"Weird" and Happening

If you're familiar with the Beats, you may have thought how cool it would have been to have experienced some of the legendary coffeehouses back in the day where avant-garde readings, music and discussions took the place of TV and bland conformity.

Something of that flavor will be offered up in a series of events sponsored by Stillpoint, the commune mentioned in the "Weird Colorado" chapter Personalized Properties and Innovative Environments.

Years after the commune's late master, Chinese classics translator, teacher and "Taoist rogue" Gia-fu Fung, passed on, Stillpoint today is fostering community through the humanities. Not only on the 166-acre sanctuary still dotted with quirky, hand-built cabins in the Wet Mountains, but elsewhere.

That means food for the head and heart, through readings, music, discussions, author talks and more.

Coming is a Summer Literary Series, with readings by various local authors on June 15, July 20 and August 17, all between 4-6 p.m. at one of Colorado's most unique cafes -- Healing Tea, a combination of tea house, Korean diner and Organ Healing Massage center. In Boulder, of course, at 3216 Arapahoe Ave., in a little strip mall where it meets 33rd.

You can find out more about at: http://stillpointcenter.blogspot.com/

The official biography of Gia-fu Fung also went on sale recently and has already won a couple of literary awards. More info at the web site run by author Carol Ann Wilson: http://www.carolannwilson.info/

Be there or be square...

My First Book Signing

Gad, can it really be?

I've spent a career in Serious Journalism to peak (?) today -- Saturday, June 5, at 2 p.m.-- signing what I hope will be oodles of copies of "Weird Colorado" at a Barnes & Noble in Denver, Colorado (960 S. Colorado Blvd.)

Sorry for the short notice to anyone who sees this -- I'm also signing at B&N stores in Boulder (Saturday, 2 p.m. June 12) at 2999 Peal Street, and Loveland (Saturday, 2 p.m. June19) at 5835 Sky Pond Drive.

You'll know me by the Southwestern senora get-up -- c'mon by, I'll have free candy!

Back In the Saddle Agaaaaaain!

Yippee-ya-kiyaaaaay! It's finally happening!

The book "Weird Colorado" will go on sale on May 4 at all Barnes & Noble stores, as well as other venues of literary tastiness.

I submitted the final manuscript waaaay back in December '08, mind you. Slogged through a major rewrite and edit to help out during the publisher's rush period, then plowed through a slew of corrections when the proofs came through for inspection in the fall.

All I can do is cross my fingers and pray it was all worth it for a spiffy book -- fun to read, accurate in all the facts, and nothin' in it anyone feels like suing me over. (My pockets are anything but deep, folks.)

In the meantime, I will be covering ongoing weirdness here in the Mile High State as well as additional weirdness you won't find in the book -- or many other places, for that matter.

Got any on-topic subject suggestions, feel free to let me know, either here or at the Weird U.S. web site's Message Boards.

Stay weird, my friends.