Just a quick note to say hello and wish any and all readers a happy 2009. DaveJarecki.com went into something of a shutdown hibernation mode during December, brought on mainly by a bought of double pneumonia. We’re coming off the disabled list this week with new interviews, new guest writers and new creative work, so keep an eye out. 

Thanks for reading and for waiting – Dave

Back Fence PDX will hold its December event, Rock the Bells, on Wednesday, December 10 at the Mission Theater in Northwest Portland. The awesome lineup includes local Portland musicians Gideon Freudmann, Adam Shearer, Nick Jaina and others telling unmemorized, true eight-minute stories based on the Rock the Bells theme.

Not familiar with Back Fence PDX?

You should be. But just in case, be sure to check out their site, read the Archives and get in touch to find out how you could get involved.

If you’re not already familiar with Four and Twenty poetry, you should be. Four and Twenty is an online poetry journal that publishes the shortest of short form poetry. They seek to promote the publication of artful poetry through an online medium, and are specifically looking for fresh and emerging voices to include in their journal, published by Declaration Editing.

Check out their latest, and submit your short good work.

Holiday food becomes holiday leftovers, and after a few days of turkey (or duck, or whatever), you gotta make the old taste new. In that spirit I’ll be sharing some leftovers every day this week, somewhat drastic revisions of old work pulled from the archive. In so doing, the Guest Writer and Interview Series features will take a week off for the holiday, and I’ll actually make myself work on getting some words on the Creative page.

Keep an eye out – and feel free to comment or send some of your own.

“Just can’t get enough,” the next Back Fence storytelling event is approaching fast. If you haven’t gotten your tickets yet, or if you don’t know what Back Fence is all about, check out their site.

When and Where?: 10/22 at Urban Grind East. Doors open at 7, the show starts at 8, and tickets are $7 in advance, $8 at the door.

What?
Back Fence is an evening with six people telling their true eight-minute stories based on the month’s theme. The stories must not have been performed publicly prior to their Back Fence PDX telling. We’re also a blog with a weekly story by a writer, blogger, or someone with an unusual story about the topic. Back Fence gives a polite nod to their kissin’ cousin in San Francisco, the Porchlight Storytelling Series.

Why?
Because the world thrives on stories, and because storytellers light the way so others can access their own stories. And, in the case of next week’s event, can anyone ever get enough?

Go to their site to learn more. Hope to see you there.

Keep an eye out for the open mic this Wednesday, 10/15 at Pioneer Square. Here’s the info:

Wednesday, October 16, 2008, from 12p to 6pm. Rants, poetry, monologues, singing, rapping, jokes, etc. It will be taped for the all local variety show NOW WHAT?

Check this link to see clips from the series.

I’m in the process of setting up interviews with poets and writers to post on the blog, and the first ones should be rolling out before the end of October. Keep an eye out here and on the Creative page for more details.

Thanks – Dave