In the Gazebo at Harvest Fest - the open mic!

Jack Cran playing my guitar. Host Don Lowe scanning the horizon.

All in all  Sunday Oct 12 (Indigenous American People's Day - ha!) was a beautiful day of clear skies, just right temperature and friendly folk.

With all the great music down on Bank Street - the Pears, the All Stars, the Blue Yodels -  up on the green was wide open. The gazebo was the location of the Harvest fest open mic hosted by Don Lowe. His set up made for a great sound! I even saw a New Milford officer tapping his foot as he kept watch on traffic.

 My timing was good and I was lucky enough to play for half and hour - around the area I saw host Don Lowe, Jack Cran, Cira Montrays, PJ Shurik, Bob Brophy and Chris Ellis. Afterwards I got coffee down on Bank St and spied Nancy of the Pears packing up from their gig.

Though the audience was mostly down the street the folks who stopped and listened were really wonderful!

Christopher Ellis playing Don's guitar

Open Mic Host Chris Ellis has NEW Venue at RIVER BISTRO

Chris Ellis who hosted the fabulously popular Open Mic at 59 Bank Street - has moved his operation to THURSDAY nights at the River Bistro (next to Boardman Bridge on Route 7 a couple miles north of Big Y) in New Milford.

He's teamed up with a co-host Al Burgasser and the whole thing runs very smoothly, from 7-11pm. It started June 5th, and is acquiring a broad following of talented, skilled musicians and even a few poets! Prepare to tap your feet and smile!!! If you are a player come out and be heard. It's a supportive listening musical community that makes you feel welcome. It's a great place to try out your new songs.

 At the Bistro, you can get a drink or a great meal or both. Personally I like a small salad with their home-brewed coffee. (The Oreo Cookie Pie looks pretty appealing though!)

*** Feel free to "like" the event's  Facebook page  if you are a FBKer.  Or just visit the brand new website Chris is building at http://www.thursdayopenmic.com/  ***

The view of the river from the River Bistro parking lot. NICE!

Women's Voices at the Bank Street Coffeehouse

Four differing voices made an interesting evening for poetry in New Milford last night. The reading, called "Women's Voices" was organized by reporter and poet Susan Tuz, who made the poster on the right.  I snapped the picture as it hung in the coffeehouse window and you can see a faint reflection of the buildings on Bank Street.

The four poets were Susan Tuz, Joan Kantor, Robin Sampon & me. (Mad Mar Walker - no pic of me):

Crafts to tea tasting & hiking Candlewood dam

At  Brookfield Craft Center's current show - Jump - The Synergy of Connection - which has to do with the substance of links - some of glass, clay, metal or mesh - you can find a vest made entirely of soda pop rings. Who would have guessed?

While there last Saturday, a friend, Anne Marie Marra and I struck up a conversation with a fellow craft admirer. She told us she had just come from Simpson and Vail - the tea company, and had tasted a tea or two. It was less than a mile away - so naturarlly that was our next stop.

Simpson and Vail sits on the quiet bank of an old quarry pond - so the tea contemplation begins before you enter. The atmosphere within is friendly, and heavily scented with exotic teas. Many of the tea pots on display are works of art.

Newly caffinated by this visit, we were still in need of a trek, and drove north to take a hike down to the Candlewood Dam. This earth dam was constructed in the 1920's. It was far longer a trek than I remembered - (though I am rather whimmpy!!) When we finally walked out onto the dam, my friend was stunned to see streams of water shooting out of the pipe that leads down to the power station below. The first time I noticed this, it was winter and these min-geysers had created a lattice of ice sculpture around the the pipe. I was so concerned - I went home and called up the Candlewood Lake Authority to inform them the pipe had leaks.

The man who answered the phone laughed as he assured me that was the normal condition. The water cascading out serves to dampen the pipe and keep it moist for - amazingly - this section is not made of metal, but of thick staves of wood - like a giant barrel or oak cask who's sections can not be allowed to dry out and separate.

After our trek, we went to a little restaurant for supper. After ordering, we were surprised to see Mia Farrow and several family members stroll in, and sit down for a meal just one table away. We didn't look, nor comment as everyone is entitled to have quiet meal without being gawked at.

All in all it was a pretty interesting day. Got some great video of the dam which I may post after a while.