Dale Chihuly, perhaps the worlds best known glass artists is to create a permanent collection in down town St. Petersburg, which is already currently the home of the most complete collection by Salvador Dali. The Arts Center, a non-profit educational organization, in tandem with Dale Chihuly and benefactors Aviram and Beth Morean, are to undergo a $200 million project, that include art facilities, condominiums and retail space. The construction spans two blocks both south and west, that are adjacent to The Arts Center on central avenue. The North block will be the new Arts Center, that will take over the old Landmark Union Trust Bank and will add a Glass House to the banks’ northwest corner with an auditorium for glass-blowing demonstrations, classrooms and artists’ studios. “The glass house is to attract both the cultural tourist, as well as seasoned artists who will produce new art and teach” says Evelyn Craft the acting director of the art center.
This project is expected to be as big of a tourist draw as the Salvador Dali museum is for St. Petersburg. The collection will contribute to St. Petersburgs rich artistic culture, Mayor Rick Baker. “In a bigger picture, it solidifies St. Petersburg’s position as the cultural center for the state.” In particular the already thriving artistic community in St. Petersburg is expected to benefit with the increased commerce focused on the arts and benefit by traffic through neighboring art galleries.
The 6,000-square foot Chihuly Gallery will be next to a new 62,000-square-foot Arts Center, The block south of the new site has been purchased by Aviarm and Morean for The Art Center’s “Art Village” condominium project. This block will include a glass-covered, eliptical tower of 30-35 stories that will rise “like gateways” Aviram says. The initial cost for this process has risen from 75-million to between $150-million and $200-million, and the impact that it will have on downtown growth is emmense. creating the construction to the west and south of downtown St. Petersburg, is beneficial for growth st Petersburg as those are areas away from the more thriving downtown sectors.
Mayor Rick Baker is quoted as saying “it is probably the biggest cultural announcement since the (Salvador) Dali (Museum) came here: said mayor Rick Baker. The Mayor goes on to comment on the economic impact this project will achieve. “It becomes the anchor for the western part of downtown,” “it widens the redevelopment core, linking the Grand Central redevelopment with downtown redevelopment.
Chihuly carefully picks the sale and display of his work, “Dale was never interested in a vanity museum” “he loves the idea of it being part of an educational program, that would help people, “especially children and young artists” Craft says. This project will be a comprehensive, permanent collection of Chihuly’s work that is the only one of its kind in the world. Dale Chihuly will make a rare appearance at the Arts Center, 719 Central Ave., St, Petersburg , from 3:30 to 4:30 Tuesday for a book-signing, the event is free and open to the public, for more info call (727)822-7872

Langerado 2008 review

this is an article I wrote for http://Reaxmusic.com

I arrived at Big Cypress on Friday, the second day of Langerado, the famous location of the high water mark performance of Phish's career. Big Cypress has musical lore in the dirt, smack in the middle of the Everglades, it is just miles from Miami, yet extremely rural and wild terrain, with alligators and poisonous snakes of all kinds. There was no sight of these creatures in the gigantic human footprint that was Langerado, yet forces of nature still made an appearance via stormy weather, that swept in and struck like a cobra, causing Sound Tribe Sector Nine’s set to be shortened by half an hour, crushing hopes of the famous STS9 sunrise set. Word has it, that Sound Tribe’s set was so good and the light show so stimulating and insane, that two people had a seizure during it. Despite this being inherently disturbing, I think that gives a band bragging rights. The set included “Inspire”, “Unquestionable” and the classic “Moon Sockets”.

My favorites of the weekend were two bands who are new to the festival circuit, rock legends the Beastie Boys and legends in their own right 311. Hard edged bands who won over all the hippies in the crowd with their musical virtuosity and creativity. The Beastie Boys played their respective instruments, guitar, drums and bass, proving that even though they are primarily rappers, they can also hang with the instrumental wizards at the festival. Playing some of their punk songs from License to Ill, as well as a long drawn out jam, the hip hop classic “Sure Shot”, should have pacified the fans eager to hear what made the Beastie Boys famous, the microphone.

311 was the glue that held me and my friends together in high school. We were the musical and creative types, just left of mainstream. 311’s musical talent and bond of friendship, was something that we could all relate too. Though my musical tastes have evolved since high school, I will always have a huge amount of respect for this band. This was the first time I got to see them and I called home to New York and played the show for my buddies. They played a lot of songs off their first two albums Grass Roots and Music, including “Homebrew”. They followed with the radio hit “All Mixed Up” off the self titled album and “Beautiful Disaster” off of Transistor. Right as they were starting to warm up the patchouli scented audience, they slipped into the crowd pleaser for the night “Who’s Got the Herb” and instantly won over the counter culture audience that made up much of Langerado.

The Disco Biscuits are truly an acquired taste, a fan can not tell you exactly what it is they love about them, but they have some sort of infectious, hypnotic appeal. Their rendition of "Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band," featured their infamous broken vocals and everyone seemed to enjoy it. Matisyahu joined the band for a couple songs as he has done in the past, a hot version of Helicopters showed people why they have the cult appeal that has given them so much success.

Phix reunited for one night at Langerado and played a great set with glow sticks a flying, including classics “Harry Hood” and “David Bowey” as well as rarity “Destiny Unbound”. The Roots played one of the best sets of the weekend and were a tough act to follow. Government Mule covered the classic “It's A Mans World,” proving why they are the rock patriarchs of the scene. School of Rock All-Stars, child prodigies, amazed audiences and Umphrey’s McGee delivered an epic late night set despite foreboding winds. With every forecast pointing toward a storm that very second, the sky waited an extra two hours to explode, after which it was raining sideways.

Though the urban feel and small festival charm of Markham Park is lost, the freedom with being at Big Cypress Indian Reservation is something to truly celebrate, the authorities and fans got along incredibly well, there were smiling police officers talking to fans everywhere. Except for the few instances when patrons got out of line (or went insane) everything went smoothly at Langerado 2008. Though the new setting makes this festival much like so many others held in a big field, in the middle of nowhere, it will always be unique because of it is Miami's rock festival.

fake news at its best; cornwall

this guy wrote a very funny fake news story that fooled the idiots of fox news.

Langerado 2008 pictures

Langerado 08 poctires




some pics of langerado 08

Pranayama Breathing

Pranayama Breathing:
LONG, DEEP BREATHING:
BENEFITS
The simplest of all breathing techniques and most natural,
the long and deep breathing relieves stress and tension.
It reduces toxic buildup in the mucuous linings of the alveoli of the lungs,
cleanses the blood and as a result of increased oxygen flow to your brain and body,
your health improves in many ways.
TECHNIQUE
Sit in your most comfortable seated position.Relax your shoulders and chest.
Inhale, relaxing the abdomen, pushing your belly forward, expanding it.
Then, as you exhale, allow the abdomen to shrink back in, tightening your belly
muscles and pushing the air out.
Do this without straining yourself.
Open up and free up the breath.
You may place one hand on your belly to feel the abdomen expanding and contracting as
you inhale and exhale.
Practice in even lengths.
Breathe out for the same length of time as you breathe in.
WHEN TO DO THIS
Before meditation
Before going to bed
Before a meeting, presentation or a big decision
Before studying, before an exam, or an interview
And whenever you can think of --- in the car, at work, or while waiting in line
ALTERNATE NOSTRIL BREATHING:
BENEFITS
Encourages mind to higher levels of discrimination, concentration and thoughts.
Gives more energy and oxygen to the physical body and helps calm your nerves and improve
circulation.
SPECIAL NOTES
For a more advanced technique, consult a yoga teacher or a spiritual teacher.
Your teacher may be able to teach the pranayama technique that will be most beneficial
to your mental and physical health and prepare you to complement the pranayama with
mantra and meditation. No one should risk harm by practicing these techniques without
consulting a trained yoga teacher or a physician.
file:///C|/Documents%20and%20Settings/Administrator/Desktop/pranayama.txt (1 of 2) [3/13/2002 1:41:43 PM]
file:///C|/Documents%20and%20Settings/Administrator/Desktop/pranayama.txt
TECHNIQUE
Sit in a relaxed position, spine straight.
Close your eyes.
Press and close the right nostril with the thumb of the right hand
Draw in a deep breath through the left nostril.
After taking a full breath, close the left nostril with the middle,
ring and little finger of your right hand,
taking the thumb away from the right nostril and slowly let the air out,
expeling the breath fully.
Inhale through your right nostril
After a full inhalation, close your right nostril with the thumb and release the
fingers from your left nostril
and breathe out through your left nostril.
This completes one round.
Begin with three rounds each time and gradually increase rounds as you progress
through the weeks.
WHEN AND WHERE TO DO THIS
Do this in a well-ventilated, clean, smoke-free, dust-free, odor-free room.
Do not perform this technique after yoga posture asanas.

Music and Arts Blog moves to Brooklyn NYC

That's right folks Music and Arts Blog returns to the source this summer, note the hip factor of our reviews going through the roof and we still won't cow tow to the hipster monopoly!

free mp3 of the day STS9 "Beter Day" off of Artifact

Bonus Songs
http://www.alexcreativeconsulting.com/Artifact/Tokyo.mp3
http://www.alexcreativeconsulting.com/Artifact/Artifact.mp3
http://www.alexcreativeconsulting.com/Artifact/bythemorningsun.mp3

Shimon Presents a Model for Successfull Grass Roots Marketing:

Hey kids want to get into shows for free this summer, gaining valuable insight into the music industry while viewing it from a unique, inside perspective? Volunteer or Street team with Shimon Presents. Not afraid of getting a little dirty? get in with Clean Vibes


In this internet age, the term "grass roots organizing" has taken on a much more of a powerful and cutting edge meaning. Through the internet as well as the effort of large numbers of like minded people, a tremendouse ammount can be accomplished. We have this in grass roots campaign organizing and Shimon Presents uses this toward creating a successful marketing strategy in the fast paced business of music. Shimon Presents uses the allure of the music industry as well as some free perks and incentives to motivate there massive database of dedicated fans. These fans put up posters, hand out flyers and inevitably complete successful marketing campaigns which has grown Shimon Presents client roster throughout the years. All through valuable "feet on the street" marketing with little cost to the company. The "street team" as they are reffed are fans of music who work dilligently to promote thse bands and document their efforts through photographing their work as they go along, Thus earning rewards ranging from CDS to passes to expensive weeklong festivals. In turn, Shimon Presents shows these pictures to clients as proof of their effectiveness. I have watched over the years as so many band sand event that Shimon Presents has been affiliated with has turned to gold and realize it is through their propper use of grass roots organizing as well as creative use of tools such as the internet, that they were able to accomplish so much. Shimon Prestents has an extensive database where it tracks its volunteers, logs their work and also sends email update. Virtually all communication is done via email and through their online forms which allows them to manage large numbers of grass roots organizers and lightens the work load on the Shimon Presents office, by having the volunteers do much of the data entry themselves. In a world when innovative solutions are needed to adapt to the changing times Shimon Presents is a model of a successful marketing practice, that implements, grass roots organizing and internet web 2.0 technology.


Line ups for Shimon Presents events include just about every major band popular right now, REM, The Beastie Boys, 311, The Roots, Snoop Dogg, MSTRKRFT, WideSpread Panic, Dave Mathews Band, Tori Amos ect. in addition to living legends such as James Brown, The Wailers and Taj Mahal, clients include.

Bands

PERPETUAL GROOVE DUBCONSCIOUS NEW RIDERS OF THE PURPLE SAGE BISHOP DON

ORGANIZATIONS: ROCK THE EARTH

EVENTS: JAM CRUISE LANGERADO THE ECHO PROJECT CAMP BISCO GATHERING OF THE VIBES ALL GOOD MUSIC FESTIVAL JAM IN THE DAM BEAR CREEK FESTIVAL AMJAM

www.shimonpresents.com/