Great triple play Three Wordsmiths

One of my favorite poets Charles Rafferty (Man on the Tower, The Unleashable Dog etc etc) gave a dynamic reading Monday (9/8/24) evening at the Booth Library in Newtown at an event called Three Wordsmiths. On the bill and just as wonderful were Barry Dougherty, head writer for Friars Club Roast and playwright, actor, performance poet Patrick Kearney. Wow. 

The triple bill drew a large audience leaving few empty seats in the program room - and they wowed that audience. Frankly we loved them all!  They were funny unpredictable and so hysterically human.  For more events from the Newtown Arts Festival: http://newtownartsfestival.com For more poets (including me) check the events table for the two day main festival on Sept 13-14. The column on the far right is the Poetry Salon.

PS love library events. after-dinner timing, home by 9:15.

When does enabling start?

The answer to this question for me is: I don't know really.

Apparently it's something about the drinker having to bear their own choices. And for people who care to detach and not bear the drinkers choices for them,  because in the long run it hurts the drinker and enables them to go on making bad choices and drags the helper down too.

I was told not to help because helping might not be helping. And I didn't after saying I would. I don't know if I made the right decision or not. It seems harsh to detach but people tell me it will never end. and some you are staring down the deep well where their problem is your problem too and is now destroying both of you.

 This article at Psych Central tells about enabling.

 I don't want to resent this person. I want to step away before I do. I don't know if meetings are being attended. I don't know what steps are being taken to turn the life around. And really I don't need to know. because it's not my life to manage and fret over. And that is what I did this whole day. Fret about it.  I am still freaking fretting about it. Which is why I really have to detach.

Danbury Farmer's Market with a little traveling music: Peace Soup

Smiles & sales & fresh produce all Connecticut grown!

Stopped at the Danbury Farmers Market today - and found peaches, apples, sweet corn, broccoli, squash, tomatoes. You name it, you can get it there and it lasts way longer at home because it didn't spend a long time on the road to get to you .Today I bought sweet corn picked in the last 24 hours in New Milford. Fifty cents an ear. Did I mention SWEET? We cooked if for lunch to day. So good!

Also at the Farmer's Market is PEACE SOUP - JZ a teacher, an artist, a songwriter,  (shown sitting under the colorful umbrella with a harmonica) with his collection of hand held instrument - various drums, keys, xylophones, cymbals, rain eggs. All these things are awaiting spontaneous and improvisational players out to have a good time and make a little sound in the sunny afternoon. Peace Soup does something importantt in our MP3 world. Many grow up thinking music is something you listen to, that it starts perfect - never realizing it is something you can make yourself by trial and error (or practice!) He invites people to play and experiment no matter what their ages. Peace Soup is for the kiddies and the moms and dads too and any adventurer who happens by!

A friend playing the Peace Soup xylophone!

(The pictures though are not from today but an earlier day this summer at the market.)

Wiyos deliver at Chirp

Yesterday I heard an eccentric and wonderful group - The Wiyos.  The program calls them "Fabulously skilled and inspired kooks." A pleasure to hear. Funny too. Odd name! It was a fun show cut short at the end by rain. I am going to look into getting a few tunes by these folks because they were really good.

 Chirp shows are free, at Ballard Park in Ridgefield. Bring a chair.

Berkshire Big Band's gave a good show Sunday

Under the arbor on a GORGEOUS Sunday afternoon out on the Brookfield Library lawn - There were foot-tapping big band tunes - great solos in a spectacular jazzy way wow!!! Berkshire Big Band really is just the bee's knees. HA! Fabulous.  Lots of silly talk for fun by the band leader and a wonderful vocalist too. I'm glad i went. Pure joy. And the library scooped ice cream to everyone before it started to make it a really "summer" social.  I missed that part though but it's just as well.

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!

i'm on an Open Mic binge

Things changed a bit at home and I am on a binge of getting out hearing live music and open mic singing! Yay! Before this I was on a binge of staying home and watching reruns. The change was brought about because my caree's meds were rescheduled while she was briefly in a rehab facility recently. She is doing well on the new regime! Partly I am spurred by the thought that things could change again at any time and I should get up and get out while I can...Also in the extremes of cold and heat I am less inclined to venure out. So while conditions and weather are favorable - I have been checking out various open mics -

• the Tuesday Open Mic at the Hideaway Kitchen Bar in Ridgefield hosted by Fred Ball, 
• the brand new Thursday Open Mic at River Bistro hosted by Chris Ellis (former of Tuesday Open Mic at 59 Bank), 
• the open mic at the new Town Crier in Beacon NY hosted by Don Lowe, and the 
• Wednesday Night open mic at the All-American Valley General Store (not sure of the hosts name) in Seymour.

People have been so kind! Great audiences and some fantastic music.

I've also heard recent and wonderful performances by Don Lowe at the "Grovin' in New Fairfield" series,

Shannon McMahn at Kolekolo World Coffee in Middletown,

 Two Dollar Hat at Vivo in Danbury,

and of course the wonderous Pears at Fast Eddies in New Milford. No photo for that. Sorry.