Tuesday, June 24, 2014

FivePlay Jazz Quintet: Original Jazz for Hungry Ears Friday July 18, 2014

LIVE JAZZ PERFORMANCE

FivePlay Jazz Quintet: Original Jazz for Hungry Ears
 Friday July 18, 2014
Time: 7:30PM
Cost: $10/15

Red Poppy Art House
2698 Folsom St,
San Francisco, CA 94110
http://redpoppyarthouse.org/

FB:(special page for this event)  https://www.facebook.com/events/1432258540365981/


ABOUT
FivePlay is a Bay Area-based band performing original music that nourishes both mind and heart.  Whether you’re an experienced jazz listener or you’re hearing jazz for the first time, FivePlay's approachable music is the byproduct of modern creative jazz, reaching the ears of any spectator involved. Their repertoire encompasses a wide range of influences: from tango, samba and
Afro-Cuban sounds, to up-tempo modal jazz, poignant waltzes and contemporary jazz/rock tones. FivePlay has performed at numerous Bay Area venues, including the JazzSchool, Yoshi's Oakland, the Emerald Tablet, Vallejo Jazz Festival, and many more. They have three CDs which have all received critical acclaim, and international radio airplay.

The talent Includes:
Laura Klein-piano,
Tony Corman-guitar,
Dave Tidball-reeds,
Alan Hall-drums,
Paul Smith-bass
Laura Klein and Tony Corman/FivePlay Jazz Quintet
www.fiveplayjazz.com
https://www.facebook.com/fiveplayjazz5

Breeaking-Boardwalk Apartment Tenant Robbed at Gunpoint Sunday

Tuesday, 24 June 2014 09:35

Victim Robbed at Gunpoint Near University, Suspect Remains At Large

Written by 
Victim Robbed at Gunpoint Near University, Suspect Remains At Large Brandon McMillan/TurlockCityNews.com
A suspect remains at large after robbing a victim at gunpoint Sunday morning in the parking lot of the Boardwalk Apartments, located at 950 W. Zeering Rd.

According to the California State University, Stanislaus Police Department, at approximately 6:39 a.m. an unknown suspect stole property and the victim’s vehicle after holding up the victim at gunpoint.

To report the robbery, the victim walked to the University Police Department, which sits adjacent to the apartments.
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Described as a Hispanic male, the suspect is believed to be approximately 23 to 25 years old, and weighing about 165 pounds. He was seen wearing a grey hooded sweatshirt and black pants with a silver stripe.

The suspect was last seen fleeing in the victim’s vehicle, a beige 1996 Honda Accord with license plate 6SRP160.

Anyone with information on the robbery or whereabouts of the suspect are asked to call the Turlock Police Department at 209-668-1200 or the University Police Department at 209-667-3114.

Sunday, June 22, 2014

Madame Sherri

Madame Sherri's Castle Ruins | A Legendary 

Site in West Chesterfield, New Hampshire

It was a photo from our online gallery that sparked my interest: a sweeping, arched staircase constructed of stone, fallen leaves strewn along its steps, curving upward to end mid-air in the midst of a forest. It was titled simply “Madame Sherri Castle Ruins, Chesterfield, NH.” Castle ruins in New Hampshire? Now that’s something worth exploring!
Madame Sherri Castle Ruins
This photo, taken by Lindsey Ocker, sent us on our quest to explore Madame Sherri’s Castle Ruins
We weren’t planning on seeking out Madame Sherri’s castle last weekend, but as Jim and I cruised along Route 9 from Keene, New Hampshire, toward Brattleboro, Vermont, with no particular destination in mind, it seemed as good a time as any to make a detour. A quick Google search returned a site that listed the ruins’ location as Castle Road in Chesterfield, and off we went.
Truth be told, I was starting to think we might have missed it when Jim spotted the sign for the “Madame Sherri Forest” marking the parking-lot entrance. After a quick perusal of the map at the information kiosk, we crossed the footbridge and headed in the direction of the Ann Stokes Loop — a trail extending almost two miles through both the Madame Sherri Forest and the Cook Town Forest. When the path split, we veered right, catching our first glimpse of the ruins, and within minutes, were at the foot of the massive stairway.
Madame Antoinette Sherri
It seems improbable, really. You wouldn’t expect to find the remains of a “castle” tucked into the southwest corner of the Granite State, yet there it is. Stories swirl around these ruins and its former occupant, but most folks in the area seem to agree on a few points: Madame Antoinette Sherri, a costume designer from New York, began buying land in the small village of Chesterfield, New Hampshire, in the late 1920s; she planned to build an extravagant summer home on the property. Her mantra, purportedly, was “Only the best,” and for years she threw wildly lavish parties at her “castle,” hosting an eclectic band of friends from the city. Until her money ran out, that is.
Photo/Art by Photo Courtesy of Brattleboro Historical Society
Madame Sherri’s Mansion
Madame Sherri eventually moved on, leaving the chateau to fall into disrepair, and it burned down on October 18, 1962. What remains today is the stonework from the staircase, the foundation, columns, and a fireplace. These medieval-looking ruins continue to spark the imagination of photographers, nature lovers, and more than a few ghost hunters. Legend has it that the lady herself has been spotted atop the grand staircase — which some refer to as the “stairway to heaven” — and that if you listen closely, you’ll hear the faint strains of laughter and music coming from the ruins.
While we didn’t hear or see anything supernatural on our visit, this is one stop not to miss if you’re traveling through southern New Hampshire.
Don't Miss ArrowArticle: Madame Sherri | New Hampshire’s Most Eccentric Resident?
Photograph: Share the photo of Madame Sherri’s Castle Ruins

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Photo/Art by Brenda Darroch
Watch for the sign for MME SHERRI Forest

Directions to Madame Sherri’s Castle Ruins on Gulf Road in West Chesterfield, New Hampshire

From New Hampshire:
Follow Rte. 9 to Rte. 63 South
Turn right on Stage Road
Bear left onto Castle Road
Castle Rd joins Gulf Road
Watch for the MME SHERRI FOREST sign and parking lot on the left.
From Vermont:
Take Rte. 9 East into New Hampshire
Turn right onto Gulf Road just after the Riverside Store along the Connecticut River
Gulf Road makes a hard left, if you end up following the river, you’ve missed the turn.
Watch for the MME SHERRI FOREST sign and parking lot on the right.
Learn More about the Madame Sherri Forest
Chesterfield Conservation Commission: The Madame Sherri Forest

Brenda Darroch

Author:

Brenda Darroch

Biography:

Digital Editor Brenda Darroch creates and manages content for YankeeMagazine.com, YankeeFoliage.com, e-newsletters, and Yankee's search and social media initiatives. Follow Brenda Darroch on !

Friday, June 20, 2014

Red Dress Manor - Ellen's Home

'Red Dress Manor' which still has clothes in the wardrobes, photographs on the walls and love letters strewn across the floors

  • The derelict dairy farm in Llanymynech, Powys, mid-Wales built in 1725 looks like a real-life fairytale scene
  • The owner, identified as Ellen Jones, died in the 1970s, leaving her red dress hanging in an empty wardrobe
  • Officially called Calcott Hall, the grade II listed in 1953 building is dubbed 'red dress manor' by locals
  • Clothes, letters, newspapers and photographs have been left untouched strewn across the floors

With love letters strewn across the floor, a gown hung in the bedroom, and black-and-white photos under a film of cobwebs, it looks like a scene from a fairytale.
But this derelict dairy farm standing in the depths of the Welsh countryside is a real-life mystery.
Dubbed the 'Red Dress Manor', it is filled to the brim with personal belongings - including a floor-length red satin dress and love letters.
But there has been no sign of life within these walls for 40 years.
Scroll down for video

The house in Llanymynech, near Shrewsbury, is called Calcott Hall and became a Grade II listed in 1953
Listed: According to documents found by photographer Dan Circa, the house in Llanymynech, near Shrewsbury, is called Calcott Hall and was Grade II* listed in 1953


Crumpled and beautiful: The red dress pictured in a photo on the wall was found hanging in an empty wardrobe, while other clothes clutter the floor
Crumpled and beautiful: The red dress pictured in a photo on the wall was found hanging in an empty wardrobe, while other clothes clutter the floor
Namesake: The woman in the red dress that has given this manor its nickname
Namesake: The woman in the red dress that has given this manor its nickname. The picture shows Ellen Jones, who appears in other images around the house

Dust: The years of dereliction are betrayed by the living room which has a thick layer of dust on the floor
Dust: The years of dereliction are betrayed by the living room which has a thick layer of dust on the floor. Nobody knows why newspapers and notes are left scattered
The four-bedroom house, officially called Calcott Hall, in Llanymynech, Powys, Mid Wales, was grade II* listed in 1953 - more than two centuries after it was first built as a dairy farm.
But according to census records, the owner, Ellen Jones, died in the early 1970s and her home became a forgotten relic within its leafy surroundings.

However, her belongings have stayed exactly as she left them.
Now, a series of haunting images by photographer Dan Circa has unveiled the mysterious manor, showing how generations made it their home over centuries.
Magical: The eerie dairy farm in Wales, dubbed 'Red Dress Manor', has been left to crumble away for decades
Magical: The eerie dairy farm, dubbed 'Red Dress Manor', has been left to crumble away for decades. It is filled with letters and pictures that seem to be unspoiled
Vintage: A rusted 1970s Morris stands in the garage by the main house. It is the kind of car that would fetch thousands at an auction today
Vintage: A rusted 1970s Morris stands in the garage by the main house. It is the kind of car that would fetch thousands at an auction today
Personal: Letters and photographs left behind in the manor show a woman named Ellen Jones lived there
Personal: Letters and photographs left behind in the manor show a woman named Ellen Jones lived there. Dust has gathered but the shots are clear and mystical
The building maintains its original architecture from 1725 with heavy wood doors, stone floors, and high ceilings
Ancient: The building maintains its original architecture from 1725 with heavy wood doors, stone floors, and high ceilings. Few people have visited the site since the 70s


Crumbling: Plants tumbling through ceilings, torn curtains and crumbling walls
Crumbling: Plants tumbling through ceilings, torn curtains and crumbling walls only serve to enhance the building's ethereal and timeless beauty

Life: Handbags, ribbons and clothing strewn about the house
Life: Handbags, ribbons and clothing strewn about the house give little glimpses into the mysterious world of women that lived here years ago

Dust-covered glass bottles of 19th century cleaning products such as turpentine and black lacquer look like works of art in the sunshine gleaming through the cracked windows.
Floral 1950s wallpaper tumbling down the walls reveal the heavy stone that was used to build the house in 1725.
Now, after years of neglect, nature has moved in. Branches and leaves hang through the ceilings and soil is spilling out of the fire place on to a 1960s television.
Mr Circa, 28, from Manchester said: 'I heard stories of the manor and so wanted to investigate for myself.
'The picture of a lady in a red dress and the actual red dress still being there was particularly intriguing. I wanted to see what else was inside.
'I felt like I was in someone’s home uninvited, I expected the owner to walk round every corner I saw.
Beautiful glass bottles of turpentine, black lacquer, and healing oil were the cleaning products of yesteryear
Bygone era: Delicate bottles of turpentine, black lacquer, and healing oil were the cleaning products of yesteryear. They are a far cry from today's plastic

Decades: A box of Daz, alongside older cleaning products, shows how this manor was home to generations
Decades: A box of Daz alongside older cleaning products, 1950s curtains, and an 18th century wooden window frame shows how this manor was home to generations


Decorative and mysterious: Floral curtains and mis-matched floral wallpaper frame the leafy Welsh countryside
Decorative and mysterious: Floral curtains and mis-matched floral wallpaper frame the leafy Welsh countryside through broken glass, as a lone shoe sits on the sill

'When I climbed the stairs to enter the main bedroom, I opened the door and to the right there was a photo of the lady in the garment on her dressing table with all her makeup and other personal items on it.
'I then turned to the left and saw an open wardrobe with that red dress hung up, it was a very eerie feeling as if someone was there.
'I thought it was her at first glance.'
Battered: The window panes are broken, the curtain is pulled across the room, and there are clothes scattered
Battered: The window panes are broken, the curtain is pulled across the room, and there are clothes scattered. But no sign of why or where the inhabitants went



Details: The beautiful and dolled-up Ellen Jones also passed her county examinations
Details: The beautiful and dolled-up Ellen Jones also passed her county examinations at the Shropshire Congretional Union, according to framed certificates

Clutter: Frames pictures lean against a typically 60s television before two small chairs
Clutter: Frames pictures lean against a typically 60s television before two small chairs with bags and pillows across the floor, and soil spilling out of the fireplace




Beautiful: It is a moment in time frozen and unspoiled
Beautiful: It is a moment in time frozen and unspoiled. The mustard walls and art deco ornaments suggest a long history of family in the abandoned manor
Mr Circa explained his project as an exploration of 'beauty in decay': 'The lady in the red dress has been identified by census records and personal letters as Ellen Jones.
'I am documenting things that someone once cared about.
'People are amazed to see the pictures, especially when they see it's a place with personal belongings in.'
  • Do you know who Ellen or the woman in the red dress is? Contact MailOnline on 0203 6151934
Video courtesy Hush Hush Video

Friday, June 06, 2014

Going 'Down' part of message series at The Message Church using TV Show Breaking Bad




The Message Church

Meets at-
Century 12 Theaters
320 2nd Ave, San Mateo, CA 94401

Going ‘Down’
One choice is all it takes
6/8/14
10:00 am



 
“Breaking Bad” Theology? The Message Church message series based on hit AMC TV show to help people not to become “Walter Whites” in real life
5-week series held at Century movie theaters in San Mateo seeks to help people examine choices in life

Vince Gilligan almost didn't create the series Breaking Bad because it was such an "odd, dark story." Why it became a hit show is still an anomaly to Vince, but not to millions of viewers who clearly identify with Walter White, the show's main character whose moral values decline steadily and dramatically over the course of 5 seasons.  

That's why The Message Church is using Walter and his meth lab for their new series starting this Sunday, June 1. The church meets at the Century 12 movie theaters in downtown San Mateo. Each Sunday gathering will consist of live music, video clips, and engaging talks designed to help attenders examine life choices, and their consequences, in an entertaining atmosphere.

"This story is fascinating because we think we're above that moral downfall, when in reality everyone is capable of breaking bad at any point in their lives," says Gabe Rodriguez, a Bay Area marketing professional who will be a speaker in the series. "Cooking and selling meth from an RV seems extreme, but three wrong turns will place anyone 180 degrees from normal and acceptable behavior."

In addition to Mr. Rodriguez the other presenters will be Dan Youmans, a Bay Area graphic designer, and Beto Carvalho, who serves as the church’s pastor – all three are avid Breaking Bad fans. “We’ll look at Walter White, Jesse Pinkman, Skyler, Tuco, every character, as a fun way to learn about choice and consequences, but the core concepts will still come from the Bible”, says Mr. Youmans.

This unusual church, which meets in a San Mateo movie theater, is known for using controversial techniques to teach the Bible. A past series called "F#*-get You" was aimed at turning aggression into forgiveness. The recently completed "Happy" series – based on Pharrell Williams' song – brought in a guest therapists from a local counseling center to discuss depression and stress.

Mr. Carvalho thinks the Bad series will be one of the best, but insists, “The goal is still the same, to aid people in positive life change – and if art with depth, like Breaking Bad, can help us understand timeless truth, all the better”. If anything, it will be interesting to see how the Walter White character fits into the biblical lessons. Odd and dark scriptures are sure to emerge and it's anybody's guess how sideways this series will go.   

All are welcome, but please leave your meth labs at home.

‘Crazy Handful of Nothin’
Bad choices and worse consequences
6/1/14

Going ‘Down’
One choice is all it takes
6/8/14

Caballo ‘Con’ Nombre
Killer sins
6/15/14

The Crazy ‘Hermanos’ Are Coming For You
The day of reckoning is inevitable
6/22/14

Felina
What does it profit a man to gain the whole world, and lose his soul?
6/29/14

Sundays, 10:00 AM
Century 12 Theaters
320 2nd Ave, San Mateo, CA 94401

Contact
Valerie Kerr
The Message Church
(650) 242-5919
 

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