So, here’s the scoop on New Year’s Eve at 59 Bank in New Milford, Connecticut:

There will be three dinner seatings that evening. The first is at 5 PM, the second at 7 PM and the last at 9 PM. They will have their regular menu with an extensive list of specials. Everyone who comes for dinner will be invited back for a Complimentary Toast at Midnight. There will be party favors. Love those hats! We, the Shrdlu Band will play from 10 PM till 2:30ish. Wear your dancing shoes, this is the night for some fun! Drink specials will be happening from Midnight till closing, which is 3 AM. And of course, you can come just to dance and have a couple of drinks. If you plan on eating, call 860-350-5995 for reservations. To check out their menu go to www.59bank.com. The food, as I’ve stated before, is outstanding. The address is 59 Bank Street in New Milford.
Let’s rock!
Shrdlu

‘Twas the week before Christmas
And all through the land,
Everybody was wondering
“Where’s the Shrdlu Band?”
“Has he got any gigs?”
“Is he on a vacation?”
“Or is this just his usual procrastination?”

Well, to tell you the truth,
I’ve got one tonight.
It’s at 59 Bank, it’ll be outta sight.
It’s the duo, of course, just Pete Bennett and me,
It’s at 59 Bank St, in New Milford, CT.
The food is outrageously good, you’ll find out,
Ambiance is sublime, you’ll find nary a lout.
Reservations suggested, don’t be disappointed,
Call 860-350-5995 and join the anointed.
We’ll start at 9:30 and play until 1,
So come early and stay all the night for the fun.

Then tomorrow, that’s Saturday, December the twenty,
I’ve got reasons for excitement, yes, reasons a-plenty.
You see the whole band will be together again,
Just like Robin Hood and his Merry Men.
We’ll be playing at Mario’s (used to be Blues Alley),
Get there at 9, don’t be late, no, don’t sally.
It’s at 127 Park Avenue, by the Military Museum,
There’s tanks and anti-aircraft guns right there, you can see ‘um.
I’m talking ‘bout Danbury, Connecticut, of course,
You can get there by car, you can get there by horse.
The food is Italian, and so is the owner,
Come on with some friends, or come as a loner.
If you need the phone number, this time I don’t know it,
But I’m sure Information will gladly bestow it.

Then, after xmas, the 28th, that’s a Sunday,
My trio will be having another funday,
Or night, if you will, at the GW Tavern,
In Washington Depot, it’ll be quite a gath’rin.
It’s at 20 Bee Brook Rd, (that’s Rt 47),
And we’ll be starting at 9 o’clock (not 11).
The food is delicious, if a little bit pricey,
But don’t be a Scrooge, you don’t go around twicey.
860-868-6633 is the number
To call before these rhymes get any dumber.

Then what to my wonder did suddenly appear?
The full Shrdlu Band at 59 Bank on New Year’s
Eve, though I don’t know the details right now,
I’ll send them, post-haste, or else I’m a cow!

And before I sign off this fantastical missive,
I’d like to take the time, just right now, so I can give,
All my thanks to you, my fine friends and my fans,
For coming to see me, whenever you cans.
And for putting up monthly with all of this drivel,
That I write and you read, with barely a snivel.

May I wish you fine Holidays, whatever your fancy,
May we have peace on Earth, may your life be more dancey.
Whatever it takes to get you out the door,
I’ll see you sometime in 2000 and 4.

Adieu, Shrdlu

Hello Dluvians,
Once again I'm having difficulty getting my simple newsletter out. Consider this the last minute news flash that is the prelude to the real deal which is coming soon.

Tonight, Friday, December 5, Pete and I, a Shrdlu Duo will be performing at 59 Bank in New Milford, Connecticut, from 9:30 till 1 AM. If you had no plans for the evening, now you do. Great food, great prices, smooth ambiance, and moi! Located at 59 Bank Street. It's a happening place, so dinner reservations are necessary on a Friday. Call 860-350-5995.
It won't snow!
Hope to see you there,
Shrdlu

?Hola, que tal?,
Hello. Halloween was a wild time for me….how ‘bout you? The night found many people at our gig at the GW Tavern resplendent in their odd finery. Ozzy was there, as well as a couple of nurses, a doctor, a few medieval types, witches, ogres, etc., Red Ridinghood and her Wolf, a horse’s head, and, without costumes, the usual horse’s asses! Robin was spectacular as a/the “Grandmummy”.

Now we’re settling in to the end of Indian Summer and the beginning of the real chill. It’s time to clean the bushes out of the gutters and be done with it!

Tonight I host the second Open-Mic at 59 Bank at 59 Bank Street in New Milford, Connecticut. Last week there were about 8 musicians who showed up to play, all folks who had been there in the old days of Kaleidoscope. It was a most successful night! I’m hoping that a similar selection will return tonight and weekly, as this will be every Wednesday. (Note: except November 26, the night before Thanksgiving, when Spontaneous Combustion will be there. There also will be no Open-Mic on December 24 and 31, which fall on Wednesdays this year. The Shrdlu Band will be at 59 on New Year’s Eve, but that’s another story.) The Open-Mic starts at 9 PM and goes till Midnight or later, depending on what’s up. Come on out and catch some talent from out-of-the woodwork. The food is excellent and the prices most reasonable. Phone 860-350-5995.

Coincidentally (there are no coincidences), I will be back at 59 Bank as a duo with my guitarist, Jim Lynch, this Friday, November 7th, also. We start at 9:30 PM for this and play till 1 AM. The food is excellent and the prices quite reasonable.

Oddly (there is nothing odd), I return to 59 Bank the following Saturday (not to mention the intervening Wednesday, of course), November 15th, with Pete Bennett on guitar and bass. Surprisingly (there are no surprises), we play from 9:30 PM till 1AM. The food is excellent and the prices are very reasonable.

The Friday after that, November 21st, the full Shrdlu Band plays at the Redding Roadhouse at 406 Redding Road, West Redding, Connecticut, at the junction of Routes 53 and 107. We haven’t played there since the summer, and are looking forward to our return. It’s a very convivial place for all and the food is great. I forget how the prices are, but I’m sure they’re very most quite pretty reasonable. For reservations or more complete directions, call 203-938-3388, or go to their website at www.reddingroadhouse.com. Dance in place!

On Wednesday, November 26th, the night before Thanksgiving, the trio is at the GW Tavern again. As you know, it’s located at 20 Bee Brook Road (Rte 47) in Washington Depot, Connecticut. As you also may well know, that night is traditionally the busiest night of the year for bars, as college students are home, many for the first time as freshmen. Bring your diploma, see if it gets you a free drink. Maybe it’ll at least get you into an intelligent conversation. If that doesn’t work, come talk to me. We begin at 9:30 PM and play till 1 AM. The food is terrific, heading into the pricey range, but worth every bit of dinero. Desserts, as they say, to die for. Call ‘em at 860-868-6633.

Friday the 28th you can come continue digesting your turkey, maybe even have some more, and wash it down with a smooth libation while Pete and I entertain you at, you guessed it, 59 Bank, still at 59 Bank Street in New Milford. Don’t you know, we’ll start at 9:30 PM and stop at 1 AM. If you need to call, find their number in a previous paragraph. The food is………

The next day, Saturday, the 29th, finds me strolling and fiddling at the Fine Line Gallery on Main Street in Woodbury, Connecticut, from 1 PM till 5 PM. It’s an opening of a show by a fine artist, Trudy Cox, from Bantam, Connecticut. She works in pastels and watercolors and does lots of animal/landscape/flower pictures. The gallery phone number is 203-266-0110.

As always, I will be leading The Open Door Band during the indigenous (contemporary) worship service, The Open Door, at 11:15 AM every Sunday at the Methodist Church at 68 Danbury Road (Rt.7) in New Milford, Connecticut. It’s a lively, service in case you like your rock & roll to have a Christian bent. 860-354-4596.

So, that’s it in a nutshell. See you there.
Shrdlu

Hey Ya'll,
I want to spread the good news that I'm starting a weekly acoustic open-mic on Wednesdays at a place called 59 Bank, which is where I had the previous one when it was under different management and called Kaleidoscope. It's at 59 Bank St. in New Milford, Ct. The phone number is 860-350-5995. It begins this Wednesday, the 29th at 9 PM. The food is great at this place, not too nouvelle (sp?) and not pricey. The Jack Black Burger is scrumptious! I'm really looking forward to hosting this, giving all the/you guitar strummin', song-writin', tuba playin' folks a chance to do your/their thing, providing live entertainment for the connoisseurs who have had no local place to go to lately. Welcome back!

I'll also be playing there as a duo or trio once a month, so I'm thrilled. Doesn't take much, does it?

AND, don't forget, this Friday, Halloween, is the Costume Party, featuring the Shrdlu Trio, at the GW Tavern in Washington Depot, Ct. Band starts at 9:30, Prizes awarded at 12:30. For the last year I've advertised it as being at 40 Bee Brook Rd (Rte 47), but last night I found out it's 20 Bee Brook Rd. So I guess a lot of you have been going to the wrong address a few doors down, and wondering where's the band, where's the food and drink? I hope you had a good time there without us. We missed you! Anyway, the phone # I got right, 860-868-6633.

Come on out to these events. Get the open-mic started with a bang, and dust off your costume for Halloween. Wear it on a trial-run Wednesday!

See ya',
Shrdlu

Hi,
I can't seem to get a newsletter out in a timely fashion. I have one half-finished, but need to precede it with this.

The trio will be at the GW Tavern this Sunday from 9 till midnight (or later). Located at 40 Bee Brook Rd (Rte 47) in Washington Depot, Ct. 860-868--6633. Newsletter to follow!
See you there.
Shrdlu

To all Shrdluettes:
Having cast off our labors, we now settle into the glorious month of September. The air feels brisker (sic), the light looks a little different. Life begins to feel more crisp. Crispier? As a friend said, “September delivers”. More than any other month, September always sends my memory back to high school days. I recall returning to school after the summer, driving around with my friends after school in our not-so-hot rods while the Beach Boys came on my radio beckoning me to graduate and drive to California so I could surf. Sweaters came out. Slone’s Pharmacy had a soda fountain that we would go to after school for a cherry coke. The high school dances. Ah, reveries!

Meanwhile, back at now, I had been scheduled to play solo again at the Blue Heron on Friday the 5th, but got a call announcing that they were ceasing having music there. That’s unfortunate, but I must admit, there was never too much of a crowd. Oh, well, I’ll still go back for their oysters.

The month kicks off this Saturday, the 13th with the trio (Jim Lynch, guitar and vocals, and Pete Bennett, bass and vocals) back at the GW Tavern at 40 Bee Brook Rd (Route 47) in Washington Depot, Ct. It’s our new local haunt, and we always have a great time there. It’s worth checking out the food…..classy stuff at classy prices. Phone number is 860-868-6633. Time is 9:30 PM till 1 AM. Robin will be bartending. Try one of her Margharitas!

The following weekend is a big one that I’m especially looking forward to. On Saturday the 20th, my other trio, with Marc Sichel on bass and vocals, and Pete Bennett (my usual bassist) on guitar and vocals, returns to the Hopkins Vineyard on Lake Waramaug in New Preston, Connecticut for their Harvest Celebration. This is our third year playing at this event (we must be doing something right) and it’s one of my favorite gigs, along with their Barrel Tasting in the spring. We’re outdoors in the sun looking out on the vineyard, people are sampling the various wines and hors d’ouevres, and it’s always a festive, special time, a big party. We meet a lot of nice folks, many of whom return each season. The event goes from 12 Noon till 5 PM, and there’s always a stream of people enjoying the day. It costs $10.00 per person, children under 12 are admitted free, and there are non-alcoholic beverages available. For directions call 860-868-7954 or visit their website at www.hopkinsvineyard.com. It’s a rain-or-shine affair, so hope for nice weather but come no matter what.

That night, September 20th, from 8:30 PM till 10:00 (allows you early-birds who never come out to come see me and still get to bed at a “reasonable” hour)I have a sextet that will be performing at the Merryall Center for the Arts at its home, the Merryall Community Center on Chapel Hill Road in the Merryall section of New Milford, Connecticut. How many times can you say Merryall in a sentence? This is my fourth time appearing there, having been there in previous years once solo and twice as a duo with Sue Pet. It’s an intimate place, a former grist- or something mill overlooking a bubbling river…. a very bucolic setting. The acoustics are great. It’s a real listening spot.

Billed as Shrdlu and Friends, the members of the group, in addition to myself, are Pete Bennett and Jim Lynch, my usual mates, along with Larry Deming on electric violin (maybe mandolin), Chris Green on trombone, piano, and percussion, and Gino Zenobia as the main percussionist. Will there be other piano, banjo, vocals, and who-knows-what? I’m not sure. We’ve been in rehearsal for the last two weeks, and amazing things are happening. We’re formulating, coagulating, bifurcating, gesticulating, masticating, regurgitating, speculating, crepitating, composing and debating as we go along. I’m especially pleased to be playing with this group of guys, all masters on their instruments, and we’re creating a very eclectic mix of music.

You don’t want to miss this very special gig. The seating is limited, the place holds 100 or fewer people. There’s a wine and cheese “Meet the Artists” reception afterwards. The cost is $15 per person. To make reservations (recommended) call 860-354-7264. For further information and directions visit their website at www.merryall.org. Starts on time…be there.

Sunday the 21st, it’s back to the Harvest Celebration at the Hopkins Vineyard…..see above, the details are the same.

I’m still leading the band at the Open Door contemporary service at the Methodist Church at 68 Danbury Road (Rte 7), New Milford, Connecticut on Sunday mornings at 11:15 each week, except on the 21st, however, when I will be at the Vineyard gig and Jim Lynch will be filling in for me at the church. Marc Sichel will be leading the band before scooting over to join Pete and me at the Vineyard. Butch Raymond, my Shrdlu Band drummer will be drumming. If you’re seeking a religious/spiritual haven, come check out the Open Door…this might be for you. Pastor Wayne Lavender keeps things interesting, and the service rocks! 860-354-4596.

Mars is receding again, the moon is full, the nights are gorgeous! Chipmunks can be seen scurrying with stuffed pouches, preparing for winter. Ah, September.

See ya’,
Shrdlu

Greetings, comrades,

What better way to celebrate Labor Day than to be at the GW Tavern at 40 Bee Brook Rd (Rt 47) in Washington Depot, Ct, grooving to the sounds of the Shrdlu Trio from 9 PM till midnight this Sunday, the 31st of August? Relax from your labors while we work for you! 860-868-6633.

Hope to see you there. September announcements coming next week. In September.

Shrdlu

Greetings Shrdlupeople,

Welcome from the Connecticut Rainforest, one of the last remaining rainforests in the eastern US & A. If you can't stand the humidity, get out of the kitchen, that's what I always say. Every day it seems to rain on 8 or 10 occasions, and the humidity is currently at about 110%! Bizarrest weather system I can remember. Maybe it's because Mars is going to be closer to the Earth this month than it will be for the next couple of hundred years. Maybe not! Keep an eye on the red planet.it should be exciting.

This Saturday, August 9, the Shrdlu Band will be at the Levitt Pavilion in Westport, Ct., from 8 PM till 9:30 PM. It's an outdoor bandshell in downtown Westport, where they have free entertainment six nights a week throughout the summer. This gig is our rain-date from last August, when we were scheduled to play but were cancelled due to a hideous storm. Of course, it wouldn't dare rain again this year! For info and/or directions, check out their website, www.levittpavilion.com.

On Friday the 22nd we'll be back at the Redding Roadhouse from 9ish PM till 1 AM. Cool place, cool bartender, Dean, and always a good time. Good food and grog. It's located at 406 Redding Road in West Redding, Ct., at the intersection of Routes 53 and 107. For more info or directions, call 203-938-3388 or find them at www.reddingroadhouse.com.

The following night, Saturday, the 23rd, I'll be solo back at the Blue Heron Café at 439 Candlewood Lake Road in Brookfield, Ct. It's a nice little restaurant/bar with a congenial local crowd developing. I play from 9 PM till 1 AM. Call 203-775-5033.

Saturday the 30th finds me back at the New Milford Farmer's Market from 10 AM till Noon, celebrating Labor Day with the fruits. And the vegetables. It's on the Green in New Milford, Ct. Rain or shine. Strolling fiddle.

The next night, Sunday, the 31st, my trio will return to the GW Tavern at 40 Bee Brook Rd (Route 47) in Washington Depot, Ct., still celebrating Labor Day! Since it's a Sunday, we commence at 9PM and play till Midnight. We started August there and we'll finish it there, too. Great food. 860-868-6633. You might see us at some parties and pig roasts, too!

Don't forget to keep an umbrella in your car. See you soon.

Shrdlu

Shrdluettes,

Yikes!! It's the first of August and I've been so busy gathering and cleaning stuff for a tag sale of family antiques and heirlooms that's occurring this Saturday and Sunday, the 2nd and 3rd, from 9 till 5 each day, that I haven't gotten my August schedule out! If you're into antiques, there's some good stuff....student lamp, trundle-bed, blanket chest, pressed and cut glass, silver napkin rings, crockery, porcelain, fireplace mantle, books, framed daguerreotypes, and lots more. I'm finally getting this stuff out of the attic, the cellar, the shack, and it feels good to be offing the goods! The address is 105 Buckingham Rd in New Milford, Ct.

Of equal importance, is the fact that my trio is playing tonight, Friday, August 1, at the GW Tavern at 40 Bee Brook Rd (Rte 47) in Washington Depot, Ct, from 9:30 PM till 1 AM. You need to be there, in spite of the short notice. You know we'll rock the joint, and you don't want to miss a good time! Good food, good friends, good music! 860-868-6633.

On Saturday, the 2nd, I'll be playing solo again at the Blue Heron Cafe at 439 Candlewood Lake Road in Brookfield, Ct., from 9 PM till 1 AM. Always a good time. Can I say it too often? Try the oyster appetizer. Too Good! 203-775-5033.

I'll send out the rest of August's gigs next week. That includes the band's raindate from last year, at the Levitt Pavilion in Westport, Ct., on Saturday the 9th. We can't wait for that.

See you there!

Shrdlu

Hello,

Just a last minute reminder that I'll be at the Blue Heron Restaurant tomorrow night. Here's what I wrote in my July newsletter: The following Friday, July 11, I will be playing solo, from 9 PM till 1 AM, at the Blue Heron Restaurant, located at 439 Candlewood Lake Road in Brookfield, Ct. There's an outdoor patio where you can have repast and libation, but I'll be inside, so you'll want to be too! Owner/Chef John makes great gourmet pizzas, snazzy sandwiches, delicious entrees, and outrageous oysters! The oysters get my heartiest endorsement! Call 203-775-5033 for answers to all your questions.

Shrdlu

Greetings Shrdluweenies,

Zoiks!! Here 'tis, the beginning of July. Summer seems to most definitely be here. Finally. At long last. Unequivically. For sure. Just like I pictured it. No doubt.

I kick off the month with three gigs on Saturday, the 5th. I start out solo, doing my strolling fiddle thing at the New Milford Farmer's Market, held on the Green in New Milford, Ct. The market is from 9 AM till noon, and I play from 10 AM till noon. Getcha some vittles while Shrdlu fiddles!

In the afternoon the full band is playing at a private party in Litchfield, Ct.

That evening we pare it back down to a trio and appear at the GW Tavern at 40 Bee Brook Rd (Route 47) in Washington Depot, Ct. We go on at 9:30 and finish at 1 AM, EST! Their phone number is 860-868-6633 if you want directions or want to make reservations for a terrific dinner. A good time is always had by all! Come celebrate my favorite holiday, the 5th of July!

The following Friday, July 11, I will be playing solo, from 9 PM till 1 AM, at the Blue Heron Restaurant, located at 439 Candlewood Lake Road in Brookfield, Ct. There's an outdoor patio where you can have repast and libation, but I'll be inside, so you'll want to be too! Owner/Chef John makes great gourmet pizzas, snazzy sandwiches, delicious entrees, and outrageous oysters! The oysters get my heartiest endorsement! Call 203-775-5033 for answers to all your questions.

For you hearty folks, the next outing is Tuesday, July 15, when the full band is back at Armi@Great Barrington, in Great Barrington, Ma. We were there a month ago and had a great night. The room has a nice sound, and their soundman, Chris, made an excellent CD of the show direct from their soundboard. The owners, Armi and Armand Saiia danced much of the night. They know a good time when they see one! Perhaps you should skip work on Wednesday, and come see us Tuesday. We'll be knockin' out the tunes from 9 PM till 12:30 AM. This is a full-service club, open almost all day, everyday, with great food at affordable prices. Find out what else is going on there by checking out their website: www.armi-at-greatbarrington.com, or call them at 413-528-3296. You'll find them right on Rte 7 as you're just about to enter downtown Great Barrington, at the intersection of Rtes 7 & 23.

On Friday of that week, the 18th, I return to the Blue Heron, everything about which you can read two paragraphs up from here. All info is the same, except the date! Don't forget the oysters!

So, that gives you an idea of where you can find me/us this month. If you get tired of trolloping around the house by yourself in your fancy shoes, come on out and see me/us at one of these events. I'll be glad you did! We can wax loquacious!

See you there.

Shrdlu

Greetings Shrdluites!

June so soon? Time's flyin'. So far the weather is pretty nice, especially after all the rain we had in May. (The previous sentence was written Tuesday morning before it clouded up and became May again!) Things can't get much greener. Today's newspaper said we didn't get that much rain in May. Did I miss something?

The Shrdlu Band started June by playing a ½ hour set in the Ct Blues Society's Blues Challenge competition on Sunday night at Blackeyed Sally's in Hartford. We played a strong set, with a couple of our original tunes revamped, and one new instrumental. The winner for the night was a band called the Groove Blenders, a good, straight-forward blues unit. I have never been into the competition angle of music. It's all so subjective. We played just to get some exposure in Hartford and meet some of the blues folk, and who knows, maybe win. We had a good time, had some good Cajun style food and met some nice people. It's a cool club, and if you're a blues freak, that's the place to be, 'cause that's all they have there.

On Tuesday, June 10, the band will be playing at a cool new club up in Great Barrington, Massachusetts called Armi@Great Barrington. The goal of the place is to be fun and exciting, and it seems to succeed! It's a snazzy, sparkling place with something going on 7 nights a week. The food looked excellent. They're going for a wide-ranging menu at affordable prices. Check out their website: www.armi-at-greatbarrington.com. The place is on the right on Rte 7 as you're just about to enter downtown Great Barrington, at the intersection of Rtes 7 and 23. We go on at 9 PM and play till 12:30 AM. Reservations recommended. Phone number is 413-528-3296.

Saturday of that week, the 14th, finds the trio back at our new local (for me, not the other members) haunt, the GW Tavern at 40 Bee Brook Rd (Rte 47) in Washington Depot, Connecticut, from 9:30 PM till 1 AM. We have a rollicking time whenever we're there, and so does the crowd. It's a really comfortable, although sometimes too smoky, bar and upscale restaurant. There's no real dance floor, but you know dancers.they push a few tables out of the way and get up and get down, the way we like it! Try one of Robin's mean Margharitas! Call 860-868-6633 for reservations or directions.

The following Friday, June 20, the band returns to the Berkshire Blues Café on Rte 102 in Lee, Massachusetts, from 9:15 PM till 1 AM. This is the place for the real dancers. It's got a great dance floor, and people hit the floor in the first song...they don't wait to have a good time. They used to serve burgers and whatnot but I think they've changed their food scene, so I'm not sure what's available. Call 'em at 413-243-0062 to find out!

As ever, I'll be leading the Open Door praise band at the New Milford United Methodist Church at 68 Danbury Road in New Milford, Connecticut every Sunday at 11:15 AM. This is the contemporary service..not your parents' church. It rocks.

That's the schedule for this month. If anything else comes up I'll send an update.

I hope to see you at one of these events.

Better late than never! Here's the prose version of the Shrdlu happenings for the month. Most of you got the poster/calendar last week. Next month I intend for it to be more concise. After wrassling with the computer the last time, (a.) I've learned a few things about how to work it, and (2.) a number of people have offered me help, of which I will avail me to some.

Speaking of help, an unofficial Shrdlu website exists, created by an old friend, reachable at: ShrdluInc.com. Don't be fooled by how few visitors ther have been-I've been there hundreds of times! One day I'll get the official site up with music clips and such.

The calendar can be down-loaded from there, but I've never done it because I know where I'm playing. So that you may be privy, here's the complete rundown:

This Friday, the 13th, the band will be at the Georgetown Saloon at 8 Main Street, Georgetown, Ct., from 9 PM till 1AM. At the junction of Rts. 107 and 57, this is a fun place to play, to eat, to drink, to dance, to be, or not to be. It's been around for 25 years and has a reputaion for all of the above. Excellent food & drink served by a friendly staff. The owner Adam just completed a 3 month around-the-world trip and undoubtedly has some interesting stories if you ask. Phone 203-544-8003 www.georgetownsaloon.com.

The following weekend, Saturday the 21st and Sunday the 22nd, my trio with Marc Sichel on bass and vocals, and Pete Bennett on guitar and vocals, will be performing again, at the "Harvest Celebration 2002" at the Hopkins Vineyard overlooking Lake Waramaug in New Preston, Ct. If you've been before, you know it's a great time.....delicious wines from the premises, great hors d'ouevres, most gracious hosts and hostesses, serene setting, elan, savoir fair, and cool music from moi and the boys. Maybe a few songs from Suzar! Goes from 12-5PM, rain or shine (there's a tent). Admission is $10 per person, kids under 12 for free. 25 Hopkins Rd., New Preston. 860-868-7954 www.hopkinsvineyard.com.

Friday the 27th, the band will be returning to Lakeville, Ct., to the West Main Grill, in Pocketknife Square. This is an excellent restaurant, upscale, but friendly. We had a great time the last time we were there, and everyone else seemed to, too. A couple of them were too to, too. We'll be playing from 10PM till 1AM. In August I had laryngitis and couldn't sing when we performed there, so maybe that's why they had such fun!

On Wednesday nights I still host the acoustic open-mic at Kaleidoscope on Bank Street in New Milford, Ct., from 8:30 till midnight or so. This could be ending anytime, so if you're coming from out of town, call 860-354-8162 first, to make sure it's on.

Probably the strangest gig the band has done this year (or ever!) was when we set up in the produce section at the grand opening of the BigY supermarket in New Milford last month. We played soothing jazz to keep the lettuce from wilting. In the seafood department they called it sole music.
That's all for now,
Shrdlu
Somehow, some of this just came up in Times Roman!!!!!!!!!