Past Programs 2006

SATURDAY JANUARY 7th, 2006

a WCL Bargain Matinee on the air. Interviews from 1994-2005 with film directors and writers STANLEY DONEN, PAUL RUDNICK, DEBRA WINGER and ARLISS HOWARD, WALTER BERNSTEIN, DANIEL HANDLER, ELMORE LEONARD and the late JOHN GREGORY DUNNE.

SATURDAY JANUARY 14th, 2006

from October 15th, 2005, a show which because of a long story did not air that day, but it does today.

ROBERT COOVER, novelist, short story writer, and early proponent of using computers, screens and the internet as media for telling stories.

BLAME SALLY , for outstanding music and writing.

GUS LEE, author of China Boy

HOWARD JUNKER , editor and founder of ZYZZYVA

OH MR. SOUSA! , a troupe playing at the Freight. Hilarious, marchable.

SATURDAY JANUARY 21st, 2006

BACK LIVE at the SFMOMA in the theater of the 3rd Street museum. Admission to the museum including in your show ticket. Today, noting the opening the exhibit of photographs from the 1906 earthquake. With music to roll and rock, too. We welcome the group MEDICINE BALL, Tips ON TRAVEL with KARL and CARL, TRAVEL TIPS from DON GEORGE of LONELY PLANET, coedy from KASPAR HAUSER, RICHARD GREENE and GUNNAR MADSEN ina a BOBS-esque REUNION, MOMA Curator ERIN GARCIA, and other guests.

SATURDAY JANUARY 28th, 2006

presented LIVE at the Empire Plush Room in The York Hotel, 940 Sutter Street (between Leavenworth and Hyde), San Francisco. MONEY is the theme today, and one of the guests, DAVE BARRY, humorist and columnist, has something to say about the subject in his new book Money Secrets...Also with us: LIZ PERLE, author of Money: A Memoir, also Editor-in-Chief of Common Sense Media ; MATTHEW and TERCES ENGELHART, authors, The Abounding River, owners of Cafe Gratitude; THE COTTARS, amazing young CELTIC musicians; CHARLIE OWEN, soul singer; and the ever-splendid MIKE GREENSILL, navigating the house piano.

SATURDAY FEBRUARY 4th, 2006

presented LIVE at the Empire Plush Room in The York Hotel 940 Sutter Street (between Leavenworth and Hyde), San Francisco. AYELET WALDMAN, author of Love and Other Impossible Pursuits; MARY ROACH, author of SPOOK, Science Tackles the Afterlife and STIFF; ALAN ZWEIBEL, comedy writer and author of THE OTHER SHULMAN; the BOULDER ACOUSTIC SOCIETY four-piece American roots music band, with marimba, ukulele, percussion, banjo and mandolin; DAVID JACOB-STRAIN, blues legend-too-young-to-be-a-legend;and the talking head MIKE GREENSILL, burning down the house piano.

SATURDAY FEBRUARY 11th, 2006

LIVE at the Empire Plush Room in The York Hotel 940 Sutter Street (between Leavenworth and Hyde), San Francisco. Today, featuring JULIAN BARNES, author of Flaubert's Parrot, Arthur and George, History of the World in 10-1/2 Chapters, and many other novels, collections of humor, and essays; also KENNY WHITE, Wildflower Records recording artist; KITTY MARGOLIS, San Francisco jazz singer; TOM & ASA, WCL Valentines; from Napa the chef MICHAEL CHIARELLO, with some tastes for the audience, too; and the kindler, gentler MIKE GREENSILL, caressing the house piano.

SATURDAY FEBRUARY 18th, 2006

at the Empire Plush Room in The York Hotel, 940 Sutter Street (between Leavenworth and Hyde), San Francisco. Today, featuring CARROLL BALLARD , director of Duma, The Black Stallion, Never Cry Wolf, many other favorite films; also BILL TAPIA , ukulele virtuoso; DEBORAH TANNEN , author of You're Wearing That? : Understanding Mothers and Daughters in Conversation; NIK JANS, author of The Grizzly Maze, in from Alaska; KARL and CARL , two travelin' wise men who know their Conde from their Nast; and MIKE GREENSILL, caressing the house piano.

SATURDAY FEBRUARY 25th, 2006

LIVE at the Empire Plush Room in The York Hotel 940 Sutter Street (between Leavenworth and Hyde), San Francisco. Today, featuring TAYLOR BRANCH, author of: At Canaan's Edge : America in the King Years, 1965-68; also JACKIE COLLINS, author of best-sellers about uber-glam Hollywood, her latest: Lovers and Players; JAY McINERNEY, chronicler of Bright Lights, Big City and his new The Good Life; JUSTIN KING, an acoustic guitar player most worth hearing; and throwing out the first pitch of the show MIKE GREENSILL, modulating the house piano.

SATURDAY MARCH 4th, 2006

LIVE at the Empire Plush Room in The York Hotel 940 Sutter Street (between Leavenworth and Hyde), San Francisco. Today, featuring BOX SET duo, who sing and play out of the box in each set; THE NEW ORLEANS KLEZMER ALL-STARS, cookin'; ELANA JAMES and the CONTINENTAL TWO, sublime; Members of the SAN FRANCISCO GAY MEN'S CHORUS, audacious and graceful; DAVID KIPEN, author of The Schreiber Theory : A Radical Rewrite of American Film History; and setting the pace MIKE GREENSILL, by stealing the march at the house piano.

SATURDAY MARCH 11th, 2006

LIVE at the Empire Plush Room in The York Hotel 940 Sutter Street (between Leavenworth and Hyde), San Francisco. Today, featuring CULTURE CLASH, the fabled Chicano/Latino comedy troupe; JOE ELY, yes indeed Texas is part of the West; EARPLAY, with Jennifer Lane and Michael Seth Orland, and a clarinet solo by Peter Josheff; MAUDE MAGGART, her ethereal voice, a Tori Amos who meets the past...; Youth Speaks Poetry Slam, finalists; and setting the pace MIKE GREENSILL, all keyed up.

SATURDAY MARCH 18th, 2006

LIVE at the Empire Plush Room in The York Hotel 940 Sutter Street (between Leavenworth and Hyde), San Francisco. Today, featuring KATE CLINTON, the renowned political humorist; ARLENE BLUM, author of Breaking Trail: A Climbing Life; SPENCER DAY, musician, album called Movie of Your Life; SHANNON MOFFETT, author of The Three-Pound Enigma: The Human Brain and the Quest to Unlock its Mysteries; ESAI MORALES, actor in NYPD Blue and the new film at the SF International Asian American Film festival, American Fusion; and leaving his Schoenberg at home, MIKE GREENSILL, brings his jazz wizardry to the piano.

SATURDAY MARCH 25th, 2006, from February 10, 1996

This is a fine vintage, drinking well now. Outstanding bouquet. Strong LA, Pacific Northwest presence. Superb feng-shui. Comedy, high and low; profundity, silliness, music both energizing and calming. Yin for yin and yang for yang, well-balanced, pleasurable and enlightening.

JAMAICA KINCAID, author of "Autobiography of My Mother".

ANNA DEVEARE SMITH, playwright of "Twilight: Los Angeles 1992".

Music from THE BLAZERS, from East LA, rock'n'roots vitality.

Monologist JULIA SWEENEY, featuring scenes from "God Said Ha!"

Sweet and deep guitar and vocals from KELLY JOE PHELPS.

KIRSTEN LAGATREE, author of "Feng-Shui - Arranging your home to change your Life".

DIANE HIDY, as the house pianist.

SATURDAY APRIL 1st, 2006

LIVE at the FREIGHT and SALVAGE, 1111 Addison Street, near San Pablo & University in Berkeley. Today, featuring ANNE LAMOTT, author, Operating Instructions and Plan B stops in again for a good conversation; SARAH WATERS, from England, the much-honored author of Fingersmith, Tipping the Velvet, and The Night Watch; JOHN BAXTER, author, We'll Always Have Paris, a romp & memoir; and following the script MIKE GREENSILL, who likes to read it upside down.

SATURDAY APRIL 15th, 2006

from May 1, 2004

a great rebroadcast:

Greg Brown, singer and writer

Jane Smiley, author

Sarah Lee Guthrie, singer, daughter & Johnny Irion

Duffy Bishop, blues singer

Luis Urrea, poet & author "The Devil's Highway"

and the dapper Mike Greensill!

SATURDAY APRIL 29th, 2006 LIVE from the S.F. Ferry Terminal Building, scene of the Farmers' Market.

A great view of the bay today -- so vital in radio --

Directions to our broadcast site on the second floor in the Port Commission Hearing Chanmbers (go up the central staircase, or take the elevator): here.

MICHAEL POLLAN, author of The Omnivore's Dilemma

JESSICA PRENTICE, author of Full Moon Feast

AMARYLL SCHWERTNER Chef, Boulette's Larder

KRISTIE KNOLL of Knoll Farms

Music by REV BILLY and the Stop Shopping Gospel Choir

Soprano MARIA MIKHEYENKO with some food arias and a preview from --Leonardo's Notebooks--, Ms. Mikheyenko will sing with tenor Aurelio Viscarra, bass-baritone Micah Epps, and the composer, Lisa Scola Prosek

The Scrumptious MIKE GREENSILL

SATURDAY MAY 6th, 2006

LIVE at at the Freight and Salvage 1111 Addison, Berkeley, off University and San Pablo....continental snacks available

Actor RITA MORENO

DEVYANI SALTZMAN, author of Shooting Water

Author EDMUND WHITE

The Dapper MIKE GREENSILL

SATURDAY MAY 13th, 2006

LIVE at at the RANCHO NICASIO in Nicasio, Marin County in downtown Nicasio... breakfasts available

Music by ELVIN BISHOP and singer-songwriter AMY SPEACE

KATHLEEN INMAN, of the Inman Family Winery

Author LAURA ESQUIVEL

Naturalist CLAIRE PEASLEE

BOB BERNER, Marin Agricultural Land Trust

The Amazing MIKE GREENSILL

SATURDAY MAY 20th, 2006

LIVE at at the RANCHO NICASIO in Nicasio, Marin County in downtown Nicasio...big breakfasts available

MARSHALL CHAPMAN, musician

ANNE LAMOTT, writer

SHAZIA MIRZA, comic

TIPS ON TRAVEL with KARL & CARL, the boys who ace Survivor

MIKE DUKE, musician

The Phenomenal MIKE GREENSILL

MAY 27 (from May 24, 2003)

Live show from the Freight and Salvage Coffee House. Improved audio archives on-line soon. Meanwhile, Custom interview CDs are available. Write to our producer e-mail or call the office!. This show was reviewed in The Berkeley Voice on May 30th.

• Eoin Colfer this "uproariously funny" Irishman, and one of Sedge's favorite children's authors, unveils his new adventure book, "Artemis Fowl: The Eternity Code", in which young criminal Artemis has found a way to construct a supercomputer, from fairy technology.
• Philosopher, Elaine Pagels, author of "Beyond Belief: The Secret Gospel of Thomas".
• Carol Hughes, author of "Jack Black and the Ship of Thieves".
• Improvisation by 3 For All, featuring Rafe Chase, Stephen Kearin, and Tim Orr.
• The naturalist perspective from Claire Peaslee.
• Music from pianist Gini Wilson, accompanied by Steve Heckman on saxophone.

SATURDAY JUNE 3rd, 2006

LIVE at at the Freight and Salvage 1111 Addison, Berkeley, off University and San Pablo....continental snacks available

Music by TANGO #9 and the GALAX QUARTET

CALVIN TRILLIN, author

HEATHER LENDE, author

...and much much more!

June 10

LIVE at at the Freight and Salvage Coffee House , 1111 Addison St near University in Berkeley, with breakfast snacks and drinks available ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

DOUGLAS COUPLAND, artist and author of JPod, Microserfs, Eleanor Rigby, many other books, sculptures, plays, and blog forms

SLAID CLEAVES, his new record, Unsung

TRAILER PARK RANGERS, road music for the mind

SEAN WILSEY, author of his book about growing up, Oh The Glory of It All, and a new book on SOCCER

BEN FONG-TORRES , author of Almost Famous

MIKE GREENSILL and his eighty-eight tips on using the sustain pedal....

Saturday June 17

A choice selection from our decades of Archives from June 16, 2001, with WENDY WASSERSTEIN and PETER NICHOLS-- the only ticket is to listen on the air, on line, or via satellite today. No need to queue!

June 24

LIVE at the Freight and Salvage Coffee House , 1111 Addison St near University in Berkeley, with breakfast snacks and drinks available

TODAY ONLY - A TWOFER -- Two admission for the price of One. (If you've bought your ticket, you can bring a guest, or get a gift certificate for another show.)

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CAROLINE PAUL , her new book is East Wind, Rain, set in an outer island of the Hawaiian archipelago

JOE QUIRK , whose new rush of a book is Sperm are from men, Eggs are from Women, and exploration of what else ... evolutionary biology

MITCH WOODS, a blues master known for his Rocket 88s

ROY ZIMMERMAN, satirical song writer, with highlights from his new one-man show and and song-stylin' CD Faulty Intelligence

GUY JOHNSON, one of the West Coast Live poet laureates.

Rev. Sam Barry, Piano Man, in for the traipsing Mike Greensill

July 1

Live at the Freight and Salvage 1111 Addison, Berkeley, off University and San Pablo....continental snacks available ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

MONICA ALI, author, whose books include Brick Lane and the new Alentejo Blue. (Sylvia Brownrigg moves to July 8.)

THE BITTERSWEETS, compelling acoustic song-writing marvels

CLAIRE PEASLEE, naturalist, who brings her own warmth to the topic of global life

JESSE DE NATALE, story-telling singer songwriter, whose new albums are Soul Parade and Shangri-La West

TERRY BAUM, former lesbian Green candidate for Congress, in her one-woman show about, Baum for Peace

DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE, our annual reading with members of the theater audience participating. Lift Ev'ry Voice!

Rev. Sam Barry, Piano Man, in for the traipsing Mike Greensill

July 8

Live at the Freight and Salvage 1111 Addison, Berkeley, off University and San Pablo....continental snacks available

Music by J.T. and THE CLOUDS , some road dust, some Talking Heads, some Memphis diner and Family Stone and you might hear others in the Clouds....

SYLVIA BROWNRIGG, author, with a reading from her new novel, acclaimed in the UK, The Delivery Room

RAY BENSON from Asleep at the Wheel, the post-modern king of Western Swing

STEPHEN SALMONS , founder and eloquent proponent of the SF Silent Film Festival at the Castro July 14, 15, and 16.

SIDDARTH DHANVANT SHANGHVI , author of The Last Song of Dusk

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JULY 15

Live at the Freight and Salvage 1111 Addison, Berkeley, off University and San Pablo....continental snacks available

THE BILLS , the rollicking acoustic marvels whose blend sound symphonic and rhythyms deep and woven from sea spume

Author GAUTAM MALKANI , whose new novel Londonstani, gives a 2006 view of modern Britain. How tongue-in-cheeky is it?.

Author LEONARD PITT , author of Walking Through Lost Paris, mime, and founder of the Berkeley Chocolate Club

Music by VIENNA TENG, the acclaimed pianist and songwriter in the pop-folk style.

T.C. BOYLE, author, with his new book, Talk Talk, a adventure in identiy theft with a deaf woman as his protagonist and a CGI creator as her ally.

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JULY 22nd

A classic. No need to queue, just tune in and savor, from 23 June, 2001.

Poet DIANE DI PRIMA, poet and author of Recollections of My Life as a Woman: The New York Years

Singer/songwriter JESSE DE NATALE and his Band.

MYLA GOLDBERG, author Bee Season

Ebullient nuevo flamenco guitar from SEREGIO LARA and JOE REYES.

LAURA GLEN LOUIS, author of Talking in the Dark

Music from piano player MIKE GREENSILL.

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JULY 29th

And another classic, from 30 June, 2001, at the Kate Wolf Music Festival in the Laytonville heat, for enjoying while sipping a mint julep, perhaps.

WAVY GRAVY, founder of Camp Winnarainbow.

ROSALIE SORRELS and U. UTAH PHILLIPS, with MARK ROSS.

ARLO GUTHRIE and RAMBLIN' JACK ELLIOTT.

ALISA FINEMAN, singer-songwriter.

NINA GERBER on guitar.

PAUL KAMM and ELEANORE MCDONALD.

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AUGUST 5th .... LIVE

at San Jose State University's Music Concert Hall Corner of South Seventh and East San Fernando Streets. Street parking is available. There is also a garage at South Fourth and East San Fernando. Map and directions here.

A higher Tech show....with insights, highlights, previews and exclusives from ZeroOne San Jose.

From August 7-13, 2006 ZeroOne San Jose/ISEA 2006 Symposium will transform the entire city into the North American epicenter for the intersection of art and digital culture. For seven consecutive days, nearly 200 juried artists from around the world will be converging on Silicon Valley to showcase some of the most innovative, astounding art ever seen or experienced. ZeroOne San Jose/ISEA 2006 is a multi-dimensional event featuring exhibits by world-class artists, interactive cinema, music dance and spectacle performances, workshops, and youth activities.

Our guests include:

KENNETH HELPHAND, author of Defiant Gardens: Making Gardens in Wartime. Why is it that in the midst of a war, one can still find gardens?

ADRIENE JENIK, film-maker, director/producer, Specflik.

STEVE DIETZ, the festival director of ZeroOne San Jose/ISEA 2006.

JOE REINSEL, from URBANTells.

THE MUMLERS: Mercedes El Vencere, JF Holmes, Andy Paul, Paolo Gomez, Muller, Felix Archuleta, William Sprott.

JENNIFER FRAUTSCHI, violinist, with accompanist from Music at Menlo festival.

MIKE GREENSILL, our remarkable pianist.

NB: The hall is in the middle of campus so there isn't a street address. The closest intersection is South Seventh and East San Fernando streets. Campus Map and directions here. Parking: street parking is available however we've heard that the Fourth Street Garage, located on South Fourth and East San Fernando streets is a reasonable choice.

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AUGUST 12th LIVE from the Point Arena Theater in bucolic downtown Point Arena, on the MENDOCINO COAST CA

SPECIAL GUESTS REED MARTIN and AUSTIN TICHENOR of the THE REDUCED SHAKESPEARE COMPANY, the rollicking troupe who make Bill's plays brief and comic, even the tragedies....

JASON ROBERTS , whose account of how a blind man, James Holman, became history's greatest traveler - I see better with my feet -, A Sense of the World, takes us on extraordinary sea voyages. PLUS CAROLYN COOKE, short story writer and humorist, LESLIE DAHLOFF, Mayor of Point Arena, MITCH MCFARLAND, Harbormaster, STEVE OLIFF, Point Arena Historian, and others of great note, compelling narrative and vivacity. SITA MILCHEV, Soprano, accompanied by DON KRIEGER (SITA is the grand-daughter of renowned composer ERNEST BLOCH and daughter of sculptor and muralist LUCIENNE BLOCH), TEXAS JON and his BAND and Mendocino coast resident LINDSEY SMITH , California High School Poet Laureate in 2005

The show in Point Arena is worth the drive, according to Michelin, if they'd write about it, unless, of course, you're in the area already then it's worth the walk...

MIKE GREENSILL, the north coast gets to see his playing first hand, and second hand, too....

For TICKETS to the Point Arena show on August 12 at the Arena Theater, call the Arena Theater TICKET Office at (707) 882-2001. Leave a message if necessary and someone will get back to you soon. Tickets will also be available by walk-in, in GUALALA at The Sea Trader, and in PT. ARENA at The Record CafŽ.

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AUGUST 19th

LIVE from the S.F. Ferry Terminal Building, scene of the Farmers' Market. A great view of the bay today -- so vital in radio -- Directions to our broadcast site on the second floor in the Port Commission Hearing Chambers (go up the central staircase, or take the elevator): here.

Music byWESLA WHITFIELD, the American Popular Song goes organic at the market....

ERIK DAVIS, whose new book profiles The Visionary State of California

Tips on Travel with KARL and CARL, for those last minute summer travel plans, without toothpaste.

NINA PLANCK, author of Real Food and CHRIS COSENTINO, Executive Chef of Incanto

MARK CHILDRESS, author, One Mississippi, among many books

SAM WEBER, American popular tap dancing to keep us nimble

MIKE GREENSILL, sampling the produce between and during his playing

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AUGUST 26th

A Classic. Not so old in geologic terms. Quite fresh, spry, and compelling! We bring you highlights from our two broadcasts from CAMP CURRY, YOSEMITE, in May 1999 and August 2000 featuring

JESSE COLIN YOUNG,

CHRIS SMITHER,

ROSS HANNA, grandson of JOHN MUIR,

and

GERRY BLOCH, oldest person to climb El Capitan at age 81 and guide MIKE CORBETT,

MOTHER CURRY's recipe for soda bread and reminiscences from the CURRY family,

Ranger YVONNE GRANGER,

Yosemite music historian and performer TOM BOPP,

and

and MIKE GREENSILL house pianist (appearing Aug 27 2006 in the Herbst Theater with WESLA WHITFIELD

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SEPTEMBER 2nd 2006 LIVE from the S.F. Ferry Terminal Building, scene of the Farmers' Market.

the harvests are on, with fruits and vegetables and great stories from down on the organic farms-- A beautiful view of the Bay from our venue today! So important in radio....

Coming from the East Bay today? Several of us on West Coast Live are BARTING in today!

A great day to take BART because the eastbound deck of the Bay Bridge will be closed all weekend. BART Embarcadero station is just a block or two from the Ferry Terminal.

Also, the FERRY from Oakland (Jack London Square) at 8AM & Alameda at 8:10a will get you to the Ferry Building at 8:30am. Note that the 9am ferry goes instead to Pier 39 by 9:35, then you'd need to walk, cab, bike, or MUNI to the Ferry building with that 9a boat. (If you took the 10a boat you could come in late, but listen to the show en route.) From Vallejo, you have to Baylink ferries, one at 8a and one at 8:45a that would get you to the Ferry Building before the show starts.

Directions to our broadcast site on the second floor in the Port Commission Hearing Chambers (go up the central staircase, or take the elevator): here.

STEVE McCARTHY, of Prather Ranch Meat Company, organic cattle ranch in Northeastern California.

KATHARINE NOEL, San Francisco author of Halfway House

THE PICKPOCKET ENSEMBLE, play LIVE their new cd is Fingerpainting in Red Wine, as they move nearer ever=more middle-eastern influences

THE PETER JAMES BAND plays LIVE their music from footnotes to fairytales, lush and cinematic

Coffee Roaster and pianist-accordianist-vocalist STEVE WILLIS, a man whose Cold Hand in Mine grazes all the fingerings of Americana

REV. SAM BARRY filling in for Mike Greensill

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SEPTEMBER 9th 2006 in PORT TOWNSEND, Washington

LIVE from the renowned Port Townsend WOODEN BOAT FESTIVAL, on their 30th anniversary, where the AQUAPHONE will meet its long-lost cousins...at the 380 Jefferson Street stage. Free for Festival Pass holders, with $10 additional for preferred seating as we bring you the aquatic sounds of

CAROL HASSE, sailmaker and original Festival Organizer

BRION TOSS, Master rigger, author The Complete Rigger's Apprentice

TIM SNIDER, editor of Wooden Boat Magazine

STEVE MILLER, guitarist and boat captain

KACI CRONKHITE, world-class sailor and instructor

With music by

BERTRAM LEVY,

JOE EURO,

and

perhaps a surprise or two

SATURDAY SEPTEMBER 16th, 2006 in PORT TOWNSEND, Washington

at the PORT TOWNSEND FILM FESTIVAL in the UPSTAGE CAFE , 923 Washington Street.

Tix $10 advanced and for Film Festival Pass Holders, $12 at the door, with filmic marvels and the aroma of organic popcorn on the radio, and featuring

MALCOLM McDOWELL , actor, from If, O Lucky Man, A Clockwork Orange, The Company, many others.

Producer MIKE KAPLAN ,The Whales of August

Filmmaker JENNIFER BRETT WINSTON, whose film Fisher Poets, captures a stressed and stressful industry though poetry, with fisher poet ERIN FRISTAD

Director LINDA HATTENDORF, whose documentary, The Cats of Mirikitani about an artist lving in New York over September, 2001, who as a young man was in a Japanese internment camp.

Improv Troupe THE EDGE

MICHAEL WIEGERS , Managing Editor of the Port Townsend-based literary and fine arts Copper Canyon Press

Music by

HOT CLUB SANDWICH

the DWYER FAMILY BAND

and

ANDREW SHIELDS , house pianist, in for Mike Greensill.

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SATURDAY SEPTEMBER 23rd, 2006

Great writers, LIVE at the EMPIRE PLUSH ROOM in The York Hotel 940 Sutter Street (between Leavenworth and Hyde), San Francisco. Today, featuring:

ANNA QUINDLEN, columnist and author of One True Thing and Loud and Clear and Blessings;

LUIS URREA, author of The Devil's Highway and The Hummingbird's Daughter;

ROBERT HARRIS, author of Pompeii, Imperium, Enigma, and Fatherland;

TANGO No. 9, who exhilarate every Tango

LARRY GALLAGHER , whose new CD is Can I Go Now and the cover photo is worth the price alone.

and keeping up with his reading, MIKE GREENSILL, who turns his own pages.

SATURDAY SEPTEMBER 30th, 2006 show 662

Great writers, LIVE at the EMPIRE PLUSH ROOM in The York Hotel 940 Sutter Street (between Leavenworth and Hyde), San Francisco. Today, featuring:

CHRISTOPHER CERF and PAIGE PETERSON, author and illustrator of Blackie, the Horse Who Stood Still. His creative work ranges from Sesame Street to the National Lampoon.

ARIANNA HUFFINGTON, columnist, biographer.

THE GYPSY BAND from Cal Shakes As You Like It

Musical Satire by ROY ZIMMERMAN, funny songs about ignorance, war, and greed. Tom Leher meets Mort Sahl.

and following the script to the letter, MIKE GREENSILL, who plays to his own alphabet.

SATURDAY OCTOBER 7th, 2006 show 663

Great writers, LIVE at the EMPIRE PLUSH ROOM in The York Hotel 940 Sutter Street (between Leavenworth and Hyde), San Francisco. Today, featuring:

MAXINE HONG KINGSTON, with EARLL KINGSTON and LEE SWENSON, author and guide over the past 13 years to 80 Vietnam Veterans working through their memories Veterans of War, Veterans of Peace. - Tell the Truth, and so Make Peace.

LEWIS LAPHAM, author, editor emeritus Harper's Magazine, his new book Pretensions to Empire .

HEIDI JULAVITS, author, The Uses of Enchantment .

JAMES FALLOWS, author, national editor The Atlantic Monthly, his new book Blind into Baghdad .

and keeping his hands warm, MIKE GREENSILL, with his graceful touch.

SATURDAY OCTOBER 14th, 2006 show 664

Great writers, LIVE at the EMPIRE PLUSH ROOM in The York Hotel 940 Sutter Street (between Leavenworth and Hyde), San Francisco. Today, featuring:

MADHUR JAFFREY, author of cookbooks of Indian and Far East cuisine and British actor. Her new memoir, Climbing The Mango Trees - A Memoir Of A Childhood In India, recounts her eclectic upbringing, with recipes.

JASON HEADLEY, author of Small Town Odds

PETER SUSSMAN, editor of Jessica Mitford's Collected Correspondence.

Music by THE HOT FRITATTAS, with acoustic Italian and Sicilian music.

and in for , MIKE GREENSILL, , the pianist and harmonica virtuoso, Re.v SAM BARRY.

SATURDAY OCTOBER 21st, 2006 show 665

Great writers, LIVE at the EMPIRE PLUSH ROOM in The York Hotel 940 Sutter Street (between Leavenworth and Hyde), San Francisco. Today, featuring alternate realites:

LAURA NUMEROFF, author of If you Give Mouse a Cookie and other stories.

JULIAN DIBBELL, author of Play Money.

RAJIV CHANDRASEKARAN, author of Imperial Life in the Emerald City,an account of life in Baghdad's Green Zone.

Chanteuse JUDITH OWEN.

Story-telling band, SF-based JEFFREY HALFORD .

and in for MIKE GREENSILL, the pianist and harmonica virtuoso, Re.v SAM BARRY.

SATURDAY OCTOBER 28, 2006 show 666

Great writers, LIVE at the EMPIRE PLUSH ROOM in The York Hotel 940 Sutter Street (between Leavenworth and Hyde), San Francisco. Today, featuring:

ADAM GOPNIK, , author of Through the Children's Gate and Paris to the Moon

ELEN KLAGES, , author of The Green Glass Sea

Tips on Travel with Karl and Carl with Carl and Karl

and polishing his keys, MIKE GREENSILL, pianist and music software headscratcher.

SATURDAY NOVEMBER 4th, 2006 show 667

Great writers & music LIVE at the The BOOKSMITH at their 1644 Haight Street store in San Francisco, helping celebrate their 30 years as San Francisco's leading independent bookstore. Free attendance today, thanks to The Booksmith. A tip about parking: there is metered parking on Haight, but, apparently, all-day parking on Saturdays on all of the side streets. Read the street signs and enjoy the show and neighborhood!

Today, featuring:

CRAIG NEWMARK of Craigslist.

TOMIE DE PAOLA, author, Strega Nona and others

CHRIS BATY, the No Plot, No Problem guy,

Music by JIM BRUNBERG with TONY FURTADO (famous banjo slide player) and MEGAN SLANKARD

and the women's Japanese Surf Band WHYS

and The Extraordinary Mike Greensill

SATURDAY NOVEMBER 11th, 2006 show 668

Great worldy writers, LIVE at the EMPIRE PLUSH ROOM in The York Hotel 940 Sutter Street (between Leavenworth and Hyde), San Francisco. Today, featuring:

EDNA O'BRIEN the great Irish writer and playwright, her new book The Light of Evening;

NICK BANTOCK, from England, author, the episotlary chronicles of Griffin and Sabine, whose new novel is Windflower

NGUGI WA THIONG'O, exiled Kenyan novelist whose new novel is Wizard of the Crow;

NAHID RACHLIN , author of the memoir Persian Girls set in Iran

Music by DESTANI WOLF and her soul-world beat band;

and The World-Saavy MIKE GREENSILL

SATURDAY NOVEMBER 18th, 2006 show 669

Great writers, LIVE at the EMPIRE PLUSH ROOM in The York Hotel 940 Sutter Street (between Leavenworth and Hyde), San Francisco. Today, featuring: author FRANK McCOURT (Angela's Ashes, 'Tis, Teacher Man), The MEDICINE BALL BAND, singer-songwriter JOHN GORKA, singer ASHLEY CLEVELAND, JOHN SCHARFFENBERGER, chocolatier, with samples for the audience, and rMIKE GREENSILL and others

SATURDAY NOVEMBER 25th, 2006 show 670

Great writers, LIVE at the EMPIRE PLUSH ROOM in The York Hotel 940 Sutter Street (between Leavenworth and Hyde), San Francisco. Today, featuring: TUVAN THROAT SINGERS CHIRGILCHIN with LAURIE ANDERSON, performance artist, The BOBS, the OAKLAND INTERFAITH GOSPEL CHORUS, MIKE GREENSILL and others

SATURDAY DECEMBER 2nd, 2006 show 671

Great writers, LIVE at the in library of the Head-Royce School, 4315 Lincoln Avenue, Oakland. Today's show is free, but reservations required. 415-664-9500. Today, featuring: LISA BROWN (How To Be), SYLVIA BROWNRIGG (The Secret of the Universe), MELANIE GIDEON (Pucker), LEONARD PITT, (A Small Moment of Great Illumination: Searching for Valentine Greatrakes, The Master Healer),the HRS JAZZ BAND, MIKE GREENSILL and others make a ruckus in the Library during their annual Book Fair!

SATURDAY DECEMBER 9th, 2006 show 672

Great writers, LIVE at the Empire Plush Room. Today, featuring: HARRY SHEARER (Le Show), RAMBLIN' JACK ELLIOTT (Le Cowboy), the KITCHEN SISTERS (Le Audio Sculptresses), JAMES CROMWELL, (actor, Babe, LA COnfidential, The Queen, MIKE GREENSILL

SATURDAY DECEMBER 16th, 2006 show 673

A classic from November 09, 2002 - Live show next week, December 23rd,.

THE PERSUASIONS, fondly named the "Godfathers of A cappella". This group has been touring together for 40 years and has just released "Sing the Beatles".

THE KENSINGTON LADIES EROTICA SOCIETY, is back in the bedroom, with a follow-up to their 1984 genre-bending bestseller Ladies Own Erotica. Now in their 60s, the Ladies have written Sex, Death, and Other Distractions, They appear in masks on the radio.

THE DUO-TONES, unplugged surf classics.

FRED RAKER, creator and star of the one-man comedy It Could Have Been a Wonderful Life, up again in 2006 through Dec. 24 at the Phoenix Theater.

concluding with a carol by Michael Ruszczynski and Sylvia Brownigg, In Winter's Dark

J. RAOUL BRODY on house piano.

SATURDAY DECEMBER 23rd, 2006 show 674

Our Solstice show - In Winter's Dark - LIVE at the Empire Plush Room. Today, featuring:

STARHAWK , celebrating the Goddess movement.

WILL DURST , wild urstings at the solstice.

the TEATRO ZINZANNI BAND , wild accompaniment for for the shortest day

the REV. MICHAEL PATRICK ELLARD , a Nativity tale from a certain perspective

MIKE GREENSILL, 88 reasons to listen

SATURDAY DECEMBER 30th, 2006 show 675

A year's end special, from December 29, 2001

• Chanteuse WESLA WHITFIELD, with MIKE GREENSILL on piano. appearing at the Plush Room in 2007 Jan 16 - Feb 04.
• The late, great monologist SPALDING GRAY discusses life and his presentation of "Swimming to Cambodia" and a beautiful moment after his accident in Ireland
• Acclaimed songwriter and guitarist KATHY KALLICK, accompanied only by the always-amazing guitarist NINA GERBER.
• SHELDON GREEN, author of "Burnt Umber".
• Former Rolling Stone columnist GREIL MARCUS, and author of "Double Trouble: Bill Clinton and Elvis Presley".
• Music from piano player MIKE GREENSILL.

MIKE GREENSILL will be at the piano.