Jazzfest

Jazzfest Rapid City Sioux Falls Steve Allender

The difference between Rapid City and Sioux Falls, well at least in perspective

l3wis July 15, 2015 1Comments

Stormland TV gives me one thing, stark irony. First the new mayor of Rapid City comments on The Summer Nights Music Festival;

Despite some problems, Allender likes the way Summer Nights builds community.

“You can have a homeless person standing three feet away from a millionaire and they’re both enjoying the music and tapping their foot and maybe even talking,” he said. “I’ve never been to an event anywhere near that, that closeness and that bringing people together.”

Then there is Rob Joyce’s comments on JazzFest (he is the leader of SF Jazz & Blues Society);

“I step up on stage and I see young people, teenagers, young kids sitting with grandparents or sitting with people who are much older. And they’re all enjoying the same afternoon. They’re all enjoying the same music,” said Joyce.

Hey, but if you go walk along the Big Poo after dark to take a hit on a left-handed cigarette, you might find some homeless dancing (or sleeping). Millionaires notÂ welcome.

Art Jazzfest Music

Jesse & Brian kick out the Jams @ JazzFest

l3wis July 8, 2015 0Comments

Stormland TV did a great story tonight about local musicians at JazzFest. Jesse has the best quotes;

“You can have a band, and you can practice all the time with that band, but you may never get good,” local guitarist Jesse Christen said. “Your main practice comes down to what you do at home and keeping your chops up.”

Looking forward to these two kick it once again on the main stage at JazzFest!

Jazzfest Sioux Falls Sioux Falls Parks and Rec Smoking Ban

Should smoking be banned at JazzFest?

l3wis July 18, 2013 10Comments

The Argue Endorser’s ED board thinks that the No Smoking policy in city parks should also apply to JF.

JazzFest or No JazzFest, it is important to remember the No Smoking policy in parks was decided by a volunteer board and the city’s health department, NOT by the city council (who are supposed create and regulate policy in this city) secondly, there is NO fines or violations issued if you are caught smoking in a city park, an officer simply asks you to put it out. What’s the point?

Here’s how I look at it. Tobacco is a legal product to adults, city parks are PUBLIC property, and lastly IT’S OUTDOORS! While I think it is perfectly acceptable for a bar or restaurant owner to prohibit smoking on their patios (private property) and they should, I think it is a bit of a stretch to tell taxpayers who own our city parks, to put out their cigarettes, like I said, legal product.

There is anÂ easy solution – courtesy. Ask those around you if they mind if you light up, whether you are in a city park or an outdoor restaurant patio. If they say ‘YES’ they do mind. Then don’t light up or walk to a place where you are not in proximity of others.

I think banning a legal product OUTDOORS on PUBLIC PROPERTY is a slippery slope. We already have the city telling us how to trim THERE trees, mow our lawns and scooping snow, they should concentrate on something else, like a little transparency from the mayor’s office.

Jazzfest

JazzFest designs throughout the years

l3wis July 22, 2012 0Comments

Jay K. does a great story about this year’s design. I was fortunate enough to design the 2006 and 2007 poster/logo. (the 2006 logo was actually started by Mark Pollard, but he didn’t have the time to finish) In fact my 2007 design was so well liked, JF decided to keep the guitar theme each year after that. Ironically, one of the reasons my 2008 designs were rejected was because I didn’t stay with that theme. But that is a long, long, long, story. (My 2008 submissions below).