Open Mic @ Banquette

Saturday night was an open mic night at Banquette Cafe & Wine Bar. While the spouse was under the weather, I went downstairs and checked out Richard McDowell and others performing in the small interior of Banquette..

Richard had advised me he'd be performing at 8pm. It was more near 9pm, since there was a couple musical groups that performed ahead of the poetry readings..


I caught the last number of this act when I first arrived..




This act performed quite a while.. they were alright, but I think having them perform some 8 or 9 songs (I lost count) in one set was a bit much.. I think they could have broken the sets up and let the poets perform in between. IMHO of course.. I mean I don't work at the Cafe so my opinion is pointless..

FINALLY.. Richard and a couple other folks got to perform..








I made a couple videos.. (I goofed w/ Richard's by holding the camera wrong, but righted it after a little bit.. ) I may link to those at some point.. sooner or later..

UPDATE:
(*again, apologies for messing up the camera angle.. corrected in seconds 9/10)
video1* "Life as a Poet"


video2 "Jiggsaw"


We even got treated to some comedy.. which went from weirdly uncomfortable to LOL funny and back again a couple times. I guess good comedy does that.

Downtown neighbors.. Memorial Day closures

While out trying to find my copy of Downtown Poet Laureate nominee Richard McDowell's book 30 Days on Spring at Metropolis (I was late! They were closed!) I noted they have a sign saying they are closed for the weekend from the 24th and will resume their hours on Tuesday..

Also while using the crosswalk at 4th and Main noted that Orlando's will be closed Sunday and Monday for Memorial Day as well.

Good News though is that the Market downstairs (Ray's place.. I don't know the correct name) is going to be open through the weekend so if you have a crazy ice cream fix or something, someone should be there. He was saying the only day they close is like a 'half day' on Christmas!

So just remember before you head out to maybe call ahead to see if what you are looking for is open.. Hoagies & Wings is also going to be closed Monday for Memorial Day.. (I know cause I had dinner there earlier).

Yeah I know, 2 Fridays in a row at Hoagies & Wings.. those cheeseburgers are good! I am going to need some intervention if I keep this up... ;)

*******

ps: wanted to make sure to congratulate Richard too! =)

Richard McDowell: poet, artist.. gallery owner?

The things you find on Blogdowntown when you can't sleep.. one of the "this day in archived history" kind of posts.. an article from 2005 about the street signage that Richard had put up around the Historic Core.

A LITTLE PUBLIC ART

A friend of mine purchased one of his one way "drugs" signs and I got to see it up close. Those things definitely seem better made than some of the real street signs around town. =)

I would have liked to have seen that old gallery show review though. The things you learn on the internets. =)