Saturday On The Square:) Art and Music

“Art allows you to see the world with your heart, and music allows you to feel the world with your soul.”

~Toni Armenta Andrukaitis

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There were a lot of things happening around town today. The downtown square was active with Second Saturday activities. With no plans or commitments today, I decided to just go and spend the day on the square.

My first stop was Last Art Gallery. Brad Donaldson had some of his fabulous resin artwork paintings on display outside.

Maria Hampton and Leslee Ortega were demonstration alcohol ink techniques inside.

Then, it’s always great bumping into friends who were also soaking up the sun and art on the square. Karen and Lynne and I stopped at Spoon’s for a quick lunch.

Then, a Lynne Hubner sighting. She was just visiting the artists, it she is an amazing printmaking artist,

Maribeth Jagger was doing an alcohol ink demonstration over at Filtered Coffee Shop. Maribeth has probably taught alcohol ink techniques to half of the McKinney artists.

While I sauntered around the Square, I stopped in the Visitor’s Center, and I was excited to see my friend Beth Shumate was at the desk. Well, we talked for over an hour about McKinney happenings, and about friends and family, etc. The time just flew by.

It was still pretty warm out, and down the street, I could hear some familiar Bublé songs. It was Armon Ramirez, a fabulous singer that I’d met a few weeks back. I sat and listened to his silky voice for a while.

on my way back to my car over behind Cadillac Pizza, I saw one of our fine Mounted Patrol officers. It was Officer Lindsey Paul. She was stopped in the street, and several children were petting and admiring the horse. I heard one of the children giggling and saying, “She let me pet the horse.” Everyone is impressed when they see the Mounted Patrol.

Well, the night was still young, so I went over to The Cove to see Megali Muñoz Smith’s show. The Joy of the Moment was her theme, with colorful island and tropical paintings. Of course, more music to add to the mood.

Her show continues tomorrow from 2-4 at The Cove if you missed it today.

It was a busy dizzy dazzling artistic kind of day on the Square. McKinney has the greatest art community and the greatest artists, and fortunately for me, most of them are the greatest friends of mine.

Driving home, I was treated to an amazing sunset. The sun was a HUGE red-orange orb in the cloudless sky. There was no great place to pull over and get a photo, so I just clicked one at a stop light. It was breathtaking. The perfect end to a lovely day.

Super Busy Saturday and Sights on the Square

“Never be so busy as not to think of others.” 

― Mother Teresa, The Joy in Loving: A Guide to Daily Living

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Whoa! I can cram more busy in a Saturday than a busy bee in a flower field. Begin: 9:30-10:30 Zumba class, ride the stationery bike 6 miles in 30 minutes, (would ha pave been more miles, but took time to get my phone out of my purse behind me)

  
Off to the store, bought chicken and veggies to add to my potato soup, home for a very long walk because the sun finally came out, met a lady walking, introduced myself, then walked a couple of miles with Tracy, made a new friend, found a lucky penny, continued my walk, ran into Miss Bernadine and Mr. Vince, chatted with them, finished walk…

  
Beautiful clouds mixed with sunny blue skies.

I called Mom then sister, cooked chicken and vegetables, called senior artist friends at Towne Creek to say I was coming  to visit with dinner and dessert…

  
   
 
After visiting seniors, went to the Square for Second Saturday, open house at Bay Willow Design with my friend Jenny… 

   
She has hundreds of antique hat forms and makes the most amazing original hats.

Orison’s was hosting a meet the artists for the Empty Bowls auction. I happened to be one of the artists who donated a bowl. Great turn out.

   
   
My good friend, Steve Macias, and wife and daughter had donated several, more than amazing bowls.

  
I donated a hand painted rose bowl. They accidently misspelled my name and put a “y” instead of “i” for Toni, which is AH’s name, (ex-AH, who never did a selfless generous thing for a stranger in his life), but I took it in stride. 

After an hour, I walked over to Sweet Spot Bakery and took some pictures of the busy night life.

   
A man in a kilt playing bagpipes on the corner.

 
Music and sing-a-long at Sweet Spot Bakery, with my fiends, Kathy and Elizabeth and their musician friends.

  
Home to write and review my very, very busy day. It was a good day.

  

 

Second Saturday on the Square

The cool thing about unemployment is every day is Saturday.Jarod Kintz, This Book Has No Title

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Coming to you live from Second Saturday on the Square in downtown McKinney. Sitting here at Sweet Spot Bakery for their jam session. 

   
   
Great music, fine musicians. 

Earlier, I visited with artist friends braving the summer heat, demonstrating their wonderful talent. 

  
My friend, Lynda Kingsley. 

   
 
Jenni Tomlinson working on an amazing painting of the McKinney Mounted Patrol. 

  
The 100 degree plus temps didn’t slow down visitors from the Square. 

  
Y’all know what I do every weekend. 

Second Saturday Live…On The Square

“Music was my refuge. I could crawl into the space between the notes and curl my back to loneliness.”
― Maya Angelou
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COMING TO YOU LIVE FROM THE SQUARE……………………………………………

A dreary rainy Saturday blossomed into an amazing day of art, music and friends in downtown McKinney. Music In Motion at the Heard Craig Gallery featured fantastic local artists and musicians

Then, off to Sweet Spot Bakery for the Second Saturday Jam Session. Sweet treats and sweet tunes., musicians drop in, play and sing their hearts out. Many have never met before, yet play like they’ve been together for years. Musicians all have the same heart and sing the same song.

Another cool Saturday on the Square…really…it’s only 58 degrees out. It’s cool!
Night y’all!!!

Saturday on the Square: Art and Music

“A man should hear a little music, read a little poetry, and see a fine picture every day of his life, in order that worldly cares may not obliterate the sense of the beautiful which God has implanted in the human soul.”
― Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
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It was another fun Second Saturday on the Square in downtown Mckinney. The Texas summer heat took a holiday and the temps were in the 60’s. A great evening to enjoy a little music and some lovely art.

First stop was the grand opening of the LAST ART GALLERY located Louisiana, visiting with Gail Delger and the other artists. The new gallery is featured with the ART ON THE VERANDA shop, where my friends Dana and Judy create the most beautiful handmade jewelry and offer a variety of fun workshops.

After visiting with a number of local artists, I took a stroll down the street where musicians played on street corners and a few member of the McKinney Boyd HS orchestra performed, raising money for their band trip to Chicago.

Around the corner was my next stop, at John Wynn’s Guitar Studio. Several musicians, singers and friends gathered for a jam session.

Right next door was the studio of Rachel Reitan. We talked for quite a while, then we had one of those, “Where do I know you from?” moments. We discovered that we both were members of the the Art Club of McKinney and McKinney Creative Community. Wonderful artist!

Final destination, a toe-tapping, sing-a-long jam session at Sweet Spot Bakery. Always fun music and talented musicians.

“A man should hear a little music, read a little poetry, and see a fine picture every day of his life, in order that worldly cares may not obliterate the sense of the beautiful which God has implanted in the human soul.”
― Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
I guess I got to do all of the above today. It was a good day!

Saturday: Singing and Shadows

“Fancies are like shadows…you can’t cage them, they’re such wayward, dancing things.”
― L.M. Montgomery, Anne of Avonlea
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I’m sitting here at Sweet Spot Bakery on the Square, a Second Saturday ritual. Good music and good friends.

The scorching summer sun has set, leaving simmering shadows in the night.

The night casts a long shadow in the absence of day.

Saturday: Singing and Shadows

“Fancies are like shadows…you can’t cage them, they’re such wayward, dancing things.”
― L.M. Montgomery, Anne of Avonlea
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It’s Second Saturday on the Square. I’m sitting with Miss Kathy and the gang, singing and sharing good times.

The scorching summer sun has set and left only simmering shadows in the night.

Then comes the darkness, where the shadows dance.

Saturday Sad Songs and Celebration

“If I cannot fly, let me sing.”
― Stephen Sondheim
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Second Saturday on the Square. The jam session and sing-a-long at Sweet Spot Bakery tonight, was a celebration of music and life, commemorating the life of Brian Spray. His smiles, music and songs will be missed by all. Brian’s family and friends came to sing and play the music that Brian loved so much.

Swinging Saturday on Square

In life you are going to make mistakes, you’re going to fall down, but it’s the getting up that counts. Just like in baseball: you’ll get a few hits, but most likely, you’ll strike out more than you’ll get on base. But don’t quit. Find your focus, relax, take a deep breath and give it a good swing.
Dave Pelzer
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An early morning walk, a quick shower and off to the McKinney Square, my favorite place to hang out. A social-slash-writing meet up at Sweet Spot with Mandy. Then, across the street to paint and chat with Judy at Art on the Veranda.

You never know when friends will pop in. Hi Miss Erma and Miss Connie.

Ok, by now I was pretty hungry, so I ran (literally) over to Snug to get my favorite yummy yogurt parfait and a big hug from my buddy Daniel. The Square was hoppin’ with several weddings coming and going. When my painting/visiting ended, I scooted back over to Sweet Spot to people watch and wait for the Second Saturday jam session. Great people watching. “Here comes the bride.”

Now, coming to you live from the jam session. Folks just stopping by to play instruments, sing and share good music and friendship.

Second Saturday on the Square: McKinney Rocks

“If I cannot fly, let me sing.”
― Stephen Sondheim
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McKinney, music, and making memories. Second Saturday on the Square always rocks. I can spend an entire day going from place to place, listening to the great musicians, young old, singing their hearts out.

Young Jaden Farnsworth serenaded us at Snug on the square in the afternoon. Later, my writing group, Mandy, Julia and Liz and ai met at Lone Star Winery for wine, cheese and singing along with Mike Allyn. Then the perfect sweet ending to a great day of fun and friends at Sweet Spot Bakery with John Wynn and a whole bunch of jammin’ friends.

Mike Allyn

Jaden Farnsworth

Mike Allyn

John Wynn and friends at Sweet Spot bakery.

Another great Saturday. I CAN fly!