THE PERSISTENT IRRITATION

The best of Times

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Spiral Jetta, Erin Hogan's excellent travel/art book, continues to get rave reviews, most recently from the Chicago Sun-Times and the New York Times. In fact, she's getting so much good press that it's knocking my early review into the back waters of any given google search. I can't believe people would go to Hello, Beautiful before coming here for their fill of literature in review, but there you have it.

That said, don't take my word for it. Rely on the opinions of these higher authorities and pick up a copy today.

 

Like a band of gypsies, they'll talk about going down the highway

As you know, there are no two things I like more than a good road trip and a rousing panel discussion. And so it is with great sadness that I will not be able to attend this weekend's Printers Row Book Fair, where friend of the PI and Spiral Jetta author Erin Hogan will discuss land art, traveling alone and all things farvegnugen. Hopefully, dear readers, you can go in my stead.

WHAT: "On the Road Again" panel discussion on travel memoirs

WHERE: University Center/Loop Room at the Printers Row Book Fair

WHEN: Saturday, June 7, 11:30 a.m.

WHO: Moderated by Chicago Tribune columnist Mary Schmich, the panel also includes authors Brian Bouldry and Mary Morris

Check it out if you can.

Get your Top Chef on

Episode 12 of Top Chef airs tonight on Bravo. If you're in the Wheeling area tonight, stop by Rick Tramanto's to watch the show where it was filmed. From the Daily Herald:

Five Top Chef wannabes, including Chicago chef Stephanie Izard, took over Tramontos Steak and Seafood during the elimination challenge that will determine the finalists, and you can watch the episode tonight at the Wheeling restaurant.

The restaurant, 601 N. Milwaukee Road, will hold a viewing party from 7 to 10 p.m.; the airs at 9 p.m. on Bravo. Televisions will be set up through out the restaurant and the upstairs RT Lounge and hors doeuvres will be complimentary.

In addition, staff will create appetizers based on the episode and develop cocktails inspired by the remaining contestants. Chef Rick Tramonto, who appears as a guest judge for both the quick fire challenge that grants a contestant special privileges and the elimination challenge, will be on hand and will sign copies of his cookbooks.

Check it out if you can. And if you can't make it up there, at least tune in at home. You just might see some familiar faces.

Free food, cheap beer, pie

Schadenfreude, Chicago's first deputy commissioners of sketch comedy, will hold their sixth and final PBR-sponsored rent party on Saturday, May 24 at the Gallery Cabaret, 2020 N. Oakley. From the website:

We wind down the PBR tour by coming back where we started. The Gallery is our home away from home and we are glad to be back in our building. We are not approaching this as a wind-down though, if anything this is our grand finale. We will use the services of Mike and Duaneonce again, but we will bring our friends Don Hall and Joe Janes in to kick you in the teeth. Did we mention the return of Jill Benjamin? She’s in the house. What’s a rent party show without our favorite stand-up in the land Robert Buscemi? And Bertha Mason comes by to bake some pies for the crowd and Gall Cab owner Kenny is going to take his shirt off. 9pm. $10. Free food.

Check it out if you can.

Spiral Jetta - the novel

 

Here at the PI, not only do we play good poker; we also edit critically acclaimed documentaries, create music, solve the mysteries of the universe and occasionally perform comedy in international waters.

Although she has never joined us at the table (in her defense, I don't think she was ever invited), author Erin Hogan and friend of the PI deserves high praise for her upcoming book, set to be released in coming weeks.

Spiral Jetta: A Road Trip through the Land Art of the American West explores massive art installations that were created in the 1970s and 1980s, as well as smaller-scale but equally impressive neuroses that the author presumably developed around the same time.

In an age where people can't go to Target without using a GPS system, Hogan travels with only the vaguest idea of where she's going. Most of her destinations are far off the beaten path, with remarkably little written about how to get there. While some may rely on geological surveys to find their way, Hogan instead pursues the more urban approach of driving up and down the same stretch of road until the threat of rain makes it not worth the effort. Besides, it's getting late and there are cocktails to be had.

Despite her efforts, Hogan manages to find several impressive installations on her list, including Lightning Field in New Mexico, Double Negative in Nevada, and Spiral Jetty in Utah. An art historian by training, Hogan mixes scholarship and personal experience to describe these amazing and sometimes not-so-amazing pieces of work. Heavy on self-deprecation and light on pretension, Hogan makes western land art a worthwhile destination for anyone in need of a road trip.

Erin also uses this trip to conquer fears of solitude, the unknown, and general disorder that she has successfully avoided while living in the city. While she proves victorious (evidenced by her ability to navigate dirt roads, steal wi-fi from hotels, and chat up drunks), one imagines her returning home relatively unaffected by the adventure. Hogan buys the American myth of rugged individualism, but she's held onto the receipt so she can return it as soon as she gets home to civilization.

Check it out if you can.

At the Death House Door

Erstwhile player Aaron W. has a new project.

"At the Death House Door" premieres this weekend at the Gene Siskel Film Center, and will run on the Independent Film Channel later this month. From the Chicago Reader:

Few talking-head documentaries have glued me to my seat like this Kartemquin feature about the Reverend Carroll Pickett, who served as chaplain to 95 Texas inmates as they awaited execution by lethal injection. Pickett recorded his impressions of each inmate's last day on cassette tapes, excerpted here, and his interviews show a loving and thoughtful man's gradual transformation from advocate to vocal opponent of the death penalty. Directors Steve James (Hoop Dreams) and Peter Gilbert (With All Deliberate Speed) also focus on inmate Carlos DeLuna, who was almost certainly innocent of the crime for which he was put to death in 1989 (suffering horribly in a botched procedure). The intersecting stories of Pickett and DeLuna show that capital punishment exacts a toll not only on its victims but on its perpetrators. 98 min. James and Gilbert will take part in a discussion after the Saturday screening. -- J.R. Jones

Check it out if you can.

God and roulette

Having re-read the chapter on gambling, I’m reminded of a joke.

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After a week of bad bets in Las Vegas, Peter is down thousands of dollars. Weeping as he goes to bed, he prays to God for a miracle. Later, fast asleep, he is awakened by a voice.

“Peter, It’s God. I’ve come to help you."

Peter jumps from his bed. “Thank you, Lord! You’ve answered my prayers. What should I do?"

“Gather all the money you have.”

Peter grabs his coat and rushes out his hotel room and finds an ATM. He withdraws everything from his account, right down to the last nickel. He asks God what to do next.

“Go to the casino.”

Peter rushes to the casino. When he arrives, God tells him:

“Go to the roulette table."

Peter approaches the first roulette table he sees.

“Put all of the money on number 14.”

Peter puts all of the money on the number. The dealer looks at Peter, then spins the wheel. The ball circles around and finally lands. “35, black,” calls the dealer.

“F**k.”

Bootsy Collins, Rocco Prestia and... Peter S.?

Peter S. has an amusing blog entry (and even more amusing video) of life in the rhythm section.

For those who don't know, Peter has also added "best-selling author" to his list of achievements. "The Book of Vice" is his exploration into indulgence, deceit, and pay-to-play nudity. Think of it as life in the fast lane from the perspective of a courteous driver.

Check it out when you get the chance.

Get Punct'd

Feeling out of sorts from that bad beat? Do fifth street suckouts cause you gastrointestinal distress? Well then, we have a solution for you:

Red Flower Acupuncture Studio is holding their first annual AcuFest on Wednesday, October 24th from noon to 8pm. Free acupuncture + food, prizes, entertainment.

As many of your know, Erica, wife of Dr. Ron, is the proprietor of Red Flower. I went to her studio over the summer and I must say, it was a rather pleasant experience. You haven't truly relaxed until you've had several tiny needles ever so lightly pounded into your forehead, toes and kneecaps.

Erica practices community acupuncture, which allows her to provide the same high level of service but at a much more affordable rate. So, bring a few friends and check it out.

Reservations recommended. Check out  www.redfloweracupuncture.com for more details.

Red Flower is located at 2023 West Carroll Avenue in Chicago, USA.

Get your revolution on

UPDATE: Was getting a little sick of hearing this song every time I logged on so I took it off. Apologies for all you Rush heads out there. cjl I can only imagine how many nerdskis like me are going to post this on Saturday. Nonetheless, it's gotta be done and since I have a little time to spare this afternoon, I'm going to get ahead of the curve and post it today. Whatever it takes to avoid the crowds, that's what i say.

For some reason, I don't have the studio version (does anyone have a copy of "Caress of Steel"?) so we're making do with this rendition from "All the World's a Stage," their 1976 live album.

By the way, in researching for this post I've come to find that the  Rush website is totally freaking cool. Check it out and bask in its glory. Also, it appears that they've released 6-7 greatest hits albums to go with the five or so retrospectives that had already been released in the 70s, 80s and 90s.