The best time of the year...

A couple of days ago, Sherrie and I took a drive up Marshall Pass to check out the colors. I just love that we can be surrounded by such beauty only minutes from home.

The bigger the better!

The bigger the better! Hot Dogs that is!
On our way to Denver last week Sherrie and I stopped at the Coney Island Hot Dog Stand in Bailey, CO. Ever since seeing a PBS special a few years ago about great roadside hot dog stands, I feel it is my civic duty to stop and support them. A bit of Americana.
The dogs were delicious and how often do you get to eat food from a building shaped like the food you are eating?

Nomad

Last night Sherrie and I attended the CD release party for local Master Polyrhythmist Bones' latest release Nomad. What a party! Bones is known for putting on extravagant performances, but last night he outdid himself. The Steamplant ballroom was packed as Bones and a revolving cast of local musicians took the stage and got people hitting the dance floor.
I added some Chapman Stick to a couple of tracks on the CD, which snagged me the honor of getting a VIP pass. This meant, a free CD, free food and drink and the option of watching a video feed of the performance from backstage. Not bad, eh?

Green's Creek Revisited

Sherrie and I spent some time this morning hiking up along Green's Creek. It's always nice to get out and enjoy the outdoors. We hiked this trail last year shortly after I arrived from Cleveland, it was a nice feeling to revisit it and to realize how much this place now feels like home.

Catching up...

Wow! This summer is flying by. Here are a few of the things I've been up to...
This past weekend I had the pleasure of playing at The Salida Riverside Art Festival. Above I'm accompanying singer/songwriter Chris Nasca on Sunday afternoon. Earlier in the morning I played a solo set on my Chapman Stick. On Saturday afternoon I played bass with "Your Surrogate Cousin" (pic below). It was a great weekend, the festival was a great time.

The week before Sherrie and I headed up to Denver where I got to visit with my darling niece Lily visiting from Cleveland.

This coming weekend I'll be providing some dinner music for a benefit for Salida Backyard CSA. A great organization run by my surrogate cousin, Eric Belsey.

Weekend update....

Once again another great weekend here in Salida, Colorado. Friday evening Sherrie and I hosted a informal get together at our place. We have such great friends! It was a fun evening, then early Saturday (me, still very blurry from too much wine the night before) we setup at the Salida farmers market. It turned out to be a beautiful sunny morning. Sherrie sold some of her gorgeous art and I played my Chapman Stick and sold some CDs.

Speaking of the CD, "Residue" is now the featured CD at Stick Enterprises. World renowned Stickist Greg Howard posted a great review. Needless to say, I'm pretty excited!

Sunday morning Sherrie and I went to the County Fair. Mutton Busting (small children riding sheep) was quite entertaining! We also saw an impressive display of antique steam powered tractors, since both of us are closet steampunks we found it fascinating.
Back at home, our street was closed down for the day for the Salida Omnium bike race. All day long cyclists went whizzing by the house, watching them fly by was making me dizzy!

Another Great Weekend!

Sherrie whisked me away for the weekend to celebrate my birthday. We went to Boulder, CO and wandered around the Art Fair. Internationally acclaimed Stick player Bob Culbertson had a booth there, we ran into him moments after arriving on Saturday afternoon. I've attended several seminars with Bob over the years, and I'm always floored to hear him perform live, a wonderful musician. I gave him a copy of my new Stick CD "Residue", I'm eager to know what he thinks :)