It's a very good thing Mary D had the notion to update the site throughout the day because apparently we are bad bad bad at following up after the event!
The last stop, art-crawl-wise, was the AZ Gallery just down the sidewalk from the Black Dog. It was one of the last days of their multi-artist A Midwinter Night's Dream show. There was a variety of media to be seen, ink and paint and woodblock and photography and jewelry, and some of it was quite appealing.
Then it was off to Babani's to dine, in conjunction with the Bus Hooligans' monthly dinner. A good crowd turned out, twelve of us in all, which caused a bit of confusion but everything got sorted out and the food was delicious. Oh my, yes.
I'm starting to sort through my photos, and I'll see about posting a representative set before too much more time goes by.
P.S. "Museal" is a word!
Wednesday, February 29, 2012
Friday, February 24, 2012
More art at MIA
The second stop on the mini art crawl was MIA. This museum is free to the public and a delight to visit. I feel recharged by beauty. Three new favorites were found in the Japanese galleries. A painting of three women floating down a river, and two adorable colored owl woodcuts. Wonderful. Our next stops are another gallery in St. Paul and then dinner at the Kurdish restaurant. I am hungry already, so I am soothing the inner fires with a glass of sparkling wine at Blackdog. Our next update may be much later tonight. -Mary D.
Or tomorrow, if we're honest with ourselves! Mary D don't forget to have me give you the photo with the info about Ikeda Shoen. The MIA was lovely as always and I don't have much more to add. We went there specifically to see the Jason Fulford exhibit which had a great sense of humor about it (if you were in a good mood) but if you know the MIA you know it's large enough that there's plenty else to browse and revisit or be surprised by the new things. The Tlingit house screen was a wonderful find this time, and the works by Chris Willcox based on photos of the Scott and Shackleford expeditions to Antarctica. Mary D actually saw some woodcuts she liked and then of course there's the cherry-blossom viewing piece by Shoen. Oh so much to see and talk about. But now it's time to dash to the next locale.
Oh and the Black Dog is as welcoming as always. Piano player just started but we're no longer as flexible on time. -- Mary R.
Or tomorrow, if we're honest with ourselves! Mary D don't forget to have me give you the photo with the info about Ikeda Shoen. The MIA was lovely as always and I don't have much more to add. We went there specifically to see the Jason Fulford exhibit which had a great sense of humor about it (if you were in a good mood) but if you know the MIA you know it's large enough that there's plenty else to browse and revisit or be surprised by the new things. The Tlingit house screen was a wonderful find this time, and the works by Chris Willcox based on photos of the Scott and Shackleford expeditions to Antarctica. Mary D actually saw some woodcuts she liked and then of course there's the cherry-blossom viewing piece by Shoen. Oh so much to see and talk about. But now it's time to dash to the next locale.
Oh and the Black Dog is as welcoming as always. Piano player just started but we're no longer as flexible on time. -- Mary R.
Art at the Soo
Riiiiiight, articulate.
I have to confess up front that I'm not an art person. This a small gallery which is in some ways a relief since there's no chance of being overwhelmed. And there was plenty for Mary D and me to discuss, because very little in the way of context was given. The ten pieces in the show fell into what felt like three disparate themes, and that gave us a lot to chew on -- the artist certainly seemed to make some very deliberate choices in her works. Would I have better been able to understand both the show's description and the language of the pieces if I were more involved with the art world? If Mary D and I hadn't overheard the curator (?) talking to someone else about the show, we would likely still be floating around in headspace trying to make connections.
That's not to say there weren't things to enjoy about it, since a significant part of the overall theme seemed to be the non-art spaces at art installations and I like such non-standard perspectives. I was even inspired to look at the ceiling of the SooVAC and enjoyed it very much, photo to come by and by.
Does anyone out there know if "museal" is an actual word? And, if so, what it means? Please let us know. This show made me feel a little dense, to be honest. - Mary R.
Lunchtime
 |
| Nummy! |
11: 30 a.m.: Perogi lunch! An almost-twenty-year tradition for us, and still delicious. We were disappointed to learn that the prune perogis have been discontinued, but we were really only ever there for the potato perogis. (I tried a few sauerkraut ones, and it was an interesting experiment but not a whole new world for me.) - Mary R.
After a wee shopping break we were ready for our traditional IMAD lunch. On past occasions we have had several 'marie's join us for lunch. S. Marie, C. Marie and S. Marie we wish you could have joined us but we sent virtual perogis out to you all.
Will there ever be a spell check that doesn't complain about the word 'perogi'? -Mary D.
IMAD breakfast
We got a booth in the sun room and enjoyed eggs with spinach and cheese and the delectable buckwheat pancakes. The coffee was superb. Mary D.
Thank goodness Mary D wanted to split an egg meal because it's hard to pass up the opportunity to get a buckwheat cake! Very good here, not commonly available at other establishments in my experience. Then we lingered a long while chatting and finally turned our attention to putting some shape to our day. We think we have a plan, and it'll be fun to see how much like that it will turn out. Other than my concerns about overpacking and whether I've chosen the right footwear, I think the day has gotten off to a great start! - Mary R
Happy IMAD!
I'm just popping in to tweak the calendar and to wish you all a wonderful International Mary Appreciation Day!
Mary D and I hope you have lovely things planned. One of these years we'll have a nice, quiet escape to a retreat for the day...but not this year. This year we're hitting the ground running yet again. Perhaps we'll even be able to check in and let you know how we're doing! We shall see soon enough.
Mary D and I hope you have lovely things planned. One of these years we'll have a nice, quiet escape to a retreat for the day...but not this year. This year we're hitting the ground running yet again. Perhaps we'll even be able to check in and let you know how we're doing! We shall see soon enough.
Thursday, February 23, 2012
the clock is ticking --
Less than 2 hours to IMAD! Thanks to my new[ish] macbook air, we'll try live-blogging the event. Unless it becomes a 'should' and starts interfering with the play. Stay tuned. M xo
Wednesday, February 22, 2012
Notable Marys in Song: "Mary, Mary"
Michael Nesmith wrote "Mary, Mary" early in his musical career, before joining the Monkees. The song was first recorded by the Paul Butterfield Blues Band in 1966.
Screen Gems purchased the rights to Nesmith's songs so they could be used in the television show, and the Monkees' version of the song was recorded in 1966 and released in 1967. It appeared in five episodes of the series.
There are hints that other bands recorded the song, and certainly cover versions were probably performed live by any number of musicians, but the next notable appearance of the song in collective pop culture was the version done by Run-D.M.C in 1988.
I'm not the only person who has sensed a slightly stalker-y tone to the lyrics (mainly in the Monkees' version -- is it something about Micky Dolenz's delivery?), but anecdotally Nesmith is reported to have said it's just about teenage love, nothing to do with a stalker.
"Mary, Mary" by Paul Butterfield Blues Band (1966)
"Mary, Mary" by The Monkees (1967)
[EDIT: Click on this link to see/hear the clip: http://youtu.be/p6jVxks8M4A
I'm keeping the embed because I think it helps the page look good... well, it makes it look how I originally wanted it to look, at any rate. Sigh.]
"Mary, Mary" by Run-D.M.C. (1988)
Sources:
Mary, Mary (song) - Wikipedia
Michael Nesmith - Wikipedia
Mary Mary - songfacts.com
Screen Gems purchased the rights to Nesmith's songs so they could be used in the television show, and the Monkees' version of the song was recorded in 1966 and released in 1967. It appeared in five episodes of the series.
There are hints that other bands recorded the song, and certainly cover versions were probably performed live by any number of musicians, but the next notable appearance of the song in collective pop culture was the version done by Run-D.M.C in 1988.
I'm not the only person who has sensed a slightly stalker-y tone to the lyrics (mainly in the Monkees' version -- is it something about Micky Dolenz's delivery?), but anecdotally Nesmith is reported to have said it's just about teenage love, nothing to do with a stalker.
"Mary, Mary" by Paul Butterfield Blues Band (1966)
"Mary, Mary" by The Monkees (1967)
[EDIT: Click on this link to see/hear the clip: http://youtu.be/p6jVxks8M4A
I'm keeping the embed because I think it helps the page look good... well, it makes it look how I originally wanted it to look, at any rate. Sigh.]
"Mary, Mary" by Run-D.M.C. (1988)
Sources:
Mary, Mary (song) - Wikipedia
Michael Nesmith - Wikipedia
Mary Mary - songfacts.com
Saturday, February 18, 2012
IMAD ideas: Tasty eats
Wow, I'd totally forgotten that I'd put a countdown calendar on the site. Sorry about that, everyone. Fixed up for the impending event now.
But that's not what I'm here to talk about. If on the 24th you've got a day crammed full of responsibilities you just can't shift, remember, you still have to eat. Take yourself out to your favorite restaurant, or get take-out if you have to keep moving. If even that much time is going to be hard to find, plan ahead and pack a lunch that will remind you that Past Mary was thinking about Present Mary and wishes her all the best on her fine holiday.
Mary D and I always put some thought into what we're going to eat before the day arrives. Even when we were consulting the oracles for the date of the event, we were already considering our dining options. For this year's event, we'll be having dinner at Babani's, the first Kurdish restaurant in the United States.
Babani’s Kurdish Restaurant
544 St. Peter St.
St. Paul, MN. 55402
651-602-9964
http://www.babanis.com/
(And we'll probably be having lunch at our usual perogi haunt, but I'm not going to say where it is until after we've been there so you don't beat us out of the delicious potato goodness -- supplies that authentic are limited!)
But that's not what I'm here to talk about. If on the 24th you've got a day crammed full of responsibilities you just can't shift, remember, you still have to eat. Take yourself out to your favorite restaurant, or get take-out if you have to keep moving. If even that much time is going to be hard to find, plan ahead and pack a lunch that will remind you that Past Mary was thinking about Present Mary and wishes her all the best on her fine holiday.
Mary D and I always put some thought into what we're going to eat before the day arrives. Even when we were consulting the oracles for the date of the event, we were already considering our dining options. For this year's event, we'll be having dinner at Babani's, the first Kurdish restaurant in the United States.
Babani’s Kurdish Restaurant
544 St. Peter St.
St. Paul, MN. 55402
651-602-9964
http://www.babanis.com/
(And we'll probably be having lunch at our usual perogi haunt, but I'm not going to say where it is until after we've been there so you don't beat us out of the delicious potato goodness -- supplies that authentic are limited!)
Monday, February 13, 2012
IMAD 2012 decided
The Marys found it challenging to set the date for IMAD 2012. Though there was no question of voter fraud there were difficulties.
However by bringing the level-headness and tenacity that is every Mary's birthright to the decision --synergy magic was activated and the date has now been set.
Friday, February 24, 2012
Time to turn on your super planning powers and plan a wonderful IMAD for yourself and any other Mary, Marie, Maria, Mara, Maire you can get to join you.
I hope you have a very merry IMAD!
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