Juggalos vs. Parrotheads Improv Show

This Friday night (October 5th) at 10:30pm at STAGES Theatre in Fullerton, CA for $7 Cherry Spitz Comedy will be having an epic verses show: 

Juggalos vs. Parrotheads 

 Juggalos are fans of a rap duo called Insane Clown Posse. They all paint their faces in back and white clown make up to express their individuality.

Parrotheads are fans of a singer named Jimmy Buffett. They dress like middle aged tourists in the Caribbean to pretend they're always on vacation.

There will be two teams of 4. The two groups will battle out their extreme differences with short-form improv comedy.

There will be prizes for those who dress up to support either side. Also, the theater is BYOB!

Guys, this is going to be a lot of fun. Whether you're a fan of one of the two, or you didn't know what either group was until just now, you need to come to this show.

Laser Quest

Pew! Pew! Pew (That’s the sound of a laser gun, not the sound someone makes when it smells bad in here)!

My adult friend, Lars!

Because I’m an adult with adult friends I went to play laser tag at Laser Quest in Fullerton for my friend, Alex Herrera's birthday. AND IT WAS AWESOME.

We didn’t do the birthday package, we didn’t even make a reservation – and there were a lot of us AND it was a Saturday night. We just walked in and signed up. One pays $9 per person, per game (that might be a group rate, I’d call for more details). Each game is 20 minutes long. We waited only about 25 minutes before we got to go suit up (put on a vest with blinking lights). Oh, and you get to make a code name with a print out at the end of the game saying how many times you hit “ManBoy12” and how many times “TinkerTart33” hit you at the end.

“You guys wanna hear some uh, some techno when you’re in there or um… some Star War-“

“STAR WARS!!! OMG!!! WE’RE NERDS. GIVE US JOHN WILLIAMS OR WE WILL TAKE YOU HOME TO OUR MOMS’ BASEMENTS AND MAKE YOU WATCH US REENACT THE MOVIES FOR YOU!”

So, we won and got to listen to the Star Wars score while we were in there (my favorite part).

Room full of boys name choice fail

There were maybe twenty in our party which means that there were a few straggling children (easy targets) in our midst and one freaky dude who I’m pretty sure lives there and might be 108 years old but perfectly preserved at around 40 because of all (I’m assuming) the black light exposure.

Then, one gets into the dark warehouse-sized room and romps through the terrifying black plywood maze shooting one's friends. There’s an upstairs that got overrun by children during our first game. That move made us nerds so angry that we complained to each other about it later. That’ll teach those stupid children. Ruining our adult fun.

Because I’m a coward, my strategy is to find a nice, dark corner to nestle into, then defend, defend, cry a little, and defend! One time I got tricked out of my safe little corner by the creepy old laser dude (who promptly disappeared (maybe he’s a ghost?)) to find it had been swiftly reoccupied and I was a wreck! But, aha, I formed an alliance and we were victorious (that’s a lie, we were destroyed)! But I learned how not to be afraid and just have FUN! PEW! PEW! PEW! Something smells in here…

Star Wars Improv

I know what you want. You're a geek... Ergo Star Wars. F-ing Star Wars EVERYWHERE. All the GD time. Am I right? I'm right.

I can help a little. Tomorrow night (May 4th, 2012) at STAGES in Fullerton is a Star Wars Improv Show:

THE SPECTACLES IMPROV ENGINE PROUDLY PRESENTS...

STAR WARS: EPISODE IV - RE-REVISED!

George Lucas is at it again! The Star Wars saga still isn't perfect enough and he needs to make it even better! Starting with the original - A New Hope.

This time, he wants the fans' input!

Luke! Leia! Han! Chewi! Obi-Wan! Vader! The rebels! The Empire! EVERBODY is back and they're all getting enhanced whether they want to or not!

New lines! New special effects! New sub-plots! All as suggested by fans in the audience!

Be there to shape the latest incarnation of the most epic space-opera ever to feature a Wookie!

Feel free to dress up, bring lightsabers and get into it! Photos with cast after show are totally encouraged.

Show is $10 and starts promptly at 10:30pm.

All the usual STAGEStheater perks apply! Show up early to ensure seating!

MAY THE 4th BE WITH YOU!

When I played Chewy in 2006

Yours Truly is playing Chewbacca. I made my costume from a thousand a hundred twenty 2 pelts of the most ferocious (synthetic) grizzlies Yosemite had to offer (they're endangered - turns out - also, side note, completely unrelated, Yosemite has the nicest holding cell I've ever seen. Really, do yourself a favor and stop by for an afternoon).

My friend and fellow Cherry Spitz member, Erik Wargo, is spearheading this event. Last year he did the Marvel vs. DC improv show. Remember that one? Yeah. Okay, then. This will be better.

Improv Cup 2011

Some of you may remember that I entered the Improv Cup last year. It was way fun and all done for a charity.

This year I entered again. Did you see that coming? I did. Only, this time, I have a partner. A GREAT partner. The GREATEST partner. We will likely win. Why? Because I can see the future. And, in the future, there is a 70% chance that myself and my partner will win the 2011 Improv Cup. Notice, I chose the word 'likely' and not 'absolutely'. I believe these are the rules weather forecasters play by. I know what you are thinking, "but you are not a weather forecaster." This is true, but I strive to be as upstanding as those fine human examples of morality. Also, now would be the time to tell you that in addition to seeing the future, I know what you're thinking, as previously demonstrated.

Your next question, "Blaire. Who have you partnered with?" For that, my sweets, you will have to wait. My mystery partner is... a mystery. For now, you may guess. I will guess, too. But all of my guesses will be correct. Because... I can see the future.

I will give you a hint. 

This...

Is not him.

The OC Improv Cup

Stages Theater in Fullerton

November 11th and 12th

Max Bloom's Cafe Noir

“It was a dark and stormy night, when SHE walked through my door. Legs as long as the Mississippi and eyes sharp enough to cut glass. She strutted right up to me with tear-stained cheeks and told me that I was the only one that could help her. Help her with what? Help her find Max Bloom. I didn’t know if I should tell her that I am Max Bloom. Who did she think she was coming to see if not Max Bloom? Was she planning on asking the dry cleaner downstairs for help but accidently made her way up here? Then I wondered if she was illiterate, because it says my name on the door of my office. Then I realized... this woman was very, very, dumb.”

Behold! Mecca!

Max Bloom’s Café Noir in Fullerton is PERFECT. This is the most awesome place I have ever discovered.

Coffee shop? Yeah, it’s a coffee shop. But it’s so much more!

Along with coffee, they serve vintage sodas, snacks, and root beer floats!

They also have “an eclectic selection of DVDs and CDs for sale.”

AND the décor is fantastic: old style movie posters everywhere.

BUT THE BEST PART is that there is something going on (FOR FREE) almost every night.

Monday: Actor and/or French poet open mic

Tuesday: Movie night

Wednesday: Open mic

Thursday: Open mic

Friday: Comedy open mic

We caught the comedy open mic night. It was awesome! Nothing but funny (and not funny) geeks stretching their comedy muscles in a warm, comfortable environment. 

That’s right, comfortable! I will be here a lot.

This is what Heaven looks like.

Fullerton Art Walk

Kc makes a pretty Wonder Woman.

If there’s one thing art patrons enjoy, it’s walking. You know who figured that one out? The city of Fullerton.

The first Friday of the month (from 6pm – 10pm) is the Friday that belongs to the Fullerton Art walk. Selective stores in downtown Fullerton participate by inviting an artist or two to turn their mild-mannered shop into a crazy, out-of-control art gallery!

It’s up to the shop to dictate how they want to participate in the event. They might offer wine and snacks, or not. They may have a musician or band to set the mood, or not. They may have an acrobatic dragon handing out balloon animals, or not.

My favorite!

My favorite show was “Heroes & Villains.” Instead of just one artist’s work on display, this temporary gallery featured work that had to do with the theme. There were a lot of superhero and Disney related pieces.

Anyway, there were a ton of cool geeks wandering around and a lot of neat art to look at.

I recommend taking a smart phone to the walk so that you may access the Art Walk map in real time. Oh, technology. You’re neat.

Tranquil Tea Lounge

“Yes, yes, step right in! Good to see you. Now, what’s ailing you? Is it a young lady’s heart you desire? Or maybe it is luck you crave? Perhaps you’d like to sleep less and work more? I have a potion for every ailment and an elixir for every wish. All you have to do is choose one by sight and smell, only!”

Choose wisely.

Tranquil Tea Lounge in Fullerton boasts an entire wall of colorful, scentiful, loose-leaf teas. That’s fun. Flavors ranging from Mardi Gras to blueberry muffin. Grab some blindfolds and you have yourself a party game!

Selecting your tea is the most fun part. After that, the experience has nowhere to go but down. Oh, wait, except for the tea pots and glasses, they’re adorable!

The eatery area is not very comfortable or private. Also, their use of Papyrus is frustrating.

But, picking out the tea is fu-u-un.

Food Trucks

I want the one with the mostest fruitests.

One day I’d like to see a movie version of a food fight escalate to the point where a food truck crashes through the wall - just a dream I have.

Food trucks are neat. I like them mostly because the portions are small enough to taste lots of different things. I think restaurants should allow me to choose several different entrees to have tastes of instead of having to commit to one. I’m indecisive.

Fullerton has a few food trucks hang out downtown on Tuesday nights from 5pm – 9pm.

Fun Fact: Not all trucks serve food.

My friend, Bert, and I investigated. (He’s somewhat of a food truck expert as this is the SECOND truck-based dining event he’s taken me to.)

We got there around 8:30pm and some of the trucks were closing up or had left.

We did get to have some herbivore fries at the OC Food Truck. And Bert got a lychee berry drinky thingy that was way delicious.

I was really looking forward to getting snacks at the Bakery Truck, but they closed up.

I will definitely go back – but earlier in the evening.

Oh, and FYI, if you’re into food trucks like Bert, he recommends the iPhone app: Truxmap. Pretty cool.

Update: OC Improv Cup

Laughs were heard, moneys were raised. 

Cherry Spitz Comedy did really well in the Cup. We had players finish 6^th, 4^th, and 2^nd. Hurray!

“You know who really won? Hole in the Wall Camps Charity.”

Thank you to everyone who came out. 

If you missed it, there's always next year!  

Sptiz at the cup: Kevin Stevenson, Blaire Byhower, Erik Wargo, Tim Gale, Kat Shea, Lars Hansen, James Stebick, Ify Nwadiwe

Boba: The Quest for Perfection (Lollicup, Fullerton)

While making the funny happen at the Improv Cup in Fullerton this weekend, I became parched. Luckily, there is an awesome boba shop right around the corner from the theatre!

Lollicup in Fullerton:

This place has plenty of relaxing space. It’s really open and airy. There is a shelf full of board games, two hilariously confusing Japanese video games, and a few sets of couches.

The quality of the boba was spot-on. My tea was delicious: Really smooth and mild, not too sweet.

I also enjoyed some tofu. SO GOOD.

There is no sign out front. It just says “Coffee and Tea” in tiny letters. Also, one entire wall of the store is windows. When it’s dark outside, who knows what might be watching! Creepy.

4/5 bobas.

Nerdy Thursday

Some 'bros'.

A collection of musicians, comedians, short video makers, and poets gather at Mulberry St Restorante every Thursday night to put on a free variety show.

Every week has a different theme. Themes of the past include ‘post-apocalyptic’, ‘dinosaurs’, and ‘the 90s’. This week was ‘bros’. Thus, all of the acts revolved around making fun of the anti-geek, the bro. The re-occurring jokes were fantastic. “Which is better, Sublime or Lip Bizkit? Havasu or Lake Powell? A raised F150 or a raised F350? Tribal tattoos or nautical stars?...” The event itself, however, seemed like a group of friends that got together at someone’s apartment every week, not a professional show.

Hey! She's too pretty to be a nerd!

My friend Nikki, a Fullerton local, and I attended the event together. When we first walked into the restorante we thought we had the wrong place. It looks like a 65-year-old couple’s dream date night: Dark wood, red leather, white table clothes, dim lighting, long old-fashioned bar at the entrance… Minutes before 10 o’ clock (when the show is scheduled to start), there was no one setting up and barely anyone there.

Eventually people started trickling in and at most the venue had 20 geeks in attendance. While waiting for the show, we had some time to people-watch: MAN! Geeks LOVE beards. The beard is like the universal signal for, “I like Indy Folk music, thrift shops, and film festivals.” 

At 10:50pm the show began. The acts were hit or miss. Some were awkward and some were clever. Over all, it's entertainment and the price is right.

Dear OC Weekly,

Nerdy Thursdays does not take place at Hibbleton Art Gallery from 8 – 10. It is at Mulberry St. Restaurante from 10 – 12.

Dear Hibbleton Art Gallery,

As I am to understand you have something to do with the Nerdy Thursday Variety Show, please mention the information SOMEWHERE on your website.

Also, the phone number you have listed is no longer yours. You should get on that.

Dear Mulberry St Restorante,

As Nerdy Thursday is an event at YOUR place of business, you should consider mentioning it on your website.

Dear Nerdy Thursday,

Please either officially change the start time of your show to reflect when it actually begins, or start when you say you will.

LOOOOOVVVE,

Blaire.

Photo Cred: Bert Brown

OC Improv Cup

James Ro-Sham-Bo-ing at the IO Cage Match.

NERD FIGHT!

That’s right, you can come see nerds battle to the death-ish this weekend, November 12^th-13^th!

There is a handful of improv teams, here in Orange County. We pretend to get along and support one another, but mostly we all do our own thing. NOT THIS WEEKEND!

My guest appearance at LSD's show.

Josh Nicols of The Lobby Improv is heading up an Orange County Improv Cup. All the improvisers of the OC have been mix-matched into teams of four. These teams are going to battle head-to-head at the Stages Theater in Fullerton until a winner can be crowned. Losers will be PUNISHED (or maybe not)!

I happen to be on a team made up of mostly girls: selling point!

Anyway, the whole thing is for charity and promises to be hilarious.

See you there!