MSO Pops and RiverArtsFest make for typical fall weekend

It's been a busy weekend for me in the man and the arts areas.

The little boy in me had the time of my life Friday night watching my Texas Rangers advance to the World Series for the first time in franchise history. It was one of the greatest sports moments in my life.

So to say I started my weekend off on a good note would be an understatement. But that was Friday and I had a couple of arts things to do during the remainder of the weekend.

Saturday night was my first time to see the Memphis Symphony Orchestra -- or any orchestra, really -- in person. We have Pops season tickets and Saturday was the first show. It was a 1970s theme evening and featured three female soloists and an a Capella men's group. So it wasn't just the symphony playing, although I found that my favorite moments of the night came when there was no singing.

We're pretty sure the little girl sitting next to us, who seemed to be enjoying herself, had no clue any of the songs. I've gotta be honest: the show was a lot of fun. Would I be saying the same thing if the performance was a traditional masterwork? I have no idea, but I think a Pops show makes a great intro. to symphony music.

Sunday saw us head downtown for the RiverArtsFest. We weren't able to stay long because the rain hit in a pretty big way about an hour after we arrived. But that's probably a good thing since my wife made a few purchases. I can't really complain about the pieces; they are paintings of musical instruments done by a Texas artist. The paintings will be hanging in my 4-year-old son's bedroom soon.

A note on the art-buying experience: Like my wife said, it's always great to buy art from an artist you've actually talked to. The Austin, Texas-based artist and his wife were they ones who sold us the pieces and I know my wife had a long conversation with them while I chased our son around in the rain.

What will the next week or two bring? I have a feeling it will be much more man than it will be art since the World Series starts Friday. But this was a great October weekend and just one more example of how fun Memphis can be in the fall.

Major decision: Football or Music and Heritage Festival

So it's 9 a.m. on the opening Saturday of the college football season and instead of sitting down to watch "College Gameday" I'm instead getting ready for the long drive Downtown from the suburbs. What was I thinking when I suggested this excursion?

See, I'm a college football fanatic. I have missed all of one University of Memphis home football game that I've been in town for in the past 15 years. One. And when I'm not attending Memphis games at the Liberty Bowl I'm usually sitting in front of my TV watching a game or on the road with friends at a random game.

But on this, the opening Saturday of the 2010 college football season? I'm preparing to drive my family to the Memphis Farmers Market for some food shopping, music listening, arts perusing and, well, a morning not watching "College Gameday" followed by whatever Big 10 game comes on ESPN.

And this afternoon? Well, I'm at least a little more excited about this but it's still a little baffling to think this was all my idea. We'll be attending the first couple hours of the annual Memphis Music and Heritage Festival.

OK, so the above scenario didn't really happen. When I woke up Saturday morning I had every intention of following through with that plan. But in the end I chose college football. I guess in this instance "man" won out over "arts." But hey, there was always Sunday.

And that's when we really did make the trek Downtown to the Music and Heritage Festival. We arrived at noon -- before the music really got under way (except Valerie June who was doing a kid's show). My 3-year-old son, to my surprise, wanted no part in it. See, he's more into the indie rock scene (seriously) and he must not have wanted to listen to fun music intended for his age bracket.

But it probably actually had more to do with the the line of African drums sitting unused at the Watoto Memphis booth. And it especially helped that the Watoto people were very encouraging when Colby sat down and put on display his already well-developed rhythm.

Instead of enjoying live music on the stages and perusing art, I stood there while my son performed a long drum solo. So honestly I can't tell you much about the festival. Having a 3-year-old in tow meant we couldn't stay too long anyway.

But I will be forever grateful to the Watoto people who instead of shooing away a little boy from their drums they were instead very encouraging of his playing.

Sure, it's important to put this city's many talented musicians on stage so we can listen and appreciate them. But it's even more important to encourage our youth along their artistic journeys. And the Memphis Music and Heritage Festival and Watoto Memphis went above and beyond on that mission. Job well done.

Memphis Arts Weekend: Sept. 2-6 edition

OK, so I'm a little torn for this weekend. Do I sit around all day Saturday and watch the opening weekend of college football or do I attend the Memphis Music & Heritage Festival? Do I enjoy a lazy Sunday afternoon and evening at home, knowing I don't have to get up the next day and go to work, or do I head over to the Levitt Shell for Pianos in the Park?

Better yet, there's today's kickoff of Thursday Night Live at the Metal Museum and Friday's Zoo Brew. But good luck getting into the Memphis Zoo to taste the beer at Zoo Brew. That event sold out a couple of days ago.

First is Thursday Night Live at the National Ornamental Metal Museum. I don't think I'll be making it out to tonight's family night that features a performance by The Soulsville Charter School Philharmonic Orchestra, but I definitely will be in attendance next Thursday when Memphis band Star and Micey take the outdoor stage. The concerts are every Thursday in September from 6:30 p.m. to 9 p.m. Admission is $5 for nonmembers of the museum and free for members.

An important note if you've never been to the Metal Museum. They have the best view of the Mississippi River. Seriously. You'll hear people say that and not think much of the statement. But seriously. Go see for yourself. The museum is perched on the bluff just below the old bridge and at a perfect bend in the river. The weather tonight will be perfect too. Will make for a magnificent sunset.

Looking ahead to the rest of the weekend:

Since I don't have tickets to Zoo Brew and won't be attending a football game this Labor Day weekend, the highlight for me will be the Memphis Music & Heritage Festival Downtown. I'm almost embarrassed to admit that I've never attended this two-day music and arts festival along Main Street between Peabody Place and Barboro Alley just outside the Center for Southern Folklore.

I won't pretend to be able to recommend any of the bands. I've heard of several of them, seen a few in person. Jack Oblivian & the TN Tearjerkers, Blind Mississippi Morris and Bluff City Backsliders are some Saturday highlights to me. Sunday I'm looking forward to John Paul Keith & the 145s, Hill Country Revue, Valerie June and Kate Campbell.

None of those acts up your alley? Well, there's gospel, jazz, blues, rap, dance, rockabilly; you name it and you can see it performed.

In addition to music there will be plenty of art, food, demonstrations and speakers. And the best part of it all? It's free.

Details: Saturday and Sunday 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. in and around the Center for Southern Folklore along South Main Street at Peabody Place.

Live in the Galleries: Van Duren

Memphis Brooks Museum of Art

Saturday from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m.

Live music in the galleries for Who Shot Rock and Roll

Free with museum admission

Arts in the Airport

It will be hard to get the opportunity to observe this arts event at Memphis International Airport, but on Friday at 12:30 p.m. chamber ensembles from the Memphis Symphony Orchestra will play music as Labor Day weekend travelers hurry by.

This reminds me of a discussion a few years back. I don't recall if it was in the Commercial Appeal, on TV or something I observed. But there was discussion about why classical music was played in the terminal instead of taking advantage of the opportunity to introduce travelers to the great sounds of Memphis music.

The argument basically was that the airport officials believed the classical music relaxed the stressed out and hurried passengers. Personally, when I'm arriving at an airport the music I hear matters little, or at least I think it doesn't matter.

The point is this is just one more great arts happening in Memphis. I love this idea MSO has of playing peaceful music in the terminal. It accomplishes the best of both worlds: the sounds of local musicians and the peaceful sounds of classical music.

Performances take place every month from September through May outside of the Blue Note Cafe and the B Concourse Food Court.

Pianos in the Park

OK, I really like this idea (admittedly, I like all ideas that pertain to events at the Levitt Shell. I mean, outdoors, an historic venue in a peaceful park setting and you can bring in your own picnic. What else do you need?)

Anyway, so on Sunday from 3 p.m. to 9 p.m. at the Levitt Shell in Overton Park an event called Pianos in the Park will be held. All sorts of styles will be played: Straight-Ahead (I have no clue what that means), Mainstream jazz (ditto on not knowing technically what that style is but an educated guess tells me it's traditional jazz) and contemporary jazz (I think I have a station on XM radio that plays the style.). In addition, the STAX Music Academy, gospel jazz, rhythm and blues plus soul and smooth jazz are listed.

There will be food and beverage vendors, door prizes and a moon bounce for the kids. If we go it will be interesting to see what my music-loving son will be most interested in: listening to the music or playing in the moon bounce. I guess there's only one way to find out.

So, it turns out Memphis has an IndiaFest

This weekend is, among many other arts happenings in Memphis, IndiaFest 2010. Before this week, I had never heard of IndiaFest. Sure, I know barbecue fest, Italian Fest, Greek Fest (there's actually a couple of those), Africa in April, Memphis in May; there are enough cultural events, fairs and festivals to fill the calendar.

I discovered IndiaFest thanks to the beauty of NPR (there we go again with that trying to be the "artsy NPR listening guy" thing again). I just happened to be listening to WKNO's "Checking on the Arts" segment the other morning when I heard a promo for IndiaFest.

Then, I happened to see a press release for the event and decided to quickly turn it around as a story in the Aug. 26 edition of The Daily News.

Memphis is known for a lot of things, many different cultures, numerous events. But Indian culture? I have to admit that I hadn't thought much about it. Sure, there are restaurants around town, even a number of grocery stores (I know of two in Collierville alone).

I don't know much about India or its culture. I haven't seen "Slumdog Millionare" or any Bollywood productions for that matter. That is reason enough to consider attending Saturday's festivities at Agricenter International. This year's event will focus on Indian cinema.

But learning about Indian food, maybe even taking my 3-year-old son to participate in the Indian drum-making activity sounds like fun, especially considering it only costs $2 to get in.

India Association of Memphis' 8th Annual IndiaFest has four to five core focus areas, among them a bazaar with vendors selling merchandise, food from local Indian restaurants, kids activities and cultural exhibits.

I might just check it out. I encourage you to do the same.