Dec 08
Sarah MurphyDesk Set Sponsored Events
Six things you might not yet know about tonight’s Biblioball
1) Your MC for the evening will be Ophira Eisenberg of the Moth, NPR, and now of the Biblioball.
Ophira Eisenberg is a comedian, writer, and host of NPR’s new weekly trivia comedy show, Ask Me Another. Selected as one of New York Magazine’s Top 10 Comics that Funny People Find Funny, and featured in the New York Times as a skilled comedian and storyteller with a “bleakly stylish” sense of humor, Ophira has also appeared on Comedy Central and VH-1. Her debut memoir, Screw Everyone: Sleeping My Way to Monogamy will be coming out in Spring 2013. She is a regular host and teller with The Moth.
2) The finalists for Postmaster General are getting ready to compete for your love.
A children’s librarian, the library hype man, a dramaturg and a cat lover will show off their bookish smarts, stylish threads and talents for you at Biblioball 2012: Signed, Sealed, Delivered. The winner will be chosen by the Biblioball crowd; the contestant with the most dollars and cents in their decorative mailbox wins the title. All money raised goes towards Literacy for Incarcerated Teens, so bring your opinions and small bills!
3) The Biblioball Zine and Words, Words, Words: Greetings from New York Cityare two of the better ways to enjoy being a nerd. Read more.
4) There will be food. In addition to the Bell House’s usual wares, you can also pick up some sweet stuff from the Biblioball Bake Sale and some savory treats fromBarry’s Tempeh.
5) Getting lucky in the Fancy Pants Raffle could mean a free trip on a airplane, or one of many other amazing prizes. Tickets will be for sale at the party (bring cash), and you must be present to win. Children’s author/illustrator Stephen Savage will join Ophira onstage to draw the winners. Remember, raffle proceeds will be split between LIT and ULU’s Sandy Children’s Book Relief.
6) Buying ahead is like getting a drink for free! Order your tickets in advance tosave on admission. $23 here, $30 at the door. That’s a savings of $7, also known as one special Biblioball Cocktail (plus tip)! Thanks to the fabulous staff at the Bell House, the FIRST CLASS (whiskey, seltzer, ginger-ale and a twist) will be available for $6 all night long.
Saturday, December 8, 2012
The Bell House
149 Seventh Street, Brooklyn
8:00 p.m. – 3:00 a.m.
Tickets $23 advance / $30 at the door / $10 after midnight (door only)
Buy tickets: http://biblioball.brownpapertickets.com
Proceeds Go To Literacy for Incarcerated Teens (LIT)
Serving Incarcerated and Detained Youth in New York
and Urban Librarians Unite’s Sandy Children’s Book Relief Fund.
Enjoy live music from Brooklyn’s Los Encantados.
Shake it to sets from DJs Duane Harriott, Brian Blackout, John XI, Marty McSorley, and Mikey Post as they spin 40s, 50s & 60s Soul, 70s Funk, Pre-Punk Psych, Juke-Joint, Bogooloo, New-Wave and more.
Enter the Fancy Pants Raffle, and you could walk away with fantastic prizes from local shops, restaurants and artists. 50% of all raffle proceeds will go towards the Sandy Children’s Book Relief Fund.
Smile for the camera as photographer Jeremy Balderson snaps your portrait in front of illustrator Gilbert Ford‘s original Biblioball backdrop.
Dec 06
Sarah MurphyDesk Set Sponsored Events
Just how fancy is the Fancy Pants Raffle?
Check out the amazing prizes that you can win at Saturday’s Biblioball. Tickets are 1 for $2, 5 for $5, 15 for $10. The more you buy, the better your chances of winning. But we’re all winners, because raffle proceeds will go towards both Literacy for Incarcerated Teens and Sandy Children’s Book Relief.
Enormous thanks to the businesses and individuals who have donated. Pelase support them, because they are wonderful, wonderful, most wonderful.
One R/T Flight in the Lower 48 States
Ten Book Bundles
Gift Pack
Gift Certificate
Mellodrama: The Mellotron Movie by Dianna Dilworth
Gift Pack
Picture books from raffle co-host Stephen Savage
Gift certificate for an eye exam, contacts and frames
One Year Membership
Print
Gift Certificate
Foodie Gift Box
Haircut with Tana at Foxy Salon
$25 Gift Certificate at Diamond Bar
One Private Pilates Session with Karrie
Dinner for Two
Collage
Prints from Haitian students Deborah and Dieunica from the One Bird program
$50 Gift Certificate
"Unbound" necklace and earrings set
Barrel of Monkeys from Rebus Books
Dec 05
Sarah MurphyDesk Set Sponsored Events
How to make a librarian dance party? Start with great music, a charming venue, and prom style portraits. Add kick-ass raffle prizes, an MC with NPR cred, library themed cocktails, and pageantry. On top of all that, add some smarty pants publications and ephemera. That’s where Alycia Sellie and Joy Tomasko come in. Longtime Biblioball supporters, Alycia and Joy are back with more to love at Biblioball 2012: Signed, Sealed, Delivered.
In between DJ sets and buying your raffle tickets, be sure to pick up a copy of The Borough is my Library: A Greater Metropolitan Library Workers Zine–Issue #4
Created by Alycia Sellie with contributions from local library workers, the zine is an exploration of the bibliographic undergrowth of New York City through the eyes of those at work in independent libraries, academic institutions and in the streets.
2012′s Biblioball zine features tales of library school students creating their own curriculum (and community), more adventures told by independent social movement archivists, and confessions about the very best aspects of being a zine librarian.
Covers for The Borough is My Library #4
And, when you’re ready to sign, deal and deliver your very own message, drop by Greetings from New York City – a words, words, words interactive postcard installation created by Joy Tomasko (writer and co-director of last year’s “S is for Shhhhh…”) with the Desk Set and Kim Cortes.
Summon your inner Cyrano. Visit the Biblioball Post to write (and send) a postcard to a friend, lover, stranger or grinch.
Greetings from New York City! Postcard design by Kim Cortes
Don’t forget to buy your tickets in advance! Prices go up at the door.
See you Saturday!
Nov 19
Sarah MurphyDesk Set Sponsored Events
Calling all shop owners, restauranteurs, artists, artisans, bakers, whiskeymakers, and more! Please consider donating to the Fancy Pants Raffle.
The Desk Set’s 5th annual Biblioball aims to get books into the hands of teenagers in New York’s juvenile detention program and children whose homes, neighborhoods and libraries were upended due to damage from Hurricane Sandy. You can help!
Biblioball 2012: Signed, Sealed, Delivered is coming up on Saturday, December 8th at the Bell House, and once again proceeds will benefit Literacy for Incarcerated Teens. LIT is the only organization of its kind working to end illiteracy among New York’s incarcerated young people by inspiring them to read, and that’s a simple and effective mission that we’re proud to support.
Additionally, 50% of all raffle prizes will go to Urban Librarians Unite’s Sandy Children’s Book Relief Fund. ULU is working with our city’s public libraries to bring materials back to damaged collections–consider where the children’s books are in any library; near the floor, and therefore most susceptible to flooding–and to provide service to book mobiles and other pop-up libraries in hurricane ravaged areas.
We hope that you will consider supporting LIT, ULU and the Desk Set with a contribution to the Fancy Pants Raffle. The raffle is an essential part of the Biblioball; it’s not only a huge fundraiser, it’s also a big draw for the hundreds of librarians and bibliophiles who come to dress up, get down, and get literary.
This year’s Biblioball will feature more fantastic entertainment: live music from Brooklyn’s Los Encantados, DJ sets from Duane Harriott, Marty McSorley, Brian Blackout, and John XI, an interactive postcard writing installation, the return of the Biblioball Zine, and the Desk Set’s first ever live competition: the crowning of the Postmaster General.
Fancy Pants Raffle winners will be drawn live and on stage. We will list your business on our website and in correspondence to our membership, and we’ll publicly thank you at the event.
Got some love to share? Just email us at thedeskset@gmail.com with your contact information and the prize details. Please include a logo or a photo of the prize so that we can credit you properly.
Fancy Pants Raffe, photo by Lemia Bodden
Nov 15
Sarah MurphyDesk Set Sponsored Events
Biblioball 2012: Signed, Sealed, Delivered is in need of a Postmaster General. Someone to watch over all the other partying librarians all year long. Someone bookish and stylish and boldish and smart. It could be you. We hope it’s you!
Three completely fair and balanced judges, Meghan, Devon and Todd, will peruse all applications to find our finalists. Finalists will have a chance to strut their stuff at the Ball on December 8th.
Don’t miss out on this incredible opportunity to prove to the world just how much you crave–and deserve–library love.
And the best part? The Postmaster General will be chosen among the finalists by the crowd at the ball, all of whom will be asked to vote with their pocket money. Whoever raises the most money for Literacy for Incarcerated Teens walks away with the sash, the crown, or whatever else we decide to make him or her wear.
Fill in the form below, or click here to open it in a new window.
Nov 13
Meghan DowellDesk Set Sponsored Events
Biblioball 2012: Signed, Sealed, Delivered is right around the corner. This wonderful event could not go on without you! This year our proceeds will again be donated to Literacy for Incarcerated Teens, with a twist – half of the raffle collection will be donated to Urban Librarians Unite Sandy’s Book Relief Program.
Incentives for volunteers:
- $11 tickets (with the coupon code)
- 5 Fancy Pants raffle tickets
- Our undying gratitude and appreciation
Volunteers at the Ball: Please email desksetvolunteers@gmail.com to indicate which station you prefer and TWO time slots. The one hour shifts start at 8pm and continue to 12 midnight.
Front door: (2 per hour)
The most friendly and cheerful should host the front doors. Your job will be to greet guests, inform them about LIT, and answer any questions they might have. It will be important to know: where raffle tickets are sold, where coat check is, the bands that are playing, etc. A “cheat sheet” will be created for you.
Raffle ticket sellers: (until 12-midnight)
Stationary: (2 per hour)
Your job is quite simple. Sell raffle tickets. It will be important to know what the raffle items are and information about LIT to encourage the buyers. A “cheat sheet” will be created for you.
Roving: (1 per hour)
You will be walking around the party selling raffle tickets. Enthusiasm and confidence is a must! It will be important to know what the raffle items are and information about LIT to encourage the buyers. A “cheat sheet” will be created for you.
Photo-booth assistant: (1 per hour)
Jeremy will be again taking portraits in the photo-booth! Your job would be to collect money, put photos in the frames, and stamp the frames.
Words, Words, Words: (2 per hour)
Greetings from New York City, an interactive postcard writing installation from Joy Tomasko. Help with keeping the area clean and assisting writers.
Clean-up:
When the Ball ends around 3:00am, it is helpful to have 3 or 4 people willing to stick around and help clean up.
And, when all is said and done:
Thank You Card writers:
We’ll send cards to all donors and performers to say thanks and let them know how much money we raised for LIT.
Nov 12
Sarah MurphyDesk Set Sponsored Events
No fees, fewer dollars, time saved: purchase your tickets today!
Advance tickets $23 / at the door $30
Ticket proceeds benefit Literacy for Incarcerated Teens.
Nov 01
Sarah MurphyDesk Set Sponsored Events
Update: Tickets are now available
Wow, what a week it’s been. We hope you’re all safe and sound, warm and dry, and our sympathy goes out to all of our many friends and neighbors still without power at home. We’re happy to know that most of NYC’s libraries are now open.
Here’s a little something to look forward to this winter.
Save the date for
Biblioball 2012: Signed, Sealed, Delivered
Saturday, December 8th
Ticket information and more details coming soon!
Sep 06
Sarah MurphyDesk Set Sponsored Events, Dispatches from the Editors, Events from Other Orgs books, comedy, Elna Baker, Glennis McCarthy, Kambri Crews, Karen Bergreen, Public Assembly, Rachel Dratch, women
2012: Year of the Dragon, Year of 30th Olympiad, and year of outrageous lady hating. It seems almost silly to point out areas where women are particularly marginalized, because the past few months have brought us this, this, and who could forget this?
But most of think of the arts as a kinder, gentler, or at least better and more gender equal place. Oh, but this guy thinks that women can’t be funny, and (some) people seem to…like him? His “argument” isn’t even worth debating, but here’s a debate you might have time for: why are women so underrepresented in the literary arts? Women who choose to pursue careers in comedy or in writing are bravely facing obstacles that their (straight) male counterparts are unlikely to ever experience. And I’m being really generous with the use of the word “unlikely.” And what of the women who do both? Women who tell jokes in public and write books? These women should be celebrated, cheered, given their own day, their own year even (2013 is available). Well, the Desk Set can at least give them a couple of hours. Jumping off my high horse just in time to have some fun and invite you to :
the Desk Set & the G.L.O.C. present
That’s What She Said:
Conversations with Women Writers/Comics
Wednesday, September 19, 2012 7:00PM
Public Assembly’s back room
Glennis McCarthy, of the Gorgeous Ladies of Comedy (G.L.O.C), will moderate a panel discussion with women navigating the worlds of both comedy and literature. Panelists include legendary SNL cast member Rachel Dratch, Elna Baker (The Moth, This American Life, Studio 360, Radiolab),Kambri Crews (92Y, UCB, the Moth, Ochi’s Lounge), and Karen Bergreen (Gotham, Comic Strip, Caroline’s)
That’s What She Said is part of Etcetera, Public Assembly‘s week long festival of art, talks, films, comedy, learning, music and dancing.
This event, like many of the Et Cetera events is FREE.
(But bring cash if you want to buy a book!)
21+
9/19/2012
7:00 PM
Public Assembly
70 North 6th Street
Williamsburg, Brooklyn
Rachel Dratch grew up in Lexington, Massachusetts, attended Dartmouth College, and spent nine years in the Chicago improv scene, eventually making it to the Second City mainstage, where she worked with Adam McKay, Tina Fey, Scott Adsit, and Kevin Dorff among others. Starting in 1999, Rachel famously spent seven seasons as a cast member of Saturday Night Live. After leaving SNL, Rachel has performed in various TV, film and theatre projects. Last spring, she published her first book, the memoir Girl Walks Into a Bar…
Elna Baker is a writer and comedic storyteller. She’s appeared on The Moth Radio Hour, This American Life, BBC Radio 4, All Things Considered, WTF with Marc Maron, Studio 360, The Sound of Young America, and at the Upright Citizens Brigade Theater. She’s written for ELLE, Glamour and Men’s Journal among others. Her memoir The New York Regional Mormon Singles Halloween Dance was published by Penguin, earning four stars in People Magazine and the 2010 AML award for best humor writing. She’s also the co-host and co-creator of The Talent Show, recently named best variety show by New York Magazine.
Kambri Crews once lived with her deaf parents in a tin shed in Montgomery, Texas. She now runs her own PR and production company in New York City, books comedy for the 92YTribeca, and is the author of the critically acclaimed memoir Burn Down the Ground (Random House). A renowned storyteller and public speaker, Kambri has performed on The Moth’s Mainstage, The 92Y, SXSW Comedy, Risk!, UCB Theatre, Gotham Comedy Club and given speeches at SXSW, DeafHope, and many other schools, colleges, venues and events.
Karen Bergreen, a mainstay in the New York City comedy clubs, has been invited twice to perform at HBO’s U.S. Comedy Festival in Aspen, Colorado and the Great American Comedy Festival at the Johnny Carson Theatre in Norfolk, Nebraska. Karen has appeared on Comedy Central, The Oxygen Network, and The Joy Behar Show, and Law & Order. Her 2010 comic novel Following Polly earned praise from The New York Times, Oprah Magazine, and her mother-in-law. Her newest novel Perfect is Overrated came out in July.
Glennis McCarthy (nee McMurray) is a New York Times profiled comedian, actress and founder of TheGLOC.net, a community-building website for women in comedy. At 19, Glennis moved from a trailer park in Colorado to New York City with a degree in manicurist…ing. [Nails.] She survived a 93-year-old French roommate with Dementia; a customer service job opening mail containing used condoms; a winter in Jersey City on $200 a week; an almost marriage; lots and lots of credit card debt; a celebrity boyfriend; a blue album; and an eventual emersion as the FIERCE butterfly you see before you. She is writing a book about it and yes, mom, you will be in it.
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