I was excited about seeing the encaustic painting demo, an ancient artform that incorporates melted wax into the works. Although I've never seen a painting done by that method, I could imagine how luminous they might seem. So on Saturday, March 1, I drove out to The Art Stop in Webster.

Someone arrived just prior to me and inquired about the demo. The shopkeeper told her the event was actually next Saturday, and the wrong date was a misprint. Where had she seen it advertised? In the Penny Saver. Hmm. I was next and told her it was in City Newspaper. Again, she said it was a misprint. The couple behind me had seen it in the D&C. Again, a misprint. I then explained to her that I worked with City Newspaper, and I really didn't think I'd misprinted it. That the info I'd received came directly from the shop. That I'd even corresponded with someone to get a photo to accompany it as a City's Choice. She replied that she didn't know anything about that, and that it hadn't been her.

Now, this is where perception comes in. From my perception as the calendar gal, I perceived her as implying the newspapers made the misprints. But, she could have meant someone from the store sent out a misprint. Actually, she said neither. She simply stated it as a misprint, not assigning responsibility to anyone. And all I know is that on the press release sent to City from artstop@frontiernet.net it clearly states "Saturday March 1^st."

Anyway, she was then very helpful and showed us some examples, and some of the products a person would use to do encaustic paining.

I then went on a thrift store shopping spree. And found a work of art! A beautiful purple hand-dyed silk scarf with sea through windows for $5.

Next up: Fusion 2008

One of the things I enjoy about going out of town to see something is the opportunity to eat at different restaurants. The Brockport Diner was conveniently on the way to the Tower Fine Arts Center at SUNY Brockport, so we decided to stop there for dinner. While waiting in line to be seated, I scanned the specials board and saw macaroni and cheese. I'm not a huge mac ‘n cheese fan, but I just had a feeling that here it was going to be really good. And the fact that it was a special and already made sealed the deal. It came with a salad and bread and served in a huge bowl. Thick real cheese smothered elbow noodles that were so soft you didn't need teeth to eat it. It was what Brits call nursery food. Extremely yummy stick-to-the-ribs comfort food. And the leftovers were my lunches for the next two days. My friend's beef stroganoff, also a special, was just as good on all counts.

Disclaimer: I had a special reason to go see SUNY Brockport's "Dancing at Lughnasa." My son, Spencer Christiano, plays the part of Michael, the narrator of the play. In the play by Brian Friel, Michael recalls a summer spent with his mother and her four sisters leading up to the Gaelic holiday of Lughnasa.

It seems that many theatetgoers expect a lot of flash. They want the story to move at a sprint, for sets and scenes to change quickly, and for lights to be a production. "Dancing" is not like that. It's more like a leisurely stroll down a memory lane that quiets you inside and leaves you feeling completely fulfilled.

The set, designed by John Haldoupis, was stunningly simple. The muted colorings were warm and comfy, and there wasn't anything on stage that didn't need to be there, yet nothing was lacking. It drew me in and I felt like I was sitting in as part of the family.

Having seen many a play as a stage mom, one of the things I noticed about this production was that my attention was directed only to where it was supposed to be. There was no superfluous busyness happening on another part of the stage that pulls you away from the action. That's a very good thing, since the script is intelligently written and I didn't want to miss any of the subtleties.

Nikki Trombley as Rose, the "touched" one, was delightful. When I saw Amanda Charlebois (Kate ) after the show, I didn't even recognize her as she seemed impossibly young to have played someone so old. Kenan Bloom (Gerry) reminded me of Alistair in the Britcom "As Time Goes By." Vroom, vroom vroom! And Andrea Macy played a perfect Maggie, tying the family together. Of course, my son was flawless. Really.

Footnote: I don't know who the costume designer was - I gave my program to Johnny of the titular Irish Pub - but I want all the woman's shoes. At the very least, Kate and Agnes'.

Ya know how those ads say if you can find the same model elsewhere for a lower price, they'll beat it? And, of course, you can't. That's because certain models are sold to certain places, so the chances of finding the exact same model in the exact same town are nil. Well, it's the same with designer sneakers. And that's partly why a huge designer sneaker demand began. That, and all the special and/or celebrity designs. Raymond Davis, of All In One 520 of Buffalo, told me a pair of Nike's honoring the Houston NBA all-star game hit the shelves at $89 and immediately jumped to prices up to $300. Eek. In general, like cars, they lose value as they leave the showroom floor. But there's still a big market for used models.

There were lots of sneakers at Fusion 2008: Where Cultures Collide at Venu on Thursday night. Most vendors were from Rochester and Buffalo, but Jason Chang, one of the promoters, is looking to reel in all of Western New York in what he hopes to be quarterly events. There were also silk-screened t-shirts, and other designer fashions - Sweet & Dirty had some really sweet newly printed vintage ties - along with Anwar Morse, a freelance illustrator, drawing along with the ambiance.

Unfortunately, I got there hours before the live music started. Maybe next time.

Next up: Paula Poundstone

Arriving at The German House early on Friday night, in hopes of getting a meal before the Paula Poundstone show, I was surprised to see The Keg's dining area packed. Apparently, this is status quo before the larger shows. Informed of a 45-minute wait, we scooted across the street to Beale Street. There was a long wait there also, but the kind hostess directed us to a bar-side table that was just about to free up. We slipped in and were out in record time.

Back at The German House, it was filled to capacity. Some extra chairs were brought out, but even so, many people were left standing. No one seemed to mind. Paula stepped on stage right on time - "What a cool little place!" - and held us captive for the next two hours. She said that some referred to her shows as a "hostage crisis," but we were all very willing prisoners.

I've always liked Paula. I find her intelligent, and how she expresses her intelligence comically, brilliant. I love how she illustrates how illogical much logic is. For instance, she was explaining how hard it is for her to get her kids to take some school subjects seriously. Like Newton's Law. It's never come up in her life, she said.

She did quite a lot of material relating to parenting. And aging. She's still searching for the answer to how aging benefits nature and what part her jowls play in the circle of life. And politics. Where was Hillary's voice before she found it?

A good deal of the show was adlibbed with an "ass-kissing" property manager - complete with sound effects - and a City of Rochester event planner who had spent the day doing "pretty much nothing." But what was brilliant about this chatter was how she directed them to answer in a way that served as her springboard, seamlessly weaving in stories she wanted to tell.

My only disappointment was that the press release hadn't stated that there would be a book signing following the show. "There's Nothing in This Book That I Meant to Say," released last fall, is Paula's memoir, as spun off of the biographies of legendary historical figures. Perhaps it's an expression of her particular form of self-diagnosed OCD: when someone tells his or her story, it always reminds her of one of her own, and she's off...!

Next up: Gardenscape.

As I entered the Dome Arena for the Gardenscape preview party last night, the comfy smell of burning wood scented the air. That the lights were low added to the magical setting. This year's theme is "It's a Garden Life," and all of the displays involved living in one's garden, whether in the city or country, backyard, or rooftop.

I loved Waterford Tilling's garden walls. Their stacked rock designs became "ground" for planters and grass walls; a very nice idea for small spaces. I felt like I was in "The Secret Garden" within them. Their use of empty beverage cans for plant identification - stuck in the ground with the name printed in marker on the bottom - is a new way to recycle for me. I also liked Cardinal Lawn & Landscape's dripping pergola.

There were many outdoor eating and leisure spaces, the most dramatic being Ted Collins' "Midnight at the Oasis." It was like stepping inside a genie's bottle. RJ Schickler's rooftop dining room felt metropolitan with its Rochester skyline backdrop and glowing moat. Speaking of moats, this one was leaking. I could just imagine the phone calls being made later that night. A Gardenscape worker told me that following the event each year, the awards are given out, one being the "Shop Vac Award" for the biggest leak. RJ Schickler may be in the lead for now, but there's still the long weekend ahead.

I have discovered a heretofore hidden ability. I have chocolate fountain radar. And I cannot be trusted around them. That was me with the chocolate dribbling down my jacket.

Speaking of food, the "Nature's Reward" exhibit by RM Landscape used food as garden plants. Tomatoes wound around the pergola's posts, corn framed the eating area, while herbs and lettuces filled in the borders. The design was in very good taste, pun intended. (You can check out Gardenscape for yourself through Sunday.)

Next up: Chip Kidd

Cheese Monkeys was one of those books I judged by the cover. Actually, the side. Printed on the pages side was "Good is Dead." It tickled my fancy. I found it at the library a few years ago, and even went on to buy a few copies as Christmas gifts. Not being a graphic novel reader, I had no idea that cover art was Chip Kidd's claim to fame.

Series ticket holders for the Arts & Lectures are a protective bunch. As I began to take my seat in B602, B603 and B604 began to nicely interrogate me. Was I sure I had the correct seat? They knew B601. And B602 was his seat also. I produced my ticket as proof. Hence, the speculations of B601's whereabouts began. And my interviewing. Was he nice? Did he talk during lectures? Was he normally late? You know, the important stuff. George, f/k/a B601, soon arrived, and yes, he was nice. And it turns out all three B's had once had their own print publication. From 1972-1982 they produced the Rochester Patriot. Small world.

Series kids are also a talkative bunch. There was much greeting and chatting amongst them. I felt like the new girl in class. But we all settled down once the Kidd hit the stage.

There was a bit of a snafu - when the lights went down, so did the projector - but this was responded to and remedied humorously.

Kidd began by answering his most asked question: How do I become a graphic artist? His advice is to learn how to write and do crossword puzzles. Preferably the NY Times puzzle on a Monday, when it is the easiest. Getting that out of the way, he went on to take us through his processes of designing book covers, with supporting images projected from the now-working projector. He is a very dramatic and bitingly sarcastic speaker, even using different voices to convey his emotions. I like sarcasm. It's like being mean, but not. Or at least not as obvious as outright meanness, and therefore, not subject to "Go Directly to Hell" cards. His reenactment of conversations between himself, the publishers, and the authors was hysterical. He exhibited the epitome of kissing ass and brown nosing in how "the client is always right."

And he left us with a parting gift, wise words from his mother. Something along the lines of live every day as if you're dying of an incurable disease and every time you bite someone you give them a horrible flesh-eating disease. Or something like that.

Signed copies of his new book "The Learners" can be found at Barnes & Noble in Pittsford Plaza.

Next up: Celtic cross exhibit

If I were an art collector, I'd be slipping into the "Celtic Cross Exhibit" at Walker's Celtic Jewelry to scoop up some pieces before anyone else knew to look. I figured I'd see a bunch of photos and jewelry...to be truthful, what I thought I'd see was an advertising ploy. I thought it would be just the usual store inventory, with all the crosses gathered together to create a so-called exhibit. What I found were sculptures, prints, boxes, cups, wall hangings...all shipped in from around the country and from Scotland and Ireland. Some pieces are on loan from private collections, but many are for sale.

Andrew McGavin's zig-zaggy resin-bonded steel boxes begged for a look inside. And inside there were treasures of bronze medallions. The quaichs, a two-handled shallow cup for toasting, were beautifully worked sterling. There were also enameled pill boxes, kilt accessories, broaches, and claddaghs (Irish wedding rings representing heart, hands, and crown). I was taken by a beautiful piece of green marble from the Island of Iona.

I also found out that Walker's has quite a large internet following. Son Andrew watches over the Park Avenue store, while father Steven makes much of the jewelry. Located in Andover, New York, he gets orders from around the world.

Next up: Abilene

It was indeed a Good Friday at the March 21 opening of new downtown bar, Abilene. The saffron yellow door opens into a space with burlap-textured walls painted olive green, and a gently curved bar. Behind the bar hang mirrors framed by tiles, and in the center is a brightly colored papier-mâché deer head. Fun and funny. At the far end of the bar is a large mirror that gives the illusion of more space, but also of more friends. It's welcoming.

Past the bar on the left is a Cosmic Blast jukebox filled with owner Danny Deutsch's favorite tunes. Walk past the juke and you might feel you've walked into a dining room - not a stuffy formal affair, but the kind you'd find in a loving family's home. A single long, wooden table is surrounded by chairs, creating a perfect little gathering space. Adorning the walls are paintings of outdoor scenes. What makes them special, even a bit hokey, is that they are all paint-by-number paintings.

Across the way is a pool table with the most wonderful spearmint-colored vinyl chairs to sit on while awaiting your turn. The walls are dotted with music posters featuring the likes of Neko Case and Hank Williams. "Some may say that his [Danny's] taste in music is impeccable, but it is evidenced by the posters on the walls," gushed patron Tim Brown.

Outside is a long pergola, about a third of it covered, surrounded by a 6' picket fence. There's a surprisingly wide view of the Rochester skyline. Rumor has it music will be performed out there during the summer. Did anyone else think this looked like a perfect place for one of Uncle Ralph's Steak-Outs?

It's fun to go to the women's room. These words greet you, written on the steps of the burnt red and saffron stairway:

dim lights

thick smoke,

and loud,

loud, music

is the only

kinda life

you'll ever

understand.

Inside, the room is large and bright, with a vintage art deco curtain and old black-and-white photos. I know I'll be back many times. Along with the "60 bottled beers & 1 fantastic draft" (per the menu), there's a beer with my name on it: Oskar Dale's Pale Ale. Yum!

Next up: Look-ah-Hookah