Bands Performing in the Lincoln Park Stretch of the 14th Annual Downriver Cruise

This weekend is the 14th Annual Downriver Cruise. This vintage car cruise travels along Fort Street through Lincoln Park, Southgate and Wyandotte. Due to construction, Riverview is not participating this year.

Lincoln Park has stepped up to offer two days of entertainment to celebrate the event. Although Lincoln Park has had bands in Memorial Park and the Fort Street Brewery
has had bands perform on Warwick St., I believe that this year's entertainment is greater than ever. Thanks to the businesses and organizers who are providing this entertainment.

Visit the "Cruisin Downriver" website for more information:

http://www.cruisindownriver.com/

FRIDAY NIGHT PAINTER SUPPLY
Chain reaction 6:00pm - 9:30 pm

FRIDAY NIGHT FORT STREET BREWERY
Science Fair 6:00pm - 9:30 pm

SATURDAY CRUISE DAY

Painters Supply Hours
Benny and jetts 11:00am - 3:00pm
Science Fair 3:00pm - 6:00 pm
Matto 6:00pm - 9:30pm

Park Restaurant Hours
Lemon James 11:00am - 3:00pm
Big Mitch 3:00pm - 6:00pm
Rock Harley 6:00pm - 9:30pm
Fort Street Brewery Hours
Paul Nelson 11:00am - 3:00pm
Sound Proof 3:00pm - 6:00pm A.R.C/KISS TRIBUTE/Hard Drive 6:00pm - 9:30pm

As a Lincoln Parker, I'm especially proud to participate in this positive celebration in the north end. In the past, I've seen the Back Beats (Beatles tribute band) in Memorial Park, Lemon James at Fort Street Brewery, and other bands along the cruise route.

Share your experiences in regards to music at Cruisin' Downriver.

Peace,
Annette DeMaggio
www.songsofjoymi.com

Downriver Summer Concert Series

One of my favorite activities during the summer is enjoying music outdoors. It is such a refreshing change from inside concerts that are outrageously expensive or being in a bar. The crowd is much more diverse and the music is almost always worthwhile.

With all of the belt tightening in every city, I'm encouraged to see that these concert series are surviving.

For families it is very comfortable. Children are free to play and run, there is usually access to restrooms and the concerts are free! This is a great opportunity to have a picnic dinner with the family and enjoy our local parks.

Usually twice a year the News Herald publishes a listing of events. One early summer, the other late summer and fall. Here is a link to the Summer Buzz:

http://www.thenewsherald.com/articles/2013/05/29/entertainment/doc519e8fcf0a897632530340.txt

Many other cities outside of downriver also have concert series, so there should be something every night this summer to enjoy.

Please comment and share your favorite downriver summer events with other readers.

Peace,
Annette DeMaggio
www.songsofjoymi.com
734-693-6656

"The Artist's Way", Week 12 FINAL REFLECTION

In two previous posts, I shared my journey through the exercises in "The Artist's Way" by Julia Cameron.

The first post reflects on Chapters 1 - 4. The second post reflects on Chapters 5 - 8.

This post will reflect on Chapters 9 - 12 and the overall experience.

Some text from the book that really impacted me:

The part of us that creates best is not a driven, disciplined automaton, functioning from willpower, with a boost of pride to back it up. This is operating out of self-will. You know the image: rising at dawn with military precision, saluting the desk, the easel, the drawing board...

Over any extended period of time, being an artist requires enthusiasm more than discipline. Enthusiasm is not an emotional state. It is a spiritual commitment, a loving surrender to our creative process, a loving recognition of all the creativity around us.

Enthusiasm (from the Greek, "filled with God") is an ongoing energy supply tapped into the flow of life itself. Enthusiasm is grounded in play, not work.  Far from being a brain-numbed soldier, our artist is actually our child within, our inner playmate. As with all playmates, it is joy, not duty that makes for a lasting bond.

Throughout the book, Ms.Cameron asks many questions to help the reader unblock their creative power. These questions were very thought provoking:

What habit do you have that gets in the way of your creativity?
What do you think might be a problem?
What do you plan to do about the habit or problem?
What is your payoff in holding on to this block?

Which friends make you doubt yourself?
Which friends believe in you and your talent?
What is the payoff in keeping your destructive friends? If they answer is, "I like them", the next question is, "Why"?

Asking, "What is the payoff for being destructive to yourself" is different for me and forced me to look at some truth.

In another assignment, you take a piece of paper and cut seven small strips from it. One each strip write one of the following words: alcohol, drugs, sex, work, money, food, family/friends. Fold these strips of paper and place them in an envelope. Now draw one of the "deadlies" from the envelop and write five ways in which it has had a negative impact on your life.

All of this has been very eye opening, and in the future, I will be repeating the process again to unblock more resistance in being an artist.

If you have read this book, and worked the exercises, please comment. If you have read similar books that have helped you, please comment too.

Peace,
Annette DeMaggio
www.songsofjoymi.com
734-693-6656

Then The Curtain Opened: The Bracing Impact Of Stravinsky's 'Rite'

NPR offers another great audio file that discusses the unexpected reception during the first performance of Igor Stravinsky's "The Rite of Spring". According to the introduction:

One hundred years ago this week, a ballet premiered that changed the art world. Igor Stravinsky's Le Sacre du Printemps — The Rite of Spring — was first seen by the public on May 29, 1913, in Paris. As the orchestra played The Rite's swirling introduction, the audience at the Théâtre des Champs-Elysées began to murmur. Then the curtain opened.

Dancers dressed in folkloric costumes began to move unpredictably to the pounding chords. In the theater, the rumbles grew to pandemonium — hoots and jeers, arguments and even fistfights between traditionalists and modernists in the audience. It became difficult to hear the music.

Here is the link:

http://www.npr.org/blogs/deceptivecadence/2013/05/25/186497792/then-the-curtain-opened-the-bracing-impact-of-stravinskys-rite

This is truly an enjoyable story about this event and the way that the human brain hears music and sound. Very entertaining and informative.

Please share your thoughts and experiences on Igor Stravinsky, "The Rite of Spring" or experiencing an audience react to a piece of art that was unexpected.

Peace,

Annette DeMaggio

www.songsofjoymi.com