This Wednesday, February 1st, 2012 from 9pm until midnight at Akbar it’s CRAFTNIGHT!!!
Project: Skateboarding Valentine Pig (or Groundhog)
$2 Processing fee, please!
$4 Cosmopolitans! Be in the know with a pink cosmo!

Presenting: The Skateboarding Valentine Pig, that’s right it’s no joke, it’s not a dream this is REAL.
And it doesn’t have to be a skateboarding pig, maybe it can ski or do some other sporty activity. And maybe you can make it NOT be a pig, maybe it can be a really pink bear. But even if it was just to be itself, I would rate this as a highly satisfying craft. The pig comes with sunglasses. The skateboard comes with moving wheels. Moving wheels! Zowie!
February 1st isn’t close to Valentine’s Day, but it is really close to Groundhog Day, which is my birthday.
And it’s not just a regular birthday, it’s my 40th.
That’s a hell of an anniversary!
Turning 40 means that I like hugs, kisses, costumes, cupcakes and presents. If you feel like stopping by the bar with none or all of those things this Wednesday, I’m totally into it. I’m not going to be shy about it, since it seems silly to pretend that I don’t like hugs, kisses, costumes, cupcakes and presents when I totally DO. This is a shameless announcement encouraging all of the above because this is, in effect, the last day of my “Jack Benny Year.” And if you don’t know what “Jack Benny Year” means, it means you’ve most likely not yet made it to 39 yet. Go look it up on the internet and sleuth it out! Sleuth Sleuth!
I also like seeds, tiny paintings, plants, camping, cooking, music, reading, writing, drawing, movies, experiences, and spending time with good friends. Shameless.

See you at the Craft Table!
JP Craft Captain

www.akbarsilverlake.com

www.crafthead.com

This Wednesday, January 25th, 2012 from 9pm until midnight at Akbar it’s CRAFTNIGHT!!!
Project: Beaded Flower Clip
$2 Processing fee, please!
$4 Cosmopolitans! Think with a pink drink!

 
If you’re procrastinating on the internet, I’m glad the series of tubes brought you here to the CraftNight site, where we’re going to be REALLY INTO BEADS this week. Bring your procrastinating self over to Akbar, and use our activity as a gentle distraction from whatever ELSE you’re “supposed to be doing.”
CraftNight endorses a bit of vagueness, confusion and fuzzy-mindedness.
Enhanced clarity isn’t everything.
You see, I have news for you: You’re never going to catch up. There will always be more paper, people, pineapples and peanuts to deal with in the course of your lifetime. Levels of efficiency and quality will always be part of the great cyclical whirlwind of stuff that permeates the daily joys of existence. It’s not about cutting out the fun, it’s about balancing the drudgery with the funnery in a way that makes you throw your hat in the air like Mary Tyler Moore on the Mary Tyler Moore show.

I’m not saying “Don’t plan things” since, as we all know, taking 10 t0 12 minutes to plan one’s day saves the average planner 100 to 120 minutes! I’m saying maybe “Don’t plan things ALL THE TIME and HAVE SOME FUN” since, as we all know, sticking to the plan all the time is kind of boring, and routines are meant to be broken.

Besides, I have an important task for you, it’s so important, you’ll have a burning desire to start and finish it, which will kickstart your endorphins into overdrive and get you addicted to starting and finishing other things! It’s called a beaded flower clip, it involves (duh) beads, and you can either string’em together into the awesome shape of a flower, or just get crazy and make whatever you want out of the materials!

Make a necklace make a key fob make a dangling groovy handle for your backpack zipper!
Give it to your friend, give it to your lover, give it to the butcher the baker the candlestick maker!
This flower is going to start you on the road toward ultimate productivity, but ONLY if you STOP productivity NOW to procrastinate on your projects in order to come join us and play with this project.

Taxes can wait.
The cat can wait.
Your boss can wait wait wait.
You’ll have such a positive experience making this flowery thing, you’ll have guaranteed results!
Develop the habits of success! Make a beaded flower clip! Come to CraftNight and be a winner! Wooooooooo!

See you at the Craft Table,
JP Craft Captain

Akbar’s Site

CraftNight’s Site

This Wednesday,  January 18th, 2012 from 9pm until midnight at Akbar it’s CRAFTNIGHT!!!
Project: Dragon Noise Makers (Karate Kid Style)
$2 Processing fee, please!
$4 Cosmopolitans! The Akbar Cosmo: Your key to a better tomorrow
Don’t panic, if your new year’s resolutions are already shot, the good news is that January 1st is only one little interpretation of THE NEW YEAR. Luckily, another new year’s celebration is right around the corner, and it’s a whopper! China celebrates the new year for TWO WEEKS! It’s a comprehensive series of days, each with it’s own special meanings and tasks. I can’t even begin to pack it all into this post without becoming Wikipedia, but here are some of the things it entails: Cleaning, Forgiving, Visiting, eating, Writing your name on a mandarin and throwing it in the river, guiding spirits home, making lanterns, firecrackers, dragons, have your fortune told, giving people money in little red envelopes.
So you know, do the new year again, it’s the year of the DRAGON, it’s kind of a big deal. Out with the old and in with the new, expel the negative chi from your life and breathe in energy, vitality and unbridled enthusiasm! To make sure that everyone knows you are enthusiastic, we’re making dragon-themed noisemakers, the kind everyone used to cheer for Ralph Macchio in Karate Kid: Part II. Here’s what I’m talking about, keep in mind, the noisemaker situation doesn’t really present itself until after the dramatic build-up until about 3:40 or so:

This could be YOU (metaphorically speaking, of course). We’re making these… the cheap imitation cardboard version, not the fancy kind made out of wood and animal skin that Mr. Miyagi is using. And no, Mr. Miyagi isn’t Chinese, he’s Japanese, but let’s not turn into Wikipedia again so I can end this post. I’ll bring paints so you can really do it up.
See you at the Craft Table,
JP Craft Captain

Akbar’s Site

CraftNight’s Site

TONIGHT! January 11th, 2012 from 9pm until midnight at Akbar it’s CRAFTNIGHT!!!
Project: Teapot Treat Holders with Treats! 
$2 Processing fee, please!
$4 Cosmopolitans! The Akbar Cosmo: Like a Good neighbor, cosmos are there! 

Have you ever gazed longingly at your teapot and thought “Gee, what a drag, I wish this thing was made out of cardboard and full of candy. Guess I’ll have to settle for hot tea in a boring ceramic kettle.” Well have I got news for you! No longer is your reverie stuck in the land of fiction, it is REAL! No longer will you be stuck in the long dark tea time of the soul, you have landed in Clover, it is a charmed life you lead. How can I tell?

This week’s craft kit is not just tea time, but TREAT time!
I’ll hand you your selection of goods that helps you to create a winsome little getup involving a container that LOOKS like a teapot that is ACTUALLY a container for candy, or teabags, or condoms or um… spices, you know, whatever’s around that needs a handy storage spot!
And do not DO NOT DO. NOT…Tell me you’re not going to come in here and make a teapot treat holder because you’re trying to get all streamlined and adult and “done with clutter.” Crafts have everything to do with clutter and nothing to do with creating harmonious feng shui for your minimalistic immaculate home. If you are certain that owning one of these beauties is going to harsh your mellow or make you feel a smidgen of ill-defined disquietude… then make one, fill it with treats and give it away!

I promise it’ll be a hit, I even grabbed some discount candies to give it that authentic feel of when you’d visit a waiting room or a bank in the 70s or 80s (when people in businesses actually kept candy dishes) and get a FREE piece of candy just for visiting! Maybe you can use it at your work, or your swank hi-rise apartment. Bring the “free candy” tradition back! Make it the focal point of a cozy kitchen nook, it’s the pinnacle of hospitality! Just make sure you use up or replace the candies frequently, otherwise you replicate the other residual memory of offices in the 70s and 80s: free CRAPPY and STALE candy that no one ever wants.

It’s our second CraftNight of the year, and if I don’t say so myself, we’re starting with some very strong crafts, don’t miss this one!

See you at the Craft Table!

JP Craft Captain

Akbar’s Site

CraftNight’s Site

TONIGHT! January 4th, 2012 from 9pm until midnight at Akbar it’s CRAFTNIGHT!!!
Project: Eye-Catching Snowperson Photo Holders!
$2 Processing fee, please!
$4 Cosmopolitans! The Akbar Cosmo: Melts in your mouth, not in your hands.

And we’re BACK!
Step right up and begin the very first CraftNight of the year by putting your photos into a Snowperson Photo Holder built by YOU! Made from sturdy materials and possessing an exceedingly altruistic expression, this wooden bobblehead figure will hold ANY pair of photos without displaying even a smidgen of judgment. You could put photos of your privates in there, and the faithful expression of your snowperson’s face will not change. The snowperson is here to steadfastly and loyally display the pictorial history and aspects of your life, no matter what content you choose to present.
Seriously, bring in 2 photos to use, up to 5″ they’ll fit snugly into the tiny wire arms of the snowperson easily. This is a friend, a confidant, one who you can trust to display the photos of your choosing for days, months, years.
The puffball is rolling, the glitter is flitting, it’s starting it’s starting TONIGHT!
Happy New Year! Get in Here!
See you at the Craft Table,
JP Craft Captain

Akbar’s Site

CraftNight’s Site

It’s the holidays, everything is weird.
Places have weird hours, they’re either closing too early or open too late. CraftNight is no exception, last week we ended on a square dancing high note that was the perfect sendoff to 2011. We shall reconvene on January 4th, 2012 with some exciting new projects for you to make!

As you sit by the crackling fire with the brandy snifter lazily whirling around in a clockwise motion by your attentive armchair hand, I hope that you have a lovely holi-jolly end of December, with the goodness, sweetness and joy that make these lucky days of ours all the more grand.

And if you are sitting in Akbar right now, reading this on your smart phone while someone is checking out your butt… GET OFF THE PHONE!!! Have a cosmo, they’re $4 on Wednesdays!

See you in 2012 at the Craft Table,
JP Craft Captain

www.crafthead.com
www.akbarsilverlake.com

This Wednesday, December 14th, 2011 from 9pm until the cows come home, at Akbar,  it’s CRAFTNIGHT!
Craft: Holiday Craft Project!$2 Processing fee, please
$4 Cosmo Drink Special – Yule be sorry if you don’t try one! 
SPECIAL EVENT(S)
SQUARE DANCING WITH TRIPLE CHICKEN FOOT and Expert Square Dance Caller Extraordinaire, Susan Michaels!
MINI CRAFT FAIR Featuring Goods from Panorama Press, Erickson Ceramic Designs and PinkFouffy!

It’s that time of year, when Los Angeles gets bonkers with Christmas lights and people are scurrying around from one holiday party to the next, trying to make sense of how we suddenly arrived at DECEMBER! How did we get here?!? It’s true it’s true, eleven other months went by and somehow now its all holly berries, merry making and jingle bells chirping out of every store in town!

At some point, you just have to take a good long look at all the stuff that’s happening, and decide there’s only one thing to do tonight: CraftNight.

If you come and visit us, it’s basically a 5-in-1, you can do A LOT all in one place:
1.) Delicious cocktails in the Akbar Ice Cave (if you haven’t seen the ice cave yet, get in here, it is unprecedented)
2.) LIVE Old Time Music being played by Triple Chicken Foot!
3.) AMAZING Square Dance Calling Specialist, Susan Michaels, who will help you realize what an awesome square dancer you are, even if you’ve never been to a square dance, or know what square dancing IS
4.) Mini Craft Fair with some really cool items for sale made by local artists!
5.) Fun Holiday Crafts that you can make for friends, family, or yourself!

It’s a treasure trove of holiday magic, please come and join us!

And one last thing, my puppet show is this final weekend, and I’m going to say this right now: Get your tickets HERE and use the discount code: CRAFT to get 5 bucks off admission!!! Seats are going very fast, you don’t want to miss it!

See you at the Craft Table!
JP Craft Captain

www.akbarsilverlake.com
www.crafthead.com

This Wednesday November 30th, 2011 at Akbar from 9pm (ish) til midnight it’s CRAFTNIGHT!
Project: Elves (felt)
$2 processing fee please
$4 Cosmopolitan drink special, pinkie drinkie!

Veronica LeBron, CraftNight Lieutenant offers up some felt fun with ELVES tonight, tiny little critters who want to meet you. Tiny little people who use popsicle sticks for skis, haven’t you always wanted to know people like that?
Also: This is a plug for our upcoming holiday show, visit www.sparkleblob.com

See you at the Craft Table,
JP Craft Captain
(stay tuned for square dancing holiday party with triple chicken foot and probably something mint flavored)

Wednesday November 16th, 2011 – NO CRAFTS – Craft Captain too sick to craft (Akbar’s open though! $4 cosmos!)
Wednesday November 23rd, 2011 – NO CRAFTS – Akbar Annual Awesome Dance Party! (Hot dancers, hot drink specials!)
Wednesday November 30th, 2011 – CRAFTNIGHT! – TBA

Yes, Virginia, there is a Santa Claus, but no Virginia, there will be no CraftNight for TWO HONKIN’ WEEKS! Forgive me, but I caught a cold, and not just a cold, but some kind of phlegmy leviathan that has attached itself to my ribcage and won’t let go. It has caused headaches, respiratory misery, coughs from hell lethargy, sore throat and total grumpiness.
Talking is uncomfortable, and since
1.) I’m sure you don’t want to get this unsavory malady before the Thanksgiving Holiday and
2.) Talking is a fair amount of being a Craft Captain
I think its best that I just stay home and get better in order to return fit as a fiddle for CraftNights to come. This is actually the VERY FIRST cancelled CraftNight of 2011, to my recollection. I have had Lieutenants in my stead hosting CraftNIght to make sure we’ve had nearly 52 for you to attend this year. There is LOTS of FUN scheduled for December Crafts, and I’m not gonna miss any of that, dang-it.

Next week is the Akbar pre-Thanksgiving holiday dance party, so there will be no crafting, but there will be plenty of tail-shaking! Rumor has it there will be a fun visual treat in the bar very soon, so keep checking our lovely neighborhood oasis, it may be transformed before you know it for some holiday magic.

See you in two weeks at the wellness Craft Table,
JP Craft Captain

PS – If the Kitchen next to AKbar is serving their chicken noodle soup: HAVE SOME!!! It’s delicious, and fights the good fight, you’ll feel like you can lift 5 logs after eating it.

www.crafthead.com
www.akbarsilverlake.com

This Wednesday November 9th, 2011 from 9pm(ish) to midnight(or later) at Akbar, it’s CRAFTNIGHT!!!
Project: Corn Husk Dolls
$2 Processing Fee, Please
$4 Cosmos! Tastes Great, Less Filling! 

Man is it cold, I could use a night of assembling corn husk crafts! Last week I was talking to Terry (your illustrious Akbar door associate) and we started talking about corn husk dolls, and how awesome corn husks are, and how you can make them into just about anything!
Corn husk crafts are a great way to instill sentimental feelings about fall and the bright blue sky and how the stores are overstocked with canned pumpkin and brown sugar.

“The morns are meeker than they were,
The nuts are getting brown;
The berry’s cheek is plumper,
The rose is out of town.
The maple wears a gayer scarf,
The field a scarlet gown.
Lest I should be old-fashioned,
I’ll put a trinket on.”
- Emily Dickinson

Or… like… I dunno, you know it’s Fall when you see a courageous woman kayaking down the gravy river from the banks of the baked potato. (see photo.)

See you at the Craft Table,
JP Craft Captain

Akbar’s Site

CraftNight’s Site