She So Funny

 

 

 

Hello everyone.  If you’d enjoy an evening of poetry, song, and an open mic, come on over to the Green Pavilion in Brooklyn on Wednesday, February 26^th at 7pm.  4307 18th Avenue Sign up for the open mic if you’d like to share a poem, short prose, song, dance, or a short comedy set.  This is a very long-running, successful reading series produced and curated by Evie Ivy, poet, belly dancer, good human being.

 

I, along with poets Evelyn Katz and Sylvia Rivera and singer/musician Peter Vecchio will be featuring.  And YOU (if you desire) at the open mic.  Sure to be a good evening!

 

F train to 18th Avenue, last car, right staircase out, about 1/2 block from the corner you will be standing on.  $6.50 min. food purchase, inexpensive, varied menu. $4 suggested donation to reading.  

 

 

Now, my comedy fans, mark your calendars for Friday, 3/14/2025 @ 8pm.  My Almost Spring Comedy Show will be at The Artist, 249 City Island Avenue in the Bronx.  (#6 train to Pelham Bay and then the #29 bus to City Island.)  Here is the hilarious line-up:

 

Rachael Parenta

 

Lisa Harmon

 

Linda Marcus Smith

 

And me, of course! 

 

Unlike many comedy shows, it is only $15 cover and NO minimum.  You may even BYOB.  Friendly staff will provide corkscrew, glass, ice, whatever.  A menu of light fare and delicious desserts* is available and tempting but not required.  Laughter is guaranteed!!!

 

 *Jenny’s Sweets https://www.facebook.com/JennysSweetsSA

 

So much love to CGG-M  ❤💕❤

Mindy Matijasevic

February 2025

 

 

 

 

When I get my azz out there to perform, I feel so good from it.  Last week, at the AITB – Art in the Basin event at Mon Amour Coffee and Wine, I had a great time.  A poet I enjoy, Heather Archibald, was a feature, and I was asked to perform comedy as the other feature.  Additionally there was an open mic. 

Time was tight, so I ended up doing a shorter set than I was prepared to do.  That was fine with me.  I prefer being over-prepared.  It’s a hybrid event, so some of the audience is Zooming in on-line while others are right there in person.  

I was happy to be videotaped, but disappointed that the video didn’t pick up the audience reactions.  There was laughter throughout, and there was one attendee who had something to shout out a few times during my set.  One example:  When, toward the end of a bit about ‘no balls,’ I said that I like the way my jeans fit, he yelled out, “I like the way your jeans fit too.”  It all became part of everything, but when I watched the video, my voice was the only one heard.  Video aside, I had a great experience. 

I feel fortunate to have become to know Tim W. Brown and Amy Joy Robateau, who are such welcoming and supportive hosts and contribute loving vibes to the community.  God/dess knows, we need it.  I believe Ron Marc Trenkler-Thomson (Bronx Art & Fun Hub  https://www.facebook.com/bxafh) had something to do with the connection happening, then further supported by John A. Todras (half of the Elegant Ivory Duo https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DrHqQhJkUvs) – both extremely supportive people.

From left to right:  Tim W. Brown, me, Amy Joy Robateau, and Heather Archibald.

I had my annual lung scan yesterday.  That was the easy part.  On 2/21, I have to meet with the doctor to discuss the results.  THAT’S the hard part.  My buddy is taking me and will be with me.  I want to be on this Earth for many more years.  I finally got it more together than I had for so long, but health issues give me SOOOO much anxiety. 

Onto happier things – on Wednesday, February 26^th, I’ll be featuring as a poet at Evie Ivy’s reading series at the Green Pavilion, 4307 18^th Avenue, Brooklyn, NY (F train to 18^th Avenue station, then a 2-minute walk).  Reasonable prices, well attended, and typically a very satisfying evening.  Evie is a warm and welcoming host.  Sign up for the open mic if you’d like to share something.  It’s a supportive audience.

By the way, if you are looking for a unique and unisex gift, and if this applies, contact me.

 

 

Mark your calendar for March 14, 2025, at 8pm for comedy at The Artist on City Island!  Only $15 cover and NO minimum!  You may even BYOB!  More details in the next blog.

Shout out to Jaye for warming my heart with a Valentine card.  This person has been a bright light in my life since I met her some years ago.  She lifts my spirits with each contact.  It seems amazing to me that whenever I’m thinking of her strongly, I hear from her the next day or two.  I feel like I pick up on her energy or she on mine. 

 

Constant love to CGG-M  ❤💕❤

Mindy Matijasevic

February 2025

 

 

Hi people.  The Eat Drink Laugh show at Pangea two Fridays ago was great.  We performed for an almost full house which was wonderful.  It had me buzzing for a few days following the show.

 

 

Next Tuesday, February 4^th from 7-8pm, Art in the Basin is having an event at Mon Amour Coffee and Wine, 234 West 238 Street (off Broadway in the Bronx).  It is FREE.  The venue appreciates your purchase of food or drink.  Heather Archibald will share her poetry.  I will be doing stand-up comedy.

https://www.facebook.com/artinthebasin

 

On Thursday, February 6^th at 8:30pm, I’ll be performing comedy in Randy Epley’s Comedy Dungeon Show at Kama Central Park Hostel, 36 West 106 Street in the lounge.  It is FREE and you may BYOB.  (B or C train to 103 Street)

 

        I just wanted you to know of upcoming things.  I’m ending here for now.  

 

 

Love to CGG-M  ❤ ❤ ❤

Mindy Matijasevic

February 2025

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Whew!  I just submitted my grant application for a grant from the Bronx Council on the Arts.  I got it in with 4 ½ hours to spare.  I make myself crazy with deadlines.  Announcements will be in March.  Fingers crossed.  I need the money so badly.  I entered the poetry category.  My confidence fluctuates.  There are moments I believe it is grant-worthy, and then there are moments I hope the judges will appreciate my style.  The hopeful part is there can be more than one winner in a category.  So if they find several to be grant-worthy, there can be several winners.  It depends.  If no one wins for dance or sculpture, etc., that money can be used for multiple winners in another category. 

The Bronx Council on the Arts has been so enriching and encouraging over the years.  I’ve attended many of their workshops and classes which are free to us.  For me, it offers what I can’t otherwise afford.  And it’s high quality.

Now, let’s warm up together with laughter this Friday!  9pm at Pangea, 178 Second Avenue near 12^th Street, NYC.  Only $15 cover; if you buy your ticket in advance, it’s only $10.  Advance tickets here:  https://cur8.com/23871/project/128512  There is a minimum of $20 food/drink; the food is excellent.  Here’s the line-up:

        Laughter guaranteed!

 

 

Love to CGG-M  ❤💕❤

Mindy Matijasevic

January 21, 2025

 

                 

 

 

 

Photo by Flash Rosenberg

Thank goodness the holidays are over for now.  That’s how I feel.  I am grateful that my best buddy and I got together and, by car, brought my December rent check to the rental office on Dec. 31^st (how’s that for last minute) and then went to an Indian restaurant for dinner on New Year’s Eve.  It wasn’t planned in advance; it happened spontaneously.  He treated.  We enjoyed each other’s company and conversation.  Since it wasn’t planned, it felt like a bonus.  Earlier that last day of 2024, I was informed that a poem of mine was accepted for the March issue of First Literary Review East.  I am grateful for the communities of which I am part.

 

The first day of 2025 was the New Year’s Day Spoken Word Extravanga from 2 to 10pm way down in the West Village.  I was scheduled to read somewhere between 3 and 4pm, but I was quite late and read somewhere after 5pm.  I am glad they don’t have the “You’re late!” attitude.  They put me up later on, and I was welcomed.  Aside from reading three short poems, I presented my divorce t-shirts for sale.  I made a sale, which helped me get through the next two days.  My reading was well received.  I was glad to see many poetry folks I don’t see often, mainly because many are downtown poets and I’m in the Bronx.  It was a good way to start the year.

 

Contact me if you’d like a shirt for yourself or as a gift for someone else.  They are unisex and XL.

 

 

I’ll be performing stand-up at Pangea (178 Second Avenue, NYC) on Friday, 1/24/2025 in the 9pm “Eat Drink Laugh” show, produced and hosted by the very funny Paul Hallasy.  It’s always a hilarious time, and we are going to need it.  Tickets $15 at the door ($10 in advance) – and $20 minimum on drink and/or delicious food.  Laughter guaranteed!

ADVANCE TICKETS ON SALE HERE: https://cur8.com/23871/project/128512 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Love to CGG-M ❤❤❤

Mindy Matijasevic

January 2025

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Well today is Christmas and the first night of Hanukkah.  Hanukkah will conclude in January.  I don’t remember that ever happening before, but I’m sure it must have.  Have a good everything.

 

The night before the winter solstice and my birthday was the show at The Artist on City Island.  The weather reports were threatening a snowstorm.  Here in the Bronx, nothing stuck, it was not at all a storm, and we just had wet ground.  However, the comics were coming from Staten Island, Long Island, and Brooklyn.  So for a few hours, I was not sure one of them was going to brave it.  I don’t drive at all, so when a driver feels hesitant about driving in challenging weather, I get it. 

 

It all worked out.  Then there was the mystery of how many audience members will show up.  The weather reports were not on our side.  Still, more people came than I thought.  And it was a good show.

 

        Elliot Glick introducing the show and welcoming the audience warmly.  He's one of my favorite people.

 

            Me enjoying a comic.

 

 

           Helaine showing us how she was coached to pose.

 

 

            Half of us looking like the Rockettes.

 

         My bestie’s girlfriend suggested they take me out to dinner the next day on my birthday.  We went to Neem, an Indian restaurant in Riverdale (in the Bronx, N.Y.).  It was so relaxing, no rushing, no having to get anywhere else.  We ate and talked and drank (well I drank).  It was very nice and generous of them.  It gave me something to look forward to.  I was grateful.

 

If you are into starting 2025 with poetry, you might want to attend some of this extravaganza which runs from 2-10pm at 55 Bethune Street in the community room.  It is FREE.  Each reader reads for 3 minutes, so if you don’t like someone, it will end soon.  There is an open mic list included if you want your 3 minutes.  The open mic-ers are usually sprinkled throughout the day.

 

 

The local news breaks my heart – people losing their lives over stupid shit.  Their families devastated at holiday time.  Horrible.  Then a dictator coming into office in January.  God/dess help us all.

 

Let’s embrace laughter to help us get through.  The Eat Drink Laugh show at Pangea (NYC) on January 24^th at 9pm will lift your spirits.

 

 

 

Loads of love to CGG-M    ❤❤❤

 

Mindy Matijasevic

December 2024

 

 

 

 

 

    Hi everyone!  A haiku of mine on the theme of winter is published here:

I'm in here towards the end

 

    Another poem of mine has been requested to another publication.  That part of my life is going well.

 

    My show, The Almost-Winter Comedy Show, at The Artist, 249 City Island Avenue, is on 12/20/2024 at 8pm.  Only $15 cover, no minimum, and a hat gets passed around for contributions so I may pay the comics.  There is a vegetarian-friendly menu and delicious desserts to tempt you, but it is not required.  You may even BYOB.  Glasses, ice, and a corkscrew will be provided.  It is a family-run place and very welcoming.

 

    The desserts are provided by Jenny's Sweets and they are SPECTACULAR!

 

    The line-up:

Helaine Witt

Jose Angel Diaz

Shelly Colman

and me!

 

    This show is my birthday eve, and I hope you want to attend.  I’d love to see you there and hear your laughter.

 

    I hope everyone had a decent or better Thanksgiving.  Mine started out sort of depressing, but I was expected at a dinner in the evening at my best friend’s house.  It was a vegetarian dinner, delicious, and with great company.  So much sharing, wine, weed, and laughter.  I am so grateful. 

 

    However, the next evening, someone was ringing my doorbell.  I was not expecting anyone, so I almost didn’t go to the door.  Then I thought maybe it was a package I wasn’t expecting.  I went to the door, looked through the peephole, and it wasn’t anyone in a FedEx or UPS uniform.  I asked, “Who’s there?”  The young (maybe early 20s) man had long hair, maybe in dreadlocks, braids, or twists, and didn’t look at my door, so I only got a profile view.  It seemed he was reading off his phone.  He said that he lost his I-Phone around here and wondered if I had seen it or heard about it.  I told him, “No,” and I added, “Good luck.”  If he thought I would open my door, he got the wrong girl.  I was born and raised here in the Bronx. 

 

    What I didn’t hear was most significant.  He didn’t ring anyone else’s doorbells.  So this was specific.  I wondered if someone was watching me, or if someone hired someone to do something.  I don’t generally make enemies, but as far as I know, there are some people who think they would like me to be dead.  I was never cruel to them.  Both are connected to a man I chose to not be with.  Draw your own conclusion.  Then there are people in the neighborhood who might feel rejected by me simply because I don’t respond favorably to disrespectful men.  Whatever that person at my door was about, it could’ve been a very Un-Thanksgiving Day After.  Life isn’t boring.  That’s for sure.

 

    This year, Hanukkah and Christmas begin on the same day.  Amazing.  And for the first time in my memory, Hanukkah will conclude in January.

 

    Come to my show on 12/20!

 

Love always to CGG-M  ❤💕❤

Mindy Matijasevic

December 2024