Mike Stanley: Big Laughs with a Big Heart
Comedian Voted “Best In Chicago” Brings Act to The Belmont for Charity
HAMTRAMCK – Metro Detroit’s most popular hipster-hotspot has hosted its fair share of cool characters, but perhaps none quite in the same vein as Mike Stanley. Fortunately, on Friday, February 5, The Belmont will be treated to a dose of Chicago’s most promising young comedic voice; and it’s all for a good cause.
“The best part of Mike’s upcoming show – in addition to Mike himself, of course – is the fact that a portion of the door proceeds will go to support Breanna Strange: a South Lyon girl who fights a daily battle with Dystonia,” said Jenn Price, founder and president of Bound to be Heard Productions, the organization that is producing the event. “We’re eagerly anticipating the opportunity to enjoy a night filled with laughs that comes together with the ability to help out a child in need.”
As a comedian, Stanley has been praised for his unrelenting, sharply observant prose style, and an uncanny ability to embrace the dark side of conversational humor and mirthfulness. After relocating from Detroit to Chicago, Stanley has garnered a wide-array of awards and distinctions, including a 2005 first-place standing in Rochester, NY’s “Last Comic Still Standing” competition, and landing in the semi-finals of the 2008 Boston comedy festival. Additionally, Stanley scored in the top 10 on Comedy.com’s list of the best Chicago comedians.
“Comedy is one of the most important factors in my life and livelihood, and I’m thankful that I can lend my jokes to helping out a child with a life-threatening situation,” remarked Stanley. “Being a comedian is a line of work that I have been very blessed to work in, and I hope that everyone in Hamtramck will come out to laugh until we’re as blue in the face as our Coors Light labels, and, more significantly, to support Breanna.”
Along with his unmissable, consistently excellent stage presence, Stanley has recently inked a deal with Stand Up! Records to develop a DVD of his show “Tough Luck, Chump!” Stanley also co-hosts the popular podcast Red Bar Radio, which in 2009 reached the number one slot on Podcast Alley.
The Belmont is located at 10215 Joseph Campau, in Hamtramck. Admission costs are $5 for attendees 21 and up, and $7 for 18-20-year-old audience members. For more information on Breanna Strange, please visit HelpBreanna.com.

If you’ve been wondering what was so important that I haven’t worked on transcription of the city council meeting, here it is. I finally harvested my worm bin.
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I’m still trying to increase the number of worms I have, so I meticulously went through the compost by hand, tablespoon by tablespoon. There must have been 1000 cocoons, which I separated into the main bin, along with all the wigglers I could find.
Above: Where I started, and the small amount I had processed after two hours. Below: The large pile of compost, bowl of worms and cocoons, and a small pile of stickers, rubber bands, and ginger peels that are apparently inedible by worms.
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After 10 hours of sorting, I think I got most of the cocoons, though I found many more when I put the compost on the garden yesterday. If you look close enough at the bowl, the cocoons are tiny, lemon-shaped structures that feel like BBs between your fingers. (Sorry about the grainy photo, but flash photography of creatures with an aversion to light seemed like animal cruelty.)

PRELIMINARY MATTERS
1. Call to order
2. Roll call
3. Pledge of allegiance to the flag
4. Proclamations/presentations/recognitions
a. KELLY STANFORD. Ms. Stanford is member services manager for the Michigan Municipal League and will speak on membership services.
b. REPRESENTATIVE BERT JOHNSON. Representative Johnson will make a presentation on issues confronting the Michigan legislature.
5. Public comments concerning agenda items
SECTION I: PUBLIC HEARINGS
NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING
CITY OF HAMTRAMCK
The City of Hamtramck is holding a Public Hearing on Tuesday, May 13, 2008 at 7:00 PM in the City Council Chambers on the 2nd Floor of City Hall, 3401 Evaline, Hamtramck, MI 48212, to receive comments from the public on the proposed 2008-2009 city budget.
The public is invited to attend and make comments during the Public Hearing or to make written comments on or before May 12, 2008. Written comments should be made to the attention of the City Clerk, 3401 Evaline, Hamtramck, MI 48212.
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The following is Hillary’s recording of tonight’s special meeting of the Hamtramck City Council. The proposed police and fire budgets are also available in PDF format.