Arts and Entertainment – Page 2 – Honey it's Thursday

Camping season well underway in Clarksville, TN

By Sarah Hughes

Camping season is upon us. Here are some local campsites to consider near Clarksville, TN.

Details focus on sites with tent camping. They are in order of distance from City Hall in downtown Clarksville.

Image by Sarah Hughes. Trees in a lake at Piney Campground. All rights reserved.

Site comparison 1

Harpeth River Bridge Campground (TN)

Address: 2914 Hwy 49W

Ashland City, TN 37015*

*Use coordinates to get directions

Latitude 36° 19′ 6.3480″ N

Longitude 87° 13′ 30.0792″ W

Phone: 615-792-4195

Website: https://www.recreation.gov/camping/campgrounds/251574

Cost: $22

Type: Tent or RV

Activities: “The temperate climate here allows for a lengthy recreation season, including boating, canoeing, and fishing. There is a large playground for the children and horseshoe pits for the adults. A large pavilion will be great for big family get-togethers.”

Amenities: Water Hookup, Accessibility, Picnic Table, BBQ, Fire Pit, Lantern Pole, Full Hookup, Electricity Hookup, Grills/Fire Ring, etc.

Reservation only

Distance from Clarksville: 38 min

Notes: 30 min drive to Nashville, if arriving late it’s highly recommended to call the campground to notify the Park Attendant.

Image by Sarah Hughes. Trees and table at Piney Campground. All rights reserved.

Site comparison 2

Dixieland Campground

Address: 1620 Pembroke-Fairview Road

Pembroke, KY 42266

Phone: 270-498-3833, 270-305-3953

Website: http://dixielandcampground.com/

Cost: $20 tent, $50 RV hookup

Type: Tent or RV

Activities: “enjoy the outdoors”

“Nestled in the woods of Pembroke Kentucky, we are a family owned and operated farm, campsite and RV Park. Come and enjoy the outdoors and get away from your fast paced life.”

Amenities: Laundry

Reservation only with application process

Distance from Clarksville: 39 min

Notes: “We are a family owned and operated campsite and farm nestled in the woods of Pembroke Kentucky.” “Dogs must be pre-approved”

Image by Sarah Hughes. Trees and lake at Piney Campground. All rights reserved.

Site comparison 3

LBL Whispering Pines Campground & Cabins

Address: 2168 Donelson Pkwy, Dover, TN 37058

Phone: (931) 232-4570

Website: https://www.facebook.com/WhisperingPinesDoverTN

Cost: $50/ night for a small cabin

Type: Cabin and RV

Activities: Tanning, squirrel watching, “family fun”, “slowing down”, wildlife, nature

Reservations accepted

Distance from Clarksville: 42 min

Notes: Cabins have bedding provided, excellent concierge recommendations, funny facebook page, not lakefront

Image by Sarah Hughes. Geese at Piney Campground. All rights reserved.

Site comparison 4

Land Between the Lakes National Recreation Area, Piney Campground (Virginia Loop pictured)

Address: 621 Fort Henry Rd, Dover, TN 37058

Phone: 931-232-5331

Website: https://www.landbetweenthelakes.us/seendo/camping/piney-campground/

Cost: $16/ night plus a $6 reservation fee

Type: Tent, RV or Cabin

Activities: “swimming beach area, archery range, ball field, bike trails, a campfire theater, hiking trails, two boat ramps, and a fishing pier”

Amenities: “The newly renovated Piney Outpost provides campers a place to purchase food and drinks, ice, firewood, tick repellent, limited camping supplies, and other perishable goods. Soft drink machines are located behind the gatehouse and some shower buildings. Washers and dryers are available at Areas B, C, and D shower buildings.”

Walk in and Reservations accepted

Distance from Clarksville: 54 min

Notes: “Piney Campground is now open year-round and offers 384 well-defined lakefront and wooded sites with 283 electrical hookups, 44 sites with electric, water, and sewer, and 57 primitive sites. Most sites are capable of handling large motorhomes and campers. Campers have access to modern facilities, including a swimming beach area, archery range, ball field, bike trails, a campfire theater, hiking trails, two boat ramps, and a fishing pier. Piney also has 19 primitive cabins available for nightly rental. In addition, the summer season offers weekend recreation programs for all ages. Since 1973, in mid-September Piney holds its popular Camper’s Fair with a variety of activities including a campers’ flea market and dealer showcase of new RVs, fifth wheels, and motorhomes. It is open to the public during the weekend.”

Image by Sarah Hughes. Bug friend at Piney Campground. All rights reserved.

Site comparison 5

Paris Landing/ Kentucky Lane KOA Holiday

Address: 6290 East Antioch Road

Buchanan, TN 38222

Phone: 731-642-6895

Website: https://koa.com/campgrounds/paris-landing/

Cost: Tent $30.99/night for Sat. Aug 28, 2021

Type:Tent, RV, cabins

Activities: Pool and pool lift, Cable tv, mini golf, bike rentals, WiFi, playground gym, climate-controlled bathhouse, giant connect four game, Lego wall,Disc golf, kids arts and crafts table, ping pong

Amenities: Snack bar, firewood, laundry, wheelchair accessible, store

Reservations accepted

Distance from Clarksville: 56 min

Notes: KOA, Open March 1 to November 30

The pastime of camping is a good way to get to know the landscape and reconnect to nature. Camping is something to do and provides its own entertainment such as hiking, swimming and barbecuing. It’s a great activity for friends and family. Philosophically, it can be used to reconnect to the simple life and find inner peace. It can help revive circadian rhythms by putting you out under the stars and sunrises, according to intuition and a study done in Feb. 2017 and published in Current Biology.

“These studies suggest that our internal clock responds strongly and quite rapidly to the natural light-dark cycle,” said lead author and CU Boulder integrative physiology professor Kenneth Wright. “Living in our modern environments can significantly delay our circadian timing, and late circadian timing is associated with many health consequences. But as little as a weekend camping trip can reset it.”

“Weekend exposure to natural light was sufficient to achieve 69 percent of the shift in circadian timing we previously reported after a week’s exposure to natural light,” Wright said.

Most people go camping when the weather is nice. It’s important to pack gear to shelter and protect from weather, as bad weather can be fatal. Many campgrounds are only open seasonally, with open months listed online or by phone. In general, camping season tends to be Apr. or May to Sept. or Oct. Many campers wait for weather patterns to solidify.

“If you’re planning a camping trip, a good rule is to wait until May for the weather to work itself out” says Bottles and Banter’s section on Family RVing and Travel (see more at https://www.bottlesandbanter.com/2021/02/13/when-does-camping-season-start-best-month-camping/).

Image by Sarah Hughes. Rained out tent at Piney Campground. All rights reserved.

Since quarantine has limited travel and entertainment options this year, understandably camping in the USA has increased as an activity. A study by Kampgrounds of America predicts camping interest will remain high in 2021.

According to PR Newswire’s article on the study, Fresh Data Indicates Camping Interest To Remain High In 2021, “More than 60% of these first-time campers plan to camp the same or more in the coming year; across all campers, families are the group most likely to spend more nights camping in 2021.”

“Camping had been steadily growing in popularity prior to the pandemic, but experienced aggressive growth across the U.S. last year,” said PR Newswire, “The 2021 North American Camping Report, which surveyed U.S. and Canadian campers’ sentiments and behaviors on the outdoor recreation in January 2021, shows that more than 86 million U.S. households consider themselves campers and 48 million of those households took at least one camping trip in 2020 – up more than 6 million over 2019.” (see more at https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/fresh-data-indicates-camping-interest-to-remain-high-in-2021-301273611.html).

Be aware of fees and facilities offered at your campsite of choice. Some locations are illegal to camp in or have specific regulations. Most require reservations, and some permits for specific activities. Some have websites or a phone number for reservations. Be sure to get the proper equipment. Leave no trace.

Restaurant Review: Clarksville’s The Looking Glass says “Eat me” “Drink me”

exterior store front — Image by Sarah Hughes. Outside The Looking Glass Café. All rights reserved.

Clarksville’s The Looking Glass is a collection of restaurant, bakery and event space with an Alice in Wonderland charm. Locals and travelers alike should check out this cafe’s unique and whimsical heart.

Image by Sarah Hughes. Café table next to a fountain. All rights reserved.

In addition to candy bar flavored coffees and large beautiful slices of cake, the Looking Glass offers breakfast, brunch, lunch and dinner options throughout the day. They are an excellent spot to meet someone for brunch or to sit with a coffee.

Image by Sarah Hughes. Lily pads in a koi pond. All rights reserved.

“I suppose I ought to eat or drink something or other; but the great question is ‘What?’”

—Lewis Carrol, Alice in Wonderland, Chapter 4, The Rabbit Sends in a Little Bill

Image by Sarah Hughes. Giant lily pads in a garden pond. All rights reserved.

The decor is sweet and colorful, with homages to Through the Looking-Glass by Lewis Carrol. Along with meeting a variety of meal or caffeine related needs, the multipurpose layout offers a wide open feeling, providing intimacy for each table’s conversations. Whether you are there for coffee, a meal or just cake, there’s plenty of space to stretch out. Once full, there is a sweet garden out back to admire.

plate of breakfast food — Image by Sarah Hughes. Crab Cake Eggs Benedict with Home fries. All rights reserved.

I found the spot while trying to find a unique eggs benedict that reminded me of granola-cafes back home in San Diego, CA. I enjoyed my crab cake benedict, and my fiance enjoyed a breakfast burrito. We got chunky monkey and oreo mochas in giant teacups. Looking around on my visit, there were many ladies luncheoning. It reminded me of the now sold Claire De Lune Coffee Lounge in Northpark, and an old Hemingway story. Spots like these are a passion of mine and worth our patronage. You can feel the love and history poured into them.

“It is the light of course but it is necessary that the place be clean and pleasant”

― Ernest Hemingway, A Clean Well Lighted Place

Please consider checking this great spot out and supporting a great local small business. I’d rate them four out of five stars.

table in a garden in front of exterior glass doors — Image by Sarah Hughes. Whimsical table in a garden. All rights reserved.

Their hours are as follows:

Mon 9:00 AM – 8:00 PM

Tue 9:00 AM – 8:00 PM

Wed 8:00 AM – 9:00 PM

Thu 8:00 AM – 9:00 PM

Fri 8:00 AM – 9:00 PM

Sat 8:00 AM – 9:00 PM

Sun Closed

Koi pond in a garden with gecko sculptures — Image by Sarah Hughes. Koi pond in a garden. All rights reserved.

The restaurant is located at 329 Warfield Blvd Ste H Clarksville, TN 37043.

Walt Whitman’s 2020

by Sarah Hughes

Walt Whitman’s Civil War Poetry and Prose ages well for all the turbulence of 2020. Here are some quotes from poems and letters to remind the modern reader what’s old is new, and allow reflection on the past year’s tensions.

Normal abruptly stops

/How you sprang – how you threw off costumes of peace with indifferent hand,/

/How your soft opera-music changed, and the drum and fife were heard in their stead,/ (1)

Image by ml991 from Pixabay. Picture of a flute set down. All rights reserved.

/The mechanics arming, (the trowel, the jack-plane, the blacksmith’s hammer, tost aside with precipitation,)/

/The lawyer leaving his office and arming, the judge leaving the court,/

/The driver deserting his wagon in the street, jumping down, throwing the reins abruptly down on the horses’ backs,/

/The salesman leaving the store, the boss, the book-keeper, porter, all leaving;/ (2)

/Leave not the bridegroom quiet – no happiness must he have now with his bride,/

/Nor the peaceful farmer any peace, ploughing his field or gathering his grain,/ (4)

/No bargainers’ bargain by day – no brokers or speculators – would they continue?/

/Would the talkers be talking? would the singer attempt to sing?/

/Would the lawyer rise in the court to state his case before the judge?/ (4)

Image by Peter H from Pixabay.
Picture of abandoned café or workplace. All rights reserved.

Pent up turbulence

/Forty years as a pageant, till unawares the lady of this teeming and turbulent city,/

/Sleepless amid her ships, her houses, her incalculable wealth,/

/With her million children around her, suddenly,/

/At dead of night, at news from the south,/

/Incens’d struck with clinch’d hand the pavement./ (1)

Year of the struggle

/Arm’d year – year of the struggle,/

/No dainty rhymes or sentimental love verses for you terrible year,/ (3)

“with all their large conflicting fluctuations of despair & hope, the shiftings, masses, & the whirl & deafening din” (80)

New fashion and pounds

/With the pomp of the inloop’d flags with the cities draped in black,/

/With the show of the States themselves as of crape-veil’d women standing,/ (28)

“I miss you all, my darlings and gossips, Fred Gray, and Bloom and Russell and everybody. I wish you would all come here in a body – that would be divine (we would drink ale, which here is the best). My health, strength, personal beauty, etc., are, I am happy to inform you, without dimunition, but on the contrary quite the reverse. I weigh full 220 pounds avoirdupois, yet still retain my usual perfect shape – a regular model.” (64)

Longing for loved ones and focusing on simple things

“Dearest son: it would be more pleasure if we could be together just in quiet, in some plain way of living, with some good employment and reasonable income, where I could have you often with me, than all the dissipations and amusements of this great city – O I hope things may work so that we can yet have each other’s society – for I cannot bear the thought of being separated from you – I know I am a great fool about such things but I tell you the truth dear son.” (75)

Image by No-longer-here from Pixabay.
Picture of a civil war letter. All rights reserved.

Meaning in turmoil

“When I found dear brother George, and found that he was alive and well, O you may imagine how trifling all my little cares and difficulties seemed – they vanished into nothing.” (60)

“there is something that takes down all artificial accomplishments” (75)

“I do not feel to fret or whimper, but in my heart and soul about our country, the forthcoming campaign with all its vicissitudes and the wounded and slain – I dare say, mother, I feel the reality more than some because I am in the midst of its saddest results so much.” (77)

“I will write you a few lines – as a casual friend that sat by his death-bed.” (82)

Whitman writes surrounded by death, commenting on the circumstances of his world and missing loved ones, even writing some letters while sick. It’s as if life has halted for war and injuries of war.

Image by Brigitte makes custom works from your photos, thanks a lot from Pixabay.
Picture of civil war cannon in Chattanooga, TN. All rights reserved.

Of course, Whitman is writing about the Civil War, so images of agitations are more dire and tragic, even if they bear resemblance to current day.

Walt Whitman’s Civil War Poetry and Prose is available in Dover Thrift Edition via Books-A-Million and Amazon.

Clarksville museum offers social distanced Valentine’s day boxes

by Sarah Hughes

Looking for a way to support Clarksville culture and have a great Valentine’s day? Reserve your own themed date night in a box from the Custom House Museum and Cultural Center.

Photo provided by https://customshousemuseum.org/. All rights reserved.

As of 6:30 PM, Tuesday, Jan. 19, 2021, The Custom House Museum and Cultural Center is taking orders for special Valentine’s treat boxes. The boxes will be available for pick up and delivery in February.

This offering is presented by the Museum Guild as a part of an event called Valentines Delivered: Date Night in a Box. The event replaces an annual winter fundraiser, Champagne & Chocolate.

Funds raised go towards artifact conservation, collections, exhibits and educational programming. It’s a gift that helps the community, and allows for easy social distancing.

The boxes contain assorted goodies, including a few locally manufactured items. They are perfect for sharing with a date or group of four. However, sharing is not required.

Delivery and Pickup will be Feb. 8 through 12. Orders can be placed through the museum’s website. Limited quantities are available. https://customshousemuseum.org/valentines-delivered/

Honey it’s Thursday
…because honey’s sweet and we put out on Thursdays…

Review: Aerial Revolution The Musical shows a studio that defies gravity

Aerial Revolution The Musical, a recital of the students and staff from the Linda Vista aerial dance studio Aerial Revolution, opened last night, on Friday, June 9, 2017 at 7 PM.

The Napa Street performance troupe of all ages, flew with liquid grace through the air on silks, lyra hoops, ropes, hammocks, and trapeze swings. The acts combined beautiful, informed choreography and community-rich acrobatic skill performed to popular Broadway songs.

The highlight was a partner act on lyra, set to the West Side Story Prologue song, choreographed and performed by Travis Ti and Tony Dostert. Part circus and part fight, the act had every bit of physicality of the original musical. They move in a way that brings to mind performers such as Gene Kelly, along with something else that is a little more Jason Momoa. Their performance took on a more gladiatorial feel than the 1961 musical with the hoop duo hitting some great symmetrical poses around the revolving ring.

The performance done to Phantom of The Opera [title song] featured astoundingly fast rope work. An understudy stepped in for this act due to a performer whose back was injured before the show. Watching the partnered performances in this act was a fascinating study in the silent communication dancers use with each other. Timing and body placement are more vital when swinging from a horizontal hoop chandelier. These dancers looked seamlessly elegant despite the last minute substitution. Partnered dancing is not easy and this act showed that Aerial Revolution dancers can form multiple cohesive dancing partnerships.

Often in dance, it is what a dancer does to compensate when something goes wrong that makes them a true performer. At least three subtle moments in this recital suggested to me that Aerial Revolution seems able to teach this at all levels. Their aerialists are dancers and not just circus tricks.

The performance done to Wicked’s song Defying Gravity, full of emerald green, accentuated, along with other acts such as Chicago, the choreographic thought put into dynamic level changes. It is a fitting act for aerial arts with dancers “defying gravity” themselves.

Every performer seemed fluidly and effortlessly able to sling their body around the silks or ropes hanging from the ceiling, often catching themselves with but an elbow. It’s no question that aerial leaves you built.

Also, safety appeared a concern for the studio. Younger performers had thick padded safety mats to fall onto, which they luckily didn’t appear to need. Aerialists often use knots slickly tied around their feet and a sort of hammock or knot at the waist to protect them in many of their moves. The younger performers, both the little ones and teen classes, impressed all watching with their strength and devotion to a hobby that many may not find later in life.

Don’t miss your chance to catch this recital. Final shows are Saturday, June 10 at 2 PM and 7 PM. Tickets can be purchased in advance for $18 through their website
http://aerialrevolution.com/shows/ and for $23 at the door.

Inventorless Invention Beat: Netflix Choose For Me

By Sarah Hughes

Every once in awhile divine inspiration falls, but sometimes it is wildly disappointing as sometimes ideas exceed the dreamers ability to realize them.

Like da Vinci’s flying contraptions, here are some ideas that are before their time. Perhaps somewhere someone out there has the ability, talent and resources to make them a reality. Hopefully sooner than later – having some of these things like the Netflix Pick For Me Wheel would make life easier right now – mostly by enabling the ability to do nothing.

Drawing of plane wing — Leonardo da Vinci’s designs for a flying machine. Public domain from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Science_and_inventions_of_Leonardo_da_Vinci#/media/File:Leonardo_Design_for_a_Flying_Machine,_c._1488.jpg

Do you also have a great idea that will never be? Put it in the ether — er — internet so maybe someone, somewhere will get inspired to make it for you and take all your credit. Though a paycheck or a dedication would be nice. Reply in the comments or send an article to publish to honeyitsthursday@gmail.com!

Netflix Choose For Me

Have you ever been sitting in front of the TV staring at Netflix trying to pick a movie getting frustrated that you have no idea what to watch? Maybe you’re trying to pick a movie with someone and you can’t decide what to watch together.

If you’re tired of debating over mindless entertainment, this invention will get you to the watching part faster, though you and Netflix will probably have to try to figure out how to get it to work.

There would be an icon that looks something like a game show wheel, which you would click and it would pick a movie for you, presumably at random with some sort of algorithm…bleh math word. All you would have to do is enter an audience rating, a number of stars other Netflix users have given it, a language preference, and/ or a genre. The genres could be based on the more specific sub genres Netflix generates, or the more basic ones like Drama or Horror. You could mix them for absolute ridiculousness. Perhaps you would be able to have it choose based on similarity to a movie you’ve watched recently. Each option could be toggled on and off.

Like the idea of a recommendation, the wheel would be customized to you, except it would pull up one movie based on some specifications. It would then either play immediately, or give you a chance to veto it, depending on what you indicate in the settings menu that’s under either “Your Account” or the Choose For Me Wheel. You would never be stuck wasting time trying to find something to watch on Netflix again.

Netflix envelope ballots — Netflix’s DVD program is holding a contest. Just answer the inside of their envelope and follow the instructions to compete for a prize and vote for your favorite DVD, or actors. Photo by Sarah Hughes. All rights reserved.

Maybe you would end up seeing more movies now that your indecisiveness is removed, hypothetically allowing you to give a well-versed opinion on Netflix’s on-going contest that allows you to vote for favorites.

Tribal Trove 2016 Showcases Bellydance in North Park

Bellydancers perform on stage — Tribal Trove Showcase an inspiring success and a time for community! Photos by Sarah Hughes. All rights reserved.

Turbo Kid: Updating the end of the world

by Sarah Hughes

Turbo Kid (2015) presents a cheesy skater-disco patina-ed version of an apocalyptic wasteland – and it’s a delight.

Set in 1997, protagonist “the Kid” (Munro Chambers) aspires to be as tough as a hero in a leftover comic book – Turbo Man. He makes friends as he learns to be brave when scared. The film has won 8 awards and 3 nominations according to IMDb. Turbo-kid.com reports it an Official Selection at Sundance 2015.

(Spoiler alert:) All the major problems that plague the apocalyptic hero are relevant in directors François Simard, Anouk Whissell and Yoann-Karl Whissell’s world. The inhabitants in this rough landscape struggle to scavenge for sundry items, water and personal safety. There are merchant traders trying to rip people off. Aspiring overlord Zeus (Michael Ironside) forms a gang controlling the area with resources and violence. Yet the setting is a reconsidered, modern wasteland.

For a moment, it seems the Kid’s biggest challenge yet is dealing with (gasp) girls! It’s probably hard to trust someone who puts a tracking-device slap-bracelet on you, even if she does seem like she wants to be best friends. But in reimagined ’97, other themes quickly arise, such as what makes a soul, the nature of friendship, good vs. evil and fears of a robot uprising.

Girls face — Laurence Leboeuf as Apple in Turbo Kid.

Apple, played by Laurence Leboeuf, performs with quirky intensity in a role that’s part exuberant adventurer, part chaos elemental and all heart-warmingly tweaky. Her love for a gnome-stick weapon, combined with a style that seems reminiscent of Roller Baby dolls of the 1990s gives the film its particular flavor. The newly considered angle of setting might make for some interesting costume inspiration for any apocalyptic imagine-er. Right alongside this more material aesthetic is a deeper philosophical question; does it matter that the Kid’s friendship is with a robot in terms of it being less valuable and meaningful to him? Is Apple real or not? Does that matter in context of how she causes him to grow? How vigilantly is one to measure the depth and truthfulness of other’s relationships with themselves, when the feelings caused by that relationship are personal and felt alone?

The story fits together nicely, while giving its nod to other media – Apple’s name is cutely telling, as she’s a gadget herself. Zeus fits more into the mold of Chinatown’s (1974) Hollis Mulwray than Mad Max: Fury Road’s (2015) Immortan Joe. The Kid’s parents were murdered violently like many other heroes, but the comic book quest for greatness and a boy’s coming of age story serve the nostalgia angle well. Yet there is some gore and sadism.

According to whats-on-netflix.com (an “Unofficial Netflix Fansite”) and digitaltrends.com this title does not look to be leaving Netflix Streaming in March 2016, but it is worth checking out sooner rather than later.

4 out of 5 bottle-caps