2 posts tagged “chicago”
I was thinking of subletting this space. But instead, I'm going to start using it as a type of journal. Excpet the kind that other people can read. Making it less like a journal, actually, and more like a cry for help.
The more I think about it, it probably is a cry for help. A cry of "for the love of God, someone, don't let me do this!" After two years of hiatus from acting, I've decided to think about thinking about considering the possibility of a chance of starting back up again.
Wait! Calm down! Everyone! Please! Nothing is official yet. Calm . . . calm . . . calm . . .
(the sound of crickets, and, in the distance, a falling tree)
It's going to be a long trek back. I need a place to vent about the assholes I will inevitably encounter. And also a place to vent about what an asshole these assholes will undoubtedly turn me into. (Thanks in advance, assholes.) As well as a place to brag about my successes, lie about my failures, and "workshop" my ideas. Did I mention lying about my failures? Oh, good.
A person I know (is that diplomatic enough?) wants to help me develop a one man show based on my blog. I'm thinking of calling it www.benmartini.com. Or maybe just calling it Ben Martini's Happy Hour with the web address underneath. They've volunteered to help me produce, so we'll see what happens. I trust their experience, as their a veteran of Second City and a comedy writer to boot. The problem is that this potentially could take a lot of time. I'm already behind on watching movies and television shows. Not to mention, I just recently started to hit my stride with Karaoke Revolution and this "show" could really set me back. I don't know. I'm weary. I'm confused. I'm lazy and scared of doing anything productive.
My thought is to work up to something like this by doing stand up, again. But where the hell in Chicago is there to do stand up? This is Improv City, man. Stand up is a lonely animal in this place. A one man show (which is really just glorified stand up in this case) is a little scary. It costs money to produce. Critics come, and then they tell everyone how much you suck. If it bombs, then I get to hear from Spacecase, "I guess we can't go on vacation this year because you blew your time and money SUCKING IN FRONT OF THE WHOLE CITY!" (Just kidding, she would never say that. My mother would say that.) Yeah, I don't know. This will take some serious consideration and drinking of martinis.
If, by the way, anyone happens to read this who knows of open venues in Chicago for testing material, I'd appreciate a tip off. I am so out of the know.
This is a favorite lunch spot of mine that just got a little better because of my recent incident at Perry's. It has to be one of the friendliest food stops in the city. It's run by a very eager to please Japanese couple who serve up kosher like a Yiddisher Mama. (Which is to say, they don't want anyone leaving the place until
they've put on at least a couple of pounds.) The menu consists mostly of sandwiches. The best being the extra lean corned beef (for those concerned with cholesterol) and their legendary egg salad (for those who openly mock cholesterol). Just don't forget to ask for a pickle and some potato salad on the side. It really brings out the flavors in the sandwiches.
The lone guy who makes them is great. He's making like three sandwiches at once, and the old man never breaks a sweat. What amazes me even more is how nice he manages to stay the whole time no matter how many people are lined up. He must be co-owner. But despite the line, people are in and out of there amazingly fast because of this man. What a mensch!
Soups are made fresh every day. The matzah ball is very good, practically a meal all its own. (I have yet to try their cheese cake, but I hear you could do worse, why not.) For those Chicagoans or visitors who are interested, it's on Wells between Washington and Madison. But wherever you go, do your body a favor and avoid that hegdesch over at Perry's Deli. They're a bunch of dirty mamzers.
PS.
Shalom also serves sushi.
