So much going on- O the haters!

So much has been going on, and I have not had a chance to post a normal blog post in a while. I have been doing the MTV thing which has been interesting, but much more work than I had anticipated. What was I thinking? Hey, now I actually can shoot and edit video halfway decent. It just took a while. I took a class at KDHX and have regular tutoring sessions at the Mac store. It is odd doing "professional" blogging, especially in such an odd forum as this MTV site. The thing is more formal than I was expecting. That is okay, it is regulatin' my writin'.

I finally got some decent stuff up there, and with a lil' help with some friends I have been able to cover more than I had originally. I will link to it when I get a few more pieces up, but if you want to find it, you can find it if you dig. I will probably offer some commentary on this site that is not proper for that site here soon.

Quick updates-
spring has been bumping. Our business has been explosive since we went smoke free. I will do a formal overly statistical analysis on that later. But needless to say, last year was crazy in the spring. Last year was nuthin' compared to this year. Overall I have gotten props from everyone. Friends. Patrons. Smokers. Old folks. Young folks. Hipsters. Old time bar flies. Everyone loves it.

Now there have been a few detractors. Now I can't say exactly how many are hatin', for most haters would mutter outside of my earshot. But I know that my good crew of smokers come in with the same regularity. Johnny. Heather. Mark. Lou. Vanessa. Todd. We still love them. They still love us. There is still a lot of love.

But sometimes there is not so much love. I hit some of the hate when I was down on the Landing of all places, seein' Pokey LaFarge, and I stepped up the bar to grab a drink. While I have a natural aversion to the Landing, I do like drinking close to the river while listening to hobo music.

"I hate your bar!"

"Excuse me?"

This woman was next to me at the bar and recognized me. She had a sour look on her face.

"I hate your bar! You asked me if you wanted to go no smoking, and I typed back and told you!"

"Pardon me?"

"You won't let me smoke in your bar!"

I was taken aback. I do get haters expressing themselves to me justified and otherwise, but I was not expecting such a sharp unprovoked expression of hatred. Being in the business, I have learned to take it in stride.

"Well, I did read your opinion. You were one of nine people that wanted to keep it smoking. I am sure you noticed that the others who wrote in that really wanted the smoke free."

She kept this near fury in her eyes affixed upon me.

"You know I live above the bar. It is my house."

She looked like she was starting to snarl.

"Okay, well, you are more than welcome to come down. I now know you hate the place, but let me assure you, you are still very much welcome down and smoke. All you gotta do is step outside for a square." I then tipped my hat, grabbed my drinks, threw down a tip and moved on.

O, being diplomatic can be an art. Amazing how such a simple little policy keeps the haters out. We got a few tricks that do that.

***

So I got some other news too- we are still working hard on Cherokee Street. Some progress will hopefully be made despite some absurd setbacks. It is a bit complicated and I am hesitant to go into it too much until I have better news.

Um, I sold my Honda CB750 motorbike and picked up a Yamaha Vmax. I am selling the Cadillac. No plans on another car until next year. Once I sell the Eldog I will be down to one 12 year old car and one 12 year old bike. I can't complain. Then in the next year I will drop the bike and car and get a Buick. I also need a new pedal bike, for my old one got ganked last week.

Er, I have an annoying new bloggy type of activity. It is called twitter. You might notice it to the right. It gives you way more information that you really want to know about my activity. It is addictive.

I am going to some fights on Thursday night. Demetrius is fighting. It will be at Grbic. I am looking forward to it. I got a table.

I do have some fun blog posts, but I need to get a few seconds to catch up.

Royale Smoking and updates

All you gotta do is step outside like these courteous and all american urchin newsboys
(picture from 1910 Saint Louis)

I Smoking
II A Anonymous
III One Ring Zero
IV Pokey LaFarge
V Hats off to Marti Frumhoff

I Smoking
As of April 1 the Royale will be smoke free indoors. So we still will have smoking here at the Royale, it is just a matter of stepping outside. So to the overwhelming number of people who wanted the indoor to be smoke free- you got it. Please come and enjoy the Royale.

And to the smokers, I found out that most of you wanted smoke free inside. But to those who wanted to keep it smoking- you are still very much welcome, and I know most will still continue to come and enjoy the Royale. And if you just can't come in and step out for a drag, it personally saddens me. But you are still welcome to come down and I really hope you do. Perhaps taking up snuff or chew if you need to remain indoors? I mentioned that to my mother and she rolled her eyes at the suggestion. I thought it would give the Royale a turn of the century feel.

Anyway- April 1, no foolin', we will be smoke free.

II A Anonymous

This is last minute, but they are showing A Anonymous at the Contemporary Art Museum tonight around 6pm. I strongly suggest that you go. It is an amazing movie in the league of "Best of Show" or "Waiting for Guffman". There will be an afterparty at the Royale with the Tartowski drink- a tart, a bit nutty and a bit of stimulant.

Check more here: http://www.myspace.com/anonymousmovie

III One Ring Zero at the Art Museum
This Friday from 7 to 8:30-sh or so:

One Ring Zero

"One Ring Zero's ethno-pop could have been played in the background of a Balkan-embassy party in the 1930s, but that's not all there is to the band: The songs on its ambitious As Smart As We Are–which features lyrics by literary figures including Paul Auster, Rick Moody and Margaret Atwood–touch on They Might Be Giants whimsy, Residents-style unease, Tom Waits clank and Marianne Faithful melancholy." -Time Out New York

Check out this list on instruments they play: stuff!First of the simple one.

IV Pokey Lafarge is coming back! He will be at the Off Broadway on Friday night. Should be much much fun.

V The Royale is hosting a Hats off to Marti Frumhoff Party

It will be on Sunday March 30 from 3-7pm. Proceeds will go to the Marti Frumhoff Memorial Garden.

There's three categories:
Most Outrageous Hat
Hard Hat
Movie theme Hat

All entries must be worn during the judging.

First prize is 100.00Second prize is 75.00.
Third place prize is 50.00

Judge # 1: Betsy Krausnick; Head Crafts Artisan for The Repertory Theatre of St. Louis.
Judge # 2: John Inchiostro of Stages.
Judge # 3: Garth Dunbar. He designs at Arrowrock Theatre, teaches at Webster Conservatory, and has designed shows at The Rep

Here's the plans for the site that the city is working on with us (we are to provide all planting, benches, long term maintenance, memorial plaque, sculptures and more.)
http://www.fundraisers4marti.blogspot.com/
Our official fundraising site:
http://www.martifrumhoffmemorial.org/

My stars! Pokey is coming to town!

One of my favorite lofistl episodes is of Pokey LaFarge.  He is coming to town this weekend.  He will be on Bob's Scratchy Records on KDHX on Friday 12-2 and then at Off Broadway Friday night.  He will also be performing at Meshugga on the loop on Saturday night at 8.

Pokey is a great musician and performer.  He is a real soulful New Deal kind of guy.  He has great passion and great politics.  I think Thomas Hart Benton probably would roll with guys like this back in the day.  Great Americans.

Thanks Bill for lofistl!  Speaking of, Bill just posted the video of the Fishbone show at City Museum on Lofistl.  Way cool!  You can see Angelo scaling the balcony and stage diving off of it, reminiscent of the Saint Louis shows from way back.  And then they riff into some Runnin' with the Devil by Van Halen.  It just gets better and better.