Wildwood Creek Festival Tickets available online today
Tickets on sale (online) TODAY
Please remember. Limited Registration. First 100 tickets half price. OR, we have a special ticket. Pay full price of $20 and receive a printed aloha shirt AND No Raft Race Tattoo (temp). I only have 10 of these tickets to help get sales going.
email "heck". Please call if you didn't receive an immediate reply
If you haven't received a reply to a recent email message you sent us, please take note:
Last week we realized that we weren't receiving email to a couple of our e-addresses. We've been in contact with an Apple Engineer, but it hasn't yet been resolved.
If you would like to contact us, please use this address:
robinwade(AT)mac.com
AND, if you don't receive a super prompt reply, please give us a call:
256.766.0049
The problem seems to have affected very few email accounts. Basically, somehow all "alias" email addresses seem to have dissappeared, along with any email going to them.
Again, so sorry for the confusion. Please just give us a call. We do want to hear from you, and as always, will (try to) reply as promptly as we can (if we actually receive the message:).
Tourism Center Grand Opening
Congratulations to Debbie Wilson, Libby Jordan, Architect Bob Whitten, and Parallax on another huge success. Clearly the most beautiful, best Tourism building in the State - at least. I can't believe I didn't get any pics of the doors, sign and furniture. I'll be back.
Wildwood Festival Tickets going on Sale (FIRST) Friday
There will only be 400 tickets available for this event. Early Bird tickets will be available at the RWF space during the Downtown Florence First Friday event, this next Friday June 6, from 5pm to 8pm. The first 100 tickets will be half price - only $10. This should give us enough cash to clean up the creek bank a bit, pay for the super cool Handy Festival connection, confirm shuttle agreements and pre-purchase a few hundred ears of the sweetest Alabama corn for gourmet roasting, etc.
Raft Race Memories - Margie Johnston, Chicago Synphony Chorus
Margie Johnston credits her success in life to 1979's Great Cypress Creek Raft Race - well sort of.
Our First First Friday Showing will be mulitifaceted.
Our first First Friday showing will be a big-un. (one block in the center of Court Street) during the city's monthly celebration - June 6.
Four facets of our multiple personalities will be "revealed";
- Robin Wade Furniture
- We'll be displaying a fairly large showing of our work.
- The Great Cypress Creek Raft Race - 1978 - 1985
- We'll be displaying via digital slide show hundreds of great old photos of the event that took place three decades ago.
- No Raft Race
- Just to help clarify confusion, there will be NO Raft Race on July 19. The City of Florence (and RWF, and the Great Cypress Creek Raft Race Assn) can not condone such behavior.
- No Raft Race tattoos (temporary - on site)
- No Raft Race aloha shirts
- No Raft Race block prints
- Several downtown businesses will have a few coupons for each of these products.
- Wildwood Creek Festival
- This first annual event is coming together swimmingly
- This year's theme "Acoustics in the Creek". This mash-up with a focus on our local natural environment will be colliding with cool creek currents, local (acoustical) musical creatives, and a few environmental evangelists celebrating - "Water".
- wear your tennis or creek shoes
- bring your lawn chair
- immerse your feet in the slow cool cypress creek currents
- while listening to soothing acoustics from one of our local gifted musical creatives, as well as a few our our most respected neighbors who have just a few words about this year's focus "water".
- Registration for this event will begin during this First Friday showing. Tickets will be limited, so if you want to attend . . .
- No Raft Race
- Just to help clarify confusion, we will have several ways that we'll be getting the word out - that there will be NO Raft Race on July 19. The City of Florence (and RWF, and the Great Cypress Creek Raft Race Assn) can not condone such behavior.
- No Raft Race tattoos (temporary - on site)
- No Raft Race aloha shirts
- No Raft Race block prints
- Several downtown businesses might have a few coupons for each of these products.
- Wildwood Creek Festival
- This first annual event is coming together swimmingly
- This year's theme "Acoustics in the Creek". This mash-up with a focus on our local natural environment will be colliding with cool creek currents, local (acoustical) musical creatives, and a few environmental evangelists celebrating - "Water".
- wear your tennis or creek shoes
- bring your lawn chair
- immerse your feet in the slow cool cypress creek currents
- while listening to soothing acoustics from one of our local gifted musical creatives, as well as a few our our most respected neighbors who have just a few words about this year's focus "water".
- Registration for this event will begin during this First Friday showing. Tickets will be limited. Please note that the time of the event has changed. It will begin at 5pm. So, however you may be "commuting" to this little bend in the creek, please keep this in mind.
If you are interested in any of these "facets" please join us for the fun!
Huge Mashup Wednesday.
Every once in a great while you achieve something really special, when seemingly opposite forces collide. The recipe included a tour of this odd North Alabama furniture maker with, a sawmill demonstration, the sweet smell of sassafras wafting thru the air, a violinist, local businessman Joel Anderson, Lee Sentell, Director of Alabama Tourism, Jay Lamar, Director of Alabama Department of Archives and History Steve Murray, Huntsville's Bart Williams and Hillary Claybourne and other power players from the Bicentennial Commission who arrived from all corners of the state.
We definitely "spruced" up the place. The only sawdust to be found (inside the studio) was from our most aromatic local sassafras slabs. - We sanded a slab that didn't really need sanding, other than for the wonderful fragrance.
They were greeted with a blue light escort from the town limit by Lexington police chief Augie Hendershot, and Lexington Mayor Tim Collier. As they arrived we had our Lucas Sawmill milling a huge oak. And when they ventured into our old Cotton Gin Warehouse, they were greeted with our own (for the moment) amazing violinist, as well as some home-made Alabama blackberry punch.
They all seemed to love just about everything going on up here in North Alabama. I hope they'll all be back again quite soon.
Update - Wildwood Creek Fest
Great news regarding the upcoming Wildwood Creek Festival.
I'm happy to report that we have confirmed possibly the most beautiful location on Cypress Creek to hold this first annual event. It's a private residence, with a beautiful, almost magical huge sloping backyard. Without naming names, if you know your way around the creek, it's a hundred yards or so upstream from the Nelson Starkey Bridge, and has had a beautiful red barn (and meditation rock) sitting on the bank of the creek for the past 50 years. Perfect.
One more update. The event will be from 5pm to 8pm, July 19, 2014.
There will be no direct access by car. If arriving by land, you'll need to bring your lawn chair, sun screen (and great attitude) to one of our downtown parking locations where our Shuttle will be circling regularly.
RWF Coffee Table Book
After working on this book on and off for most of the year, we received the first printing yesterday.
No Raft Race Aloha shirts - first shipment
Just received the first shipment of almost vintage "No Raft Race" aloha shirts today. Folks pre-ordered, and the only one left I'm keeping! The first 50 were $10 bucks each or 3 for $20. Why so cheap?
1) We aren't in the shirt business. we're not making a profit on these shirts. We're promoting something we are passionate about.
2) The shirts are NOT new. They are really cool "recycled?" aloha shirts straight from Honolulu. So be sure to check out the shirt before you buy.
3) Maybe I'm crazy. . .
If you are on-board. If you are as passionate as we are about NO RAFT RACE, Saturday July 19, 2014, about a quarter to nine, be sure to stop by our space during this next First Friday (downtown florence - court street), June 6.
Help us get the word out. We'll have No Raft Race branded Aloha shirts, t-shirts, bumper stickers, and - believe it or not tattoos!
Oh, don't forget, just because there's no official raft race this year, it doesn't mean we can't have a blast and play in the creek. The first Saturday of the Handy Music Fest, we'll be launching the first ever Wildwood Creek Festival. Acoustics IN the creek. For more info, be sure to see our (RWF) space First Friday, downtown court street, June 6.
No Raft Race
I know there's been confusion about the raft race. Is it coming back? After 29 year's of no Raft Race, are we going to have it this year? What are the rules? What kind of raft do I make? Can I paddle a Kayak or canoe? What is the entry fee? And the biggee - What do I get if I win?
Now that Cypress Creek is safe to paddle again (thanks to the city spending 2mil on rebuilding/routing the water from the "damn weir" they built in 1980, I want to promote the creek and get folks back in it again.
Unfortunately, there will be no Great Cypress Creek Raft Race this year. I am launching the first annual "Wildwood Creek Festival" on the first Saturday of Handy, 11am to 3pm on (or should I say "in" Cypress Creek - at or quite near Wildwood Park (details being worked now). - More on this later.
But for the Raft Race. Nope, not this year. But here's a little tip. Next summer 2015, will be the 30th anniversary of the last raft race (1985). Seems like a good time to dust off the paddles and innertubes, and raft design schemes, and "do it". But for now, no confirmation.
One more tip; When I passed out the stickers and notices that we were having no raft race this summer, several old timers, and more younger generation, didn't seem to be taking no (raft race) as an answer. Saying they would paddle the creek when they wanted. Really, that's fine by me, but again, for the official - Great Cypress Creek Raft Race - it will NOT be happening on July 19, 2014. -- And unfortunately, i probably won't be able to even paddle the creek on that day. Will probably be up to my waders in "Acoustics IN the Creek" at the first annual Wildwood Creek Fest". July 19, Cypress Creek, Florence Al, 11a to 3p.
The Coffee Table Book
After working on this 12"x12" hardbound "coffee table book" sporadically since January, last night I completed the cover and final touches and ordered the first 10 copies, for proofing, before we dive in. Sorry, the resolution is too small to read the quotes and credits. But if you see any typo's etc, I'd love to hear! Should have a few of the hardbound v. by Friday or so.
Local Music Shoals Swamper David Hood likes the "feel" of Sassafras
Music legend David Hood and judy visited the studio. I love the way his guitar does the talkin.
New Handy Event - Wildwood
There's a wonderful new event now scheduled for the first Saturday of the Handy Music Festival. July 19, Wildwood Park. This (first) year we will be focusing on "WATER", and featuring "Acoustics IN the Creek" Select pic below and visit the website I setup this morning.
Grab your lawn chair, sun lotion, and creek shoes, get in the creek or from the banks and enjoy acoustics from some of Shoals best.
A few more pics from Thursday night dinner
Just as it started raining, and we were in the car leaving, I thought to take a few shots. Guess better late than never, but . . . Yup, Nancy Oneal's farm is quite amazing.
1979 Raft Race Song Re-recorded
After catching heck from Kelvin H about the previous Ragae version, we tried again with Amanda and Ukele. Kelvin, I think this is an improvement (for sure), but I'd still LOVE to hear what you and your buddies can do with it (like you said, add maybe some (or a lotta) "swamp")???.
Really, wouldn't hurt my feelings to start over with a new 2014 song altogether.
Amanda did great! But if it's music related, I perfer mine - "local" ;)
Oh, I almost forgot. There's one more verse to this song. I deleted it, just because I was worried it might be a bit controversial. Anyone remember how the last verse went??
An evening with the trust
The Shoals hosted this year's annual Alabama Trust conference this week. Thursday night was a magical evening. Bo Osborne and Emily Tease, showcased the best of the shoals with this farm to table event. Master chef Alan Phillips did his thing, this time with wild game. My history with wild game has not been memorable. Thursday night Alan pulled it off, amazingly.
- quail and jalapeno tartlets
- roast fig and curried duck
- pheasant quesadilla bits with salsa verde
- pickled peach and herbed chevre (sorry i forgot what the heck chevre is) on sweet potato biscuit
- Venison medallion paired with wild turkey meatloaf, with local veggies, sauted greens ++
- green tomato cheese grits
- pecan pesto and blackberry cumberland sauce
- white chocolate mousse tartlests with berries
The venison was amazing, as well as the entire evening.
the menu went on and on with more of these small bite sized desserts arriving regularly. It was all really wonderful. The Venison was the best (by far) i've had. Cooked perfectly.
Many of the guests were with the trust from around the state but lot's of locals as well. Lot's of fun at our table with David and Nannette Cassady, John Locker (who also pulled off an amazing farm to table event a couple of months ago), Tracey Marcu, Judy and David Hood (yup, one of our own Muscle Shoals Swampers, Rusy and Lisa Alexander (just within shouting distance).
My gosh, I almost forgot the best part. Nancy O'neal's farm. My first visit and it's heavenly. The dream began just as we pulled off of Gunterford Road at a little sign that said "Dinner". Beautiful rolling hills, beautiful cows, quite special.
These bad pics were taken with my iphone (dropped my good camera a few weeks ago). I borrowed Nannette's camera and took more just as we were leaving. I'm hoping to find a few pics of the end of the event to share.
Historic Muscle Shoals Music (Swampette) tour Saturday
I finally took the entire morning off Saturday and got on board Judy Hood's super cool Swampette Tour. Let me say "I'm onboard!". We met at the Marriott Lobby, and were whisked away on a really cute little wooden ;) tour bus.
If you don't know, Judy has amazing insight into this subject. Being Swamper David Hood's better half - she know's plenty. Actually she know's more than she sharing. And she's sharing a ton.
Our first stop was a Fame. So cool that recording artists are still lining up to record here. A group was recording while we were there.
Second stop, Alabama Music Hall of Fame. This is the first time I've seen it since the remodel, and I'm impressed. Really wonderful the our Governor and other's have invested in this amazing historic project.
The stars were aligned - just as we arrived local super start Spooner Oldham was honored with a bronze star in the Walk of Fame.
Last stop was of 3614 Jackson Highway, Muscle Shoals Sound. This is the one that the Beats Music guy is investing in the huge project of a historic remodel. The aesthetics will be just as they were, the recording equipment will be state of the art.
Tour leader and lead Swampette - Judy Hood in black, Georgia Carter proudly sporting her new Billy Reid "Mustache" blue T-shirt also on the front row of historic 3614 Jackson Highway - aka Muscle Shoals Sound Studios.
My review; Each tourist (including me!) drank the wonderful, historic Muscle Shoals Music kool-aid that tourguide, Swampette Judy Hood shared, and we loved every moment of it. Thank you Judy Hood! So generous of you to share so much of the wonderful history of our area. I'll be back for more!
Raft Race has a brand new website
the Great Cypress Creek Raft Race is getting it's own website. Just getting it going. Lots of work in the garden . . . But for now, for Raft Race info/news/old pics/announcements/ and blog posts and 30 year Raft Race story telling, please visit: http://www.greatcypresscreekraftrace.com/
