Art Show at Velocipede

In a time when our fair city is becoming more and more congested, despite gas hikes and a seemingly sudden awareness of the environment, it's nice to hear about certain organizations trying to encourage alternate means of transport. Velocipede bike project is a collective/co-op of bicyclists in Baltimore that came together and formed a place to store all their extra parts, fix the bikes they ride, and build new bikes out of old ones not being ridden. They strive to create alternative modes of transportation for low income people, encourage healthy lifestyles, and reduce waste and reliance on unsustainable fuel. You can become a member by paying a small fee and volunteering in the shop a small number of hours per month, and in return, learn to use their tools and have access to the facility. They help promote and demand a more bikable Baltimore just by maintaining a presence and I'd like to think some of their members, if not the collective itself, had something to do with the new bike lanes popping up all over the city...but it's purely speculation.
They sell the second hand bikes made and fixed there too.
This Friday, Velocipede is also doubling as an art gallery- featuring art and musical performances inspired by Tricycles! A $5 donation is suggested, and you know it will go to a good cause!

THIRD WHEEL
A study of the trike

Velocipede Bike Project
4 West Lanvale
Opening Reception Friday May 2, 7 - 10 pm

WORKS BY:
Alyssa Dennis, Charlotte Benedetto, David Cunningham, Kathy Fahey, Laurent Hrybyk, and Orlando Johnson
PERFORMANCE BY:
Yeveto and Orion Rigel Dommisse
Special thanks to: Kiersten's Cakes, Now Child Sound Stage, Graham Wimbrow,
and Rachel Y.

Don't Fence Me In Out

Phil got home from running a half marathon in Nashville late last night, and although we slept in, we were rudely awakened by men shouting and cussing at each other outside. They are fencing in the Doggie Daycare building (and it's once-pleasant-now-paved yard) next door, and this morning, we learned they'll be topping the fence with barbed wire. It's not that we really have a say in it, or can complain about it... and I think it's the building owner, and not the Doggie Daycare that's doing it... but the side facing our house seems like a personal stab, as the only people that could enter their yard from our yard, would be us.
Just saying.

On the plus side, they left a few feet of room between the fence to our yard, and the fence of their yard... so now we have a few extra feet of free space and I'm thinking we can put something there to block the view of the barbed wire. I bought sunflower seeds for the occasion... though what we really need is a tree or two. or five.

It's hard to keep track of all the cool things happening in Baltimore at any given time, but luckily, I often print the tshirts for events, and manage to stay really CLOSE to "the know" if not actually IN it. This weekend there are a trillion things going on (MD Film Fest, Hampden First Fridays, Trike Show at Velocipede...not to mention, New American Paintings mid-atlantic edition comes out any day now, and many esteemed Baltimorons grace it's pages!) and I'll have more on each of the ones I know about all week.
Today though, I've just finished printing some super cool tshirts for the Charm City Kitty Club, and you should make certain you take a break from all the movie watching this weekend and go catch one of their performances (May 2nd & 3rd at Creative Alliance- 7pm for cocktails, 8pm for the show).

If you don't know about the Charm City Kitty Club... well, it's time you did. The Charm City Kitty Club sets out to carve a unique social and cultural niche for lesbian, dyke, bisexual, transgender and transsexual women and allies. [They’re] plumbing the shockingly rich diversity in Baltimore City and beyond to present a knock-out line-up of performance and music in a Cabaret-style setting at the Creative Alliance.
There are no auditions or pre-screenings required for showing work at the Charm City Kitty Club. Each show is curated, not based on an objective measure of “quality,” but toward the goal of assembling a diverse and stimulating blend of performances. They also have a bit of a craft fair section outside the shows, so bring some extra cash. You may come home with a cool t-shirt to boot!

Craft Show in Brooklyn Tomorrow

New York or BUST? Well, this weekend.... BOTH!!
Bust magazine's Bust Springtacular is at the Warsaw in Brooklyn tomorrow (saturday).
I am taking the weekend off to hang with family, plant our garden, and admire the Baltimore spring.
YOU however, should get your hip self to Brooklyn, and check out the goods at Springtacular!!

I'm a Crafty Bastard!

Crafty Bastards indie craft fair team is blessing the craft world with not one, but TWO of their wonderful fairs this year. One in September, as always, and a NEW ONE on JUNE 28th at Pyramid Atlantic in Silver Spring! I just got word that I am indeed a June Crafty Bastard, and can't WAIT!!! Crafty Bastards is bottoms down the best and most prosperous fair we do every year, and we have so much love for them, that we've decided to do this June fair, even though it is 7 days before our wedding! Agghhhhhh!

More details to come. For now, enjoy this photo, thefted conspicuously from the Imogene Blog (thanks, Annie!)

Two New Shirts for Earth Day!

In celebration of Earth Day, Earth Week, Earth Year, and a better tomorrow in general, we here at Red Prairie Press are doing our best to come up with more eco-friendly kid pleasing designs every day. We have been loving American Apparel's dedication to using 100% organic cotton lately, and we wanted to follow their lead. Combined with Phil's ridiculous line drawing abilities, these shirts promise to be the "new black." We present to you: TWO NEW 100% organic cotton tees for kids!
Available now on Etsy, Red Prairie Press and a craft show near you!

Happy Earth Day!!!

Good news for people who like Pie News

omigod
omigod
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Atomic Books Blog is reporting that Dangerously Delicious Pies is opening a location in Hampden (the former Finnerteas store on Chestnut near 36th street). Literally a week ago, Phil and I were walking past New System Bakery (known for donuts, not pies), and saying "Dangerously Delicious Pies should move to Hampden. They would make a KILLLLLLINGGGGGGGGG" and now they are, and they will, off of us. Is this one of those things where we've just discovered if we say something, it will come true?
in that case, we would like to release the following statements:

(i had a bunch...but they just weren't that witty). Please help me fill these in).
focus on the positive:

PIE. IN. HAMPDEN. BY. HONFEST (June 7) !!!!!!

Ra Ra (Earth Day) Riot

I'm a pretty un-credible music critic, but I do happen to know what I like, and I like Ra Ra Riot, and I really do think you will too.
We've printed some things and helped with an animated music video (I wasn't any help with animation, but I gave last minute moral support. The above photo is a teaser from it!) for them in the past, and therefor, think we have the authority to tell you to go to their concert tomorrow night at the Ottobar.
The sextet out of Syracuse University (2006) have been playing shows all over the world for 2 years now and are in the middle of a U.S. tour currently. They have a violin and a cello, along with many other pleasing instruments for rock & roll. You should go... there's only so much great music that comes to Baltimore, and these guys (and gals) may get too big to come back soon...
Just saying.

www.rarariot.com
myspace.com/rarariot
www.theottobar.com

This Weekend in The City That Reads...

Art Show at Flux- "The Menz Show"

THE MENZ SHOW
Contemporary Painting by Greg McLemore, Seth Goodman, Ryan Jedlicka, and Robert Sparrow Jones
Flux Studios
1821 N. Charles Street, Baltimore, MD 21201
Saturday, April 19 7- 10 p.m. - Opening Reception
Sunday, April 20 4-7 p.m. - Grand Opening of the Strand Theatre located next door

This promises to be a great show. Ryan Jedlicka has been one of my favorite Baltimore painters since moving here in 2004 (when he was still a part of Current Gallery) and is one of the most wonderful people I've ever met in the city. Seth Goodman and Greg McLemore were the two artists to show at the grand opening of the Metro Gallery last June, and Robert Sparrow Jones is professor at Towson University and sort of all over the place.
The Strand Theatre is, ironically, a new Baltimore theater troupe emphasizing set design, directing, and theater roles for and about WOMEN!

MICA Thesis Fashion Show- "Eclectic |i/klektik"

This is the 15th Annual Benefit Fashion Show at Maryland Institute College of Art (MICA), takes place on Saturday, April 19 at 8 p.m. (doors open at 7 p.m.) in Brown Center’s Falvey Hall at 1301 Mount Royal Avenue. The show’s name this year reflects the many ideas, styles, and backgrounds of the students involved and is organized around a central theme of how fashion influences personal identity. Eclectic |i/klektik| features 15 visually stunning collections, by 17 young and emerging designers, each reflecting their personal interpretation and response to this theme. Tickets sell out fast, get them at the MICA store ($15).

I'm officially bummed to be missing BOTH of these awesome events, but once again, thrilled to be visiting Richmond!

Ba-da-bing!!!!!

This season's craft fairs are kicking off on Sunday with Richmond Craft Mafia's Spring Bada-Bing craft fair at Plant Zero in the Manchester District of Southside Richmond. Richmond, VA was one of my absolute favorite places to visit last year. Carytown has more unique shops and Thai restaurants than Baltimore, and is only one street. There is a cool old theater, lots of art, t-shirts, a great music shop, and many southern hipsters. The people are also top notch, and I'm telling you... the vendor picks at Spring Bada-Bing last year were some of the best I've seen & look to be again this year! I've never purchased so much stuff from other crafters! In fact...the only thing missing from Richmond last year, was the steady stream of eager shoppers. Where were they? (Carytown, I think). Maybe it was that it was too beautiful outside for indoor shopping...maybe everyone just ate too much delicious Thai food and felt too sedated to craft shop, or maybe they just weren't clued in until this year...but I am positive that this year will be even bigger and better. There are 60 vendors, and a morning preview hour for wholesale buyers! Plus, even if we sell LESS than last year... we plan to come home with a crush on half the vendors, and a belly full of Pad Thai anyway.
COME OUT AND VISIT US, Richmond, and Make us proud!!!!

Spring Bada Bing!
April 20th 11am-4pm
Plant Zero
0 E. 4th Street Richmond, VA 23224

Florida based photographer Alex Van Clief went to Syracuse but I didn't know her that well. She and Elliot Black once gave me the honor of participating in a photo project they created documenting everything people ate for one week, and then taking portraits of people with the food that appeared on their list most often. (Mine happened to be banana bread, as I'd baked it that week, but mind you, any other week, and it would have been peanut butter). It was such a funny project, and I liked spying on what the people being photographed before and after me had to pose with for their portraits. Candy and Frosted cereal are what I remember (Oh the healthy lifestyle that was college).




Anyway, I just heard from Alex recently and wanted to show you some photos from her super cool new (to me)WEBSITE. She has photos organized by color, and each one is a little mystery behind it. Even the disgusting ones are beautiful, and one of my Syracuse printmaking Idols (Emily DeMarco) makes an appearance! Hooray for reuniting, and for art school alumni doing things worthy of their degrees!

Sometimes This Happens...

The Crime:


Criminal Suspect #1:

Possible Motives:
-Tax season is over, and someone thinks he's going to get a cat food upgrade because of the economic stimulus checks and got a little excited?
-It's Tuesday Raucous hour?
-Belated Birthday celebration?
-It's nice out, the smell of grass is in the air, and suddenly it looks like it would be nice to be an outdoor cat?
-Plumper than plump rear end accidentally bumped on way to litter box?

Confession:
"PPPFfffftttthhhhhhhhhhhhttthhhhhhhhfffff"

Happy Birthday To Me!

Today is my 26th Birthday (hooray!) and I'm not usually one for e-cards, but my friend Ben keeps sending them to me from Someecards and I can't help but laugh out loud. Have you seen these? Merging sarcasm (dry) with clip art (from Dover Books, mayhaps?) there's Some ecard for everything... beating out Hallmark indefinitely from here on out.

Don't Forget!

Applications are still being accepted for Charm City Craft Mafia's 2nd annual PILE OF CRAFT- to be held at St. John's Church on June 21st, 2008. Ready or not......... it's Craft Fair Season again!!!!! Fire up your sewing machine, glue gun, printing press, knitting needles... stretch your crafty little fingers...and get to applying! Visit
www.CharmCityCraftMafia.com
for more details!

Sondheim Finalists Announced

I didn't make it to the second round of the Sondheim Prize Competition this year, but I can hardly be upset!
I DO get to be in the semi-finalist exhibition at Artscape, and I am outlandishly excited about all of the artists that made the second cut. wow. WOW. Here's the official list:

Becky Alprin, Baltimore, MD
Melissa Dickenson, Baltimore, MD (one of my favorite Baltimore artists)
Dawn Gavin, Baltimore, MD
Geoff Grace, Baltimore, MD (I've seen his mud & whiskey murals)
Maren Hassinger, Baltimore, MD
Molly Springfield, Washington, DC (these are DRAWINGS!?!!!)

Congratulations to the finalists- what a great show this is going to be - opening at the BMA this summer!

Fashion in a hurry

In a rush? We updated the site yesterday so that you can now scroll through items in the shop without having to go back to the main page!!! just hit the PREVIOUS / NEXT buttons on the left hand side! Hooray for innovation (HA).

This little bugger, whose name is Maggie, is in a rush herself....To get to her pirate themed FIRST BIRTHDAY party!
It's always great to see photos of people wearing our apparel- but this one outright made my day. We were happy to hear that Maggie decked herself out in our Pink Pirate Onesie a nifty skirt, and some skull & crossbones tights to celebrate her first full year on earth. Thanks to Mom (Jennifer) for sending us the photo!

Lil' Update

SCOTT'S PIZZA TOURS
is now live!

Sicky McSick

I've just returned from a great weekend in New Hampshire, where Phil and I were smothered in wedding shower bliss, and family. The only unfortunate part is that the cold weather finally got the best of me, and luck of the draw........ I got sick. So, there is the combination of reasons for the posts having been slow recently. More to come soon. A new painting is in the works, there are some great craft fairs coming up, and I'll be working on a guest blog on one of my favorite sites- more details soon!
As part of our car ride home last night, we stopped and played a scratch ticket. We lost, but that's sort of how those things go.
Still, it's fun to spend the rest of the ride decided what you'd do with the money, had it been a winning ticket.
With that thought: dream on.
I'm going back to bed! Sniff.

Pie in the Skyline

So, while my full time job lately may appear to be "obsessing over my own wedding", it turns out, that doesn't pay well... so I also still run a business, believe it or not.
My pal Scott Wiener has also started a business of his own recently, and I was thrilled to print him these stellar tee's for the opening weekend. (designed by Jessie Nemergut). Phil and I had a pie of our own last night (cornmeal crust, discovered after visiting Alicia and Seth in Portland, who showed me the way), and decided we ought to wear appropriate gear during the process.

THE DEAL: Starting April 27th, Scott's Pizza Tours New York's Cheesiest Tours, will rent seats on a schoolbus to hungry Pizza lovers and cart them around NYC to sample slices from a handful of Scott's favorite shops. His super successful test run included goodie bags, pizza notebooks, stops at 6 hotspots, and 20 people who came out of the woodwork for the ride, just through word of mouth!! His authority on pizza goes back to Syracuse, when running for homecoming king, he managed to talk a local pizza shop into sponsoring him. He's been invited to Pizza Conventions as a judge, writes in a pizza journal, and has infectious enthusiasm for all things cheesy. Also, he lives on a Ferryboat in Hoboken. That doesn't have to do with pizza, but if that's not a guy you want to meet..... perhaps you're anti-social.
Tours are $55 for adults / $45 for kids 5-12 / FREE for kids under 5 (if they share with their guardian).