Most Tuesday nights you can guess where I’m going to be.  For almost two years now, the Bar Four open mic has been the spot, and I don’t see that changing any time soon.

But there’s a new kid on the block, and its name ain’t Jordan or Joey.  The Roots Café, one of the cooler new spots in ever-changing Park Slope, has a Monday open mic, and it is worth checking out.  

Brandon Whightsel

Fellow Local Correspondent Brandon Whightsel is the emcee for the night and he typically kicks things off with two of his well-crafted songs.  Brandon is laid back (like the venue) and he does a good job of making everyone feel real comfy (also like the venue).

The place was opened by a cool fellow from Alabama, named Jamey.  He makes great coffee and yummy grits and more than anything he’s done well to make the place welcome and unpretentious and the Monday open mic is no different. 

Check it out.

Spring is upon us.  The weather would not suggest such a thing, but Kathy Lee Gifford tells me so.  With the changing season, comes the changing beverage. 

A few days ago, I attempted my first Bloody Mary Mix.  It’s pretty good.   Here’s the recipe: 

3.5 Qts :: Tomato Juice 
4 Tbsp :: Lemon Juice 
3 Tbsp :: Worcestershire Sauce 
3 Tbsp :: Horseradish 
3 Tsp :: Tabasco Sauce 
3 Tsp :: Salt 
3 Tsp :: Pepper 
Juice from 1 squeezed Lime

I would rate this recipe as moderately spicy, which is probably good if you’re serving it for guests.  That being said, keep some horseradish, Tabasco, and black pepper at the ready for lovers of el picante, like me.

As for the mix to alcohol ratio, most will tell you, 2 parts mix to 1 part vodka. 

While sipping this fine drink, I suggest listening to the song Bloody Mary, by The Bloodsugars, currently my favorite live NYC band, who will be taking SXSW by storm this week.  This song plays as #2 on their nifty website.

There is a fellow who has gathered quite a bit of notoriety this year in the Local Correspondents scene… he covers classics, inspires sing-a-longs, pays tributes to his favorite musicians both on stage and off, and without fail, places home-made stickers on anyone in sight.  Of course, I’m talking about The Sticker Dude.

Well in his typically supportive fashion, The Sticker Dude offered to videotape my last performance at Union HAll, which was AMAZING FUN.  The resulting recording was far less typical, as The Sticker Dude captured the mixture of creepy red lighting, ultra-distorted reverb, and frightening screams of seemingly delighted listeners, all combining to make this the single most psychedelic Matt Singer music experience ever.

Watch below, as the Dinosaur Feathers join me and the band to do our best rendition of a calypso classic, entitled “Touch Me Tomato,” originally performed by Phyllis Dillon…

Learn about The Sticker Dude’s work at Ragged Edge Press and check out his brand new Myspace page.  Whether you friend him or not, he will place a sticker on you.  I guarantee it.

My friend Kerri Doherty is gifted.

She and I made a play date a few weeks ago, biking from our respective Brooklyn apartments to meet in Dumbo, where I watched her experiment with her roommate’s big fancy camera.  A five minute walk from the York Street stop on the F train, we found ourselves in another place and time. Kerri captured this.  Having little experience, she speaks pretty humbly about her photography skills.  I would like to show them off…

Check out the rest of the photos that she took from this beautiful day, HERE!

Kerri is also a great writer.  Kerri’s blog Squid Eating Squid is pretty cool.

My friend is gifted.