Redding area singer songwriter Tracy Jean Manuel has released a CD, humbly titled “Halfway Decent.” Listen up.
Blogger Marck Beauchamp pointed me to this brilliant local music. I know readers will want me to characterize the music in words, since that’s what blog writers do. I don’t have much patience with genres when it comes to music like this. It doesn’t fit well into a pigeonhole. At times it conjures earth and roots, colored with evocative Americana. Other parts swell and bloom with restrained electronic euphoria. It’s the mixture of those flavors that propels her work beyond easy categorization. You’ll just have to listen to it all, and decide for yourself what to call it. Luckily, she makes that easy.
You can listen to more Tracy Jean Manuel at the link, and then go on to download the whole work for whatever you think it’s worth. I think it’s worth a lot. Clever, thoughtful direct marketing, by the way. You can also order the physical CD, signed by the artist. I’d suggest you like Tracy’s Facebook page so you can keep an ear on future artistry from this complex and beautiful songbird going forth. Hearing it in entirety again last night, I wanted it to just go on and on. Good work Tracy. You’re Really Redding.
Heat waves ripple across too much pavement and steely automobiles, evaporating the moisture right off your eyes. Blink back the heat. Find a way to stay chill today, Redding. You can do it. You always have. Just another sunny day. Okay these last two are from Winter. Sunny Winter. So think about Winter.
Coolness brought to you by Really Redding.
Evidently, all you need do to get Reddingites to line up in the full summer sun is to give away your product. Retailers, take note. This company has built a fairly fanatical fan base. Innovative marketing. Note the Starbucks right across the street.
Took this image yesterday. Not overly colorful or bright for a Whiskeytown Lake sunset. More subtle and tranquil.
These are sized 1920 X 1200 for a Desktop Background image, although they are rather dark for my tastes. But feel free to use either, if you like.
Earlier we attended a dinner party in west Redding. This was the view from the pool: Sublime sunset reflections. That’s Really Redding.
Redding wouldn’t be complete without our grain mill. All great civilizations throughout history have relied on gristmills to provide the staff of life, going back to the Old Testament. Our terrific local mill is Moores Mill, founded by miller Bob Moore.I recall when they originally opened shop, in a quonset style building on Highway 273. Acceptance of the new venture was not guaranteed. Some local opinions I recall were that white, so called “enriched” flour was the modern wonder food. Whole grains, coarsely ground, seemed an anachronistic, outdated idea to many.
Not for me. I’ve been a regular customer and raving fan since their inception. For me, Redding’s (and my) quality of life would be diminished greatly without Moores Mill.
They have subsequently expanded into other related human-friendly foods. Spices. Teas. Specialty beans. Creative pasta I have not seen anywhere else. And amazing bread mixes for bread machines. The Cranberry Walnut bread is sublime. Recipes, and books. Juices and local honey. I could go on and on.
We actually buy Grains and Nut Granola there in 25 lb bags(!), and eat it for breakfast. Mixed with plain yougurt, it’s the true breakfast of champions. Throw in some sunflower seeds, and chop some fresh almonds in.
Is it health food or desert? No need to choose. It’s both. There has probably never been a single day that something from Moores was not in my kitchen, since 1975. The staff of life. Mills have always played an important role in Shasta County (see Millville). Thanks Bob.
Moores Mill proves the wisdom: 23 Jeremiah 1–19 As Ye Sow, So Shall Ye Reap.
A harvest of goodness.
Last Friday afternoon, we attended the Game Changers presentation put on by the Shasta County Economic Development Center, at the Redding Convention Center. The event was well attended. Erin and I met lots of local people interested and excited about Redding’s future. I also learned about several local resources and start-up companies I’d not otherwise have known about, like Technisoil.
Our Keynote guest: “From “Textile to Technology” A Community’s Transformation. The Story of Greenville, South Carolina. A native South Carolinian, Nancy (Whitworth) has been in Greenville for 30 years and has played an integral role in Greenville’s transformation from a dying textile town with serious economic problems to being an innovative community with an entrepreneurial spirit that is willing to take risks.” She did an excellent job demonstrating how Greeenvile found success after the devastation of their major local industry.
There were other presentations from some local companies that are very promising. To the left, John Weise of software startup, Zenius Solutions.
As part of his presentation, Weise spoke about how more software businesses than ever before seem to be turning towards subscription-based business models. In case you were not already aware, software companies often provide their products and services on the basis of a recurring payment format. Essentially, this means that their customers can pay to access the software that they need for as long as they require it. In recent years, subscription-based business models have proved hugely advantageous to businesses in the software industry as they provide a continuous income stream that can boost company growth.
As well as the presentation that was given by Weise, I was also struck by a few things from the keynote. First, Greenville really took chances on making their downtown likable and livable, and it worked out well. But they endured years of risk with private/public partnerships and (gulp) eminent domain to reclaim their best parts. I’m sure it wasn’t easy, but the successful results speak for themselves. Nancy had toured Redding prior, and was really impressed with our river, our artful bridge, and the Cascade Theater. It seems Greenville had so much less than Redding to start with, but did so much more to leverage what they had. Erin, Skip, and Realtor Jean Hall. Image courtesy of Mary Lehmberg Lascelles
Another interesting thing was the repeated mention of Bethel Church, and the students it has attracted. Redding is in a public/private partnership with Bethel for the very building in which the event took place. People I spoke with mentioned the influx of young people with new ideas as a very positive aspect of life in Redding. Erin and I agree. Meeting Bethel students with their varied backgrounds and cultures has expanded Redding’s culture. The subject came up remarkably often, and seemed yet another very positive factor to the companies located here. Interesting watercraft on display with other local Redding productsIt was a terrific and eye opening event. There’s more info about the Game Changer event at redding.com. Also, you can review related Tweets at #edcgc. Thanks EDC, sponsors, speakers, and all who attended.
Park Marina from across the River in Redding
Once there was a plan for Redding’s most visible riverfront. Some students envisioned what it might look like. It was a nice idea.
View Larger Map
“Of the 27 acres in the Park Marina area, 18 acres will be dedicated to open space for various recreational uses. New development on the site will include:
• a 6,000 square foot outdoor amphitheater;
• a 12 screen theater complex;
• 145 residential units of different types and sizes;
• two hotels and a bed-and-breakfast;
• a marketplace with eateries, small scale development, a
permanent outdoors facility for weekly farmers’ markets
and seasonal craft fairs, an arts plaza;
• 1,000 parking spaces in two new three-story garages on
Park Marina Drive;
• traffic calming measures along the whole project site and
a pedestrian bridge”
You can read the whole Park Marina plan document at the link. Thanks Cal Poly students and staff, for showing us what could be.
This subject came up at dinner with friends yesterday evening. And how Redding so often turns its back on the river that defines us. Surely it will not be that way forever. Park Marina in Redding by Skip Murphy
Click on the Info button to enlarge the map. An ingenious and useful graphic design for visualizing getting around the country.
From Redding, it’s an easy hop on the Green Line to the Red Line, and then a straight shot to either San Francisco or New York. Or stay on the Green Line for either San Diego or Seattle. Nice.
Brilliant design work by Cameron Booth. Thanks for putting Redding on the map.
Redding musician Craig Padilla recorded lovely, evocative, longform organic/electronic music in his studio on West Street in Redding. Vostok was one of his major works. It went on to become his highly regarded release on the artist-run Spotted Peccary label. Lately, Vostok itself has been in the news.
You can listen to some of Vostok at the link. Hard to believe it was 10 years ago!
I was teasing Craig that the low droning sound that is heard on the recording was only Russians drilling on orders from Vladimir Putin to get him a really cold glass of water.
