Last weekend was another great one here in Durham....After work on Friday, I went to Hayti and worked the reception of the Quilt Show...These Durham quilters have put together some simply amazing quilts, and I urge everyone who can to come and check them out...They are musically themed, and have images of everything from Blues to R@B to Jazz and other forms of music, and seeing these quilters bond with the African Children's Choir was awesome and then to hear this group of talented kids perform before they went off to another gig was great.....Also Baron Tymas did his usual stellar job of providing some great jazz sounds, and I learned from Ed Gomes that one of the members of his band had performed at Freeport with the NCCU Jazz Group and that they had done a stellar job. Apparently, though there were names like Joshau Redman and others there, our fine folks from here were definitely the stars of the show and did a great job of making Branford Marsalis who sponsored the stage they were on quite proud.....One of these days, the cultural minister will get to this event as well..It, as well as the Cannes Film Festival and Spoleto, are on my list of events outside of NC that I want to attend. I hear that I missed good shows at West Village with some great blues, and some good music over at Brightleaf as well...But hey you can't be everywhere...Haven't quite figured out that cloning thing, so I can be at mutual places.
On Saturday morning, I went by the Farmers Market and Craft Market, and checked some of that out and talked to some new contacts as well as a few friends like Thoa who I worked on with the Obama campaign in putting together some events and Malloy, a long time friend and incredibly talented dancer....Afterwards, I went by the new, old DAP, in other words, the renovated Durham Athletic Park made famous by the movie Bull Durham, and passed out along with Dianne Pledger flyers about the Blues Festival, and then after doing that, checked out some of the fun including a Olympic like competition with various Mascots from around the area that was fun and of course the celebrity softball game that featured a few good plays, but don't tell some of those celebrities, but they might want to stick to their day jobs....SMILE...However, I thought Sylvia, a member of the NCCU Hall of Fame, a couple of NCCU Coaches, Bill Kalkhoff, and some of the TV sports reporters did a good job of holding their own, but in my opinion Patrick Baker was the star and was not letting anybody get past him and he scored the winning run.........That evening, I decided to pass on the two events I knew were going on...Playdate and Damien's birthday party, though I later learned both were great....
On Sunday, I checked out the Latin Music that King and Jeff were spinning at Central Park......Carl Webb asked if I missed any events, and Carl Webb joked that there are multiple me's, and we all know that would be dangerous......The music was great, and the demonstration by the Capoeria dancers was great.......I chickend out when a friend asked me to do some Latin dancing with her, and passed but my buddy Ray quickly picked up the challenge....Maybe next time I will be more brave........Yes, folks believe it or not, the social minister of Durham still has his chicken moments. Of course, conversating with Tim McGloin and Linda about AADE was great, as was the company provided by Sioux Watson of the Independent, and a few other friends that were there....I'm looking forward to the one this Sunday featuring Stevie Wonder music.........
On Monday, I took the smart man's option, and decided to not to get in the middle of Miss McLaughlin (a neighbor's) and Bruce Bridge's (a friend's) fight over the future of the Know Bookstore....I know we need the culture they provide with great music, great food, and great music, and whoever gets this property, i hope they maintain these kinds of traditions......
Well, about to bounce, but don't forget there is all kinds of great entertainment this weekend...Tonight, Durham Be Easy is happening downtown, great blues is happening at West Village, and there is other music in other locations as well and later in the weekend, some great Latin music at Rock Quarry Road.......