Laughing Matter: Finding the Roots of Humor in the Brain

Compared to regular people or amateurs, professional jokesters had more brain activity in regions involved in producing humor. But the comedians had less activity in regions linked to pleasure and enjoyment of humor, according to a study ...MORE

Al Hirschfed Exhibit at Algonquin Hotel Nov. 22-Jan 9

New York -- November 22, 2014, is the 112th anniversary of the Algonquin Hotel throwing open its doors to guests. To coincide with the date, a celebration of iconic artist Al Hirschfeld illustrations will be on display in the lobby through January 9, 2015. There will be 25 images of the Vicious Circle and their friends hanging in the lobby. Stop in and have a cocktail, or lunch at the Round Table.

Humor Contest Update

Watch for an announcement soon of the top-ten semifinalists in the 2014 Robert Benchley Society Annual Award for Humor Writing.

Boston Chapter Roundup this Thursday, November 20th

The Boston "We've Come for the Davenport" Chapter of the Robert Benchley Society will hold its monthly Roundup at the Downtown Harvard Club, high above Boston town on the 38th floor of One Federal Street, in the Financial District. We'll gather at the Crimson Pub on Thursday, November 20th (NOT THE 19TH AS ERRONEOUSLY STATED IN YESTERDAY'S POST), beginning at 5:30 p.m.
Dress code is informal or business casual. For more information, contact David Trumbull at david@robertbenchley.org.

Manhattan Plaza

With his first collection of poetry, Manhattan Plaza, James B. Nicola joins the ranks of poets Frank O’Hara and Stanley Kunitz and humorist Robert Benchley as a New York author originally from Worcester, Massachusetts. James has been widely published in periodicals including The Atlanta Review, Tar River, Texas Review, Lyric, Nimrod, and Blue Unicorn stateside, and overseas in journals as exotic as The Istanbul Review and Poetry Salzburg. He also won the Dana Literary Award, a People’s Choice award (from Storyteller) and a Willow Review award; was nominated twice for a Pushcart Prize and once for a Rhysling Award; and was featured poet at New Formalist. A Yale grad and stage director by profession, his nonfiction book Playing the Audience won a Choice award. Also a composer, lyricist, and playwright, his children’s musical Chimes: A Christmas Vaudeville premiered in Fairbanks, Alaska, where Santa Claus was rumored to be in attendance on opening night.

James B. Nicola
Manhattan Plaza
AUTHOR EVENT, Saturday, NOVEMBER 22ND
1:00 pm - 3:00 pm
Westborough Shopping Center, Westborough, Mass.
Route 9 & Lyman St. • 508-366-4959
Open Mon - Sat 9am - 9pm, Sunday 10am - 6pm
www.tatnuck.com