Gone But Not Forgotten

Come see the beautiful First Place Fiber Arts winner "Gone But Not Forgotten" by Marsha Mefferd in the KACC's Eighth Annual Judged Membership show.  The impressive 3.5-foot 3-D sculpture is a silhouette of the female figure in perfect form.

"I am 62 years old and I remember when I still looked like that," said Mefferd, a retired art instructor.  The piece took form while she was in the midst of a torso series.  "I was thinking about how we all have to accept the changes our bodies make and then--there she was."

The Membership Show is a multi-media exhibit that features art from different mediums.  You'll see a gamut of of original works including woodwork, photography, paintings, porcelain and drawings.

This week is the last opportunity to see the fiber arts sculpture at the Kerr Arts & Cultural Center.  Two great exhibits, the Kerr County Camp Exhibit and the Annual Membership Show, both conclude Sunday, July 27th.

The KACC is commonly known as the premier destination of the Texas Hill Country.  When you enter Avery Gallery, you'll be surrounded by the best that the artist members of the KACC have to offer.  Be sure to make time to see the Camp Exhibit.  It showcases the rich history of Kerr County's military posts Camp Verde and Camp Ives.

For more information, please visit KerrvilleTexasCVB.com.

Apple Sells 1 Million iPhones in First 3 Days

Today is day three since the launch of the new Apple iPhone on Friday,  and sales have already surpassed the million-dollar mark.  

This recent success brings to mind the battle of the gadgets between Apple's iPhone and Resarch in Motion's Blackberry.  The competition is on with Apple Inc. announcing its goal of selling 10 million iPhones by the end of 2008.  While the iPhone is geared to media consumers and the Blackberry toward corporate networks, both are aiming to increase their markets.  

Here is a strange-but-true nugget you won't believe.  Did you know that Apple Inc.'s headquarters is in Cupertino, CA?  So, what's the big deal you say?  Yes, the City of Cupertino is the heart of Silicon Valley but it is also home to a 33-acre Blackberry Farm Golf Course.

For proof visit BlackberryFarm.org.

Taking Names

An Orlando, FL man traded the naming rights to his unborn son for a $100 gas card Saturday. Florida radio hosts Richard Dixon and J. Willoughby offered $100 worth of free gas to the listener who presented the most interesting trade.  David Partin won the contest and when his baby is born this winter, he will be named Dixon and Willoughby Partin--with the "and" included.

Granted, this is definitely a crazy way to name a child but the history behind the naming the city of Orlando is equally discombobulating.  Prior to being known by its current name, Orlando was  a small community called Jernigan.  It was then named after the first permanent settler, cattleman Aaron Jernigan.

According to the Office of the City Clerk, there are four stories behind the name.  One involves Judge James Speer naming Orlando after a man who once worked for him.  Another is that Speer named it after a character from Shakespeare's "As You Like It."  The third version has a Mr. Orlando on his way to Tampa with a caravan of ox.  It is said that he died and was buried. When people passed by they said, "There lies Orlando."  But historians date Orlando's name to around 1837, when a soldier named Orlando Reeves allegedly died in the area during the war against the Seminole Indian Tribe.

For more information, please visit CityofOrlandon.net.

InBev Takes Over Anheuser-Busch

Upset about the InBev buyout of Anheuser-Busch?  

If you feel like the Belgium-based brewer bought a little piece of Americana this Sunday, you're not the only one.  Many view the $50 billion takeover of Anheuser as a loss for the American entrepreneurial spirit.  A crowning source of domestic pride, the Anheuser brand was known for classic beers such as Budweiser, Busch, Michelob and Corona.

But fretting is for the French.  Americans prone to nostalgia can find comfort in the birthplace of Anheuser-Busch.  St. Louis, MO remains the original home of Eberhard Anheuser's Bavarian Brewery.

Location and resources pre-destined St. Louis to become a major beer-brewing locale.  In addition to its large German and Irish population in the 1800s, there was plenty of water, rail connections and limestone caves that provided the foundation for a beer legacy.  Today, the tradition continues.  St. Louis has a number of microbreweries and brewpubs.

For more information on St. Louis Beer History, please visit ExploreStLouis.com.

Grapevine Opry

The Grapevine Opry's Gospel Country Showcase is an inspirational show that can't be missed.  Known for offering the best in new and traditional country music, The Opry's gospel showcase is one of its grandest productions.

This Friday, come and see a hometown favorite, eight-year-old prodigy, and renowned trio grace The Opry's hallowed stage. Cathy Lake is a Grapevine native who's been named Favorite Gospel Artist of the Year three years running.  Her Texas gospel bluegrass style gives traditional songs such as Blessed Assurance, At the Cross and Precious Memories a southern twang.  Chandler Bennet is known the "Little Miss Dyna-mite."  At eight years old, she commands any stage and is thought to be the voice of the future.  You'll also love seeing The Texas Girls in full bedazzled glory.  Famous for their beautiful harmonies, The Texas Girls have performed on TBN and the Daystar Network.

The Palace Theater was built in 1940 and renovated by an oil baroness with a penchant for Art Deco. The Grapevine Heritage Foundation now owns this 500-seat auditorium.  Willie Nelson, Brenda Lee, and the Judds are just a few of the stellar acts that have performed at The Opry. Come and celebrate a Grapevine tradition in this revered landmark.

When: The Gospel Country Showcase is the fourth Friday of each month at 7:30 p.m.

www.grapevinetexasusa.com

Bay Hale Photography Exhibit

The annual "Bay" Hale Photography Exhibit is nearing the end of its six-month showing at the Harrison Museum of African-American Culture.  Take the time to honor a staple in the Roanoke Valley African-American community before it closes in September.

The late Sonny "Bay" Hale was a well-known photographer in Roanoke for many years.  His subject matter included school kids and groups like Links, a ladies community service organization.  But Hale's most iconic photographs documented events in the black community.

The Harrison Museum is housed on the ground floor of one of Virginia's historic landmarks.  The Harrison school was the first public high school built for African-American students in 1916.  Not only does the history of the school make it a prime site for the museum, its location is also ideal.

"He lived right here on Harrison Avenue," said Museum Manager Wanda Alston.  "People would sit for him there because his studio was in his home."

Sonny Hale retired in 1982.  The museum exhibit features his work from the 1950s and 1960s.  His photos are so distinct, that even his black and white photographs display a lighting that is distinctly Hale.

"His pictures have a certain glow and the ladies always look so nice," said Alston.  "Those photographs hold a lot of memories for so many people in the area. They are hanging in a lot of homes in the community."

Bob Hale organizes the annual exhibit to celebrate his brother's work and honor other local photographers.  If you are interested in having a Hale photograph in your own home, checkout the book "Roanoke Valley's African American Heritage: A Pictorial History" in the museum's gift shop.

For more information, please visit www.VisitRoanokeVA.com.

The Gray Ghost

The Gray Ghost Theatre Company's current production of the outdoor drama "The Gray Ghost" is a perfect night of entertainment under the stars.  Come and witness the true story of a Prince William County legend.

John Singleton Mosby was the bane of the Union Army in Northern Virginia and a hero of the

Confederacy.  Also known as the "Gray Ghost," Mosby was a Confederate Calvary officer in the Civil War.  He garnered notoriety for his quick raids and ghostlike ability to elude the Union Army.

The 60-foot proscenium stage of the Mary Louise Jackson Amphitheater is the perfect venue for this action packed play.  You'll hear a band play battlefield music along with gunfire in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains.  There will even be live combat scenes with a cast of 25 and horses onstage.  Located in the beautiful Mosby Heritage Area, you'll be near the historical National Manassas Battlefields Park.

"The whole reason for creating the company was to marry the rich history of our community with the theater arts," said Ken Elston, artistic director of the theater company.  "Prince William County is in the cradle of the nation.  The Civil War was a rebirth of our nation and we are proud to bring that story to life."

Prince William County is home to a lot of Civil War buffs so be sure to get your tickets early. For more information, please visit www.VisitPWC.com.

Dates: July 18, 19, 23, 25, 26, 30

           Aug. 1 and 2

Time: 8--10 p.m.

Family Fun Day: Pre-show activities start at 4 p.m.  Show starts at 6 p.m.

Music In The Vines

Picnicking in the rolling hillside of Franklin County is a great weekend activity for the entire family.  This summer, take advantage of the free admission concert series in The Courtyard at Arrington Vineyards.

Music In The Vines is an event that invites you to layout the gingham, relax to live music and watch the sun go down.  With sandwiches and an open bottle of the vineyard's Sweet Liberty wine, you'll be in the full swing of one of America's favorite pastimes.

Arrington's unique Tasting Lodge is famous for its daily wine tastings, rustic timbers and Tennessee Fieldstone.  You'll be immersed in this beautiful atmosphere when you take in the view of the vineyard from the deck.  Outdoor bistro tables, chairs and festive lights accent the vast porch.

If you don't have time to pack a picnic basket, the gift shop offers a wide variety of gourmet cheeses, crackers and Arrington wine.  The famous raspberry wine chocolate truffles, made exclusively for the vineyard by Schakolad Chocolatier, make great impulse buys.

The evening shows usually draw a crowd of over 200 people.  This Friday night, come and enjoy the acoustic pop soundings of Reed Pittman--a Nashville native with a strong local following.  If you plan on getting a table, arrive early because they are on a first-come, first-serve basis.

www.visitwilliamson.com

100 Years of Autochrome

This is the last week to see the "100 Years of Autochrome" exhibit at the Amon Carter Museum.  Learn how autochrome brought color into a black and white world.  First marketed in France in 1907, it remained the principal color photography process until it was surpassed by the advent of color film in the 1930s.

The Carter Museum is home to a vast collection of American Art donated by Amon G. Carter.  This week, take special notice of the works by Laura Gilpin.  Considering the color of the subject's clothing, Gilpin's "Woman in Black and White Striped Skirt Seated in Chair" may seem an unlikely choice for the autochrome display.  But you'll marvel at the verdant background of this photo that amply demonstrates the charm of color photography.

Come and celebrate the wonder of imagery by retracing the invention of the first commercially viable color photographic process.

100 Years of Autochrome

08/18/2007 thru 07/27/2008

Amon Carter Museum

817-738-1933

www.fortworth.com/FW/calendar/event/active.jsp?Month=6&Year=2008

Franklin on the Fourth

Celebrate Independence Day in Historic Franklin County.  This quaint rural area is rich in heritage, beauty, and the all-American traditions that make the Fourth of July a sacred holiday.

Located 16 miles south of "Music City, USA," Nashville, Tennessee, Franklin County is the heart of Middle Tennessee.  Come and immerse yourself in patriotism in a town named after a signer of the Constitution.

You'll enjoy a patriotic, family concert event on the Public Square in historic downtown Franklin.  There will be entertainment, children's activities, food and crafts.  The celebration will be followed by a fireworks finale that takes place near Mack Hatcher/Hillsboro Road.

Free Admission

When: Independence Day

Where: Main Street & Public Square, Franklin

Top 10 Hot Springs in New Mexico

When the Spanish explorers first discovered New Mexico's hot springs, they thought they'd found the fountain of youth.  There are hot springs across the globe, but here are some of America's finest.

Battleship Rock & McCauley Hot Springs

These large 99 degree hot spring pools are located near the Battleship Rock in Jemez Springs.  

Charles Motel & Spa

A characteristic 1940's-style motel and mineral bath house in Truth or Consequences, the Charles was built specifically as a healing center.

Fire Water Lodge

Located in Truth or Consequences, this lodge offers geothermal hot mineral water tubs in their rooms.

Gila Hot Springs Vacation Center

This primitive river campground has three mud pools ranging in temperature from 105 degrees to 110 degrees.

Jemez Springs Bath House

A historic hot mineral bathhouse located in a rich geothermal area that is named after the Jemez Springs.

Manby Hot Springs

Manby Hot Springs has two hot pools located in the ruins of an old stagecoach stop.

Montezuma Hot Springs

A collection of hot springs bubbling out of the side of a hill, feeding a variety of rock and cement tubs.

Ojo Caliente

The only hot springs in the world with a combination of four different types of mineral water: lithium, iron, soda and arsenic.

Riverbend Hot Springs

Unique and affordable, this resort spa is the only riverside springs in Truth or Consequences.

Spence Hot Springs

Pristine hot springs on the side of a steep hill that form several soaking polls.  Spence springs have a reputation as a hangout for nudists.

For more information please visit http://www.newmexico.org/relax/hot_springs/index.php

Bumper Sticker Shocker

Five cities to avoid on the family road trip this summer.

A recent study by Colorado State University could influence the route you take on your next road trip.  It warns drivers to steer clear of vehicles plastered with "territorial markers."

Social psychologist William Szlemko concluded that drivers of cars with bumper stickers, window decals and personalized license plates are far more likely to display road rage.

"The more markers a car has, the more aggressively the person tends to drive when provoked," Szlemko told The Washington Post.

If the 2008 In The Driver's Seat Road Rage Survey is any indication, you'll have plenty of reading material when bumper to bumper in the Northeast.  Auto Vantage found that the least courteous city in the country is Miami, followed by Boston, New York, Baltimore and Washington, D.C.

So, the next time you are distracted by some witty decal display, heed Szlemko's advice and proceed with caution-- maybe even switch lanes.

About Me

Hi, I am Victoria Paige.