gavity overpass barn

last night i took tashi to the gravity lounge where some old friends from buffalo, john and mary,had a gig. i first met john and mary when i was fresh out of college and wanting to be a journalist. i went looking for assignments at this little entertainment rag in buffalo and one day the editor said, interview this guy, john lombardo, he was a founding member of the 10,000 maniacs. and so i did and so it was.

i didn't really expect to speak to them last night, or for them to even recognize me, but when i walked in the guy collecting the money said to me, "this is mary ramsey." i looked up and there she was sitting right in front of me with her little dog. i said, "i know mary but i don't know if she remembers me." she jumped up and exclaimed, "zoe!" and we hugged and chatted and she brought out john and they met tashi and all was cheerful and i got to reconnect with folks i haven't seen for over a decade. welcome back to the east coast.

the gravity lounge is a cool bookstore, art gallery, cafe, bar, performance space. very kid friendly and laid back. john and mary played some old songs and some new songs and some covers. it was a nice visitation with days of old.

in the mean time dan was standing on an overpass looking down at the allman brothers who were playing at the charlottesville pavilion. the pavilion is this new somewhat controversial stage that has been built at the east end of the downtown mall. sometimes they have free music and sometimes they have music that costs over $40 a ticket. the allman brothers fall into the latter category. the ironic thing is that you can hear the music loud and clear from many points just outside the pavilion (and miles beyond, to the chagrin of many locals), and if you stand on a nearby overpass as dan did, you can see the stage better than people in the audience can.

before our little folk show tashi and i were madly seeking parking in a parking garage full of allman brothers fans. the place was thick was pot smoke and tashi said, "mmmmm, sage."

today i worked at the barn swallow. there was one sale, a cutting board for $310. a cat named izzie and a blind dog named rory came in and hung out with me. even though the things in the barn swallow are way too expensive for me and just about all of my friends, i don't mind being surrounded by the beauty of hand made things. i feel peaceful in there once i get over the price tags, and i love gazing out the french doors at the cottage garden beyond. being there inspires me to make things and grow things and that is the best part of all.