HUDSON COUNTY COMMUNITY COLLEGE, Benjamin J. Dineen III and Dennis C. Hull Gallery, 71 Sip Ave, 6^th Floor Gallery, JC. Opens Jan 25 and runs through Mar. 2: OUT ON BROADWAY: A VISUAL LEGACY. Curated by James E. Crochet.  “On display will be costumes, sketches, and accessories from award-winning costume designers such as Gregg Barnes, James E. Crochet, Jess Goldstein, William Ivey Long to iconic LGBT characters in shows like Kinky Boots, La Cage aux Folles, Hairspray, Cabaret, Grey Gardens, and Hedwig and the Angry Inch. Explore the creations that have made a night out on Broadway a memorable experience.” (Pictured: William Ivey Long, Chrysler Building Dress from The Producers.)

ON STAGE

MILE SQUARE THEATRE, 1400 Clinton St., HOBO.  www.milesquaretheatre.org. Opens Jan. 31 and runs through Feb. 25: DRIVING MISS DAISY by Aflred Uhry, directed by Mark Cirnigliaro. “Set in the South ,the play explores the budding friendship between an elderly white Southern Jewish woman, Daisy Werthan, and her African-American chauffer, Hoke Colburn. The play features Barbara Broughton, Count Stovall and Matthew Lawler.” Tix: $30-$40; student/senior discount $18.

ART SHOWS

BARSKY GALLERY, 49 Harrison St, HOB. www.barskygallery.com. Opening Sat, Jan 13 (Opening Reception 6-9 pm) and runs through Sat, Feb 24: DESOLATED, SOLO EXHIBITION BY VALERY YERSHOV. “Barsky Gallery is proud to announce its upcoming solo exhibition of Russian-born, NYC-based artist, Valery Yershov. DESOLATED showcases 20 new paintings from the artistâ€s most recent body of work.”

107 BOWERS GALLERY & ARTSPACE, 107 Bowers St, JC. www.107bowersgallery.com. Opens Sat, Jan. 20, (Opening Reception 2-8 pm). Show runs through Sat, Feb. 24: CARNIVAL OF DREAMS, featuring artists Johnnie Ginder and Orange Li.

GUTTENBERG ARTS CENTER, 6903 Jackson St, GUTT. (201) 868-8385. www.GuttenbergArts.org. Now through Jan. 31: MADE HERE: FALL 2017 GROUP EXHIBITION. Featured artists: Dahlia Elsayed, Jessica Rohrer, Jeremy C. Smith and Alisha Wessler. “The works included in MADE HERE were created during the artists†residences this past fall. The title “MADE HERE” carries not only multiple definitions, but multiple conceptual meanings ranging from location to identity, the politics of materials and the historical nature of place.”             

MANA CONTEMPORARY, 888 Newark Ave, JC.  Now through Feb 1 in the Mana BSMT Gallery: ALEX CZETWERTYNSKI: FIRST LIGHT. “Mana BSMT is pleased to present First Light, a solo exhibition by New Media Program resident Alex Czetwertynski. Against the backdrop of our media-driven society, the exhibition pays homage to the characters, forces, and energies that come before the digital images that surround us. Featuring six new media and light works, including sculpture and installation, First Light invites us to explore the elemental forces that power our screens and devices.”

NOVADO GALLERY, Contemporary Art, Design & Ceramics, 110 Morgan St, JC. www.novadogallery.com. Opens Sat. Jan. 20, (Opening Reception 7-9 pm) and runs through Feb. 25: OFF THE WALL!  THE NEW COLLECTORS SHOW. Group exhibition featuring 15 Jersey City artists: Gianluca Bianchino, Jerome China, Mark Finne, Carlos Frias, Frank Gavere, Enrico Gomez, Lisa Ficarelli-Halpern, Doug Madill, Lauren Pitcher, James Pustorino, Bryan Rackleff,  Fabricio Suarez, Robert Streicher, Charlee Swanson and Kati Vilim  (Pictured:  Kati Vilim, Momentary Space 1.)

CLUBSCENE

FOX & CROW, 594 Palisade Ave, JC, www.foxandcrowjc.com. Fri, Jan 19, 10-11:59 pm: ENILDO RASUA. Sat, Jan 20, 10-11:59 pm; JASON GREEN AND THE LABOR OF LOVE.  Thurs, Jan 25, 8-10 pm: SEAN KIELY. Fri, Jan 26, 10-11:59 pm: KARYN KUHL. Sat, Jan 27, 10-11:59 pm: PAUL MEYERS and TODD COOLMAN. (Pictured: Sean Kiely.)

BRIGHTSIDE TAVERN, 141 Bright St, JC. Every first Monday of the month, RJO All Stars Jam Session at 7:30 pm. www.riverviewjazz.org. Mon: Jazz Jam Session; Tues & Wed: Karaoke; Thurs: Open Mic Night; Fri: Comedy, Private Parties, Dance, Karaoke, Open Mic; Sat & Sun, Brunch, Private Parties, Dance, Karaoke, Open Mic.

KIDS†SHOWS

JC THEATER CENTER, Merseles Studios, 337 Newark Ave, JC. www.jctcenter.org.  Saturdays at 2 pm Tix: $10-$12: MISHKA is the Scandinavian folk tale about a little bear that runs away and then finds his purpose. Directed by Marion Schoevaert of Shadow Puppet Theatre, where silhouettes of characters are projected onto a screen. The show is for kids of all ages.

THE NEW VICTORY THEATRE, 209 W. 42^nd St, NYC.  (646) 223-3010; www.newvictory.org. Through Jan. 28:  A SICK DAY FOR MORRIS MCGEE. “Every day, Morris McGee takes the No. 5 bus to his job at the zoo. Every day, he lovingly attends to the elephant, the tortoise, the penguin, the owl and the rhinoceros (who always has a runny nose). Every day, that is, until it’s Morris who has the sniffles! Based on a Caldecott Medal-winning book by Philip C. Stead, this charming puppetry performance about one creature of habit and his kindhearted coterie will warm your heart and chase away the winter chills.”

CHARITY EVENTS

PULLS FOR PUPS, 150 Bay Crossfit, 150 Bay St, JC. Sat, Jan. 20, 9:30 am-1 pm: PULLS FOR PUPS: Half Marathon Indoor Team Rowing-A-Thon. “Participants will be in teams of 6 to row a half marathon to raise money to aid our local shelters in caring for homeless animals. Pull4Puppies is a charitable event to assist shelters in providing care for animals with NO homes. 100% of all money raised will be donated to this cause. We will be providing local food and ice cold beer to participants.”

SEND US YOUR ARTS LISTINGS. If you have an art opening or performances coming up including visual arts, performing arts and street arts, send an email to:  riverviewobserver@gmail.com and weâ€ll list it in ARTScene.  ALL ARTScene LISTINGS ARE FREE.

The post ArtSCENE January 15th -January 31, 2018 first appeared on River View Observer.

Taking Place on Friday, December 1, 2017

A City-Wide, All-Day Celebration of Art & Culture in Jersey City

 Winter is quickly approaching, and Art Houseâ€s JC Fridays December 1st, 2017, will kick off the season with 25 exciting visual and performing arts events! Come out and celebrate with this city-wide festival on Friday, December 1, 2017. Restaurants, galleries, stores, and event spaces throughout Jersey City will showcase a variety of art-related happenings including visual exhibitions, live music, performance acts, educational demonstrations, and more. All events are free and open to the public. As one of the preeminent art scenes in the tri-state area, Jersey City is abound with artists of all types, musicians, and individuals with unique talent; JC Fridays is one of the best times for them to share their newest projects and works. Held quarterly, thousands of residents pour out to experience these artists†latest works and to revel in the joy art brings to the community.

Some highlights include (a complete list of events follows):

• ART—6pm-10pm EONTA SPACE presents “Isabelle Garbani’s Mass Suicide.” Isabelle Garbaniâ€s Mass Suicide, an environmental installation of consumerist by-products brought by the public to Eonta Space, and fashioned into a jungle of ropes (the most common of suicidal implements) reminds us to think long term about the wellbeing of our planet. Music by Cupkakos Moldinius. 34 Dekalb Ave (Dead End off of Van Reypen St), 201-536-1119. Barrier-free. Family-friendly. Tactile tour.

• EDUCATIONAL—8pm-11pm IMAGO BEAUTY GROUP AND HONEY BAKERY presents “Live Music, Art, and Dancing for World AIDS Day.” We will have art by local artists, live music, and lots of fun. 673 Bergen Ave (Fairview/Duncan), 201-332-6100. Barrier-free. Family-friendly.

• PERFORMANCE— 5pm-9:30pm THE MARY MCLEOD BETHUNE CENTER presents “Bethune Night Out.” Bethune Night Out is where Culture and Community Unite. Come mingle, network and socialize in a warm and inviting atmosphere while you enjoy local talent including Live Music, Spoken Word, Dancing, Paint & Sip, the opening of our Art Gallery and our Holiday Market! 18 Years+ Only. 140 Martin Luther King Dr (Fulton/Dwight), 201-547-4565. Barrier-free.

• MUSIC—5pm-2am FOX & CROW presents “Middle Blue: Live in the Parlour.” Music at 10pm. Funk-jazzers Middle Blue sound a lot like their name; their music sits in that special sweet spot between genres, ideas, dreams. Tonight you’ll hear songs by Alice Coltrane but also Robyn, not to mention rapturous original tunes that could only have come from the present moment. 594 Palisade Ave (Congress/Griffith), 201-984-2775. Family-friendly.

• ART HOUSE—7:30pm-9pm SPERANZA THEATRE COMPANY presents “Speranza’s Seasonal Shorts with JC Fridays.” Join Speranza at Art House Productions for an evening of SEASONAL HOLIDAY SHORTS as part of this art-filled city-wide event, JC FRIDAYS. Each short play presented this evening has a holiday theme and YOU might even be lucky enough to end up ONSTAGE with these talented actors. 262 17^th Street (Coles/Jersey), 201-918-6019. Barrier-free. Family-friendly.

JC FRIDAYS LISTINGS

December 1, 2017

Sponsors:

– Destination Jersey City

– The Jersey City Reporter

– Jersey City Magazine

– Mayor Steven M. Fulop, the Jersey City Municipal Council

& Cultural Affairs

– Jersey City Department of Housing, Economic Development, and Commerce

– Historic Downtown SID

– PATH

-JCEDC*

Made possible in part by funds from the New Jersey State Council on the Arts/Department of State, A Partner Agency of the National Endowment for the Arts; administered by the Hudson County Office of Cultural & Heritage Affairs/Tourism Development, and by the County of Hudson, Thomas A. DeGise, Hudson County Executive, and the Hudson County Board of Chosen Freeholders.

* Supported in part by a grant from New Jersey Department of State, Division of Travel and Tourism

 Supporters: Jersey City Arts Council

BERGEN AVENUE (ON AND AROUND)

(art)(performance)(music)(educational) 8pm-11pm IMAGO BEAUTY GROUP AND HONEY BAKERY presents “Live Music, Art, and Dancing for World AIDS Day.” We will have art by local artists, live music, and lots of fun. 673 Bergen Ave (Fairview/Duncan), 201-332-6100. Barrier-free. Family-friendly.  

(art)(educational) 7:30pm-8:30pm ST. PAULâ€S CHURCH IN BERGEN presents “The World through My Lens.” The opening of an art exhibit of the ‘Pictures to Paintings†by Esther Naipaul-Belenke, a member of St. Paulâ€s Church. Feast your eyes and ears on her oil paintings, their stories, and a little light music! 38 Duncan Ave (Bergen/Kennedy Blvd), 201-433-4922. Family-friendly.

(performance) 7:30pm-9pm SPERANZA THEATRE COMPANY presents “Speranza’s Seasonal Shorts with JC Fridays.” Join Speranza at Art House Productions for an evening of SEASONAL HOLIDAY SHORTS as part of this art-filled city-wide event, JC FRIDAYS. Each short play presented this evening has a holiday theme and YOU might even be lucky enough to end up ONSTAGE with these talented actors. 262 17^th Street (Coles/Jersey), 201-918-6019. Barrier-free. Family-friendly.  

GREENVILLE

(art)(film/video) 5pm-8pm PROJECT GREENVILLE presents “Winter Wonderland Weekend!” Join Project Greenville this Friday and Saturday as we celebrate our annual Winter Wonderland Weekend. A collection of winter, holiday, and New Years themed art and other creations. Bring a new or gently used toy for our collection box and have a cup of cocoa while checking out the show! 128 Winfield Ave (Ocean/Old Bergen Rd), 646-361-1858. Barrier-free. Family-friendly. Tactile tour.

(art)(film/video)(performance)(music)(educational) 5pm-9:30pm THE MARY MCLEOD BETHUNE CENTER presents “Bethune Night Out.” Bethune Night Out is where Culture and Community Unite. Come mingle, network and socialize in a warm and inviting atmosphere while you enjoy local talent including Live Music, Spoken Word, Dancing, Paint & Sip, the opening of our Art Gallery and our Holiday Market! 18 Years+ Only. 140 Martin Luther King Dr (Fulton/Dwight), 201-547-4565. Barrier-free.

GROVE (ON AND AROUND)

 (art)(educational) 3pm-5pm HAZEL BABY & KIDS presents “Tiny Artists.” Hazel Baby & Kids invites accompanied children between the ages of 2 and 5 to create a winter collage as part of our Tiny Artists series. The pieces will then be displayed in our window for evening JC Fridays viewing. 199 Montgomery (Grove/Montgomery), 201-369-1999. Barrier-free. Family-friendly.

(art) 5pm-8:30pm JCITY REALTY presents “The Art Project.” Visit the expansive gallery at 109 Columbus, featuring artworks by James Pustorino, Greg Brickey, Harriet Finck, and Bruce Halpin. 109 Christopher Columbus Dr (Christopher Columbus Dr/Grove),  201-714-7777. Barrier-free. Family-friendly. Tactile tour.

(art) 6pm-8pm SILVERMAN AND THE MAJESTIC THEATRE CONDOMINIUM ASSOCIATION presents “Deborah Freedman A Better World.” New paintings from contemporary artist Deborah Freedman that capture the majesty and materiality of the observed and recorded natural world. (curated by Enrico Gomez for The Dorado Project). 222 Montgomery St (Barrow/Grove), 201-435-8000. Barrier-free.

HAMILTON PARK (ON AND AROUND)

 (art) 5pm-8pm SILVERMAN AND HAMILTON SQUARE CONDOMINIUM ASSOCIATION presents “Northeastern Light: Paintings by Pete Hocking and Gretchen Kummer McGinnis.” Plein Air & “Alla Prima” landscape paintings inspired by the natural environs of the artist’s themselves; Gretchen Kummer McGinnis in the Brandywine Valley, Pennsylvania and Pete Hocking on Outer Cape Cod, Massachusetts. 232 Pavonia Ave (Erie/McWilliams Pl), 201-435-8000. Barrier-free.

 (art) 6pm-8pm HAMILTON HOUSE presents “The Art Project.” Tour solo lobby exhibits by Jean Paul Picard, Kim Wiseman, Robert Egert, Jodie Fink, Anthony Boone, Roger Sayre, Pat Lay, Michael Ensminger. 255 Brunswick St (9th/10th), 201-533-0333. Barrier-free. Family-friendly. Tactile tour.

(art) 7pm-9pm NOVADO GALLERY presents “Carlos Frias Art Opening at the Park Hamilton!” The Park Hamilton exhibits recent paintings by Artist Carlos Frias.  On view: the artist’s colorful, lyrical abstractions that have the serious playfulness of Chagall and Miro. Runs through February 25. The Park Hamilton, 205 10th St (Erie/Manilla), 201-744-6713. Barrier-free. Family-friendly.

 THE HEIGHTS

(performance)(music) 5pm-2am FOX & CROW presents “Middle Blue: Live in the Parlour.” Music at 10pm. Funk-jazzers Middle Blue sound a lot like their name; their music sits in that special sweet spot between genres, ideas, dreams. Tonight you’ll hear songs by Alice Coltrane but also Robyn, not to mention rapturous original tunes that could only have come from the present moment. 594 Palisade Ave (Congress/Griffith) (201) 984-2775. Family-friendly.

(art) 6pm-9pm 107 BOWERS GALLERY & ARTSPACE presents “Stuff Your Stocking – Holiday Art Market.” The Holiday Art Market is back! All artwork priced at $250 and under (pre-tax).  Photography, paintings, T-shirts, prints, and much more! See something you like? Purchase and take home immediately! Gifts for everyone… including you, (no judging here). Stuff your stocking for JC Fridays! 107 Bowers St (Central/Cambridge), 201.280.4821. Family-friendly.

(art) 6pm-9pm KATIE DUFFY-MCGEEHIN, STARR TUCKER-ORTEGA, & JANE WESTRICK present “The Musician’s Building.” Enjoy art, meet the artists, and purchase works for sale. Refreshments will be served. Participating artists of the Musician’s Building include the below, and work in painting, sculpture, photography, & mixed media. Musicianâ€s Building, 130 Central Avenue (Waverly/Prospect), 201-978-8287. Family-friendly.

(art) 6pm-9pm PRIME GALLERY presents “Wandering Motion.” Exploring the world of light and motion through minimalism in multiple mediums of art. 315 Palisade Ave (Franklin/Ferry), 973-953-6497. Barrier-free. Family-friendly.

 JOURNAL SQUARE

 (art)(film/video)(performance) 4pm-7pm JERSEY CITY ARTS COUNCIL AT SHUASPACE presents “The Streets of Jersey City.” Painting, photography, video, live performance and installation art by 12 artists, all inspired by the streets of Jersey City. 340 Summit Ave (Academy/Vroom), 917-859-4947. Barrier-free. Family-friendly.

(art) 5pm-9pm THEDA SANDIFORD presents “Word to Live By.” When pithy inspirational quotes shared on social media are mashed up with mixed media art, this is what happens… these are the Words I Live By. 315 4th St, Garden Apartment (Coles/Monmouth), 917-627-9342. Family-friendly. Tactile tour.

(art)(music)(educational) 6pm-10pm EONTA SPACE presents “Isabelle Garbani’s Mass Suicide.” Isabelle Garbaniâ€s Mass Suicide, an environmental installation of consumerist by-products brought by the public to Eonta Space, and fashioned into a jungle of ropes (the most common of suicidal implements) reminds us to think long term about the wellbeing of our planet. Music by Cupkakos Moldinius. 34 Dekalb Ave (Dead End off of Van Reypen St), 201-536-1119. Barrier-free. Family-friendly. Tactile tour.

MCGINLEY SQUARE (ON AND AROUND)

(art) 5pm-7pm FINE ARTS GALLERY AT SAINT PETER’S UNIVERSITY presents “Color as Noun, Pronoun and Verb.” Group painting exhibition featuring the work of Andrea Epstein, Alyce Gottesman, Candy Le Suer, and Gail Winbury. 47 Glenwood Ave, 5th floor (Bergen/Kennedy Blvd), 201-761-6484. Barrier-free. Family-friendly.

NEWARK AVENUE (ON AND AROUND)

 (art) 7am-6pm GIA GELATO presents “Endangered Africans.” Extraordinary photographs taken in Africa by Lauren St. John of elephants and rhinos and other endangered animals. 281 Newark Ave (Monmouth/3rd), 201-216-0555. Barrier-free. Family-friendly.

(art) 5pm-9pm GALLERY 495 presents “Mithila Art II.” A wide ranging selection of Mithila Art from north India on the border with Nepal featuring rarely seen work from the early 1970s as well as contemporary paintings including  a series of  11″ x 14″ work on mermaids and on domestic scenes of a woman’s life. Casa Colombo Center for the Arts, 380 Monmouth St (Christopher Columbus Drive/Newark Ave), 201-936-3456. Family-friendly.

POWERHOUSE ARTS DISTRICT

(art) 6pm-8pm THE OAKMAN presents “The Art Project.” Take a tour of 14 Floors of Art- Susan Evans Grove, Hijo Nam, Ani Rosskam, Caridad Kennedy, KerryKolenut, Fukuko Harris, Bill Leech,  Pat Lay, Karen Nielsen Fried, Injoo Whang, Alejandro Rubin, Szilvia Revesz, Jean-Antoine Norbert, David French. 160 First St (Marin Blvd/Provost), 201-685-0117. Barrier-free. Family-friendly.

(art) 6pm-8pm SHUSTER MANAGEMENT/THE ART HOUSE presents “The Art Project.” Tour 12 Floors of art by Elaine Hansen, Walter Roderiguez, Deirdre Kennedy, Tim Heins, Diane Tenerelli, David French, Joanie Gagnon SanChirco and more. Proceeds from sales benefit artists and teen classes at Bethune Center. 148 First St (Marin Blvd/Provost) 201-798-0928. Barrier-free. Family-friendly.

WEST SIDE

 (music)(performance) 7:30pm-9pm NJCU CENTER FOR THE ARTS presents “Songs from Our World.” NJCU’s Musical Theatre Workshop presents an evening of songs by contemporary musical theatre composers. FREE with RSVP. West Side Theatre, 285 West Side Ave (Fisk/Carbon), 201-200-3426. Barrier-free. Family-friendly.

(art)(music) 8pm-1am WEST SIDE ARTS & MUSIC presents “JC Fridays at the Park Tavern.” Bands: Michael Clifford; The Yeti Shivers; Drum and a Tantrum; Artist: Sam Pullin. 575 West Side Ave (Communipaw/Roosevelt), 201-434-9253.

 www.arthouseproductions.org |

 www.jcfridays.com

The post JC FRIDAYS CELEBRATES THE WINTER SEASON WITH A FULL LINEUP OF ARTS EVENTS first appeared on River View Observer.

 Spotlights Performers that Connect with Jersey Cityâ€s Diverse Community

By Sally Deering

 The stage isnâ€t very big at Fox & Crow, the hip pub and “parlour” on Palisade Ave. in The Heights. Nevertheless, itâ€s a great Jersey City venue for some pretty big talent and nobody knows that better than the clubâ€s music curator/booking manager Margo Parks.

For more than a year now, Parks has been scouting the acts for Fox & Crow; just one of her many jobs in the music industry. She also works at Kaleidoscope Sound recording studio in Union City and books talent for the annual A-Town Get Down in Savannah, Georgia. Married to popular musician Walter Parks (lead guitarist for the late and great Ritchie Havens), Margo Parks books gigs for her husbandâ€s band, Swamp Cabbage, too. Although not a musician, per se, Margo Parks spends most of her time and energy with musicians– and thatâ€s just fine with her.

This is not a line of work Parks just fell into. She holds a Bachelorâ€s Degree in Music from NYU, where she studied the business of music; and she has spent the past 20 years honing her craft as scout and booker.  And when sheâ€s not curating acts for Fox & Crow and gigs for Walterâ€s band, Margo and Walter host art happenings at The Statuary, their home in The Heights, on JC Fridays.

“Swingadelic” performed at Fox & Crow, Jan. 20

On a recent Friday night, Parks invited an all-female band Vicki Kristina Barcelona to perform at Fox & Crow and they wowed the crowd with two sets of Tom Waits†songs that melded beautifully with their originals. On Fri, Jan. 20, Swingadelic grooved the parlour. And Parks already set Februaryâ€s entertainment schedule with acts like Chrissi Poland, Adam Falcon and Jon Shain.

 RVO:  We loved Vicki Kristina Barcelona, how did you get them for Fox & Crow?

MP:  Walter, my husband is a musician and Terry Radigan of Vicki Kristina Barcelona Band hosts a roundup once a month in Brooklyn. She invited Walter to that a couple of times. Her group also performed. Iâ€ve known Amanda, whoâ€s also in the band, through other groups.

RVO:  Your husband Walter Parks played with the late Ritchie Havens?

MP: Walter is a guitarist and singer. He has his own band Swamp Cabbage, and he plays solo. Walter was touring with Ritchie Havens for 9 or 10 years as lead guitarist. Three or 4 days a week, he was on the road. Heâ€s on the road a lot, these days, but mostly with his own stuff.

RVO: How did you get to be music curator for Fox & Crow?

MP: The owners wanted to have live music in the back room. That was about a year ago.

 I offered to help and it became a job. I love it. Iâ€ve been working in the music world for almost 20 years.

RVO:  How did you get into the business of music?

MP:  I studied music business in college. I went to NYU and got a Bachelorâ€s of Music – it was a specialty offered in the music school. I took all of the basic business courses in the business school, took basic music courses and courses that specialized in the music industry. The concert promoter for the Beacon Theater was one of my teachers. He taught us about contracts, publicity, the angle from the music industry. It was interesting. We did internships, too. I interned with Channel 13 and Monmouth Records. I worked with an artist manager, sort of what I ended up doing, and she worked with several different artists and I would help her with radio promotion. I ended up working with Empress Records. I was one of their first employees.

Chrissi Poland performs at Fox & Crow Feb. 25

RVO:  You also worked with Rachel Sage as her label manager?

MP:  With Rachel, I was an assistant, and then became her label manager, I talked to the distribution company, went to music conferences and we would have a showcase where we would bring in artists. I stopped there in 2004, and started working for Grassy Hill Entertainment. We did a lot of showcases like the Folk Alliance, and we would bring in other artists to do the showcases once or twice a year. I would say the time I would start to scout was when I helped found a festival in Savannah called A-Town Get Down. It started as a benefit for Alex Townsend, who passed away way too young. His family are friends of ours. It was our tribute to him. It ham Its become bigger than that  music event We is family are friends of ours. It was our tribute to him Its become bigger than ts become bigger than that first time, a real art and music event.

RVO:  What do you do at Kaleidoscope Sound?

MP: We do a wide variety of music, but mostly world music and jazz. I handle all of their bookings and scheduling. Thereâ€s a theme here. Itâ€s probably another way I learn about a lot of musicians, because I have musicians and bands calling.

Adam Falcon performs at Fox & Crow Feb. 18

RVO:  What exactly is The Statuary?

MP: The Statuary is our home. We bought it in 2005 from the Jersey Statuary that made religious statues, a family-owned business that made Marys and Jesuses and painted them for about 80 years. They were the only people doing it for a 200-mile radius. Then they retired. We renovated the building, and the first floor we keep as a gallery space. On JC Fridays weâ€ll have a free cultural event, an artist and music event. The first time we did it as a tribute to the family that owned the business. They still lived in the neighborhood and we wanted to show what the building had become. Thatâ€s what we had promised them; that we would keep it standing and would renovate it. It was inspiring to see the neighborhood come, people who had been to our house when they were kids. We had over 100 people come to that first event; it was a fun group of people. We try to keep each one thematic and different.

RVO: There seems to be an art renaissance happening in The Heights. Whatâ€s your take on it?

MP:  We have so many artists and musicians that live up here. This community is very active. Thereâ€s the Lumberyard series, the Farmers†Market, the Washington Park Association that has the Art & Music Festival. I think theyâ€re doing more throughout the year. The Holland Street Project, the Riverview Jazz Festival and the Riverview Art Association. Corkscrew has music on a regular basis. Art House does a lot of theater as well as art events. Itâ€s a wonderful community.

Jon Shain performs at Fox & Crow Feb 17

RVO:  Fox & Crow seems to have taken off as a go-to destination for live entertainment.

MP: At Fox & Crow, people are coming out just to see what weâ€re doing in the Parlour. There are so many places that have rock and roll and the blues. I try to do something different than what you typically get in a bar. Itâ€s such a small space, I want to keep it a listening room vibe.

RVO:  Do you like your work as a music curator; is it fun?

MP: The fun part for me, I love looking for live music and listening to whatâ€s out there and I like bringing music to the community. I like being able to introduce quality, culturally diverse music, especially when people respond to it. Last year, I had a young woman from Chicago who does a tribute to Edith Piaf. People came out and were excited and respected what she was trying to do. Those special nights are really exciting for me.

If you go

Fox & Crow Pub & Parlour

594 Palisade Ave, JC

www.foxandcrowjc.com

Coming up in the Parlour

Every Sunday in the bar, Adam Melchor, 5 – 8 pm  

 Fri, Feb 3     Sean Kiely, 10 pm – 12 am

Sat, Feb 4     Ray Corvair, 10 pm – 12 am

Tues, Feb 7   Backroom Broadsides (spoken word series), 8 – 10 pm

Fri, Feb 10    Pat Van Dyke w/ DJ Prestige, 9 pm – 12 am

Sat, Feb 11   Tyrone Cotton + Julia Patinella, 10 pm – 12 am 

Fri, Feb 17    Jon Shain, 10 pm – 12 am

Sat, Feb 18   Adam Falcon, 10 pm – 12 am

Fri, Feb 24    Dan O’Dea and Eagle Ridge, 10 pm – 12 am

Sat, Feb 25   Chrissi Poland, 10 pm – 12 am

The post PARLOUR MUSIC Margo Parks books the Acts that Draw the Crowds at Fox & Crow first appeared on River View Observer.