Looking back at CF30 night one, Oct. 6, the Frying Pan, Manhattan

Photo: Gail O’Hara
our amazing venue! Photo: Dean Keim

When I arrived in NYC in early October, the remnants of Hurricane Ian were still turning the city into a nasty soupy mess. I visited Eric Fischer at the Frying Pan pier complex a few days before our event there, and the wind and waves were violently shooting up through the dock. But on Oct. 6, the weather and party gods shined on us and gave us a completely perfect NY evening. Luckily Eric, who pretty much built much of the pier complex and has been involved with running and maintaining the ships for decades, is the hardest working person in showbiz and pushed me to try to hammer out every detail before the event. We had special gold wristbands, a fancy ‘chickfactor’ cocktail ready as a special for the event, and even a special vegan menu. Eric’s wife, Christina, procured our giant inflatable CF30 letters. Josh “Other Music” Madell helped me wrangle my least favorite part of setting up shows: PA and backline. Our sound person Mike Yesenosky usually works with the Magnetic Fields, so we were very lucky to have him tonight!

Girl Scout Handbook / Photo: Dean Keim

When Beatrix Madell, the 14-year-old who formed a band called Girl Scout Handbook for our CF30 NY party on the Frying Pan, asked her mom (longtime CF contributor Dawn Sutter Madell) what makes a song a chickfactor song, Dawn told her it would have to be a song “Gail likes.” But it’s clear that, between the folks who contribute to, read, support, and sell the zine and the folks who play at and attend our events, there is a community of like-minded folks out there that like similar tunes! 

we love NY! fireworks went off as the first band went on. Photo: Dean Keim

Girl Scout Handbook, a group of 12- to 14-year-olds from Brooklyn, took the stage right as fireworks were going off out in the Hudson River. Helicopters were swooping into the pier next to ours as well. GSH’s set was made up of covers chosen specifically for the event: The Zombies, Heavenly, the Spinanes, Lois, B&S and it was amazing! So great! They only practiced four times and already got written up in the New Yorker! Watching their proud parents watch them was so heart-warming. What a way to start the show! 

image from @girlscouthandbook insta

Next up was DUMP, Brooklyn’s James McNew, who slayed the crowd with his solo set of classics from his repertoire and ace covers. The Jim Ruiz Set, as they often do, came all the way from the Twin Cities to make us swoon to their easy listening pop gems. And the Aluminum Group also flew in from Detroit and Chicago to show the world why it needs to listen to their fab new album. DJs Gaylord Fields and Stephin Merritt helped us keep things humming in between. Artist Kevin Alvir was offering quick portraits on demand, and the Aluminum Group brought a boutique’s worth of fun merch and handmade garlands. It was such a great night full of all kinds of people from different generations enjoying the venue, the music and each other’s company. Thanks to everyone who played, came to the event, and helped out (especially Eric and Christina, Josh and Dawn, and Y-Mike!)

Trixie, Ella, Nora & Claude from Girl Scout Handbook’s very first show ever! Photo: Dean Keim
Rose from Girl Scout Handbook Photo: Dean Keim
Girl Scout Handbook / Photo: Dean Keim
Girl Scout Handbook drummer Ella / Photo: Dean Keim
photo: Gail O’Hara
Girl Scout Handbook / Photo: Dean Keim
DJ Gaylord Fields / Photo: Liz Clayton
Dump / Photo: Mike Yesenosky
from @marcrisney’s insta
Dump! Photo: Dean Keim
Emily Ruiz at soundcheck / Photo: Gail O’Hara
Jim Ruiz Set soundchecking / Photo: Gail O’Hara
Jim Ruiz Set / Photo: Mike Yesenosky
Emily Ruiz / Photo: Dean Keim
Jim Ruiz Set / Photo: Dean Keim
Gail tests out the ‘chickfactor’ cocktail pre-show
The Aluminum Group’s Frank and John Navin! Photo: Gail O’Hara
The Aluminum Group! Photo: Dean Keim
Fireworks on the Hudson / Photo: Dean Keim
DJ Stephin Merritt / Photo: Dean Keim
Photo: Dean Keim
Poster by Tae Won Yu
Art by Tae Won Yu

the chickfactor cocktail

chickfactor-cocktail-1

“the chickfactor”

our 20th-anniversary cocktail invented by daniel a searing jr

“this one is bittersweet, international and sparkling, just like chickfactor!”

1 oz gin*
0.5 oz maraschino liqueur
0.25 oz fresh lemon juice
3 oz champagne**

*I think an american craft gin like breuckelen from new york or small’s from oregon work particularly well.
**or use any dry traditional method sparkling wine such as cava from spain.

stir first three ingredients with ice. strain into a champagne flute or coupe. top with sparkling wine and garnish with a lemon twist.

to serve as a punch chill all ingredients well. in a punch bowl combine one 750 ml bottle of gin, half a bottle of maraschino liqueur and 6 oz plus 2 tsp lemon juice and the same amount of cold water. gently add 3 bottles of sparkling wine. float lemon slices in the bowl and add a large chunk of ice. serve in punch cups, tumblers or coupes.

to make ice chunk freeze water in a bundt or loaf pan overnight. release by dipping or rinsing with warm water. alternatively, fill a well rinsed paper quart container with water and freeze. peel away container to use.

name this cocktail!

chickfactor-cocktail-1

This is a new cocktail designed by glo-worm percussionist (and member of Whorl / Big Jesus Trash Can / Saturday People / Castaway Stones / etc) Dan Searing, master of party ceremonies for many cf-attended events over the past two decades — read his recipe and then see the name ideas below. He is the author of the Punch Bowl…

This one is bittersweet, international and sparkling, just like Chickfactor!

Drink name TK

1 oz gin*
0.5 oz maraschino liqueur
0.25 oz fresh lemon juice
3 oz Champagne**

*I think an American craft gin like Breuckelen from New York or Small’s from Oregon work particularly well.
**Or use any dry traditional method sparkling wine such as Cava from Spain.

Stir first three ingredients with ice. Strain into a champagne flute or coupe. Top with sparkling wine and garnish with a lemon twist.

To serve as a punch chill all ingredients  well. In a punch bowl combine one 750 ml bottle of gin, half a bottle of maraschino liqueur and 6 oz plus 2 tsp lemon juice and the same amount of cold water. Gently add 3 bottles of sparkling wine. Float lemon slices in the bowl and add a large chunk of ice. Serve in punch cups, timblers or coupes. To make ice chunk freeze water in a bundt or loaf pan overnight. Release by dipping or rinsing with warm water. Alternatively, fill a well rinsed paper quart container with water and freeze. Peel away container to use.

Please vote here

  1. Call it a chickfactor (suggested by Stephin Merritt)
  2. The Pam Berry? The Bubblecore? The Aviatrix? The Cat Eye Glasses? (all suggested by Daniel Handler)

(later) Yes, I love an Aviation so I thought it applied. You could call it the Earhart because if you have too much you disappear.

  1. The Gaylord Fields?  There’s no name more delicious than that. (suggested by James McNew)
  2. I agree with whoever suggested on Facebook that it should be called the Jukebox Jury. (suggested by Pam Berry)
  3. How about calling it the Enchanté? Or the Bien Sur? The Peut-etre or the Tal vez? Or the Delovely. It sounds a lot like an Aviation with Champagne added to it in place of some gin, and lacking the creme de violette, which makes it a lovely purple tint. http://cocktails.about.com/od/ginrecipes/r/aviation_cktl.htm In other words, it sounds delicious. (suggested by Sheri Hood, who ran 4AD’s NYC office in the early days and managed Stereolab)
  4. La Choupette. It’s high time someone named a cocktail after Karl Lagerfeld’s cat. (suggested by Edna CF, please don’t vote for this one, I hate Karl)
  5. The Jukebox Jury (suggested by Mark Butler)
  6. The Indie Cool Queen (suggested by David Moore)
  7. The GailBerry (suggested by Joe The Pines) Please don’t vote for this.
  8. Write in the drink name here _________________________

Go to our Effbk page and message us your vote. Winner receives a smile and a wink.