Changes to my blogging and a new blog, Brian's Style Guide

Lately I have not been blogging here with the frequency I use to or that I would like to.  Partly due to weather there have not been as many events to cover and attend since the farmer's market and vintage markets are on hiatus for the season.  Another reason for my lack of posts lately is that I have been extremely busy juggling life, work, and a new blog.  The new blog is Brian's Style Guide here on blogger.  My SoMa blog taught me what a great opportunity and hobby blogging can be but I think there can be more to it.  I want to move my photography forward and develop for myself a career that will combine pretty much all of my passions.  And this new blog I feel is that opportunity I have been looking for in my life.

That said I am not going to leave my SoMa blog at least not for the moment but rather try to roll it into the other.  I want to go a different direction but stay on course if you will.  For those of you who have been so incredibly supportive I thank you dearly and hope that you can enjoy my new blog as well.  I welcome your comments and hope that you will subscribe to the new blog as well.  Also check the blog's Facebook page as well. 

So I am not leaving, just changing things up a bit.  I look forward to spring and new events here in SoMa that can be covered. 

The 2013 Arkansas Cornbread Festival





 This team was using an over 100year old recipe and here they are getting a judge's personal vote

 

 Team from South On Main working hard to get their win

 

 This sculpture seems oblivious to all that is going on around it.

 

 One of the several entry booths to the event.

Saturday November 2nd was the 2013 Arkansas Cornbread Festival and it was a great event.  I had no idea what to expect since I hadn't been to any of the previous three festivals.  Apparently this one had more crowds than last year.  When it kicked off at 11am there were quite a few people there but as the day progressed Main street from 15th-13th was packed with people.  Of course people came to eat cornbread and vote on who they felt had the best dishes, but they stayed to listen to the live music, shop the many vendor tables, and see who all was out and about.  There were pro and amateur competitors going after real prize money in several different categories.  You could vote on who had the best traditional or non-traditional cornbread and side dishes.  And of course you could pick who you felt had the best overall cornbread. 

 11:00

 1:00

 Mark Curry and Monkhouse

 

 Greg Spradlin and The Libras

 

 Gerald Johnson Quartet

 

First of all, the weather was just about as perfect a fall day as you could have.  Cool and a nice breeze but not cold and the sun was pleasantly warm.  There were tons of vendors with all sorts of handmade items, one of which had a copper link bracelet that I purchased and was so stoked about finding.  There was food other than cornbread too, with several food trucks set up in the parking lot across from South On Main.  People brought their families and their dogs.  One thing I noticed in going through the photos were the colors.  I didn't photo shop these colors to make them show up the way they did.  It was something about the light and the beautiful day that just made everything seem so glorious. 

 My friend Ian Park was set up working on art and had some onlookers

 

 Loved talking to one of the ladies about these awesome free-trade African baskets

 

 Downtown Neighborhood Association was one of the many non-retail vendors there.

 

Another thing I really enjoy about living in SoMa is that it is truly a community of people that know each other and are interested in how you are doing.  But even more than that this event drew people from all over to SoMa and I enjoyed running into people that may have been down here before but don't often get to visit.  And especially on such a wonderful day and on what is certainly the biggest annual event in our little neck of the woods we call SoMa.

 So good to see Liz and Ryan NOT working and getting to enjoy the event!

 

 Ran into Don and Susan

 

 Thought these ladies were too awesome not to have their photo taken and the lady on the right went to school at Eastside Junior High, which is now loft apts and where I am sitting right now.

 

 I want a pair of these.

 

 Had such a nice visit meeting these folks!

 

l-r:  Little Rock Mayor Mark Stodola and Graham Catlett

Ok so I hope that I was paying attention when they were calling out the winners.  But just in case I got the winners from Arkansas Cornbread Festival's Facebook page.  :) 

Best Decoration: Capital Hotel--they weren't available for photo

                 Best Side Dish: Sweet Soul

                                   Best Amateur Non-traditional: Liz Hall and Elizabeth Hall

 Best Amateur Traditional: Quapaw Quarter United Methodist

 

 Best Professional Non-traditional: Loblolly Creamery (three in a row!)

Best Professional Traditional: South on Main

 

 Best of Show: Doug Melkovitz, Patrick Cowan and Cassie Toro

I hope next year that it keeps the small town festival feeling to it and not turn into something too large.  Look forward to seeing you next year but until then you can always come down for any of the other events that make SoMa such a great Little Rock neighborhood.  Or just come get lunch and an ice cream cone. 

All photography rights shared by Brian Kelley/Imagine Photography

Local Live at South On Main by Landers Fiat--Amy Garland

First of all I am sorry I didn't post this sooner but the latter part of last week was crazy!  When I write these blog posts I like to sit down and have some coffee or pour a drink, listen to some music, and get in the vibe of what the event was like.  That is hard to do with live music because it is so organic and it is a combination of the performers, the audience, the clinking of the glasses, etc.  So other than taking my laptop and doing it right on the spot I have to have my own process I suppose. 

Let me just say that Wednesday October 23rd was a really good night at South On Main.  One of my favorites in the Local Live series sponsored by Landers Fiat and Oxford American, I had the opportunity to listen to Amy Garland.  And to Adam with Landers Fiat, "Thank you so much for your kind comments on the blog.  You are very welcome.  And thank you for providing an opportunity for us in Little Rock to be exposed to these great artists."  I try to not have to many preconceived ideas about the performers beforehand.  I like to know maybe what genre of music I am going to be hearing but that is about it.  That way I can go and "meet" them for the first time.  It is a blind date of sorts, without all of the pre-date Facebook background check that people might do.  My mind is a blank canvass for the artists to work on.  Amy Garland was a real joy to watch and listen to.  Maybe it is just me and it is the type of music I like to listen to, drink to, and if I was like one couple I noticed I would even dance to.  In a message that I sent to her I said her sound was like that of Bonnie Raitt and that means she is badass!  Yes I said that so just go ahead and gasp "oh my he said a bad word." 

I am not going to sit here and write a review on the music or rehash what has already been written about Amy Garland.  Just know she's a genuine musician, likes to drink red wine (atta girl), and if you'd been there you'd know why I had such a great time listening to her and the musicians there to back her up.  And yeah they rocked it out too!  I am not a music critic but I know what my toe likes to tap to and if my head and neck are moving to it then its all good. 

So I encourage you to take a Wednesday night and go to Local Live at South On Main. 

All photography rights shared by Brian Kelley/Imagine Photography