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Keeler, Steransky united in marriage

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West Pittston-based cat rescue to hold ‘Kit-Tea’ at Mary Stegmaier Mansion

<p>If an emergency happened on Thursday night, comedian Josh Blue joked he would have been the first one out the door.</p><p>That&#8217;s because of his position on stage near the front of the F.M. Kirby Center&#8217;s Chandelier Lobby, where he performed his comedic stand-up to a sizable crowd that got a kick out of his self-deprecating humor.</p><p>Blue, who has cerebral palsy and references it regularly during his routine, was the second act in less than a week I saw at the Kirby.</p><p>The winner of NBC&#8217;s &#8220;Last Comic Standing&#8221; in 2006, he was hi-lar-i-ous.</p><p>My date for the night, friend Kourtney Winder, enjoyed it just as much &#8211; if not more.</p><p>The other act I had the pleasure of seeing was magician and illusionist Denny Corby last weekend.</p><p>You may remember I mentioned Corby not too long ago after seeing him perform at Wyoming Valley Porsche&#8217;s grand opening.</p><p>That show convinced me to attend his act last Saturday, where he shared the stage with friends Kid Ace and David Garrity.</p><p>All three involved the crowd, pulling adults and children on stage to participate in various illusions involving money, handcuffs and more.</p><p>To say I slouched down in the back row, so as not to be summoned, would be fair.</p><p>Both shows were represented by talent booking agency Special Guest App, a business venture of local entrepreneur Kris Jones and LA-based actor Damon Wayans Jr. The app is designed to make it easy to book entertainment, connecting talent-buyers and performers easily.</p><p>Wayans knows the entertainment side well as an actor and traveling stand-up comedian, and Jones, of course, knows the technology side.</p><p>It&#8217;s the perfect match for both parties &#8212; and for venues such as the F.M. Kirby Center, where even on nights when large theater shows aren&#8217;t booked, more intimate performances can occur.</p><p>Kudos to the Kirby for always continuing to innovate.</p><p>It also brings additional business to Wilkes-Barre.</p><p>Before the Blue show, some friends and I went to Franklin&#8217;s just a few feet away from the Kirby.</p><p>In fact, I noticed, many of the folks I saw in the show had been at Franklin&#8217;s for dinner and drinks.</p><p>Also, before the Corby show, some friends and I dined at Bettelli&#8217;s Villa on Kidder Street.</p><p>The famous eatery is run by Jessica Sheehan and her mom, Donna. Beloved for their legendary, saucy pizza, they also offer homemade Italian dishes, steaks, chicken and a host of daily specials. And it seems you always see someone you know.</p><p>I never need an excuse to go out to eat, but there&#8217;s something special about dressing up on a Saturday night and going to dinner and a show.</p><p>Thanks to places like the Kirby, Bettelli&#8217;s and Franklin&#8217;s (and the many other wonderful local spots we have), you&#8217;re able to have amazing nights right in the Wyoming Valley.</p><p>I say we&#8217;re pretty lucky.</p><style>
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<div class="metaInfo"><shirttailMeta><p>Mike McGinley is the Times Leader Media Group&#8217;s major accounts executive. Reach him at mmcginley@www.timesleader.com or 570-704-3945.</p></shirttailMeta></div>

Around Town: Dinner and a show Wilkes-Barre style twice in one week