QUICK SHOTS
EDDIE IN A STORE!
For those in Brooklyn who've been asking, EDDIE HAS ALLERGIES is finally available for those who want to physically buy the book in a store. 7th Avenue Books, that charming neighborhood book store in Park Slope that specializes in high quality used books and limited editions of new work is carrying EDDIE HAS ALLERGIES (albeit not a large stock). So if you haven't mastered an online purchase yet, or if you just want to visit a good, old-fashioned bookstore NOT part of some humongous chain, check out 7th Avenue Books , 300 7th Avenue, Brooklyn (718) 840-0020.

PLAYBILL ONLINE
Nice write-up for our upcoming Animal Haven benefit, FABLES & FAIRY TALES (for children of all ages) on Playbill Online. Click on http://www.playbill.com/news/article/105250.html to see more information--but more importantly, come to the benefit on Sunday, February 11th at 3 pm. Once again, here's the scoop:

FABLES & FAIRY TALES
FOR CHILDREN OF ALL AGES
a benefit reading of plays for ANIMAL HAVEN (www.animalhavenshelter.org)
presented by
Playwrights for Pets
Sunday, Feb. 11, 2007, 3 pm
at the new
Animal Haven SoHo
251 Centre Street
(between Broome & Grand Streets in Manhattan)
plays by
Judd Lear Silverman, Clare Melley Smith & Sue Yocum
with Elizabeth Gee, Laura Gillis*, John Moss*, Annie Pesch & Barry Steely
Donation Requested: $10 Adults, $5 Children 12 & under
Running time approximately 1 hour
Reservations: Call 718-768-4213 or email gracomal@pipeline.com
Visit www.playwrightsforpets.com

DAMIEN RICE, "9"
Slightly rougher edged than James Blunt, more emotional (and less narrative) than John Mayer, Irishman Damien Rice has continued to grow in popularity since his internationally-successful first album, "O". (Best remembered--The Blower's Daughter, featured in the Mike Nichols movie, CLOSER. Now, in "9" he stretches our loyalties further with an album by turns even more emotional, at times scatological , and other times strictly business as usual. His voice is at times a floating, crying balladeer tenor, while at other times he is a bad-boy rocker. An adventuresome album but not a home run.

On the other hand, I am on a John Mayer binge lately, listening over and over again to ROOM FOR SQUARES, HEAVIER THINGS and the latest, CONTINUUM--all of which display not only inventive musicality but great wit, wisdom and construction. Mr. Mayer is undoubtedly in it for the long haul.