Arts DEVO

Quickening According to Earth’s tilting axis, it’s the last week of summer in these parts. And as happens every year, a couple recent days of cool-down have tricked the brain into thinking that the end of the warm season is actually near, when the truth is there is still a good month of shorts weather ahead. I’m trying to keep my head about me.

Random column generator: Two suggestions for celebrating the change of seasons, both involving a toast: Sept. 24, at 9:59 a.m., raise a pint of Guinness along with the rest of the planet in commemoration of the 250th anniversary of the moment Arthur Guinness signed the lease for his brewery. And, if Duffy’s is your tavern of choice for raising that glass, keep the toast going by wishing the downtown bar a happy 20th birthday (officially, Sept. 27).

The CN&R’s Poetry 99 contest is under way—send us your poems of 99 words or fewer and we will publish the winners in the CN&R and (with Lyon Books) in a chapbook released during a reading at Lyon (Oct. 29). Deadline for entries is Sept. 30.

Chico Palio is almost here. The horse race involving art horses created by local community organizations that marks the opening of the Artoberfest month happens Sept. 26. A handful of performers will be joining the horses in the City Hall Parking Lot, including Full Force Hip-Hop, Ballet Folklorica, Butte Folk Music Society, and Chico’s contribution to the Thrill the World dance tribute to Michael Jackson’s “Thriller.”

Mayor Ann Schwab and county Spervisor Maureen Kirk introduce this year’s Book in Common, Steve Lopez’s The Soloist, at the City Plaza tonight, Sept. 17, 6:30 p.m.

Less than a year after it opened, the space that used to contain the arts antics of the TiON arts makers has a new name, The Frame. Most of the original crew has moved on to other arts adventures, but filmmaker Skyler Sabine is rededicating the space to be almost exclusively a work space. When something special comes along, however, there will be public functions, such as Australian didgeridoo player Ganga Giri and band (which includes local percussion master Mike Wofchuck) coming Sept. 25, and a two-day fashion-show collaboration with BOHO (Oct. 23-24) called Art of Peace.

Not only did Kanye West ruin Taylor Swift’s moment at the Video Music Awards last weekend, but he also shifted attention away from local girl Ashley Everett’s corner of the spotlight. Everett is one of the two back-up dancers in Beyoncé’s “Single Ladies” video that won Video of the Year. Between Everett’s moves and those of Green Bay quarterback/Pleasant Valley High alum Aaron Rodgers (50-yard game-winner on opening day!), Chico’s being represented well these days.

While I’m handing out good wishes, I have to give a shout out to CN&R writer Christine LaPado and The Firefighter who got engaged this week. Of course, LaPado is third in the matrimony line at the CN&R: News Editor Melissa Daugherty and beau/Birds of Fire guitarist Matt Daugherty (no relation—yet) will be hitched in a matter of weeks, and Editorial Designer Mazi Noble already exchanged vows last month with both long-time girlfriend Lauren Wilson and daughter Ziyanna. Clinking champagne glasses all around.

“People Who Died”: Jimmy wrote poems till his heart gave out/ He made it 60 years before he died/ Patrick danced dirty and surfed with Keanu/ Cancer got his guts and at 57 he was gone … These are people who died, who died/ These are people who died, who died/ They were both our friends/ And they died.