Sun! Flowers! Music! NOW

Greetings Gossip Lovers,

AND SUN.

Yes. It's Friday 6:30 p.m. and the clouds have finally broken. PERFECT timing waterlogged friends.

There's is a quintessential good weather event going on right now, till 8 p.m., and then again tomorrow, 9 a.m. till 3 p.m. A perfect hat an glove event I might add.

See those little flower flags along the city streets? Those indicate homes taking part in the South Church Pocket Garden Tour.

Each location offers the walk-about, live music or visual artist on sight - and cookies!! You'll be working those calories off walking about so enjoy!

Tonight you can find Ray DeMarco on the keyboards (see photo) at one location and at another you can catch Sarah Bauhan on flute and Emma Clarkson on violin together.

So stop reading and go, go, go!

Yours in gardens and gloves
Gossip Lady

Only a few More Hours!!

Greetings Gossip Lovers,

Well it's about 4:30p.m., last day of February, and Portsmouth is getting ready to swing into its nightlife guise; theaters, concerts, bands and the like. G Lady hit the town early and is back for a bit of nourishment before heading out to trip the light fantastic - in snappy sneakered and white glove fashion, of course.

Speaking of sneaks, you can bet G Lady beat feet to the Press Room (PR) when she heard it had a display of glittering sneaks. Take a look at these beauties!

These dazzlers along with other fantastic Mardi Gras items are currently on display. They're the work of the Room's GM and booking agent Bruce Pingree. Yes THAT Pingree, the inaugural Grand Marshall of Portsmouth's Halloween Parade.

Bruce says friends got on his case about sharing his cool shoes, killer umbrellas and fancy threads with the rest of us. Finally he acquiesced. Personally I think the well-placed umbrellas add a nice touch to the room and should remain year-round. When Christmas comes just add a few lights, a bit of garland and voila, "the Nightmare Before Christmas." But I digress.

If you didn't stop in for lunch you missed Larry Garland's Saturday, Jazz Brunch. But fear not. There's more to come.

Tonight you can take in Jose Zumbao Tres playing the music of Pat Metheny. Tomorrow its NYC Saxophonist Dave Pietro w/ John Lockwood(bass) & Bob Gullotti (drums).

May I make another suggestion?

I popped by Nahcotta gallery earlier today - wonderful, wonderful show. Think about starting there; see a few of these works in the flesh, or canvas so to speak. Then mosey to the Room for dinner and music. By the time you arrive Pingree will likely be back from his trip to the Portland Museum where he went this afternoon to see the "Back Stage Pass" exhibit. His friend seacoaster Joe Stevens has a photo in the show; so Pingree informed before darting out the door.

So, okay seacoasters dress up and "arty-on!"

Oh,oh, and by the by, did you hear the Room will have a Mandolin Festival next Friday night? I heard David Surette is the one that put it together. Rock on and thanks David! Can't wait.

Yours in the bounty.
(Could you be happier about the place you live in)?
Gossip Lady

Photos: Mr. Mardi Gras, Bruce Pingree; His dazzling shoes, then MG costume and umbrella.
Artwork from Nahcotta: L: Costa Brava by Debra Corbett,; R: "Kitty Daydreams" by Carla Sonheim.

Now That's a Friendly Toast

Greeting Gossip Lovers,

We all know it's not just the "big food," the fun tchatchkis and engaging and surprising outsider's art that get us to the Friendly Toast. That waitstaff sure can be entertaining.

Take note of the fellow on the right. By day Geoff Palmer, the guy with the drawers to match the decor. By night Geoff Useless, vocals and guitar for the Guts. That would be him on the lower left.

Geoff, his co Gut Nate Doyle, voice and bass, and Courtney Denison of The Lanterns, who did a European tour with the Guts, all work the local Portsmouth eatery. You can tell them from most the waitstaff; they usually smile table side. - Artists. - They need the tips.

Listen before I sign off, may I ask - even if you're busy - that you scroll down two segments (to the little black & white witch photo), and start reading at paragraph four. There's a link to a petition that urges the Senate to include arts and culture concerns in the American Recovery and Reinvestment Plan. They vote this week.

Please don't delay.

Sign the petition, tip fairly, and keep the kids off the street!

Yours in Art
Gossip Lady