Grand Avenue Shop Windows

"Hi! I'm the cutest shop window in Spencer, Iowa!" --Music Connection



Arts on Grand, window by Holly Kellogg (paintings by Holly Kellogg, sculpture by...er..me). That one in the middle looks like and floral explosion to me right now. What do you think?



I stop and look at how cool this pitcher is every time I go by Mainstreet Mall Antiques.



I have never been in this shop but it looks very charming.



Warner Monuments.

Mike Blackwell @ Shaky Tree Tonight

Mike Blackwell (Americana folk musician) is playing at Shaky Tree tonight. It's a good show. I know because I walked by a few times.

The thing is--I don't do "punctual." This has been a problem for me and Shaky Tree events because I also don't do "entering a facility through a door adjacent to a stage during a live show." I mean, I've seen other people do it, but it's not for me. It doesn't help that I know that when I walk in, I'm going to have to find a seat while everyone is looking in my direction, and if I find one, I'll be sitting by myself (because I don't know a soul), and I'm either too scared to get up and get a drink, otherwise I don't happen to have any cash on me if I want to, and therefore I'm sitting by myself with nothing to do with my hands. And that's very awkward. It's easy to see how my track record with these shows doesn't look good.

I really like Spencer a lot (obviously, it inspired me to start a blog about it), and people are really nice, but I don't have any friends. I mean, I literally have not "hung out" with another person on my own without any of my family members present in eight months of living here. I have moved about four times in the last six years and I have never not made friends right away. Part of it is that this is the first time I am not in school, and I guess the older you get, the busier you are. Even with that understaning, it's frustrating. It's no wonder that, yet again, I am chilling at home with the cats instead of enjoying a good show at the neighborhood Tree.

"A Geometry of Space and Time"

Joanne Alberda's current show at Arts on Grand is magnificent. Over-the-top stunning. When, several weeks ago, I was told that the next AOG show was going to me quilts, I have to admit that my first thought was "meh," but the show is far from "meh." The color and shape is great, and I love how she plays with our idea of the medium by matting and framing pieces as if they were paintings. There are also very textural B&W photographs, and big, spare charcoal drawings of seed pods (I am seriously thinking about buying one) that really tie in with some of the shapes found in her quilts.

Show runs till March 24. Artist talk at some point... For more info, call Arts on Grand, 262-4307.



A small quilt on display in the window.



One of these simple charcoal drawings (I guesstimate they're like 2' x 3' but I'm bad with that kind of thing).

My Goodness, My Guinness

Wednesday night brought the return of Irish band Gaelic Storm to the Pearson Lakes Art Center in Okoboji--a sold out show. They'd been there last year and a lot of people came back for more. I've never scene such a buzz in the lobby--people wearing their wellies and Gaelic Storm t-shirts. Myself, I'd been a fan since 1997 when the movie Titanic came out (Gaelic Storm played the party band in the steerage scene). I hadn't heard much of them since then (not that they weren't out there, I just wasn't paying attention), but when I heard they were coming to the area, on my BIRTHDAY, no less, I knew how I was celebrating my __th!

After an excellent meal at Minerva's, followed by turtle cheesecake and crème brûlée, my party enjoyed 3rd row seats to the lively show. Gaelic Storm is made up of five very talented musicians from Ireland, England, Canada, and New Jersey. Frontman Patrick Murphy (accordian, harmonica, as well as lead vocals) is part musican and part comic and introduced the audience to the "Irish moonwalk" (the kind you take after a night of drinking). Bagpipe player Peter Purvis brought out an electric bagpipe toward the end, which I thought was really interesting as I'd never thought about them existing. It's pretty much just the chanter, a wire, and a footpedal (no blowpipe or drones).

I good time was had by all, and the show ended with plenty of audience screaming, singing, and jazz hands. I hope they come back next year!

Check out upcoming show schedule at PLAC.

Buddy Holly and Barb Ryman

When Neal Conover is excited about something, he'll make sure to tell you. You and everyone else he runs into. This time it's Spencer Community Theater's "Buddy: The Buddy Holly Story." The performance was fabulous, he said, Chad Elliott was, naturally, fantastic in the part of Buddy Holly, and not just him! Neal raved about Ritchie Valens (played by Dylan Dykstra) as well. I personally find Neal's excitement infectious, and if I wasn't already planning to go, I would have made plans. This weekend is its second of three weekends. Tickets $16. Times this weekend: Friday at 7:30 p.m., Saturday at 7:30 p.m., Sunday 2 p.m. matinee $15. Call 262-7336 for tickets or go to 518 1st Ave. E., Spencer, between 11 a.m. and 6 p.m. More info on the Community Theater website.

We're lucky here in Spencer to have our pick of musical entertainment. The House Concert series continues this Friday with Barb Ryman. According to the flier, "Barb Ryman is a nationally touring, award-winning singer-songwriter who expects music to be more than entertaining. Her music is lyric-driven, emotional, heart-opening. With a clear winsome voice and skillfully played guitar, she delivers a rich mosaic of contemporary folk, country blues, Celtic flavored ballads, old-time gospel, and bits of folk-rock." Concert at 8 p.m., doors at 7:30, at Martin Arthur's home (323 E 4th St). Suggeted donation of $10-$15, with proceeds going to the artist. Please RSVP (262-4500). More info at Spencer Area Concert Association's website. Check out Barb Ryman's website.

"Make Your Own Tiles" Class rescheduled

My tile sculpting class is being rescheduled due to, well, only having one person signed up. It'll be on the 12th, 19th, and 26th, same time.