Great location for an ad but OOPS!!!

The November 4th edition of the News Record and Sentinel has our ad strategically place on the outside back cover (which is a wonderful location!). However, in the course of the placing of the ad, the ink bled over the date and time....... Stuff happens, eh? Fortunately, many already KNOW that the French Broad Friday events happen on the SECOND FRIDAY of the month. So the last event of 2009 will be held of Friday, November 13th beginning at 5pm.

Our theme for the last in the series is appropriately called, Last Call. More info to come!

Cheers!

October 9th French Broad Friday Lineup

Wrong Turn..Right Place

October 9th, 2009
5pm until ….
Downtown Marshall, NC

~Program of Events~

5 - 8 pm - Rummage sale at Lois Simbach's digs at 22 South Main Street. Live DJ and tunes.

5 - 7 pm – Soup and cornbread fundraiser in the Marshall Presbyterian Church parking lot.

6 pm - Showing at Good Stuff animated feature film "Cars".

6 - 9 pm - "Seeing through the Eye of a Hummingbird" photography by Connie Toops at the Madison County Arts Council. Connie is a nationally known nature photographer and has published several books. Presentation by the photographer at 7:30 pm.

6 - 9  pm - Recent Porcelain by Emily Reason. Show opening at Firewalker Gallery.

6 - 8  pm - International Photography by Tom Plautt. Show opening  at Zuma Coffee.

7 - 10 pm - Live Bluegrass and old-Time music at the Depot.

8 pm - Tacky Tourist Costume Contest at Good Stuff.

8:30 pm - Free Street Dance featuring the Swingsters in the SECU Parking Lot adjacent to the courthouse. 

~Food, Drinks & Stores~

Bacchus Bistro 18 North Main, open until 10PM.

Good Stuff… happens in Downtown Marshall 133 South Main, open until……New pool table! "Cars" showing at Good Stuff at 6 pm.

Lapland Bookshop and Arts 147 North Main, open until 8PM. 20% off special on travel & guidebooks. Marshall’s newest shop featuring used books. Be sure to stop by!

Penland’s Department Store 50 South Main, open till 9PM. Old time department store – Carhartts, clothing, books from local authors and much more!

Zuma Coffee 7 North Main, open till 9PM. Marshall’s meeting place! Creative healthy comfort food. International Photographs by Tom Plautt, show opening from 6 - 8 pm.

~Studios & Galleries~

Firewalker Gallery 14 South Main, open till 9PM. Showcasing local pottery, artisan furniture, woodworking and jewelry. Show opening Recent Porcelain by Emily Reason.

Hill Street Studios: Studios are located on the corner of Main and Hill Streets. Open 5 to 9PM. Enter the studios from the rear of the building.

- Cyndi Calhoun - Fine Art Artwork rooted in ancient native American culture & pattern with a modern stylized twist.
- Gale Eads Sprinkle - Historical photographs of Marshall.
- Mary Maupin Brumo - Paintings in acrylics and oils.
- Suzanna Biro - Jewelry

Pope-Mikkelsen Pottery Marshall High Studios, #107 open 5 to 9PM. Pottery to enhance your daily living. Wheel thrown and hand built by seasoned crafters.

NewZart 133 South Main, Unit 207 open 5 to 9PM. Showing a wide variety of cutting-edge contemporary 2 & 3 dimensional wall art. Over 50+ pieces available for viewing/sale at all times.

September 11th French Broad Friday Lineup

Drovers’ Last Stand
September 11th, 2009
5pm until ….
Downtown Marshall, NC

~Program of Events~

Local Musicians will be playing traditional local music throughout downtown Marshall. There will be a variety of games & prizes...........“Marshall style.”

5-8:30 p.m. — A Petting Zoo featuring sheep, horses, dairy cows, chickens and rabbits made possible by the Madison FFA Chapter. Located in the “pocket park” on the South end of Marshall.

5-9 p.m. — Indoor flea market and jam with Joe Penland; 148 South Main.

5-9 p.m. – Marshall Farmer’s Market (location TBD). Five of the Sunday Market vendors will showcase (and sell) their products.

5 p.m. till supplies run out – Madison Family Farms will feature blueberry cobbler and homemade ice-cream by the Courthouse.

5-9 p.m. – Marie Marcella Art Quilt Exhibit Opening (with wine reception) at Lapland Bookshop & Arts. Artist will be present to discuss her work. Exhibit continues to the first weekend in October.

6:30-7:30 p.m. — Blacksmith Demonstration by Lyle Petersen in the parking lot of Good Stuff.

7-8 p.m. — Visit the historic rail car offices of the News Record & Sentinel on Back Street and view archives of a century’s worth of storied Madison County newspapers and photographs.

6:45 p.m. — Storytelling by First Stage Youth Theatre’s Class Act Players at the Madison County Arts Council, 90 South Main (repeated at 7:30).

7:30 p.m. — Storytelling by First Stage Youth Theatre’s Class Act Players at the Madison County Arts Council.

~Food, Drinks & Stores~

Bacchus Bistro 18 North Main, open until 10PM. Special is Smoked Pulled BBQ Pork w/ your choice of 3 sides. (Sides include: Collards, Baked Beans, Cornbread, Coleslaw, Potato Salad, Fried Apples, Mac n' Cheese, Fried Okra, Hush Puppies and Mountain Berry Crisp.)

Good Stuff… happens in Downtown Marshall 133 South Main, open until……New pool table!

Lapland Bookshop and Arts 147 North Main, open until 9PM. Marshall’s newest shop featuring used books. A spinning demonstration and baby angora bunnies will be at Lapland Bookshop! Be sure to stop by!

Nature’s Coloring Book 156 South Main open until 9PM. Featuring “photos of Nature.”

Penland’s Department Store 50 South Main, open till 9PM. Old time department store – Carhartts, clothing, books from local authors and much more!

Zuma Coffee 7 North Main, open till 9PM. Marshall’s meeting place! Creative healthy comfort food.

~Studios & Galleries~

Firewalker Gallery 14 South Main, open till 9PM. Showcasing local pottery, artisan furniture, woodworking and jewelry.

Hill Street Studios: Studios are located on the corner of Main and Hill Streets. Open 5 to 9PM.

- Cyndi Calhoun Fine Art Artwork rooted in ancient native American culture & pattern with a modern stylized twist.
- Gale Eads Sprinkle Historical photographs of Marshall.
- Mary Maupin Brumo Paintings in acrylics and oils.
- Suzanna Biro-Jewelry 20% discount on all unique beaded neckpieces.

Pope-Mikkelsen Pottery Marshall High Studios, #107 open 5 to 9PM. Pottery to enhance your daily living. Wheel thrown and hand built by seasoned crafters.

NewZart 133 South Main, Unit 207 open 5 to 9PM. Showing a wide variety of cutting-edge contemporary 2 & 3 dimensional wall art. Over 50+ pieces available for viewing/sale at all times.

Drovers' Last Stand - Friday, September 11th - 5pm until ???

Dog Daze Tonight! - Friday August 14th - 5 until ???

Dog Daze Events - Friday August 14th!

~SCHEDULE OF EVENTS~

5:00 to 7:30PM: Paint your own dog (or cat) pottery dish. Marshall High Studios room 106. Fired Up! from Asheville will have several sizes to choose from (cost is based on size selected).

5:00 to 8:30PM: Open House at Friends of Madison County Animals (FOMCA), next to My Sister’s Attic, across from the Post Office. Adoptable pets from the Madison County Animal Shelter; drawing for a FREE neuter/spay, gift basket, other prizes; bring donations of cat & dog food (or $$$) for Pet Pantry & other FOMCA programs helping improve the lives of Madison County animals. Friends t-shirts and homemade dog treats will be for sale.

5:00 to 9:00PM: Pet-i-cures at Ain’t That Cuticle featuring OPI “Paw-lish”. Many fun and unusual colors that would be purrrrrfect for your dog!

5:30 to 7:00PM: Suzanne Kline, author of “Cosmo’s Great Adventures” will be at Lapland Bookshop & Arts to sign and sell her children’s book series. Cosmo, the star in her books, will join her.

6:00 to 9:00PM: Madison County Arts Council: Chukk Bruursema 'Amalgam' Exhibit and live music. Artists’ work features a wide variety of mediums - metal, wood, digital layering, and even clothing.

7:15PM: Dog contests on the Island. Best dressed dog, smallest dog, largest dog, dog/owner look alike, etc. Many prizes including gift certificates from All Pets Animal Hospital, SuperPetz, Pet Supermarket, Pets Supplies Plus and treats from 3 Dog Bakery. All entrants will receive a bandana (while supplies last).

7:45PM: Pooch Parade. Parade will start on the Island, go over the bridge to Main Street, down to Good Stuff (pool will be available), back up Main Street and over to the Island.

8:30PM: French Broad Institute [aka “The FBI”]: Showing “Best in Show” a comedy/classic film about dogs.

9:00 to 11:00PM: FREE CONCERT featuring a great dance band called “The Swingsters” from Asheville. In the auditorium at Marshall High Studios on the Island.

Dog Daze - Friday August 14th!

Bike-a-Licious event a success!

Many good comments were heard both during the French Broad Friday Bike-A-Licious event as well as after the event. Several kids of all ages participated in the bike and helmet decorating which finished with prizes awarded for every entrant, and then a ride down Main Street from Good Stuff to Lapland Bookshop and back to Good Stuff. Pictures will be posted in the next few days.

The openings at the Arts Council and Zuma were well attended, Bacchus was packed (LOVED the Italian Sausage sandwich!), and visitors were seen strolling into the studios, shops and galleries.

Bike-A-Licious FBF finished off with a FREE CONCERT in the parking lot of SECU (State Employee Credit Union). Folks were dancing and tapping their toes to the music of Pistol Creek of Maryville, TN (close to Knoxville) until 11pm. There was a tip jar up near the stage and the band generously donated that money back to support future FBF events!

The large map was back up on the side of the Zuma building, thanks to several folks from Marshall High Studios.

It seems like the program of events was helpful; our goal will be to have it ready by Monday of our next MAD FBF event. Speaking of which, that date is August 14th and the theme is Dog Daze. MARK YOUR CALENDARS NOW as there are some really great ideas floating around on things that will be happening that night! We'll again hold a FREE CONCERT (location TBD) with the band, "Billy Berg and the Swing Beans" from Asheville.

More details will be available soon on the next MAD FBF event.

Con

Bike-a-licious - July 10th!

Lots of fun things are lined up for our next French Broad Friday event! Bring your wheels - bicycles, tricycles, unicycles, rollerblades, roller skates, skateboards, wagons, strollers - - anything that is human-powered.

Here's what is planned so far in downtown Marshall for this evening:

• Opening at the Madison County Arts Council featuring musical instruments 5PM to 7PM.


• Opening at Zuma featuring artist Josie Mosser and music by DJ Raf's (down tempo dance) from 6PM to 8PM;


• Helmet and Bike Decorating at Good Stuff Grocery at 7PM;


• Goodies and giveaways - streamers and playing cards for the spokes and more;


• Carriage Rides provided free by Worley's Farrier & Carriage Service (tips are accepted);


• FREE CONCERT in the SECU Parking lot (near the corner of Main and Bailey Branch) - featuring Pistol Creek from Maryville, TN from 9PM to 11PM.

What the heck is Bike-a-licious??? The Bike-a-licious term came out of a committee meeting many months ago. The group wanted to tie in to the Rotary Club's 4th annual Hot Doggett 100 Bike Tour (which is the day after our French Broad Friday event). Lots of names were floated out and someone said "bike" and someone said "delicious" at the same time and it came out "bikealicious". The name stuck. Maybe it will hit the list of new words for Webster's!!

Hope to see LOTS of people and LOTS of wheels of all kinds.

Con

Mermaids in Marshall

The Mermaids in Marshall event was a very nice success! There is a fabulous video on U-Tube of the Mermaid Parade and the photos appeared in the centerfold of the News Record and Sentinel (June 17th edition, I think!). I'm new to blogging but plan to begin using this tool to keep current on what's happening in downtown Marshall. It's my hope to quickly learn how to post the links, photos and whatever bells and whistles I can figure out along the way. Feel free to send suggestions my way either via email (connie.marshallncstep@gmail.com) or by phone (649.3444).

Thanks for your patience as I catch up with the technology!!

Con

June 12th French Broad Friday Lineup

Join us in eclectic downtown Marshall, North Carolina for our 2009 premier of French Broad Fridays on June the 12th.

Mermaids return to Marshall this FBF! The Mermaid Parade begins at 7:30 at Lapland Bookshop & Arts, 147 North Main Street. All mermaids, pirates and other sea creatures are invited to join the parade and the crowning of the new Mermaid Queen (click on the photo to the left for more specifics).

Open stores, studios and galleries from 5-9 pm. Shop our local arts and crafts, check out some music and have a drink or dinner at one of our great restaurants.

5pm on - Horse drawn carriage rides through town, courtesy of Kevin Worley, Farrier & Carriage. Pick up and drop off locations for carriage rides will be at Feather Your Nest, 133 South Main Street and Marshall High Studios on Blannahasset Island across the bridge.

5pm - 8pm - Zuma Coffee will be serving one of it's great dinners and having music from 6 - 8pm. Join us for the festivities!

5pm - 8pm - Visit Madison Family Farms at Lapland Bookshop & Arts, for strawberry cobbler, strawberry cookies and general strawberry awesomeness!

5:30pm - 7 pm - Open studios at Marshall High Studios on the island across the bridge.

• Amy Moore Designs / Jewelry
  
• Ben Walters / Photography & Design
  
• Dan Helgemo / Studio of Drawing & Painting
  
• Francesco Lombardo / Painting
• Mark Hanf / Geometry Of Nature
• Mary Mikkelson & Henry Pope / Ceramics
• Selinde Lanier / Textiles

7pm - 8pm - Matthew Lukas will be talking about his recent experience in Cameroon at Good Stuff.

7:30pm - Mermaid Parade down Main Street. See photo above for more information. All welcomed to participate!

9:00pm - 12am - Chakra Bird performs live at the Firewalker Gallery.

9:30pm - Roxy Music Live at the Apollo. Concert Film and dance at the FBI, 68 North Main Street. Free admission, donations greatly appreciated! Beer, wine and food provided by Bacchus Bistro. Mermaids and pirates admitted double free!

Shopping venues open for French Broad Fridays include;

Firewalker Gallery - Beautiful items from local artists and furniture makers. Ceramicist Josh Copus presents new works at his show opening.

Good Stuff - A great variety of handcrafted items, tea and accessories. Food, beer and wine are available here.

Feather Your Nest - All sorts of eclectic cool items for around the home & yard.

Hill Street Studios -

Open studios on the 2nd floor (off Hill Street).

--Bill Reed, Paintings, Photography (gallery, studio)
--Mary Maupin Brumo, Paintings (gallery, studio)
--Suzanna Biro, Mixed Media Sculpture, Jewelry (gallery, studio)
--Patti Blacknight, Beads, Jewelry (gallery, studio)
--Meredith Adler, Drawings, Pastels (studio)
--Ronald Knight, Ceramics (studio)

Lapland Bookshop & Arts - Marshall's newest renovation offers gently used books and select handcrafts in a storybook cottage setting. Fiction, nonfiction, children's books, CD's, audio books and more. Trade credit available. Live music in the courtyard for June's French Broad Friday.

NewZart Gallery - A wide variety of cutting edge contemporary artworks and much more. Over 60 works at any given time.

Penlands Department Store - A don't miss, lots of Carhart clothing, books and regional interest items.

Great places to eat - all our restaurants are close to the Madison County Courthouse;

Bacchus Bistro - Italian Bistro and Pizzeria - Bacchus specializes in stone oven baked pizzas, pastas, salads, and

homemade breads and desserts. Bacchus offers a nice variety of wines and beers, with organic and local selections available. We use the freshest, local ingredients when available and always at affordable prices.

Zuma Coffee - Marshall's Meeting Place. Great dinners at reasonable prices.

Mermaid Parade - Friday June 12th 7:30 pm

Getting Ready To Mermaid

Mermaids, pirates and other denizens of the deep get your costumes ready! Marshall's first French Broad Friday of the season is close at hand. Friday June the 12th kicks off with a bang. June's theme is "Mermaids In Marshall" which celebrates the returning migration of the South Sea Island Mermaids to Marshall and their haven on the French Broad River.

It's been a long winter and the Mermaids will have returned on their exhausting trek from the South Sea Islands - up the Mississippi - past New Orleans, shout out to Memphis, Northeast up the Ohio, into the Tennessee and finally up the French Broad to our little spot here in the mountains.

Stay tuned for details. It looks like there will be a mermaid parade led by the fantastic "In Sunshine or Shadow" caravan created by Tasmanian Artist Patrick Hall and college students from all over Western NC during a two week period from May 10th - 23rd of this year, right here in Marshall, NC.

FBF Planning Meeting This Wednesday

This coming Wednesday (May 20th) we'll have a FBF planning meeting and start the distribution of the 2009 rack cards. Interested parties please join us from 3:30 - 5:00 pm in the Very Small Business Center, Studio 106 at Marshall High Studios!

2009 FBF Schedule & Sponsors