May 21st, 2013, 7 pm: For the past six months Megan McNealy, a finance guru with an artistic streak, has been hosting (in her words) “a monthly gathering of phenonemal men and women, much like the writer, Gertrude Stein, did in the 1920s at her home on the Left Bank of Paris.”  Except that (1) this is not on the Left Bank but in Moraga, about 20 minutes east of Oakland; (2) Megan is far less intimidating than Gertrude Stein; and (3) I am hardly phenomenal. Nonetheless, I will be the Featured Speaker at her upcoming Spiritual Salon on Tuesday, May 21st. More from Megan:

“Wine, beer and mojitos will be served, along with a hearty selection of hors d’oeuvres….  In the Buddhist tradition of dana or generosity, the attendees will offer a donation to the speaker.  There will be a sliding scale of between $20-80 minimum, whatever works best for your financial situation.”

So there you have it. I will talk on the theme of Spiritual Travel (once I figure out what it is), tell stories, answer questions, etc. The event is in Megan’s home and limited to 25 people. RSVPs are on a first come, first served basis..  Please email Megan directly (not me!) if you are interested: shimmerymegan (at) gmail.com.

Untitled by Ang Tsherin Sherpa, 2010

An embarrassment of opportunities to see me embarrass myself!!

1) The final 2012 performance of Strange Travel Suggestions — It’s been a short run, it’s been a great run, and after only four (out of five)  packed-house performances it is coming to an end. The last show of this wonderful run will be at The Marsh San Francisco on Saturday October 13th, up in the Studio Theater at 5 pm. Last Saturday, my Mother was in the audience…. Who knows who will show up this time? Hope it’s you. Click here for details and tickets.

2) Meet, Plan, Go — Billed as an opportunity to liberate lost souls who really, Really, REALLY want to travel but continually find excuses not to, this will be an evening of quasi-inspirational sermons by quasi-famous travelers; in this case myself and legendary editor/living buddha Donald W. George.  I promise to liven up the evening by conducting a group meditation in which we visualize ourselves as William Shatner. It happens on Tuesday, October 16th, at 5:30 pm. in San Francisco.  Click here for location, details and tix. Beam yourself up.

3) Weekday Wanderlust — I really can’t get enough of this Don George guy. A day after the “Meet, Plan, Go” event above, Don and I will be taking the “stage” again (this time at San Francisco’s Rex Hotel) — along with the brilliant Chris Colin. The Wednesday 10/17 event is called “Weekday Wanderlust,” and it’s billed as a place for vagabonding spirits to meet, converse, swap travel tales, and listen to “established and up-and-coming Bay Area travel writers share their work with an appreciative audience.” It’s at The Rex from 6-8 pm. Free. Drinks. Just show up.

… it’s official. Really truly. Have just confirmed a September 2012 run of the show at The Marsh in San Francisco!

Strange Travel Suggestions will soon return to San Francisco for the first time since 2008! Note: There will be only four shows. The dates are all Saturdays: September 8th, 15th, 22nd and 29th, at 8:30 pm, on the fabulous main stage. We sold out almost the entire run at The Marsh Berkeley in 2011. Please get your tickets early — here is a link to the information and ordering page at The Marsh.

Jeff at the Marsh  (video)

And check out the video link! It’s short (less than four minutes) but sweet. Fundamentalist Christian advisory: This video contains agnostic material.

(July, 2012) I’m not sure how long it’s been since I’ve posted an event here. Maybe a year? I’ve gotten lazy. My back hurts. I’ve been more enamored of Cowbird than my own site.

This has to stop.

Okay. Stuff is coming up. Great stuff. The most important and urgent is probably my class, Writing the Travel Memoir, which will begin on July 10th at the San Francisco Writers’ Grotto. You can get to the class schedule etc by clicking on the link above. This will be a one-day-a-week class  running for four weeks, 2.5 hours each class. It comes to $26.00 an hour. Not too bad, and by God we’re going to have fun — at least as much fun as we had in my last Grotto class, From Page to Stage.

And there’s something else. Recently I  discovered a great new story-telling series in San Francisco, held the first Wednesday of every month at the Jellyfish Gallery at 1286 Folsom. On Wednesday, June 6th (which would have been my brother Jordan’s 55th birthday) I’ll be performing a story on the theme of — wait for the link — OH SHIT!

I’m telling a story that, sadly, has nothing to do with my brother. But he’ll be there in spirit, as critical of my posturing as ever.

… with me. Which usually means I do most of the talking. But hey, that’s what you’re paying your $5 for! This event, happening on Thursday 4/28 at Books Inc. (in the SF Marina),  is hosted by my friend Tara Russell—a career vagabond and the inspiration behind  “Three Month Visa” coaching and consulting. Come and enjoy an evening of snaky travel tales, Q&A and other verbal fare at the SF Travel Book Club and Lectures Series this Thursday!

If you miss that event, you’ll have to wait a whole month… I’ll be speaking at the Oakland Public Library on Wednesday, June 1st.

A gleeful pair of announcements for my fellow Wanderers and Fools! The New Year will begin with two wonderful opportunities to join me, as a traveling companion, on journeys long and short.

The first is an actual adventure in Nepal, my second home since 1979. In late February 2011 I will lead a two-week trip to the former kingdom, arranged by Ethical Traveler and Global Exchange. Dreams of Kathmandu—An Intimate Visit to the Sacred Valley will explore the cultural highlights of a city I love like no other. This is an opportunity for a small group of people to see a side of Nepal invisible to most tourists. Co-led by renowned photographer Thomas Kelly, “Dreams” will thrill anyone with a passion for the arts, a desire to meet great Asian thinkers, and a curiosity about the world’s newest republic. Sign on soon, as the trip must close in mid-January! (Big discounts for Ethical Traveler supporting members.)

Next—after a two-year hiatus — Strange Travel Suggestions is returning to The Marsh! Get your tickets now for the latest avatar of my ever-changing solo show, presented The Marsh Cabaret in Berkeley (just two blocks from the University BART station). This is the first run of Strange Travel since it sold out The Marsh San Francisco in 2008!  I’m also teaching a “page-to-stage” performance class. Journeys for the Stage: Finding Your Inner Marco Polo will meet on three Saturdays starting January 8th, and is limited to 12 people. Thinking of turning your travel stories into monologues? This is the time to begin!

So there you have it. Two irresistible ways to get off your butt and see the world. That is your Number One New Years’ resolution, isn’t it??

So here it is…. The schedule for my upcoming readings and gatherings for Snake Lake! All events are in 2010, unless it says otherwise. Starting times not yet listed will be posted as I learn them, so do check back.

Friday 10/22, 7:30 pm – Launch Party at Book Passage, Corte Madera,
hosted by Travel Writer Conference chair Don George! HUGE SUCCESS! Thanks everyone!!

Tuesday, 10/26, 7 pm – Books Inc., Berkeley Great night! Thank you Berkeley!
Thursday 10/28, 7:30 pm – Booksmith, San Francisco
Monday, 11/1, 7 pm – Left Coast Writers, Book Passage Corte Madera
Thursday, 11/4, 7 pm – Diesel Books, Oakland
Friday, 11/5, 7 pm – Book Soup, Los Angeles
Monday, 11/8, 7:30 pm – Distant Lands, Pasadena
Wednesday, 11/10, 6 – 7:30 pm – Rubin Museum of Himalayan Art, NY
Thursday, 11/11, 7 pm – Book Revue, Huntington, NY
Saturday, 11/13, 2:00 pm – Plainview-Old Bethpage Public Library, NY
Thursday, 11/18 – 7:30 pm – Powells’ Books (Hawthorne), Portland, OR
Sunday, 11/21, 6:30 pm – Wagner Family Fires, Alameda, CA

*  *  *

Here’s a link to the book on Amazon.com: Snake Lake. A very limited number of hardcovers will be produced, so get them while you can!

Friends! Please Join me on Saturday June 19th for The MARSH’S 20TH ANNIVERSARY PERFORMANCE MARATHON. It runs from noon to midnight with 11 hours of performances, a late-night party and day-long hijinks (in The Marsh Café). I will be performing a 12-minute piece (give or take a couple of hours) during the 2-hour segment that runs from 4-6 pm — a slot I share with Dan Hoyle, Wayne Harris, Mark Kenward and McGoldrick. Yeow!! An all-star line-up! For the full schedule and to buy tix (they’re $20) go to The Marsh Marathon.

Sunday, June 6th, 2010 – For those of you who aren’t already addicted, check out Glynn Washington’s Snap Judgment — it’s the most inventive new storytelling show on NPR. I’m privileged to be a part of this show, which is filming a live TV show (at least I think it’s live) on June 6th at San Francisco’s Brava Theater. The show runs from 5 pm – 8 pm, with a reception afterwards, and you can order tickets (they’re cheap!) and get directions here. If you can’t make the event, visit the Snap J website and listen to what Glynn means by “storytelling with a beat.”

January 17th, 2010, 7 pm – I’ll appear for a reading at Book Passage in Corte Madera — along with Travel writers Millicent Susens, Carol Beddo and Ken Matesow. We’re all featured in Best Travel Writing: True Stories from Around the World, 2009 ($17.95). “High adventure, spiritual growth, romance, hilarity, misadventure, service to humanity, and encounters with exotic cuisine highlight these stories from fellow travelers.” I’ll read an excerpt from my story about taking my mother to India for her 75th birthday. An exotic Sunday excursion!