“Music expresses that which
cannot be said and
on which it is impossible
to be silent.”
~ Victor Hugo
“Music expresses that which
cannot be said and
on which it is impossible
to be silent.”
~ Victor Hugo
Just outside the Bow Tower on the plaza in East Village is a gigantic head of a young girl. Could it be Alice with her vibrant dreams and curious mind? This specially designed bent-wire sculpture is one of Calgary’s 56 art pieces located all over the downtown area. Open doorways at the base of the neck make it possible to “get inside her head” for a special vantage point. Check out the architectural curve of the enormous skyscraper. It’s amazing! The Calgary Downtown Association has brochures online showing the location of all 56 art pieces. The self-guided walking tour will keep you mesmerized. Art enthusiasts, locals, tourists, and curiosity seekers won’t want to miss this unmatched opportunity.
Do you believe in magic? The spirit of the season was alive with festivities in the quaint little town of Hanapepe, Kauai, where music and art thrive. Despite the late afternoon downpour that left scattered puddles along the weather beaten pot-holed street, the aromas of sweet and salty, grilled and spicy foods hung in the air. Without a doubt, sampling and tasting island favorites was going to be the buzz of the night. No worries, challenge accepted. Twinkling lights were strung from rooftop to rafter setting the tone for glee and laughter. While strolling along, with hardly a clue, above the town a shooting star left a streak of light that was nothing short of amazing. Suddenly, as if on cue, distant music began to captivate the crowds. Like a moth to flame, people emerged from the shadows to witness Kimberly Hope McDonough as she eloquently performed a medley of classical-crossover music on an electric violin. Effortlessly, she flowed from progressive Michael Jackson tunes to a classical Phantom of the Opera ensemble as well as a Charlie Daniels Americana favorite. Cheers and applause closed the performance. Without a doubt, the joy of Christmas is alive and well in “Kauai’s Biggest Little Town.”
“In spite of everything
I shall rise again:
I will take up my pencil,
which I have forsaken
in my great discouragement,
and I will go on with my drawing.”
~ Vincent Van Gogh
“I’m a believer that there’s artistry
in everything from a lawn gnome
to a desk chair to a symphony
to an Andy Warhol painting.
There’s art in absolutely everything.”
~ Darren Criss
“It was in the 1920s,
when nobody had time to reflect,
that I saw a still-life painting
with a flower
that was perfectly exquisite,
but so small you really
could not appreciate it.”
~ Georgia O’Keeffe
Dining Outside the Home: Sevens Restaurant and Steakhouse in Clear Lake, Iowa! In a town that became famous over a tragic event—a plane crash that claimed the lives of Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens, and JP “The Big Bopper” Richardson in 1959—everyone pulled themselves up by the bootstraps and dedicated a monument to these great musicians. Still known as the town where “The Day the Music Died”, Main Street has been revitalized and cultivated as a hub for tourism, art, and music transforming it into an appealing and popular vacation destination. Sevens Restaurant and Steakhouse is a full menu eatery that offers one more reason to stop by. A few steps from one of the biggest lakes in northern Iowa, Sevens makes summer-at-the-lake a memorable and delicious experience.
“If you truly love nature,
you will find beauty
everywhere.”
~ Vincent Van Gogh
“The artist is a receptacle
for emotions that come
from all over the place;
from the sky,
from a scrap of paper,
from a passing shape,
from a spider’s web.”
~ Pablo Picasso