The Cabaret Chronicles: Maureen Taylor, Ricky Ritzel, Ray Jessel, and More!

Happy Weekend! It was another terrific week of entertainment for me, starting with last Saturday's MetroJam. MetroJam is the monthly open mic at the Metropolitan Room, which I have the honor of hosting, and we had some amazing talent show up last week including Deb Berman, Rob Langeder, Maureen Taylor, Marya Zimmet, Carole Bufford, and David Goldman, among others! The MetroJam Band (John DiPinto on piano, Ritt Henn on bass and Bobby Sher on drums) was in top form, and it really was a thoroughly enjoyable evening!

On Sunday, I headed over to Don't Tell Mama first thing in the morning (now, there's a phrase you don't hear too often - somehow, nightclubs and mornings don't really have too much common ground!) to help set up for the first ever MAC (Manhattan Association of Cabarets and Clubs Bazaar. The event ran from 11 a.m. - 3 p.m. and was part flea market, part silent auction, part entertainment, part raffles, and ALL fun! There was some great showbiz memorabilia at the flea market including sheet music, old playbills, show posters (some autographed), records, and CDs, and the silent auction was an enormous success. Some of the items that were auctioned off included lunch with Marilyn Maye & a dress that she wore on the Tonight Show; a headshot package worth $800, a graphic design package, and a beautiful necklace made by a MAC member! Many of the items raffled off were cabaret-related - various clubs donated complimentary admission for two, and the restaurant at Don't Tell Mama donated a number of free dinners! The entertainment at the bazaar was top-notch, as well. Accompanied by Ricky Ritzel at the piano, Terese Genecco, Mary Foster Conklin, and Danielle Grabianowski, all treated the bazaar shoppers to a set of three songs. It was a great way to spend an afternoon, and a successful fundraiser for MAC - hopefully, it will become an annual event and continue to grow each year!