How to make a Long Story Short ?

There are tons, upon tons of things to do this weekend in JC. Highlighting the big ones to make room for the small ones is just as hard for this installment, so "short and sweet" is really out of the question.

While most of the artists will be making their finishing touches for the studio tour, Art House Productions, will be celebrating their Eight Season of creating an "open" mike society with tonight's installment of Art House. Come early everyone get five minutes of fame, the events are recorded for TV so look nice. The event runs from 8 to 10 pm. If you mess up your slot, you can take a second shot at the Waterbug's Open Mike Night at 143 Columbus Avenue Grass Roots Arts Space. Both the Art House and 143 have installations for the studio tour, so come back for a second visit. In fact, The Information is Not Knowledge group show premiere's Thursday on the Garden Level.

On Friday Night, The Artist's Studio Tour official kick-off party is at CANCO lofts near Journal Square. The party and the tour itself is organized by The JC Division of Cultural Affairs and Pro Arts. At the CANCO loft party, there will be a gazillion different exhibits going on. The venue is a "Prime Surreal Estate" location where a bunch of "People without clothes" will be "Trading Places" all in a "Community" .. "__ in a Box". This is only a small implied list of the music, art and films going on at the kick-off party from 6 to 10 pm. Check out the Pro Art Page for the fullest listing . After CANCO, ya'll come on down to 58 for our less-official party. There will be a real ho down with Any Day Parade performance at 10 pm. Hee-Haw Thomas J Carlson's and Joe Valez " Fiction/Fidelity" will be on display through the Studio Tour, as well as an opportunity to get a glimpse of 58's Gallery Director, Orlando Reyes' and 58's, Es Oro Gallery, and Mary Bensen Gallery's, Title Holder, Jon Besante's art studio space. Of Course 58 will be available during the official tour hours on Saturday and Sunday. If someone did not let you know, the weather is supposed to be great.

In addition to all of this, you may want to get an early start on Friday at a real Blocktoberfest, with (ger)many beers and babes at Bar Majestic's Oktoberfest Party they guarantee you really can't have a wurst time). My room mate DJ Wiljelm spins with special guest dj's and Jimmy Lopez on the beats. Afterwards, follow the Kaiser Chiefs to Lucky7's for the afterparty, I'm not sure if there will be a kraut-rock affair, but you can be sure that the place will be j-bombed out. If so, you can bunker up with DJ Caligula at the Lamp Post. Please don't keep Jesse up too late though, he's got MC duties on Saturday (see below) On your way, make sure you check out the new Harvest at LITM, the art opening is at 7 pm, but the sexiness is all night.

Saturdays main events are two folded. With sun shining the Fourth Street Art and Music Festival, features live music, live art and a Vaudville inspired "Traveling Fashion" show by Another Man's Treasure that costumes will clearly give you circus envy at check it out at 7:45 pm. Live music performances are by Bryan Beninghove 1pm , Plowing Mud Forever 2pm , One Foot In 3pm , The Swigs 4 pm , House Of Leaves 5pm , Andrew Sullivan 5:45 , Particle Zoo 6 pm , Joel Friedrich 6:45 pm, No Pasaran 7pm, The Meltdowns 8pm . Double Check the Fourth Street Art and Music myspace page more info and samples. . DJ Johnny Astronaut spins in-between sets and DJ Caligula hosts. DJ Johnny Astronaut also spins at Balance Hair Salon/ World of Style Vintage at 1 pm on Sunday. On Saturday, Carla and Kathleen, will celebrate their 5th anniversary by transforming (with little effort needed :) , their space at 18 Erie, to a Coney Island Freak Show. From 2pm to 4 pm, the Touristas play bossa-nova covers outside the shop. If you didn't catch their Groove on Grove performance, your second chance has been granted. Artwork by Hamlet Manzueta will be on display, and an Absolut Fabulous Time awaits.

On the smaller side, the Artists studio tour is a great opportunity to check out artist habitats and get a vision of what inspires one's creative visions. The PADNA Neighbors of 140 Bay Street have and exhibition at the D.E.E.N (140 Bay), where you can visit artist residence's at 140 and 150 Bay, you should also check out Habib Ayat Art Studio at the 360 Marin Blvd, he creates art at the "old" bar of the currently closed Rascal's. Art exhibit will also be at businesses through out the city. Also newcomers The Beacon will showcase a Ron English film at 2 pm on Saturday and Sunday as well as a Lifecyles 3D. For a classical music performance check out Amy Coplan At 137 Mercer Street, she will be performing Live Piano Music at 3pm on Saturday and Sunday. Her space feature photgraph taken by indigenous children of their local surroundings. In the same building Dana Gannon opens her sculputure studio.

After the last artist respectfully asks you to leave their home on Saturday, you can check out A Robot Art Collection at Fish with Braids Gallery on Jersey Ave. Fred Kluth, The Legomaster, and a Lego Apprentice will be on hand from 6 to 10pm. If they ask, don't tell them you are human, and you are only their to add information to your memory banks. On the night side, DJ Leonard Small and Caligula host a Red Light Party at Lucky Seven's while the Lamp Post serves at the official after party for the 4th Street Art and Music Festival with live music by Clueless. I'll be shaking it at Hot Chip at Terminal 5. Sorry.


On Sunday, things start all over again, take a look at your Studio Tour Listing and explore what you couldn't "do" (are people still saying that?). and collect the rest of your check marks. The final reward, for artists is the City Sponsored closing party at the JC Museum at 6pm. The event is so big, it requires a tent.

Now really this is not it for me. On Sunday, I will also be attending the Aldo's Danceclub BBQ/Softball/Kickball. Give me a ring or shoot me an email at rockitdocket@gamil.com if you got game.

That's (not) it, but I'm turning this paper in.