Arrive Magazine - January/February, 2009

First Class
KEEP JACK
FROST FROM
NIPPING AT
YOUR FINGERS
The Joke’s on You

We’ve all been guilty of it: splurging on a pair of outrageously expensive gloves only to find out they don’t meet our needs— the dexterity is nonexistent (like when you’re trying to punch in your PIN at the ATM), they don’t keep you warm (you usually don’t find that out until you’re knee deep, shoveling snow), and they just don’t last (after four straight months of rain, sleet, hail and snow, what do you expect?).

The solution? Seirus All-Weather Gloves. “They o er real protection from the elements, thanks to the trilaminate fabric,” says Joe Edwards, president of Seirus Innovation. “The outer nylon layer is tough, yet flexible enough to allow complete dexterity—you could read a paper while wearing them. The microfleece layer is soft and warm against your skin. The sandwich layer is windproof and weatherproof.” The synthetic gripping material on the palm is tactile and supple, perfect for holding ski poles or using your BlackBerry.

$35; available at rei.com, dickssportinggoods.com and sportsauthority.com

If laughter truly is the best medicine, here’s hoping your insurance is all paid up. Between 500 stand-ups and 10 days of nonstop knee-slappers, the ninth annual N. C. Comedy Arts Festival, running Feb. 12–21 in Carrboro, N.C., promises to leave thousands doubled over, howling with busted guts. Splitting the di erence between professional convention (public/private workshops teach the art of comic relief ) and yuk-yuk extravaganza (five venues host daily shows), the event celebrates humor in all its forms. Featuring performances by

troupes from across the United States and Canada, tickets run a laughable $8 to $25 per show or $125 for an all-access pass ($100 for students).

The festival places a decided emphasis on improv, and executive producer Zach Ward promises both timely chuckles and ample room for audience participation. “Live comedy’s like watching a tightrope walk,” he says. “You want performers to succeed, but if they should happen to fall and swing temporarily, that gasp’s worth every cent.”