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Monday, September 17, 2007

Fifth Annual Stranger Genius Awards: The Night in Photos

posted by on September 17 at 10:33 AM

Photos by Peter Kearns.

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The 2007 geniuses meeting each other before the partyHeather McHugh, mid-joke; Greg Carter; Linas Phillips, hatching some kind of evil plan; Amy Thone, shoving Alex for some reason; and Alex Schweder.

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Librarians are sexy.

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A snapshot of the VIP pre-party. Everyone’s gathered around the bar.

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Linas Phillips accepting his award. Before he went onstage, he told me the last time he was in the library he was looking for homeless people to star in his latest project, Great Speeches from a Dying World.

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Alex Schweder accepts his award from Jen Graves.

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Brendan Kiley explains what he loves about Amy Thone, then goes for it. Thone’s husband is in the crowd.

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The crowd would not stop cheering for Amy Thone. It was a while before she could speak.

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Greg Carter looking not unlike a preacher—wearing all black, waving a golden book around…

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Heather McHugh, seconds before going onstage to accept the first ever Genius Award summa cum laude. I was onstage with her, nervous as hell, so it’s all a blur, but I remember her—how she got to this point no one recalls—saying, “Some of my friends will fuck anything that moves. But I don’t see any reason to limit yourself.”

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The entrance to the party. That’s John Sutton at the back.

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Partiers on three levels. Meanwhile, outside, there’s a line around the block. You can’t really tell in this photo, but those vinyl blow-ups of the profiles of Alex Schweder and Heather McHugh hanging on the wall there are 11 feet wide by 15 feet tall.

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Corianton Hale looking cuter than the posters he designed.

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Velella Velella, rocking out.

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The Blow at the beginning of her set. By the end—she closed with “True Affection”—the crowd was begging for more. “One more! One more!” they kept chanting. All good parties come to an end.

RSS icon Comments

1

It was a fucking good time. Heather McHugh won my undying affection with that crazy acceptance speech.

Posted by Carollani | September 17, 2007 10:38 AM
2

Marty is hot.

Posted by Mr. Poe | September 17, 2007 10:40 AM
3

Kiley, you look adorable.

Posted by Gloria | September 17, 2007 10:46 AM
4

Damn, wish I could have gone. I second Gloria with regards to Mr. Kiley, though.

Posted by Katelyn | September 17, 2007 10:50 AM
5

Very good party!

Interesting group of people, too. Although I found the librarians the best, especially one of them. Not that the guests weren't cool ...

Posted by Will in Seattle | September 17, 2007 11:26 AM
6

Sorry I had to miss this year, but it looks like it was another smashing soiree.

And congrats to Amy, Greg, and all the folks at STW.

Posted by COMTE | September 17, 2007 11:30 AM
7

Speaking of that huge line around the block...maybe you could hire more than ONE bouncer next year?? Just a suggestion.

Posted by Meagan | September 17, 2007 11:32 AM
8

corianton and the blow both deserve their own genius awards!

Posted by josh bomb | September 17, 2007 12:47 PM
9

"Librarians are sexy."
Truth.

Posted by supergp | September 17, 2007 2:23 PM
10

Anybody who wants a lovely 18 x 24 screenprinted Genius Awards poster (sneak peek) can contact me directly! corianton[at]gmail.com

Posted by Corianton | September 17, 2007 3:34 PM
11

As a library worker (at the Central library nonetheless) I'm INCREDIBLY disappointed that we don't get to use bright red book trucks.

I'm also disappointed that I'm under 21 and didn't get to go.

Posted by David | September 17, 2007 9:13 PM
12

Thanks to everyone for coming over - we had a blast! Come on back, check out some books, & tell us about what you're reading. Fiction, third floor, purple wall.

Posted by GUYBRARIAN | September 18, 2007 11:15 AM

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