Jumping and Jiving with Jazz

It happened April 20-22, 2017,  the Student Jazz Festival, Held at the historic Alabama Jazz Hall of Fame.

Students from elementary, middle and high schools from around the state get to participate in this annual event. Also, on board are college, junior and 4 year. They always put on a great show and it's all FREE!.

This year I listened to only one set (that's jazz talk)  

Gadsden State Community College did a fine job with their four numbers. 

Matt Leder, director of Gadsden State Show Band

This is my first attempt at video. It may be flipped but at least you can hear it.

They had a mean keyboardist and singer who had to be channeling some of the greats.

After the performance Dr. Leah Tucker, Director of the Jazz Hall of Fame, awarded a trophy*    to band director Mr. Matt Leder for a job well done.

   
* All bands were given trophies.

That's it.

Coffee and Soda Fountain

(This also took place April 22,2017)

After leaving the record store I popped next door to Crestwood Coffee for a java.  This was one of the first coffee shops I went to before coffee became all the rage. They were there before Starbuck's hit Birmingham and Dunkin' Donuts. I hadn't been there in years, but they're still thriving.  They will still allow you to bring your own cup.  I just wonder if I'd still have to pay $4 for a cup of coffee or would I get a discount for having my own cup.? I ordered an expresso with caramel.  I wanted a jolt. The purists won't like it but I do. 

I took a seat and selected one of the many books they have for customers to read.  I chose a musty hardback and settled in. I don't remember the title but the story line captured my interest. Unfortunately, I didn't write down the title or author.





You see the usual coffee house clientele. Mostly people interfacing with some form of technology, phone, PC, i-pad , the usual. To think coffee shops were once places where you could commune with people, face-to-face.

Crestwood Pharmacy & Soda Fountain.  Within this same shopping strip at the corner. They too were announcing their planned opening this summer. There will be a pharmacist and a soda fountain on the premise. (Think Mayberry drugstore) 
They were having open house and telling everyone their plans for this space. Refreshments and samples of ice cream floats were available. They haven't furnished it yet but they do plan to use a lot of local fare in their soda fountain area.

Printed on the pharmacy door,
"  In centuries past, townspeople recognized  a show globe as the landmark for healing. It's glow welcomes all to this place of medicine, the local pharmacy."

Next stop  TODAY Alabama Jazz Hall of Fame for some live music. Woot! Woot!  (separate post)


That's it***

Record Store Day

Record Store Day is an annual event inaugurated in 2007 and held on one Saturday every April to "celebrate the culture of the independently owned record store" (Wikipedia)

There are only two record stores in Birmingham that I know of. One is Charlemagne which has been in existence since Moses. The other is Seasick Records which is pretty new to the block.

I chose Seasick Records located in Crestwood which is closer to me. Thinking Record Store Day was April 20, I went inside and proclaimed, Happy Record Store Day to which I was told would take place on April 22nd. 
ALTHOUGH I did find out that 4/20 is Weed Day. (You can Google it or click the 4/20 link) The lack of customers and a couple of guys getting their hair cut should have been an indication that I was there on the wrong day.

I went back April 22nd and there were throngs of people actually buying vinyl also known in my era as records, LPs and 33s. 

You won't see any people on this picture because I took these on 4/20. As you can see they have a large variety of vinyl but they also sell a few CDs, Indie music and locally pressed vinyl.

Did I mention they have a two station barbering corner? It's right back there where you see the two large mirrors.

Yes, I took a picture of the restroom. They have this cool mural painted on the walls.

Since the albums were only $3, I bought a Sammy Davis Jr. and Ashford and Simpson.

 I've played the Ashford and Simpson album and it sounds great.

This poster shows pics of the guest DJs for the day. One is the mayor of Birmingham. There was a wall of flyers inside Crestwood Coffee (rt.) of Coming Attractions.

I also visited in this same shopping strip, Crestwood Coffee and the future home of Crestwood Pharmacy and Fountain.  I'll post about those in a different post.


That's it.

This Isn't Your Grandma's Button Box

It's been a while since I posted. Had what I consider major PC issues. Had to get a new modem. Then the PC had to be upgraded. Tech ,Tech,Tech.
 Anyway...

Since I enjoy crafts I've been hanging out once a week at one of the city libraries where they have crafts for adults. 
The first I participated in was making pictures with buttons.  
There were buttons of all shapes, colors and compositions. 

First we painted a tree on the canvas mat.

This tree looks a little angry. Maybe it'll cheer up after I decorate it.

We used E-6000 glue and a real canvas mat.  Choosing the buttons wasn't easy with so many choices






Here are some of the ones that were done .

 

Remember the angy looking naked tree at the top? This is how I filled it in.

 That's it***

No More Wristlets

 ...for a while.

I've turned my handbag crafting and sewing to cross body bags. I'm going for a "boho" style or another way of saying Bohemian.

Here are 5 of the eight purses I prepared for a craft show that took place this month.
 In the world of small purses when carrying the merest of essentials, cross body purses seem to be the preference. If I plan to make any sales, I've got to give the people what they want.

Here in Alabama, football is a MAJOR focus. You must declare a team once you step across the state line.  Alabama and Auburn are the main teams.
I've never been a sports fan of any type but, numerous  friends suggested that I make a few cross body bags for the football fans out there. I took their advice.  Here's the first one I did featuring  The University of Alabama.

I didn't use everything below but, some or none.

                                                                 NEXT UP

 BLUE and GRAY and Beige tapestry with beige cording cross body strap, silver button closure, decorative button and stitching on the back
                                                    ***

 ORANGE, GREEN and DUSTY ROSE cross body bag with silver chain strap.
                                                 ***

Another Alabama bag with cream faux leather, hand stitiching on the side, Alabama "A" cheerleader on the back with rhinestone and ruby pom poms, tulle skirt, button and tie footwear. Black chain strap. Black, silver and while beads and trinkets.
                                                ***

GREEN BROCADE with raised gold threading throughout. Gold cord and chain cross over strap. Velcro closing

I have to admit, the green one is my favorite.

Below is my first attempt at posting my own video.  I'm only showing my table of crafts. You'll notice that I also have door/knob pillows left over from Christmas.  I wrote about that in a previous post.

That's it***