In case you were wondering. Or perhaps you’ve been misled about our quality of life by reading our so called “local” newspaper, or its online spawn redding.com. Replete with recently incessant horror stories about petty crime and homelessness. Pleasurable living doesn’t sell papers or banner ads, evidently.
Meanwhile, a decent lifestyle goes on here.
Huh. Who knew?
Redding fireworks Fourth of July 2014
As seen from our friend’s patio overlooking the Sacramento River. Music by Craig Padilla and Skip Murphy for a 2007 live recording at Turtle Bay. Fireworks generously provided every year by the philanthropic McConnell Foundation. Thanks to all involved!
Fireworks in Redding California Fourth of July 2014 from Skip Murphy on Vimeo.
Awesome fireworks on the fourth. It’s Really Redding.
Our Italian travel photos in the Record Searchlight
Big fun! Jessica Skropanic featured a couple photos of me and the lovely Karry in Naples in their Sunday Edition. Here’s the link:
Below is the actual image I sent her. I thought it funny because we were unwittingly photobombed by the waiter’s buddy at the outdoor cafe. She said they couldn’t run it that way because we didn’t know his name. I explained that I was certain his name was Luigi Bomboni, but she was evidently unconvinced. Here’s the original image:
And if you are not completely bored by other people’s travel photos, you can see my images of the Vatican here:
https://reallyredding.com/2014/03/23/my-images-of-the-vatican/
And of Valencia here:
https://reallyredding.com/2014/03/17/a-european-city-with-a-redding-flavor/
Floral fireworks
Still Married plays Redding’s River Amphitheater
Just a pleasant evening down by the river in Redding with friends Craig and Erin Friedman, and a bunch of relaxed onlookers. Still Married? Why, yes. Yes they are.
Still Married from Skip Murphy on Vimeo.
Part of a free concert series staged by the Shasta County Arts Council. Redding’s underutilized amphitheater was nice and cool on a hot day. It’s Really Redding.
Kimberly has a birthday party in Redding
Starry skies over Silverthorn Houseboat
Love this photo by Tommy Higgins as seen on Facebook. Nice work! Silverthorn Resort posted it. Click to slightly enlarge.
The houseboat scene on Lake Shasta is just one of the things that makes our region so special. Warm summer nights on the lake.
Click on the image and Like Silverthorn’s FB page. The lake will drop this year, but it is still a huge body of water. A huge body of fun.
Starry skies on Lake Shasta. It’s Really Redding.
Bandaloop dances on the Sundial
Well actually, suspended from the Sundial Bridge. Here is a brief video taken from my perspective among the large crowd gathered last night to enjoy these amazing performers. Be sure to watch in HD.
On the Summer Solstice in 2014, the flying dance troupe Bandaloop performed in the air to live music from The North State Symphony. They dance suspended from Redding’s famous Sundial Bridge in celebration of its 10th Anniversary. A grand time was had by all the many spectators, ourselves included. Thanks to the McConnell Foundation, Turtle Bay Museum, and the City of Redding.
Erin said, “It looks like something you’d see in the city.”
I say, “It is. The City of Redding.”
Thanks Bandaloop. You’re Really Redding.
Sundial bridge time to be correct today for the 10th time
Re-post from 2009 in view of today’s 10th anniversary celebrations of our famous bridge. Images below from when it was right for the 5th time. This year, the celebration is much bigger.
Yesterday a group of folks gathered at the north end of Redding’s Sundial Bridge to observe the Solstice, and perhaps to verify that their cell phones report the same time as the planet. Noon. Yep.
There was a band, and some booths. At one of the booths you could look at the sun, but there were no sunspots or flares, so it pretty much looked like just a bright disk.
Redding lays claim to the tallest known sundial on the planet at 217 ft. We humans have a history of building large and relatively permanent structures to observe the planetary movements.
Anderson Summer Concert series to host Tempest tonight!
It used to be the Mosquito Serenade, but now it’s called the Summer Serenade. A free concert series held in Anderson’s lovely River Park on Wednesdays. Tonight they are having the celtic rock band Tempest again. I ran this post below back in 2009. It looks like their lineup has changed a bit, but the spirit remains. I am re-posting to get you in the mood for this evening’s show. I loved the way the chain of dancers formed!
At first only the youngest kids are dancing, since they are more in touch with the muse.
But soon, the group of dancers grows larger, as the bigger kids join in.
Like a chain reaction, the group of dancers builds.
This band is hotter than than an Anderson July.
Soon the whole crowd is one single pulsating organism, throbbing to the rhythym.
Yes, you have them in the palm of your hand. Nice work.
What a terrific venue! This free concert series is a longtime Anderson tradition. Thanks to all who contribute and sponsor. And Tempest, well, you blew us away!