Sweet Action Skate Club

Roller Skating on Myrtle Ave - Sundays in September

2009-08-26T13:39:00.001-04:00

The DOT's Summer Streets is coming to Myrtle Ave. for the month of September.

The Myrtle Ave Partnership is putting together a number of creative activities in the street, which will be closed to traffic from 11am-7pm. One activity will be a ROLLER SKATING RINK in the street.

Robin Lester, our own Scooch Dynamite, who runs the Clinton Hill Blog may be the official sponsor of the rink, and needs some "staff" to enforce safety and promote the event, particularly for Sept 6th.

Spread the word, and be sure to contact Robin through CHB to let her know if you're interested in working this event on 9/6.

As an FYI, I'm looking into getting SASC formally involved with this event, so we may need additional volunteers to show up and represent.

spring has sprung

2009-05-22T18:18:00.002-04:00

and it's almost summer!

the girls are meeting at 3pm on sunday, at the row of three benches near the tennis courts in fort greene park.

be there.

xoxomess

SASC in the News!

2008-10-01T19:06:00.002-04:00

Local website Brooklyn Based did a great feature on roller skating in Brooklyn. Check it out.

Field Trip to Coney Island

2008-08-15T16:17:00.002-04:00

We have some new girls who want to skate, and a date has been set. We're all heading down to Coney Island to check out the new(ish) Lola Staar's Dreamland Roller Rink.

When: Sunday August 24

Where: The Childs Building, 3052 W. 21st St. at the boardwalk

Time: 2:00pm

http://www.dreamlandrollerrink.com

Hope to see you there!

Mermaid Parade 2008

2008-06-25T00:42:00.004-04:00

the rest of the pics are here.

the premiere skate of sasc-bay area

2008-06-15T22:50:00.006-04:00

miss mess and christyboots:

(and kevin, for good measure... mens' auxiliary, you know)

Rollerskating Mermaid Costume Instructions

2008-05-20T17:50:00.004-04:00

For those of you interested in the Mermaid Parade, here is how Helena Handbasket made her awesome costume last year:

I got the shiny fabric and the tulle from the fabric store and I also got pillow stuffing material, I think it's called batting. I took my mini skirt from American Apparel and sewed the shiny material over the skirt, a little bit longer. I tucked the material into the waist band and just stitched it on the inside so that you can't see any of the skirt. I think I had just one seam on the side.
So, thats the skirt part.

Next, I took the fabric and made a tail fin piece just like you would make a stuffed animal or something. I took the shiny fabric and doubled it up inside out so as to make two sides of the tail fin. I drew the fin on the fabric (inside), cut it out and sewed the edges up then stuffed it with the stuffing. I connected the tail fin and the skirt with the shiny fabric by just draping it, then just sewed the tulle onto the back of the skirt waist, you can be more creative, of course.

For the top, you can use a corset, a bikini top or some shells!!

Also, she sewed some kind of wrist band onto the fin that she could wear as a bracelet to hold the fin up to keep it from dragging and/or tripping over her skates.

Mermaid Parade Registration

2008-05-13T15:08:00.003-04:00

It's that time of year again! The Coney Island Mermaid Parade is on Saturday June 21st and SASC will be there in full force.

If you are interested in skating with us, you can register as an individual "on foot" here (registration costs $10 per person). Email us (link is to the right) after you've registered so we can get a final headcount and coordinate a meet up point on the day of the parade. You MUST be on roller skates to march with SASC.

The name of your entry should be your name or skate name, and the description can be "member of Sweet Action Skate Club."

For those of you who weren't there last year, our one and only Kristin (aka Helena Handbasket) made a sweet mermaid-on-skates costume, and I'm trying to get design specs from her for anyone who is interested in making something similar. If you don't come as a mermaid, please do try to wear something sea-themed, or sea-colored.

GGRD on TV!

2008-03-30T01:01:00.002-04:00

I know this is a Sweet Action blog, so I'll try not to talk about Gotham Girls too much, but I am tremendously excited--I just appeared on an NBC spot:

I'm the one whose name appears to be "Fresh Meat."

And while I'm talking about GGRD, there are a few upcoming events you should check out:

2008 Derbytaunt and Season Kick-off Fundraiser:
Dames of Derby - Film Noir Style Dance Party
Sunday, April 13
Location: Southpaw (125 5th Ave. - Park Slope, Brooklyn)
Doors: 7:30/Fresh Meat Induction 9:30
Tickets: $14 Adv./$18 Day Of
Tickets available online at http://www.spsounds.com/index.html
*Drink specials (TBA) and GGRD prizes all night long!

Unfortunately, although I'm Fresh Meat, I will not be there. Alas, my job is sending me to London. Go and find out what team I'm on before I do!

And for all you derby fans out there, here is the first bout:

LIU-Brooklyn’s Schwartz Athletic Center
1 University Plaza (corner Flatbush and DeKalb Aves)
B/M/Q/R @ DeKalb Ave or 2/3/4/5 to Nevins St. or A/C/G to Hoyt-Schermerhorn. Use the DeKalb Ave. entrance (off Flatbush Ave.) Alcohol prohibited.
Doors: 6:30pm, Whistle: 7:30pm
General Admission - $19.75 in advance, $23 at door
VIP - $29.75 (adv. only - incl. reserved front row seat, goodies, + more!)
Buy online: www.gothamgirlsrollerderby.com/merch or through www.brownpapertickets.com
More info available on the GGRD Hotline: (646) 405-9803

After the game, join us at Manitoba's (99 Ave. B near 6th Street in Manhattan) to toast victory or drown defeat with your most favorite derby divas. More info at manitobas.com.

It should be amazing. The GGRD All-Stars will be facing off against the Liberty Belles from Philadelphia. The all-star team is, as you might suspect, phenomenal. There's also going to be a 30 minute demo bout with the newly formed, not-yet-named GGRD B-team skating against the Stepford Sabotage from CT.

I can't wait until it gets a tiny bit warmer and I can start skating outside again with all you lovely ladies.

Cheers,
Gogo

Down & Derby

2008-03-27T11:27:00.003-04:00

Fri 3/28 (10PM) at Studio B 259 Banker St. , Brooklyn, NY (Map)

Raid American Apparel for your retro '70s gear, then strap on some rollerskates, imbibe at an hourlong open bar and...hope for the best.

FUN meets Down & Derby Get your ass there early for Bass Ale Open Bar from 10pm-11pm, then stay, skate, drink, dance, fall on your ass, and party till 4am. Disco Tunes provided by your resident skate guards (aka resident dj's) Rok One & Eamon Harkin With Special guests: JACQUES RENAULT (RUNAWAY / 205 TUESDAYS) Hosted by the naughty, but nice JUNE D Visuals provided by our good friend Justin "MC This" Hammond Dress Code: Guys - Knee High tube socks, neon tank tops, headbands, wristbands, fros, and flattops Ladies - Thighs of steel on two-inch wheels with striped short shorts to seal the deal $3 Skate Rental, or bring your own (skate rental is limited) http://www.scion.com/ http://www.myopenbar.com/ http://www.myspace.com/down_and_derby

Cost: 7.00

Official Site: http://www.downandderby.org/

Spring into Action

2008-03-26T11:18:00.002-04:00

Ladies,

It has been some time since I posted, or skated for that matter. Due to health issues, I was unable to lace up. Now that the warm weather is coming and my bones won't break, just by looking at them funny, I'm excited to get back out there. This new rink in Coney Island has me all a flutter.

Skate on, pretty ladies.

XO
Jaime Lee Hurt'us (tigerbaby)

Coney Island This Weekend!

2008-03-20T14:31:00.002-04:00

Come join us at Lolaa Star's dream rink on Coney Island this Saturday at 6 PM.

Here are the details

Coney Island Dreamland Rink

I'll be there representing GGRD and Sweet Action (haven't figured out how I'm going to pull that one off yet, but rest assured, I'll be skating my tail off!).

Anyone else coming?

B.A.D. Girls Tryouts=total bust

2008-01-13T23:43:00.000-05:00

So the Bay Area Roller Derby Girls held tryouts today, and I went. And while it wasn't a complete disaster, I totally got my ass kicked and then did not make the league. Which is okay, because it was still super fun and I got to meet a bunch of cool skate girls, most of whom were totally into a West Coast SASC.

And now I present to you some gratuitous and not-very-impressive photos of my bruises and scratches. I am not including any photos of my face, which hurts a lot worse than it looks - I took a hit in my cheekbone from another girl's helmet during a body-check stand off. That I obvs totally lost.

Two ways in which I know that Roller Derby is not for me:

1. Even though I'm competitive in real life, when it comes to skating, I'd rather just roll around, and not have to worry about being the strongest or the fastest. (If I were the strongest/fastest, of course, I'd probably feel differently.)

2. I do not like being hit. Or hitting other people, for that matter. Fancy that.

GGRD Tryouts

2007-09-23T20:46:00.000-04:00

I forgot to add this to my last post--I was at the GGRD bout last night, and they announced that tryouts would be taking place on November 19th. I couldn't find an official posting to that effect on the site, but I wanted to share that with any interested parties.

If you're interested in trying out, T-Rex posted a great description of last year's tryouts. It was probably posted in Jan/Feb 2007.

New Bike Lane on 9th Ave

2007-09-23T20:36:00.000-04:00

I've been kind of out of touch, for which I apologize. I spend three or so days every week commuting out to Westchester for Suburbia Roller Derby practice, which seems to take up all my free time.

I read this article today, which described a new 7 block bike path on 9th avenue that will be completed over the next month. Once it's done, I think it'll still be nice enough to go out and skate.

Is anyone still skating on a regular schedule? My practice schedule got all mucked up because we lost our rink, but I tend to skate on my own in Brooklyn on Sundays. I'd love to go up to skate with the skate dancers in Central Park sometime.

The Scar

2007-09-03T21:24:00.001-04:00

much improved, no?

Meet & Greet

2007-08-31T08:54:00.000-04:00

If you want to come skate with Sweet Action Skate Club, we're having a Meet & Greet West Side Highway skate:

When: Wednesday September 5th

Where: 34th Street entrance to the West Side Highway

Time: 6pm (or meet up later as we skate towards downtown)

Afterwards, we'll check out a bar in the west village some where (any suggestions?) and grab a few beers.

Click the "drop us a line" link and email Miss Mess if you're interested.

ETA: The watering hole has been selected:

Cowgirl Hall of Fame

519 Hudson St., New York, NY 10014

my girl likes to party all the time

2007-07-31T19:51:00.000-04:00

party party party

thanks for comin'!

photos here

and here!

SRD Fundraisor - August 18th

2007-07-31T19:06:00.000-04:00

Hello, SASC'ers! GoGo and my team, the Suburbia Roller Derby, is having its first fundraiser on Saturday, August 18th. Come get your skate on up in Yonkers! We'll have fun activities, raffle items, and a derby demo. Fun for the whole family! Bring your own skates, or rent 'em there.

Hope to see you!

Stranded!

2007-07-26T22:45:00.000-04:00

at the House of Forty Lixx!
I hate it that I missed the party!!!
Can we please have a raindate ??? at Rope? or a skate around prospect park?

my girl likes to party all the time

2007-07-26T13:54:00.000-04:00

TONIGHT
What: Sweet Action Skate Club Party
When: Thursday July 26th (i.e. tonight)
Time: 6pm-midnight
Where: Rope Bar, 415 Myrtle Ave between Clinton and Vanderbilt, Brooklyn 11205
Why?
$3 pints of Sweet Action until midnight
2-for-1 on everything else until 8pm
Bake Sale (chocolate fudge brownies, sugar cookies, coconut macaroons, rice krispie treats, etc)
DJ Max Power from 9-11
SASC swag
girls with skates

August 11 - GGRD Manhattan vs Queens!

2007-07-24T18:38:00.001-04:00

Hi. Are any of you going to go to this bout? It will feature SASC alums Tera Dyketyl (TRex) and Evil Iris (Forty Lixx) going head to head!

I think I will have a car, so let me know if you need a ride!

The SASC'er formerly known as Kat O'Strophic

2007-07-24T17:56:00.001-04:00

Hi! Well, like GoGo mentioned, we recently joined a WFTDA rookie league, Suburbia Roller Derby. I can't speak for GoGo, but I am really enjoying myself so far - it's so much fun! I wish it wasn't such a hike, but it is worth it.

Anyway, unfortunately some jerk* in Arizona already goes by Kat A. Strophic, so I had to change my name. I am now officially on the national WFTDA roster! Henceforth, I shall be known as Rat-A-Tat Kat. Speak now or speak later, but it ain't really going to change anything.

-Kat

PS. Looking forward to the party! Im baking cookies - Im just not sure what type yet.

*Just kidding about the jerk part. Great minds think alike ;)

reminder - sasc party this thursday

2007-07-22T10:01:00.001-04:00

hi kids

just a reminder

party this thursday, july 26th

no skating IN the bar, but bring your skates anyway.

there will be $3 pints of sweet action from 6pm - midnight, and 2-for-1 everything else until 8pm.

we'll be selling baked goods to raise money for sasc, and i'm going to see what i can do about a dj.

bring all your lady friends who are interested in skating!

xom

MetroTech Plaza

2007-07-17T11:56:00.001-04:00

Hello all

I haven't been out on my skates at all this year :(

Regardless, my scouting senses have been tingling. Myrtle Avenue (Avenue of our beloved Rope) continues toward, and beyond Flatbush Avenue. When you cross Flatbush avenue, Myrtle becomes Metrotech plaza, a series of streets, small parks and promenades closed off to car traffic. I would love to check it out on my skates some cool summer evening.

2007-07-15T03:47:00.000-04:00

Last night's Gotham Girls bout was amazing. Tera Dyketyl (our very own T-Rex!) did a great job as a jammer, and the Queens of Pain destroyed the Brooklyn Bombshells. I ran into Evil Iris (Forty Lixx), who was looking very fierce in her prison uniform. I think the next bout is a Manhattan/Queens showdown, which means our two lovely ladies will be facing off against each other. I think an outing is in order!

I have been quiet lately because I have started skating with Suburbia Roller Derby in Westchester. It's a new league, and we're recruiting women of all skill levels to join. It's a bit of a hike to get there, but everyone is friendly and more than willing to offer rides to and from the train station. Kat O'Strophic is also joining
the league. You can check out the website (www.suburbiarollerderby.com), or ask me if you have any questions.

Our practice rink, Murray's (348 Tuckahoe Rd, Yonkers, (914) 771-7465), does a Friday night roller disco. There's not as much atmosphere as there was at Empire, but it's still a lot of fun. I also heard a rumor that the Roxy's indoor skate didn't shut down altogether, but just went through a name change. Anyone know whether that's true?

I'm really excited for the party! It'll be great to see everyone.

bring all your girls

2007-07-14T14:59:00.001-04:00

AFAIK, no more indoor skating- like, anywhere, ever.

2007-07-10T17:50:00.001-04:00

Being the hottest week ever in history, of course I got a massive skate jones. I figured I would check out Wednesdays at Webster Hall- and poking around the website, saw no references. I called to enquire and was informed they are cancelled forever. I didn't want any of you guys to schlep out there on a weeknight with your skate kits for no good reason.

So, does anyone know of any other skate-centric places to skate? We've got the parks and the West Side Highway- anything else I'm not thinking of? And does the interest in skating and derby seem, to anyone else, inversely proportional to the places to skate in? It's like, the more people who want to do it, the more places shut down. I'm going to have to visit my mom and get my skateasaurus on.

fresh meat

2007-06-27T09:26:00.001-04:00

Last night I skated with our newest member, KT aka Betty Ball Buster. When she first told me via email that was going to be her skate name I thought it was a little cheesy, and that she was probably just posturing, and that the name would not really fit her. And I was so wrong. Aside from the fact that she's whip smart and sassy, this girl came out with a wrist guard to protect the wrist she'd broken THREE times skating as a little girl, and two knees fresh from SIX YEARS of physical therapy after an accident involving stilettos and glass stairs. I bow my head in awe to you, girl. Anyway, she was nervous skating and took a few spills on the hill, but most importantly, she kept getting back up. No wimping out, no whining, no scardey cat scooting down the grass (robin, I'm looking at you), and she made it down the last stretch of the hill and around the corner like a pro.

I forgot to take pics, but trust me, she's fucking awesome. And her roommate has their apartment decorated in a unicorn theme, so pretty much I love her forever already.

More Mermaid Parade

2007-06-26T16:34:00.000-04:00

A few more pics from the Parade!

Rose Colored Glasses!

2007-06-25T10:49:00.000-04:00

SASC Mermaids were totally awesome looking! (Mess, where did you get those pink shaades?!) And SASC had the cutest "Little mermaid" EVER!

It was fun marching in the parade, but I really I think I like watching it better!

Woohoo!

from the mermaid parade!

2007-06-25T08:43:00.000-04:00

special thanks to professor mcgonnabrawl for her photographic talents.

also, gogo's pics are here.

Kind of fabulous...

2007-06-22T17:17:00.000-04:00

The song is pretty funny, but I love that they're on roller skates. I think they bought theirs at Modell's too!

Holla atcha girls!

2007-06-22T13:15:00.000-04:00

Wanna come see the Sweet Action girls all dolled up? We're gonna be at the Coney Island Mermaid parade tomorrow, June 24th. Get details here. Come show your favorite roller girls some love!

from the down and dirty disco derby

2007-06-22T10:21:00.000-04:00

courtesy of Milton Arellano

SASC in the Mermaid Parade!

2007-06-21T10:17:00.000-04:00

Come on out to the Mermaid Parade at Coney Island! This will be the last Mermaid Parade at the "real" Coney, and SASC will be there on wheels! If you haven't been to the parade, you absolutely MUST come, because it's pretty much the greatest thing ever, and you're not really a New Yorker until you've been.

Date: this Saturday, June 23rd
Time: 2pm
Place: Coney Island (I think the parade goes down Surf Ave, but just take the train to Coney Island and you won't be able to miss it)

weekend recap

2007-06-17T21:35:00.000-04:00

so the threat of rain kept me and chrissi indoors on thursday, but friday night we laced up and headed over to studio b for the roller disco party. the line was insane, so i skated up and said, with all the authority i could conjure, we're with sweet action skate club... well, compared to the skateless minions who were not traveling en masse (i grabbed another girl who had skates and took her up with us - groups aren't groups unless there are at least three people), we must've looked somewhat legit, so they bumped us up to the front and let us in.

trouble is, they ran out of skates and were still letting people in. so the dance floor got taken over by the walkers. chrissi and i clocked sometime in the spacious and well tiled, and not at all stinky bathroom where it was infinitely more fun to skate...

saturday, i checked out Evil Iris' (fka Forty Lixx) first bout skating with Manhattan Mayhem. she fucking ruled. while mayhem didn't win (brooklyn was out for blood after the last bout where manhattan won by a single point), EI made lead jammer and scored four points. she basically kicks ass. i'm so proud. pics up at flickr.

Skating Schedule

2007-06-14T15:51:00.000-04:00

Thursday evening skate:
Meet at 7pm at the basketball court on Lorimer between Meserole and Calyer in Greenpoint. Click here for map.

Friday Night Party:
Down & Derby: Roller-Skating Party feat. the Negroclash DJs w/ the Bangers and Eamon Harkin
Fri 6.15 (10pm) Studio B (259 Banker St, Greenpoint, 718.389.1880)
$10 / $5 with RSVP

Event Info
Break out the disco shorts and kneesocks, 'cause here's your shot at a true roller-skating jam. Resident "Skate Guards" the Bangers and Eamon Harkin, with guests the Negroclash DJs, keep the tunes funky while you roll, bounce, and (try not to) fall.

Saturday - GGRD!
Come out to see Evil Iris (formerly known as Forty Lixx) skate in her first derby bout with the inimitable Gotham Girls. Tickets sell out fast, so if you haven't bought yours yet, better do it quick! Tix here.

Upcoming:

SASC is going to register to march in the Mermaid Parade! If you're interested in joining us, shoot me an email at sweetactionskateclub (at) gmail.com.

image courtesy of abby synth

TRex's Kick-Ass Derby Debut!!

2007-06-11T14:27:00.000-04:00

Hello! Is this thing on?? Kat O'Strophic here again, to tell you about the great GGRD bout this past Friday evening, which featured one of SASC's very own in her derby debut!

The Queens of Pain faced off against the Bronx Gridlock in the GGRD season opener this past Friday. It was an exciting bout all the way through, and ended up REALLY close. Some great skating was done by all... I was particularly impressed by the showing of the GGRD rookies. One of these rookies was T-Rex, who I suppose now needs to be known by her GGRD name, Tera Dyketyl!! She was looking fierce with a bad-ass mohalk and sweet and aggressive skating style - it definitely didn't seem like this was her first bout!

T-Rex/Tera Dyketyl is listed as a jammer, which are particularly significant boots to fill on the Queens of Pain, as team captain and all-around GGRD star Suzy Hotrod is no one to mess with. T-Rex definitely held her own as jammer, though, and scored a nice number of points (err... how many, T???) She also skated as a blocker that night. Though Queens lost that night, I have to congratulate her and her team on a great, great job.

Overall it was a great bout. The Bronx team, in its second year, has really helped to move the GGRD to the next level. Both teams demonstrate impressive athleticism, determination, and skill. Looking forward to the rest of the season!

Pre-Derby Happy Hour tomorrow night!

2007-06-07T17:14:00.000-04:00

Ok, people! It's on! My casual, unassuming little pre-derby gathering shall now be known as:

Kat O'Strophic's Pre-Derby Happy Hour

Sponsored by Mount Gay Rum!

at

JG MELONS
74th and 3rd

LOL!!! Let's meet at around 6:30 or 7pm We'll then head over to the bout at about 7:45. JG Melons has food available, so you can grab some din-din there. And don't forget the Mount Gay !!

If havent bought your tix to the Derby already, you'd better hurry because they are almost sold out!!
http://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/16483

See you there!

NEXT BOUT!

2007-06-07T14:45:00.000-04:00

Manhattan Mayhem vs. Brooklyn Bombshells!
June 16th at City College of New York.

And root for MANHATTAN!!!!!!!

In the last free day before starting a new job, I took a few laps around Prospect Park. It was really awesome, on new outdoor Krypto Route wheels (Trex's advice). I highly recommend the trip! (I think its three miles per loop? someone said...) It doesn't have as good people watching as WSH, but a good time.

WSH Skate

2007-06-06T16:55:00.000-04:00

Yesterday, GoGo and I kicked off the weekly Tuesday summer skate on the West Side Highway. After being cloudy all day, the sky opened up and the sun shone upon us. The weather was great, as was the skate!

We started on 14th, skated all the way down to Battery Park, and then back up to Canal. We were both a bit out of practice, but I think GoGo would agree that we got a solid skate in. Plus, somehow the wind seemed to be blowing against us in both directions, which added a little more "oomph" to the whole thing.

We started early yesterday, but will may make it later to be more convenient for everyone. The more the merrier!

PS. Next time I'll try to remember to bring a camera, Mess!!

GOTHAM GIRLS SEASON OPENER!

2007-05-30T22:10:00.000-04:00

BRONX GRIDLOCK VS. QUEENS OF PAIN

Hunter College, B3 Gym
Lexington Ave. & 68th St.
New York, NY

Doors 7:00 PM
Whistle 8:30 PM

MANHATTAN VS. BROOKLYN COMING VERY SOON!

Miss you all!
Iris Forty Alice

Summer 2007 Weekly Skate Schedule is Set!

2007-05-30T13:55:00.000-04:00

Heya! After some internal discussions, we've decided to have TWO regular weekly skate nights.

Tuesdays: West Side Highway, Manhattan

Thursdays: Alternating between Fort Greene Park and McCarren Park, Brooklyn

Time: 7:00pm or so

Of course, there will likely be other fun skate nights this summer... we'll keep ya posted!

Central Park Skate

2007-05-22T23:24:00.001-04:00

I was thinking about skating with the skate dancers in Central Park this weekend (either Saturday or Sunday works). Anyone want to join me?

SASC v2.0

2007-05-18T09:19:00.000-04:00

okay, so maybe taking action shots, while skating, with a camera phone, lends itself to blurry and maybe even a little freakish imagery, but check it:

season opener

2007-05-17T16:19:00.001-04:00

crystal bite and i will be skating at mccarren park tonight - meet at driggs and lorimer at 7pm if you want to join us!

(sorry for the short notice)

test driving the merch

2007-05-15T16:29:00.000-04:00

so kids, g'head and order your SASC gear here. it's my test run, let me know what you think about the designs and if you want more or other products.

right now it's set up so that the products are all at cost. if this changes, i will let you know here.

Goodbye Empire

2007-04-23T19:24:00.000-04:00

I went to the goodbye skate at Empire last night, and it was really sad. It wasn't as crowded as I thought it would be. At one point during the evening, Big Bob made a very touching speech about all the people who had made the place what it was, and about how we should keep the spirit alive, etc. Apparently, there will be an "Empire" in New Jersey--Tuesday, Sunday, and first Thursday, at the Branch Brook Park Roller Skating Center at 7th Ave and Clifton Ave in Newark, New Jersey. That's not that helpful to those of us without cars, though. I've also heard scuttlebutt about a new skate place on Fulton Ave--I'll let you know when I hear more.

I still can't believe that it's really closed. I've got a few pictures, which I'll post/link to when I can upload them.

I might head over to Webster Hall on Wednesday. Anyone else want to come?

sasc v2.0

2007-04-22T13:29:00.000-04:00

(image swiped from abbysynth)

it's that time again! so long as we keep having these gorgeous sunny temperate days, let's skate!

post here, or on the google group, when and where you're planning to skate. also, email me directly through the sasc email (to the right) and i'll spread the word.

Webster Hall Skate Night

2007-04-18T12:58:00.000-04:00

As Kat emailed to us earlier, Webster Hall has been hosting a Wednesday skate night to take the place of the Roxy. They don't have rental skates yet but skate girls don't worry about that.

I haven't checked it out myself yet...
Webster Hall Skate Night

EMPIRE CLOSING WEEK FESTIVITES

2007-04-14T15:29:00.000-04:00

Here are the final dates for Empire Skating Center 200 Empire Blvd. Q and B train Prospect Park stop. They will be moving the Tuesday ladies night to a rink in Newark, also Saturday afternoons in Central Park should be rife with skaters once the weather gets warmer.
http://empirerollerskating.com

Saturday 4/14
11PM-4AM
$10

Tuesday 4/17
9PM-1AM
$6 Ladies
$10 Men

Thursday 4/19
9PM-1AM
$10

Saturday 4/21
11PM-4AM
$15

Sunday 4/22
8PM-2AM
$6

Coney Island

2007-03-31T00:14:00.000-04:00

Folly Day 2007

Astroland opens its chain-link gates for its last season ever.
Opening ceremonies start at 11a with the Hungry March Band and
members of the Bindlestiff Family Circus, as well as various other
Brooklyn luminaries.

Then, stick around for more folly than a satellite full of cosmonaut
monkeys. At 3p, covering the vast expanse of the Coney Island
boardwalk and Astroland, three large marching bands will prowl,
sputter, and strike upon their random encounters with one another
while a mobile petting zoo and a troop of piñata-bearing brides
prance and preen their way through it all (have faith, brethren!
there is an internal logic at work here -- just don't ask us to
explain it to you without first making an appropriate offering).
Coney Island as we know it won't be there forever, so come out and
get it while you can. Featuring the stupendous Hungry March Band,
Rude Mechanical Orchestra, and the the What Cheer? Brigade. With
stuffins from the good people of Grub.

Astroland Boardwalk, Brooklyn
3p bands, 6p food; $free

___________________

Anyone want to strap on her roller skates and play at Coney Island with me on Sunday?

loves derby, will travel

2007-03-26T10:25:00.000-04:00

this past weekend i went to visit some friends in dc, and serendipitously enough, the DC RollerGirls were having their first expo bout. the girls have been practicing for a year, and this will be their first competitive season. we got to watch two bouts, featuring all four teams. it was not the marathon it sounds like, because they truncated the periods to two 15-minute sets (it's usually two 30-minute sets).

the teams looked great - i didn't realize they had never competed until the Gotham Girls in attendance brought it to my attention.

the team names are puntastic, albeit very wonky: DC Demoncats, The Cherry Blossom Bombshells, The Secretaries of Hate, and Scare Force One.

my complete flickr set is here, but some highlights:

each of the teams seemed to have small children associated with it. in this case, the Demoncats had a little girl wearing (my outfit?) a t-shirt that said "minor threat, lvl 1" -- too cute. the secretaries of hate had little boys carrying huge signs that said "HATE HATE HATE" and who were lovingly referred to as "hater tots."

i loved seeing the jammers up on their tippy toes

the snack bar, which had locally brewed ale and guiness for, like, $3.37 was called Fat Punk's Express. we missed the first half of the second bout due to the comfort levels of this establishment. that, and jenny's addiction to NCAA.

sasc, the beginnings

2007-03-14T10:28:00.000-04:00

my creative genius at work. just kidding! thanks alice for this awesome rendering, and abby for the scans.

myspace

2007-03-09T14:59:00.001-05:00

sasc is up on myspace now. come be our friend. come on get happyyyyy.

this sucks

2007-03-07T11:21:00.000-05:00

empire is closing too, and it's a done deal.

Commodore Barry Park

2007-03-06T00:57:00.000-05:00

On Saturday, it was warm and sunny, so T-Rex and Cathy and I skated around Commodore Barry Park, a park near the Navy Yard that has nice big paved areas that are pretty flat and pretty smooth. Mostly, we just skated around and talked, and narrowly avoided being hit by some kids playing softball. Later, we practiced mohawk turns on the really flat and smooth pavement near the playground.

It's a pretty nice place to skate, although it would have been tough for me to get to if Cathy hadn't given me a ride.

Afterwards, we went to a bar whose name I forget and had a few beers before parting ways later.

I'll probably be at Empire tomorrow. Who's with me?

Roxy Closing

2007-03-02T18:01:00.000-05:00

This time they say it is for good. There are two more skate dates next Wednesday 7th and Friday 9th. I am not sure what the news is with Empire but the closing date seems imminent. : (

Suck it Up!

2007-03-02T13:16:00.000-05:00

I thought 19 hours of Labor would be a good foundation for Derby practice, but I am humbled. My quads and hamstrings are very sore, and I have a purple thumb.

another one bites the dust

2007-02-27T23:50:00.000-05:00

turns out another one of my favorite skate girls is also departing sweet action skate club for the gotham girls! so very happy for her!

i hereby present to you the awesomeness that is t-rex:

victory!

2007-02-27T15:12:00.000-05:00

this post is dedicated to one of our skate club members, Forty Lixx, the first SASC member to make the cross over from our lazily non-competitive ladies' club to the real live GOTHAM GIRLS ROLLER DERBY!

now that she's got to make the insane roller derby committment, we'll probably be seeing much less of her, so for your viewing pleasure, a little montage:

CONGRATULATIONS!!!!

Callback Pictures

2007-02-25T19:05:00.000-05:00

As promised--callback pictures! If I can succeed at uploading them, that is.

...which, apparently, I can't. They keep showing up as broken-link red Xs.

Go here for pictures of the callbacks. Also, anyone who knows how to embed photos in posts (I tried using the URL and uploading them from my computer!), please comment and help!

I skated around the neighborhood today. It was pretty cold. I went to Sushi D--on skates. I'm always surprised how few waiters give me grief about roller skating into their restaurants.

And then some more

2007-02-22T23:04:00.000-05:00

I think everyone else's posts capture the evening pretty well. Tonight I came down with a 102 degree fever. As I lie here, slightly delusional and achey, I'm just psyched that I got the chance to get out there and skate before getting totally sickies! I was definitely not as sharp or as speedy as I would have liked last night, but it was great to skate with the team, meet some more nice girls, and learn some more derby moves. It was also nice to see that the girls seem to get along nicely with eachother and have a genuine enthusiasm for derby.

YAY!

Ok, probably best that I keep this short, or I risk falling into nonsense. Off to bed

ED: I'll feel really, really terrible if I gave anyone this. Please forgive me if I did.

The human chair

2007-02-22T16:56:00.000-05:00

Afternoon Afterthought: After sitting motionless save for my fingers at my computer all day, muscles are clearly beginning to harden like concrete....

yet another post about the call-backs

2007-02-22T14:32:00.000-05:00

I was more nervous yesterday afternoon than I was for the first set of tryouts. Lixx and I took a cab to the spot and we were early. I was so nervous I had a hard time speaking to Rolleta Lynn who interviewed me, what they were mostly looking for was how serious the skater is about skating/time commitments and doing work for the league that isn't just skating. Skaters who have volunteered with the league before will definitely be looked at more closely.

I had always wanted to skate on that SportCourt and last night was my big chance. It was definitely a challenge and I ate it really bad during the first or second lap, some of those little tiles will just up and bite ya!

The general skate portion was pretty simple, t-stops, wedge stops (very important!!), scissors/swizzles/fishes, scissors on one leg then the other (also very important!!), mohawk turns, one knee falls, three point falls.

The hard part was the blocking lesson, having never played derby, obviously we were all in uncharted territory. Stay low, stay with your pack, legal blocks only (using shoulders and upper arms) This is where the wedge stops are really important, along with the one footed swizzles to keep you at the same pace as the rest of your pack, you will be using these a lot. I really did some sweating there.

The last bit was a speed portion, sprinters do well here, it's funny, I thought I would be best placed as a jammer, but the speed portion showed me that sprinters excel at jamming, whereas an endurance athlete like me, will overtake the jammer eventually, as she gets tired I keep going and going, but the jams are only 2 minutes long. To train for jamming, I think sprinting and interval training works best.

The woman who gave us a ride home said 'you always think you did worse than you did.' The end of the night was somewhat anti-climactic for me, after weeks of thinking about this it was finally over and I felt a bit sad. But it was hella fun and I would do it again in a heartbeat. It is in the hands of the gods and like Go-Go said it really depends on how many skaters they take.

More about the tryouts

2007-02-22T14:15:00.000-05:00

Tryouts were amazingly fun. All the GGRD women were friendly and supportive and instructive, and I feel like I learned a few things last night. I hope I make it—I would love to be able to skate with them all the time. If practices are that much fun, I can’t imagine how great bouts must be! I’m sore today, but not as sore as I could be. I also got my very first (but hopefully not last!) derby bruise! Bonnie Thunders, Kat O’Strophic, and I were doing a blocking drill, and Bonnie blocked the hell out of me. I went down flailing like a drowning person, and I think I tripped a few people behind me. Oops!

Mess, you’d be proud of me—I was flashing my camera left and right until I got a few dirty looks, so I have a few pictures I can post once I find my camera connector cord.

For posterity, I thought I’d describe some of what they asked us to do at the practice. Each of us had an interview with a current GGRD member which consisted of a few pretty easy questions to gauge our commitment and our perceptions of what derby is. We started our skating with a pacing drill: we formed two lines and tried to skate with our best form—low, knees bent, keeping our strides the same as the person ahead of us, with equal space in front and in back. After that, we lined up across the warehouse and practiced stopping, 180 turns, swiveling our legs (I learned that as the C-cut, but I don’t know what they were calling it), falls, slides, etc. Later, we were paired with a derby girl and practiced leaning into her, trying to push her and being pushed back by her. We got into groups of three and practiced the Booty Block—a really fun way to keep a jammer behind you! Later, we put them all together, and took turns being the “jammer” and trying to pass the two blockers. (That was when I wiped out.) At the end, we did timed trials: four or five skaters went at a time, and tried to do as many laps as possible in two minutes. I had a hard time with my crappy Modell’s wheels on the sport court, especially on the part that wasn’t entirely even (it was like skating over garden hoses!). I’d advise any future roller-hopefuls to invest in a halfway decent set of indoor wheels in a tryout situation instead of cheaping out like I did. I’m sure I forgot some things and mixed up the order of other things, so please correct me!

As Kat said, we got a ride back with Cathy, who was kind enough to drop T-Rex, Forty Lixx, and myself off at Mojitos, where we celebrated with a post-tryout beer and some appetizers. T-Rex and I finished out the night at Rope.

I can’t wait until we hear about who made it. I wasn’t as anxious last night as I am now...but I just had such a great time that I really want to know whether I’ll get to do that a few times a week in the future. Competing rumors flew last night—“they’re accepting 24,” “no, they’re accepting 15,” and the ever popular “maybe it’s only three or five!” Only time will tell.

We all agreed to get together for a drink after we find out, no matter what the results.

The MOrning After....

2007-02-22T10:46:00.000-05:00

I hit the sack last night buzzing from the excitement of trying out for the GGRD, on a mercifully warm night, in a dusty warehouse in Astoria. Someone counted 21 girls there trying out. I have no idea how I rated....there were some really impressive skaters - some have played on other teams, and some were just fucking good. We will find out early next week, and I am sure the curiosity will be on every one who tried outs' mind until then. This morning my body was surprisingly not too terribly sore, but frikkin' HUNGRY. (On the way to work I bought a glazed donut the size of a spare tire, two hard boiled egg, a giant coffee, and I already ate breakfast at home...!). It comes as no surprise to me that I am pretty out of shape, that I understand the rules of the derby game, but that I have no sense of how to actually physically play it, that it is more complicated than it appears, that sport court flooring is slippery compared to Empire, and, that as a self taught skater, I have some pretty bad habits.
All four SASC girls got a ride back to Brooklyn from a girl named Kathy who also tried out, who I hope we see again with the Sweet Action when the weather warms up. All in all, it was a ripping experience, and good luck to us all.
-Alice

Daydreaming

2007-02-20T15:11:00.000-05:00

I was just looking out the window at the grey sky and clumps of icy slush. I can hear the wind whistling. I can't wait for spring!! T-shirts! Smooth pavement! And - dare I say it- sweat??

*sigh*

Next Skate Days

2007-02-14T12:39:00.000-05:00

I thought I would post the next times I am gonna be at the rinks in case anyone else wants to join me. I missed last night due to exhaustion, but I am going to Roxy tonight (8PM-2AM $18) which hopefully will be less crowded because of the snow.

Saturday nights at Empire (9PM-4AM $10) are really really great, I recommend anyone and everyone to go, I will be in the country getting much needed chill-out time so I won't be there.

But I will be at Empire on Tuesday (9PM-1AM $6) the last time to practice before the call-backs. Hopefully I will see you all there!

ED: Thursday is the special skate night at Empire (9PM-1PM $10) every third thursday of the month.

Sweat Action

2007-02-07T10:09:00.000-05:00

The cold didn't keep the crowd away from Empire. Being truly hot for the first time in two days, without loading on long underwear, sweater, a hat and gloves was a nice by-product. It was mellow until about 10:30. My legs started to give out about 11PM, just when T-Rex and Kat showed up, and the rink speed was flying. (Kat will have to comment on the fight outside) but the cops were coming in just as I was leaving. I second wanting to learn a spin. Or at least turning front to back with more ease. I am a wobbly pencil when I try....not to mention that I am awkward dancer (I am the Whitest White Chick, or at least I share title that with Marisa). Anyhing else exciting happen there last night?

Zombies on Skates

2007-02-06T17:15:00.000-05:00

After watching 'Dawn of the Dead' last Saturday, I did my semiweekly visit to Empire where I realized, the inexperienced skaters, LOOK JUST LIKE ZOMBIES!

Seriously, that straight legged waddle and the outstretched arms are exactly the same move. Just picture a tall guy, first time on wheels next to a really tall zombie and you will agree.

My foot just doesn't go that way

2007-02-06T12:30:00.000-05:00

Hi, ladies! Hope y'all are keeping warm! I talked about this in a recent comment, but I figured I'd just start a new post....

A regular source of frustration for me is my inability to do a proper ballerina circle turn. I call them that, because it's a position in ballet (Google has just informed me that it is second position), but I think they might be called two-foot spins in "real life." This turn is where one foot faces forward and the other is faced backwards, so you are kind of leaning in on the perimeter of a circle.

My damn back foot refuses to face backwards properly. It kind of goes out at some weird angle, so that instead of a nice straight line between my feet, it's an obtuse triangle, with me dragging my lame little foot behind me as I try to move forward. Not the desired graceful effect, to say the least.

I've seen Mess and T-Rex do them really nicely, and I'll bet most of you other chicas can do them as well. What are your secrets? Please don't tell me years of ballet...

i want to ice skate!

2007-02-05T12:16:00.000-05:00

anyone interested? we could go to wollman rink in prospect park (cheap & conveniently located) or to chelsea piers, which is pricier but i think it's indoors.

Saturday Night Fever

2007-02-04T23:54:00.000-05:00

Last night was my first time at Empire on Saturday. T-Rex was also there, showing off her crazy disco moves and zipping around like she was born on skates.

There weren't as many people as there usually are on Tuesdays, but there were a lot more silly teenagers and twenty-somethings in big obnoxious groups falling all over the place. (I sound like a crotchety old lady!)

By the time 12:30 rolled around, I was very tired. I ended up staying for another hour, at which point I was barely able to stay up. I couldn't believe that there were still people showing up at 1:30 when I was leaving.

I'll probably be heading over there again on Tuesday. I think T-Rex said she would be there too. Anyone else want to come? Still no solid news about when the callbacks are, but I want to keep in practice.

Until next time!

saturday night special

2007-02-02T14:30:00.001-05:00

who's skating at Empire on saturday night?

in other news, the night before my birthday (cough,cough) BAM is featuring a special gotham girls night with movie shorts about rollerskating. more info here. anyone interested in joining me?

Empire strikes back

2007-02-01T16:44:00.000-05:00

I don’t think I’ve actually written anything on here yet, but I’m definitely a card-carrying member of the Sweet Action skating superstars.

I went to Empire on Tuesday night to try to get in more practice before the GGRD callbacks, even though a date has not been set yet. I showed up a little after 9:30, so even though it was starting to pick up, there was still a lot of space to skate around. Forty Lixx was already there, skating around like a pro.

After skating around for a bit, I went to one corner of the mini-rink and practiced spinning around. An older man skated by and told me that I needed to bend my knees and I’d get more power. It worked! I practiced that for a while more, then tried (and mostly failed) to copy the cool moves that people around me were doing.

Later, that same guy came back and somehow indicated over the dull roar of the disco music that he wanted to show me how to skate. Free lessons? That’s fine with me!

I’ve never been a fabulous dancer, and I have no sense of rhythm to speak of, but after thirty or forty minutes skating around the rink hand in hand with that stranger, I feel like I might have a future in partnered roller disco skating. Of course, that’s only if there’s a future in New York City roller disco rinks...

I might skate around the neighborhood this weekend if the weather is sunny and not too frigid. Any stalwart skaters out there interested in joining me?

step 1: i admit that i am powerless over my addiction

2007-01-31T21:07:00.000-05:00

before skate club, i was a white, black and grey mid-calf sock wearer. and then i discovered the magic of skatersocks.com. but it didn't stop there. i've spent literally hundreds of dollars on hosiery in the past six months. the above picture is a small sample culled from today's laundry hall; it doesn't include the dozen or so more socks that were still in the drawer, or my drawer full of fancy tights, or of course, the cutie pie socks currently on my feet (black with pink heart shaped locks). i can't wait to see them framed in skates.

holla back girls

2007-01-27T12:53:00.000-05:00

i'm pleased to announce that four SASC girls have been invited back for a second round of tryouts with the Gotham Girls. Forty Lixx, TRex, Kat O'Strophic, and GoGo (please don't change your names if you make ggrd! they're perfect!) will be practicing with the whole league so that the ggrd girls can get to know them better. i'm sure they'll think each woman is as fucking awesome as SASC does.

congrats, ladies! and best of luck...

The SASC First Annual Pizza Party

2007-01-21T12:31:00.000-05:00

friday night, skate girls met up at Graziella's for what was to be our first annual pizza party. we had super much fun, with some members of the burgeoning Men's Auxilliary, as well as the first member of the Sweet Action Kitten Klub for junior members.

we ate much much food, drank copious amounts of beer & wine, and caught each other up on the roller derby tryouts.... it was nice because there were some members who got to meet each other for the first time, which always makes me happy.

and it turns out that four people in attendance were all tattooed by the same artist! small world...

i do have to say that as nice as it is to have snow in january, i cannot wait for springtime!

GGRD Test Events

2007-01-18T15:01:00.000-05:00

I figured I would post about what the GGRD tests you on at tryouts for posterity, so that anyone trying out in the future will have this reference for what to practice.

1) Crossovers - you MUST be able to do crossovers smoothly and without looking at your feet, I have it on good authority that they do not take skaters who can't do crossovers well. While turning, pick up the outside foot and cross it over the other foot, placing it on the ground so the feet are parallel. Then push out with the crossed over foot so that you pick up speed as you turn. This is best practiced against a wall until you feel comfortable.

2) T-Stop - this is the stop where you put one foot behind the other in a perpendicular fashion and drag it behind, keeping the weight on your front foot. This should slow you to a full stop.

3) Snowplow or Wedge Stop - feet wide apart, toes pointing in, the knees should be wide enough to put a watermelon between them (as said by Chassis Crass) keep your ass low and push the heels outward, this should slow you to a full stop.

4) One Knee Fall - while skating, fall on one knee and then get up without using your hands on the floor, you can put your hands on your knee to push yourself up.

5) Two Knee or Rockstar Fall - while skating fall on two knees keeping your ass from touching your feet. Then get up by putting one knee up first and using the same method as the one knee fall to get to your feet.

6) Three Point Fall - while skating fall to one knee, then let the fleshy part of your ass hit the floor and put your elbow out behind you, propping you up. Use the elbow to push you back up to the one knee position and get up without using your hands on the floor.

They may ask you to skate on one foot with each foot down the straightaway of the rink.

Most importantly STAY LOW, keep your knees bent and ass out. I know this is difficult, for a dance skater like me, I felt postively ungainly, but this is how derby is played.

If there were any events that I wasn't trained for in my session that anyone else wants to add, please do so in the comments.

T-Rex

GGRD Tryouts Update

2007-01-17T23:34:00.000-05:00

TRex knows wazzzup

so, six of us sasc girls put forth our best efforts for the ggrd league. while i clearly, unequivocally did not make it, my girls definitely stand a chance. while all of them outperformed most of the other ladies in attendance, i have to say that TRex and Forty Lixx were the strongest contenders.

personally, i had the time of my life trying out, and i had no shame in talking up SASC all the while. yes, i handed out cards.

at the end of the night, i was offered a chance to try out as a ref, which i personally think would fucking rule. i hereby lay claim to the ref name Miranda Warning (lawyer by day, ref by night)...

there are many many pics over at flickr, but the best of the best are here for your viewing pleasure.

(i hope that one of the other attendees posts a must more detailed, informative post than this one.)

Kat masters the three-point stop

[pic removed per GGRD's request]
GoGo skates her ass off in the judging section

mess wipes out, but on purpose this time

Forty Lixx, the single most badass mama i've ever met

Stage Two Skatingitis

2007-01-16T15:05:00.000-05:00

so a third of the sasc girls are trying out for the Gotham Girls Roller Derby league tomorrow night!

wish us luck:

Alice aka Forty Lixx
Margot aka GoGo
Teressa aka T-Rex
Kat O'Strophic
Darla aka Hypergrrly
and yours truly, Miss Mess

Tryouts start around 6ish and look for pics on Thursday!

xo

oopsies!

2007-01-06T15:28:00.001-05:00

ladies, today was a great day for skating, and i wrote all about it! only i wrote about it on the wrong blog. check it out over here.

Out with the old, In with the new

2007-01-02T16:30:00.000-05:00

Happy New Year, people!! Hope your holidays were the best.

Here's to a ton more Sweet Action in 2007!

love,
Kat O'Strophic

Bad Kitty Skates

2006-12-06T19:20:00.001-05:00

This Canadian rollergirl who sells skates has these on her website. They just seemed like skate club material.

rollergirl.ca

2006-12-01T17:27:00.000-05:00

Ahh, Global Warming

2006-11-28T17:21:00.000-05:00

Ok, before I get angry rants, I am NOT thrilled about Global Warming overall. But hey, from a totally shallow, ignorant, and narrowminded perspective, I am enjoying this temperate late-November weather. The b*tch is finding a safe place to skate after dark, seeing that it's freakin' pitch black outside at like, 5pm. My current schedule does not allow for midday skates very often, so what's a gal to do??

But voila! I have found a solution. Enter Metro Tech! The pavement is flat and relatively smooth. There are tiled areas, but you get used to it. And there's lots of space to cruise around, so it's not too boring. A bonus is all the security guards standing watch, so you feel like you are safe from the boogie monsters out there. And they seem to be completely fine with me being there, providing them with skater girl entertainment!

CHAMPIONSHIP BOUT SHUT OUT

2006-11-19T10:38:00.000-05:00

Last night the Queens of Pain slaughtered Manhattan. The score was something like 140 to 50. Manhattan could not get off the ground with Suzy Hotrod and Roletta Lynn back, but to top it off, Queens had a ringer from a Texas team skating for them. She was the jammer every other time, and always in the lead. Her name was Cheapskates and she was unstoppable. Apparently she was called in as a replacement for Roletta, and now that Roletta is back, I think it is pretty weighted to the point of unfair. Wonder what the rules and regulations are on that. I actually started to feel bad cheering for Queens by about halftime.....and had to start rooting for little Miss Stuffit. She was giving it all till the very end, with spirit! I missed the last Queens bout, was Cheapskate skating in that game? Sorry guys, my battery died and I only have a couple pics. Posting soon. -Forty

what skate girls do in the off season

2006-11-10T10:21:00.000-05:00

tonight, there are two competing events:

> The Ex-Debutantes (featuring Scabby Hambone and Tiger Baby, as well as Men's Aux member Captain Terrific) and In Interview (featuring Chernobyl) are playing tonight at Fat Baby. Details:

friday, november 10th - doors at 7pm
the ex-debutantes at 10:30pm
in interview at 8:30
$7

FAT BABY
112 rivington street
betw. essex + ludlow
F to delancey

> An the opening reception for a show by Forty Lixx's husband's printing company at Supreme Trading called Wide World of Sports. Details:

Friday, November 10th, 6pm—10pm
Show run: November 10th—November 25th
Supreme Trading Gallery
213 N. 8th St.
Williamsburg, Brooklyn 11211

hello from the west coast!

2006-11-01T20:52:00.000-05:00

i miss you guys, but i am loving california!

i made sure to leave the sasc mark where it matters most...

xo

Indoor Skating in the NYC area?

2006-10-30T16:22:00.000-05:00

Despite a massive skating jones, I have not been on wheels in what feels like forever. Besides Tuesday nights at Empire, do we have other indoor places to skate? Does anyone know of any other options?

So many times I've gotten all woo-hoo to skate, opened the door, and turned right back around for blankets because my ass is freezing. Anyone?

happiest girl ever

2006-10-24T23:30:00.000-04:00

i've been waiting for this for a long time.

say cheese!

2006-10-19T10:37:00.000-04:00

What with the unpredictable weather lately and the way the fall turns my energy inwards -- I go from wanting to tear around outside all the time to having a strong urge for hot tea and quiet time at home -- I haven't been skating all that much in the last couple of months. The after-work evening skate in the park was always a great way to end a Thursday, but the shortening of days put an end to that (until we all invest in some reflective vests and head lamps or something). And somehow, on the weekends, I've had a hard time taking the time out for a roll around the park. Rollerskating felt like it was slipping away with the carefree days of summer as I began to mentally hibernate a bit.

The neck-and-neck Gotham Girls bout last Friday completely re-energized me. I don't know if my excitement was due to the game's ending with a literally last second, single winning point, or being surrounded by spectators from the other Gotham Girls teams who hollered and screamed in really educational ways (like screaming about fouls that I wouldn't have noticed otherwise), but it really made me want to lace up those skates. So when I got a text message on Sunday about meeting that morning in the park, I thought about it for a minute and finally decided, "why not?" I tumbled out of bed, threw on some clothes and sort of combed my hair, and headed on down to Fort Greene, puffy-eyed and sleepy, twenty minutes late, but slowly edging into the waking world.

I probably would have taken a little more care with my appearance if the text message had included the words "photo shoot". Or, let's be honest, I might not have come at all, since it took all the energy I had to get out of bed and leave the house on a lazy Sunday morning in the first place, let alone actually do my hair.
The session included me, Mess, the delightful visiting DC Chapter head Kitten Kong, and the photographer and her assistant. We'd met at Rope over the summer and she expressed some interest in getting pictures of us. I just didn't know it would be on a Sunday morning so that my totally sleepy face and thrown-together-out-of-the-first-clean-items-I-picked-up outfit would get captured for posterity.

It was actually kind of fun. I pretty much loathe getting my picture taken -- I just never know what to do with myself or how to arrange my face, since I tend to hate the way I look in every photo that's ever been taken of me -- but Erica and her partner were great. They put us at ease by asking lots of questions, chatting with us to distract us from the fact that there was a camera going click-click-click while we were talking. By the end of it I was hardly even cringing about my outfit. It was an interesting way to start off a Sunday, at least.

one if by land

2006-10-18T10:27:00.000-04:00

the t-shirts are coming! the t-shirts are coming!

the t-shirts are being delivered this thursday - probably kind of late (11pm-ish) - but if you ordered one, i will be found at rope this evening before Lost, and tomorrow evening until late late late. bring me money. and if you're around late enough on thursday, you can pick up your shirt then.

otherwise, tuesday october 24 is Official T-Shirt Handout and Prints Gone Wild Planning Session Day. we'll meet up at rope around 7pm, so that you all can still make it to Empire on time....

*so excited*

extra roller derby ticket

2006-10-13T11:59:00.000-04:00

i have an extra ticket for tonight's roller derby match at hunter college.

lemme know if you're interested: sweetactionskateclub (at) gmail.com

autumnal slump

2006-10-09T10:35:00.000-04:00

SASC has been lagging these cool fall days... our shirts are still at the shop, and very little is planned between now and the first weekend of November (more on that later) but in the interest of keeping this blog at least moderately interesting, here's a little pictorial walk down memory lane....

abbulous fabulous

scabby's sailor tat

my broken bird

the one and only kitten kong, who will be gracing clinton hill with her presence this friday night, just in time for the derby bout this weekend

skate girls at rope

skate girls at abby synth's bbq party. can you feel the love?

Ahhhhh. It's good to be back

2006-10-04T12:46:00.000-04:00

Due to travels, weather, tons of work, and the longest mytherf'ing illness ever, I wasn't able to skate for an entire MONTH. That's right. 30 days.

Fortunately I was able to come back last week in full force. On Thursday I did a late-night skate around my 'hood in Boerum Hill. I had started been doing this a bit regularly due to my naturally nocturnal nature and scheduling issues. Basically, I just skate around Schermerhorn, Livingston, and the world-famous mecca for sneakers and cellphones, the Fulton Street Mall. It's pretty good to skate around this area at night for two reasons: the government workers (and the traffic) go home for dindin, and Fulton Street is closed to regular traffic. So basically it's just me and some buses. And there is still just enough of a police presence (the station is right there) and pedestrian traffic to not make me totally afraid of the bad people out there. Having go-go gadget skates to skoot away at full speed helps, too.

On Sunday, I went back to the ol' standby, Fort Greene park. And it felt good.

Hallelujah, it's nice to be back on wheels!!!

The Adventures of a Lonely Roller Blade Dancer

2006-10-04T10:08:00.000-04:00

I begin my journey at the 42nd Street pier and contined until Canal Street,
most of which is spent thinking about my future (since I forgot my ipod) and figuring out what to eat first when the Fresh Direct guy drops off my order. Deep in the Saag Panir versus a Gouda and Argula sandwich debate, waging internally, I see a flash of pink headed my way. I exchange a nod and a little wave with a girl dresssed head to toe in American Apparel pink cruising the West Side Highway on a long board. She is awesome.

I retreat back into concerns over global warming and whether I remembered to include kitty litter in my order when someone grabs my hand! I turn to find a small, spanish man with some contraption on his back skating next to me like "we are going steady." He is going on about skate dancing as I pull my hand back and notice he is on roller blades. He skates next to me for about 2 blocks as I assure him I am not interested in skate dancing and that I strictly wear quad skates and I am currently just trying to get a bit of exercise. He is exhausting. He finally gives up and returns to his post in front of Chelsea Piers to set his trap for the next lady to roll by.

The rest of the way to Canal Street is uneventful. I remove my skates and head to the subway, running into a co-worker I just saw an hour earlier. He is shocked that I am dressed noticably different and comments on my knee socks. I slink past and slip down into the subway and head for home.

Dog Days of Fall

2006-10-02T16:51:00.000-04:00

Tomorrow the weatherman reports summer like conditions on the isle of Manhattan.
I am going to celebrate the last days of summer by bringing my skates to work and skating the West Side Highway directly after. Wanna come? I haven't seen my favorite skate ladies in some time. I miss your pretty faces and pale knees

Not skating in weeks and feel like some of my skills and important skate muscles have atrophied. I feel it is my duty to warm up my legs before winter freezes them into immobility.

XO
Tiger Baby