photo by John Bigtacion

This ain’t yo daddy’s disco.

Another great BBQ’ed Artist. The second BBQ of our summer series was truly amazing

We provided a vast collection of 323East styles for this amazing fashion show. Designers include our Show Stylist Angela McBride, Konquest, Anastasia Chatzka, Fatoula. Accessories provided from many artist that we have at the gallery.
Here are a few of the photos that Angela and Justin Reevers captured.

Local News

PUBLISHED: Thursday, July 24, 2008
Permit process foils store’s plan for outdoor entertainment

One-man mime act moved inside; others up in the air.

By Catherine Kavanaugh
Daily Tribune Staff Writer

ROYAL OAK — Noir Leather owner Keith Howarth said he has been hiring street performers to entertain outside his business since June 10, when he initiated the Take Back Tuesdays promotion to liven up the “deadest” shopping day downtown.
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However, this week’s show — a one-man mime act — almost was squelched by police. Now, the future of Howarth’s promotion is in question.
Mime Russ Taylor, who performs as Satori Circus, ended up putting on his 45-minute act inside Noir Leather, 124 W. Fourth St., after Howarth learned he could be ticketed, fined up to $500 and even go to jail for violating the city’s special event permit ordinance.

Howarth said he obtained the eight-page application Monday for the $125 permit, but the review process can take 30 days and by then his plans for offering summer entertainment will be thwarted.

“All I’m trying to do is bring a hip vibe to Royal Oak, make it a little like New York,” Howarth said. “I really wasn’t aware I needed a permit. Tuesdays are the deadest days here. Wednesdays and Thursdays we get 300 motorcycles and I can’t have one mime.”

Local officials learned about the mime act and Take Back Tuesdays promotion from an e-mail sent out by the Royal Oak Chamber of Commerce. City Commissioner Michael Andrzejak asked police to investigate.

“We were pre-emptive and told the business owner ahead of time that if he was doing anything on the sidewalk he needs a permit,” Police Chief Ted Quisenberry said.

Police officers then checked out the performance Tuesday evening and filed a report.

“He did modify the event and moved it indoors,” Quisenberry said. “As far I know nothing ticket-able happened.”

City officials can be sticklers about granting special event requests and they want to have the requests at least 30 days in advance.

“The city needs to be consistent, and even-handed, in the enforcement of the special event permit process,” Andrzejak said. “Mr. Howarth is a longtime and valued Royal Oak business owner. He is well aware of what is required to hold his special event Tuesday promotions. Any business owner or special event promoter who thinks they don’t need permission or a permit to use the public right of way is just plain arrogant or ignorant, or both.”

The production staff of “Prayers for Bobby,” a movie shot for the Lifetime cable network earlier this summer, learned how strict Royal Oak is about the ordinance when they had to be squeezed on to a May budget meeting agenda. The meeting was one day before they wanted to block off downtown parking spaces for filming outside Pronto! and two weeks before they needed to close Washington Avenue to recreate a 1980s gay pride parade with 1,000 movie extras.

After complaining about the proper process being bypassed, commissioners approved the permit for PFB Productions with a 6-1 vote.

“There have been exceptions, but applicants have to make the effort to have something done on short notice,” police Lt. Corrigan O’Donohue said. “We’ve got these rules so we know what’s going on and can be ready for anything.”

Howarth, who is celebrating his 25th year in business, said time isn’t on his side. The City Commission isn’t meeting again until Aug. 4 so he can’t request an exception to the 30-day rule before his next street performers, roller derby cheerleaders called the Motor City Rah Rahs, are scheduled to appear Tuesday.

“They were supposed to cheer outside and maybe make a pyramid,” Howarth said. “I guess I’ll have them come inside, too.”

Howarth said the city should have a faster, more flexible permit process for small-scale events.

“It doesn’t let businesses have any creativity,” he said. “We need a process that isn’t so cumbersome and involved. Sometimes I’m only booking the acts two weeks in advance.”

The mime drew a crowd of about 25 people, according to Howarth. On past Tuesdays, he said he has paid $40 to $150 for various entertainers, such as Wolfman Mac, the host of a horror movie show who signed autographs outside Noir Leather; Skin and Bones, a guitarist and drummer who beats on a suitcase; and Fraulein Cornelia, who told fortunes.

“The acts weren’t getting much attention so I went to the chamber hoping to get a little publicity,” Howarth said.

…… and not of the huey lewis variety!

Ever since I came home from Chicago I’ve been kickin Boney M’s greatest hits around the office. To those of you who are unfamiliar I say,

Do it Boney.

Art galleries can be intimidating places. You know, big blank walls, big expensive paintings, important people with furrowed brows scratching their chins and nodding slowly. Everyone has a cartoon-y French accent. OK, maybe not that last part. But regardless, 323 East, metro-Detroit’s newest and most exciting artistic endeavor, does not fail to break the standard. A welcoming gallery-boutique hybrid in downtown Royal Oak, 323 East seeks to benefit both local artists and the regular community by bridging them together in a very refreshing way.

323 East is a gallery that operates as a retail store rather than a static display. “Our main goal is to provide a space for local artists to showcase their work without having to pay rental or deal with traditional gallery shows,” says Owner Mike MacKool of 323 East. “A lot of galleries in Detroit are opening some shows that stay up for maybe a month, or even just a weekend.”

Click Here to read the entire article

WOW! What a success, the firts BBQ’ed Artist show was awesome. Thanks to Jason Driscoll aka Kill Taupe for the amazing collection of art he whipped together. The show will be up and for sale until the Next BBQ’ed Artist show with Audrey Pongraz on Saturday July, 26th.

photo by Joe Gall Photography

Today was such an amazing night at the gallery. Everything is coming together so amazingly. It makes me excited how much good energy flows in the store, you can feel the good vibrations when you enter.

I will post pictures soon.
Come in and see our featured artist, Kill Taupe, today (Saturday) from 6-10pm!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Thanks.
Love Angela McBride.
Peace.Love.Spandex.

Thanks to all that joined us for summber BBQ! back next summer fo sure

Every two weeks for the rest of the summer, 323East is serving up a proverbial smorgasbord of food, music, wine, and, of course, art. Each event will host an array of talented works prescribed by the featured “Barbequed” artist. Everyone is welcome to join us at the gallery from 6pm-10pm on the following dates listed:

Be sure to sign up for our newsletter for more information about future events.

I took over 1200 pictures this weekend, here are a few pictures to get you excited.

More Photos coming SOON!