Okay, time for an April update blog post! This is divided into three handy-dandy sections!
Section One: Peoria Magazine Launch @ The Peoria Riverfront Museum!
Yesterday was the launch of a brand new magazine here in Peoria and it’s called...Peoria Magazine!
Most of you have seen the locally produced publications, Peoria Art & Society and iBi, well the folks at Peoria Magazines who publish those two titles decided to combine the editorial sensibilities of both magazines and the result is Peoria Magazine. They had the launch and reveal party yesterday at The Peoria Riverfront Museum and I was invited.
Below are photos from the event, it was nice to get the MBIP Camera out of storage and do a little blogging work!
Here we are at the Peoria Riverfront Museum, one of my favorite Peoria places! Hey, check out the sign, what a nice surprise! It’s a little embarrassing because the event is for Peoria Magazine, but I have to confess, it is nice to get the attention that I so richly deserve!
Okay, let’s go in and see what’s happening!
Wow, they’ve got a huge turnout for this event! I see some familiar faces in the crowd, so let’s put the MBIP Camera to work and capture some of these faces in photos!
1. In the number one photo is Mae Gilliland Wright who’s the Social Media Wizard for Peoria Magazine and also a Contributing Writer for the publication.
2. Jonathan Wright is the Editor-In-Chief of the magazine and he’s also known in some circles as DJ juanGoblin who will be spinning tunes at the next Marty Monologues show!
3. There’s the owner and chef at Paparazzi, Bruce Brown with the Publisher of Peoria Magazine, Jan Wright. Jan and her husband Dave started publishing the newsletter iBi back when I started my magazine, People of Peoria (read all about that here). We were the first desktop publishers in Peoria. The only difference between them and me is that they were successful at their venture!
4. That smiling gentleman is my friend and co-host of the Greg and Dan Show, Greg Batton.
5. Stacy Peterson aimed her phone at me and set it to stun as I took her photo and I was indeed stunned!
6. There’s Steven Marx, who’s the official Marty Monologues videographer! He’s filming the Peoria show that happens this Sunday at the Apollo Theatre!
7. Bruce Brown makes a return visit, this time with Peoria writer and historian, Norm Kelly.
Dueling photos!
Okay, time for everyone to sit down...notice Stacy who’s ever-aware of the MBIP Camera!
Before the unveiling of the magazine John Morris, the CEO of the Peoria Riverfront gave a nice talk, followed by Jan, Jonathan and then Jeff Griffin who is President of the Peoria Chamber of Commerce.
Then it was time for the exciting reveal of the inaugural cover of Peoria Magazine! It looks great and we’ll tell you more about that in a minute, but first...
Jan cut a ribbon with giganzo scissors. I was secretly hoping that when she was done she’d run out in the crowd and start randomly stabbing people with them but that didn’t happen. This proves that we all have different subtle sensibilities...but I really wish she would’ve done that!
They brought out stacks of the premiere issue of Peoria Magazine and it’s very impressive!
The cover was a Vanity Fair/Annie Leibovitz inspired portrait of Peoria business people and artists and they are from left seated: Arturo and Carla Vegas, Maria Galindo, Cathy Butler and Dr. Carl Soderstrom. The back row is: Jenn Gordon and Jonathan and Nikki Romain. The cover photo was taken by David Vernon at the Twelve Bar Lounge in the Heights.
You should really check out Peoria Magazine, it’s loaded with interesting articles, full color photos and best of all...
The events page has a listing for the upcoming Marty Monologues show! Thanks for the shout-out Peoria Magazine and for inviting me to the fun reception at the Peoria Riverfront Museum! Now, speaking of the Marty Monologues, it’s on to the next section of this post...
Section Two: Marty Monologues Update!
Artwork and design by Chelsie Tamms of Lettering Works.
Well, this is the week that it all happens—the three city, Marty Monologues tour begins this Sunday night at the Apollo Theatre on Main Street. Showtime is 7pm and the doors open at 6:30pm. Tickets are two for $25 and one for $15. Advance tickets can be bought at Kenny’s Westside Pub (where the after-show party is being held with FREE flatbread pizza), Acme Comics, Lit. on Fire Used Books, Emack & Bolio’s in the Heights and Relics gift shop. Tickets will be available at the door.
If you’re coming to the Chicago or NYC shows, tickets can be bought at the door and if you’d like me to hold a ticket for you, just email me.
All the details and updates can be seen at the Marty Monologues facecrack page.
Section Three: The Return of MBIP!
I know I’ve taken a lot of time off from the blog, but it will return in full force on Sunday, April 21st! That week will have posts from a concert that Peoria punk rock pioneer, Bloody Mess is having with his band Divine Dirt on April 19th at Peoria Pizza Works, I’ll be continuing the 13 month chicken tour and we’ll have photos from all three of the Marty Monologues shows that week, so be sure to tune back in to the blog then!
Okay, I have to go rehearse now!
Related Posts: MBIP (almost) Spring Break and The MBIP Mid-March Update!
I got a fun piece of mail yesterday and that’s a rarity in this time of texts and social media! I sent away last week for the trio of stickers that is available at Steph’s Stickers online store, click here to check that out and you too should buy a set! Steph sent me a nice thank you card which was very nice and I loved it! Plus the stickers are fun, fabulous and a wonderful work of art!
I put them on the MBIP World Headquarters door, so everyone who passes through can see these and be inspired by them! Thanks so much Steph, I love these and can’t wait for you to do more of them! (Steph’s Stickers.)