4th of July in Far West Texas

Marfa itself does not have a city wide celebration for Independance Day, but Fort Davis and Alpine both have organized events. Fort Davis’ “Coolest Fourth of July” celebration was in high attendance this year, as most Marfans prefer this event.

At the coolest Fourth of July lasting 3 days, friends and families can watch a parade, eat great local street food, buy art and crafts, witness a bank robbery and learn how vintage weapons were fired at the active Fort in Fort Davis.

The Parade is definitely the highlight each year for everyone, especially little ones. Firetrucks, dirtbikes, ranches, businesses, and classic cars all participate throwing candy and 4th of July goodies into the crowd.

At the original Fort Davis Bank locals dress up in old western wear and act out a bank robbery, shooting blanks at each other and making audiences laugh.

Fireworks were on the 3rd of July near the baseball fields in Fort Davis, burn ban or no burn ban!

Here in Marfa a young couple, currently living in Alpine, got hitched and invited the entire town to the reception! Guests danced to Alpine’s own Doodlin’ Hogwallops, enjoyed cake, food, and drinks. Sparklers were a plenty and always lit to celebrate this joyous event. A fireworks display commemorated the extra event on the fourth. It truly was a West Texas holiday to remember!

Elisa Ferrari @ Hotel Paisano

Elisa Ferrari and her 4 piece band graced Marfa with their presence on July 3rd. Based in Austin, Marfa was the first stop on their southwestern tour. Her soulful lyrics, jazzy tunes, and classical instruments filled the courtyard of Jett’s grill in Hotel Paisano and left everyone wanting more.

This is their first tour all together, but they have been playing together for a couple of years. Elisa writes the songs and plays guitar. Ian Dicke on bass, Jen Smull on Cello and vocals, and Owen Weaver on drums and percussion. This is one educated group of musicians, all holding multiple degrees in Musicology or related fields with training in all areas of music. They all, for the most part, met because of the University of Texas in Austin.

Elisa Ferrari just released a new album entitled Isla de Ninos. The last track called Yellow Box is based on Last Word on Childhood by A.S. J. Tessimond and was written as a lullaby for her sister’s child. Shade in the Trees and the title track will bring goosebumps to your arms.

listen to her tunes on myspace @ www.myspace.com/stripmallsandplasticdolls

A Stay at La Posada Milagro Guesthouse Terlingua

Join Amanda as she takes a tour with Mimi of La Posada Milagro Guesthouse and Casitas in Terlingua.

La Posada Milagro is situated just above the Terlingua Ghostown with wonderful views of the mountainous region. The guest check-in and coffee shop is in the heart of the Ghostown, check out the video for a look inside!

Another wonderful feature of La Posada Milagro is La Casita located just across the highway on a remote acreage. Great for a big group, or a small romantic get away.

Sunday Brunch Musicians

For reservations and information got to La Posada Milagro’s website or call 432.371.3044

Harry’s Tinaja

Alpine is in many ways the city-hub of the devil’s triangle (Fort Davis, Marfa, Alpine). There are many enjoyable things about Alpine, and one of those is Harry’s Tinaja. A small, mostly outdoor bar, Harry’s boasts a pool table, live music, beer, and bar games. Located on 90 on the right as you pass downtown Alpine, it is easy to find. Harry’s and Railroad Blues have the bar scene covered in Alpine. Always friendly people, good beer, and great music to be had.

Alpine’s own Dry Creek Diggers played at Harry’s this past Sunday evening (Harry’s is the only place to get spirits on Sunday in the tri-county area).

The only thing lacking in the band is a percussion section, but the audience took care of that with a briefcase full of maracas, tiny symbols, bells and whistels (literally), tamborines, and more.

It’s also, never too early to be dancin’ in Alpine.

La Escondida in Presidio, Tejas

After a day at the Chinati hot springs, there is nothing better than a cold beer and a hot plate of enchiladas. Both of these things are not difficult to locate in Presideo (the nearest town on the way to Marfa). If you are so inclined, however, you should try La Escondida for the absolute best enchiladas this side of the border.

Order the green chicken enchiladas. The green chile is just the right temperature and the chicken is the most succulent enchilada chicken. All beer is $3. Its a little off the beaten path, but easy to find and close to the highway. Off of 170, turn right onto 67 and immedietley turn right again onto Utopia Road, and follow the signs. If the main dining room is closed then the bar is open. They are open everyday 11am-11pm.

If they are closed for whatever reason, El Patio is another great place to eat in Presidio. Also very yummy green chile enchiladas.

Ghosts I’ve Met and Ben Blankenship @ Padre’s Marfa

Sam Watts

It is always a pleasure to hear Sam Watt’s of Ghosts I’ve Met live, but even more so this time around. He was joined by Ben Blankenship, a long time friend from Seattle, WA who frequents Marfa. His folk tunes are much like poetry set to music.

Ross Cashiola started Friday night off at Padre’s with an electric guitar and a wonderful

voice. He was joined on the drums by Nate Singeltary and guitar by Greg. Ross, a Marfa res

ident via Chicago, recently released a new record with his band, The Hotel Brotherhood called North of the Bees. His Americana/Folk tunes can be found on CD Baby, iTunes, and his myspace.

Watt’s grew up in Seattle, but has been on the road since he was 18. Before making the more permenant move to Marfa in January of this year, he resided in Brooklyn, NY. He is in the process of writing, but his current tunes can be found at snocap through a link on his myspace.

For more information on these Marfa musicians:

http://www.myspace.com/ghostsivemet

http://www.myspace.com/hotelsong

Information on Padre’s can be found here:

http://www.padresmarfa.com

Kerrville Folk Festival 2009

The weekend of May 30-31 was the middle weekend of the 18 day Kerrville Folk Festival and many people came this particular weekend. The mainstage line-up for Saturday was KC Clifford, Johnsmith, Cheatham St. Warehouse, Kent Finley, Terri Hendrix (above), and Bruce Robinson.

Canoe trips, river swims, acupuncture, massages, weddings, and community are just some of the things you will experience while at the Kerrville Folk Festival. Also Kerr-terminology: Kerrvirgin – if it’s your first year, Kerrvert – if you plan your entire year around this festival and stay the full 18 days at least once.

Butch Morgan

Sunday’s line-up for the mainstage consited of Bob Cheevers who “loves his girlfriend’s underpants,” Butch Morgan, Zoe Lewis, Blame Sally, and Ray Wylie Hubbard.

Go for the music, but what Kerrfolk really go for is the music. Each camp has a name and theme and even better a song circle. This years highlight was at Crow’s nest, at the top of a very steep and gravely hill, its the home to the only fire pit on the ranch and for the younger crowd you will find Alexa Woodward, Ted Hadji, Johann Wagner, Trevor Riechman, Lauren Dickson, and legends who used to play with Dylan, Merle, and Johnny Bush seated around the fire strumming until dawn. If you want a change of song-circle-pace, walk a few feet until you find a banjo, washboard, and fiddle player in the street writing a new song.

Located on the Quiet Valley Ranch 9 miles south of Kerrville in Texas Hill Country the Kerrville Folk Festival will be going on through June 7th. Ticket prices and other information can be found here: kerrvillefolkfestival.com. Be sure to catch Fort Davis’ own Border Blasters on June 6th on the main stage. Also hear them on marfapublicradio.org on Thursdays from 11am-1pm for the Border Blast Revue.

Camp Nashbill Kerrattendee for over 30 years

Balmorhea & San Solomon Springs

San Solomon Springs

Balmorhea State Park is located off Hwy 17 about an hour from Marfa. A long history is tied to the natural springs in Balmorhea, TX including Native Americans watering their horses there, and Mexican farmers hand digging the first irrigation canals. It is a geography rare to the desert, a wetland in fact.

The Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) took on the project of making the spring and surrouding

area into a State Park between 1936 and 1941 as part of Roosevelt’s New Deal. The biggest attraction in the state park is San Solomon Springs, a large spring fed swimming pool ranging in depth from 3ft to 25ft.

If you go, be sure to stay the night at San Solomon Court in the park, and bring snorkle gear and underwater cameras for added fun. Blankets, picnic food, basketballs, and frisbees are also

a must. Go for the day or stay for the weekend and hike in the rest of the park or visit it’s other natural features. It’s not a mirage, it clear and pure spring water perfect for a hot summer day.

Turtles are one of the creatures found in the springs

Floaters mark the drop off into the deeper part of the spring fed pool

Info on the park can be found here: http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/spdest/findadest/parks/balmorhea/

Padre’s Grand Opening Weekend

Johnny Bush Plays Padre's

Padre’s opening weekend was certainly grand out here in Marfa, TX. Friday night kicked off with Johnny Bush, a Texas legend with tunes worthy of the best Texas two step a dance floor had ever seen. Beverely, an Alpine local covered the wood dance floor with cornmeal, which undoubtedly helped the boots slide better to the rythm of Johnny’s fiddle.

Saturday Marfa’s own Grupo Exito played to a lively crowd who didn’t need a two step to use the dance floor. The fire was blazing out back, pool tables were in use, and competitors were sliding weights on shuffle board tables while listening to the 45 juke box in the back rom.

Texas Two Steppin'

The conclusion of the weekend was anything but a closing. A blessing service took place with dancing and gospel music in the afternoon and Element took the stage later in the evening to put an explosive end to a grand weekend.

Geodomes in West Texas

Geodesic Dome in Terlingua Ranch

Geodesic domes have been around since WWI and were engineered by Walter Bauersfeld but named by Buckminster Fuller, who currently has a touring retrospective most recently at the Museum of Contemporary Art Chicago.  The concept of the geodesic dome consists of a lattice like structure based on a network of circles that lay on the surface of the sphere.

Recently there has been a surge of interest in these domes as they are easy to build, sustain, and can be energy effecient. In Far West Texas Trevor Reichman is building a recording studio dome with the help of Don the dome builder.

It is a process that involves adobe, stucco, concrete, and cobb. In order to cure the stucco it needs to be watered daily for a week.

Track Trevor and Don’s progress at earth language: http://www.earthlanguage.blogspot.com

And listen to his tunes here: http://www.treemusic.org