Thursday with LHPAI: Your engraved invitation to the "Birthday Bash"
Guess who's having a birthday party? This 111-year-old right here.
Langston Hughes was born February 1st, 1902: coincidentally, the start of Black History Month. To kick off the celebrations, the Langston Hughes Performing Arts Institute is throwing him a birthday bash -- and everyone's invited.
You might know Hughes (born James Mercer Langston Hughes) was a poet and playwright of the Harlem Renaissance in the 1920s.
But that's just the beginning: he was also a novelist, newspaper columnist, gay literary icon and civil rights activist. You earn that many titles, someone is going to want to name a cultural institution after you.
If you haven't already gotten your invitation to the Langston Birthday Bash, here it is! Details:
WHEN: February 1, 2013 at 8pm
WHERE: Langston Hughes Performing Arts Institute, 104 17th Ave. S., Seattle
TICKETS: Brown Paper Tickets for advance purchase discount
Enough of me -- listen to the man himself: Langston Hughes reads his celebrated poem "I, Too, Sing America."
FTC disclosure: I'm partnering with the LHPAI on a series I call "Thursdays with LHPAI," generally published on Thursdays. I am being paid an honorarium for my work. However, all opinions and views expressed in this series are my own.
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| Langston Hughes, pastel portrait by Winold Reiss. From Smithsonian National Portrait Gallery |
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| National Portrait Gallery |
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| Langston Hughes consults with actors on one of his plays. From Library of Congress |
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| Courtesy Joe Mabel |
WHEN: February 1, 2013 at 8pm
WHERE: Langston Hughes Performing Arts Institute, 104 17th Ave. S., Seattle
TICKETS: Brown Paper Tickets for advance purchase discount
Enough of me -- listen to the man himself: Langston Hughes reads his celebrated poem "I, Too, Sing America."
Solo show: the early birds who RSVP'd first
Remember how I promised if you RSVP'd yes to my upcoming solo art show reception, I'd send you a sneak peek at the full image of my newest artwork?
Look who won!
I am so looking forward to seeing all of them on May 1st -- and you too! Details:
Remember, the exhibit stays up for the entire month of May, so if you can't make the reception, please stop by for a look-see and message me here if you're interested in a print or an original artwork.
- Bernita McKinion of McKinion Design
- Nancy O
- Tally Oliveau
- Nikki Gamon
- Janine Shea
- Deborah Henry
- David Akers
- Shannon Olszewski
- Renae Lydum
- Kassidy Benoscek
I am so looking forward to seeing all of them on May 1st -- and you too! Details:
Wednesday, May 1, 2013, 7pm-8:30pm
Mountlake Terrace Library
RSVP: Event page for "Every Family's Secrets"
Remember, the exhibit stays up for the entire month of May, so if you can't make the reception, please stop by for a look-see and message me here if you're interested in a print or an original artwork.
Letting go of what no longer serves
TwoBoo's mission in life is to teach me lessons, even if it kills me. Yesterday's lesson: When you've outgrown something, take one last look and let it go.
It's past time to take that tricycle to Goodwill, right? "Noooo! I wanna ride my tricycle!" No idea where that impulse to hold on with a death grip comes from.
Which reminds me of this old-fashioned tugboat speed control at a local seafood restaurant. Every time I see it I want to take a picture, forgetting I already have like five photos. Kinda like how I keep forgetting to slow down and think before I snap at TwoBoo.
But for once, I paused... and let him ride the tricycle around for a few minutes instead of insisting he give it up so I could pack it up with the other unused items.
"Okay, Mama, I'm done with my tricycle. Take it to Goodwill now."
Are you working on letting anything go this year? Tell me in the comments or on Facebook.
Are you working on letting anything go this year? Tell me in the comments or on Facebook.