what happened? anybody?

Well it’s been almost a year since the date above this post (yeah, you can do that) and I can’t really remember how it ended. Martha’s was fun, I remember that. I think Keith got killed or killed somebody or something with a candlestick in the library. And after that... I don’t know. Someone musta slipped me a Mickey. How did mikeFEST!™ end last year? Anybody?

Maybe reposting last year’s timeless podcast will jar your memories. Johnny hasn’t done a new one just yet and this one’s still good. If you remember anything from last year, please comment on this post.

PS. To ensure that this doesn’t happen again, all event organizers are required to submit an official summary of their event along with all relevant publishable collateral (photos, bandages, outrageous bills, etc.) by 17h the day following their respective event.

third base

Poker in the Park was a lot of fun for the whole family with a friendly game of hold ‘em. The musical backdrop was Czech metal, as opposed to the expected reggae – not much of an improvement. We played (poker, not metal) well into the evening and I only lost CZK 100 – which went to a great cause: Johnny’s pocket. Here’s the master at work:

Tonight: Murder Mystery (and huge party) @Marf’s 8SHARP! I’m looking forward to my role as a Mexican farmhand with a non- alcoholic screwdriver. Details below.

Tomorrow! Saturday @15h - park Parukářka live music and djs. After party at Cross or Buz.

Sunday: I’m thinking the Zoo Boat at 12:30 with a picnic on the boat or at Troja. Followed by a trip to the zoo and/or botanical gardens and then Stromovka. Whaddya think?

poker! poker! poker!

Mecca was jam-packed last night with people from another planet or at least another generation. I felt like a chaperone at a poorly-organized, poorly-dressed high school prom. The 'best of 80's and 90's hits' downstairs was actually a selection of the worst (read: most embarrassing) music of my misspent youth - misspent only in terms of having had to listen to that crap the first time around. But what do you expect for free? The pre-party at John & Manders was the highlight of the evening.

We wound up at Zero sometime after 3, which was actually a much better time in both senses. Better music, better people, well, at least a lot less of them. All in all, it was still a very enjoyable night/morning out and the motley crue I went out with was fantastic!

DNES! Poker-in-the-Park. Registration begins in less than an hour - already over-promoted throughout the blog. Unfortunately, there is a marijuana legalization non-benefit free concert as well today in the beer garden - unfortunate due to expected longer beer lines and an exclusively reggae backdrop to poker. But we shall overcome.

ZITRA! Murder Mystery @Martha's at 20h sharp! Make sure you RSVP - details below.

As always,
Happy mikeFEST!™
-mike

mecca tonight!

Thanks to everyone who came to karaoke last night! It was a blast! SRO! And I don't mean limited liability company. Special mikeFEST!™ hat tips to Steve of http://karaokeaddicts.com/ for setting up and running the show, Jiffy for MCing and Lana for taking pictures like this one:

Don't forget: TONIGHT: Wednesday, May 7 @mecca before midnight for DJs KUBA SOULCHECK and DJ LAFAYETTE; Second stage: DJ BLOCH - the best of 80’s a 90’s hits. Pre-party @john&manders 21:30.

And tomorrow, Thursday, we play poker in the park @14h to commemorate the end of WWII.

But this (not) just in (actually yesterday) from one of Friday night's organizers:

Everyone EXPECTS someone to get murdered during mikeFEST!™ and yet somehow, despite myriad grudges, plentiful booze, and readily available sharp objects, no one ever does!

Until this year, that is... On Friday evening, sometime before 8 p.m., the first-ever mikeFEST!™ murder will take place at Martha's house. We will round up the suspects, but we need you all (and especially YOU) to help us solve the crime.

So throw on your deerstalker hat, grab your magnifying glass and something to drink, and join us:

WHEN: Friday, May 9, 2008, 8:00 PM

WHERE: Na Dolinach 9 (NAME ON BUZZER: SULLIVAN) Podoli, Prague 4

PLEASE RSVP Martha by THURSDAY evening: (+420) 603 324 498. We need to know you're coming and that you will be there by 8! [Note to suspects: you know who you are.]

the long-awaited updated schedule

Thanks to everyone who came to the Roxy last night last-minute. Please let me know if it was as great a time as promised, as I didn’t make it. I was busy knocking out some kinks in the upcoming program... which is, as follows:

day
6 tuesday (today! heute! dnes!): karaoke @updull ibn carculcah (known by most as Troll) from 18:30 until 22h sharps! Vojtěšská 209/2, Nové Město, Praha 1 – off Myslíkova next to Pilsner sign.

7 wednesday: @mecca quarter to midnight (or thereabouts) for DJ KUBA SOULCHECK and resident DJ LAFAYETTE; Second stage: DJ BLOCH - the best of 80’s a 90’s hits. Pre-party @john&manders 21:30.

8 thursday: poker in the park @the one and only proper park – the Riegrovy Sady beer garden: tournament-style texas hold’em, hosted by texas chris begins at 14:30 with pre-registration @14h sharp! CZK 200 buy-in for fabulous prizes! Fish gulled, lulled, dulled and bribed with free beer offer! I was just told to post this from one of the organizers (corrected for spelling and copyright infringement):

• 1st annual mikeFEST!™ Texas Hold'em Tournament!
• CZK 200 buy-in, deep-stack freezeout (1000 chips)
• Blinds increase every 20min
• 1st, 2nd and 3rd place prizes
• Prizes can/will consist of a gift and/or money.
• Pre-registration via email: cguilds[AT]gmail.com is encouraged so we know how much to spend on the prizes.
• Venue: Riegrovy Sady Beer Garden
• Welcome pivo or drink upon check-in/registration at the venue
• Registration at 2pm, tournament starts at 2:30

9 friday: magical murder mystery tour with mary & martha: some sort of surprise thing that I overheard them talking about at the barbecue. First rule of mikeFEST!™: 'no surprises [period]'. Hope to have more through the swinging kitchen door three's company-style second-hand hearsay info soon.

I’ll fill in the missing (past couple) days in a bit, in that admittedly sneaky backdating way that I have, before I forget them completely. I do feel the need, however, to thank Senator Obama for his endorsement on Saturday and, I have to say, the feeling's mutual:

Hope to see you all tonight at karaoke. I can’t think of a better place than the dwarvish, dervish dungeons of troll bar to spend a rainy evening singing.

As always, Happy mikeFEST!™
-mike

free monday

Vrat's Czech movie night was cancelled due to logistical issues and potentially inclement weather. So, instead, we're off to Free Mondays (ye olde schoole) at the Roxy http://klub.roxy.cz/ for a band neither of us have ever heard of: http://www.thefaketapes.com/ and djs that we have also never heard of. Hope to see you there, it's practically guaranteed to be a fantastic time!

tangled up in rain

Blue Collar Friday in my courtyard was a fantastic time despite the track suit, monsoon and deviant dogs. We wound up downstairs at Erra afterward for more lively conversation, carrot soups and crèpes.

Usually I'm in Madrid this time of year for mikeFEST!™ and the Fiestas del Dos de Mayo in the Plaza del Dos de Mayo that coincide with the second of May, of all dates, but due to my current physical and legal condition am not allowed to leave the country. Here's what happened last year when I didn't go: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CJs9656yZJk

Here's what happened on May 3, 1808 when I didn't go:

The party at O2 was also great, but I should leave that for the next post. Here's a picture of the victor on Chicken Day:

photo courtesy of Pavel Butorin

PF MF 08

Happy mikeFEST!™ 2008, everybody! Sorry I've been late in posting the schedule, but we've had some last-minute changes. Here’s the line up for this weekend. Please feel free and encouraged to comment and make suggestions as to how to make this year’s mikeFEST!™ the best mikeFEST!™ ever:

day:
1 thursday: chicken day from 14h on Petřin Hill - I arrived around 18h after chemo - congrats to Jiffy who won the chicken prize! A great turnout and a great time!

2 friday: blue collar friday drinks in my courtyard from 17h @Tingl Tangl: Karolíny světlé 12, Prague 1

3 saturday: on the roof @O2 (the public toilets) bar http://www2.o2bar.cz/ for poker, drinks, and general disarray from 15h & downstairs from 21h for KLSTRFK djs, johnny cheapshot and assbot4000

4 sunday: bbq @Keith&Michael's, Korunní 42, next to Dobrá Trafika from 15h. Please bring beer, booze, and/or non-alcoholic beverages. Food also welcome!

"Ask not what mikeFEST!™ can do for you, but what you can do for mikeFEST!™ " -mike