Results tagged “events” from Alabama's Front Porches: A Blog About Alabama's Black Belt
Academy Award-winning actress Patricia Neal to perform Capote's "A Christmas Memory" in Monroeville, Alabama
Academy Award-winning actress Patricia Neal and Broadway actor Joel Vig will present a dramatic reading of Truman Capote's enduring holiday classic "A Christmas Memory" Friday, Nov. 14, 7 p.m., at the Old Courthouse Museum in Monroeville, Ala. Tickets are $35. The event is sponsored by the Monroe County Heritage Museums' Endowment Fund.
Capote's tender tale of family, friendship and fruitcakes is set in Monroeville just a few blocks from the Courthouse Square on South Alabama Avenue where Capote spent his childhood with elderly cousins, the Faulks. The short story has become one of Capote's most popular works and is his most autobiographical. His cousin Sook Faulk, whom he describes as his best friend, was shy and awkward - a misfit much like Capote. They formed a bond that Capote cherished throughout his life.
Patricia Neal's performance is part of Monroeville's Fruitcake Festival, a celebration of Capote and the holiday dessert immortalized in his classic story. In the 1930s, when Capote's "A Christmas Memory" is set, fruitcakes were the queen on the holiday dessert table. Now, however, the often-maligned fruitcake is more likely the punch line of holiday jokes. Monroeville is working to revive the Southern tradition with fruitcake sales and auctions, recipe exchanges, Capote-related Christmas gifts and even a fruitcake toss on the courthouse lawn.
The Fruitcake Festival, Nov. 14-15, is held in conjunction with Mockingbird Market, a holiday shopping fair with more than 50 vendors displaying their wares around the historic Courthouse Square.
"Patricia Neal and Joel Vig have won acclaim for their performances of 'A Christmas Memory' in New York, New Orleans and around the nation, but we're especially glad to bring them to Monroeville where Truman's nostalgic story takes place," said event chairperson Cindy Kennedy. "Truman spent his childhood right around the square, and this sentimental connection and the amazing talent of Patricia Neal will make this a very special evening."
A star of stage and screen, Patricia Neal won an Academy Award for Best Actress in 1964 for her Patricia Neal & Joel Vig performance with Paul Newman in Hud. Her film career includes starring roles opposite Gary Cooper, Tyrone Power, John Wayne and Ronald Reagan. She received a Tony Award for Best Actress in Another Part of the Forest and starred in Broadway productions of The Children's Hour, A Roomful of Roses, Suddenly Last Summer and The Miracle Worker. Joel Vig was an original cast member of the Broadway hit musical Hairspray. In addition to his accomplishments as an actor, Vig has written and directed a number of productions, including this adaptation of "A Christmas Memory."
Those attending the performance will be able to spend some time in the museum's Capote exhibit which weaves photos, letters and memorabilia together to paint a fascinating portrait of Capote's early life in Monroeville. The exhibit has a number of items on display that relate directly to "A Christmas Memory."
"Truman maintained his devotion to Sook throughout his life, and we are honored to display Sook's housecoat and the baby blanket she made for him," museum director Jane Ellen Clark said. "Truman kept Sook's blanket with him his entire life and even traveled with it, including on his last trip to California where he died in 1984."
The Nov. 14 performance will be followed by a reception for Patricia Neal that will, of course, include fruitcake. For tickets or information, contact the museum at 251-575-7433 or mchm@frontiernet.net. The musuem's Web address is tokillamockingbird.com
Academy Award-winning actress Patricia Neal and Broadway actor Joel Vig will present a dramatic reading of Truman Capote's enduring holiday classic "A Christmas Memory" Friday, Nov. 14, 7 p.m., at the Old Courthouse Museum in Monroeville, Ala. Tickets are $35. The event is sponsored by the Monroe County Heritage Museums' Endowment Fund.
Capote's tender tale of family, friendship and fruitcakes is set in Monroeville just a few blocks from the Courthouse Square on South Alabama Avenue where Capote spent his childhood with elderly cousins, the Faulks. The short story has become one of Capote's most popular works and is his most autobiographical. His cousin Sook Faulk, whom he describes as his best friend, was shy and awkward - a misfit much like Capote. They formed a bond that Capote cherished throughout his life.
Patricia Neal's performance is part of Monroeville's Fruitcake Festival, a celebration of Capote and the holiday dessert immortalized in his classic story. In the 1930s, when Capote's "A Christmas Memory" is set, fruitcakes were the queen on the holiday dessert table. Now, however, the often-maligned fruitcake is more likely the punch line of holiday jokes. Monroeville is working to revive the Southern tradition with fruitcake sales and auctions, recipe exchanges, Capote-related Christmas gifts and even a fruitcake toss on the courthouse lawn.
The Fruitcake Festival, Nov. 14-15, is held in conjunction with Mockingbird Market, a holiday shopping fair with more than 50 vendors displaying their wares around the historic Courthouse Square.
"Patricia Neal and Joel Vig have won acclaim for their performances of 'A Christmas Memory' in New York, New Orleans and around the nation, but we're especially glad to bring them to Monroeville where Truman's nostalgic story takes place," said event chairperson Cindy Kennedy. "Truman spent his childhood right around the square, and this sentimental connection and the amazing talent of Patricia Neal will make this a very special evening."
A star of stage and screen, Patricia Neal won an Academy Award for Best Actress in 1964 for her Patricia Neal & Joel Vig performance with Paul Newman in Hud. Her film career includes starring roles opposite Gary Cooper, Tyrone Power, John Wayne and Ronald Reagan. She received a Tony Award for Best Actress in Another Part of the Forest and starred in Broadway productions of The Children's Hour, A Roomful of Roses, Suddenly Last Summer and The Miracle Worker. Joel Vig was an original cast member of the Broadway hit musical Hairspray. In addition to his accomplishments as an actor, Vig has written and directed a number of productions, including this adaptation of "A Christmas Memory."
Those attending the performance will be able to spend some time in the museum's Capote exhibit which weaves photos, letters and memorabilia together to paint a fascinating portrait of Capote's early life in Monroeville. The exhibit has a number of items on display that relate directly to "A Christmas Memory."
"Truman maintained his devotion to Sook throughout his life, and we are honored to display Sook's housecoat and the baby blanket she made for him," museum director Jane Ellen Clark said. "Truman kept Sook's blanket with him his entire life and even traveled with it, including on his last trip to California where he died in 1984."
The Nov. 14 performance will be followed by a reception for Patricia Neal that will, of course, include fruitcake. For tickets or information, contact the museum at 251-575-7433 or mchm@frontiernet.net. The musuem's Web address is tokillamockingbird.com
Fall is full of fun in Selma, Alabama. Be sure to get your Kozy Dog at the 52nd Annual Central Alabama Fair sponsored by The Selma Lions Club from October 6th – October 11th. Miss Central Alabama is scheduled for Tuesday, October 7th at 7:00 PM. You can pick up a detailed fair schedule from the front desk at the Centre for Commerce.
The Tale Tellin’ Festival gets everyone in the fall mood with the good ole fashioned entertainment of story telling. The Tale Tellin’ festival is a treat for everyone with guest storytellers and our own Kathryn Tucker Windham, held October 10 – 11th at the Pickard Auditorium beginning at 5:30 – and with tickets only $10 there is no reason to not heed their welcome of “Y’all come!” You may email taletellin@yahoo.com for more information.
The Dallas County Arts Alliance invites you to see our SPECTACULAR BUTTERFLIES. Local Artist and craftsman have designed and decorated BUTTERFLY sculptures. Friday, October 10th, 2008 dozens of 5 foot tall BUTTERFLIES will be unveiled in the downtown historic district as Selma takes flight to greater heights.
Riverfront Market Day is scheduled for October 11th from 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM. Located on Historic Water Avenue, this outside market is sure to have something for everyone. With access to live entertainment, food vendors and numerous wares the admission of only $2 is a bargain! Don’t miss the Butterfly tour!
You don’t have to believe in ghosts to hear the past speaking to you. Two centuries of area history will come back to haunt you during The Haunted History Tours. Scheduled for October 17-18 from 6:30 – 10:30, this event features Old Cahawba Archaeological Park and venues in Selma’s spectacular historic district. Tickets are $15. - ages 12 and up only, please. Don’t forget to bring your camera and a flashlight. Email Candace@SelmaAlabama.com for more information and to order tickets – advanced tickets are recommended.
Kenan’s Mill comes alive on for its 7th annual Fall Festival and Bluegrass Event on November 1st. From 9am-5pm. Kenan’s Mill Festival is a celebration of rural life and traditions in the Black Belt. Harkening back to the days when families drove their wagons full of corn to the mill to have it ground into meal, the large water-powered Admission is only $5 per carload, so bring several friends. Spend the day at Kenan’s Mill. You will feel like you have experienced a little bit of times gone by.
The Tale Tellin’ Festival gets everyone in the fall mood with the good ole fashioned entertainment of story telling. The Tale Tellin’ festival is a treat for everyone with guest storytellers and our own Kathryn Tucker Windham, held October 10 – 11th at the Pickard Auditorium beginning at 5:30 – and with tickets only $10 there is no reason to not heed their welcome of “Y’all come!” You may email taletellin@yahoo.com for more information.
The Dallas County Arts Alliance invites you to see our SPECTACULAR BUTTERFLIES. Local Artist and craftsman have designed and decorated BUTTERFLY sculptures. Friday, October 10th, 2008 dozens of 5 foot tall BUTTERFLIES will be unveiled in the downtown historic district as Selma takes flight to greater heights.
Riverfront Market Day is scheduled for October 11th from 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM. Located on Historic Water Avenue, this outside market is sure to have something for everyone. With access to live entertainment, food vendors and numerous wares the admission of only $2 is a bargain! Don’t miss the Butterfly tour!
You don’t have to believe in ghosts to hear the past speaking to you. Two centuries of area history will come back to haunt you during The Haunted History Tours. Scheduled for October 17-18 from 6:30 – 10:30, this event features Old Cahawba Archaeological Park and venues in Selma’s spectacular historic district. Tickets are $15. - ages 12 and up only, please. Don’t forget to bring your camera and a flashlight. Email Candace@SelmaAlabama.com for more information and to order tickets – advanced tickets are recommended.
Kenan’s Mill comes alive on for its 7th annual Fall Festival and Bluegrass Event on November 1st. From 9am-5pm. Kenan’s Mill Festival is a celebration of rural life and traditions in the Black Belt. Harkening back to the days when families drove their wagons full of corn to the mill to have it ground into meal, the large water-powered Admission is only $5 per carload, so bring several friends. Spend the day at Kenan’s Mill. You will feel like you have experienced a little bit of times gone by.
Continue reading Big Events in Selma, Alabama.
November 1, 2008--9am-5pm
Kenan’s Mill Festival is a celebration of rural life and traditions in the Black Belt. Harkening back to the days when families drove their wagons full of corn to the mill to have it ground into meal, the large water-powered stones of the grist mill will again grind corn into cornmeal.
This year’s festival will have several unique events. This year’s festival will host the First Annual Selma’s Best Chili Cookoff. Teams will provide free tasting for the public to enjoy. There will be at least10 artist on hand providing the public with a rare opportunity to see some of the best local art as well as arts and craft vendors.
Live music starts at 10 am, with 7 year old Caleb Bryant and his grandfather playing dueling fiddles. Around 12 noon Alabama’s premier jug-less band the Gravy-Soppers will take the stage. This band has been a real crowd-pleaser in previous events at Kenan’s Mill. The HemHawers will also take the stage in the afternoon with a lively set.
Other activities include corn-grinding demonstrations, tours of the mill, cottage, and demonstration gardens adjacent to the cottage. You can also walk across the swinging bridge to see the “beehive” kiln. Hint; test the neat acoustics in the kiln by standing in the very center and vocalizing.
A vintage 1951 Ford tractor will be providing wagon rides for the kids all afternoon and other children’s activities will be available also.
When you work up an appetite, head for the vittles wagon for southern favorites such as hamburgers, hotdogs, and beverages, or calm your sweet tooth with some home-made cookies or a fried apple pie.
The usual seating on hay bales will be available, but you may want to bring a chair to sit on while you enjoy the music.
Admission is only $5 per carload, so bring several friends. Spend the day at Kenan’s Mill. You will feel like you have experienced a little bit of times gone by.
For more information contact
Ken Smith
M-F 7am-4pm 875-2600 X234
After 4pm 875-3160
email: ksmith@henrybrick.com
Kenan’s Mill Festival is a celebration of rural life and traditions in the Black Belt. Harkening back to the days when families drove their wagons full of corn to the mill to have it ground into meal, the large water-powered stones of the grist mill will again grind corn into cornmeal.
This year’s festival will have several unique events. This year’s festival will host the First Annual Selma’s Best Chili Cookoff. Teams will provide free tasting for the public to enjoy. There will be at least10 artist on hand providing the public with a rare opportunity to see some of the best local art as well as arts and craft vendors.
Live music starts at 10 am, with 7 year old Caleb Bryant and his grandfather playing dueling fiddles. Around 12 noon Alabama’s premier jug-less band the Gravy-Soppers will take the stage. This band has been a real crowd-pleaser in previous events at Kenan’s Mill. The HemHawers will also take the stage in the afternoon with a lively set.
Other activities include corn-grinding demonstrations, tours of the mill, cottage, and demonstration gardens adjacent to the cottage. You can also walk across the swinging bridge to see the “beehive” kiln. Hint; test the neat acoustics in the kiln by standing in the very center and vocalizing.
A vintage 1951 Ford tractor will be providing wagon rides for the kids all afternoon and other children’s activities will be available also.
When you work up an appetite, head for the vittles wagon for southern favorites such as hamburgers, hotdogs, and beverages, or calm your sweet tooth with some home-made cookies or a fried apple pie.
The usual seating on hay bales will be available, but you may want to bring a chair to sit on while you enjoy the music.
Admission is only $5 per carload, so bring several friends. Spend the day at Kenan’s Mill. You will feel like you have experienced a little bit of times gone by.
For more information contact
Ken Smith
M-F 7am-4pm 875-2600 X234
After 4pm 875-3160
email: ksmith@henrybrick.com
There will be a flat water scenic river paddle in Monroe County on the Alabama River from Haines Island (Davis Ferry) to Isaacs Creek Campground at Claiborne. This paddle will be led by Don Self, a knowledgeable naturalist and birdwatcher who has studied William Bartram’s travels through the area. He is a retired geologist who lives near Gallion. He will be assisted by Randy Nalley a forester for Weyerhaeuser.
This Alabama Scenic River Trail (ASRT) Paddle is sponsored by the Board of the ASRT, ALA-TOM R C&D, Southwest Alabama Tourism, Monroe County Heritage Museum, and the Army Corp of Engineers. The purpose of the paddle is to get people interested in exploring the Selma-Gainestown portion of the ASRT. The cost of the paddle is $55 which includes: a tour guide, a portable breakfast and lunch on Saturday, Oct 4, a dinner and entertainment that night at the Isaacs Creek campground, a breakfast on Sunday, October 5 as well as an old fashioned Sunday Dinner to end the activities. It also includes transportation for paddlers back to Haines Island to get their vehicles to return to Isaac Creek to pick up their canoes as well as admission to the Alabama River Museum.
The paddlers must provide their own canoe or kayak, paddles, life jacket, tent and sleeping bag. They must reserve and pay for camping. They will be required to transport their own canoes from Isaac Creek Campground on Sunday. The paddlers will be transported to their vehicles at Haines Island, the starting point of the paddle.
The schedule of events will be:
October 4:
October 5:
This Alabama Scenic River Trail (ASRT) Paddle is sponsored by the Board of the ASRT, ALA-TOM R C&D, Southwest Alabama Tourism, Monroe County Heritage Museum, and the Army Corp of Engineers. The purpose of the paddle is to get people interested in exploring the Selma-Gainestown portion of the ASRT. The cost of the paddle is $55 which includes: a tour guide, a portable breakfast and lunch on Saturday, Oct 4, a dinner and entertainment that night at the Isaacs Creek campground, a breakfast on Sunday, October 5 as well as an old fashioned Sunday Dinner to end the activities. It also includes transportation for paddlers back to Haines Island to get their vehicles to return to Isaac Creek to pick up their canoes as well as admission to the Alabama River Museum.
The paddlers must provide their own canoe or kayak, paddles, life jacket, tent and sleeping bag. They must reserve and pay for camping. They will be required to transport their own canoes from Isaac Creek Campground on Sunday. The paddlers will be transported to their vehicles at Haines Island, the starting point of the paddle.
The schedule of events will be:
October 4:
7:00 AM - Haines Island (Monroe County side of the Alabama River), bird watching for interested paddlers
8:00 AM - We will Leave Haines Island for daylong paddle to end at Isaacs Creek Campground (Monroe
County). There will be side trips to view wildlife, plant life, and geology.
4:00 PM - (approximate) land at Isaacs Creek Campground.
6:00 PM - Barbeque and entertainment. Any paddlers wanting to bring musical instruments can have themtransported by the Trip Coordinator from Haines Island to Isaacs Creek Campground.
October 5:
8:00 AM - Breakfast at Isaacs Creek
8:30 AM - Side Trip paddle of the area
10:00 AM- Tour of the Alabama River Museum at Claiborne
11:30 AM - Sunday Dinner at Isaacs Creek
12:30 PM - Depart for Haines Island to retrieve vehicles
