Quirkyalone

Tune Into Quirkyalone on the Radio this IQD

Feb 13, 2011 - Written by Sasha Cagen  |  Filed under: IQD

My jaw dropped fifteen minutes ago. I was driving along in Oakland, California, after a lovely outing with a friend, looking through the radio dial for beautiful music, when I stumble upon someone who sounds like me but is not me. Radio host Rubberband Girl explaining the quirkyalone concept–and even the quirkyslut–confidently,as part of her quirkyalone-themed radio show to celebrate singledom and solitude on KALX, Berkeley’s student-run radio station. I love that the quirkyalone movement is strong that I don’t even have to do the interviews on February 14. Go listen to this beautiful four-hour show of songs expressing quirkyalone sentiment here. Here’s her set list.

Freshen Up Your Wild, Precious Life with Quirkyalone Day

Feb 11, 2011 - Written by Sasha Cagen  |  Filed under: IQD

I was on a plane ride recently reading an in-flight magazine, where we got the chance to read five guys’ “real” opinions on Valentine’s Day. These poor husbands and boyfriends felt so oppressed! The words “Happy Valentine’s Day” in the morning filled them with dread as they would have to be romantic on demand.

The saccharine-sweet quality of Valentine’s Day, that fills us with expectation and often tends to make us feel disappointed whether we are single or in a relationship, struck me 8 years when I launched International Quirkyalone Day with parties in four cities. The flagship party was in San Francisco. In our second year, the party got so big the fire marshalls came but then they wanted to party too.

IQD is for everyone, because couples as well as singles needed a liberating alternative holiday to celebrate the joys of connection: to yourself, to your mate (if you have one), to friends, family, passions, and so on.

International Quirkyalone Day marches on! I am astounded that it has been celebrated in so many cities (40). This year I have been more engrossed in my own personal adventures, wrapping up my travels in South America, so I haven’t thrown a quirkyalone day party the way I have in years past.

But I take this opportunity to wish all of you the most alive and fresh Quirkyalone Day ever! I invite you to do something new Quirkyalone Day, shake up your world a bit by visiting a new spot in or outside your town, take a class, take a chance and make a new friend (and I don’t mean on Facebook). Rearrange your furniture, try a new recipe, dance alone in your underwear for an hour. At the least, buy yourself some daisies, chosen for their natural, sunny quality, they are the official flower of the quirkyalone movement.

And above all, love thyself.

Here is a video from Keith Olbermann’s Countdown in MSNBC (RIP) featuring the 2005 IQD party in San Francisco and interviews with yours truly about this new holiday:

Happy International Quirkyalone Day from Brazil!

Feb 05, 2010 - Written by Sasha Cagen  |  Filed under: IQD

Happy International Quirkyalone Day, or, should I say, Feliz Dia Internacional do SoSingular! This year will be the eight annual celebration of International Quirkyalone Day, a holiday that I have grown to love dearly–for me, it’s on par with Thanksgiving as my favorite holiday. IQD is not anti-Valentine’s Day. It just happens to fall on the same day. IQD turns a cliche-ridden day of angst into a liberating opportunity to connect with others (or to celebrate alone). There are thousands of ways to embrace your life and your significant others, plural. Here are 10 ways to celebrate IQD.

Usually I throw a party in San Francisco to celebrate, but for the first time since launching IQD in 2003, I am on the road on February 14. I am actually in Curitiba right now, a Brazilian city famed for its progressive urban planning. On IQD, I will be in the mad sea of Carnaval in Recife and Olinda, Northeastern Brazilian cities. Recife and Olinda boast a wild and participatory Carnaval (that some say is the best in the country), featuring a wide diversity of traditional music and dance: samba, axe, the drum-driven beats of maracatu and fast-paced frevo. I’ll make sure to hold up a sign, Happy IQD!, at some point. Check back here for a photo.

Quirkyalone was published in Brazil with the title SoSingular. It’s actually my favorite cover of all the international and American versions. That photo of the girl on her bed–what eyes!–is just perfect. I am traveling with a copy to share and it’s a pretty fun way to learn the nuances of a language, reading my own book.

Oh, in Brazil, the Dia dos Namoradas (Day of the Enamored) is actually June 12. They couldn’t possibly celebrate romantic love during Carnaval. Toooo crazy. If I am still here, maybe I will start Brasileiro SoSingular Day on June 12. Book your ticket now.

Wherever you are on February 14, I wish you a fabulous Quirkyalone Day! Let us know how you will celebrate in the comments.

IQD Photos 2009

Feb 15, 2009 - Written by Sasha Cagen  |  Filed under: IQD

Didn’t make it to our most excellent IQD celebration in San Francisco? My friend Liz compared the event to a church gathering. It really felt warm and intimate as we settled into the cozy and colorful Red Hill Books for wine, mingling, a reading of the original essay, and a discussion of quirkyalone at various life stages, and finally, a List Slam. Check out these fabulous IQD photos from photographer Steve Rhodes on Flickr and another set of photos posted by me.

While you are at it, check out this account of the evening, “My Quirky Valentine,” by Kenneth, a friend of mine and the creator of a blog called Single in San Francisco.

Special Quirkyalone Day Chat

Feb 14, 2009 - Written by Sasha Cagen  |  Filed under: IQD, Press

Listen online at 11:30 am on KALX. After years of doing lots of mainstream media on Quirkyalone Day, it’s a pleasure to do an interview with a cool student-run station!

The DJ Erin is doing an awesome set list in advance. It will make for many excellent quirkyalone mix tapes. I think you’ll be able to listen to the archives too!

Ten Ways to Celebrate IQD

Feb 13, 2009 - Written by Sasha Cagen  |  Filed under: IQD

International Quirkyalone Day is tomorrow! Here are ten ways to celebrate.

1. Explore a new part of town — be a tourist in your own city.
2. Get a massage.
3. Buy yourself new underwear.
4. Rearrange your furniture.
5. Be creative, doing whatever it is you like to do (write, paint, sew, upholster furniture, surf, make art of out dryer lint).
6. Be creative with friends. Have an arts and crafts party or cook a meal together.
7. Buy yourself or a friend a bunch of daisies. Daisies are the official flower of the quirkyalone movement.
9. Volunteer for a cause you believe in.
9. Get cozy in bed with a book. Quirkyalone: A Manifesto for Uncompromising Romantics would of course be a good choice.
10. Come to or host a quirkyalone party! Check out this post for the San Francisco party and check on the forums for parties around the world.

Bonus: Check out today’s Wall Street Journal article on the “Valentine’s Day Resistance Movement”–it mentions Quirkyalone–and enjoy the opening sequence to the Mary Tyler Moore show. So joyful and so QA!