Macaroni and Cheese Off tonight is another reason I love NY

I haven't been so great about keeping up with what's going on in my city. I want to be on top of things, but I'm much more up on what's going on in bookstores, as that's my main beat, aside from sex, and the side of my writing I'm looking to expand on. That being said, I do want to start going to more fun events, like Monday night bingo at The West Cafe (I did try to go to The Moth on Thursday at Housing Works but the line was long and I was cold, not having quite mastered how to work my winter coat in to warm days/cool nights, so I've been leaving it at home). When I want to know about fun cheap places to go in New York, I always look at The Skint and it never disappoints! That's how I found out about today's The Mac-Off, which is both in Williamsburg and involves one of my favorite foods, macaroni and cheese!



The Mac-Off: 2nd Annual Mac and Cheese Fundraiser
Sunday, October 23
5pm to 8pm
Huckleberry Bar
588 Grand Street
$10 to judge, eat and booze

Probably not going to get to check it out, but I also found out via The Skint about a corn maze in Queens. I don't think I even knew they existed until I read the murder mystery (is "murder mystery" redundant or does "mystery" pretty much cover it? I feel like as a mystery reader I've never read a mystery that didn't involve a murder, yet I felt compelled to add "murder" to be sure you knew which kind of book I meant. Hmm...) Corpse on the Cob by Sue Ann Jaffarian, one of her excellent Odelia Gray series.

Ooey Gooey Valentine's Comedy Party tomorrow night!

You know what two things I love are? Comedy and The Skint. They join forces tomorrow night for a great event, get your tickets here. And when I know the pub date I'll post it, but look for my interview with Hannibal Buress soon in Penthouse. On Monday, actual Valentine's Day, if you're not on a date or at one of the bazillion other events awesome New Yorkers are hosting (seriously, I don't think I've ever seen SO many outstanding events in one night here), please do join me for free cupcakes and sexy stories at Bluestockings from 7-8.

Whether you're alone or in love, the skint's "Ooey Gooey" Valentine's Comedy Party will bring you a mega-heartshaped-box full of laughs!

Your cupid of comedy and host, Kurt Braunohler ("Hot Tub", Penelope: Princess of Pets) and funny folks Hannibal Buress (SNL, 30 Rock, Comedy Night at The Knitting Factory), Claudia Cogan ("Turtle Tank", Last Comic Standing) and Jessica Delfino will charm you with their first, best and worst Valentine's stories and titillating tales of love (and lust!) that are sure to put Hallmark to shame. To spice things up, we'll turn the lights down low for cringe-worthy love and dating videos presented by the Found Footage Festival as well as a special performance by the Little Top Circus and Medicine Show.

Submit your tales of dating disasters, snap sexy photo booth pictures, and win treasured raffle prizes. Indulge in $1 mini cupcakes from Robicelli's (Serious Eats' 2010 People's Choice winner) and sexy $2 tacos + $3 hot dogs from Oaxaca.

Win Peep Show: Erotic Tales of Vyeurs and Exhibitionists and read my interview at The Skint

I'm interviewed at one of my favorite sites, The Skint, AND you can win one of 3 copies of Peep Show: Erotic Tales of Voyeurs and Exhibitionists.

I answer questions like "You're trying to get into someone's pants, but have just $25 to spend on a date. Discuss." Read my answer at The Skint (which you should SO bookmark if you're in NYC and join their newsletter).

In The Flesh named Best Reading Series by Our Town

I am so grateful and excited about all the love In The Flesh Reading Series is getting. THANK YOU! To all the papers and blogs and websites that have linked to it, to everyone who's attended and spread the word, to everyone who's joined the Facebook page, etc. Also major thanks to New York Times's UrbanEye newsletter and Melena Ryzik, The Skint (and free gelato all day, unrelated to me, but why you should read The Skint), and MurphGuide.

And to Our Town for naming it Best Reading Series! This is such a huge honor. I've always said we should get "Best Snacks" but really, this review says more than I ever could. I so want In The Flesh to be a friendly, fun, perhaps surprising and/or enlightening event for EVERYONE.

Best Reading Series: In The Flesh Reading Series
Third Thursday of every month at Happy Ending Lounge, 302 Broome St. (betw. Eldridge and Forsythe)
212-334-9676
Even though Happy Ending Lounge is most closely associated with its namesake series (which has picked up and moved to Joe’s Pub), there’s something a bit naughtier brewing at the Broome Street den of debauchery. Now in its fourth year, “In the Flesh,” hosted by Rachel Kramer Bussel, features established and up-and-coming writers sharing their frank, funny, frisky tales of love and lust. Even more impressive: the series manages to do so—for the most part—without veering into creepy territory. Tension is cut by asking the audience to anonymously submit sexy secrets, and it doesn’t hurt that Bussel provides hundreds of cupcakes and not-to-be-missed miniature peanut butter cups to lull everyone into a sugar-induced sense of security. Normally we would avoid an erotic reading series like the plague, but after venturing down here to catch a friend reading her dirty dissertation, we were charmed by the humor of the readers and crowd and not at all displeased by the fact that everything we heard was actually—surprisingly—sexy. —BVB