An Evening to Remember

Beautiful KNOXVILLE, TENNESSEE

Dear Family and Friends,   On January 8, 2020,   Mark and Robin took George and me on a special "Double Date"....  George and I drove to Knoxville,  parked the car,  and Mark and Robin picked us up and took us on a "Night to Remember" forever....

They drove us to downtown Knoxville  (which is somewhere we have not been in many years).  Knoxville has changed through the years with the community showing pride in their little city by renovating the old downtown buildings into restaurants and theaters and other types of stores which now draw folks back from the surburbs into the CITY..... I found the walk along GAY STREET (their "Main" Street) just awesome, and am pleased that the renovations have kept the decor and history of those beautiful buildings all through the years !!!!!

Downtown Grill and Brewery

After a bit of walking,  the Young Ones took us OLD Ones for a delicious dinner at one of the many terrific restaurants downtown.  This restaurant (which used to be in the old Woodruff Building) is named the Downtown Grill and Brewery.  What a fabulous restaurant! George and I had some of the best Pork Loin we have had in a long time... YUM...

Lobby of the Tennessee Theater

Following Dinner,   we walked to the nearby Tennessee Theater  (another theater with a fabulous history).   I had been to the Tennessee Theater many years ago --when my first husband and I went to hear the music of the Mighty Wurlitzer Organ in that theater.  When we walked into the theater this time,  I felt as if I had walked back into PARADISE.   What great memories that theater holds for so many!!!  WOW.

An old picture of the Mighty Wurlitzer Organ in the Tennessee Theater (which is the biggest memory I have of the Tennessee Theater)

DRUMLINE LIVE (a musical show for the entire family)

Mark and Robin had purchased tickets for the four of us to see this fantastic musical. Mark knew how much I have always loved Marching Bands  (since I was in one for many years in high school).  We also loved watching and hearing the bands at the Mardi Gras Parades we attended in New Orleans in the '80's when we lived there...  More great memories!!!!


But--the concert was much more than watching a Marching Band... Drumline Live is a synchronized musical showcase of the legendary Black College experience that ALSO features various genres of music from  Hip-Hop, American Soul,  Gospel,  Jazz, and more.

Mark took this picture of us before the concert.

The inside of the theater was GORGEOUS...   AND--our seats couldn't have been better!!!!

Looking straight up --at the ceiling above!!!!  WOW---those details were fabulous!

The four of us in the theater

Some pictures I took of the amazing concert;   On the way home,  Mark asked me what I liked the best... That was hard since it was ALL great.  BUT--there was a Saxophone Solo that was 'out of this world' that really caught my attention,  along with all of the phenomenal percussionists.

This concert was truly 1st class: the sound, lighting, costumes, and all of that incredible ENERGY!!!  WOW!

The concert was like a HUGE Halftime Show at a Fall Football Game.  They featured the sounds of favorites such as Tina Turner,  The Supremes,  The Temptations,  Aretha Franklin,  James Brown,  Prince,  and Ray Charles (featured in the picture above).

Guess who this is???!!!!!!  Of course, it's MICHAEL JACKSON (the "King").  

As Mark said on his Facebook Post after the concert,  "there was nothing which could take that huge smile off  of my face"....What an amazing performance...  I highly recommend it.  

My Sweeties:  Robin and Mark!!!!

Thanks so much,  Mark and Robin,  for this absolutely amazing, awesome, terrific evening.   I am STILL  EXCITED --and it's been five days now since we experienced this evening... I could go on and on about Downtown Knoxville,  our restaurant,  and the concert ... BUT--I'll close with some links you may want to check out  if interested.

Tennessee Theater and its amazing past:  Click Here
Downtown Grill and Brewery:  Click Here
Downtown Knoxville, Tennessee:  Click Here
DRUMLINE LIVE:  Click Here

I highly recommend  "Drumline Live" ---if they ever come to an area near you...  If you are looking for a  'feel-good' concert --for all ages,  this one is for YOU.  Kids would love it also!!!

Have an awesome week!!!!

Hugs,

Emoticons

Life is ALL about FAMILY

No White Christmas here this year,  but lots of LOVE

Dear Family and Friends,   Welcome to a new decade!!!!!!  Are you excited about 2020????  Do you have any big plans ahead????  We are gradually putting some trips on our calendar --so hopefully,  for George and me,  it will be another wonderful year together.

As hard as it is to find time these days to get people together,  George and I both managed to 'catch up'  with our families during the holidays.   We spent Thanksgiving in Florida with George's son and family --and his daughter visited us on Dec. 21-22.   I was able to get all three of my sons here at the same time (which is not easy to do)...  We all gathered here on December 22 (for a big meal at a local restaurant  plus time for fun and fellowship here at our home). As I've said many times,  having all 3 sons here at the same time is such JOY for this Mama.

Today --as I begin to catch up with some of the things which have happened in our lives the past month or so,  I will share with you some pictures of our FAMILY CHRISTMAS on December 22.

At the Dinner table at Legend's Restaurant here in Fairfield Glade:  Mark, Robin, Bert

Continuing around the Dinner Table:  Bert,  Kelly,  George

One more spin around the Dinner Table:  Me (taking pictures),  Dawn, Jeff,  Mark

After a delicious meal,  we all headed back to our home for some fun together... Here I am opening up a gift for us from son Bert...  You can't tell from this picture,  but this is "Notty"---He's a Tree Sculpture named The Spirit of Nottingham"  --and he will hang on one of the big trees in our yard.  Below is a better picture of Notty.

Notty ---my Tree Sculpture!!!!!  He will protect our yard --and also be a GREAT conversation grabber.  Thanks, Bert.

Here are some new BIRDS to hang on the outdoor Christmas Tree on our porch...  Thanks,  Jeff and Dawn!!!!

And from son, Mark and special gal, Robin:  a picture of the Autumn Snow we had.  Mark is becoming a great photographer,  and he KNEW I'd love this Snow Picture.  It proudly hangs in our office/computer room.  Thanks,  Mark and Robin. 

Kelly's gift to us:  A sculpture of The THREE KINGS.... Beautiful,  isn't it?  Thanks, Kelly.

A great picture of Mark and Robin

Another cute picture of Bert,  Robin and Mark

An Awesome picture of Dawn and Jeff

I LOVE these people!!!   (Kelly left early --so she missed the family pictures.)

A very HAPPY Mom with her sons!!!!!!  (I raised some cuties,  didn't I????)

AND --my favorite picture!!!!!!  MY THREE SONS:   Jeff (48),  Bert--called Tre by many (56),  and Mark (49--will be 50 on Jan. 15);  My Babies are all 'growed up'.... How can that be? ha

Sorry for the over-load of pic's... Just couldn't help myself....  Hope you all had as good a Christmas as we did!!!!!

Hugs,

Emoticons