Detour

Looking for Muley?

…….then head east, turn right at the ocean, and you’ll find him here.

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I’m So Glad…….I’m Glad

I’m soooo glad to be back in Wilmington, and just in time for the 62nd annual North Carolina Azalea Festival, which started yesterday with the official coronation of the Azalea Queen and her Court.

Also, I’m so glad that I’m an official resident of the State of North Carolina and the City of Wilmington, having secured a new driver’s license, plate’s for the MuleyMobile, insurance, and most important………………A Job!

Although yesterday and today’s forcast call for off and on showers, tomorrow and the rest of the weekend should be beautiful, with clear skies and temps in the mid 70’s, surely encouraging for the estimated 300,000 folks who are expected for the weekend festivities. I’m thinking my personal fav will be the street fair. with a ton of food vendors, non-stop musical acts, and a great fireworks display saturday evening.

(source)

While I’m soooo glad to be back in Wilmington, I’m also sad that I no longer get to see some very wonderful friends that I met through the years in my hometown of Lorain, Ohio. Loraine, Paula, Kelly……three woman who I really enjoyed reading about. Brian, the guy who isn’t afraid to say it like it is. And Scott…….what else can I say. He’s the one who got it all started for us bloggers in Lorain, Ohio. I will miss you guys all so much, and hope we can at least stay in contact through our writings on the internets.

Stay well, Lorain, Ohio

You will be missed……..well, almost

I’m So Glad

Cream

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Azalea Festival 2009………..Sheer Beauty

Another North Carolina Azalea Festival is fast approaching. Azaleas are starting to bloom, along with the Dogwoods and others of the Cape Fear region.  I, myself, have been absent from the Wilmington area for over 20 years, so I have not witnessed the beauty of the spring bloom in the Wilmington area for quite some time.

This year’s festival marks the 62nd annual North Carolina Festival in the city of Wilmington. For over a half a century, the festival has been a source of pride for many Wilmingtonians, starting with the coronation of the Official Azalea Queen and her Court, then throughout the week, the citizens can enjoy such entertainment as the Cole Bros circus, concerts, a street fair, garden tours, a parade, all to showcase what the south is all about. This years queen , just announced last week is Amrapali Ambegaokar. She was the silver winner in the solo competition on Superstars of Dance, the show produced and directed by mastermind Nigel Lithgow (American Idol and So You Think You Can Dance) during the finale on January 26, 2009. Other notables to have held throne over the Azalea Festival are:  actress and champion swimmer Esther Williams, actresses Polly Bergen, Shelly Fabares, Joan Van Ark, Sharon Gless, Phylicia Rashad, Kim Zimmer and talk show diva Kelly Ripa.

“I Wonder”

This years headlining concerts will feature the reigning American Idol Champion, David Cook and country superstar Kellie Pickler. Past entertainers have been a very diverse group also, such as: Frank Sinatra, Tony Bennett, Carrie Underwood, The Beach Boys, Alabama, The Judds, Jessica Simpson and Natalie Cole. Also a must-see while in town are the Garden Tours throughout the area. The Azalea Garden Tour begins Friday, April 3, 2009 with the colorful ribbon cutting ceremony at the home of Rick and Myrna Willetts. Located in the historic Forrest Hills area, the 1939 antebellum style home was built by the current owner’s grandfather. Many of the original plantings still grace this grand garden including azaleas, maples and camellias. Queen Azalea LXII and her court preside over the ceremony. The Summerall Guards, the Citadels elite senior drill team, escort over 100 beautiful Azalea Belles dressed in authentic antebellum gowns. Local and national celebrities are also present to celebrate the event, including Joe Gallison (Days of Our Lives) and Nicholas Braun (Without a Trace and Law & Order:SVU),. Following the ceremony, members of The Cape Fear Garden Club serve refreshments and hundreds of homemade cookies. Musical entertainment and media coverage complete this exciting event.

Tickets for all events may be purchased at the North Carolina Azalea Festival ticket office located at 5725 Oleander Dr in the Oleander Oaks Shopping center, or by clicking on this link.

A schedule of all events during the 62nd Annual Azalea Festival can be viewed at this link.

I hope to see and meet many of you at the festivities. Have some fun, winter is over.

 

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The “Box” Return

O.K., all of you that know me know one of my favorite bands in the world is Genesis. And the only way any of us would be able to see Genesis from the “Peter Gabriel” era would be to have a chance to see an outstanding band from Canada, called “The Musical Box”. Tickets went on sale yesterday for their show on January 11th, 2009 at The Ohio Theater in beautiful Playhouse Square. I believe this will be my 4th show in 3 years now ? I really didn’t expect to see these guys perform in the states ever again, as they had said in the past that their tour in 2007 would be their last.

The Musical Box have been touring the world for many years now and are known for their re-enactment of the early Genesis years (pre-1975) when they featured Peter Gabriel on vocals and Steve Hackett on guitar. Many, many hours of tapes, original backdrops, re-created instruments and costumes from those early shows are used by the Musical Box on their tours.

In past shows, The musical Box has re-created past tours from those early Genesis days, of which were:

“the Lamb Lies Down on Broadway” tour

The “Selling England By the Pound” tour

The “Foxtrot” tour

This time around, The Musical Box will perform “The Trick of the Tail” tour,

here are a few snippets from that show.

I got my front row seats today and hope to see some of you there.

Tickets can be purchased here,

Or at the Playhouse Square box office

on Euclid Ave

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It’s a “Big Deal pt 2″………A Reminder

Several weeks ago I posted this about one of Lorains favorite speakers, author Dr. Mary Hilaire Tavenner, aka “Sally”. and her book signing to be held this Sat, Oct. 18th (sweetest day guys, don’t forget that box of chocolates) to be held at Roxy’s Reeds, 132 Park Ave in downtown Amherst from 1 p.m. until 5 p.m.

Won’t you join Sally and friends for a little chat, grab a inexpensive book to read, or even some pizza later.

See you there.

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