Broke-Ass of the Week

Broke-Ass of the Week – Bearlesque Dancer P.A. Cooley

The Bay's best newsletter for underground events & news

Every week we feature a different person from the community shedding a little light on their life of brokeitude.  Who knows, maybe you’ll learn something about the human spirit'probably not.

Wanna be a Broke-Ass of the Week?  Holler at us here and we’ll send you the questionnaire.

P.A. Cooley is a local San Francisco Actor who took a detour this past year (and a half) to do good for the local theater community by fund raising…by taking his clothes off. He entered the Bay Area Cub 2010 competition and won, and went on to form a burlesque amateur talent show with members of the Bear Community called Bearlesque. It raised over 10K for theater and theater related programs. Unfortunately wearing very little has cost him quite a bit and he indeed is a Broke-Ass.  Let’s see what he has to say about it:

Name: P.A. Cooley

Age: 46

Occupation: Admissions Director to a Non Profit Skilled Nursing Facility and San Francisco Celebutante '“Pageant winner Bay Area Cub 2010 (The Cub gig I don’t get paid for and have incurred a phenomenal debt as a result of it)

What neighborhood do you live in?: Miraloma Park in San Francisco '“or some people call it West of Twin Peaks but seriously 'œWOTP' is hard to say '“ AND NO I don’t own one of these million dollar homes I live in a toxic mold infested in'“law.

What are you listening to these days?: I desperately need new Tunes '“Maroon 5, that Spears girl, Leona Lewis, Old Madonna and Young Madonna.

Best money saving tip: Not owning a car. I am sure I have saved 1000s by being the Guy at the party that says, 'œ Hey '“anyone heading back to the city?'

What do you refuse to spend money on?: Splenda, The Damn stuff is everywhere and I am Low Carb baby!

Most expensive thing you’ve ever bought: My imac

How’d that feel?: Like Oh my God 'what have I just done? Then YAY '“ I have a cool computer with a GIANT Screen to look at pretty pictures of ME !

Favorite cheap eat: Hot Dogs at the Lone Star Beer Bust '“It’s a lotta wiener for 2 bucks. All Beef too!

Favorite dive bar: The Edge '“ Strong Drinks, Dark Bar'Men'“except on certain days the walls smell weird.

Best deal you’ve ever gotten: A cashmere argyle sweater originally priced at $395.00 and I got it for $40. They almost threw me a party at Macys for being the best example of how to use your After Christmas Coupons'.I miss Macys'sniff '“These days it’s Ross and Marshalls and (gulp) Sears.

Favorite free thing to do: Judge the commuter’s fashion choices while riding the train to work and then tell everyone on Facebook about it.

If you woke up a millionaire, what’s the first thing you’d buy? A high priced fancy schmancy Lawyer to sue all the people that caused me emotional damage. Might cost more than a million though'okay then I’d buy stock in Tillamook Ice Cream. Have you had Grandma’s Cake Batter Ice Cream? It’s like'to DIE for!

Despite not having money, do you still love your life? I guess I have a lot to be grateful for. A loving partner, and a meaningful day job, I try to be as generous a person as I can but ya know'my friends are beginning to figure out I bought their gifts at The Dollar Store.

Do you own my book?: No'But I will shortly — do u take Credit?

Best hangover cure: Vicodin '“ gives you a nice toasty 'œI don’t give a shit' feeling.

Are you a hipster?: No but I play one on TV.

Previous post

FREE Victoire Show at Smack Mellon Gallery Tonight

Next post

Wine on a Dime at Brooklyn Winery


Broke-Ass Stuart - Editor In Cheap

Broke-Ass Stuart - Editor In Cheap

Stuart Schuffman, aka Broke-Ass Stuart, is a travel writer, poet, TV host, activist, and general shit-stirrer. His website BrokeAssStuart.com is one of the most influential arts & culture sites in the San Francisco Bay Area and his freelance writing has been featured in Lonely Planet, Conde Nast Traveler, The Bold Italic, Geek.com and too many other outlets to remember. His weekly column, Broke-Ass City, appears every other Thursday in the San Francisco Examiner. Stuart’s writing has been translated into four languages. In 2011 Stuart created and hosted the travel show Young, Broke, and Beautiful on IFC and in 2015 he ran for Mayor of San Francisco and got nearly 20k votes.

He's been called "an Underground legend": SF Chronicle, "an SF cult hero":SF Bay Guardian, and "the chief of cheap": Time Out New York.