Oct 21: David Macaulay at Politics and Prose

In addition to being at Aladdin's Lamp in Arlington on Monday night at 6:30, Macaulay will appear twice at Politics and Prose on Tuesday, October 21st at 10:30 am and 7 pm.

Zadzooks on Batman Lego and Bennett's Best

Okay, I can understand the appeal of making your own stop-action animation film using LEGO Batman toys. But a videogame? Can anyone explain this to me? Zadzooks reviews it anyway in "ZADZOOKS: Dynamic Duo must save city in LEGO Batman: The Videogame," Joseph Szadkowski, Washington Times Wednesday, October 15, 2008.

And in "Bennett's Best for the week of October 5," By Greg Bennett, Zadzooks blog October 15 2008, Greg recommends DC apes and UK World War 1 stories.

Good Richard Thompson interview in City Paper

Amanda Hess of the Washington City Paper sent a note saying that she'd interviewed Richard Thompson in the current issue and I'd missed it, although I did catch the "cartoonist with an odd theme" as I prefer to put it. I've got to stop reading the paper after going to the dentist.

I just read her article - it's good one. People aren't paying enough attention to Richard's caricature although that's how he made his name. Recently I was at his house and saw the sketches for his Palin finger puppet in the recycling, along with a bunch of photos of her he'd printed from the web. It was a fascinating look at how caricature works (I'm not a cartoonist and can't draw). For those who are interested, Richard runs a lot of his caricatures on his blog.

City Paper features local cartoonist with odd theme

Animator Lamar Abrams is featured in "Farting Women Inspire Local Cartoonist," by Amanda Hess, Washington City Paper's Sexist blog Oct. 10, 2008, in print, October 17, p. 44.

Thompson interviewed at Newsarama

The Strip Thing: Richard Thompson on Cul de Sac By Zack Smith, Newsarama 2008-10-16.

Cul de Sac poetry contest results

Michael Cavna's contest of poetry to win a signed copy of Cul de Sac at Comic Riffs concluded with Richard judging the winners. Unfortunately they were all anonymous. So the books are being signed by someone walking down the street and then given to a library, I guess.

Oct 20: DAVID MACAULAY at Aladdin's Lamp

He'll also be at Politics and Prose the following day. Macaulay's also a cartoonist - I just scored a used copy of Great Moments in Architecture tonight.

MEET AUTHOR & ILLUSTRATOR DAVID MACAULAY

Monday, October 20 at 6:30 p.m.

Author and illustrator David Macaulay, who has won numerous awards (including the Caldecott Medal) for his books, will introduce his newest book The Way We Work: Getting to Know the Amazing Human Body. Starting with cells, Mr. Macaulay takes readers on a stunning visual journey through the major systems of the body. All who have wondered why their neck hurts, or how their food is digested; how someone gets sick, how someone gets better; or how life is created – the answers are in The Way We Work. Mr. Macaulay’s other books include Castle, Cathedral (Caldecott Honors), Black and White (Caldecott Medal), The New Way Things Work, Pyramid, Mosque, and many more. A book signing will follow. Grades 4-adult. Please call to register.

Alina Gawlik
Aladdin's Lamp Children's Books and Other Treasures
2499 N. Harrison St.
Arlington, VA 22207
Tel 703-241-8281
Fax 703-241-8283
Email: aladlamp@speakeasy.net

STORE HOURS: Monday, Wednesday, Friday, & Saturday 10 am to 6 pm, Tuesday & Thursday 10 am to 8 pm, Sunday 11 am to 5 pm

Mid-October madness in Dc, chronologically

I don't know which of these I'll make, but I've RSVP'd for Rob Tornoe's appearance and have strong hopes of making the Writer's Center.

Oct 20: Chemistry Set's No Formula release party

Oct 20: David Macaulay at Aladdin's Lamp

Oct 22: Rob Tornoe on panel in DC

Oct 23: Cartoons and Cocktails

Oct 23: Canadian animation at National Archives

Oct 24: Bleach movie showing

Oct 25: political cartoonists Wuerker, Thompson and Kal at Writer's Center

Nov 6: Israeli comics lecture at Library of Congress

Nov 7: Art Spiegelman

Oct 23: Canadian animation at National Archives

Note animation historian Charles Solomon's appearance.

National Archives, 9th and Constitution Ave, NW
Thursday, October 23, at 7 p.m.
William G. McGowan Theater
A Salute to the National Film Board of Canada

This program, presented by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences in partnership with The Charles Guggenheim Center for the Documentary Film and the Foundation for the National Archives, celebrates more than 50 years of Oscar(R)-nominated and -winning short subjects produced by the National Film Board of Canada (NFB). Hosted by renowned animation critic and historian Charles Solomon, the program will feature several films, including Neighbours (1952), Christmas Cracker (1962), Bob's Birthday (1993), and Ryan (2004). The program will be introduced by Academy President Sid Ganis. Joining us from the NFB will be Government Film Commissioner Tom Perlmutter and animation producer Marcy Page. Torill Kove, director of the 2006 Oscar(R)-winning animated short subject The Danish Poet, will also appear.

BBC Radio 4 talks to Jen Sorenson

I just got a note from Jennifer Clarke of the BBC about Phil Jupitus doing more comics interviews. The one that aired yesterday was of the Cartoonists with Attitude - Jen Sorenson was one of the people on the air. Here's an excerpt of the email:

[After the success of the Garry Trudeau interview,] Radio 4 decided to broadcast 4 more 15 minute programmes.

The first programme was an interview with Doonesbury creator Garry Trudeau which was broadcast on BBC Radio 4 on Tuesday 7 October 2008. You can listen again via this permanent link: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/7658923.stm

The second programme was broadcast on Tuesday 14 October 2008 and featured Cartoonists with Attitude (Mikhaela Reid, Brian McFadden, Jen Sorensen and Masheka Wood). You can listen again via this permanent link: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/7669019.stm

The next two programmes will feature:


Tuesday 21st October 0930 Charles Peattie/Russell Taylor of Alex

Tuesday 28th October 0930 Bill Griffith of Zippy the Pinhead

Alex is a British strip on London bankers (which has recently been adapted to the stage).

LATimes blog on Geppi's Entertainment Museum

Sarah Weinman reports on the Bouchercon signings held at the museum.

Oct 23: Cartoons and Cocktails

Sylvia Smith
President, National Press Club
and
Michael Ramirez
Winner, 2008 Pulitizer Prize for editorial cartooning
cordially invite you to

Cartoons & Cocktails
Thursday, Oct. 23, 2008
National Press Club Ballroom
6 p.m. – Silent auction
7 p.m. – Live auction

Wall Street? Obama? Palin? McCain? – and Two Wars?

With so much news this year, we have a bumper crop of editorial cartoons for the 21st Annual Cartoons & Cocktails, the nation’s top cartoon auction. Come bid on your favorites and meet many of the cartoonists who will be drawing live for our special Art-In-Action feature.

Auctioneers include Michael Phelps of The Washington Examiner (our media sponsor), Bob Edwards of XM Radio and NPR, Sari Horwitz of the Washington Post, Harry Jaffee of Washingtonian Magazine, Derek McGinty of WUSA-TV 9 and Mike McCurry of Public Strategies.

Cartoons & Cocktails is a major fundraiser for three great causes:

* Young D.C., the independent newspaper by and for teenagers from the District of Columbia, Maryland and Virginia, and its First Amendment programs.
* Cartoonists Rights Network International, which assists editorial cartoonists around the world who are persecuted because of their commentaries.
* The Eric Friedheim Library at the National Press Club, its awards and scholarship programs.

Tickets are $50 each and include drinks and hors d’oeurves
Can’t attend? Choose your cartoons (after Oct. 18) and bid at
www.cartoonsandcocktails.org.

Purchase your tickets through the National Press Club. Call 202-662-7501.
Charged tickets can be picked up Oct. 23 at the Cartoons & Cocktail will-call desk.

Administrivia: Calendar help requested

Does anyone know of a calendar widget that I can hook onto this blog to put in the upcoming events? October's getting ridiculous with 4 events in a week, if I recall correctly. Which is the problem.

Oct 20: Chemistry Set's No Formula release party

In from Jim Dougan:

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

October 14, 2008

THE CHEMISTRY SET CELEBRATES THE RELEASE OF 'NO FORMULA' WITH EVENTS IN DC AND NYC

October marks the release of NO FORMULA, an anthology collection of 12 short stories from the international comics collective The Chemistry Set through Desperado Publishing. Join the creators in celebrating at events next week in Washington, DC and New York!

WASHINGTON, DC

When:
October 20, 2008 from 6pm until…?

Where:
Science Club
1136 19th Street NW (between L and M streets)
Washington, DC 20036
202-775-0747
http://www.scienceclubdc.com/

Join editor and contributor Jim Dougan (and maybe other suprise guests) in celebrating the release of NO FORMULA! Copies of the book will be available for purchase. Oh, and stick around - a DJ will be spinning from 8:30pm, and happy hour drink specials are available all night!

NEW YORK CITY

When:
Wednesday, October 22nd, from 5:00 - 7:00 PM

Where:
Jim Hanley's Universe
4 West 33rd Street
New York, NY 10001
212-268-7088
http://www.jhuniverse.com/

The Chemistry Set will be out in force to celebrate the release of NO FORMULA. Books will be available for sale, and contributors appearing include: Vito Delsante, Jim Dougan, Elizabeth Genco, Michel Fiffe, Rami Efal, and Kevin Colden.

***

About NO FORMULA: Haunting. Humorous. Harrowing. Those are just some of the words to describe the short stories compiled in this inaugural collection from the international comics collective the Chemistry Set. Founded in 2006, the Chemistry Set has served as the breeding ground for tomorrow's comic all-stars and includes three Xeric Award winners. Combining talents from America, Australia, Europe and Asia, their chemistry together is seen in stories that range from the heartfelt to the horrifying, from the mythological to the macabre.
NO FORMULA: STORIES FROM THE CHEMISTRY SET, VOL.1
Color / B&W, 120 pp. 6in x. 9in.
Price: $16.99
ISBN-10: 1935002090
ISBN-13: 978-1935002093

For more on The Chemistry Set:
http://www.chemsetcomics.com

For more on Desperado Publishing:
http://www.desperadopublishing.com

Oct 22: Rob Tornoe on panel in DC

Rob just sent this notice in - Note the online registration that's required:

Join the Institute for Politics, Democracy & the Internet, Politicker.com, and GW’s Graduate School of Political Management for

The Race in the States

A reception and panel discussion about campaigns and public opinion in the battleground states.

How will our evolving, modern-day electoral map affect elections this year? Will voter registration efforts change the game? Which voters will most likely vote — and have the biggest effect on the election? What role do pollsters and bloggers play in monitoring (and possibly moving) public opinion this campaign season? How does humor persuade? A panel of bloggers, organizers, pollsters, and analysts discuss these questions and their predictions for Election Day 2008.

When: Wednesday, October 22nd 2008 from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m.

Where: The National Press Club

529 14th St, NW

Washington, DC 20045

13th Floor, The Morrow, White, and Lisagor Rooms

Map: National Press Club

Metro: Metro Center (Red, Blue, and Orange Lines)

Registration requested. Register online.

Panelists:

Anna Greenberg, Senior Vice President of Greenberg Quinlan Rosner

Maren Hesla, EMILY’s List, director of the WOMEN VOTE! program

Dr. Michael McDonald, Associate Professor of Government and Politics in the Department of Public and International Affairs at George Mason University and a Non-Resident Senior Fellow at the Brookings Institution

James Pindell, Managing editor of Politicker.com and their sixteen state political news sites as well as the Pindell Report.

Phillip Stutts, President of Phillip Stutts & Company, LLC, a political and corporate consulting firm.

Rob Tornoe, Editorial cartoonist for Politicker.com, a national network of state-specific politics websites owned by the The Observer Media Group, which also publishes the New York Observer.

Moderators:

Matt Lewis, Conservative writer and commentator featured in Fox News, MSNBC, and CNN.

Margie Omero, President of Momentum Analysis, LLC, a Democratic public opinion research firm based in Washington, DC.

Nov 7: Art Spiegelman

Sara Duke reports that Spiegelman will be at Politics and Prose on November 7th, presumably discussing his reissue of Breakdowns.

Herblock prize news

See "Herblock Prize News Includes Increase in Cash Award from $10,000 to $15,000," By Dave Astor, Editor & Publisher online October 13, 2008. Dave also names the judges for this year.

Oct 24: Bleach movie showing

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT: Chris Wanamaker, (202) 262 2083 president@dcanimeclub.org

DC Anime Club and Japan Information and Culture Center, Embassy of Japan Present: Bleach The Movie: Memories of nobody


The DC Anime Club and the Japan Information and Culture Center (JICC), Embassy of Japan Present Bleach The Movie: Memories of Nobody on Friday October 24, 2008 at 6:30pm as part of the Anime/Live Action Series based upon Manga (Japanese Comics).

In Karakura Town, there has been a sudden outbreak of unidentifiable spirits called "blanks" (vacant souls) while in the skies of Soul Society, the real world has been reflected. A mysterious female shinigami called Senna has appeared before Ichigo along with a man named Ganryu, leading a group called the "Dark Ones".

The screening will be held at the Japanese Information and Culture Center, Embassy of Japan located at Lafayette Center III 1155 21st Street, NW Washington, DC 20036-3308.

Seating for the screening of Bleach The Movie is limited and attendees are encouraged to rsvp by sending an e-mail to jiccrsvpfall08@embjapan.org.

This program is free and open to the public. For more information please visit the Japanese Information and Culture Center website at http://www.us.embjapan.go.jp/jicc/ or visit the DC Anime Club website at http://dcanimeclub.org.

About DC Anime Club:
DCAC was established in 2003 to introduce and educate people in the Washington,DC area about East Asian culture, through viewing and discussion of Japanese animation (also known as anime) and Japanese comics (manga). DCAC is a 501(c)(3) not for profit organization, contributions to DC Anime Club are taxed deductible to the extent allowable under the law.

The club also works to provide a positive, alternative activity to the youth in the area by exposing them to foreign culture, encouraging artistic expression and creativity, and providing opportunities for participation in community activities and leadership.

In addition to our weekly meetings, the club holds an Annual Art Show, an Annual Costume fundraising event, and visits local schools to do presentations on anime. The club also works with the Smithsonian Freer Gallery and DC Asian Pacific American Film Festival on their anime screenings, and has helped locally promote performances for Japanese bands such as Puffy Ami Yumi and Pine am. DC Anime Club was founded by Chris Wanamaker (President), Jules Chang (Vice President) and Craig Vaughn (Sgt in ARMS) on Saturday June 5, 2003. We have a strong membership that continues to grow -- most of which are teenagers.

About Japan Information and Culture Center:
The Japan Information and Culture Center (JICC) is the cultural and public affairs section of the Embassy of Japan in Washington D.C. Our primary role is to promote better understanding of Japan and Japanese culture by providing a wide range of
information, educational services and programs to the public. The JICC is located on the lower level of the glass-enclosed Galleria at Lafayette Centre III in downtown Washington, D.C. Its facilities include a research library, a 152-seat auditorium, and a 1,500-square-foot exhibition gallery where a wide variety of events sponsored by the JICC are hosted throughout the year.

Spiegelman and McCall illustrated interviews in Book Page

Two of my favorite cartoonists have illustrated interviews in the Books A Million chains' magazine, Book Page. You can pick up a copy in the store in Old Town Alexandria most likely, but you can also see them online. Spiegelman's reworking of Breakdowns isn't something I've seen yet, but will definitely get. Bruce McCall, seen most often in the New Yorker these days, has migrated to doing children's books like a lot of other cartoonists.

Another MacHomer article

"The Bard and Bart Simpson: A Natural Pairing?," By Celia Wren, Washington Post Sunday, October 12, 2008; M03.