SKYPAC: Acoustically Tuned

I spent the early part of Valentine's Day with Orchestra Kentucky at their new home, SKYPAC (Southern Kentucky Performing Arts Center).  This was a performance designed to test out the acoustics of the space with an audience in attendance.  Russell Cooper with JaffeHolden was on hand to oversee the sound trials as Jeffrey Reed led the Orchestra.  WBKO and Bowling Green Daily News were on hand to document the event.  The first big performance is March 10th as SKYPAC hosts LeAnn Rimes.

Overlooking the soundboard.

View from the top.

Cast members from The Sound of Music performed for the audience.

Gene Birk interviewing Russell Cooper of JaffeHolden.

The Long Way Home

 I just finished reading one of the most amazing historical adventures of all time.  "The Long Way Home" is the story of one of the Pan Am Clipper Flying Boats that found itself in route to Auckland, New Zealand at the exact moment that the Japanese bombed Pearl Harbor.  Having left Pearl Harbor just days before the attack, Pearl was the refueling station that Captain Ford and his crew needed to return to San Francisco.  A Top Secret letter labeled "For Captain's Eyes Only" instructed the captain and crew not to return to Pearl Harbor and risk capture of this strategic asset.  They were ordered instead to take the long way home west across Australia, Asia, Africa, the Atlantic Ocean, and South America to make their way back to New York.  This book is the historical record of that 30,000 mile journey into history.     

 The author, Ed Dover, was a Flight Radio Officer who actually flew missions in these historic Clippers in the 1940's.  His first hand knowledge of the inner workings of the crew gives you the sense of being right there with them all the way home.  As a lover of history and aviation, I will cherish this signed copy as part of my permanent collection.  Thank you Ed for sharing this account of history.

It's fascinating to read about places that have since been renamed and redistributed.  Places like Ceylon (now Sri Lanka), Leopoldville (now Kinshasa, D.R. of the Congo), Karachi, India (now belongs to Pakistan), and Bombay (now Mumbai).  Or how they accidentally flew right over Mecca and were shot at by angry Muslims who didn't appreciate the fly over.  Or what it's like to try to get a 82,000 lb. flying boat to lift off of the moving current of the Congo River before dropping off of a waterfall.  

Here's a historical shot of the Boeing 314 Clipper passing by The Golden Gate Bridge.

And the famous Pan Am Poster depicting Bora Bora.

Makers Mark Charity Signing Event

If you've kept up with my blog, you know that i've been a fan of Makers Mark for a long time.  Not only do they represent great Kentucky heritage, they are also marketing geniuses.  I call it "Makers Marketing".  Case in point, this charity signing event for Habitat for Humanity had bourbon fans lined up for hours waiting for a brief interaction with Bill Samuels Jr., the heir to the family business.  And now he is passing the business to the third generation with his son Rob Samuels.  To commemorate the changing of the guard, they created a new special edition label and gold wax for patrons to dip into.    

Elisabeth and David

 Elisabeth and David had their wedding celebration at the 1869 Homestead just outside of town.  What a great location for a Fall wedding.  The weather was great, the couple was great, and Leona Morelock with Lasting Impressions pulled it all together seamlessly.  Take a look at this  SLIDESHOW of the event.

Shana and Jamie

 I photographed this outdoor wedding at a private residence recently and wanted to share some images of Shana, Jamie, and their wonderful family.  The reception carried on into the cool Autumn night and the outdoor fireplace kept everyone nice and warm as the brave ones stepped up to the Karaoke mike.  I'm fairly certain a good time was had by all.  Here's a SLIDESHOW to prove it.  Enjoy!