#1 - The first rule of Food Club is, you do not talk about Food Club.

#2 - The second rule of Food Club is, you DO NOT talk about Food Club.

#3 - If someone says stop, goes limp, taps out, the dinner is over.

#4 - Two chefs to a fight.

#5 - One meal at a time.

#6 - No hats, no sandals.

#7 - The cooking will go on as long as it has to.

#8 - If this is your first night at Food Club, you have to cook.

Some links for Jason and all the other rookies:

Familyoven - Cooking Community 2.o with member-profiles, recipe sharing, recipe favourites, "how to cook" videos

Slashfood - A cool cooking blog.

Cookthink comes up with a recipe based on the ingredients you have in your fridge.

Recipes for Men - Esquire

More Than Wurst: Eating Deutsch in Berlin - Gridskipper

The English language literary magazine Bordercrossing Berlin is celebrating the launch of its 3rd issue with an evening of entertainment:

Featuring: a Flash Fiction reading and prize-giving, the premiere of a Short-Poetry-Film, Comedy from Jacinta Nandi (Candi Girl), music from Novo Bauchwitz y Jorgos Estrella (from the band Pescadores de Ventanas) and MORE!

MC: Ben Knight (My English Class, Prison Sex) Event in English

Friday 7th December, doors open from 8.30 pm, Entry 5,-/10 EUR with a magazine, SALON ROSA, Sophienstrasse 18 (above the Sophiensaele Theatre), 10178 Berlin, U-Bahn Weinmeisterstrasse, S-Bahn Hackescher Markt, Tram, Bus

A message from Gaby

hi all the bar at my studio, the Wonderbar, in Wiener str 45 in Xberg 36 is open this Friday 16th Nov, for intimate drinks for friends only. from 9 pm onwards. come by for cheap beer, cocktails and a good 70s atmosphere..

hope to see you then, just ring the doorbell at the front door.

gaby

Thursday 15 November

Cracker: The Mad Woman in the Attic (1993) 9pm A criminal psychologist investigates the brutal murder of a woman who was a passenger on a train. He must delve into the mind of the only suspect, a man who claims to have amnesia and was found unconscious near the tracks.

Friday 16 November 9pm Dinner and Film around 11pm

After the Thin Man (1936) W.S. van Dyke Nick and Nora Charles return from vacation to their home in San Francisco on New Years Eve, where Nora's stuffy family expect the couple to join them for a formal dinner. Nick is despised by Nora's Aunt Katherine, as his immigrant heritage and experience as a "flat foot" are considered below Nora. The true reason for their invitation is that Nora's cousin Selma's ne'er do well husband Robert has been missing. Nick is coerced into a little quiet detective work for the family. from Wikipedia

second film TBA

Sunday 18 November 14:00

The Noel Coward Murder Mysteries (Radio Drama) Death at the Desert Inn: Three hundred thousand dollars are left in a satchel in Noel Coward's Las Vegas suite. Coward sets off on his unexpected posthumous career as a detective. The Desert Inn, scene of one of his greatest cabaret triumphs, is the setting for a murder mystery complete with Judy Garland, a showgirl, a Broadway agent, an unlikely croupier and a US Congressman, with half of Hollywood in the audience. Plus four More Noel Coward Mysteries, Wireless, Bridge, Brunch, and Games

Tuesday 21 November 8:30 pm

Once Upon a Time in America (1980) The uncut version of the film gained widespread critical acclaim and a large following. James Woods, who considers Once Upon a Time in America his finest work, and he mentions in the DVD commentary that one critic dubbed it the film the worst of 1984, only to see the original cut years later and call it the best of the 1980s. Ebert, in his review of Brian DePalma's The Untouchables, called the original uncut version of Once Upon a Time in America the best film depicting the Prohibition era. Sight and Sound magazine placed it among the ten best films of the last 25 years when it attempted to do a poll on recent films. from Wikipedia

9pm at Trödler Bar, Dresdner str 123 Xberg 36...

A few words from Gaby:

"Free event but have a few drinks at the bar to pay the performers. We will start the holly season with some laughs and presents. Jacinta Nandi and Ben Knight will grace the stage with their wit, foul mouth and xmas spirits.

As a live musical act we will have straight from Israel (it really fits in with the holly spirit) the experimental folk band, Mary and the Baby Cheeses..they are new in town but I am already a fan."

Also Gaby will auction off an poetry/art advents calendar...so if you want to win a calendar containing international poetry and comics and artworks,made by hand by Gaby....please come along and buy a winning ticket.

More at LADY GABY MySpace

Thursday 8 November "Malibu Song" (2006) A Documentary Film by Natalie Lettner & Werner Hanak

On the edge of the gigantic steel and asphalt kingdom known as Los Angeles, a hidden beach paradise is home to an artists community that lives in makeshift buildings dating back to hippie times. Sadly the State of California has just bought the land for the creation of a new park, forcing the inhabitants to surrender their homes and lifestyles. The film follows a few colorful characters through this transition... Norton Wisdom, a performance artist and lifeguard; Carole Winter, an incorrigible flower child; Herb Bermann, who wrote songs for Captain Beefheart; Larry Payne, a master of 24-hour architecture; Pablo Capra, a young poet; and Baretta, a surf bum who sings the "Malibu Song." Gaby has a event tonight also check out the webpage for details

Friday 9 November 9pm Dinner and Film around 11pm The Long Good Friday (1980) John Mackenzie

The film's protagonist is Harold Shand (Hoskins), an old fashioned 1960s-style London gangster who is aspiring to become a legitimate businessman, albeit with the financial support of the American Mafia. The storyline weaves together current events of the time, including low-level political and police corruption, IRA gun-running, the displacement of traditional British industry with property development and the emerging free market economy. Harold is the undisputed ruling kingpin of the London underworld, when his world is suddenly torn apart by a series of murders and exploding bombs from an unseen foe. Uncovering his enemy's identity forms much of the film's subsequent plotline. The story seems to hinge upon an act of betrayal by one of Harold's closest aides, the implications of which only become clear near the film's climax, when the solution to the mystery is suggested though not spelled out. from wikipedia Second Film TBA

Sunday 11 November 14:00 Bridge and Brunch The Wireless in the back.... Old Time Radio Fun Card Games, Board Games and Word Games Come by today at 14:00 for Bridge Afternoon, Learning, playing and making lots of mistakes if Alan is your partner. All is possible great fun for all.

Bookshop Recommends Lady Gaby's always wonderful monthly event FUEL 9pm at Trödler Bar, Dresdner str 123 Xberg 36... Free event but have a few drinks at the bar to pay the performers. we will start the holly season with some laughs and presents. Jacinta Nandi and Ben Knight will grace the stage with their wit, foul mouth and xmas spirits. as a live musical act we will have straight from Israel (it really fits in with the holly spirit) the experimental folk band, Mary and the Baby Cheeses..they are new in town but I am already a fan. also Gaby will auction off an poetry/art advents calendar...so if you want to win a calendar containing international poetry and comics and artworks,made by hand by Gaby....please come along and buy a winning ticket.

Tuesday 13 November 9 pm The Thin Man (1934) W.S. van Dyke

The story is set in Prohibition -era New York City. The main characters are a former private detective, Nick Charles, and his clever young wife, Nora. Nick has given up his career since marrying Nora, a wealthy socialite, and he now spends most of his time cheerfully getting drunk in hotel rooms and speakeasies. Nick and Nora have no children, but they do own a Schnauzer named Asta,changed to a wire haired fox terrier for the movies. The two decide to investigate a murder because Nora thinks it will be fun. The case brings them in contact with a rather grotesque family, the Wynants, and also with an assortment of policemen and lowlifers. As they attempt to solve the case, Nick and Nora share a great deal of banter and snappy dialogue, along with copious amounts of alcohol. The characters of Nick and Nora are often thought to reflect the personalities of Hammett and his long-time lover, Lillian Hellman. Contemporary readers are often struck by the main character's obvious alcoholism, and by Hammett's attempts to portray him as urbane and debonair nonetheless. Interestingly, Hammett's successful writing career roughly coincides with Prohibition. although he lived many more years, this novel, which appeared in 1933, was his last. from wikipedia

British Council Reading Group at Another Country bookshop (Facilitator Jeremy Dunn)

"The Brooklyn Follies" by Paul Auster (Review from "The Guardian Online")

I am not normally prone to bouts of self-pity', comments Nathan Glass, the narrator of Paul Auster's latest novel, The Brooklyn Follies. We have little reason to believe him. This is the same Nathan Glass who, at the novel's start, declares his desire to seek 'a silent end to my sad and ridiculous life'; the same Nathan Glass who is writing a book dedicated to his life's collection of 'verbal flubs, physical mishaps, failed ideas, social gaffes'.

Fifty-nine, retired and divorced, Nathan lacks self-belief. He also, it seems, lacks self-awareness, a trait not uncommon to Auster's existential heroes. Familiar, too, is the questionable narrator, and the metafictional play (the book Nathan is writing is partly, but not wholly, the book that we are reading).

Auster's postmodern metaphysics are built around a host of such recurrent themes (see also the power of coincidence and its relationship with meaning; the slipperiness of identity and character; lost children and searching parents) and reading him can sometimes seem like moving through a checklist. In this sense, The Brooklyn Follies ticks all of the boxes, and as predictable as it is in terms of trope and foible, so, too, is it recognisable for the excellence of its writing.

Auster's prose is sharp, simple, compelling. His characters and vignettes are well constructed and often entertaining. We warm immediately to Nathan. He is curmudgeonly, urbane and funny, but also insecure, generous and wide-eyed. He has moved from the suburbs to Brooklyn and claims he doesn't wish to last the year, but the charms of the metropolis soon re-energise him. Nathan chose Brooklyn for the anonymity. He grows to love its vitality and endless possibilities for chance connections. He hadn't really wanted to die; he had just been bored.

Witnessing this transformation is affecting. So, too, is Nathan's self-mocking infatuation with an attractive waitress; and his (accidental) reacquaintance with a nephew who becomes his closest friend. Tom, we are told, 'is the long-suffering hero of these Brooklyn Follies', (though we don't take this authorial direction at face value). Clever but disillusioned, he has dropped out of university to drive taxis and work in a bookshop. He and Nathan share long conversations about the nature of things, their enthusiasm imbued with desperation. 'You love life, Tom,' Nathan tells him, 'but you don't believe in it. And neither do I.'

Action begets belief. Tom's nine-year-old niece turns up, refusing to reveal the whereabouts of her mother, Aurora (Tom's sister); Tom and Nathan take her on a car trip and fatefully escape a crash; the bookshop owner dies, leaving it to Tom; Nathan rescues Aurora from a lunatic husband; Nathan, Tom and Aurora get girlfriends.

This synopsis is cursory: plenty more goes on, and again one gets the impression of a checklist. Transvestism? Tick. Extortion? Yup. References to the 2000 US election to bind the sense of alienation and lack of agency to the wider sociopolitical spectrum of contemporary America? Gotcha. Because Auster is such a gifted writer, The Brooklyn Follies is always a pleasure to read, but it does carry a sense of literary coasting. It is strong on setpieces and conversational digressions.

But as the story gathers pace, the thread between these fragments starts to fray. Auster's fiction has occasionally been criticised for its implausibility and the same complaint can be levelled against The Brooklyn Follies. His preoccupation with chance means that the reader must practise a lot of belief-suspension as the characters start to pinball from one odd encounter to the next.

More problematic are aspects of his message. There is nothing wrong with being anxious about humankind's ignorance and impotence, but Auster can be too eager to shoehorn in reminders about the randomness of fate and the effects this has on character.

'All men contain several men inside them and most of us bounce from one self to another without ever knowing who we are,' Nathan reminds us towards the end, in case we missed the point. But he remains preoccupied with pinning down these selves. The book ends with him in high spirits, contemplating a new business writing biographies of the recently deceased for their families.

As fate would have it, his good mood is not set to last. It is the morning of 11 September 2001 and two planes are flying towards the World Trade Centre.

Weissensee is the new Mitte and it's all Paul's fault!

Rock Art 03.11.07 until 10.11.07

Dedicated to bands in Berlin and the artists who chronicle them. "Rock Art" is a celebration of rock'n'roll through posters and flyers, photographs, music videos, album art and... rock'n'roll!

Just one of the highlights is a show by legendary german Krautrockers EMBRYO (www.embryo.de) on Wednesday, 7th of November, 10pm -> Fusion of jazz, rock and ethnic music since 1969! After the show, the band invites guest musicians for a jam session.

Plus the Methylated Spirits the day after!

There is so much more going on in Weissensee... Check the list of EXHIBITIONS & EVENTS at wallywoods.com or go to the Wallywoods MySpace

The title is "Tails of Pomposity and Prejudice and Death of Celebrity and the Truth about how Earth has been invaded by Aliens".

Starts around 9 at "Another Country". More info coming up!

On Wednesday the 5th of december we shall have the honour of hosting the concert of Marzipan Marzipan in the Bookshop!

Marzipan Marzipan is an Italian Lo-Fi Prinzessa: Casio-paeic and poignant! She will be accompanied by Big Daddy Muggelstone (did I say big? I meant huge!!) on drums.

Brother John & my humble self will offer our support.

Marzipan Marzipan and Sister Chain & Brother John

This is the new Ridley Scott!

November will be Crime Month!

Also> The Womens Murder Club / Desperate Housewives and Sex and City meet CSI. Knallhart!

The bookshop will never be the same!

Because you demanded it!

Thursday 1 November

Reading of a new Play THE HARVEST CHAMBER Welcome to GensInc, an online police state 100 years in the future. GI5949 and GI3317 have relatively calm lives with cyber-jobs, cyber-partners and cyber-hobbies. One day, they receive a task: They must meet in the flesh and develop an intimate relationship. The conflict? Neither of them have ever seen another person before.
No compassion. No desire. Only a book. How strong is fear propaganda?

Readers: Mala Ghedia and Cornell Adams Writer/Director: Ashley Brandt Produced by: 3 of Cups Productions Friday 2 November 9pm Dinner and Film around 11pm The Gangs All Here (1943) Busby Berkeley OK Folks this is film is about as close to drugs as you will ever get on the big screen, Back when war was good and everyone supported the troops away from home. Carmen Miranda (with her high hills filled with cocaine so not to get caught by the studio) sings and dances in the biggest hat ever in glorious Technicolor. Don't worry if you don't get the story there is none. "Don't be a square from Delaware" Hair (1979) Milos Forman Back when war was bad and everyone knew it. This is the dawning of the age of Aquarius. This time no one had to hide the cocaine on the set.

Sunday 4 November 14:00 Bridge and Brunch

The Wireless in the back.... Old Time Radio Fun Card Games, Board Games and Word Games come by today at 14:00 for our Bridge Afternoon, Learning, playing and making lots of mistakes if Alan is your partner. All is possible great fun for all.

Tuesday 6 November 9 pm

Baby Doll (1956) Elia Kazan Screenplay by Tennessee Williams. Condemned by the Catholic church Legion of Decency.

Here is a review from Zestygirl on IMDb The crumbling ruins of a deep south plantation, circa 1956. Karl Malden running through empty rooms, yelling "BayBee DOLLLLL!" The dementia-ridden elderly aunt forgetting to turn on the stove before cooking the greens. The old guys lounging around the yard, laughing and watching Malden's frenzied activities like it's must-see TV. Kooky gorgeous Baby Doll sucking her thumb, sleeping in her crib. And Eli Wallach: ah, what a specimen. He's intense, he's irresistible. He's relentlessly "handsy" like a high school boy on a date; he never, ever, for a moment, lets up. It's impossible to take your eyes off of him. This movie is perplexing and wonderful, it really is more of a place and an atmosphere than a story. Twisted, and in a good way. The characters are as wild and inexplicable as any you've seen in a David Lynch movie. Your jaw will drop, you'll laugh out loud, and the whole weird place just gets better each time you watch it.

Hey friends

how are you all? November is usually the depressing month..the sun dont shine, dark outside, winter is coming etc..you know the script.. but here are some events that might inspire you to come out of the house and party with me...

1. From the Mouth of dames Party, Nov 8th (thursday night) at NBI club, Schönhauser allee 36, P-berg I will host another ladies event with some special special female acts...please see flyer attached...for more details.

2. Fuel on Sunday 11th nov, 9pm start

we will start the holly season with some laughs and presents. Jacinta Nandi and Ben Knight will grace the stage with their with foul mouth and xmas spirits.

as a live musical act we will have straight from Israel (it really fits in with the holly spirit) the experimental folk band, Mary and the BabyCheeses..they are new in town but I am already a fan.

also i will auction off an poetry/art advents calendar...so if you want to wina calendar containing international poetry and comics and artworks,made by hand by me....please come along and by a winning ticket.

so Fuel is on at Trödler Bar, Dresdner str 123 Xberg 36...free event but drink at the bar so i can pay the performers.

so I hope to see you at one of or the other...appreciate your support!

lady gaby

visit me at: ladygaby.awardspace.com

THE HARVEST CHAMBER

Welcome to GensInc, an online police state 100 years in the future. GI5949 and GI3317 have relatively calm lives with cyber-jobs, cyber-partners and cyber-hobbies. One day, they receive a task: They must meet in the flesh and develop an intimate relationship. The conflict? Neither of them have ever seen another person before. No compassion. No desire. Only a book. How strong is fear propaganda?

Readers: Mala Ghedia and Cornell Adams Writer/Director: Ashley Brandt Produced by: 3 of Cups Productions

Official Dates:

29.01.2008 20:00 Uhr - F40 - ENGLISH THEATRE BERLIN 30.01.2008 20:00 Uhr - F40 - ENGLISH THEATRE BERLIN 31.01.2008 20:00 Uhr - F40 - ENGLISH THEATRE BERLIN 01.02.2008 20:00 Uhr - F40 - ENGLISH THEATRE BERLIN 02.02.2008 20:00 Uhr - F40 - ENGLISH THEATRE BERLIN

Poetry Hearings returns with poets from Ireland, the US, UK and Canada, based variously in London, Paris, New York, Prague, Berlin and the Netherlands. For three nights, Salon Rosa - located above the Sophiensaele in Berlin's central Mitte district - will host readings that run the gamut from high-energy performance poetry, through challenging experimental forms and back to the middle ground of verse, image and metaphor.

Fri 16th November 2007, 8 p.m.

Justin Quinn (Ireland/Prague)

poet TBC

Monika Rinck (Germany/Berlin) with Nick Grindell (UK/Berlin)

Sarah Riggs (US/Paris)

Sat 17th November 2007, 8 p.m.

Anthony Baggette (US/Berlin)

Thad Rutkowski (US/New York)

Andrea Brady (US/London)

Robert Sheppard (UK/Liverpool)

Sun 18th November 2007, 8 p.m.

Eleonore Schönmaier (Canada/Netherlands)

Heather Hartley (US/Paris) Patricia Farrell (UK/Liverpool)

Cyrus Cassells (US/Paris)

MCs: Alistair Noon, Moon, Lance Anderson

Venue: Salon Rosa Sophienstr. 18 Entrance H (above Sophiensaele) 10178 Berlin

More at Poetry Hearings MySpace

Halloween! But it|s really not that important... We might even turn the sound off and let Alan do his famous Tarot Card Performance in front of it...

Yes, it might be a little early, but we're having our annual Halloween-event this friday already. Drinks, food, movies, bad jokes and Alan's famous tarot card readings of course.

Come as your favorite fictional character!

Highly recommended! They like Nick Cave and Nick Cave likes them too!

Dates in Berlin: Oct. 25th at Bassy Oct. 26th at Trödler Oct. 27th at Cafe Kreuzberg

For more info check out their MySpace, listen to some of their tunes and read all about their their history!

Related Sites: -www.philshoenfelt.de

• www.fatal-shore.de
• Phil Schoenfelt & Southern Cross

Featuring authors from the second issue of Bordercrossing Berlin English Language Literary Magazine, this time presenting: Joshua Mensch (Prague), Marc Saleme (Prague) and Jane Yager (Berlin).

followed by open mic! (all welcome to read / perform their own work)

Sunday 21st October, Doors 8 pm, Lettrétage, Methfesselstrasse 23-25, 10965 Berlin (U6 Platz der Luftbrücke), www.lettretage.de

Bordercrossing Berlin

Übersetzer packen aus / Translators Reveal All Oktober 24, 2007 at LiteraturWerkstatt, Berlin

no man's land translation lab every 1st Tuesday in the month 8 pm in Max & Moritz (Bibliothek, upper floor) Oranienstraße 162, Kreuzberg

No Man's Land