If you are looking for something different to do this fall, consider the following unique opportunity. On November 16, KACU-FM, Abilene Public Radio will bring the popular public radio program, “From The Top” to Abilene for the second time. 
 
I listen to the program on Saturdays on 89.7 FM and frequently find myself laughing out loud as host Christopher O’Riley interviews young performers between the ages of 8 and 18 about subjects ranging from skateboarding, rap songs, the opposite sex, dealing with parents, teachers to homework.

After giving candid and often hilarious answers to O’Riley’s questions, the young artists step to the stage to join him and “take it from the top”. O’Riley, an accomplished concert pianist, arranger and performer frequently accompanies the young artists.  Suddenly “ typical” kids become classically trained prodigies playing instruments or singing selections from their favorite classical pieces. It never ceases to amaze me when performers so young can play difficult and challenging music so beautifully.

During the last decade, over 700,000 listeners a week have heard more than 2,000 young artists from nearly all 50 states perform.   From The Top’s first visit to Abilene was at the Paramount Theatre in 2005 and featured the well-known local group, “Revolution”. No announcement has been made about who will perform during the November 16 performance. It will broadcast nationwide on a future date. If you’d like ticket or sponsorship information, contact 89.7 KACU-FM at 325-674-2441.
The performance will be November 16 at 7:30 p.m. at First Baptist Church located at 1333 N. 3^rd Street in Abilene, Texas. Tickets range from $10 to $20; $15 for KACU-FM members and $10 for students. Group pricing is available.

Reported by Myra Dean, KACU-FM.

Great finds at It's About Time

If you haven’t been antiquing in Abilene, well then I’d say, “It’s About Time.” Personally, I enjoy refinishing furniture and love the challenge of attempting to turn the old piece into something somewhat shabby chic. So, a hunt to find another fixer-upper, coupled with a suggestion from a loyal reader sent me right into “It’s About Time.”

What intrigued me most to stop by and check out the store was actually the suggestion. She told me that women come from all over Texas and stay the night at her Abilene guesthouse, just to shop at this store the next day.

Owners and business partners, Pam Sumrall, Susan Pittman and Terri Whipple will agree. Their customer base drives in from Fort Worth, Lubbock, Amarillo, Midland/Odessa and even as far south as Fredericksburg just to see what they have in store.

What I found most interesting is that “It’s About Time” is not just your average antique store. They actually retail many new items, as well as the gently worn. You may recognize well-known brands, such as: Volcano Candles, Nouvelle Candle Company and Tokyo Milk Perfume as you walk amongst the rooms. I think one of the most fascinating and appealing factors about the store is the way in which they display their merchandise. These ladies say that while everything is for sale in their store, they are also selling ideas…ways to display old things, yet incorporate new trends into a room or even an entire home. Sumrall sums it up best with the statement, “Not everyone gets to start with entirely new stuff or new furniture, so we like to teach our clients and shoppers how to display and organize what they already have with a touch of something new from our store. We enjoy inspiring others to decorate with soul, to breathe new life into a room and to incorporate the art of wabi-sabi.” Having never heard this term before, I was definitely fascinated and had to inquire further. “Wabi-sabi,” explained Sumrall, is actually the Japanese art of finding beauty in imperfection and accepting the natural cycle of age and time. I believe I first heard the term from Leonard Cohen.”

You will definitely see this theme carried throughout the three ‘rooms’ in the store. As you look around the store, you will see that it is all about contrast. Mixing the shiny with the matte, rustic and elegant, organic and formal…you get the idea. Overall, the store has a very good and warm energy. It is bright, eclectic, antique—yet fun! While visiting Abilene, making a stop at “It’s About Time” is definitely worth your time! You just might find the perfect birthday or holiday gift, personal home décor or accent, or even a larger item—such as a chair, desk or mirror—that you just can live without. You definitely want to spend some time browsing amongst all the unique finds inside!

Sumrall shows off pendants, jewelry & more.

Lastly, something that I immediately observed while visiting was the level of customer service these ladies offer their clientele. It is apparent—right down to the cheerful conversations and custom gift wrapping—that the owners have developed solid relationships with their shoppers over the years and they pick up right where they left off. One lady told me as she was walking out, “This is a fabulous place! I have never left without something new in my hands!”

It’s About Time is located at 1395 Albany Street in Abilene, Texas. The store is open Monday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. For additional information, call 325-692-7239.

The Loft Inside Under One Roof

As everyone rushes to get ready to go back to school, avoid the crowds at the “big box” stores during tax-free weekend. Shop and dine in historic downtown Abilene this weekend. Items that are tax-free this weekend include clothing and footwear under $100, as well as backpacks for elementary and secondary students. It also includes layaway items and many of these items can be found in our downtown area.

One of my favorite places to browse and shop is Under-One-Roof, located at 244 Pine St. in the former Minter Department Store. Under-One-Roof has over 30 specialty shops in one location, hence the name. From backpacks, shoes, umbrellas, children’s and chic clothing to gifts, you can find something for everyone. Under-One-Roof still offers layaway (like department stores used to) on all purchases for no additional fee.

After shopping, enjoy lunch at The Loft, located on the mezzanine of the store. The Loft offers sandwiches, salads, soup and luscious desserts. My husband’s favorite lunch is the meatloaf sandwich, while I’d recommend the lemon bar for dessert…although you can’t beat the hot brownie either!

Don’t forget all there is to see and do in historic downtown Abilene. If your day permits, stop by Frontier Texas!, 625 N. 1st Street, and tour this high-tech attraction. While inside the visitor’s center, pick up a Downtown Shopping, Dining and Museum Guide. This will help you as you spend the rest of your day discovering historic downtown Abilene with all its charm and family-friendly atmosphere.

I promise, you won’t miss the crowds at the “big box” stores or fast food restaurants around town!

You won't want to miss out on this great summer sale!

The Abilene City Council adopted the SoDA district (south downtown Abilene) master development plan at this week’s council meeting. Many of us are looking forward to seeing the SoDA district evolve into something grand. I hope it is sooner than later. As I told the city council, if we wait to move on this any later, I will be 80 years old before they finish redevelopment!

On Stage as 'Jacqueline' in 'Boeing-Boeing'

As of late, I have had a rather fun, extraordinary and busy experience…I am currently gracing the stage as the French stewardess, Jacqueline, in Boeing-Boeing at the Abilene Community Theatre!

 It has been absolutely delightful playing her character. I get to share the stage with five other charming, hilarious characters and play out a ridiculous, funny, sexy, door-slamming farce. This show was revived on Broadway in a 2008 Tony-winning production and is also a nonstop 1960s comedy. It is always the best feeling when our story is met with laughter from the audience!

As I said, I play the French airline hostess. Back in the 1960s, air travel was much different than it is today. Only the rich could afford to fly; travelers would dress up for the flights; men wore suits and women, dresses, etc. When I began to think about my character, I thought of what it would be like to be a stewardess back in the ’60s. It was a very glamorous, yet strict profession. As Bernard, the Parisian bachelor states, “Apart from being beautiful, they have to be healthy, good at cooking, nursing, witty, wise and friendly.” Having said all of that, I feel strongly that it took a strong, independent woman to pursue any career back in those days when housewives were more the norm. The fact that all three air hostesses in this play have strength and personality supports my point of view. However, that does not discount the fact that this play is a bit on the chauvinistic side—be aware that this is the 1960s script! Nevertheless, the show gets by with it because it makes fun and light of that very fact and is so fast paced.

Did I say three airline hostesses? Yes, three! This play features Bernard (played by Jared Strange) who has French, German (familiar face—KTXS news anchor, Laura Madison) and American fiancées (Jessica Delgado), each lovely airline hostesses with frequent “layovers.” He keeps “one up, one down and one pending…until unexpected schedule changes brings all three of us to Paris—better yet—to his apartment at the same time! Robert (Robert Hatcher), an old college friend of Bernard, comes in from the Provinces and becomes a vital character as he tries to smooth out this harem!

The journey of the show from beginning to end can best be described during a hilarious line by ‘Bertha’…Bernard’s housekeeper (Kim Bachmann Baker), “Drink up…we’re in for a bumpy night!” Tis true, this fast paced farce is a bit like going through some crazy turbulence.

Overall, I have had a ton of fun working with both the cast and crew of Boeing-Boeing. I truly love getting into the mind, body, and spirit—oh…and not to mention…hair and makeup—of Miss Jacqueline each night. Enjoy the show and have a ‘great flight’!

The Cast of 'Boeing-Boeing'

 Curtain is at 7:30 p.m. each night at the Abilene Community Theatre, 801 S. Mockingbird Lane. June 17-19, June 25-26. Tickets range from $8-$10. Reservations are strongly recommended. Box office hours are from 1-5 p.m. Monday-Friday. Info: 325-673-6271.

Hickory Street Cafe in Abilene, Texas

Looking for a lunch spot that is very ladies-who-lunch in Abilene, Texas? Well, you are in luck! Venture down to Hickory Street Café, located … well, on Hickory Street (644 Hickory St.). Picture your grandma’s lacy, cutesy and mixed-and-matched table clothes, a warm and welcoming atmosphere, fresh flowers on tables and entryways, friends reuniting and meeting for lunch, running into old friends — you know the whole bit. That’s Hickory Street! It can best be described as a quaint, adorable authentic café situated inside a historic home in downtown Abilene.

The café is famous for its chicken salad, quiche and zucchini bread, but it also has several kinds of sandwiches, salads, brunch-style egg dishes, breads and desserts that will all cater to your taste buds. Oh, and don’t forget to order some of their delicious peach tea with your meal! Another recommendation: check the hours before you go. They are generally only open Monday-Friday, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Hickory Street takes reservations for parties if five or more, so you also might want to phone ahead because it can get pretty crowded inside the old home during the lunch hour. They also rent out the café on weekends for events such as bridal showers, baby showers and other private events (upon prior booking and request). They also have a delightful gift shop upstairs inside the ‘house’ filled with all sorts of things you just can’t live without. It’s a must-see when you go for lunch.

For more information, call 325-675-0465.

PS: Just because I said, “ladies who lunch,” plenty of men frequent Hickory Street as well. Which always calls for a smile.

Just one of the many Beautiful Sites to be seen in Historic Downtown Abilene!

Enjoy the great outdoors, get some exercise, and step into the past with a Historic Downtown Walking tour.

Walk the streets of our more than century-old West Texas town and follow in the footsteps of the builders who made Abilene’s frontier what it is today. Founded in 1881 by the T&P Railway, Abilene has since become the heart of West Texas and is home to 120,000 friendly people.

Oil strikes and lucrative crops led to Abilene’s success in the 1920s — a time when many of the buildings in the Downtown District were being constructed. By taking a Historic Walking Tour, you can enjoy the efforts of Abilene’s downtown revitalization and appreciate those who have taken the time and interest in preserving their community’s heritage.

Pick up a Walking Tour brochure at Frontier Texas!, at 625 N. 1st St., or print one ahead of time from our Web site,  and begin your adventure. You can even add it to a custom travel itinerary.

Begin your journey at Frontier Texas! Thanks to modern technology, it is possible to relive early frontier days. Step back in time to meet the men and women who lived and died on the Texas frontier. Unlike a traditional museum, Frontier Texas! uses first-person narratives rather than collections of artifacts to tell the story of the western Texas frontier, along with lights, cameras, action and big-screen special effects.

Next, walk west down N. 1st St. toward the Texas and Pacific Depot, 1101 N. 1st St. in Everman Park. Built in 1910, this building provided passenger service until 1967. The last passenger train left the depot in March 1967 with only 39 passengers aboard. This building was restored in 1994 to its original 1920s appearance, and currently houses the Convention and Visitors Bureau and the Cultural Affairs Council.

Throughout the Historic Downtown Walking Tour, you will also learn interesting facts about staple downtown buildings, such as the Cypress Building, the Wooten, Grissom & Popular Buildings, Abilene Reporter-News, O’Kelley Office Supply, Jordan Taylor Building, T&P Freight Warehouse, Minter Building, Mims Building, Hilton Hotel and much more.
Hear the stories you’ve never heard behind structures, such as the Concrete Overpass, located at 1100 to 1200 Blocks of N. 1st St., the Old Weather Bureau and the Vera Minter Memorial Park.

If you’d prefer a guided historic downtown walking tour with the Abilene Preservation League, attend Downtown Dayz on October 9, 2010. The group usually meets in Abilene’s Minter Park around 11:30 a.m. the day of festivities. For more information on the Historic Downtown Abilene attractions and events, visit www.abilenevisitors.com.

As you know, our city has been gearing up for National Travel and Tourism Week…and more specifically for our big local rally on the official U.S. Travel Rally Day!

Here are the two most recent videos from the Travel Matters series–the Five Week and Four Week Countdown. These videos feature the individuals that are employed by our local tourism industry and those who employ them–our local business owners.

We hope that you join us in the celebration of the world’s largest industry during National Travel and Tourism Week at Abilene’s Travel Rally on May 11. It will be held at 11 a.m. at Frontier Texas! and will feature several western heritage demonstrations–such as chuckwagon cooking, members (and horses) of the Six White Horse Riders team from HSU, western heritage re-enactors from the region, the Fandangle Calliope–and much more! Mayor Norm Archibald will be in attendance and we have confirmed that Rep. Neugebauer’s staff will make a proclamation. Anyone who attends the Travel Rally will receive credentials for free admission to Abilene attractions, good for May 11 only. Attractions include: Abilene Zoo, Frontier Texas!, The Grace Museum, 12th Armored Memorial Museum and Buffalo Gap Historic Village. It will be a truly fun and free event.

See you May 11. Travel Matters to Abilene and rural America!