Comic navigates dating adventures as a thirtysomething

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 15/01/2018 (3201 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

SINGLE WOMAN’S COMIC: High-profile female comedian Kate Quigley, the host of Undercover on Playboy TV, is coming to Rumor’s Comedy Club Jan. 25-27, and one of her hot topics is her awkward attempts at learning to date in her 30s. Quigley married at 19 and is newly single. “

I’m dating at 32 with the mentality of a 17 year old because that’s the last time I dated.” She talks about bad dating techniques and sticky problems, her new $7,000 bosoms that didn’t work out (one is a drifter) and what happens on dates when you’re don’t understand the game yet.

Quigley is also a model, host and actress. On her TV show, the concept is to travel the world to comment on the sex cultures of different countries. She is pretty, but she’s not a Playboy-bunny stereotype. In fact, she presents onstage like a tomboy who just walked off a baseball field.

She’s done a lot of TV appearances, including The Office, The Megan Mullally Show and Talkshow with Spike Feresten. She recently returned from an Armed Forces Tour, performing for troops in Japan, Singapore, Guam, and Diego Garcia (an atoll south of the equator). This is a show not to be missed on a girls’ night out.

WINNIPEG CHARACTER’S UNUSUAL SENDOFF: The unique woman known as Downtown Rhonda Brown in the media and entertainment world, departed as she lived — with an off-the-wall celebration of life — a sendoff filled with funky friends, spicy language and great stories.

People walked for blocks as the parking lot was jammed Wednesday at Voyage Funeral Home on Hespeler Avenue. Brown died in her sleep New Year’s Eve at the age of 53 following a struggle with the after-effects of a stroke in her 40s and more recent kidney and heart problems. Brown’s positivity adviser, friend and mom figure Mary Jean Dresler, spoke of the many ways Brown fought off, decreased or totally eliminated some of her symptoms.

The stories — more than a dozen people got up — were mostly funny, with laughing, clapping and shout-outs encouraged by her brother James Best, as per Brown’s requests. Upbeat rock music played as people entered the chapel and there were some short bursts of tears around the room.

The service climaxed with an ultragliding flight video of Brown behind pilot Barry Morwick. She hollered out “Yes!” to every daring flight move he suggested. “You want to go in for the wild landing, Rhonda?” “Yessss!” she hollered. Not a dry eye in the house.

So who made the scene? Outgoing folks, no surprise. Brown worked many years with the Winnipeg Sun in promotions and knew everyone in the building. Many of the Sun folks moved to the Winnipeg Free Press later on. She also worked at radio station NCI-FM and then volunteered at the CNIB after the stroke claimed much of her vision. Eyes on the Arts, an annual art-sale fundraiser, was one of the big projects Brown worked on with Wanda Mills and Glenda Gascoigne. She called them: “Rhonda, Wanda and Glenda, the Da Sisters.”

The only thing missing at the funeral was Brown’s beloved hard rock. The Metallica lover, who decreed there would be no bibles or hymns at the service, should have insisted on hard rock for the reception that followed. A lot of people said they could feel her presence and hear her laughing with delight at the “funeral.” One just never knows!

SPOTTED: Media types Bryan Jensen, Pat Watts Stevens, Donna Marie Abberton, John Kendle, Bob Holliday, Norm McCurdy, Barb Melillo, Laurie Mustard, Jocelyn Elliott-Gold, Bob Doroz, Jim Bais, Barb Borden, Gord Wilson, Ron Taylor and many more. Also on hand was the CNIB organizing gang for Eye on the Arts. Brown lived her life to the fullest, and went too soon.

ART CLASSES EXPLODING: The popular art teacher and comic Jon Ljungberg was known for years in Winnipeg as the breakfast host at A-Channel. Now he has stampede going on for his first cartoon and caricature workshops at Artists Emporium. The first one (this Sunday) sold out in a few days, so they added more seats; those sold out too. Now there’s a raft of people who want another chance to take this unusual three-hour workshop because you can be a rank amateur or a real artist, and he’s a great teacher with lots of tricks.

People also love his gossip from his days as a Hollywood artist and his time at Mad magazine. The open classroom is smack in the middle of the warehouse-style emporium for art supplies at 1610 St. James St. Additional classes will be held Feb. 22 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., and Feb. 25 from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. Call 204-772-2421 for more info and registration.

OPERA BY THE PINT: Beer meets opera — what an unpredictable romance of suds and high art! Flipside Opera is an independent arts organizaton that is joining up with Little Brown Jug Brewing Company for three shows. The first takes place Wednesday at the popular taproom located at 336 William Ave. There is no admission charge, but get there on time, as the singing will run from 7:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Performers are emerging and established artists who will perform solo and in groups. The other two are on March 28 and May 18.

And get this: you can sign up for your chance to sing by going to flipsideopera.com, where co-organizers Dawn Bruch, Judith Oatway and Lisa Rumpel want your name, email, proposed repertoire… and underwear size (just kidding).

In other news, Flipside’s recent Opera Idol 2017, judged by audience members and opera types, produced three soprano winners: Ashley Rees, runner-up Katherine Mayba and judges’ choice Sydney Clark. They boast online, “Whether it’s art song, cabaret or opera, Flipside productions are fresh, engaging, intimate and audacious. So take a chance, folks!”

Got tips? Cool events going on in your world? Entertainment? Business and restaurant openings? Been rubbing shoulders with the stars? Email Maureen’s Tips at mscurf@shaw.ca.