After spinnng at the Royale on a fill-in basis last night, my third shift in less than a week, I realized I need to pep up my musical supplies. For the past year, I’ve been plotting a seasonal mix, to give out to people whose tastes in music I enjoy. With winter break at hand, I’m thinking of putting those songs to disc in the next 48-hours. So, the deal: if anyone would like to trade an annotated mix CD, any genre accepted, drop me a line: thomas@52ndcity.com.

After the extremely lukewarm nature of the “Silver Tray” offer, I imagine a thoroughly tepid response to this, as well! At any rate, even one disc in return would be welcomed.

Whereby, it is the season of giving,
Whereby, my basement needs cleaning,
Whereby, the Unconscious play on Xmas,

I am making this one-time, low-dough offer of “Silver Tray” zines, a three-edition cycle of fanzines printed in St. Louis in the late ’90s. These rare gems contain articles (and artwork) by and about: the Urge, the Boorays, Enormous Richard, Corporate Humour, Tim McAvin, the Eyes, the Nukes, Sinister Dane and other STL bands of the 1980s and 1990s. For superfans, the title of mag was a nod to an Unconscious song of the same name.

Two dollars US for shipping and handling. Or free, if we live close and can arrange a handoff.

I would love to move the remaining, yes, 49 sets of this three-headed release.

Peace (and zines) be with you.

At the Royale: Friday, December 22 (10:01 p.m.-1:18 a.m.) & Monday, December 25 (8:33 p.m.-1:16 a.m.).

Thinking that Viva Voce, Giant Drag and the Sounds will be liberally dosed.

At last night’s Observable Readings event, organizer Aaron Belz gifted me with a DVD of the second-version “The Thomas Crown Affair.” (I.e. the one with Pierce Brosnan and Rene Russo, rather than Steve McQueen and Faye Dunaway.) The fact that he had found the DVD, box-and-all, in a trash can was actually a nice touch, as recycling/reuse should take many forms.

Now, that said, there’s not a week that goes by in which someone doesn’t reference “The Thomas Crown Affair.” Local sports personalities Bill McDermott, Bob Ramsey and Brian McKenna, in fact, never say “Hello, Thomas,” opting for a shouted “The Thomas Crone Affair!” With them it’s clockwork. With others, it’s a less-regular name-drop, but when added together, these occasional uses begin to add up. Dozens of times, I’ve heard the name of this twice-produced film. Hundreds of times would not be an exaggeration. Perhaps not yet thousands, but I’m only reaching middle age and I’m sure that the tally will grow in time.

In fact, it’s possible that some folks have never made the connection, but now will. Shame on me for a potentially adding to this mania. Still, it’s a topic on which I’d long felt the need to address, to put on the table, to take ownership of, to hash out.

Aaron, thanks again.

Fantastic, high-quality art is here just in time for the holiday season. The 2006 holiday sale by Independent Art Market is Friday, December 8 through Sunday, December 10 at the beautifully renovated Shaw’s Gallery, just two blocks East of the Missouri Botanical Garden on Shaw Avenue. The artists organizing this terrific event are excited about a weekend filled with a diverse lineup of new artists; a sake, sushi and fashion cocktail reception, poetry readings organized by Observable Books; a variety show organized by 52nd City, and a broad range of musical performances.

This year marks the third annual Independent Art Market holiday sale. The sale will run 6 p.m.-12 a.m. on Friday, 12 p.m.-12 a.m. on Saturday, and 12-6 p.m. on Sunday. Independent Art Market is a St. Louis, Missouri based artists cooperative. Participating artists work in traditional and non-traditional media with an emphasis on quality. Each studio is self-represented and Independent Art Market is artist organized.

There is a wonderful assortment of performances this year. On the evening of Friday, December 8 the editors of St. Louis-centric art, literature and culture magazine 52nd City are putting on one of their fantastic variety shows from 8 p.m. to 10 p.m., followed by the musical stylings of DJ Play from 10 p.m. to midnight. Saturday evening begins with a sake, sushi and fashion cocktail reception 6-8 p.m. The evening continues with a alternating line-up of poetry readings organized by Observable Books and live music including Bernadette, Farm Team, Jonas Lyn, and Bravo Company. Sunday afternoon features a mellow coffee house environment, with light musical accompaniment provided by various musicians, including Celia, Eric Enger of Gentleman Auction House, the jazz music of Dizzy Atmosphere.

This December promises the biggest and best Independent Art Market holiday sale yet.

More information is available at http://www.independentartmarket.org/

Who: Independent Art Market
What: 2006 Holiday Sale
When: Friday, December 8, 6 p.m.-12 a.m.
Saturday, December 9, 12 p.m.-12 a.m.
Sunday, December 10, 12 p.m.-6 p.m.
Where: Shaw’s Gallery
4065 Shaw Ave., St. Louis MO, 63110
Why: Inependent Art Market, accept no substitutes.
Info: http://www.independentartmarket.org/
info@independentartmarket.org
Contact Eric Woods at The Firecracker Press, 314-776-7271.