Sunday, March 27, 2011

Gabe's Restaurant Postcard — Owensboro KY


Gabe's Restaurant Postcard — Owensboro KY
Originally uploaded by mrtoastey

I grew up in Owensboro, Kentucky, and worshipped weekly at the Sunday buffet at Gabe's Restaurant. I can almost smell the fried chicken… I wish I could. The building was demolished. I'm not sure when — probably the late seventies, or the early eighties.

On Sundays, the building was rather labyrinthine, and — if you had lassez-faire parents like we did — a great place for a couple of under-10-year-old boys to "explore," after having shaken the hand of Gabe Fiorella himself — always stationed at the threshold to the dining room — and been seated.

A favorite was the lounge (upper right), which was closed on Sundays, due to local ordinance, I'm sure. But the room had no doors, so it was merely darkened, with an eerie glow coming from behind the bar, and the walls lined with heavy red velvet curtains that my brother and I could skulk around behind.

These are some of my fondest memories: playing some concoction of "Man from U.N.C.L.E." and Hide-n-Seek at Gabe's. Downstairs were hallways with offices, a little musty from the common practice of indoor smoking in those days and just creepy enough to enthrall two brothers every week after church on Sunday.

campsie still life

K

the granddaughter in full effect — as usual.

slo-mick

K — more excitement please!

K

discussing the pro's and con's of Disney on Ice

Saturday, March 26, 2011

Moldy Orange Redux

I made this photo a few years ago, and saw the opportunity again — couldn't pass it up.

Nation of Nations

Marjorie Guyon, along with Vice-Mayor Linda Gorton, announces her Nation of Nations educational art project

Italian Pharmacy warning note to my grandfather, circa 1963

From one of my grandmother's immaculate scrapbooks of their European travels.

Precious Knowledge

Here's the trailer for the latest — and I think most important — film by my dear friends and former Lexxers Eren McGinnis and Ari Palos, known collectively as Dos Vatos Productions.

Kentucky seems worlds away (NOT, it turns out) from the headline-grabbing Arizona conflict that is the topic of their latest film, but it seems only a matter of time before Lexington — with its vital and under-documented Latino population — comes face-to-face with similar debates.

This month, the film world premiered at the San Diego Latino Film Fest , followed by an Arizona premiere (photos) in Tucson — where the controversy continues to unfold as I write this.

While working recently in Tucson — far from the Bluegrass — on graphic materials for the movie, I was fortunate enough to learn some of the details of a struggle that colors the days and lives of thousands of young Arizonans. I also got to see the charisma and grace of not just some of the "stars" of this film, but also a few of the many who fight on a daily basis for the rights of our country's largest minority population.

Precious Knowledge will be moving through the festival circuit over the next several months. Their Facebook page is probably the best place for info on upcoming screenings. Until you can see it — and you should, I don't care what color your skin is — here's the trailer.

Wednesday, March 16, 2011

Honk!TX — Day Two Highlights vid

Here's a video look at Day Two of HONK!TX, the amazing festival of community street bands that my own March Madness Marching Band (at the beginning, seen leading a neighborhood parade and then performing The White Stripes' Seven Nation Army) was lucky enough to be invited to play.

Many of (20 or so) wonderful bands are included here, but special attention to some of my heros: Atlanta's venerable (37 years!) Seed & Feed Marching Abominable performs the classic Tuxedo Junction at 2:30; renegade maniacs What Cheer? Brigade (Providence RI) and Titanium Sporkestra (Seattle), perform together at about 4:00. (that's followed by TS performing the Dead Kennedys' hardcore classic, California Uber Alles — wow.)

Finally, at 5:50, Austin's Minor Mishap Marching Band — whom I consider to be kindred spirits (we're both MMMB!) — show their stuff. They were the festival hosts and partial organizers.

Amazing job. Incredible fun. Inspiring beyond words. Thank you, Minor Mishap and HONK!TX organizers ILoveMikeLitt for an unforgettable experience!

Tuesday, March 15, 2011

Landshark! — the Helloween Suite at HONK!TX

March Madness Marching Band performs our Helloween Suite at Honk!TX and I get killed by a shark. Again. 
Also: trombonist John Pope's original composition Fun is Good!

March Madness Marching Band at HONK!TX 2011


March Madness Marching Band @honktx
Originally uploaded by mrtoastey

Here it is, then! The photo set of the amazing adventures that March Madness Marching Band had at HONK!TX 2011!

MMMB takes Memphis

The Commercial Appeal on the way to Honk TX 2011

March 10, 2011 - Mick Jeffries (left) and Lauren Sherrow play along with fellow members of the Lexington, Kentucky based March Madness Marching Band at Court Square Park. (Brandon Dill/Special to The Commercial Appeal)
PHOTO BY BRANDON DILL
March 10, 2011 - Mick Jeffries (left) and Lauren Sherrow play along with fellow members of the Lexington, Kentucky based March Madness Marching Band at Court Square Park. (Brandon Dill/Special to The Commercial Appeal)

MMMB takes Memphis

March 10, 2011 - Mick Jeffries tries a new position for playing his bass drum along with fellow members of the Lexington, Kentucky based March Madness Marching Band at Court Square Park. MMMB is a volunteer, community group launched in 2008, that bills itself as 'a symphony of mismatched musical instruments; a kaleidoscope of band-inspired costumes; a choreographed gaggle of hoop dancers; an array of unconventional, unpredictable dancers and spinners.' (Brandon Dill/Special to The Commercial Appeal)

PHOTO BY BRANDON DILL

March 10, 2011 - Mick Jeffries tries a new position for playing his bass drum along with fellow members of the Lexington, Kentucky based March Madness Marching Band at Court Square Park. MMMB is a volunteer, community group launched in 2008, that bills itself as "a symphony of mismatched musical instruments; a kaleidoscope of band-inspired costumes; a choreographed gaggle of hoop dancers; an array of unconventional, unpredictable dancers and spinners."


The Commercial Appeal

Marching brass bands introduce HonkTX festival to Austin


Marching brass bands introduce HonkTX festival to Austin

story from the Austin American-Statesman with photos!

Honk!TX vid

Thanks to YouTube's "PillowRancher" for getting some phone video of March Madness Marching Band's Saturday parade and afternoon performance!

Saturday, March 12, 2011

pretty sure I'm at the greatest party on earth right now. @honktx

MMMB at HONK!TX

(Rodolfo Gonzalez AMERICAN-STATESMAN)

Members of the March Madness Marching Band from Lexington, Kentucky, perform at the East Side Drive-In Upper Tier during the Honk! TX Festival of Community Street Bands held on East Sixth Street in Austin, Texas on Friday March 11, 2011.

Wednesday, March 09, 2011

game on.


Time to go to Honk! Tx! It's a dream come true for the March Madness Marching Band! Stay tuned for some mad photo-blogging over the next four days as a busload of craziness journeys from Lex KY to Austin TX and back!!

Thursday, March 03, 2011

amazing artwork by Einar & Jamex de la Torre at the Tucson CineMexico Film Festival party

amazing artwork by Einar & Jamex de la Torre at the Tucson CineMexico Film Festival party

amazing artwork by Einar & Jamex de la Torre at the Tucson CineMexico Film Festival party

Chu Chao


Chu Cho
Originally uploaded by mrtoastey

Vatos back yard

a particularly fantastic Tucson front yard

plenty of oranges! it's like they grow on TREES!

in the neighborhood

Kon-Tiki exterior

Herbert Ave alley wall

the back door

morning cacti

just some house

I have a hard time going more than a few feet without taking more photos like this.

Tuesday, March 01, 2011

Kon-Tiki in Tucson

Decor: A. Vibe: C-. Well, as long as this vintage joint still stands, I guess there's time to get rid of the sports-bar TV's and revise the happy hour to include — y'know — actual Tiki drinks.

Sorry, cactus — it's Brie.

a to-die-for Brie & Spinach panini from the deft sandwich hand of Eren. omg.