Craftsman House has just won the NICHE Top Retailer Award for " Best New Gallery" in the country!! 

Professional fine craft artists throughout the U.S. & Canada nominated nearly 600 galleries, retail stores, arts nonprofits, museums and guilds in various catagories for the 2009 competition.  They are very excited to have won this prestigious award, which was open to all galleries less than 5 years old.  They were presented with the award at an August 2nd ceremony in Philadelphia.

 

On the local scene, Creative Loafing is kicking off their annual "Best of the Bay" awards.  Voting ends soon so please go to http://bestoftampa.technomile.com/bestoftampa.php
to vote for your favorites.  Of course if you think Craftsman House is the best art gallery, then please vote for them.  This is an easy way to support those businesses, people, places & events that make our area special.

 

Stephanie is now making Craftsmans House's baked goods.  Right now they have cherry apple purse pastries, mango scones, muffins, key lime white chocolate cookies, chocolate almond biscotti, banana nut bread and delicious mini pies.  Jeff recommends her strawberry rhubarb pie (with ice cream).  Or come by on National Peach Pie Day (Monday, August 24th) to try the fresh peach pie.

 

They just received their shipment of Bison's special late summer brew: Organic Honey Basil.  This classic brew is infused with organic honey for a hint of sweetness and aroma.  Fresh organic basil lends a slight herbal note & aftertaste.

 

EVENTS:

Start off your gallery walk at Craftsman House!  After strawberry rhubarb pie & coffee, head east towards the waterfront to visit additional galleries.  Participating galleries extend their hours the second Saturday of each month for gallery walk.

 

Participating Galleries (from east to west):

Craftsman House - 2955 Central Avenue

Grand Central Stained Glass & Graphics - 2425 Central Avenue

Creative Clay - 1124 Central Avenue

Interior Motives - 1110 Central Avenue

Florida Craftsmen - 501 Central Avenue

Shapiro's at BayWalk - 185 2nd Avenue N.

Crystal Mirage Gallery - 800 2nd Avenue NE at The Pier

Paintings of the World - 400 Beach Drive, #130

 

We lost Elvis on August 16th, 1977, but the King's life is celebrated all week at Craftsman House.  Go on in for a Frozen Elvis blended drink - chocolate, peanut butter & banana all shook up with ice & milk and served with a hunk of burnin' love.  Great with some of Stephanie's homemade baked goods, or add a shot or two of espresso for an extra kick.

 

Join locally owned businesses as they collaborate to educate the public on the benefits of supporting independent businesses.

Congrats go out to Deborah Zapata for designing the beautiful SPIN logo. After SPIN was mentioned in St. Petersburg's Shine newsletter, Governor Charlie Crist's office has already called to enquire about their efforts.

 

www.craftemergency.org 

Biggest event of the year.  Potters near & far donate pots which they load into the large kiln.  Once the kiln is fired, the work is unloaded & dozens of pots are raffled off.  All proceeds are donated to the Craft Emergency Relief Fund (CERF), which helps out artists in times of need.

Buy a bowl & fill it up with complimentary pot roast or veggie stew.

Buy a tumbler & fill it up with complimentary iced tea or cold beer.

 

www.rowanbrothers.com

The Rowan's slide seamlessly between genres & generations with tight harmonies, haunting melodies underscored by crisp guitar, mandolin and steel guitar.  On this tour they add another dimension, with Sue Cunningham on fiddle & vocals.

 

Since the 1970's audiences have enjoyed Chris & Lorin Rowan's harmonies, exuberant interaction and exciting mix of bluegrass-flavored folk and Everly Brothers style rock and country.  At times they have toured with their more famous brother Peter.  They have been a fixture of the San Francisco music scene since opening for the Grateful Dead at the closing of The Fillmore West in 1971.  Shortly after they were signed by Clive Davis and later David Geffen.  Musicians who have appeared on their albums include David Grisman, the Grateful Dead's Jerry Garcia, Phil Lesh & Bill Kreutzmann.  They have appeared on Garrison Keillor's Prairie Home Companion on NPR.  They have had songs recorded by national artists ranging from Jefferson Starship to the title track on Ricky Skagg's Grammy Award winning CD, "Soldier of the Cross".

 

Jeff Schorr's favorite time seeing them was at a December show about 5 years ago at the legendary Sweetwater Saloon in Mill Valley, CA.  They were joined that night by the Grateful Dead's Bob Weir, David Gans (host of the nationally syndicated Grateful Dead radio show), Henry Kaiser, and a host of other local bay area musicians.

 

Tickets are on sale now.  At only $15, this show is sure to sell out.