Chicks and Giggles

Carolyn Castiglia’s recap of the Hysterical Festival Fundraiser.

Joy Behar’s show, “Bitchin’ With Behar” is at the Zipper Theatre through March  27.

Amy Poehler goes to a hip hop class.

DEFENDERS of LOVE: Wednesday, February 13

Join the DEFENDERS for an evening of music, poetry, comedy, raffles, dancing and bake sale – all to raise funds and awareness for Single Mothers.

CAKE SHOP, 152 Ludlow @ Stanton

$5 in advance – buy a ticket for a friend for $4! $7 at door – Doors open @ 7:30pm.

Raffles could win you a fake chocolate cake autographed by Amy Sedaris and other sweet prizes. Proceeds of the Raffle go to support The Brooklyn Young Mothers’ Collective.

Performances by:
Nicole G & Shyla/Nicole Bufano
Carly Sachs/Bianca Stone

RAY MUNOZ

CARLA RHODES

TOY SOLDIERS

LUFF

More info here on Eventbrite.

January 22, 2008 was the 35th anniversary of the Roe v. Wade decision, ensuring a woman’s right to choose.  Our friend Joanne Morton sent us an email back in December suggesting we theme the show around that, and though I originally thought she was nuts, I ended up saying, “Eh, why not?” and did just that.  It was a celebratory night of raucous women who had the following gems to share:

Abbi Crutchfield: “It may surprise you to know that when it comes to giving birth, some women don’t have a choice.  For example, if you’re overweight and you don’t know you’re pregnant until your water breaks.” – as Dr. Erick Newberry, feminist motivational speaker 

Diana Saez: “I’m pro-choice.  In fact, I’m pro-abortion now that I live on the Upper East Side.”

Rachael Parenta: “So that Roe lady now regrets having her abortion and wants abortion to be illegal. You know what, I’ve regretted a lot of things, like drunkenly eating a street vendor hot dog at three in the morning. Hell, I’ve slept with men who should never have been slept with. But I don’t think Governor Spitzer needs to sign a law that makes it illegal to have sex with Ben Kaplan. Even though I strongly believe it would be in every woman’s interest to avoid such an experience.”

Clara Bijl: “Abortion should be completely a woman’s decision; especially if she’s sleeping with an ugly guy.  Then I think it should be mandatory.”

Carolyn Castiglia: “I wondered how they named that emergency contraceptive, RU-486.  But then I realized that must be teen LOL speak: R U 4 86-ing this baby?”

Jess Wood: “My abortion material kills.”

In addition to performing, producing and making people laugh, we Chicks also blog. Here’s a roundup of what some of us are up to:

Sara Benincasa writes for Nerve and Think MTV.
Carolyn Castiglia writes for Huffington Post.
Nichelle Stephens reviews desserts and sweet eats for NewYorkology.
Caroline Waxler writes about her experience campaigning in South Carolina for Glamour.

I know it is January 14, but it is totally okay to say it at least until Martin Luther King Day. Chicks and Giggles is tomorrow and every Tuesday! Plus we’re going to Roanoke College in March.

If you want Chicks and Giggles to come to your school or alma mater, email Nichelle nichelle@chicksandgiggles.com or Carolyn at carolyn@chicksandgiggles.com.

Drawn by the lovely Heather Fink, who is just one of many Chicks to be nominated for an ECNY Award this year!

“The ECNY Awards, New York’s original comedy awards, will return this Winter, completely revamped with a new production team, after an almost two year hiatus. The ECNYs will continue to celebrate the comedic performing arts in New York City by honoring the best and funniest performers, shows, and producers working in the field.”

You can see all the nominees on the ECNY site, but you can see a great selection of them at our January 8th show!  (Voting ends January 10th.)  Click on Upcoming Lineups in the sidebar for more information.

And don’t forget to attend our LAST SHOW OF 2007 this Tuesday, December 18th!  We have a great Holidaze! lineup.  Again, click Upcoming Lineups for the deets.

Finally, our new friend and super-funny guy Jim Gaffigan stopped in for the second time this past Tuesday, so be sure to come check us out!  You never know who you’ll see down in Ochi’s Lounge…

Check out this hilarious video on Funny or Die by Eliza Skinner from her solo show Shameless.  Sorry, we can’t embed vids for some reason, but how hard is it to click, huh?

Thanks to everybody who came out to our birthday show!  It was a scene… girls were throwing their bras onstage… you had to be there.  But in case you weren’t, here are the pics.  Click to see larger.

Clockwise, from top left: Adira Amram, Carolyn Castiglia, Erin and her cello, Wendy Ho. 

Clockwise, from top left: Becky Yamamoto, Nichelle Stephens, MILFz (Adira Amram and Becky Yamamoto), Leibya Rogers (Mindy Raf).

Heidi Schmid, CKC, Kambri Crews and Nichelle.

Catie Lazarus, Tionna Smalls*, Niche, Adira.

*Yes, her last name is ironic, and yes, they’re real.

Check out this new video by Stuckey & Murray and listen for the shout we get at the end.  Also, go see their new show with Jon Friedman, Slightly Buzzed, every Thursday, 8 pm at Rififi!

(photo via NYPOst.com)

Chicks and Giggles alum, Karith Foster, is Don Imus new sidekick. I am a big fan of Karith’s and wish her superstardom. Karith performed recently on our debut show at Ochi’s and her mom was in town visiting. Go Karith!