Monday: Weekend roundup: DANCEiSM, Big Lovin' Panda

I somehow managed to watch the sun rise three mornings in a row this weekend. I didn't realize how much I missed a good night out on the town until I got my fill of it these past three days. I felt more alive than I have in a while, and closer to the person I am really. As a result, however, my schedule is slightly derailed. Not that it operates with any consistency these days. I have managed to constantly occupy my time despite my unemployment. Now that's a feat.

Friday night I attended DANCEiSM and took some photos, but mostly I hung out with Youngandsleek and his crew, and even manned the photobooth for a bit - excellent practice for when I begin operating the booth for Polite in Public.







Ended up hanging out in the car for a while after the evening concluded, cascading over a series of non-related topics that I cannot really recall. Departed feeling excellent, got home to be greeted by the sun.

Saturday was another late night at an after hours show featuring Big Lovin' Panda and Jeffertitti's Nile.

I'd never seen Jeffertitti's Nile before, but they were excellent, consciously recalling an older rock-folk sound, complete with appropriate dress. Superficially, they might have verged on quaint, but pulled back from the edge with an authenticity and talent that held the whole room to attention.



Big Lovin' Panda's first set struggled through some technical difficulties, but by the second time they took the stage, they definitely fell into their groove. By that point they had been playing for nearly two hours, which was an impressive display of stamina and material.





Once again, came home to the sun rising. Creeping through the back entrance to my apartment, I looked up and noticed that I could see an unusual wealth of stars glimmering in the sky. I realize it had been a long time since I had seen stars. And maybe - just maybe - I made a wish. One needs to remember to simply look up every now and then.

Sunday night we hit up Full Frontal Disco in Chinatown to celebrate a friend's birthday. Take one part good music, another part celebrity sighting, and a third part fashion faux pas, shake, pour, and add a garnish of staying up until six a.m. watching Showgirls for the first time, and you've got Labor Day Weekend 2009 and a perfect cocktail to send summer on its way with.

My life is a little chaotic these days and I am mildly stressed over a much-needed dental check up that I cannot afford, but it's important to remember that



Just take it one step at a time.