time in many many years, cursed their fees, hated that I was buying tickets from Ticketmaster. Then almost jumped for joy at the closeness of my seats and how cheap the seats were. Almost. Next week I am going to see Britney for the 2nd time in my life, and I am still obscenely excited about it.

Our friend Nader has a band, and it was reviewed on Free Music Archive. That’s how I found out about FMA. It’s an entire site of free, downloadable music… and it is amazing. I had read in my current issue of The Believer an interview with Phil Elverum of Mount Eerie and immediately wanted to listen to his music. The next day I found FMA, and guess what! There was Mount Eerie music! Hip Hip Hooray! It’s really good. This week was really good.

Finally, if you’re in the mood to watch a really really fucking good 5 minute commercial about Johnny Walker, then you should mosey over here. And if you’ll excuse me, I think it’s time for me to go make myself a drink.

"THE ESCAPE ARTIST" at the DIXON PLACE - HOT! FESTIVAL, ONE PERFORMANCE ONLY! Sunday, July 26th, at 9pm - 161 Chrystie Street (between Delancey and Rivington)

New music by John Kelly and Carol Lipnik performed as a work-in-progress with interactive video footage inspired by the Baroque paintings of Caravaggio, shot in Rome, Venice, Hong Kong, Los Angeles, New York, tracing an artist’s journey through time. The Escape Artist considers the parallels between the unbridled creative spirit of the urban artist of the 17th and 21st centuries.

John Kelly is a two time Bessie and Obie award winning performance and visual artist whose work began in New York’s East Village clubs in the early 1980’s; since that time he has created over 30 performance works which have been performed at many performance and alternative venues. Originally trained as a dancer with American Ballet Theatre and the Harkness House for Ballet Arts, he performed with modern dance pioneers. His ongoing relationship to the mirror has bridged both the dance studios, as well as a consistent practice of self-portraiture.

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Don’t miss this:

THE ESCAPE ARTIST
at the DIXON PLACE HOT! FESTIVAL
161 Chrystie Street (between Delancey and Rivington)

ONE PERFORMANCE ONLY!  Sunday, July 26th, at 9pm

Original songs by John Kelly & Carol Lipnik collide with video dramatizations of the paintings of Caravaggio~~in an hour-long performance / concert. Paintings come to life and identities blur: expect to see some blissful video shot in Rome, and hear some seriously beautiful original music written in collaboration with  Carol Lipnik.

Music Director: John DiPinto.

http://www.hotfestival.org
https://www.ovationtix.com/trs/pr/672875

NOTE: The Big Red Apple is now TheBigRedApple.net

To view this post at its new location click HERE!

First of all I’d like to remind you that I’ve posted some excellent events for tonight, including the event I’ll be attending- the Raspberry Brothers’ Top Gun show. If you come out be sure to introduce yourself to the ringleader (Jerm) and tell him you found out about them through TheBigRedApple; he’ll point you my way and possibly buy you a beer after the show.

Tomorrow night please join me in petitioning the weather gods for sunshine (rain dance anyone?). If it doesn’t rain you can partake of a free open bar on the rooftop of the Empire Hotel, courtesy of Citybartenders.com. Here’s the invite; be sure to RSVP!

The New York City Opera will be performing outside Friday and Saturday nights (cross your fingers). Friday night is La Navarraise:

Massenet’s rarely performed La Navarraise is a turbulent love story unfolding against the backdrop of civil war in Spain.  This work, which is often compared to Leoncavallo’s Cavalleria rusticana, showcases Massenet at his lyrical best.  La Navarraise is set in two short acts with an intermezzo for a total running time of 50 minutes.

and Saturday is

a concert program of beloved arias, duets and overtures that have become part of American popular culture.  Featuring popular melodies from Puccini, Rossini and Verdi.

Hearing these performers sing outdoors is a unique and powerful experience; don’t miss this chance for free opera!

La Navarraise

This is the last weekend to see Paved Paradise Redux: The Art of Joni Mitchell at The Abrons Arts Center Henry Street Settlement. John Kelly’s interpretation of Joni Mitchell is both “haunting and hilarious.” This is the sort of tribute that is worth seeing on its own merits.

Paved Paradise Redux The Art of Joni Mitchell

This is also the last weekend to see a dance performance in a public bathroom. Yes, I said a dance performance in a public bathroom. Only in New York, right? Well, Dark Horse/Black Forest is certainly an interesting piece and it’s performed in the lobby bathroom of the Gershwin Hotel.

It’s an intense love story presented in the most intimate of spaces: the bathroom. It’s dance. It’s art. It’s interior design.

Dark Horse/Black Forest

On Saturday there are a number of great events to choose from. B is a fan of Dr. Dog, who is performing at the Prospect Park Bandshell as part of the Celebrate Brooklyn! summer concert series. Check out this video for a taste of their brand of psychedelic madness:

If that’s not your thing you may want to check out What’s On Your Plate?, an outdoor screening/foodie event that’s part of the BAMcinemaFEST:

You’ve read Omnivore’s Dilemma and Fast Food Nation and you try to buy local and organic produce at your neighborhood farmer’s market. But do you really know how what you’re eating ended up on your table? Through the eyes of two intelligent and inquisitive eleven-year-old girls from New York City, we follow the many paths, the conflicting economics, and the disparate decision makers who all play a part in what we eat. Ideal for families to watch together, the film presents a variety of perspectives on how food reaches our urban community and its associated challenges. An introduction by the filmmakers will precede the screening. Presented in conjunction with The Afro-Punk Festival.

ALSO on Saturday you have another chance to see Black Taxi, performing this time at Pianos (G and I will be there!). I’ve written about them before; check out this post to see a video of their single ‘Wanted.’

On Sunday there’s a fantastic foodie event- The Unfancy Food Show. Brooklyn Based has all the details; let me just say this will be finger lickin’ good!

Sunday is your last chance to see acrobats on a boat! The Waterfront Museum and Showboat Barge have earned well-deserved praise for this unique entertainment venture; check it out!

Also on Sunday, there are 4 programs of short films screening at the BAM Rose Cinema; I’m particularly drawn to the animated shorts.

BAM Animated Shorts Program

Have a great weekend and stay tuned for additions!

watching this video.

John Kelly as Joni Mitchell @ Paved Paradise REDUX © Frank H. Jump

© Frank H. Jump

© Frank H. Jump

© Frank H. Jump

© Frank H. Jump

© Frank H. Jump

© Frank H. Jump

John Kelly Defrocked © Frank H. Jump

© Frank H. Jump

Zecca Esquibel as Georgia O'Keeffe © Frank H. Jump

Paul Ossola as Vincent van Gogh © Frank H. Jump

John Kelly @ the afterparty © Frank H. Jump

Murray Hill in the lobby during intermission. © Frank H. Jump

© Frank H. Jump

With only six more performances, this is a show you must not miss. John Kelly is an art/performance genius.

“Transformation through spiritual osmosis … magnificent.” — The New York Times

In Paved Paradise Redux: The Art of Joni Mitchell, John Kelly’s vocal and dramatic skills make for an interpretation that is at once haunting and hilarious, and will gratify even the most hardened “Joni-phile.” The arrangements (performed in the original key) combined with Kelly’s spot-on vocal acrobatics provide an experience that is both original and uncanny. – ABRON ARTS CENTER

If you’ve never seen this – or even if you have, be sure not to miss John Kelly’s Paved Paradise Redux: The Art of Joni Mitchell that opens Thursday June 18th at Abrons Arts Center, 466 Grand Street in the Lower East Side. 

There are SEVEN performances – June 18, 19, 20, 21 and 25, 26, 27.

See the announcement on Joni Mitchell’s OFFICIAL Web site at: http://www.jonimitchell.com/index.cfm/

An opening night reception will be held on the 18th following the performance. Special thanks to The Cubby Hole for sponsoring the reception. Specialty food trucks will be at the venue each night at 6:30 providing outdoor dining in the Abrons Pavilion. Vincent’s Pizza, a taco truck, and The Big Gay Ice Cream Truck will be there each night, so come down for dinner before the show.

TO BUY TICKETS, visit https://www.ovationtix.com/trs/pr/645565 or call 212-352-3101.