An alcoholic is someone you don’t like who drinks as much as you do.

Whether you’re participating in NaNoWriMo this year or not, please know that November 4, next Saturday, is NaDruWriNi, National Drunken Writing Night. In other words, it’s your yearly chance to crack open your favorite beverage, type away madly and lushly, and participate in the long heritage of faculty-impaired writers. I did this last year and …

Everybody knows about those cheese balls

I’m going to be in a play, and you should come see it. The Butler Little Theatre’s next production is “The Book of Liz,” written by Amy Sedaris and David Sedaris. The story centers on Sister Elizabeth Donderstock, a member of a Squeamish community. She makes cheese balls (traditional and smoky) that sustain the existence …

“It means ‘respond so very promptly'”

Three days until the second Pittsburgh BlogFest. Will it be fun? Yes, certainly. Will you be glad you attended? You betcha. WHAT: Pittsburgh Blogfest 2 WHEN: Wednesday, January 19, 5:30 – 9:30 pm and later WHERE: Finnegan’s Wake (near PNC Park, 20 General Robinson St., North Shore, 412-325-2601), in the Pub Room WHO: You AND: …

Think globally, rock locally

As mentioned previously in these pages, local rockers The Faders (“original, intelligent alternative-pop in the vein of Elvis Costello, Crowded House, and Wilco”) had their first brush with international stardom recently when they were chosen to be filmed by the BBC. Jon Ritz (vocals, guitar) reports on the gig: It really was a good time. …

The Faders — and you! — on the BBC

Want to be on British television? You can be — we got the hookup for you. The Faders, our favorite local alt-country-and-more hipsters, are about to have a close encounter with the BBC, and they want you to be there. Here’s the scoop from Jon in the band: It’s no joke … we got a …

A bowl of barnuts, a pint of ale, and thou

I will start Sunday sitting on a panel, speaking as knowledgeably and entertainingly as possible. By the afternoon, however, I hope to be sitting in a bar somewhere in Pittsburgh, watching TV and cheering loudly. The question is, which bar should it be? Recommendations for great places in town to watch the Steelers are requested. …

Gripping stories that happen to be true

An event you won’t want to miss: 412: The Pittsburgh Creative Nonfiction Literary Festival. I’ll be part of a panel discussion Sunday morning, talking about online publications. Both Inkburns and Fat Plum will have items available in the Media Fair over the weekend, so stop in and see us! From the webpage: 412: The Pittsburgh …