Saturday Morning Musing: Art

There must be art.

Middle class and middle aged - I find myself defined these days by worry. I would like that not to be true, but...

Find it here

Last night, my beautiful bride and I went to see Black Violin perform at the local university. It was a sold out crowd and these guys were phenomenal musicians. I saw my wife dance with joy. I found myself in awe, I found myself smiling, I found myself laughing. I even found myself swaying and clapping (which is pretty darned good for a stiff guy like me). Did I mention that I saw my wife dance with joy?

She and I don't seek out enough art. We keep ourselves caught up in the worry and bustle (and exhaustion) of everyday life. But last night was a very good night.

May you find yourself dancing with joy this week and may your worries melt away for a bit!

Lubbock Culture Minipost - Flatland Film Festival this Weekend!

flatlandfilm.org

Yep, it's that time again and this time I am giving you some advanced notice! The FFF happens on Thursday-Saturday of this week. Here's the schedule:

 

The FFF is my favorite annual event in Lubbock and I strongly urge you to go check it out for yourself. I have to admit that I was a little disappointed last year when I found out that the festival would not include the short film segment. But that's not a problem this year - the shorts are back at 9pm on Friday.

 

If you're a fan of local music, the festival has a treat for you as well. Flat land and Open Skies appears to be a comprehensive documentary that outlines the Lubbock music scene over several decades...and there will be a performance by the Lubbock Allstar Band after the closing reception. If you only attend one cultural event in Lubbock this year...well, you know the rest.

 

May you enjoy getting to know your neighbors!

 

PS. Please tell Scott Faris that the Mesquite Hugger sent you!

Combating Lubbock Boringitis: Urban Tech

Imagine living in a place where there is always something to do.

In case you haven't heard, our fair city has once again been voted the most boring town in America. And it is not hard to see why we have such a reputation. If one is not interested in going to a movie, attending a sports event, or heading down to the Depot District to drink a lot of alcohol, well, you are going to have to do some digging.

Don't do it!

But there have been many glimmers of hope in the last few years. Two that stand out happen in the downtown area: the LHUCA First Friday Art Trail and the Lubbock Downtown Farmer's Market. If you have been fortunate enough to visit either of those recurring events, you've had the chance to see local folks out enjoying the place we call home and the company of our neighbors. And it's pretty darned awesome.

Another group that is working in the same direction is Urban Tech. They are an offshoot of the Texas Tech College of Architecture. In their own words:

A place for students to think, draw, design, model and create.
A product of ideas and information in public exhibition in the form of drawings and models and transportable information via digital media.
A process of civic engagement and exploration.
Urban Tech will clarify the public benefits of architecture, promote the creation of new knowledge and serve as a laboratory for ethical professional behavior where community needs supersede private agendas. (I really like that last sentence!)

Urban Tech has been stepping away from the drawing board lately and taking their work and ideas into the street downtown. And if you have not made it out there, you still have time this week to head over to Avenue J to see what's up and to support the idea of resurrecting our downtown to create an area where people would love to live, work, and play. Besides the cultural events, you can check out the functional art, the pocket park, and the prospective graphics on the windows. You can even pick up one of the cool t-shirts for $10.

Bands on Friday Night

Coffee in the morning and live music during the lunch hour and after work

Last night's Broadway & Gourmet on Ave J

If you are one of those who keep complaining about how boring our town is, here is your chance to truly be the change you wish to see in the world. Get out and support a future that can be.

May you live in an interesting place that inspires you!

PS. Be sure to check out a few of the other projects on the Urban Tech website. BIKE!

Lubbock Local Arts and Food: Jacob McCoy Burton Performance Friday Night

(Photo from Visit Lubbock)

The re-scheduled performance is Friday night at Yellowhouse Coffee (3017 34th St, Lubbock - September 19).

While you're in the 'hood, why not plan to try some local food 34th Street for dinner:

Chinese/Thai: Uncle Chein's 3004 34th St

Mexican: Aranda's 4001 34th St or Picante's 33814 34th St

Innovative Cuisine: The Vine 2623 34th St or the Crafthouse Gastropub 3131 34th St

Texican: The Caprock Cafe 3405 34th St

Indian: India Palace 3021 34th St # A

May your soul and your stomach be satisfied!

Jacob McCoy Burton Update: No Performance Thursday Night

For those of you who are disappointed, here are three videos to tide you over.

Three JMB videos

I will let you know when the next one happens.

May your music be live and wonderful.

Lubbock this Weekend:Quick Reminders with Links

 Jacob McCoy Burton at J&B Coffee (26th and Boston) tonight 9/5/14

Snapshots of Hunger: Lubbock - First Friday Art Trail  Tonight

Lubbock Downtown Farmers Market - Saturday starting at 9am

Walk to End Alzheimer's Register Saturday at 8am - Now an indoor event! (South Plains Mall)

Walk for 4 Health at Lubbock Lake Landmark - Saturday 9am-1pm (Come-n-Go)

May you find something to keep you busy this weekend!

Lubbock Local Artist: Jacob McCoy Burton Back Home

In case you are not yet overwhelmed with plans for the weekend, Jacob will be playing music in the back room at J&B Coffee (26th & Boston) on Friday night.

Jacob is back home from his Kickstarter-funded recording session on the East Coast where he was able to record six songs for his upcoming EP.

If you are unable to make it on Friday, he will also be playing at Yellowhouse Coffee next Thursday (September 11).

In case you can't make it to either of those, here is the first MH post about Jacob with a few links to his music:
Shameless Promotion of a Really Local Artist (He Lives Across the Street)

May your weekend be filled with great local music and art!

Snapshots of Hunger: Lubbock - First Friday Art Trail and the Texas Hunger Initiative

If you are looking for something to do in Lubbock this weekend and want a different view of life in Lubbock, be sure to swing by the Christine DeVitt Icehouse Gallery (511 Ave J) during the First Friday Art Trail.  The exhibit there is titled "Snapshots of Hunger: Lubbock."

[Lubbock, Texas]-The Texas Hunger Initiative Lubbock field office has partnered with The South Plains Food Bank and the Louise Hopkins Underwood Center for the Arts to present an exhibit entitled “Snapshots of Hunger: Lubbock” which will be on display at September’s First Friday Art Trail. Six Lubbock residents, the exhibit’s artists, explore what food insecurity looks like in our community.

If you are like me, it is a little too easy to get caught up in the busy-ness of your own day-to-day life and to blind yourself to what is going on with your neighbors. Exhibits like this are very important for helping us to keep our eyes open to the struggles of those around us. If you would like to know more about the Lubbock branch of the Texas Hunger Initiative, be sure to visit texashunger.org. If you want to learn more about local efforts to battle hunger, please check out the Lubbock Edition of the Neighborhood Guide to Food & Assistance.

And, if you are fortunate enough to meet Grace Norman, the THI's Regional Director, please tell her thank you from the Mesquite Hugger.

May you and those around you never go hungry.

Downtown Farmers Market - and It's National Farmers Market Week!

(Not the actual goat - learn more about this one here: Cowboy Bebop)

I just received the email listing this week's vendors, and I found this literary jewel:

Honeys Farm Fresh - 
Eggs, rabbit, duck, chicken, soap, laundry soap... and a Pet Goat to promote!


 A pet goat to promote! (In a boat? On a moat? Does it like oat(s)?

Get your butt out there:

• eat healthy
• support local farmers, craftspeople, and artists
• talk to Janie about the Solar Chef oven (she gives out free cookies!)
• Do the taste test challenge for great 34th St coffee - the Yoga Bean/Yellowhouse challenge!)
• Say hi to the lovely and delightful Kelle B
• Check out Baron Batch's really cool welding masks
• Buy the silverware road runner and donate it to the Mesquite Hugger Foundation
• Promote a pet goat!
• Do not tell my wife about the pet goat thing!

A little advice - if you want the good produce, get out there before 10:15!

Lubbock Downtown Farmers Market

By the way, it's the 15th Annual National Farmers Market Week!

May your goat be gotten!

Lubbock Coffeehouse Art and Graphiti (I like this spelling better.)

A few little somethings to keep you thinking while I get around to a real post.

I rode my bike to J&B Coffee Sunday morning and took these three photos:

A little MLK for your reading pleasure

Samantha Wilson art for sale (very reasonably priced) at J&B Coffee

(I snuck in a Batman and a Lovecraft portrait for a few dedicated readers!)

Love me some motivational local wildlife graphiti!!!

May your Monday be a blessing!

Lubbock: Support Your Local Farmers Market AND Eat Local Foods Year Round

(Find this image and lots of cool canning info at awaytogarden.com)

In case you are headed to the Lubbock Downtown Farmers Market on Saturday morning AND you are looking for a productive and tasty indoor activity for the hot hot hot afternoon this week, here is a Treehugger article on canning that I found pretty inspiring:

9 Reasons to Try Canning this Summer

Personally, I was really impressed with six of the nine reasons, but I know that many of you wish I'd get to the point a little quicker, so, here are my top three - 1, 3, & 5.
1. Canning is almost zero-waste
3. Canning at home allows you to keep additives out of your food
5. Canning helps you to support local farmers and reduce food miles



Bonus for those of you still reading: my favorite is #6!

6. Canning can save you a lot of money

May you get off your can and can soon!

Lubbock Alternative Shoppers: Mark Your Bike/Junk/Food Calendars for Saturday (June 14)

Check out those bikes!

The one I am excited about - Bicycle Swap Meet! I am trying to raise funds for an electric bike project and hope to take a vintage Schwinn cruiser some other cool stuff to sell.

Funky Junk Roundup  I will admit it, this one scares me a bit. It may be the word "bling" on the artwork, but words like vintage," "reloved," and "junk" bring me back around a bit.

And of course, the Downtown Farmers Market is happening again!

May you relove something in a good way!

Please tell everyone the Mesquite Hugger sent you!

Lubbock this Weekend (June 6th and 7th, 2014)

The First Friday Art Trail is tonight.

LHUCA First Friday

The Downtown Farmer's Market really does kick off tomorrow morning.

Lubbock Downtown Farmers Market

May you find inspiration, health, and a good bargain or two!

PS - Say hi to Yellowhouse Lance and Kelle B from the Mesquite Hugger!

Lubbock Local Artist on Kickstarter: Hey Jacob!

One of my favorite local artists now has a Kickstarter campaign going on. I could go on about what a great guy he is and what a great singer he is and blah blah blah... Instead, I will let you check out the Kickstarter campaign for yourself.

Jacob's Kickstarter

May you and your neighbors thrive.

An Earlier Post About Jacob

Lubbock this Weekend - Rain Barrels and Art

A few quick reminders for the weekend:

The rain barrel workshop is Saturday:

Make and Take Rain Barrel Workshop - this is your chance to meet good people and complete a DIY project that can help make a dent in the greatest ecological issue of our area - water conservation.

The Lubbock Arts Festival is going on all weekend. I was extremely excited to learn that the Festival's featured artist this year is a Lubbockite who happens to be a great sculptor, musician, motorcycle mechanic, and all-around great human being - Greg Goodnight. If you run into Greg, please tell him hello for me!

May your weekend be filled with solutions and the wonder of human ingenuity!

Lubbock Local Events: First Friday Art Trail is Tonight!

Get out and support the local arts AND the local food trucks!

First Friday Art Trail

May your local arts support you!

Shameless Promotion of a Really Local Artist (He Lives Across the Street)

In case you missed Jacob Burton playing at the Yellowhouse on Saturday morning, here are a few easier-to-enjoy examples of his work in convenient electronic form.

"My Everything"

You can also find "My Love It Comes Easy" on itunes. Go ahead, spend the $0.99. It's more than worth it.

By the way, you missed a great show!

May supporting local arts always be this easy and enjoyable!

For our Lubbock friends who make it out of bed before 10:30 on Saturday

After you have braved the crowds at the Pancake Festival this Saturday (If you get out before 10:30.), be sure to swing by Yellowhouse Coffee to catch Jacob Burton playing bluesy acoustic guitar. Tell him the Mesquite Hugger sent you and request something really obscure.

Here's an article about Yellowhouse:

Great Coffee on 34th

If the pancakes didn't fill you up, be sure to have a Saturday-Only Sinnamon Roll.

May local business support you as well!

Support your local arts: Arroyo!

Feeling a bit hypocritical on posting this one because I have not seen it yet, but there is a movie showing at Premiere Cinema (you know, the new place in the mall) that was shot and (mostly) produced in this area and the actors are local celebrities. It is called Arroyo, the lead role is played by Kenny Maines, the movie was shot in Slaton and Post, and it will be in the theatre through Sunday. Enjoy!

See the trailer here:
http://www.thearroyomovie.com/

May your popcorn not get stuck in your teeth!

How far do you live from _______ ?

I live smack-dab in the middle of this map. If you start at my house and draw a circle with a 3-mile radius, you will circle two grocery stores, two hardware stores, four public schools, three entirely too tempting donut shops, three very good local coffee houses, two places that collect recycling, one good bicycle shop, two gyms, three pet stores, a locksmith, four great local Mexican food places, a Radio Shack, two local gourmet restaurants, three drugstores, a post office, a health food store, two martial arts establishments, four places to refill your purified water containers, a community outreach center...

And the list goes on and on.

Why do I mention all of this? Because I need to lose weight (#$%^&#  donut shops!), I need to save money, I want to support local businesses, and I want to do less damage to the planet I share with all of you.

And all of these places are within walking or bike-riding distances.

What's in your circle?