If you’ve peeked at a calendar, you might see that we’ve passed the first day, or two, of May, but things have been busy around the information age workshop lately. We now officially declare the beginning of May at thomascrone.com with the wildly-popular May’s 13.

Performance, Magic Smoking Monkey Theatre: At some point in the last year, I decided to pursue a hobby of catching more live theatre. At least one show per month and/or all the shows of certain companies. Things are holding steady so far this year, with the latest production caught being the Magic Smoking Monkey’s hilarious send-up of “KISS Meets the Phantom of the Park.” Delightful to see longtime monkeys like Amy Elz, Julie Layton and Jim Ousley onstage. And equally fun to catch the performance in what was obviously a sold-out (and hot!) RAC space. Can’t wait for next year. Where do we sign the petition for two Monkey shows a year?

Daily read, St. Louis Beacon: Sometimes, it takes a while to retrain your daily surfing habits. A couple things on my guilty pleasure list should be stricken, while a few castor oil-type sites should be added. The St. Louis Beacon’s luckily got enough interesting content for me to become a regular reader, giving me some civic fiber as I go. Lots of familiar names in the ranks; looking forward to seeing some new ones crop up, as well. My daily surf’s a bit smarter thanks to the Beacon.

Advertorial, Cafe Chat: While on the topic of newspapers and their kin, I’ll note that a piece I alluded to a few weeks ago has come into being. The Cafe Chat advertorial feature in the RFT is live, with an interview with Michael Johnson (of, oh, 25 local restaurants) the first of the lot. Still strange seeing my name in the RFT, in any context, but such is life. Strange.

Browsing options, Firecracker Press: The publisher of many collectible posters, flyers, magazines and the like has up and moved, from the somewhat remote location it called home above the Chippewa viaduct to a nice, new location in a classic Cherokee Street storefront, just across from Apop Records and near to many of the hipper new Cherokee spots. Congrats to Eric, Matty and the crew for their digs. Next time you’re in the neighborhood, pop in. They’d be happy to let you browse and watch some work come off the line.

Mag sections, Apop: This month, we’re flowing from one idea to the next, so we have to take a moment to sing the praises of the magazine and zine sections at Apop Records. I’ve spent too much money there over the past month, snapping up a variety of cool, cheap zines, many of them in the black-and-white, cut-and-paste style of my relative youth. Happy to see those coming around again. And happier to see a place selling. Not since the days of the old Whiz Bam have I seen a finer collection of truly indie zines and print ephemera. Nice.

Question, the incorporation of fish into the ol’ diet: So, any vegetarian readers today? Any of you go from veg-only to eating fish? How’d that work out for you? The bones and muscles are barking and serious consideration is going into the adoption of fish (dead, dead, decapitated and scaled, dead fish!) into my daily diet. Need some info. One friend is advising the eating of buffalo and beef, instead, but something’s saying that ain’t going to happen. But dead fish? Maybe. Thoughts are welcome.

Hobby, urban exploration: A couple new spots have been accessed by the membership of the UEU 314 in recent weeks and photos will be going live on flickr in the near future. Here’s the rub with flickr, for me: I’m stuck at 999 shots. I have been for weeks. I don’t know why this is an issue, but I want the 1,000th to have some kick and I can’t seem to find that shot. What a weirdo. Anyway, take a peep at the flickr button on the right in a couple days. Should finally crack this mental block by then.

Flickr photographer, Lachance: Some props for Lachance, who is not Alicia Lachance, but who is a phenomenal photographer of industry and cities. Damn.

Season, the end of a school semester: Is there a finer season than school’s end? I don’t believe so. And I love fall. But the first/second week of May? Oh, how sweet!

Trend, babies: Okay, friends, who’s expecting next? Who’s due next? Out with the info, please.

Cable show, Miss Rap Supreme: Trying to diversify my cable bad habits, and Ego Trip’s Miss Rap Supreme seemed a way to bring some flava to my evening TV zombie-ing. Sadly, the femme-cee’s are just not bringing the dramatic heat I require in my crap TV viewing habits. Maybe the fact that actual talent is involved in competing in the show is ruining it for me. Hard to say. Giving this one a few more episodes, though my German favorite, Lionezz, has been shown the door. (Ach, nein!) Thinking that the Discovery show about crab fishermen might be next on the list.

Beer, Pyramid Apricot Ale: I love it, I merely like it, I love it. Such is life.

YouTube video/song/obsession, “Four Horsemen,” Aprhodite’s Child: Ladies and gentlemen, I leave you with a cut that’s been playing daily for weeks, if not months. Must find new musical obsession. Until then, zone out to the following, at your back-mask-frightening risk.

Factor in these bits. All factual.

You live in an region that’s recently had an earthquake. When it occurs, you, like thousands of others, wonder what’s happening, jarred and somewhat, for lack of a better phrase, “goofed up” at the moment of impact.

You have a pair of glasses. The left lens, for whatever reason, tends to fall out. It has just fallen out. And it sits, without one lens, on a shelf.

You have a phone, the Verizon EnV, which isn’t a good phone. These phones break. Constantly. Tonight, your latest (third) EnV is broken. Not just sporting the recently-acquired cracked face, but also a battery problem, which seems to require hours of charging for minutes of use.

You live on a block which has given you trouble recently. A few shots here. An attempted bum-rush there. Enough activity of a nasty nature to what you wonder what’s next.

Despite this, your green light bulb, which illuminates your front porch (you have a green awning; somehow the two seem sympathetic, what with the green awning, the green bulb), has just burned out, which draws only a shrug and “a something-to-do tomorrow” vibe.

Put the combination together. Sequence this. Or not. As you see fit.

Now that Lucas Hudson’s come on as editor of The Vital Voice, I’ve started doing some entertainment writing for the publication. The paper’s new website has debuted this week. If you’ve not seen it, follow the links here.

A review of Mikeymoe’s. Took three visits to research.

A summary of South City drinking culture. Took 18 years to research.

Enjoy.

What’s classier than Playboy and Maxim and much easier to hide under your mattress or in your sock drawer? SEXY–52nd City Magazine’s ninth issue. Join us at the Snowflake on Saturday, April 26 from 4 to 7 p.m. for some delightfully cheeky food, drink, music, and entertainment. This issue includes a free CD from the SOUND issue–and a party at Snowflake never disappoints.

Sexy brings to mind love and 52nd City is is a labor of love for us; each issue, we cover our print costs by the skin of our teeth. Hence we currently have a little PayPal button on our homepage so that those who would like to support the cause with $1, $5 or, with glitter and blessings upon your soul, $25, you can donate to our general print fund. Our only costs are for the printing of the magazine. We don’t pay ourselves, and unfortunately, can’t pay our contributors at this point either (someday, oh someday). We will gladly accept your donation to our print fund. Any amount is appreciated and we will acknowledge you on our friends page (unless you ask us not to).

ALSO – this will be our last issue with a cover price. As of our summer issue (FOOD), 52nd City will be distributed free of charge – look for us in venues across the city, including ones thatcarry us now. We are looking forward to widening the exposure of the St. Louis artists and writers who contribute their work to our pages.

Again, everyone is welcome this Saturday, no donations required, and we hope you’ll make it out. For more info on the party, the SEXY issue or all things 52nd City related, pop over to our site.

Where: Snowflake, 3156 Cherokee Street
When: Saturday, April 26, 2008
Time: 4:00-7:00pm
Admission: Free

Last-second news, but STL United FC will be featured tonight on News Channel 5’s sportscast at 6:20 p.m. If there’s video to be grabbed, I’ll embed the piece tomorrow.

Update: the piece can be found here. Having a little trouble playing back the piece, any tips?

Blake Ashby came to Webster and spoke.

I sent an e-mail “press release” a few hours before the lecture.

From these events was born a cover story in this past week’s Journal.

Proof that: you always, always, always feed the press.

And I need a job.*

Let’s talk.

Unfortunately, the gig I really wanted is now taken. Link to come.

(*Thanks ACC.)

So lazy, I am! Forgetting to post up DJ gigs, like this week’s dual spin with Jim Utz at the Halo. Oops.

So, uh…

Tonight!: The Royale, 6-10. So windy, only CDs will make the cut. That’s how windy it is, really.

Friday, April 25: The Royale, 10 p.m.-1:17 a.m. Records and CDs, yo. And is there an iPod in my future? Someone send me to some bargain buys!

Thursday, May 1: The Halo Bar, 10:30 p.m.-2:27 a.m. Only records, for celebration on the day of contemplation and lamentation for all International Workers of the World. Not sure what band will be in the Pageant on this evening, but I’m hoping for something more sympatico than this week’s Musiq Soulchild. Let me tell, his fans were not digging me, particularly.

Cultural event, Catholic school picnics: Checking the calendar. It’s about that time of year, yes, indeed. A time for marginal $2 food items, crazy-looking rides, crazier-looking ride operators and a guaranteed good time… as long as the local teens don’t start a gang fight. Yeah-uh!

Newspaper, The Vital Voice: At the risk of slighting any other newspapers fitting the description, my favorite bi-weekly publication formerly targeting the GLBT audience, but now morphing into a wider, progressive niche has to be… The Vital Voice. Especially since editor Lucas Hudson’s on-board and because they started writing me checks. If you’ve not picked up the paper recently, or clicked on the website, please do. One or the other. Or both. Thanks.

Challenges, The AFI Top 100: After a couple of disappointing films in a row and a Netflix membership that’s lapsed, I’ve found myself raiding the stacks of Webster U’s Emerson Library for videos, informed by the twin American Film Institute Top 100 Film lists, from 1998 and 2007. Can’t say all the films to date have been a joy — “The Searchers” is something more than a dull, two-hour excursion into mid-20th century racism? really? — but the process has been vaguely enjoyable, despite the lack of foreign films and docs. But enough qualifiers. The AFI list is fun to work through, especially if you’re an obsessive completist.

Magazine, “Relevant”: Like to think I know a few magazines, but I’d never heard of “Relevant” until now. The mag’s centered around “God. Life. Progressive Culture.” and I’m totally cool with two of those ideas. Despite a few editorial pieces not particularly up my alley, I have to say that the newest Relevant is well-designed, very readable and a real surprise, which is always fun when searching the mag racks.

Reality show, “Split Ends“: Two hair stylists. Swapping places. Meeting new people. Working with new systems. Maybe learning something along the way. What a stupid idea! And what a perfectly enjoyable waste of an hour!

Flickr user, Monstromo: Until recently, I didn’t realize that my neighbor took photos, let alone loaded them onto photo-sharing services. Glad I know, now. Some wacky stuff in here. Moon Mullins? I mean… really. What?

Wacky theatre, “Kiss Meets the Phantom of the Park”: Do not miss this show. Why would you even consider that possibility?

Christmas gift opportunities, Historic Soccer Videotapes: Would love those STL Stars vids, definitely; you’re the best!

YouTube oddity, “Flintstones Sell Cigarettes“: Every semester, during advertising class sessions, this video brings on the chuckles, from students too young to reasonably appreciate the full cultural impact of “The Flintstones.” If you’ve not seen Fred and Barney out back o’ the house, lighting up, please enjoy.

Coffeehouse, Cairdeas: I’m not a Dogtown resident, but since my car keeps breaking down and my mechanic’s in the neighborhood, I’m now a quasi-regular at this joint. I even can ID some of the other, weird regulars, including one mean Irishman that I’ve run into on each visit. A charmer, that one. At any rate, I like the spot and like it even more when a postmodern horror film star is behind the counter.

Used book rack, Apop: What the hell is playing in that shop? Ever! That’s my question. Seriously, what the hell? Just check out that book rack, though. Some nutty selections up thurr.

South Broadway gay bar options, Korners: Walked in. Took a minute to sort out what was happening. Somehow, it actually took a minute, instead of three-seconds. How amusing. And how loud! Ten people making the sound of a thousand, so happy were they.

KDHX pledge opportunity, “Topic A”: Wouldn’t you know it? The spring membership drive is nigh. And what better opportunity to give than at 7:30 p.m. CST on Monday, April 21? The station, Amanda, Amanda’s unborn baby and I all thank you for your consideration and loose purse strings.

I’ll be starting a new adver-feature(tte) for the RFT in a couple issues, most likely April 17. More details as they become available.

Check back tomorrow, for the wildly-popular monthly Thirteen feature.