TheBoyFriend is the Best!

Here is just one more reason why TheBoyFriend is the best! His video of Charleston's latest ART WALK is AWESOME! Does the painting of the elephant at the end of the video look familiar???

*photo: https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhp2Z79Oe8lbt2ji6ltv81isrVrMV4U2p58BlRYnNbtUn33Sf31QASCnmXcNrGZsrp84pIiAJSsTeRMFJ7LlW5j2RkCWnBF2U3FdBLy3KlMGRinJTMcRlNRlkNvZBHLTznctFVYcYQIz6g/s1600-h/Artwalk.gif

A Good Time; A Good Cause

DaveJam 2009
Benefit Birthday Jam for David Lavigne
This Saturday, from 2p-10p
Lake Chaweva in Cross Lanes

Come join us and celebrate Dave’s 48th Birthday, enjoy GREAT guitar and band music, original songs and more to help support his ongoing treatment for Pancreatic Cancer.
Free Pizza, Hot Wings, Fried Chicken, Hot Dogs, Chips, Non-alcoholic drinks and a bunch of other stuff provided ...Optional: bring a snack food or side dish, BYOB, and a comfy chair or blanket if weather is nice.

****Playa’s!!! Bring an instrument and join in the Jam!!!****

Also...50/50 raffles and DOOR PRIZES!!!
$140 Certificate for Michaels Hair Studio, Keith Urban tickets and CD packages from 96.1 the Wolf, 8Hrs of studio recording from 101 Productions, Gourmet Ice-cream from The Wooden Spoon, Pastries from the Risin Dough Bakery, coupons for Free pizza and more!

Directions:

Cross Lanes Exit of I-64

Right at Main Stop Light
On to W. Washington St.
(Rite Aid will be on your Left)

Approx 1/3 mile to Lake Chaweva on the Right
(across from Union Public Service District)

Contact Lori Haught or Scott Lavigne
304-546-8591 304-415-6278

Rumor has it that some of your favorite musicians from Sam's Uptown Cafe's stage will be there jammin'!

WV Brochure Nomination Information

So the following email found it's way into my inbox this morning...

Oh who am I kidding?! I wrote the damn thing. I am one of three behind the marketing of Sam's Uptown Cafe. In any case, I believe that the WVDT and Collaborative for the 21st Century Appalachia are fantastic for putting this project together! It provides a great opportunity for locally owned, locally run, locally patronized businesses to prosper! Think about some of your favorite locally owned restaurants around the state, and start nominating them! However, remember who sent you there; one of the people behind the Sam's Site!!!!

WV BROCHURE NOMINATION INFORMATION

There has been a calling for a best local dining of WV list. The WV Division of Tourism and Collaborative for the 21st Century Appalachia has decided to team up to create a brochure listing WV's 101 unique places to dine. They are wanting to profile places that the locals know about and go to consistently and constantly. They are currently taking nominations until April 15th. After that date, a group of individuals will review the nomination lists and the information provided with each nomination. A brochure will be created containing the list of 101 restaurants. These brochures will be placed in Welcome Centers around the state, in in-and-out of town bus tour companies, Visitor Centers, etc. In short, tons of FREE promotion and exposure!

Now wouldn't it be absolutely great if Sam's was featured in that brochure?! You can help make this happen by nominating Sam's Uptown Cafe. All you have to do is go to this website: http://www.wvfarm2u.org/survey/restaurants.aspx If you have any questions that you need to have answered in order to fill out the form, please feel free to shoot an email and the information will be provided for you. You have the address, phone number, email, and website address already listed at the bottom of this email. Let's help get Sam's into this brochure!

Thanks everyone!

Sam's Uptown Cafe

28 Capitol Street

Charleston, WV 25301

304-346-6222

www.myspace.com/samsuptowncafe

You can now follow Sam's on twitter.com and urbanspoon.com!

Birthday Art

Here is my birthday painting that Ian Bode and Dave Thomas created especially for me.

I can't even begin to thank them enough. Their generosity, creativity, and friendship are greatly appreciated! Thanks guys! I can't wait to hang it!

It's Electric!

My friends threw a birthday cookout for me this past Saturday. My friend, Mat, was curious as to exactly how much it would hurt if he were to hold on to the electric, invisible fence, dog collar. He found out. Warning: There is EXPLICIT LANGUAGE used. Not for children!

World Builder

World Builder from Bruce Branit on Vimeo.

This is a short film written, directed, and produced by Bruce Branit. The film was shot in a day. However, the post production work took upwards to two years. In the digital, computerized day and age in which we live, I am struck at the special effects, but also the vision of what some believe will be reality rather than fantasy in the coming years. The story line leaves me wanting to discuss. However, I'm not entirely sure where to begin. I will spend some time formulating thoughts and comment later. Watch the film and tell me what you think.

Macaronis Showing Love or Shameless Self Promotion

That's right, Macaronis! The Chez is turning 29 years old for the 2nd or 3rd time on Saturday!

Stop by Sam's Uptown Cafe on Saturday night and say hello!

March 13th and 14th Gallery Showing

On March 13th and 14th Charleston's Art Community will be pleased to see the creative works of local artists, Dave Thomas and Ian Bode. Their work will be featured in Chet Lowther's Studio, located at 223 1/2 Hale Street Charleston West Virginia, 25301 from 6-9pm.

Ian Bode, a Charleston Native, has been fine tuning his own style of artistic expression his entire life. His cartoon and music inspired work has been displayed in several galleries and private collections within the Charleston area. Currently, he is also working on creating the illustrations for a children's book. Dan Tompkins, local foodie and art collector has been quoted as saying, "Bode's apparently simple cartoon sketches convey an amazing depth of emotion without beating viewers over the head with anything."

His latest work is inspired by some of the world's best song writers and their lyrics. He is currently taking requests or suggestions as to new music, song writers, and lyrics as to continue on with this new form of music inspired pieces. Be sure to check out his sketch pad full of ideas and lyrical pictures that will be on hand at the Studio.

Dave Thomas, a native of Oak Hill, WV and current Charleston resident, has been creating art for as long as he can remember. Elizabeth Kavitz, a West Virginia lawyer and collector of art, finds that Dave Thomas' peices are "cartoon-like visions that reflect the proportions we feel rather than the ones we see." He refers to himself as "the washboard guy that makes crazy art."

Dave Thomas also plays percussion instruments for several bands around town. You can see him rythmically beating on a percussion instrument of some sorts in Charleston's own Taste Like Chicken, Bon Scottscok, and sitting in as a guest with most any other band that takes the stage at Sam's Uptown Cafe. Along with Bode, Thomas has presented his work in many galleries around Charleston and is represented in personal collections around the United States.

On a personal note, I refer to both Dave and Ian as friend. I'm looking forward to the near future when I can invest in a piece of Ian's work. I have several pieces that Dave has created that are hanging in my apartment and in my classroom. I have asked Dave to create a new piece for me and he will be unveiling it on the 13th at the show. I have yet to see it, or even the design. I gave him a concept 6 months ago, and asked him to run with it. For the whole story of how this peice came to be, be sure to check it out here. It's a pretty great dream come true.

Make it a point to drop into Chet Lowther's Studio on March 13th or 14th to see the fantastic work created by two of Charleston's finest artisans. Support your local artists and artistic community!