Jazz Night & 2nd Annual Art Walk on West WalnuT
09.29.2023 - I’m one of those guys who wants to wait until after Thanksgiving to put up a tree, and I’ve been amazed in recent years when Walmart and others started promoting Christmas even before Halloween is over.
However, there was definitely a “pre-holiday” ambiance on West Walnut Street in Historic Downtown Smithville, Tennessee, as the Shoppes of West Walnut presented their 2nd Annual Art Walk on West Walnut.
Although the excellent art displays didn’t necessarily have an overabundance of holiday-themed items, it was obvious by all the people waggin’ around their treasures that someone is going to have a nice surprise come Christmas morning.
The artisans on hand to display their creative works were:
Sherry Elkins
Debbie Mistla
Wadzinski Klondeaus Stained Glass
Tony Luna
Andy Murphy
Tony Zimbelmann
Randy Caldwell
Mary Gilligan
Lara Cottrell
Highland Rim Jewelry & Crafts
Jessica Peith
Beverly Mays
Gerry Burklow
Once again the Shoppes of West Walnut transformed into a lovely setting that, as twilight fell, could have been a street in Venice, Rome, or any other romantic icon city–right here at home in Smithville.
The live jazz musicians who were set up on a small stage in the middle of West Walnut provided just the right background for the VERY cool vibe that predominated. Burlap Room Productions and Bert Driver Nursery provided the stage, cocktail tables, and the beautiful trees including Carolina Sapphire, Ruby Loropetalum, Muhly Grasses, and Bountiful Bobo Hydrangeas.
I believe I’m safe in saying that jazz is the most “artistic” of the multi- music genres we’re pounded with these days…and the musicians that our friend Jordan Morack hooks us up with are top o’ the heap good pro players.
So naturally, as the Artwalk started to wind down, attendees and four of the “street jazz musicians” moved a few steps up the street to the Flatwoods Stage of the Harvester to finish off the evening with some excellent jazz performances.
Bill Alexson on his Yamaha piano rig blew everyone away with his solo warm-up set for the cocktail hour gang, and then came back on stage to play a couple of of hot jazz extended sets with his cohorts: (Bill Alexson said to me, “Nobody listens like the audiences here at the Harvester”) .
Josh Scalf- Vocalist, and trombone player extraordinaire.
Liam Hickey- Drums
Tom Blizzard- Vocalist
Bailey Johnston- bass
All in all, it was just another one of those live jazz, outdoor artwalk, “pre-holiday” evening experiences in historic Smithville, TN that happen “all the time”, No, that’s not true- Experiences like this only happen rarely…,because such an event requires the efforts numerous dedicated, talented people work together to present a “special” event…Like all the artists who displayed at Artwalk, the jazz musicians who played outside and at the Harvester, the Shoppes of West Walnut, the Security and Service Staff at the Harvester Center–And of course, our regular authentic Mexican Food Champ, Tio’s Taco Truck!
Next up: our final outdoor event of 2023 at our 4th Annual Día de los Muertos/Day of the Dead with Captain Midnight Band and costume contest for humans, and (new this year) pets, too, followed by a concert at the Harvester on Thursday, 10/26 (announcement tomorrow!), and the next round of Finally Fridays with Steady Rotation on Friday, 11/3, JL Fulks on Friday, 11/10, and Kaleah Wooten on Friday, 11/17. Stay up-to-date with all the events in the Bert Driver Network (Nursery, Burlap Room, and the Harvester) by signing up for our Burlapper Newsletter - released every other Tuesday morning straight to your inbox!
And remember that you too can rent The Harvester year round…weddings, retirement parties, corporate retreats, quinceanera, company christmas parties, most anything you can dream up: contact us for more information at (931) 235-0531.
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