Posts

| voteyourself |

Salon treatment
vote-salon
Will Shilling photo

Second Saturday Salon organizers Bob Fitrakis and Connie Harris

By John Ross
From the 10/22/2008 edition

John Ross
Second Saturday Salon

You might not love talking politics. But you might not mind talking politics over a few beers, soundtracked to live music, with a friendly group of people from both sides of the spectrum.

That’s the thinking behind Second Saturday Salon, a monthly discussion group that first coalesced around a group of Olde Towne East voters unhappy with the results of the 2004 presidential election.

“The question was how to keep these people together,” said Bob Fitrakis, an election-protection attorney and publisher of local independent newspaper The Free Press. “If movements are nothing more than political drudgery and torture, no one sticks around.”

Since early 2005, the group has met at Free Press headquarters on the second Saturday of every month — and it’s come to include a wide range of people and ideas.

Activist Connie Harris, who Fitrakis tapped to create the event, agreed about the need to keep things interesting.

“It’s been a really important event for people,” Harris said. “One of the beautiful things about this event is that people of all ages come out — high-school students to people in their mid-nineties.”

Keeping elections free and open remains part of the salon, but other topics have included the Iraq war, third-party candidates, techniques for grassroots activism and energy policy.

Typically, events start around 6 p.m. and run for several hours. Formats vary greatly — from formal presentations to casual discussion groups — and this year have included artists, filmmakers and national activists, as well as Green Party presidential candidate Cynthia McKinney on Aug. 9.

What: Second Saturday Salon

When: Second Saturday of every month

Where: Hanna House, Olde Towne East

Web: freepress.org

“We wanted to have a place where people felt comfortable to talk about things,” longtime attendee Mark Stansbery said. “We’ve had discussion about a wide variety of topics. We get our lunatics there, too, but there’s always good conversation.”

A new location in the historic Hanna House, 1021 E. Broad St., should give the event new life. The mansion has meeting rooms, a ballroom for screenings and a carriage house that serves as a hub for the Columbus Indymedia Center.

On Nov. 8, the salon will host a post-election analysis party. Hopefully, Fitrakis said, results will mean a celebration. If not, artists, politicians and local activists will be ready for another challenge.

“This is going to continue,” Harris added about maintaining momentum after the campaign dies down. “There’s a lot of repair that needs to be done.”

Free Press Second Saturday Holiday Salon
December 8 – 6:30pm

Socialize with progressive friends. Eat, drink and be merry for the holidays! Presentation by prisoner advocates.
Theme: Tribute to Motown (1961 – 1963). Music & Emcee by (DJ Buzz). Local artists exhibit & sales. Poetry contest to Motown recordings with prize. Narration of history. Dancing finale. Donations are welcome! Presented by : Crowns Jewels Revue Vol : 2. An Art Mix Production.

1021 E. Broad St., east side door, parking in rear.
truth@freepress.org
253-2571

Saturday, June 9, 2012, 11:30AM
Heist: Who Stole the American Dream?
A new, groundbreaking feature documentary about the roots of the American economic crisis, and the continuing assault on working and middle class people in the United States. “HEIST” unflinchingly reveals the crumbling structure of the U.S. economy – the result of four decades of deregulation, massive job outsourcing, and tax policies favoring mega-corporations and wealthy elites, implemented by both Republican and Democratic parties.
After detailing how the economy has been derailed, HEIST offers a robust Take Action section with real world solutions and up-to-the-minute footage from the Occupy Wall Street movement – an essential primer for everyday Americans to participate in the restoration of economic fairness and our democracy.
Also playing June 14 at 4:30pm.
http://www.Heist-themovie.com
Gateway Film Center, OSU campus
1550 North High Street
Columbus, OH 43201
614.545.2255

______
Saturday, June 9, 2012, 6:30-midnight
Free Press Second Saturday Salon
Join progressive friends to socialize, network, eat, drink, dialog about social justice isssues, and hear music.
1021 E. Broad St., Columbus. East side door, parking in front or rear.
253-2571, truth@freepress.org.


Come to the Free Press Second Saturday Salon
This Saturday, Oct. 8
6:30pm to midnight
Socialize and network with progressive friends and food, drink, music, art, and a theatre performance:
8pm –Insurgent Theatre and RedBird Prison Abolition presents: (this time for sure!) —

“In the belly is where things digest, where they are broken down so their value can be extracted. This is where things are made to rot. If our society is a beast, its belly is the prison system. This new work from Insurgent Theatre seeks to manifest imprisonment on stage, overlays it with critical analysis of the system, and follows up with in-depth discussion about abolishing prison in America.”

“In the Belly”
If our society is a beast, it’s belly is the prison system. Where things digest, where they are broken down so their value can be extracted. This is where things are made to rot. This new work from Insurgent Theatre seeks to manifest imprisonment on stage, overlays it with critical analysis of the system, and follows up with in-depth discussion about abolishing prisons in America. Created in workshop by Weslie Coleman, Kate Pleuss, and Ben Turk, with assistance from Harmony Bench and Rebecca Riley. Touring the US in 2011. Raising funds for RedBird Prison Abolition. Supporting prisoners in Ohio. This show contains nudity, violence and other sad realities of the US prison system.
1021 E. Broad St.
253-2571, truth@freepress.org
“In The Belly” presskit