First Person Arts

We’ve had some confusion about how the wait list works for tonight.   Here’s the deal if you don’t have a ticket already for the Grand Slam.  We’ve started a waiting list here at the Painted Bride.  When all advance ticket-holders have been seated around 8:45pm, we’ll begin selling tickets ($15) for seating on the floor of the stage–just like some of you are used to at L’Etage!  In order to get on the waiting list, you must come to the Painted Bride in person, but you can put your name (+1) on the list when  you get here.  You must come in person.  That makes it fair for everybody.  I will post an update to this post if it looks like we have too many names for the space allotted.  See you tonight!  Check out the Heroes of Grand Slam for a preview of tonight and to get you in the swing of things.

8:58

Huge crowd here tonight.  It’s the elite of the Competitive eating world.  Bill Simmons “El Wingador” is here. Humble Bob Shoudt.  A bunch of IFOCE eaters.  Check out the IFOCE website

I think I saw Coondog O’Karma in the house too.

9:12 

This is a real insider crowd.  They’re getting jokes nobody else would get.  They know everybody in this film.  Wingettes included.  Bill Simmons is the Rocky of Wingbowl.

10:12

This film is pretty unbelievable and should be seen by all Philadelphians and lovers of competitive eating enthusiasts.  The conclusion is absolutely stunning. Man Man is on the soundtrack.

10:16

I swear I hear sniffles in the crowd.

Starting just a hair late here at 7:20, but we have a great crowd assembled.  Red Tettemer is well represented!  Thanks  for turning out!  

Oh wow, this is hilarious.  Davy Rothbart could just come back every night. 

Too busy laughing to blog.  Sheesh.  Join his e-mail list to get updates. Join ours too, while you’re at it.

7:56

He’s telling a hilarious, painful self-effacing story about faking out his deaf mother.   Oh hey, the sketchbook reporter is here!

5:50

Lori Tharps is in the house, straight out of Mt. Airy!  A goodly crowd is gathered, readers of Lori’s blog My American Melting Pot, no doubt.  She’s promising a “Kinky Weekend” there right now.  (And for her blog readers, there’s no sign of Broccoli!).  She’ll be reading from Kinky Gazpacho.  She’ll be introduced by one of my favorite Story Slammers and all-around First Person star Angel Hogan!

6:08

6:15

Angel introduces Lori: 

6:33

Tharps on stage: 

She just told a hilarious story about being the only black girl on her swim team.

6:41

Wow, I guess marriage proposals come easy in Morocco!  Much easier dating than Milwaukee.  Keep that in mind Milwaukeeans.  Spain was in her blood very early on–her first kiss was from a Spanish exchange student!  Best description of being an exchange student in Spain: “No parents, lots of Sangria”

After Lori Tharps reads from Kinky Gazpacho tonight at 6pm, Davy Rothbart from Found Magazine takes the stage.  

The First Person Festival continues today at the Painted Bride Art Center, 230 Vine St.  Tickets for tonight’s events are no longer available on-line but can be purchased in person at the Festival site!  

Start your friday off right with the First Person Arts Members’ Happy Hour at 5pm.  Come join us, become a member and share a Philly Brewing Company beer with other lovers of memoir and documentary art.  At 6pm, we’ll have a FREE reading by Lori Tharps from her book Kinky Gazpacho.  You can read more about Lori at her blog, My American Melting Pot.  Then at 7pm, stick around for Davy Rothbart of Found Magazine who will share the hilarious and revealing stories behind the discarded notes, letters and photographs his readers send in droves.  Get a daily dose of Found at his website!  And finally, at 8:30pm, El Wingador will be in the house with his Wingettes for the Philadelphia Premiere of Swallow Your Pride, Josh Camerote’s documentary about Philadelphia’s storied eating competition, WingBowl.

Take a look at today’s Inquirer for a coverage of the weekend’s events!

5:40 pm

It looks like the Fish Guys will be rolling in with re-enforcements later on tonight, but first we’ve got The Empty Nest with Marian Sandmaier and Jan Constantine:

Marian Sandmaier and Molly Layton

6:08

Nice warm crowd gathering here in the Cafe at the Painted Bride.  It’s a great space for a reading.  I’m already looking forward to Kinky Gazpacho tomorrow night!  (6pm and also FREE)

8:00

Okie Noodling 2’s on, and the Fish Guys are here.  Check out their site for all Philadelphia Anglers.  Salon starts in a little over half an hour or so.

8:24

Everyone’s sticking around for the Salon in a few minutes.

Do not be dissuaded by this rain.  It’ll make the Painted Bride that much cozier!  Plus, we’ve got cupcakes, Kettle Corn, all manner of snacks, and beer pouring all night long.  Really, you might as well just put your pajamas on under a raincoat and join us for the duration:  

Tonight: 

6pm: Empty Nest–FREE

7pm: Okie Noodling 2–$10

8:30pm: Salon du Festival–$15

Wow, this is a huge crowd! 

8:43

Probably at least 250 are here for this event.  This is great!

Heartbreaking stories here…

Panelists are Jaykumar Menon, Peter Orner, Sarah Paoletti, and Judith A. Bernstein-Baker.

6:57pm

The Complaint Choir has just left the stage after what will likely be its final performance!  We had a full house for the performance tonight.  Lots of media here as well.  The audience had a chance to ask questions about the performance.  It looked like we had about 60 total choir members in the house!

7:08pm

The house is open for Best Impressions.  All the artists who said they’d be here are here!  Our good friend Roberta Berg is introducing the program.  Thanks to Quirk Books, Harmelin Media, Red Tettemer and City Paper!

J. Michael Whalen’s film is up first.  You can see it here:

7:22 

Ed Weinberg reads his Honorable Mention essay.  A turk is quoting Nas to him in the street.  

7:29 

Thanks to @Orangetiki, I can post this complaint choir photo: 

7:32pm

Amazing Barry Silver by Andrew David Watson.  Came out wonderfully! 

7:35 

Deb Kossman reads The Palazzo for Gail Wilkinson

7:46

Carter Liotta’s film Route 66:

Oh no, you can only see this here for now!  The dvd isn’t working.

7:51

Reading of The Wishing Chair by Sylvia de Santis.  Sylvia couldn’t be here tonight.

8:03

Sarah Ginsburg’s winning film: Work In Progress

8:06 

Frances Grote reads her winning piece Cushing’s Final Essay.  It starts on the freeway, speeding to Philly for a doctor’s appointment.

8:10

[Show as slideshow]

8:15

Yay, we got Carter Liotta’s film to work!  Sorry Carter.  Check out what else Carter’s up to at his blog.

Glad to see that folks really turned out for this!  Next year’s going to be awesome.  Thanks again to Quirk Books, Smith Magazine, Photo Review, and City Paper!