Nov. 8 B.A.A.D. is coming soon! + bonus event Nov. 1, and a small transit plea

Hi all! Less than two weeks till Banjo Astro After Dark, Saturday, November 8 — 7pm at Borelli’s Pizza! It’s going to be awesome!

We’ll have original compositions and performances from 6 amazing local songwriters: Tisa Batchelder, Peggy Browning, Aaron Eddy, Jon Goldfine, Emily Nott, and Lindsay Weinberg!

I’ll be giving short talks (3-5 minute vignettes) interspersed with performances of original songs from local songwriters all centered around an astronomical theme (the Cosmic Distance Ladder!).

It’s an amazing night of music, astronomy, and pizza — one of my favorite nights of the year! You don’t want to miss it!

Also, another event of interest: I’ll be sharing astro facts and doing some fiddling as part of a Day of the Dead celebration November 1 at 6:30pm at the Agitator Artist Collective. Info below!

All the best,

Luke

P.S. I know this is not directly related to astronomy, but something that I also care about, as part of caring about our planet, is that transit in the state of Illinois is facing 40% service cuts if the state legislature doesn’t pass a bill by this Thursday. So if you are in Illinois, please consider reaching our to your Illinois state representative. It just takes 60 seconds to send an email here.

Context: CTA/Metra and other transit across the state are facing a fiscal cliff, due to, among other things, increased maintenance costs for an aging system, reduced fare revenue post pandemic (think work from home Fridays), and the expiration of federal funds. Even for folks who don’t use it, transit benefits everyone in reducing traffic congestion and generating environmental and economic savings. A recent study found failing to pass the bill could result in an increase in commute times by nearly 40% in the city and 14% regionally, with significant economic and environmental fallout: every dollar invested in transit produces $13 of economic productivity.

P.P.S. Here’s the information for the Day of the Dead celebration, led by the awesome Gary Glazner!

Please join us for a Dia De Los Muertos party

November 1st, 6:30pm to 9pm (FREE) at Agitator Gallery for a “Poetry of Death,” community party to close out ‘DECAYGING’ at Agitator Artist Collective, 3851 W Fullerton Ave, Chicago, IL 60647. Curated by Jason Greenberg.

We invite you to come celebrate with skull masks, skull puppets, skull make up, or the best attire to celebrate your death. Be ready to dance, recite poetry, and sing together throughout the night. Featuring Wendy Madrigal and Alonso Galué, Puppet Artists extraordinaire!

Gary Glazner, Event Curator, Poet, and Founder Alzheimer’s Poetry Project
Cin Salach, Poet
Luke Leisman, Astronomer/Fiddle player
Grant Kuchan, Novelist/Guitarist
Deborah Maris Lader, Artwork and Calligraphy

We will use call and response to lead the audience in the performance of well-loved poems like Shakespeare’s Sonnet 71, “No longer morn for me when I am dead;” Emily Dickenson’s “Because I could not stop for Death,” and Dylan Thomas’” Do not go gentle into that good night.”

We will sing along with spirituals like, “I’ll Fly Away,” and “Amazing Grace,” and blues songs like Reverend Gary Davis’ “Death Don't Have No Mercy" and “St. James Infirmary Blues,” lead by Leisman and Kuchan.

By asking the audience a series of open-ended questions on the theme of death, Glazner will lead them in the creation of an original Memento Mori poem. "Memento mori" is a Latin phrase that literally translates to "remember you must die" or "remember your death".

Gary Glazner acknowledges support from the Illinois Arts Council and the National Endowment for the Arts.