Schtick A Pole In It

I’m not sure why Joanna Ross decided to combine stand-up comedy with pole dancing for her Schtick A Pole In It event, but the two things complement each other unexpectedly well, as I found out at R Bar on Saturday.

Lara Michaels photo by Yuri Kubota

Lara Michaels, the first dancer, walked on in a black sequined bikini top and shorts.  Lara’s height and classical ballet training make her pole moves elegant and flowing.  She folded into and stretched away from the pole like a glittering orchid.

The show was full of visually stunning moments and also a lot of laughs.  My favorite comedian of the night, Rob Cantrell told jokes about cats and books.

“Do you like animals?” he asked.

When the audience roared in approval, he said, “Of course you do, unless you’re a dick.”

“Do you know what I like about cats?” he asked.  “They purr.  They’re in touch with the Universe so they know they’re safe and they just start vibrating in ecstasy.  Wouldn’t it be great if people did that?  If you saw your friend vibrating by the bar, you’d think this is a good time to hit him up for $50.”

He described libraries as slutty versions of bookstores.  “If you go into a bookstore, you buy one book for $25.  That one book is only yours.  It’s just for you.  If you go into a library and see a book you want, the librarian says, 'Take it.  Everyone’s read it.  Just bring it back when you’re done with it.'”

“These are not strippers,” Joanna told the audience.

“They don’t take their clothes off,” yelled an audience member.

“Also, they don’t text while they’re on stage,” said Joanna.

Photo by Schtick A Pole In It

Brynlyn Loomis walked in like a golden fantasy with birdwing-long eyelashes.  Her moves were so sexy that men sitting nearby told each other to, "Look at that," and audibly moaned.

Wendy Traskos, owner of NYPD, gave a feisty performance, making gunshot sounds by slamming her shoes into the wooden floor and ending with a back flip.

The final performance was a double act called GabriAnna, featuring Gabrielle Valliere and Anna Grundstrom.  Wearing men’s jackets and hats, they danced to “Hey Big Spender,” sometimes moving in synchronization, then twisting around each other, and finally bringing on comedian Dan Goodman to give him a double lap dance.

Dan Goodman is Joanna’s boyfriend and they both made jokes about recently moving in together. Even if Dan and Joanna may not agree about all the finer points of living together, such as whether forks belong under sofa cushions, they share the notion that pole dancing and comedy go together.  The line of people who came to see the sold out show seemed to support this idea.

The next Schtick A Pole In It will be on February 23 at R Bar.  Get there early if you want to get in.

Frugal Feasts, Harlem Style

 

I learned about Frugal Feasts from Sasha Lyutse, who is a Policy Analyst for the Natural Resources Defense Council and also teaches yoga.  The idea was inspired by Mark Bittman’s $5 challenge with Slow Food USA, which states, "I pledge to share a fresh, healthy meal that costs less than $5 — because slow food shouldn't have to cost more than fast food."

“The concept is infused with the principle that comes from the work we do,” said Sasha, “to use the most sustainable sources possible."

“Sustainable means we strive to eat lower on the food chain, so the items have less environmental impact.  We use organically grown food from local farmer’s markets.  It’s a balanced meal and it’s created on a budget.”

I attended a vegan feast hosted by photographer, Alexis Percival.  There were three couples at the Frugal Feast, four single ladies, Alexis and Ricky the cat, who lap-hopped throughout the evening.

Each of the four courses had a wine pairing. I don’t really understand wine but in honor of the Frugal Feast, I sampled the first wine, which was a sparkling wine, a Cava from Spain. 

Wine photo by Mikel Washington

This is what I learned about wine that night:

Sparkling wines, like the Cava make an excellent aperitif because they are light and won't overwhelm the palate. Dry wines have higher alcohol content (12% and above) because the sugar has been converted to alcohol.  

Radish photo by Mikel Washington

The first course was Mustard Greens with Olive Oil, Rice Vinegar and Salt, topped with "moo" radish and crispy fried scallion.  Alexis brought out the second wine, a Riesling from France.  I felt I should taste it in honor of the event, but when I contemplated every course having its own wine, I decided to just take a sip.

The second course, Austrian Style Purple Potato Salad, was accompanied by a Beaujolais, also from France.  The third course was Whole Wheat Pizza with Roasted Butternut Squash & Garlic, Portobello Mushrooms, Onions and fresh spinach. The wine was Ribera del Duero from Spain.  At this point, I stopped trying to keep up with the wines.

Ricky the Cat with a Lady, photo by Sasha Lyutse

The other Frugal Feasters were clearly tipsy by the third course. Then Alexis brought out the dessert, Poached Apples with Syrup topped with Candied Walnuts. My wines were lined up, glinting expectantly.

Guests came from as far away as the Lower East Side and Queens to sample Alexis’s feast.  The conversation ran the gamut of world travel, relationships, food and wine and the effect on our minds of video games and social networking. 

The simple pleasures in life, good company and good food, still have a lot going for them, and Frugal Feasts are a great way of continuing the tradition.