Don’t forget the combined fundraiser (Oxfam aid to Haiti/St. Michaels Church South Providence) this Sunday. The event is called Brigids Fire — the first party of the St. Patrick’s Day Season! Organizers have a day of multi-culti music planned including Seanchai and the Unity Squad, “the world’s only punk/funk Celtic hip-hop band”. Two stages will keep it going all day, with Guinness and ‘Gansett to slake your thirst.

First prize in the raffle (tickets cost only one dollar) is a free week-long stay at the beautiful Aunts House on Derrynane Bay in County Kerry (you will be responsible for transportation, food, etc.) courtesy of Maurice Collins owner of the Wild Colonial. This place is unbelievably beautiful with mountains, ocean and monastery ruins, as well as a nearby equestrian center with organized rides on the beach. Go to the Brigid’s Fire website for a complete schedule of the day’s music and details of the raffle prizes.

Brigids Fire, Sunday, January 31st, 3pm to 9pm, $10 adult, $5 student, Roger Williams Park Casino

Yeah, I know George Clooney is doing that thing on Friday night, and he’s an okay guy, but these things always feature an endless parade of self-absorbed dummies saying things like “I just had to do something.” And that ’something’ just happens to involve lots of television cameras. Here’s another option: Maurice (rhymes with ‘loris’) Collins proprietor of the Wild Colonial Tavern and noted trivia quizmaster sends along this invitation.

The Wild Colonial, with a little help from our pals at Narragansett Beer and Guinness, will be running the bar at a fundraiser for Haitian relief and for the social justice programs at St. Michael’s — the folks who helped bring us hits like The Institute for the Study and Practice of Nonviolence,  AIDS Care Ocean State,  Southside Community Land Trust, CityArts and Community Boating. Cultural programming all day, headline act in the evening, kids games, etc.  And, for a measly buck you can buy a chance to win a week at a fabulous house in Ireland — our fabulous house in Ireland.

The event is Brigids Fire — the first party of the St. Patrick’s Day Season! And this picture here is taken from the above-mentioned fabulous Collins house in County Kerry, the Aunts House at Derrynane Bay. This place is unbelievably beautiful with mountains, surf, golfing, monastery ruins, and you can ride horses on the beach which is the best thing anyone can ever do.

Brigids Fire, Sunday, January 31st, 3pm to 9pm, $10 adult, $5 student, Roger Williams Park Casino

Today at 3:30pm there will be a rally in front of the Westin, in support of workers there — several of whom were recently fired for joining the picket line during their break from work.  Details on that below.  Afterward, join Camilo Viveiros, the new director of RI Jobs with Justice, at a low-ticket fundraiser and birthday celebration.  Free beer with a donation of just $5.

Westin management cut employee health insurance, subcontracted laundry work, and illegally replaced three workers for picketing. Join Local 217 rank and file leaders as they protest Westin management on Tuesday, January 5, at 3:30pm in front of the Westin Hotel (1 West Exchange Street in Downtown Providence). We will meet at the Westin employee entrance at 3:30pm. Dress warmly and bring your walking shoes. At the action we will introduce a special surprise guest.

more »

To (almost) quote Emma Goldman, “If I can’t dance, I don’t want to be a part of your [health care reform].”

Dance you will this Friday at The 201. Providence’s dearly departed DJ duo Certified Bananas (Sammy Bananas now resides in Brooklyn, Certified Max in Boston - catch them while you can) will be on hand for a crazy set. The 201 has a bar and sexy couches and pool tables for the wallflower types. Organizers are requesting a $5 suggested donation, all proceeds will go to Young Invincibles, a national grassroots and e-advocacy effort aimed at encouraging young Americans to engage in the health care reform debate. Check out their website and photo petition.

Dance Rally for Health Care Reform w/Certified Bananas at The 201

Friday, October 9th 10pm-2am, 201 Westminster, across from the Dress Barn

Please give us $5 at the door.

Is dancing and drinking and lounging at a bar enough to pass the health care reform we need? Of course it isn’t. But the fight isn’t over, so let’s use this opportunity to start bringing our voices to the conversation.

Tonight there’s a pay-what-you-can fundraiser for Sojourner House from 8pm  to midnight at the Everyman (you know, under the giant neon sign for American Locomotive Works).  Since its founding in 1976, the Smith Hill non-profit has served over 50,000 abused and threatened women.  Though some progress has been made on the domestic violence front in the last thirty-three years (i.e. people acknowledge that it exists now), it’s still a serious problem for a lot of women.  Last year, Sojourner House helped over three thousand women with support groups, legal advocacy, emergency shelter, and other services.

Music will be provided by, oddly, Lying Bitch and the Restraining Orders.

Sunday, Everyman Bistro, 311 Iron Horse Way

Do you believe we need pro-environment leaders? Clean Water Action does too. And you can join them October 1 at the Hot Club, where we will all raise a glass, and lend our support to help elect more pro-environment candidates and take charge of our environmental future.

Sip Sip Hooray! This event is sponsored by none other than Trinity Brewhouse and Newport Storm. You know that can’t be bad.

And to cap it all off, attendees can compete in a political slogan contest. Make your own button with Clean Water Action’s one of a kind button maker and enter to win prizes awarded by Special Guest Judges. It’s hush hush on those names for now, but expect to see some folks who have real experience with slogans.

See you there!

Tonight, join Rebel L and twenty-five of his closest friends at the third annual Not About The Buildings Spelling Bee.  I’ll be hosting, and the first thirty-six spellers to sign up will be competing for fame and fabulous prizes donated by Tiny Showcase, if’n books, and What Cheer Antiques.  The lucky bee winner will also receive a membership to the Providence Athenaeum, which (if you didn’t know) is an awesomely fantastic prize.

Spellers are encouraged to show up early, since last year we had to turn some tardy spellers away.

Spelling Bee
AS220
115 Empire St.
9pm
$5 to spell, free to watch

As readers of the Dose know, the band has had a huge year, but humble sorts as they are, The Low Anthem has kindly accepted an invitation to join us at Nick-a-Nee’s tonight, and will be playing along with the What Cheer? Brigade and the ‘Mericans. And, if last year’s event is any indication, expect a harder-than-usual set. Stuff like this:

Fundraiser for Dave Segal, State Rep for District 2, Thursday JUNE 4TH, 6pm to 9pm at Nick-a-Nee’s, featuring the What Cheer? Brigade, the ‘Mericans, and some other special guests.

Asking $25 or so, but, as always, pay what you can — nobody will be turned away. You can donate online over here. And the Facebook thingy is over here. More info is up at VoteSegal.com. And clips of the bands are below.

[The day is finally here and it looks like the weather will cooperate. Dave's circle of friends, colleagues and supporters is eclectic in the extreme. Expect a mix of pols, hipsters, musicians, teachers, lumberjacks, hand-models, do-gooders, rascals, rogues... and a smattering of lawyers. I bet there will even be a Republican or two. Nick-a-Nee's is a great place to mix it up with a groovy outdoor area. Make a new friend. Have fun while doing good. BC:6/4]

more »

AS220’s biennial Photo Lottery is taking place this Saturday, and there’s still time to get tickets through their website.  For just $100 you can win one of 150 photos donated by 150 photographers, including heavyweights like Mona Kuhn, Henry Horenstein, and Jock Sturges, whose 40X50 print will probably be the biggest deal of the night.  When you show up you draw a number corresponding to one of the photos.  So if you’re lucky you could get a really cool print of the Corliss Steam Engine made from a glass slide made in 1876.  Or, if you’re not so lucky, you could get the one I donated (heh heh).

The Lottery is the biggest fundraiser for the Paul Krot Community Darkroom, which is actually the only community darkroom in the state.  A lot of really cool youth programming happens there, too, which you can learn about by checking out AS220’s website or dropping by on Saturday.  It’s free to attend, and fun to see the work of so many different people at once; get their early, though; art will start coming off the walls as soon as the first numbers are drawn.

More fundraiser stuff:

Tonight FusionWorks Dance Cmpany is having an event called Speak Easy Dance Hard.  Tickets are $50 but space is limited.  There’s a prohibition theme.  Because, you know, nothing’s more fun than the general inability to consume alcohol.  There’s live jazz, and it sounds like a good excuse to use antiquated slang.  It’s at Providence Piers (you know, across from Cheaters) and you can reserve tickets by calling 401-946-0607.

Tomorrow morning there’s a neighborhood yard sale at the East Side YMCA.  It starts at seven, which sounds horribly early, but lasts into the early afternoon.  It’s also the Mount Hope Neighborhood Assocication yard sale, which means that the whole upper east side will be rife with deals.

Tomorrow morning there’s also a fundraiser for Aids Care Ocean State at Method Fitness on Westminster Street.  It’s only fifteen dollars for an hour workout; you just need to bring a towel and water.  I started going to Method about this time last year, and the people there are all wicked nice and helpful.  (FYI: The reason I don’t go there today isn’t their fault. It’s more because I’m a lazy so-and-so who prefers to sit on my fanny eating starches and mayonnaise all day.)

Tonight is The Rescue, the annual fundraiser for the Providence Animal Rescue League.  It’s happening at the Roger Williams Park Casino.  Tickets are $90 (though the price goes down if you buy in a group) so it’s way out of my league, but the flyer is basically the cutest picture ever so I thought I’d mention it anyway. Because [cue talking-to-animals voice] look at the puppy awwww he’s so cute yes aren’t you a cute doggie yes you are!!!

There’s also an auction.  The guest of honor is Ann Hood, the acclaimed local author and RISD professor whose potty-mouthed aunt I used to work with at the Warwick Mall.

(By the way, PARL would be happy to take smaller donations.  Visit their website for more.)

Grace Diaz is having a huge fundraiser tomorrow night, featuring Grammy winner Bill Harley, the Superchief Trio, and the premiere of a film made by Rhode Island High School students in support of Rep Diaz’s In-State Tuition Act, which would award in-state tuition to all RI high school grads — regardless of immigration status.

As the anti-immigrant agenda continues its march through the State House, Rep Diaz needs our support now more than ever!

When the cat’s away…

While Josh Miller is holding a fundraiser out in Cranston, several of us will be gathering at his digs at Local 121 to attend NOW’s Pay Equity Happy Hour, followed by Ed Pacheco’s fundraiser, followed by Loaded?

All concurrent with Providence Monthly’s celebration of itself, at RISD.

From Ocean State Action

Please join us as we honor our allies and celebrate collective action to win healthcare for all.

Monday, April 6th, 2009, 6 - 8pm
Local 121
(121 Washington Street, Providence)

Tickets are $50, low-income or student $15
To RSVP or purchase an ad for the adbook, email peter@oceanstateaction.org

Special recognition awarded to:
U.S. Congressman Patrick Kennedy
for his leadership in passage of federal Mental Health Parity legislation

Linda Katz, Policy Director, Poverty Institute
for her many years of Medicaid policy leadership

Members of HealthRIght
chaired by Dr. Nick Tsiongas (Past President, RI Medical Society) & Ted Almon (CEO, the Claflin Co.), for their work to convene leaders to define a comprehensive healthcare policy proposal for Rhode Island

In case you’re looking to shake your groove thing this weekend, there’s three different chances tomorrow.

The (second) kickoff party for the FAM Collaborative is taking place at the Wolcott Eco Building. The collaborative is committed to supporting youth programming in fashion, art, and music, and you can learn more about them here. The Wolcott Eco Building is in that netherworld in the vicinity of River and Valley Streets, slightly up the hill from the coke den flea market.  That starts at 9.

At Tazza there’s the second Top Shelf Nite, with a bunch of DJs and proceeds going to CommunityWorks RI.

And, if you hate paying for things, even good causes, then dance for yourself and yourself alone to tunes spun by Eric and JR at Local 121.