A Stack of Napkins 1989-2014

Get your pre-order in for my new book, 
"A Stack of Napkins"!
https://www.createspace.com/5342022 
Enter discount code "XSBJXZZN" for 20% off. 
Official launch date 03/21.

www.astackofnapkins.com

Bloody America set with Dr. Brian King!

Bloody America reviews Ubon's BBQ Bloody Mary Mix: http://youtu.be/xo031ZfADi4 w special guest moi, me, Martini Mike! In Los Angeles you learn to always leave the house ready to be filmed! Anyway... quiet on the set!

SAVE THE FILM INDUSTRY IN NEW MEXICO!

From Oneheadlightink.com, "State Address Pits Film Against Classroom"

Read the article- it's good! As you may also believe, Governor Martinez doesn't know what she's talking about (in my opinion) and should have an independent audit done (again!). Stop chasing away the money from New Mexico!

I encourage you to call 505-986-4550 to tell the NM Legislative Finance Committee to KEEP NM FILM! Or we will all pay the price!
OR
write emails to anyone involved! Starting with lfc@nmlegis.gov .

Here's mine, but I have provided a form letter for your use at the bottom of this blog.

The email I sent to the Vice-Chair of the NM Legislative Finance Committee:

"Dear Sir:
I come to you today to plead for your continuing support of film in New Mexico. Our state will begin a downward spiral in our relationship with the film industry if incentives are reduced.
As you must be aware, we are one of the poorest states in this country. We are only a step above Arkansas, Kentucky, West Virginia, and Mississippi according to the U.S. Census Bureau!
This program has brought hundreds of millions of dollars, over a billion by some estimates, to our state. Thousands of high paying jobs have been created. I personally know many students and unemployed people who work as extras even in film and television here. There are myths and arguments and then there is the reality that almost every life around me will be affected by the mass exodus of the film industry from our state. It has already begun based on rumors. We have lost several 2011 major productions the minute the new governor began to speak.
I personally was raised here, and once upon a time moved to Los Angeles for the entertainment industry. I came back and I have stayed here as I watched this beautiful flower bloom in the desert. Please don't let it die.
Do the right thing and encourage those around you to keep fighting for New Mexico. I thank you for your time. And on behalf of my thousands of fans I thank you for your help. Please feel free to distribute this email.

“Technically, New Mexico has a ‘refundable tax credit,’” -NM Film Office

"A steady activity of film and TV shoots is raising New Mexico’s profile in Hollywood as several films or TV series shot here racked up Oscar and Emmy awards." - Trip Jennings, The New Mexico Independent"

Oh, and here's the chair of the committee... who has no email.
Representative Luciano "Lucky" Varela - (D)
http://www.nmlegis.gov/lcs/legdetails.aspx?SPONCODE=HVARE

That's why I moved down the ladder to the Vice-Chair.
Senator John Arthur Smith - (D)
john.smith@nmlegis.gov

http://www.nmlegis.gov/lcs/legdetails.aspx?SPONCODE=SSMIT

And of course the Republican opponents:
http://www.ballotpedia.com/wiki/index.php/Dennis_Kintigh
http://www.ballotpedia.com/wiki/index.php/Janice_Arnold-Jones

FORM LETTER FOR YOUR USE (tweak as you see fit):

Dear Sir/Madam:

I come to you today to plead for your support of film in New Mexico.
Our state will begin a downward spiral in our relationship with the film industry if incentives are reduced.
As you must be aware, we are one of the poorest states in this country. We are only a step above Arkansas, Kentucky, West Virginia, and Mississippi according to the U.S. Census Bureau!
This program has brought hundreds of millions of dollars, over a billion by some estimates, to our state. Thousands of high paying jobs have been created. I personally know many students and unemployed people who work as extras even in film and television here.
There are myths and arguments and then there is the reality that many lives around me will be affected by the mass exodus of the film industry from our state. We have already lost several 2011 major productions as the new governor began to speak of reductions to the incentives. Please do the right thing and encourage those around you to keep fighting for New Mexico. I thank you for your time.

“Technically, New Mexico has a ‘refundable tax credit,’” -NM Film Office

"A steady activity of film and TV shoots is raising New Mexico’s profile in Hollywood as several films or TV series shot here racked up Oscar and Emmy awards." - The New Mexico Independent


Well my part in this is simple... helping my friends and neighbors! And as a returning actor this will also affect me in the near future. Being a voice in mass media it is my responsibility to bring attention to this important issue. If you think it doesn't affect you... you're wrong! Think about all the aspects of a production from food to property rental to lodging for instance. Oh yes... hundreds of millions of dollars freely flowing into our poor state for the last few years until now.

Watch this video of people just like you. I AM NM FILM

Write! Call! Step up to the plate and swing!

November Issue of Albuquerque the Magazine

Pick up a copy of Albuquerque the Magazine today. (November issue)
I wrote all the wine and spirits pieces; "Off the Vine", "Spirits 101", Thanksgiving wine picks, etc.
Thanks to all my wine experts! Shout outs in print. :)
It turns out I knew more about wine than I gave myself credit for.
I hope you enjoy the piece and the places/favorites I mentioned.

And here's one I would have mentioned if St. Clair wasn't discontinuing it!
A fine fine port that I naturally snatched up a bottle of for myself.
D.H. LesCombes...


(© Michael P. D'Arco)
Thank you for your continued support.
Salud!

"Don't Miss the Train!" - VIP ART SALE

OH- HEY... remember that great picture I took of you?



Your establishment? Your product?

Wouldn't that look great blown up BIG and hanging on the wall?
Buy some photography for your home or a friend!

Almost anything, any size, framed, mounted, or other.
All prices negotiable!
Signed, numbered, catalogued too!!

Search to your heart's desire at http://www.flickr.com/photos/martinimike/
Email me at MartiniWorld@hotmail.com
Trying to finance my December 2nd show that is not advertised yet.
Thank you for your continued support.

The Rise of Fall

Hmmm... sounds dirty. Well, fall is "upon us" didn't sound as catchy. Wait, that still sounds dirty though! OK, anyway... lol.
Just a quick catch up with the non social network addicted.
So much has happened lately and is about to happen in Martini World!
Single life, and love, is brutal. Art is kind. But either way you suffer for it. Well I have been very busy with the art anyway. And like a mother F-ing Phoenix, I will rise from the ashes of heartbreak and gloom! Ladies and gentlemen it is my pleasure to present to you the new and improved Martini Mike.



In a move to expand my photographic portfolio and presence I have taken to a model search and subsequent studio sessions. So check out some of the goods of late.  As we are in my favorite season (must be the season of the witch) I am working the ghosts out with such sets as "Samhain", and "Muerte 2010" both featuring Galina Dubceac and the latter also featuring yours truly. I am also developing such sets as "JAZZ BABY!", an ode to a personal friend and inspiration- the late (legendary photographer) Bill Claxton. Just want to view my personal favorites from the entire portfolio? Flickriver baby. And for the FBI here is my latest self portrait entitled "See no evil, hear no evil, speak no evil Self Portrait II".  That's from this week and yes I lost a lot of weight.



You may recently have seen some photography locally in the August issue of Albuquerque the Magazine ("Butte Monster Feet"), and also "Feet in the Grass in a Bar" in the “Alibi” V.19 No.38, Sept 23-29, 2010. Was that my "foot period" ? Coming up... 20 piece solo show of LARGE pieces.

Be sure to pick up a copy of the November issue of Albuquerque the Magazine in a few weeks. I wrote the wine and spirits sections... "From the Vine", "Spirits 101", Thanksgiving wine picks, etc. Thanks to all my experts;NM Wine Growers Association, Jubilation, National Distribution's Mara Perrigo, and Swirl's Lori Anne McBride.

Still plugging away at my major publication debut. Have a certain cigar bar's article/photos in the can and moving on to yet another submission. Also have a chapter from one of my novels (in progress) ready for Esquire if my stalking them would just get a response! Was it Mrs. New Mexico who said she could get me in the door at Playboy? Remember all you magazines... I'm a double threat;Writer and Photographer. Let the games begin!



And well, events? Planning a Day of the Dead event for Monday, November 1st. Keep your eyes and ears to the ground. Also may be partnering with another promoter for a weekly floating club and some other ideas we discussed. (Call me)

MUSIC. What am I thinking? I tend not to dwell in the past, so this can only mean I'm considering some singing again. Maybe just studio? Who knows. But there is now a music page that should age/date me pretty well! http://www.reverbnation.com/michaelpmartinimikedarco Grab a strong drink and some headphones.

If you're not already... become an "official" fan over at Facebook.

In the words of Mark Twain,  ‎"The fear of death follows from the fear of life. A man who lives fully is prepared to die at any time."

Happy 10/10/10 to all of you.

Thirstday

Oh my... Thursday is not so bad!
I did not make it to the burning of Zozobra in Santa Fe.
I was home alone and already dressed.
So out the door I went.
And well, in the immortal words of George Thorogood... I drink alone.
OK, well not exactly. Matter of fact I rarely drink alone!
Strange days have found us. Oh crap, there's another song lyric (The Doors).
Since everyone seems to know me wherever I go in this small town of 800,000 people it is impossible to be melancholy or alone in your dark corner of a cafe or bar. But hey, I'm a writer and photographer. So, I feed on this manna whether I intended to or not. I just want to say hello and thank you to all the interesting characters I have run across lately.
You are some truly inspiring and colorful people.
It is a pleasure to know or have known you.
Have a great weekend!

Martini Mike's St. Patrick's Day Extravaganza!

OK, so anyone who knows me knows I love St. Patty's Day. Because my middle name is Patrick? Maybe. Because I'm Irish? No. Because I'm not even a little Irish! Although they say everyone's Irish on St. Patrick's Day. Well grab your shillelagh and come oooon down. There may be some pinching going on. But not because you forgot to wear green!

With the death of the annual St. Pat's Day Parade here... so goes my annual post parade private party. Much like my Xmas party... we are bumping up to a bar so there's more room and I don't have to shake the drinks! This may be the hottest  event I have promoted yet. I have acquired sponsorship from Jameson Irish Whiskey and Guinness. Needless to say there will be great drink specials! There, I said it anyway. Killian's, Guinness, Jameson at the very least will be on special. Now I can't promise a "special" but I am sending some big goons over to speak with a fella named Wes about ordering some Harp and/or Smithwick's from the Guinness rep too (same company). Ahem. OK, I was just going to ask him politely to be honest. I just laughed out loud but refuse to say "lol" in a blog. Damn.

FREE entertainment! Everybody likes something FREE right? And everybody wants to see some bagpipes or something on St. Patty's right? I have the hottest pipers in town in my pocket. Stop. Don't touch that. I need that roll of quarters for laundry. Mac-Tire of Skye Pipes and Drums will be making appearances throughout the afternoon and evening. This is the only place you will likely see them in Nob Hill other than an unnamed venue way at the east end because it was a package deal with their uptown location.

The finest Irish Balladeer west of the Mississippi, Gerry Muisener,  will be playing at 5:30. Garage Rock Gods "Sleestaks" will be playing a raucous set of drinking songs at 8 PM. They will be followed by other local favorites of a slightly different flavor... Vertigo Venus (Sponsored by Guinness) at 9. In between all this madness and revelry I will be your DJ. You will be subjected to your favorite Irish and/or Rock tunes from the 80's to the present. That's right, you heard me. No "House", "Techno", or other late night DJ type stuff until 10 PM. At 10 PM we will usher in the late night with DJ Flo-Fader. Some time between 9 and 11 the "Jameson Girls" will be around with shwag and booze. Guinness will also be around some time handing out the shwag and such.

              (Me & Sally Supermodel are big fans)

Non musical guests will include The Irish Freedom Committee. Support the families of Irish Republican Political Prisoners! Hmmm... and anyone else cheated out of a parade this year may very well be here! Give us your tired, your green, your thirsty! No marching required.

"Where is this magical event?" you might be asking yourself. A place called imbibe is the epicenter for this extravaganza. Conveniently located in the historic Nob Hill district. On Route 66/Central Ave. just a stone's throw from UNM. There's smoking allowed, legally. And there is a fine ventilation system for you people who are whining right now. Maybe, hopefully, it will be nice enough to have their garage doors open too. And let's not forget their beautiful rooftop patio. Do some people watching from the railing! Make fun of the guy I wouldn't let in.

Can you handle a good time? Forget the pub with no view. Forget the other worn out old pipers. This is the place to be! More details to come as they unfold... or maybe I'll just surprise you! Take the afternoon off and come enjoy the Irish spring. Follow the sounds of laughter and the scent of a shot of whiskey.

Mac-Tire of Skye Pipes and Drums 3:00ish/4:30ish/7:30ish/??

Irish Balladeer-Gerry Muisener 5:30-6:00

Sleestaks (the rock band) 8:00

Vertigo Venus 9:00
(Sponsored by Guinness)

Jameson Girls 9-11

DJ Flo-Fader from 10 PM on

Drink Specials

Shwag of course! (FREE Stuff)

And MORE!

RSVP at MySpace

OR

Duke City Fix

OR

Martini World! Facebook Group

 

ALL PHOTOS © Michael P. D'Arco

As Spring Approaches

Happy Chinese New Year! Lunar New Year! Year of the Tiger! Rrrrrroar! Remember Tygers of Pan Tang? Never mind. They were grrreat! (Couldn't resist) Resolutions? Cut down on cheesy jokes. And funny cheese. Speaking of cheese... Where to, and where not to, get a Blue or Goat Cheese stuffed olive with your martini in Albuquerque, NM. Where?? Nob Hill Bar and Grill.Blue. Zinc/Savoy/Season. Goat. Where not to? Artichoke Cafe. From what I think I heard right next to us- it really put them out. It is also a gourmet restaurant right? Bartender having a bad day? Poor waiter was the messenger. I received one olive with the glossy version of "and don't ask again". Mid week. Half empty bar. See you in another however many years.

NHBG

I would like to thank Conceit Magazine for my layout in the February 2010 edition.
Vol.3, #35 features a poem by moi called "Badges".That gem is accompanied by a self portrait I shot at Denver's Brown Palace on Halloween. Get yours now!

Picture? From my "Muerte Me" series...

Poem? Here! Remember your favorite worn leather jacket with the stuff all over it in the 80's?

"Badges"

I wear my badges boldly
A sign to the world

A sign of life
A sign of love
A sign of the rising electricity
That will be my end

I flatly state that I’m taking care of business
And I’ll tear you down where you stand

I scream & Cry
That my heart is
Black
White
Broken
No gray

They know that I’ve traveled from the desert
My high mesas know
They hold my peace for ransom

And I shout that no wallflower wear this jacket!
Not without mysterious transformation

My stone walls have windows that hide in the blackness
Sing through them of yesterdays & tomorrows
Of the cold & the night
Of the symbols I bare

-Michael P. D’Arco

Conceit Magazine can be found on Facebook amongst other places.

I am planning a St. Patty's Day extravaganza at this time. Mac-Tire of Skye Pipes and Drums will be performing. Possibly a great Irish Balladeer by the name of Gerry Muisener. I am also counting on the Irish Freedom Committee to have a table and a non English beer. And the Irish American Society may not know it yet, because I've been busy, but. Details to come very very soon.

Check out some other artistic friends of mine at their new website MutantRoot.com.
And be sure to read Rudolfo Serna's latest story on their blog. You may have caught some excerpts on Facebook.
Who is the driver based on? Let's just say this writing began after driving through a place where I recounted doing a 360 one rainy night in my 1971 Triumph Spitfire Mk IV roadster back when I had long hair.

I have a short film in the works. All I will disclose at this time is it involves the end times, aliens, rock music, and dildos. What?! You heard me. I may require non union help. I may require mental help.

Well, as spring approaches I am feeling no allergy pain thanks to modern medicine. This Land of Manana, er I mean "Enchantment", tends to tease us between snow storms. My car said it was 60 at 5:00 today. I resisted the urge to don shorts on some sunny patio. And alas, here I sit in Cyber Land like a nerd. You can lead a jack ass to water...

And with that weather report I would like to say something. If ever you feel like my blogs are sounding like one of those Xeroxed Christmas letters from your friends that are scared of technology so you hear from them once a year, breathe, please. Please send me a letter on Xeroxed colored paper informing me of such. And don't forget to include all the illnesses you have been dealing with and family problems and all the friends you have visited. And if you do read these and you do enjoy them just let me know that by way of email or a comment on the internets machine. Thanks.

Well, until next time... Cheers!

Mid Winter Blues in A Minor

A most pleasant of days winks at me. I rise from my slumber, a recently unmatched marathon of sleep lasting 12 largely uninterrupted hours. I stretch and crackle and feel the cool sheets engulf me in their possibly unnecessary ridiculously high thread count. The drapes hide a majority of sunlight, pecking to get in. I think back to a minor sleep altercation several hours ago involving an evidently well rested and agile cat. Full throttle across the room cat plunge onto my nuts is no way to start my day. The screams and promises of a quick death for kitty still echoing throughout the quiet home I returned to a dream state.

What was that final dream? I wish I could remember now. I want to say it was almost a nightmare but I was in control. Something with a car or a gun or instrument? I am most certain it was not magic, wizards, love, or cats! Well it was nice to dream and breathe and be at the perfect temperature for ½ a day.

I am out of coffee! I sit up on 3 pillows sipping away at green tea with local honey. I wish I had a bagel and lox. Maybe I should cook up some brown eggs. Bathe them in my green chile sauce, which would make that like my upteenth consecutive meal to include hot chile. Ah. Well, I think maybe this best be addressed much after I come to.

Farmville awaits. A farmer does not have the luxury of sleep. No FFA award for me today. There are roses and watermelons to harvest. There are barns to build and neighbors to visit. Maybe I will whack some gangsters after that on Mob Wars or Mafia Wars. I must start my day in a virtual land.

Cravings for Pete Townshend have snookied, snickered, into my eardrums. A hunger I can not explain has taken me over. It is a hunger for the sweet sweet music of a man whose music I have never purchased. I quickly downnload the standards right onto my laptop. “No one respects the flame quite like the fool who's badly burned. From all this you'd imagine that there must be something learned” .

I will be preparing a Native American winter stew today. Garbanzo beans, chunks of beef, hot red chile. This is my contribution to a party we will attend this evening. A "Ceiligh" to be exact. It is delicious and warming to the soul. Our souls are so cold we may need more. My famous Martini Kit might be in order.

The Martini Kit. An aluminum case purchased at Wal Mart oh so many years ago. I delicately sliced and glued the foam rubber innards to fit all the essentials of a martini party. Outside this case now dangle silent remnants of her travels. Ripped airport tags, decals, dents, stains, and a pair of handcuffs. This is Top Secret stuff here people. Lurking inside her protective shell are comical napkins, toothpicks, Martini & Rossi Extra Dry Vermouth, and an eyedropper. There is a jigger, a jar of olives waiting to have their navels plucked dry and replaced with a fine blue cheese. A standard bottle of chilled Vodka will fit into the chiseled place that will not hold a 1.75 Litre bottle of Tito’s Vodka.

The crock pot is my friend. I will prepare my goods and slink up outta here. I spy the glorious blue skied day from my television set via surveillance cameras about the perimeter of my property. The weather channel assures me that there is a steady warmth growing outside these walls. Winter is taking a break today and Spring wants her down for the count. I could put the top down. That may require a hat. I could wash the car. Snow flurries tonight and snow for the next two days. Allegedly. This is why I want to throw a slurpy at the weatherman every time I see him standing on the corner. Take that you boob.

I am ready to adventure. I am ready to write. I am ready to capture life through my lenses. My camera is charged. My tea is gone. My faded blue jeans hang from the exercise equipment, calling to me like an old friend. Wait, that’s weird- my friends aren’t hanging from my exercise equipment. Matter of fact most would stay far away from exercise equipment! Ha! And if they were in my bedroom when I awoke it would be even more weird. “Hey! What the fuck are you doing?”, “How’d you get in here?”. “Did I give you the alarm code?”, “What’s up bro?”. “Oh shit, are you serious?”, “Rudy. You do not want to eat MY brain… trust me”. I think forward to the day. “You better bet your life!” shouts Pete Townshend. “It’s a very good day to die” I like to say. And I exit stage left.

Children of the Night

"Always do sober what you said you'd do drunk. That will teach you to keep your mouth shut." - Ernest Hemingway

Well we had a meeting of the minds a few nights ago. True, perhaps spongey and blurred minds at that time. Always looking for ways to make life simpler, while spreading our names across the land, we often meet for long Gin soaked (not literally "Gin", just a figure of speech) discussions on such. Well, and how to make money at the same time! There might be reading of some prose involved as well. Maybe some jamming. This night was no different. Rudolfo Serna, writer, was crying "Anarchy!" at some point. World Champion Bagpiper Nate Lorenz, AKA "Nitro Nate", cigar in hand and near the end of the Whisky Trail joined right in.

Rudolfo is about to publish his first novel. He is a loose member of a loose cooperative known by several names, a few of which escape me now. "Children of Satan"... I remember that one for sure. "Traumatized Root"? Damn. Something with the word "root" in it. I do know they even bought a domain name this week. Well, anyway, from the northern communities of New Mexico they are the only tough, hard drinking, fistacuffing men I know around here that are poets and painters and artists of various mediums. A few weeks ago they had a show in Espanola, NM. Next thing you know I am helping them plan some shows in the big city, there is a name & a website! I was inspired. This all came about after such a discussion last weekend I believe.

My main issue is that I post blogs in two or more places. Having had another strange experience over on my local blog that night I swore I would find a new space. I have a "local" blog which they A. only permit to relate specifically to Albuquerque on that site. Then I also have my "international" blog on MySpace for everything outside of New Mexico basically. What about the in between? And the local blog, popular as it is, is a pain to format everything to their exact specs. That is just one reason that even a popular writer may not end up on the front page. And there goes hours and hours of work... with no one to read it. Sad. I have been accused of feeling "persecuted" but I understand their "tough love" stance and know it's not personal. Ahem.

Days later my buddy Nitro Nate inadvertently brought to my attention the fact that I had an existing account here at blogger.com ! Woohoo! You can change the name or address at any time. You can post a blog from your cell phone for God's sake. You can post a blog from an email. It auto saves regularly. No popup to agree to before adding a hyperlink. No resizing of pictures. No rules other than avoiding nudity. Aside from that-I think I've found my new home.

I have just spent countless hours for the last two days building, tweaking, and testing this space. Let me know what you think. Easy to use? Easy to comment without signing in? Easy to subscribe? Like the little checkboxes? Thanks fellas for the continued brainstorming. Now if Rudy and I could just finish writing our books we can hire Nate as our financial advisor/accountant! Meantime... need a bagpiper or 9? Visit Nate and his other gang at the Mac-Tire of Skye Pipes and Drums site. Rudy hates technology but teaches creative writing at UNM. You can visit the rest of Rudy's Espanola gang soon at their new web space or the show I am trying to organize. Stay Tuned.

Subscribe to this new space because you have nothing to lose. I wish I had the time and energy to write every day but I don't. But I will likely write more frequently now without the aggravation of requirements and guidelines and keeping it about here or there! Thank you all for your continued support. Cheers!