NEW ON THE WEBSITE - today!

I got such a cute holiday card today I decided to share it - and decided to add any more clever/cute/inspirational/appropriate cards to the page if and as they come in (jpg or gif via e-mail). Check it out!

These are a few of my favorite cards .... of 2009!

HUGS

STU

GETTING BACK IN THE GROOVE

I made it to one show last night - PAT & BOOTH at THE DUPLEX - and it was "just what the doctor ordered": plenty of good times. I'll be including a review of this show in Monday's issue of the newsletter. From my house it is easy to get to THE DUPLEX - I take the #8 bus that stops on the corner of Avenue D and 10th Street (just a few steps from my front door) and go cross town on 10th to Avenue A where it makes a turn at Tompkins Square Park and then turns on 9th Street straight across to Sixth Ave where it makes an angle turn down Christopher Street and I get off at the corner of Waverly Street, 1/2 block from the club. This is the only regular cabaret club in town I can get to without a transfer - and can get to (traffic permitting) in less than 1/2 hour. And the ride is like being on a tour bus - right through the East Village, the "Middle Village" and the West Village (it goes all the way from river to river practically). Best of all, as a senior it only costs me a buck! Sad news is that the MTA is considering discontinuing this line - forcing me to take the #14 bus crosstown on 14th Street and then transferring downtown at 6th (F train) or 7th (#1 train or a bus) to Christopher Street. But that will be a ways off.

Tonight I want to catch 2 shows if I can - the first one still to be decided and the second one at THE METROPOLITAN ROOM - the new vocal group The Delivery Girls at 9:45 pm. I heard these gals twice already, both times at Grace Cosgrove's GRACE NOTES shows at DON'T TELL MAMA - its about time we get a swinging all-gal pop group in town! Tracy Stark does all the arrangements with her usual pizzaz, and sings along too. I'll let you know tomorrow if I make it to the show.

HUGS

STU

WE'RE ON A ROLL

I miss those cabaret shows - and I've missed some really great ones so far this week, but as soon as some funds start coming in we will be out and about again - I hope to make it to BOOTH & PAT at the DUPLEX at 7:00 pm and maybe even get over to the METROPOLITAN ROOM at 10:00 for METROJAM. Fingers are crossed.

But staying home isn't all bad - I got so much work done this week I am now racking my brain to see what remains to be done. Today I plan to update all the MEMBERSHIP lists - I have 35 names to add (new members that signed on in the last 30 days) and then I have to get to adding all the CDs for sale that have come in.

Stay Tuned!

HUGS

STU

AND NOW THERE ARE 364!

CABARET HOTLINE ONLINE 2008-2009 member number 364 (Therese Allen - Washington DC) signed up last night. We're still trying to reach our record-breaking goal of 500 members for the year by April 1, 2009 (after May 1st all new memberships are for the 2009-2010 year) - only 136 members to go. The record is currently 478 set last membership year. A basic SILVER membership is still just $20. Joining is simple - just click on the button marked JOIN HERE at the top of every page of the website. You can even join and donate instantly using a credit card, debit card or e-check via PayPal - all the benefits are shown on that page, as well as the various levels of membership. Or you can donate the old fashioned way, by paper check - just remember, all checks should be made out simply to STU HAMSTRA and mailed to 676A Ninth Avenue #120, New York, NY 10036.

If you haven't joined as a member yet, what are you waiting for?

HUGS

STU