Books and MORE!

Well, after a stellar day at Watkins this past Saturday for their spectacular Handmade & Bound Festival (saw one of my most favoritest teachers I've ever had that I haven't seen in nearly a decade out of the blue that totally made my good day even better), the book fun for all you book lovers around Nashville doesn't have an end in sight! This weekend will be filled with activities galore surrounding the 24th annual Southern Festival of Books at the War Memorial Plaza. From October 12-14th, you can visit downtown Nashville and bombard yourself with over 200 authors offering readings, discussions, and book signings. Basically, you can get your paper fix downtown and then drop by East Side Story on your way back home to let us know how much fun you had, who you saw in person, and what you bought. We like to hear your stories too.

Now back to the art scene of course. I'd like to set aside a paragraph to mention that my good friend and neighbor in The Idea Hatchery, John Cannon, is having his official Grand Opening during the always fun Second Saturday at Five Points. Amidst the already amazing shows going on at Bryant Gallery (Gary White), Art & Invention, and Winters on Wonderland, at the heart of all of the creative madness you will find John Cannon Fine Art at 1108 Woodland Street, Unit C- right behind me in B! Saturday, October 13th, from 6-9:30pm, you can stop in to enjoy some wine and hors d'oeuvres and register to win a painting. John will be donating a portion of day-of-event proceeds to Frankie's Friends, a nonprofit that involves emergency and specialty care for pets with cancers and other diseases. Not only can this guy paint out of this world and have a ton of amazing works already finished and for sale on the spot for you to take home with you, but this guy's got a heart bigger than the space he runs. You can check out more information at www.johncannonart.com and just drop by his party and space during open hours.

To backtrack one second and let you know about fun things going on before Saturday with music and art for FREE, look no further than LIVE ON THE GREEN on Thursday night and the fabulous pictures by Nashville-based photographer Caroline Allison found at Zeitgeist (1819 21st Avenue South in Hillsboro Village) on Friday. First, on Thursday, you need to dive into the October holiday season head over heels and find yourself enjoying the local, legendary musical act of Here Comes The Mummies headlining Live on the Green at around 8pm. It is just great fun for the family and kids of all ages. Then, on Friday over at Zeitgeist, you can enjoy the new photos by Caroline Allison. Her latest work, called "More Than You Know", speak to themes of miscommunication and rewritten histories. Allison, a graduate of Sewanee, is currently a faculty member at Watkins College of Art, Film, and Design … talk about full circle here with this blog post, right? Oh well, both events will be a good time.

And speaking of a great big deal of fun that goes behind making history and keeping it in the neighborhood, you should definitely come out in drones to the Shelby Park Centennial Celebration. Saturday, from 10am-5pm, this FREE event will observe the rich history, nature, and beauty of the park. Activities are being developed by a team of community volunteers donating their time and resources and dedicated to creating a day full of merriment and celebration in one of Nashville's oldest parks. There will be art and live performances to entertain a diverse audience … that means YOU!!

So that is your week and weekend in a nutshell. I hope that is enough to keep you busy and happy, but mainly happy.

Thanks for taking the time to read this and please share with other friends on and off Facebook. If anythings else, stop by East Side Story for movie night in our front yard this Friday night and hang out for a bit. We've got local books y'all!

much love,
chUck

www.nashvillesheart.com
www.eastsidestorytn.com

ps- also Friday, check this out just in below!!!!!! BIG NEWS!!!!!!

Join Mayor Karl Dean (aka The HOLY GHOST because he is EVERYWHERE!) for a groundbreaking celebration for the 5th Avenue of the Arts District. 11:00 a.m., Friday, October 12, 2012 on the Plaza of Fifth Third Bank at Church and 5th Avenue, North

Fifth Third Bank will host "Fifth Third Friday" with activities including the Nashville in Harmony chorus and Puckett’s Food Trolley. Prize giveaways and Hatch Show Print will be on hand crafting commemorative Artober posters!

After remarks, Mayor Dean will lead a gallery walk along 5th Avenue, including The Arts Company, Rymer Gallery, and Tinney Contemporary. The walk will feature free cupcakes from the Cupcake Collection, gallery tours and free passes to the Frist Center for the Visual Arts.

A NASHVILLE HISTORIC OCCASION NOT TO BE MISSED

All of the galleries on 5th and in the Arcade, plus the other businesses on 5th Avenue, North, are ecstatic about these changes--soon to be new street lights, new sidewalks, outdoor dining, and even a piece of sculpture being commissioned by the Metro Nashville Arts Commission as a public sculpture commorating the sit-ins that took place in this block in the 1960s. It's all a part of Nashville changes going on all around the city.

Come be a part of it. It's all a part of the city's Artober celebration of the arts.