Stollenwerck Mania!
Wednesday, November 30, 2005
Learn To Play Guitar
Here's you know who again. Somehow she found her way to PlayGuitar magazine and gives a lesson inside on all purpose rythm guitar.
There's this guy Justin who read Stollenwerck Mania! and sent me an email. Something about how he just took her picture and how great she is.
Out of the blue...say what?
Justin went so far as to write a comment on the Marin County newspaper posting further down telling everyone she'll play out there over New Years. I think it's his way doing some marketing. Not a bad idea.
Samantha is living in Charlottesville for about three months because her new production company is there.
She's playing every Monday night in New York at The Living Room should you, or someone in your sphere of influence want to stop by.
Tell them you heard it here first at Stollenwerck Mania!
Posted by Jamie Stollenwerck 11/30/05
¶ 4:52 PM 0 comments
Here's you know who again. Somehow she found her way to PlayGuitar magazine and gives a lesson inside on all purpose rythm guitar.
There's this guy Justin who read Stollenwerck Mania! and sent me an email. Something about how he just took her picture and how great she is.
Out of the blue...say what?
Justin went so far as to write a comment on the Marin County newspaper posting further down telling everyone she'll play out there over New Years. I think it's his way doing some marketing. Not a bad idea.
Samantha is living in Charlottesville for about three months because her new production company is there.
She's playing every Monday night in New York at The Living Room should you, or someone in your sphere of influence want to stop by.
Tell them you heard it here first at Stollenwerck Mania!
Posted by Jamie Stollenwerck 11/30/05
¶ 4:52 PM 0 comments
Monday, November 07, 2005
Stollenwerck Mania! Gets Hard Press
Stollenwerck Gets Around
She’s being compared to Janis Joplin, Joni Mitchell
Singer, songwriter, guitarist Samantha Stollenwerck carries her audiences away on smoky trails of her raspy voice.
Her shows are festivals of sorts: good spirited fun. Fresh from the Boom Boom Room in San Francisco, Stollenwerck gives Mill Valley an opportunity to hear what many are calling the next great voice of California. Stollenwerck and her band The Ritual perform at the Sweetwater for the first time in a year on December 29. most of the songs on the set list that night will be originals from their first album, "Square One," due out in February.
Stollenwerck's style is a fusion of folk, rock, soul and gospel, She had been compared to Janis Joplin and Joan Baez and her influences stretch from Simon and Garfunkel to Led Zeppelin to Nina Simone.
Within the last few months she has played at a December 11th Rex Foundation benefit with Bob Weir, opened for Karl Denson's Tiny Universe at the Fillmore Auditorium and performed at the Austin City Limits Music Festival along with big names like Sheryl Crow, Ben Harper, Elvis Costello and Modest Mouse. In the Pocket Records will officially release "Square One" in FEbruary, with a CD release part on February 4 at the Elbo Room in San Francisco. A slew of special musical guests will also perform.
Mill Valley Herald: You've been really busy lately.
Samantha Stollenwerck: Yeah, I've had some awesome shows. I played the Fillmore for the first time, that was really exciting. I performed at the Austin Music festival. Everywhere I've gone there has been a music idol. I've really loved all the behind-the-scenes stuff with other musicians. It's really inspiring. I've also gone on some road shows. And my CD's officially coming out on February 22.
MVH: You must be really excited about all your recent success.
SS: I've been having a lot of minor successes since the fall. I've had a couple of good breaks; I've been meeting a lot of great musicians. I feel like I am one of the luckiest people on the planet. I never set out to be a musician. I never studied music; it wasn't a trade for me. I was an English major at Berkeley. When I was younger I was an athlete. But I was always intersted in music, live music. I used to play little shows with a band I started in college called Shady Lady. We played all over Berkeley and I got to know how to run a band from the business side as well as the musical.
MVH: Do you ever use any of your literature background when you write your songs?
SS: Kind of. When I'm writing a tune, I like to research what I'm writing about, I like to use a lot of imagery in my songs. Recently, I based a tune on Icarus. I used the idea of the story, I like to intergrate past stories, ancient history and personal philosophies into my songs, so people can relate.
MVH: So, what is it like to play with musicians like Bob Weir?
SS: It was totally cool playing with Bob Weir. I know all the Grateful Dead songs, so it was great being able to sing back-up with him. He was like a college professor, he even had hand signals for every key change. He made hand motions, like a coach; it was super fun.
MVH: What was it like to record your first CD?
SS: THe Ritual and I recorded the CD at the beginning of the year, and it turned out really well. It took a long time to make. It was a struggle for me on a business and artistic. I wanted to see that recording an album was really what I wanted to do, and if the music would turn out well. I also had a heavy hand in it's production and arrangement. In the end , I really enjoyed it. It was cool to come out with something that I lot to do with.
MVH: Are you going to be playing songs from you new CD at the Sweetwater?
SS: Yeah, we'll do a bunch of those. It's mostly going to be all of my original stuff. We'll probably also do some fun covers, like "Burning Down the House" and "Whatta Man."
MVH: Have you been to the Mill Valley area before?
SS: Well, I grew up in San Diego, but my dad used to live in San Francisco so I would come up here a lot. I've always loved the area-- Mil Valley especially. It's always given off this nice hippie vibe. It has the laid-back feeling of Souther California, but with an edge, a European sensibility. Mill Valley has this pastoral, natural setting, with an edge of intellectualism.
MVH: Speaking of your dad, by the way, when I typed your name into Yahoo I found a web site called "Stollenwerck Mania." The man who created the web site referred to a daughter named Samantha. Is that your Dad's site?
SS: Yeah! I can't believe you found that. My dad created a blog for the Stollenwercks. He thought it would be funny to track all of us down, since we have such an unusual- and long- name. Now because of that I get a lot of Stollenwercks showing up at my shows.
MVH: Sorry to interrupt you, but I had to ask. So, since you do know the area, have you been to the Sweetwater Saloon before?
SS: Yeah, I've been going to the Sweetwater since my Berkeley days, I used to play open mics there. It's definitely one of my favorite venues. I actually just played solo there a month ago. I opened for the Rowan Brothers. Now I am going to play with the band. I'm so excited!
Samantha and the Ritual play Sweetwater Dec. 29 at 9 PM. Tickets are $7. For more information call 388.2820. ¶ 5:34 PM 0 comments
She’s being compared to Janis Joplin, Joni Mitchell
Singer, songwriter, guitarist Samantha Stollenwerck carries her audiences away on smoky trails of her raspy voice.
Her shows are festivals of sorts: good spirited fun. Fresh from the Boom Boom Room in San Francisco, Stollenwerck gives Mill Valley an opportunity to hear what many are calling the next great voice of California. Stollenwerck and her band The Ritual perform at the Sweetwater for the first time in a year on December 29. most of the songs on the set list that night will be originals from their first album, "Square One," due out in February.
Stollenwerck's style is a fusion of folk, rock, soul and gospel, She had been compared to Janis Joplin and Joan Baez and her influences stretch from Simon and Garfunkel to Led Zeppelin to Nina Simone.
Within the last few months she has played at a December 11th Rex Foundation benefit with Bob Weir, opened for Karl Denson's Tiny Universe at the Fillmore Auditorium and performed at the Austin City Limits Music Festival along with big names like Sheryl Crow, Ben Harper, Elvis Costello and Modest Mouse. In the Pocket Records will officially release "Square One" in FEbruary, with a CD release part on February 4 at the Elbo Room in San Francisco. A slew of special musical guests will also perform.
Mill Valley Herald: You've been really busy lately.
Samantha Stollenwerck: Yeah, I've had some awesome shows. I played the Fillmore for the first time, that was really exciting. I performed at the Austin Music festival. Everywhere I've gone there has been a music idol. I've really loved all the behind-the-scenes stuff with other musicians. It's really inspiring. I've also gone on some road shows. And my CD's officially coming out on February 22.
MVH: You must be really excited about all your recent success.
SS: I've been having a lot of minor successes since the fall. I've had a couple of good breaks; I've been meeting a lot of great musicians. I feel like I am one of the luckiest people on the planet. I never set out to be a musician. I never studied music; it wasn't a trade for me. I was an English major at Berkeley. When I was younger I was an athlete. But I was always intersted in music, live music. I used to play little shows with a band I started in college called Shady Lady. We played all over Berkeley and I got to know how to run a band from the business side as well as the musical.
MVH: Do you ever use any of your literature background when you write your songs?
SS: Kind of. When I'm writing a tune, I like to research what I'm writing about, I like to use a lot of imagery in my songs. Recently, I based a tune on Icarus. I used the idea of the story, I like to intergrate past stories, ancient history and personal philosophies into my songs, so people can relate.
MVH: So, what is it like to play with musicians like Bob Weir?
SS: It was totally cool playing with Bob Weir. I know all the Grateful Dead songs, so it was great being able to sing back-up with him. He was like a college professor, he even had hand signals for every key change. He made hand motions, like a coach; it was super fun.
MVH: What was it like to record your first CD?
SS: THe Ritual and I recorded the CD at the beginning of the year, and it turned out really well. It took a long time to make. It was a struggle for me on a business and artistic. I wanted to see that recording an album was really what I wanted to do, and if the music would turn out well. I also had a heavy hand in it's production and arrangement. In the end , I really enjoyed it. It was cool to come out with something that I lot to do with.
MVH: Are you going to be playing songs from you new CD at the Sweetwater?
SS: Yeah, we'll do a bunch of those. It's mostly going to be all of my original stuff. We'll probably also do some fun covers, like "Burning Down the House" and "Whatta Man."
MVH: Have you been to the Mill Valley area before?
SS: Well, I grew up in San Diego, but my dad used to live in San Francisco so I would come up here a lot. I've always loved the area-- Mil Valley especially. It's always given off this nice hippie vibe. It has the laid-back feeling of Souther California, but with an edge, a European sensibility. Mill Valley has this pastoral, natural setting, with an edge of intellectualism.
MVH: Speaking of your dad, by the way, when I typed your name into Yahoo I found a web site called "Stollenwerck Mania." The man who created the web site referred to a daughter named Samantha. Is that your Dad's site?
SS: Yeah! I can't believe you found that. My dad created a blog for the Stollenwercks. He thought it would be funny to track all of us down, since we have such an unusual- and long- name. Now because of that I get a lot of Stollenwercks showing up at my shows.
MVH: Sorry to interrupt you, but I had to ask. So, since you do know the area, have you been to the Sweetwater Saloon before?
SS: Yeah, I've been going to the Sweetwater since my Berkeley days, I used to play open mics there. It's definitely one of my favorite venues. I actually just played solo there a month ago. I opened for the Rowan Brothers. Now I am going to play with the band. I'm so excited!
Samantha and the Ritual play Sweetwater Dec. 29 at 9 PM. Tickets are $7. For more information call 388.2820. ¶ 5:34 PM 0 comments
Wedding Daze
Kate Stollenwerck snuck off and got married last May. Just kidding… Kate emailed me when she got back and it sounds like everything was perfect. Best Wishes, Kate!
She told me she planned to get married in late 2004. I can see a family resemblance between her and Adriane Stollenwerck (fourth cousins)-they’re both fair complected and thoughtful. It’s a coincidence Adriane and Greg decided to get married not too long after they met Kate. Genes, I think.
Kate’s married name is Zarczynski. Let’s see…Katherine Stollenwerck Zarczynski. Nine syllables by my count...out there.
Kate dropped Stollenwerck which is rational based on the number of times a day I have to spell my name for people. Stollenwerck has a higher degree of difficulty because it's three letters longer than Zarczynski, but the syllable count is the same. Hmmm…
I guess the next thing going to happen is babies. Babies are in the air. Babies are everywhere. I heard there might be another new addition, but don’t listen to me…I don’t know anything
Posted by Jamie Stollenwerck, November 2005
¶ 4:20 PM 0 comments
She told me she planned to get married in late 2004. I can see a family resemblance between her and Adriane Stollenwerck (fourth cousins)-they’re both fair complected and thoughtful. It’s a coincidence Adriane and Greg decided to get married not too long after they met Kate. Genes, I think.
Kate’s married name is Zarczynski. Let’s see…Katherine Stollenwerck Zarczynski. Nine syllables by my count...out there.
Kate dropped Stollenwerck which is rational based on the number of times a day I have to spell my name for people. Stollenwerck has a higher degree of difficulty because it's three letters longer than Zarczynski, but the syllable count is the same. Hmmm…
I guess the next thing going to happen is babies. Babies are in the air. Babies are everywhere. I heard there might be another new addition, but don’t listen to me…I don’t know anything
Posted by Jamie Stollenwerck, November 2005
¶ 4:20 PM 0 comments
Editor's Choice
The staff here at the Mania! get to sit around and dream up ways to stir reader interest. This year they want to use the folks in this picture as a theme for each post.
Don't be thrown for a loop if we slip in someone else too. There's nothing we can do about it and we try to please everyone.
There's only one terminal Stollenwerck here. The others are either coming to or going from the Stollenwerck name. There's one who isn't Stollenwerck, but who's last name begins in S. We took a vote at the meeting and decided that was good enough. Stollenwerck it is!
Stollenwercks have always been good with their hands. Go back in Stollenwerck Mania! and read about the clocks our ancestor built for royalty.
That skill is seen here generations later. It's hard to smile for a camera and not spill your wine at the same time.
Posted by Jamie Stollenwerck, November 2005
¶ 4:18 PM 0 comments
The staff here at the Mania! get to sit around and dream up ways to stir reader interest. This year they want to use the folks in this picture as a theme for each post.
Don't be thrown for a loop if we slip in someone else too. There's nothing we can do about it and we try to please everyone.
There's only one terminal Stollenwerck here. The others are either coming to or going from the Stollenwerck name. There's one who isn't Stollenwerck, but who's last name begins in S. We took a vote at the meeting and decided that was good enough. Stollenwerck it is!
Stollenwercks have always been good with their hands. Go back in Stollenwerck Mania! and read about the clocks our ancestor built for royalty.
That skill is seen here generations later. It's hard to smile for a camera and not spill your wine at the same time.
Posted by Jamie Stollenwerck, November 2005
¶ 4:18 PM 0 comments
And Now, From the Left Coast...
Introducing Felippe and Gabriella Stollenwerck Marques. Gabriella is my brother Dick's oldest child. Child? Right. How else do you say it. Beautiful, isn't she? Beautiful inside and out.
Felippe and Gabriella are Diego's parents. More about him later-a whole other story.
The Marques' are late to Stollenwerck Mania! Don't quite know why. Something to do with they never got the message. Or they got the message and were busy with Diego and would get around to it later.
That's OK. They finally made it. Felippe emailed me with some photos and items to publish. They live in LA and there are shots from Portugal and all over California.
Felippe and Gabriella had a blowout wedding just south of Cancun in Playa del Carmen on the Mayan Riviera. It redefined "destination wedding", I tell you. People flew in from all around the world and there were plenty of Stollenwercks. Tons of fun.
I knew I changed into a south of the border person when I didn't think twice about flying back to New York in a pair of shorts and flip flops. I could have froze to death standing in a snow drift trying to hail a cab. My Spanish isn't so good, though.
Posted by Jamie Stollenwerck, November 2005 ¶ 4:17 PM 0 comments
Introducing Felippe and Gabriella Stollenwerck Marques. Gabriella is my brother Dick's oldest child. Child? Right. How else do you say it. Beautiful, isn't she? Beautiful inside and out.
Felippe and Gabriella are Diego's parents. More about him later-a whole other story.
The Marques' are late to Stollenwerck Mania! Don't quite know why. Something to do with they never got the message. Or they got the message and were busy with Diego and would get around to it later.
That's OK. They finally made it. Felippe emailed me with some photos and items to publish. They live in LA and there are shots from Portugal and all over California.
Felippe and Gabriella had a blowout wedding just south of Cancun in Playa del Carmen on the Mayan Riviera. It redefined "destination wedding", I tell you. People flew in from all around the world and there were plenty of Stollenwercks. Tons of fun.
I knew I changed into a south of the border person when I didn't think twice about flying back to New York in a pair of shorts and flip flops. I could have froze to death standing in a snow drift trying to hail a cab. My Spanish isn't so good, though.
Posted by Jamie Stollenwerck, November 2005 ¶ 4:17 PM 0 comments
Ground Control To Major Tom
Samantha made the trip back to Vermont this year. She's pretty busy these days so it was a big sacrifice. It rained the entire time, and she gave it her all. Way to go, Samantha!
Here she is with Hanley and McKinley Franz. Stay with me now...
Hanley and McKinley belong to Scott and Allison Franz. Allison's my sister Mary's middle daughter. Allison never had the name Stollenwerck because Mary's married name was Hanley. Allison qualifies anyway-she's got Stollenwerck blood coarsing through her veins, name or no name. This is good.
It's interesting Scott and Allison gave Hanley the given name Hanley...sort of a way to keep the surname Hanley alive. Why do I keep thinking Hanley Hanley? Never mind. McKinley's named after the mountain in Alaska because Scott climbed it.
The boys were wild to meet Samantha...she's a cousin (once removed) and a "California Rock Star." They take piano lessons and play a few tunes. They're not bad either.
The prediction was one of two things: they'd get into it or go stoic. Looks like they're having a good time here. How good a time? Their size of their pupils are like flying saucers from Mars...that good a time.
Posted by Jamie Stollenwerck, November 2005
¶ 4:16 PM 0 comments
Samantha made the trip back to Vermont this year. She's pretty busy these days so it was a big sacrifice. It rained the entire time, and she gave it her all. Way to go, Samantha!
Here she is with Hanley and McKinley Franz. Stay with me now...
Hanley and McKinley belong to Scott and Allison Franz. Allison's my sister Mary's middle daughter. Allison never had the name Stollenwerck because Mary's married name was Hanley. Allison qualifies anyway-she's got Stollenwerck blood coarsing through her veins, name or no name. This is good.
It's interesting Scott and Allison gave Hanley the given name Hanley...sort of a way to keep the surname Hanley alive. Why do I keep thinking Hanley Hanley? Never mind. McKinley's named after the mountain in Alaska because Scott climbed it.
The boys were wild to meet Samantha...she's a cousin (once removed) and a "California Rock Star." They take piano lessons and play a few tunes. They're not bad either.
The prediction was one of two things: they'd get into it or go stoic. Looks like they're having a good time here. How good a time? Their size of their pupils are like flying saucers from Mars...that good a time.
Posted by Jamie Stollenwerck, November 2005
¶ 4:16 PM 0 comments
Fine Art
I got a camera last winter. I was so bored shoveling snow I needed something to do. I bought a flash attachment but never used it because it's more complicted than the camera. I knew they're'd be lots of night-time opportunity in Vermont this year, so I stuck my big toe in the water.
Here's one shot I got. It's Greg Stare of Adriane (Stollenwerck) and Greg...soon to be Stares all the way next July 4. The point of this picture isn't Greg, although Greg happens to be the subject.
What I like about this picture is the way it makes Greg look when the light bounces off the ceiling. I used a diffuser and a wide angle lens, so it brings out an effect you don't get straight on: it shows who Greg is plus what he looks like.
Adriane saw it and grabbed it out of my hands. "Dad, you really got him."
I keep looking at this picture and here's what I see. The light makes Greg look like he's blessed from above. Greg is relaxed and accepting the blessing he's receiving. I see a Madonna in the background looking on in approval with a light hearted smile, a Mona Lisa smile by Leonardo da Vinci.
And there's a hand reaching out from the left like on the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel in The Creation of Adam. God's right arm is outstretched to impart the spark of life from His own finger into that of Adam, whose left arm is extended in a pose mirroring God's. Famously, Adam's finger and God's finger are separated by a slight distance.
Michaelangelo or Leonardo with a camera? Nikonians, eat your heart out.
Posted by Jamie Stollenwerck, November 2005
¶ 4:15 PM 0 comments
I got a camera last winter. I was so bored shoveling snow I needed something to do. I bought a flash attachment but never used it because it's more complicted than the camera. I knew they're'd be lots of night-time opportunity in Vermont this year, so I stuck my big toe in the water.
Here's one shot I got. It's Greg Stare of Adriane (Stollenwerck) and Greg...soon to be Stares all the way next July 4. The point of this picture isn't Greg, although Greg happens to be the subject.
What I like about this picture is the way it makes Greg look when the light bounces off the ceiling. I used a diffuser and a wide angle lens, so it brings out an effect you don't get straight on: it shows who Greg is plus what he looks like.
Adriane saw it and grabbed it out of my hands. "Dad, you really got him."
I keep looking at this picture and here's what I see. The light makes Greg look like he's blessed from above. Greg is relaxed and accepting the blessing he's receiving. I see a Madonna in the background looking on in approval with a light hearted smile, a Mona Lisa smile by Leonardo da Vinci.
And there's a hand reaching out from the left like on the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel in The Creation of Adam. God's right arm is outstretched to impart the spark of life from His own finger into that of Adam, whose left arm is extended in a pose mirroring God's. Famously, Adam's finger and God's finger are separated by a slight distance.
Michaelangelo or Leonardo with a camera? Nikonians, eat your heart out.
Posted by Jamie Stollenwerck, November 2005
¶ 4:15 PM 0 comments
Back To Basics
Here’s Diego, my great nephew. He’s my newest best friend. Why? Diego’s perfect.
Look at ‘im. Serene, handsome, beautiful…whatever. Neurosis free. A clean slate.
A smiler after long moments of contemplation. Remember “Deep Thoughts with John Handy” on Saturday Night Live? You got it.
Diego’s under a year. Babies this age are busy a lot of the time. It implies he’s high maintenance.
Uh-huh. No maintenance. Diego sets an example for his aunt’s and uncles, great aunts and uncles, grandparents, and great grandmother who all are higher maintenance than he is. His cousins get a pass.
Listen up, everybody…the next time you act up, you’ll have to baby-sit Diego for therapy. He’ll set you right. Parents Gabriella and Felipe are making appointments now. The line starts at the rear.
Posted by Jamie Stollenwerck, November 2005
¶ 4:14 PM 0 comments
Here’s Diego, my great nephew. He’s my newest best friend. Why? Diego’s perfect.
Look at ‘im. Serene, handsome, beautiful…whatever. Neurosis free. A clean slate.
A smiler after long moments of contemplation. Remember “Deep Thoughts with John Handy” on Saturday Night Live? You got it.
Diego’s under a year. Babies this age are busy a lot of the time. It implies he’s high maintenance.
Uh-huh. No maintenance. Diego sets an example for his aunt’s and uncles, great aunts and uncles, grandparents, and great grandmother who all are higher maintenance than he is. His cousins get a pass.
Listen up, everybody…the next time you act up, you’ll have to baby-sit Diego for therapy. He’ll set you right. Parents Gabriella and Felipe are making appointments now. The line starts at the rear.
Posted by Jamie Stollenwerck, November 2005
¶ 4:14 PM 0 comments
Twixt and Between
This is Jack Goggin, another one of my great nephews. Jack is David and Carroll Goggin's older son. Carroll is my sister Mary's oldest daughter (my oldest neice) and never had the last name Stollenwerck like her sister Allison Franz. The same blood is in there, though. See Ground Control To Major Tom.
Jack and his parents got to Dorsett three hours late on the night my mother gave her annual October dinner. The plane was late. They got to eat outside in the rain around 9 P.M. Jack's about twelve and it's his idea of a good time.
Jack's a hugger. It's remarkable. Somewhere, somehow he got into hugging and now it's automatic. Man or woman, when Jack shows up, you get a hug.
Think about it. Jack's about to be a teenager. He's about to focus on girls. He's a hugger. My guess is he'll kill the competition coming out of the box.
My mother taught me a lot of tricks, but nothing like this.
Posted by Jamie Stollenwerck, November 2005
¶ 4:06 PM 0 comments
This is Jack Goggin, another one of my great nephews. Jack is David and Carroll Goggin's older son. Carroll is my sister Mary's oldest daughter (my oldest neice) and never had the last name Stollenwerck like her sister Allison Franz. The same blood is in there, though. See Ground Control To Major Tom.
Jack and his parents got to Dorsett three hours late on the night my mother gave her annual October dinner. The plane was late. They got to eat outside in the rain around 9 P.M. Jack's about twelve and it's his idea of a good time.
Jack's a hugger. It's remarkable. Somewhere, somehow he got into hugging and now it's automatic. Man or woman, when Jack shows up, you get a hug.
Think about it. Jack's about to be a teenager. He's about to focus on girls. He's a hugger. My guess is he'll kill the competition coming out of the box.
My mother taught me a lot of tricks, but nothing like this.
Posted by Jamie Stollenwerck, November 2005
¶ 4:06 PM 0 comments
Saturday, November 05, 2005
Let's Dance...
Alex and Clarissa's got married last June. Here they are six months later. Clarissa looks lovely. Alex looks like he’s getting the picture.
What about the wedding? Well, it was in a large Catholic Church in the middle of the afternoon. It was over ninety out but cooler inside. I like this church!
Catholic weddings are great. They’ve got it down to a science-they’ve been at it for a while. Everything’s informal, but they don’t skip the essentials.
There’s a good deal of wandering around by people who may, or may not, be part of the ceremony. The minister walks out into the aisle during his sermon. The soloist sounds great, but looks like she sings all day, every day.
Communion? Of course.
I’d have to say this was a partisan Cuban event. The Martinez family and their friends were represented well. There were plenty of tuxedos and dresses with trains. I wore a Brooks Brothers suit and looked like I belonged in the vestry. The bridesmaids looked the best of all other than the bride herself, naturally.
The reception was in a hotel after the ceremony around 4:30 P.M. This included dinner, so it was going to be a long night.
No matter. The room was a three-story rotunda with all the tables on the first floor...sort of like a huge oval office. You can not believe how good the sound was in those acoustics.
A live band with plenty of horns played Latino music. When they took a break, a DJ took up the slack. The music was continuous until the party ended. And that’s a good thing, because…
Cubans Really Like To Dance!
Believe me, it was a show. Juan Manuel Fangio, five time World Champion race-car driver (Argentina) said, “Racing is life, all the rest is waiting.” Well, I bet Cubans think, “Dancing is life, all the rest is waiting.” They’re so good at it, to sit there and watch was a pleasure, hour after hour.
There was a couple so in tune, so fluid together, I went up to them later on and said, “You two are married, right? You dance so well with each other.”
“Yes,” she said. “And you are the person who does the blog?”
Well, they dance way better than I blog. No question.
Posted by Jamie Stollenwerck, November 2005 ¶ 8:01 PM 0 comments
Alex and Clarissa's got married last June. Here they are six months later. Clarissa looks lovely. Alex looks like he’s getting the picture.
What about the wedding? Well, it was in a large Catholic Church in the middle of the afternoon. It was over ninety out but cooler inside. I like this church!
Catholic weddings are great. They’ve got it down to a science-they’ve been at it for a while. Everything’s informal, but they don’t skip the essentials.
There’s a good deal of wandering around by people who may, or may not, be part of the ceremony. The minister walks out into the aisle during his sermon. The soloist sounds great, but looks like she sings all day, every day.
Communion? Of course.
I’d have to say this was a partisan Cuban event. The Martinez family and their friends were represented well. There were plenty of tuxedos and dresses with trains. I wore a Brooks Brothers suit and looked like I belonged in the vestry. The bridesmaids looked the best of all other than the bride herself, naturally.
The reception was in a hotel after the ceremony around 4:30 P.M. This included dinner, so it was going to be a long night.
No matter. The room was a three-story rotunda with all the tables on the first floor...sort of like a huge oval office. You can not believe how good the sound was in those acoustics.
A live band with plenty of horns played Latino music. When they took a break, a DJ took up the slack. The music was continuous until the party ended. And that’s a good thing, because…
Cubans Really Like To Dance!
Believe me, it was a show. Juan Manuel Fangio, five time World Champion race-car driver (Argentina) said, “Racing is life, all the rest is waiting.” Well, I bet Cubans think, “Dancing is life, all the rest is waiting.” They’re so good at it, to sit there and watch was a pleasure, hour after hour.
There was a couple so in tune, so fluid together, I went up to them later on and said, “You two are married, right? You dance so well with each other.”
“Yes,” she said. “And you are the person who does the blog?”
Well, they dance way better than I blog. No question.
Posted by Jamie Stollenwerck, November 2005 ¶ 8:01 PM 0 comments
240 Days And Counting
I found this kicking around the back room at Stollenwerck Mania!
"Hello all, Adriane here. Thought I'd make a posting to the greater "family" and let you all know that I was recently engaged to marry Greg Stare in late February. Some of the Stollenwercks met Greg at gathering we had at Jeff's house in Connecticut. The wedding won't be until Summer, 2006. Very exciting news indeed. Here's a picture from Greg's and my recent adventures in the Dominican Republic."
This is how far Adriane got with the blog when she and Greg decided to get married last winter. I've seen the DR picture (nice), but it never made it to the draft stage of her post. Sigh...
I shot this photo in Vermont when Ado brought Greg up to meet this side of the family in October. Big Success!
Adriane asked me to give her wedding website a plug at the Mania! Here it is: www.adrianeandgreg.com. Go there for late breaking news as their special day draws nearer. Hurry, it's only 240 days away!
Posted by Jamie Stollenwerck, November 2005 ¶ 7:27 PM 0 comments
I found this kicking around the back room at Stollenwerck Mania!
"Hello all, Adriane here. Thought I'd make a posting to the greater "family" and let you all know that I was recently engaged to marry Greg Stare in late February. Some of the Stollenwercks met Greg at gathering we had at Jeff's house in Connecticut. The wedding won't be until Summer, 2006. Very exciting news indeed. Here's a picture from Greg's and my recent adventures in the Dominican Republic."
This is how far Adriane got with the blog when she and Greg decided to get married last winter. I've seen the DR picture (nice), but it never made it to the draft stage of her post. Sigh...
I shot this photo in Vermont when Ado brought Greg up to meet this side of the family in October. Big Success!
Adriane asked me to give her wedding website a plug at the Mania! Here it is: www.adrianeandgreg.com. Go there for late breaking news as their special day draws nearer. Hurry, it's only 240 days away!
Posted by Jamie Stollenwerck, November 2005 ¶ 7:27 PM 0 comments
