Rahway Art Beat eNewsletter October/Noverber 2002 Rahway Art Beat and The Usual Suspects Are Back in Gear As you are all aware from the September 6th communication from Fran Rizzo, due to the demands of the dissolution of her film company, Moviebaby Productions, and the need to tend to her undoubtedly growing number of projects, the Rahway Art Beat and Usual Suspects meetings have been turned over to my care.  If  you had an opportunity to talk to Fran at all you know she not only dreamed up this whole great idea, but did the lion's share of work to make it happen.  If you can, let her know what a great job she did and that her enthusiasm and energy will be missed. The letter you received stated that I have the available time and resources to devote to this project.  Well, it just ain't so.  I have been a behind the scenes promoter of the Rahway Art Beat and even attended at it's birth, but running the Arts Guild has been for some time a six and not infrequently a seven day a week job and it is, besides being more exciting then you can imagine, my priority.  The Guild has been a sponsor of the Rahway Art Beat since it began.  At the September meeting, attended by around 20 artists, I discussed some new arrangements to allow the whole thing to continue. Graphic Designer Joe Schwartz has come up with a terrific, bold new poster for the Usual Suspects First Fridays and we're working on a new design format for a printed newsletter to be done maybe four times a year to recruit more artists in places that haven't heard about the Art Beat yet. We're going to be looking for some volunteers from the attendees to take on a part of this as time and circumstances permit.  I've set up a new email address: rahwayartbeat@earthlink.net so you can reach me.  Send news of the shows you're in, art activities in your area or other news you think artists should hear about.  I may have to edit a bit for space purposes but... the eNewsletters can continue now that I've got Outlook on my computer, after many hours of talk with Senior Technicians at my provider service. Likewise, your news items will be included so keep in touch everyone! November 1 is the next meeting and we're on!  No one knew October was a go so, I sat alone at Eat To The Beat and chatted with John the waiter and a few visitors.  $5 Rigatoni and Cheddar Starving Artist Special is available as always with your Starving Artist Cards (Just ask for one!)  You will also be able to get a 10% discount at Flynn's Irish Pub & Steakhouse on Main St. (Dynamite, authentic English Fish & Chips!) and Beana's Mexican Restaurant on St. Georges Avenue, Rahway (Everything there tastes Great!) I'm also working on a new website - probably won't have the means to get it launched until after the New Year, but we'll get there.  Joe Schwartz again has offered his design services for the site and no doubt it will be terrific. FYI - The Rahway Arts Beat is a grass-roots, volunteer newsletter / The Art Beat 's mission is to  create a welcoming, active community of both professional artists of all kinds and hobbyists. Usual Suspects nights are fun, salon style evenings open to a growing community of New Jersey painters, writers, musicians, actors, poets, graphic/web designers, filmmakers and every other professional artist or dabbler as a way to share our art and ideas with each other and the community. There are no fees to join.  The meetings are held at Eat To The Beat Coffeehouse (Cherry Street and Irving/Downtown Rahway) through the generosity of the owners Joe and Ray, starting at 7PM every First Friday. There are no guarantees about the number of attendees or cancellations due to bad weather. Evenings will be hosted by either myself or anyone else who would like to rise to the occasion and is entirely on a volunteer basis. See you November 1! Lawrence Cappiello rahwayartbeat@earthlink.net