It’s Friday and what better way to celebrate the weekend and the coming of spring than with some photographs that fit the season. This is the best time of year for watching people in the city because everyone is so stir crazy from the winter they are ready to bust out and have fun in the public space.
I loved the recent Beatles window display at Reruns Boutique. The guys looked perfectly at home in their threads. It’s interesting to consider that (some) guys in the 1960s wore clothes that women would wear in later decades. So, there are the four of them clad in women’s clothes and looking very comfortable.
Of course, the store is pretty fab, itself, and you should check it out. It’s at 521 Union Avenue. If you are downtown-challenged, here’s what you do: Stand beside Tupelo Honey on Market Square staring at Urban Outfitters. Turn to your right and walk two blocks on Union Avenue (the street you are facing). It’s on the right, beside Union Avenue Books where you should also stop.
Of course, various types of art may often be found on the square. You guys know I love excellent buskers and I’ve found a new one (two) to love: The Lost Dog Street Band. Great name for a band and a great sound. I seem to run into them all about – from the Urban Bar to Suttree’s to the square. They are country with an alternative sensibility – particularly lyrically. If i had to name a close musical cousin, I’d probably go for the Felice Brothers. I’ve got a video below to let you get a feel for their music.
They tell me they are currently out of Nashville where they say the busking scene is tough – not because of the competition from other street musicians, but because Nashville has no noise ordinances (or enforcement?) and, as a result, sound systems blare from the bars and the street is impossible to play. They say they love playing Knoxville. Maybe they’ll just move here and join us.
It was fun watching the painter on the square, as well. It’s a different medium from the other artists and, as far as I could tell, he wasn’t asking for anything but good light. Still, he did engage people. I loved watching them timidly approach and then become immersed in conversation with the artist. I hope he’ll work there, again.
It felt to me as if we had a bit more Mardi Gras in the city, this year. Of course, I’m good with that. Maybe it’s because we have a place on Market Square, Earthbound, to buy a wide range of masks. I’m not sure. I believe I ran into these people on Gay Street on First Friday, actually, so Mardi Gras bled a bit into Lent.
I love the little architectural details of the city and the photograph here is just a little stab at one of those while I played around with my new Canon 6D. Will we ever see new buildings that incorporate that level of detail, again?
Finally, I found these young ladies and this bus on Gay Street one Sunday afternoon. They had two photographers instructing them on strutting down the street. At first I didn’t know the bus was connected with the girls.
The bus is the “Big Love Bus,” and is a new addition to the Knoxville party venue scene. There’s one in Nashville, as well. The Facebook page for ours says “coming in May,” so I guess I’m breaking the story before it happens. These ladies had rented it, apparently, as they all piled back on board after the photo shoot. I asked one of them the occasion and she said, “It’s for a friend’s sweet sixteen party.” I think when I turned sixteen I went bowling with my friends. My parents would not have allowed me to board a psychedelic bus. The Times . . . well, you know.
I hope you all have a great weekend. There’s a rally for education on Market Square today at 4:30 PM. If you are so inclined, why not come out and show the teachers some love. Goodness knows they could use some love in today’s political climate.