mikeREST!

Was anything but. Pavla and Ondra put on a huge barbecue at O2 that lasted well into the night and wrapped up mikeFEST! 2007 pretty much where it began. I had a great mikeFEST! this year and would like to thank all of the organizers and participants for making it such a success. See you next year!

day twelve - my big day

I'll admit that I'm writing this almost a year after the actual event, but I remember it as if it were yesterday...

We had the usual rockin' barbecue at Jirka's, replete with a sound system that would put Roxy to shame (thanks Milan!). DJ Kuba came down from the mountain to 'spin' some CDs and Patrick, Johnny and I also got our shot at the decks. All the more challenging, as we had no headphones:

Vrat and Ann put on a spectacular performance as blacklight theater robots doing Romeo and Juliette. You really had to be there. I have no picures and the video is far too large to put on my server. So, you really had to be there.

The party lasted well into the wee of the following day, then it was off to mikeREST at O2.

day eleven

I was truly amazed that people could have such a fantastic time while wearing silly costumes, dancing barefoot to Bob Marley, seriously injuring themselves and drinking .4 staropramen for an exhorbitant sum at a chain bar in Smichov of all places, but it happened and I have the pictures to prove it:

Yup. That's Ann just off the plane in a wedding dress with her fiancé, James, in the back (as usual Vrat needs to take center stage) with the rest of us wearing the MikeFEST! T-Shirts she had made up in Colorado (still a couple left - only CZK 1000 + DPH a piece - get yours now while supplies last!).

To have come all the way from Denver via a full day in Munich in a wedding dress with several bags of T-Shirts shows some real MikeFEST dedication. I forgot to ask if wearing a wedding dress through customs / security seemed at all suspicious...

Thanks again to Martha for arranging the party and, of course, for actually showing up at the event before midnight or thereabouts. It was worth the wait, as she looked fantastic as a flapper. So all's well that ends well:

Vrat eventually stopped crying.

Jirka and Marielle are still nursing their dancing injuries, but are making very good progress.

The Punjabi tinda, Afghani dal, cheddar and spicy sea snails that I wipped up at 4AM also don't seem to have caused any permanent damage to anyone.

TONIGHT!!! (already happened, so here's the review):

DJs Sistematick and and last-minute LuMAN rocked the house with their vinyl stylings in what was a mix of Slovak service, Irish shennanigans, and the usual non-sensical Arab/Elvish-themed nonsense. Thanks as always to the boys at Troll for having as good a time as we did.

Thanks as well to Marika and her beau (was that her beau?) for being such good sports about mistakenly ('cause we told her to) wearing costumes the day after the costume party.

But here's a picture of Dom, Ann, Vrat and Bo instead:

disclaimer

>>disclaimer<< the following (or what will look like preceding) posts were actually (well, will be shortly) written well after MikeFEST! as my connection (to both the internet and reality) was sporadic and I was also asleep - MikeREST having begun later and lasting much longer than I had expected. Thank you for your understanding and enjoy!

day ten

Last night at Styx was great music, great people and great fun! Thanks again to all who made it happen and to all who attended - who were, in large part, the same people.

Thanks again to the cab driver who gave me a copy of Brian Ferry's recently released Dylan covers when he discovered that I knew all of the words to all of the songs after we both sang along on the long trip home. Not only was this the first gift I ever received from a cab driver, but he was also the first to admit that maybe Blowing in the Wind was not originally a Czech folk song.

For those of you who missed two of my favorite Prague (actually from Kolin and Kladno) djs spin last night, we're adding another show at the old Troll tomorrow from 8pm.

Happy belated MikeFEST birthday wishes this week to:

Willy Watson
Timothy Hanford and
Paul Hewson

whose mothers had the foresight to give birth during MikeFEST.

TONIGHT: PopoCaféPetl Music Bar - Újezd 19 from 20:30
djs, costume and dance party! www.xeno.cz/popo.jpg

Costumes encouraged, even half-assed attempts appreciated, piercings don't really count unless they're new and visible, but you're old enough to dress yourself, so wear whatever you want. And aside from the costume contest, you will, of course, be judged, albeit unfortunately and unofficially and, for the most part, silently - with a nasty look or a raised eyebrow, as has been the case for centuries, by what you wear, but I guess you're old enough to know that too.

Thanks again to Ondra and Martha for putting this all together, and to Ann and her fiancé for flying for two days straight to attend.

Tonight's super top secret VIP-only free entry MikeFEST password is indeed:
cupcake

Tomorrow: Insha'allah! Updull Ibn Carculcah (formerly and more easily known as 'troll') - aforementioned funk, acid jazz, electro & latino djs, Pavel and Tomáš, will spin actual records from 20h. Vojtěšská 2 - one block from Mánes off Myslíkova. Pilsner sign. This will be the last official MikeFEST party (GOD WILLING!) in Prague, so don't miss it.

And if you plan to attend the closing ceremony and party at Jirka's in Černošice / Mokropsy on Saturday, please RSVP as soon as possible, so we can better plan for the barbecue and I can give you directions.

Thanks and Happy MikeFEST!

day nine

Bittersweet byebyes at the Blind Eye for Shay last night. Great times and a great crowd. We'll miss him very much.

TONIGHT @20h: "Turn on, Tune In, Drop Out"
Sistematick, L&C + guest (acid jazz, funky, electro, breakbeat)
at CLUB STYX - Sokolovská 144 - a short walk from Invalidovna Metro

Just enter the bar and go downstairs to the club - it's that easy. This promises to be a fantastic party with great djs in a really cool club in up-and-coming Libeň.

Tonight's super top secret VIP-only free entry MikeFEST password is:
nazdar

Tomorrow: PopoCaféPetl Music Bar - Újezd 19 from 20:30 djs and costume party (costumes preferred, but certainly not required) - the Return of the Queen. www.xeno.cz/popo.jpg

Happy MikeFEST!

day eight

From the brand newbie singers to the old soaks and crooners, I was really impressed with the talent at last night's karaoke. Thanks again to Jiffy and Steve for such a memorable evening, albeit through the hazy filter of smoke and booze.

Some corrections to the last post: Apparently (and thankfully), the bar is not called 'Kafka's Castle' after all, but (not much better) 'Nirvana'. My apologies to those who were arrested while trying to break into the cheesily-named aforementioned office next door. And the 'Pynchon' title I was thinking of is actually a Phillip K. Dick novel - my mistake.

TONIGHT: GREAT SHAY GO AWAY at THE BLIND EYE from 21h
Be there or square. Vlkova 26 on the corner of Krásova and Vlkova in the Žižkov midlands.

Tonight's super top secret VIP-only free entry MikeFEST password is:
what a dump!

TOMORROW: CLUB STYX - Sokolovská 144, Prague 8 (Invalidovna Metro) @20h - DJs Sistematick and friends - acid jazz, funky, breakbeat, latino

See you at MikeFEST!

a week of MikeFEST under the belt, as it were

Damien: something decidedly respectable, but:
Marf: 165
Shay: 172
Mike: 180

need I say more about the bowling?

Thanks again to the cranky bartendress at Punto Azúl for kicking us out at a respectable hour. Our eternal gratitude was reflected in the tip. And hey, Oh Canada! Go Canada! ...just kidding.

From the mail room:
Subject: MikeFEST
Date: Wed, 2 May 2007 13:04:01 -0400
Hi - I tried to post a Blog, but since I don't have an account, it didn't work. Here's my blog:

Sorry I won't be able to attend MikeFEST as I will be busy getting ready to fly North. I am thinking of protesting, rioting, contacting President Bush, etc., as I am the one mainly responsible for the original MikeFEST. However, I will celebrate the event quietly, unlike the first one. Say "hi" to all the "festers." Mom.

From: Matthew Gordon
Sent: 02 May 2007 19:33
To: Casey Gordon
Subject: RE: MikeFest is upon us!!!

that guy is special and then there's a mikerest. i like that too

This e-mail and the information it contains may be privileged and/or confidential. It is for the intended addressee(s) only. The unauthorised use, disclosure or copying of this e-mail or any information it contains is prohibited and could, in certain circumstances be a criminal offence. If you are not the intended recipient please notify us and delete this message from your system. Please note that we not enter into any form of contract by means of internet e-mail

And lastly:
http://www.xeno.cz/MKFT07.mp3

Sorry, Ann, we will not be going to Bandito's that evening, but to:
http://www.xeno.cz/popo.jpg
It's a costume party, so bring a costume.

TONIGHT: KARAOKE at "KAFKA'S CASTLE" Spálena 47 @20h

Almost too embarrassed by the name of the bar to post it. Obviously, so are they - they don't really have much of a sign. But it's by the Národní Třída tram stop across from Tesco - go inside and go downstairs - it's that easy.

And remember, tomorrow is an official state holiday for MikeFEST!

Tonight's super top secret VIP-only free entry MikeFEST password is:
čau vole

TOMORROW: THE GREAT SHAY GO AWAY at the BLIND EYE @21h

On the corner of Vlková and Krásová. If you don't know Shay, I feel sorry for you, but this could very well be your last chance to meet him.

Happy MikeFEST!

the sixth of mike

Buz was a blast last night! In addition to the usual Latin American dignitaries, it looked like a star wars bar-style celebration of diversity at what had promised to be a rather homogeneous event. Renown and prolific novelist and art critic, Travis Jeppesen, in town from Berlin, made an appearance after wrapping up yet another great BLATTFEST at the Blind Eye. He caught up with me at MikeFEST and had this to say:

mg: Where's Little Pavel?
tj: I dunno.
mg: It's just not a MikeFEST without Little Pavel.
tj: Nope.

Little Pavel did, in fact, arrive shortly after to match wits and trade bits with Jiffy in what's become their well-known shtick:

lp: Jiffy. Ha. Jiffy. Ha Ha. Jiffy. Ha Ha Ha.
jl: You know what Little Pavel?
lp: What? Jiffy. Ha Ha Ha. Jiffy. Ha.

Happy birthday again to that guy whose name was something like that Pynchon novel or that Exxon oil tanker with the drunk captain that crashed in Alaska or a combination of the two or something.

Today: Bowling at Equinoxe in the Nový Smichov penthouse at 19h.

Today's super top secret VIP-only free entry MikeFEST password is:
je tady ten bowling?

See you at MikeFEST!

cinco de mayo

Last night in the aptly named 'Vertigo', swirls and swarms of mikefesters danced and drank in a dizzying display of dyspeptic debauchery. To wit: Mr. and Mrs. Party Dave Schwank were there with a bevy of blond bombshells from Finland, post partem playboy bunnies pleased as punch to be in Prague.

Figurative capfeathers, as always, to John and Amanda for organizing another great MikeFEST event!

Schedule update: tomorrow's 'poker in the park' will have to be rescheduled due to inclement weather and the fact that most of the easy money is currently in Budapest.

Tonight's super top secret VIP free entry MikeFEST password is:
ahoj

Happy MikeFEST!

day four

Thanks again to all those who attended yesterday's a-list, superstar, VIP-only event at the very exclusive Image Bar right here in Old Town. As the carriages arrived and paparazzi flash lit up the street, I couldn't help thinking, as I greeted the early arrivals on the red carpet with champagne and lobster tails, that this was going to be the best MikeFEST ever!

Thanks also to Vojta (the party's organizer), who in a brilliant move, diverted much of the media and riff-raff gatecrasher elements (except for an ill-mannered East German delegation) to a decoy party in Letná. Unfortunately, this meant that he could not actually attend last night's super crazy mega party.

And of course to dj Luka, who, in an almost miraculous coincidence, managed to find an early 90's radio station with limited commercial interruptions and so could himself relax with a job well done and a lobster tail. And happy birthday again to Jen, who we hooked up with before and after the party to make her special day all the more special.

TONIGHT @10PM: Club Vertigo, Havelská 4 - near Můstek
djs Martin Frank, Wega & Kim Pixa aka WeKi + guests

Tonight's super top secret VIP free entry MikeFEST password is:
dobrý večer

See you tonight. Happy MikeFEST!

day three

Thanks to the motley crue who made it to O2 yesterday - I'll treasure that autographed cowboy hat from Nikki Sixx forever (or until someone makes me an offer, whichever comes first). I'd also like to thank dj K-GONE, Robin the bartender, and Johan the runner for the music, drinks and pineapple respectively. Here's a collage:

Tonight: djs Luka and Vojta take us back to the early 90's with a set so cheesey the mice in the basement have already drowned salivating in anticipation. In the elegant, almost poetic, words of Carol Decker, lead singer of T'Pau, "There's no 80's music like early 90's music."

With those inspirational thoughts, I hope to see you tonight from 8PM at Image Bar, Pařížská 4 - between Cartier and Christian D'ior off Old Town Square. But don't let the address daunt you: apparently the drinks menu is from 1996 and, while heavy with gin rickies and harvey wallbangers, also has Gambrinus for under 25 crowns.

Happy MikeFEST!

thousands riot as mike chooses chicken over paella

Happy MikeFEST 2007 everybody! Sorry it's taken me so long to publish the schedule, but planning a 12-day festival keeps one busy.

This is my first Prague MikeFEST kick-off ever as I break with an 18-year tradition of going to Madrid to officially launch every MikeFEST. Unfortunately, many in Spain have responded to my absence by rioting:

http://www.elpais.com/articulo/espana/Malasana/barrio/sitiado/elpepuesp/20070502elpepunac_2/Tes

I'll post a translation when I have time, but the video gives a good indication of what can happen when 'the man' tries to mess with MikeFEST in Madrid!

So instead of having to take a rubber bullet in the head this year, I got to go to Chicken Day for the first time in its 10-year history. Great times and really great chicken were had by all. Thanks again to Todd for having carried the torch all these years and keeping Prague safe from activist police forces.

Witch burning outside of Beroun on MikeFEST Eve was spectacular and a great kick-off to the season. Although I spent several hours on public transportation alone or with the homeless trying to get home, it was well worth it.

I hope to see you all today at O2 - the former public toilets on Karlovo Náměstí - from 6PM for drinks, djs and maybe a pizza.

Keep an eye on the blog as changes to the schedule will most likely be announced here. For example:

To: mike@xeno.cz
Sent: Wednesday, May 02, 2007 4:30 PM
Subject: change of DJs for Friday
Hi Mike, There is a change in DJs for the Friday event. Vectif won't be playing. Instead it will be: Martin Frank, Wega & Kim Pixa aka WeKi + guests. Amanda _________________________________________________________________The information transmitted is intended only for the person or entity to which it is addressed and may contain confidential and/or privileged material. Any review, retransmission, dissemination or other use of, or taking of any action in reliance upon, this information by persons or entities other than the intended recipient is prohibited. If you received this in error, please contact the sender and delete the material from any computer.

Happy MikeFEST!

Happy MikeFEST!

PF MikeFEST 2007!