Market in Sao Paulo

1/30/2007 | Permalink | 

Band on beach at sunset

1/25/2007 | Permalink | 

Fruit bar in Rio

1/23/2007 | Permalink | 

You've got questions, I've got answers

Q: Did Matt Ruby really just complete a stand up comedy class?
A: Yes!

Q: Where can I see Matt Ruby do stand up?
A: My graduation show is Saturday afternoon at Caroline's and then I'll also be performing at the Stand Up NY New Talent Showcase on Monday night. Details below.

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SAT January 20, 2007
Manhattan Comedy School Graduation Show
Caroline's Comedy Club
1626 Broadway
btwn 49th and 50th Streets
4:30pm show
$10 cover & 2 drink minimum
Call for reservations (212) 757-4100

This show will include a "real" comic as opening act and performances from 10 graduates. Warning: Most of the other people in this class are painfully unfunny. Well, unfunny in the way they're trying to be funny. But funny in the way that delusional people who can't hold a note yet think they're the next American Idol are funny. There, you've been warned.

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MON January 22, 2007
New Talent Showcase
Stand-Up NY
236 W 78th St btwn Broadway and Amsterdam
$15 cover & 2 drink minimum
(212) 595-0850
9:00pm show ("Guests MUST arrive 30 minutes prior to show time.")

This one's a better show since it often has pro comics drop by who have done HBO, Comedy Central, etc.

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Q: Is Matt Ruby attempting to go alphabetically through the arts: music, photography, stand up, etc.?
A: That was the plan. But I now realize I missed sculpture. Fuck.

1/18/2007 | Permalink | 

Coconut beach

1/13/2007 | Permalink | 

Blame it on Rio

Constant rain, mudslides, a wave of gang violence...it's another Matt Ruby vacation! Here's a summary of my trip to Brazil...

Arrived on Dec. 29 and met up with N. and I. who were down there already. Next day we strolled along the beach at Leblon, Copacabana, Ipanema, etc. Sipped from some coconuts, watched some volleyball, chilled out at the beach. New year's Eve was a fun night: apt party by Copacabana beach with good view of the fireworks, cool DJs, and intl crowd. Everyone in Brazil dresses in white on NYE. We ended the night by placing flowers in the sea as an offering to Lemanja, the goddess of the sea. We were pretty fucking drunk at the time and nearly fell in.

Other Rio events: Ate dinner at a churrascaria with endless parade of meats brought to the table. Took a trip around town in a car w/ friends of I. to see diff neighborhoods and then went for a walk in the Jardin Botanica. Wandered around Lagoa, big lake in the middle of Rio. Took a really cool favela tour (favelas are the shack type neighborhoods like in the movie City of God). Played bingo (you gamble on it) at one of the big bingo halls that are everywhere. Checked out the old neighborhood of Santa Teresa. Went to see some traditional Brazilian music (kinda like latin square dancing) at great place called Rio Scenarium which is old three-story saloon place filled with antiques and knick knacks from the past everywhere. Also saw a Samba band, called Christ's Armpit, play at Turf club, 18 people in the band and 16 of them play percussion (plus one ukulele and one singer).

After Rio, went to Sao Paulo for a few days. That city is fucking huge. Third biggest in the world and the skyline just seems to go on and on forever. Spent one day wandering around the central area seeing the old buildings, churches, etc. Another day checked out the area around Avenue Paulista which is full of ritzy shops. Also went to Immigration Museum (right next to a homeless shelter so you walk down a gauntlet of passed out homeless dudes in order to enter). And bought some goodies at neat market at Placa Republica. Enjoyed drinks one night at Sky bar at Unique Hotel, an amazing piece of architecture.

Overall trip was grand. Wish the weather had been better but, hey, what can ya do?

Some other random bits:

* You can't make a left turn in Sao Paulo (Rio too, I think). Anywhere. So you wind up taking a lot of longcuts.

* I'm used to NYC taxis which have heavy doors. The taxis in Brazil are much flimsier. Thus I kept getting warned by cabbies that I shouldn't slam the door so hard. One door slam elicited this comment from a cabbie: "I felt that in my soul."

* Rio and SP are dangerous places. All the ATMs are shut down after 6pm. Cars don't come to full stops after dark in order to prevent car jacking. It's weird because I've been in poorer places before (Laos, Bolivia, etc.). But those places weren't dangerous because everyone there is poor. It's the mixture of obscene wealth right next to poor slum areas that makes Brazil different.

* My fave Brazilian phrase: "We stink the same way when we're dead."

See photos from this trip at Flickr.

1/11/2007 | Permalink | 

I'm an uncle!

1/10/2007 | Permalink |