This is the last reminder for tomorrow's show. The important details
are below The Ramble and you can find more about the performers at
http://tinyurl.com/268mx6

THE RAMBLE
---------------------------------
I have a bad cut on my knee. I hurt it riding my bike over the
weekend. I have a bad history with bicycles, so this is par for the
course. It all falls under the theme of "Did the person who used the
expression "it's like riding a bicycle" to describe how easy it is to
restart an old activity ever ACTUALLY take a long hiatus from riding
a bicycle?"

I rode my bike a lot when I was a kid. Of course I did. I was a kid.
(If you didn't ride a bicycle as a child, your childhood was probably
unbearably sad.) Then I kind of stopped riding. I went to school on a
bus and anything else I did was pretty much close enough to walk or
far enough to drive.

After a few years of not riding, I got jealous of all of the people
in College who zipped back and forth to class while I found myself
slowly trudging everywhere, so I pulled my bike out of the garage and
brought it up to Ithaca. During my first week of riding, as I was
struggling up a hill, I was passed by a woman pushing a stroller.

The bicycle went back into the garage.

14 years later I met Carrie, who rides or walks everywhere. One
night, when I had to go home because I didn't have work clothes at
Carrie's apartment, Carrie volunteered her bike to me. For some
reason it didn't occur to me that a trip from a neighborhood
called "Park SLOPE" to one named "Prospect HEIGHTS" was not the ideal
maiden voyage. It was a mile and a half, uphill, over the streets of
Brooklyn - which are roughly like downtown Fallujah. It the
intervening 14 years I had completely forgotten how one cushions ones
balls from the shock and by the time I arrived home, I was sweating
like I just came in from a thunderstorm, heaving like I was having a
heart attack and walking like I just rode a bicycle for a mile and a
half without any shock absorption.

The next time I needed to go home for a change of clothes, I walked.

3 years later, Carrie finally convinced me to get a bike so we can
ride together. I like it. It is red and shiny and maybe I'll get a
bell for it, just to recapture my youth. This past weekend, however,
I was using it to ride to the softball fields in Prospect Park. As I
was riding in the park, I saw that I was going to have to make a left
turn into a steep incline up. So I leaned forward, pressed hard to
make the charge and fell over.

I repeat, I fell off of my bicycle. I didn't hit anything or anyone.
I wasn't avoiding a dangerous object. I FELL. OFF. MY. BICYCLE.

I have been limping since Sunday and have not been on the bike since.

THE LINKS
---------------------------------
MySpace: http://myspace.com/charles_star (schedule and clip)
Stay Free! http://blog.stayfreemagazine.org (writing and merch)
Soapbox: http://tinyurl.com/y8ggmh (comedy resume and headshot)

THE SHOWS
---------------------------------
WEDNESDAY, May 9 @ 7PM *Tonight*
Ash Wednesday at the Magnet Theatre
$5
254 W.29th at 8th Ave.

Big thanks to the folks at Ash Wednesday for giving me this spot at
the last minute so that I can warm up for the big taping show. Improv
audiences are great so this should be a nice boost.
---------------------------------
THURDSDAY, May 10 @8PM ***BIG SHOW***
Taping Show @ Mo Pitkins
$5
Avenue A between 2d and 3d

Rachael Parenta have put together another show to make audition
tapes. We surrounded ourselves with good comedians so that you will
not be bored.

The MC is Tony Camin (Comedy Central's Premium Blend, The Marijuana-
logues) and headlining will be Pete Holmes (VH1's Best Week Ever,
Comedy Central's Premium Blend). Also appearing on the bill will be
our friends Adrienne Iapalucci and Claudia Cogan.

Much more information at http://tinyurl.com/268mx6

---------------------------------
FRIDAY, May 11 @11:59PM
Gut Bucket at UCB Theatre
Free
307 W. 26th St. @8th Ave.

Pete Holmes and TJ Miller host this great Friday night open mic. I
know I've got a spot next time because of a silly attempt at a
reworking of one of Pete's jokes at the last Gut Bucket. The hosts
are funny, the quality of the micers has been decently high and the
audience is there to have a good time. If the 10PM show runs over,
you'll also get to see the second act of improv team Death by Roo Roo
for free.

---------------------------------
TUESDAY, May 15 @9:00PM
Agents Don't Come to Astoria @ Waltz
$7 minimum
Ditmars Blvd. @ 24th St. (Astoria, Queens)

Matt Taylor's fantastic Queens comedy show. I always have a good time
and he gets some very good comics that already live in Astoria to
make time for his show. I am something of an artist-in-residence for
this show in May, appearing every Tuesday.

---------------------------------
TUESDAY, May 22 @9:00PM
Agents Don't Come to Astoria @ Waltz
$7 minimum
Ditmars Blvd. @ 24th St. (Astoria, Queens)

Matt Taylor's fantastic Queens comedy show. I always have a good time
and he gets some very good comics that already live in Astoria to
make time for his show. I am something of an artist-in-residence for
this show in May, appearing every Tuesday.

---------------------------------
TUESDAY, May 29 @9:00PM
Agents Don't Come to Astoria @ Waltz
$7 minimum
Ditmars Blvd. @ 24th St. (Astoria, Queens)

Matt Taylor's fantastic Queens comedy show. I always have a good time
and he gets some very good comics that already live in Astoria to
make time for his show. My month long run in Queens ends but I shall
return.

---------------------------------
TUESDAY, JUNE 5 @9PM
Monkey Room
Free
Ft. Washington and 187th St. (Washington Heights)

Ken Perlstine's uptown room. I haven't gone there yet, but I'm
looking forward to it. If you live in the 'hood (Angela and Matt),
try to stop by.

---------------------------------
THURSDAY, JUNE 28 @9:30PM
Grandma's Candy Box @ Bar None
Free
3d Ave. between 12th and 13th Sts.

Woohoo! More backroom fun in Eliza Faria-Santos and Myka Fox's
quality room, followed by a dance party. Hosted by recent Village
Voice cover boy Victor Varnado.

Hope to see you soon,
Charles