Good Morning, Marinelli's

Photo by Kiernan Majerus-Collins

The coffee was really good at Marinelli's Supper Club in Burlington this morning.
I was there bright and early to hear Congressman Chris Murphy talk about saving manufacturing jobs.
Jim Marinelli was there, and the coffee was definitely on. He told me there aren't many early morning events at his place, which is, after all, a supper club.
Come to think of it, I'm not sure I've ever been there in the daytime before. They've got a beautiful lake behind the place -- a real asset. When I've been there in the past, it's been for the nights the restaurant hosts the Bristol Reunion Jazz Band.
Jim told me the band is off until October, but that in the meantime, they've got some French folk fiddlers coming in.
It's cool that they regularly host live music. If you get a chance, check it out.

Rain Postpones Reunion Jazz Band Concert

The concert in Brackett Park set for tonight -- a performance by the Bristol Reunion Jazz Band -- is postponed because of the rain.
The band, playing jazz and swing favorites, will instead take the stage on Thursday at 7 p.m. in Brackett Park.
This band never disappoints, so get there early and bring a lawn chair!

Best of the Home Show, Sunday Edition

The Bristol Reunion Jazz Band, no question, was Sunday's highlight.
The band served up Satin Doll, I Just Can't Wait to Be King, Moonlight in Vermont, Teach Me Tonight, Orange Colored Sky, Birdland and Sing, Sing, Sing, among many other wonderful numbers.
Great show.
I hope the chamber brings back more of this kind of honest entertainment in future shows.
If you missed it, catch them at 7:30 p.m. at Marinelli's Supper Club in Burlington Thursday night. No cover; just buy a drink. And bring a few bucks for the band - new sheet music isn't free, you know.

Happy Birthday, Steve!

Here's a public Happy Birthday to my husband Steve Collins, who is also my co-worker at The Bristol Press and best friend in the whole world. Not to get mushy or anything.

This is not the best picture of him, but it's what I've got today.

So if you see us at the Bristol Home and Business Show listening to the Bristol Reunion Jazz Band this afternoon or just wandering around, say Happy Birthday to Steve. But give the guy a break. It's his day off. No stories. No notebook. And no Bristol Blog.

Best of the Home Show, Saturday Edition

The best thing today at the Bristol Home and Business Show, which I could have told you yesterday except I'm not psychic, is, hands down, I mean hands on, a chair massage offered (and gratefully accepted, especially by me!) from Kimberly Scholl Laurie, a licensed massage therapist with the Bristol Hospital Wellness Center. She spent a few hours on Saturday giving free chair massages out of the goodness of her heart -- and a little desire to drum up some business.
Anyway, anytime I can get a nice shoulder massage, my day is sooooo much better. So thanks, Kimberly! I'm sure she won a lot of friends today. She said a colleague will be at the Bristol Hospital booth on Sunday, so stop by and maybe you, too, can feel better.
The hospital booth, by the way, has some of the best giveaways.... bookmarks that are also magnifiers, lip balm, pens, really good magnets. I'm telling you, they go beyond the jar opener.
The Mum Festival Committee seemed to be a great draw. I have a medically restricted diet, so I can't eat any of what they were selling, but the nice folks there told me business was brisk. Hot dogs and salads were the big sellers, though probably not sold to the same customers.
I wrote about the show today in a story for The Bristol Press, which will be in Sunday's paper and probably online at www.BristolPress.com.
I'm going back to the show again Sunday to see the Bristol Reunion Jazz Band. If you love music, be there at 1 p.m. because these guys can play.

Jazz Band Gets Home Show Gig

The Bristol Reunion Jazz Band will play the Bristol Home Show on Sunday, starting at 1 p.m. They'll play two sets. The picture above, which Press photog Mike Orazzi provided to me, does not show the whole band, which measures about 16 or 17 people, including an outstanding vocalist. I wrote a story about it for The Bristol Press, but so far it hasn't appeared. Hopefully, tomorrow. Anyway, if you like Big Band, Swing, or Jazz, come to the home show on Sunday and have a listen. They'll be in the auditorium. The show is at Bristol Eastern High School. They're so good that I'll be there to hear them -- and it's my day off.