From: owner-lucy-list-digest@smoe.org (lucy-list-digest) To: lucy-list-digest@smoe.org Subject: lucy-list-digest V6 #52 Reply-To: lucy-list@smoe.org Sender: owner-lucy-list-digest@smoe.org Errors-To: owner-lucy-list-digest@smoe.org Precedence: bulk lucy-list-digest Tuesday, March 9 2004 Volume 06 : Number 052 In this issue: [lucy-list] The Half the Sky donation presentation Re: [lucy-list] The Half the Sky donation presentation Re: [lucy-list] The Half the Sky donation presentation [lucy-list] pattys party [lucy-list] Singer Lucy Kaplansky to Perform Benefit Shows for Half the Sky [lucy-list] Boston Globe review RE: [lucy-list] Boston Globe review Re: [lucy-list] The Half the Sky donation presentation [lucy-list] Lucy in Fall River 3/5 [lucy-list] Lucy in Lexington 3/6 [lucy-list] Lucy in Ridgefield, CT 3/7 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: Mon, 08 Mar 2004 11:51:52 -0500 From: "Kristen Myshrall" Subject: [lucy-list] The Half the Sky donation presentation Hi everyone, After a crazy weekend, more than 800 miles on my poor car, and having a total blast traveling with Benay to see Lucy, I can safely say that this weekend was one of the best of my life and the presentation of the Half the Sky donation went amazing!! I drove up and met Benay in Fall River for the Friday night show where I had prepared a giant card to present to Lucy. We got there quite early so we were hanging around downstairs not to obvious with a giant poster board in our hands! I ran to my car to get my camera and Lucy came down and...well...Benay can tell you about throwing the card behind a plant so she wouldn't see it :) The show was fantastic, we met lots of new Lucy fans. Benay kept the set lists so she'll have to post them! Our nerves were up and we couldn't wait til the end of the show to give her the card! Finally, after the show, we waited until everyone was done...which seemed to take forever!!.. and had cleared out and decided to present her with the card. Benay took pictures (at www.lucykaplansky.net/halfthesky.html) while I explained how we wanted to do something to celebrate the release of 'The Red Thread', their adoption of Molly, and her birthday so we raised $1151 in donations for half the sky in her honor and how we were also sending a box of toys, clothes, books, etc. to the orphanage in Chongqing in her honor as well. I think it was safe to say she was blown away. She cried and just kept saying 'oh my god, oh my god' over and over again and said that it was 'the perfect gift' and that we had 'outdone outselves'. It was a great night and Benay and I didn't stop grinning and saying 'oh my god' and sighing all night as we drove back to Boston! Saturday was the sold out Lexington show, which was a benefit for Half the Sky. I got there a bit late but Benay had saved me a seat and after a lousy day that was exactly what i needed! It was an amazing show with Duke, and the sound was fantastic and Lucy's voice was beyond beautiful...it was perfect. We said a quick hello and goodbye to Lucy and us two exhausted travellers made our way to CT to get a little sleep before the Ridgefield show. Ridgefield was a blast on Sunday. Rick and Molly were there and Lucy was quite emotional because it was Molly's first show. She is the cutest thing ever, has a smile that can melt your heart, and she's gotten so big since we last saw her in Northampton! We had a great time watching her take daddy for a walk before the show and listening to her make her little animal noises after the show from the prodding of her two incredibly proud parents :) The show was absolutely wonderful! We were treated to quite a few songs Lucy doesn't do to often anymore including I've Just Seen a Face, Promise Me, Just You Tonight, and many others.... After we helped Lucy and Rick pack up their car and said goodbyes I brought Benay to the train station and I headed home myself to pass out! *sigh* it was a great weekend, one I won't forget for a long time! If you would like to see pictures of the box of toys and clothes that was sent to the orphange, pictures of the card, or pictures of the presentation you can see them at www.lucykaplansky.net/halfthesky.html - -Kristen _________________________________________________________________ Store more e-mails with MSN Hotmail Extra Storage  4 plans to choose from! http://click.atdmt.com/AVE/go/onm00200362ave/direct/01/ ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 8 Mar 2004 12:23:08 EST From: BrainCC@aol.com Subject: Re: [lucy-list] The Half the Sky donation presentation It's not often I'm lost for words, but occasionally... Just a marvellous idea, brilliantly conceived and executed, and on-the-spot photos as well. They don't provide enough gold stars and Brownie points to reflect the list's thanks, but thanks a billion to the power of n anyway. I particularly liked the duck! An overwhelmed Brian ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 08 Mar 2004 13:56:51 -0500 From: "Kristen Myshrall" Subject: Re: [lucy-list] The Half the Sky donation presentation *grin* thanks Brian and thanks to everyone who participated!! Side note.... we gave Molly a matching duck yesterday and were rewarded with "quack quack's" :) >It's not often I'm lost for words, but occasionally... >Just a marvellous idea, brilliantly conceived and executed, and on-the-spot >photos as well. >They don't provide enough gold stars and Brownie points to reflect the >list's >thanks, but thanks a billion to the power of n anyway. >I particularly liked the duck! >An overwhelmed Brian _________________________________________________________________ Frustrated with dial-up? Lightning-fast Internet access for as low as $29.95/month. http://click.atdmt.com/AVE/go/onm00200360ave/direct/01/ ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 08 Mar 2004 14:07:53 -0500 From: Sdgold60@aol.com Subject: [lucy-list] pattys party The Patty Griffin list is raising $$$ for patty's birthday through donations to Vietnam Vets of America and through an ebay auction there are signed guitars that you can bid on... The Emmy Lou Harris guitar may interest some of you... http://cgi6.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewSellersOtherItems&include=0&userid=jmphlbat there is also one by dar williams and one from the singer songwriter tour with mary chapin , dar, patty and shawn colvin and catie curtis signing a guitar... bid if you are interested sharon "See your life as a gift from the great unknown And your task is to receive it" mary chapin carpenter Do not go where the path may lead, go instead where there is no path and leave a trail. Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803-1882) ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 08 Mar 2004 19:45:22 +0000 From: sekrauss@comcast.net Subject: [lucy-list] Singer Lucy Kaplansky to Perform Benefit Shows for Half the Sky My friend, Patty, who adopted a baby from China a few years ago, sent me this email she received today. I'll be at the San Francisco show - anyone else? susan in alameda - ----Original Message----- From: Jenny Bowen [mailto:jenny@halfthesky.org] Sent: Sunday, March 07, 2004 11:25 AM Subject: Singer Lucy Kaplansky to Perform Benefit Shows for Half the Sky Hello, We're grateful and happy to tell you that,in conjunction with her new CD release, The Red Thread, singer and songwriter, Lucy Kaplansky is giving a series of benefit concerts to help raise money and awareness for Half The Sky. In November, 2003, Lucy Kaplansky and her husband, NYU film professor Rick Litvin, returned from China with their first child, Molly Fuxiang. Through the adoption process, they became aware of Half the Sky's work. Lucy wrote the six original songs on her new CD with her husband Rick. These songs in particular are informed by several significant events in their lives, most notably their recent adoption, but also their close proximity to Ground Zero in New York City and having witnessed much of the tragedy of 9/11 first-hand. In songs like I Had Something, The Red Thread, Land of the Living, and This is Home, Lucy tells the story of the many threads that connect her to people, time and place  including family and fellow New Yorkers. I think a natural result of being that close to the World Trade Center on 9-11 was to focus on the things that are most important in ones life. At the top of that list was family. And specifically, for my husband and me, starting a family." On the album, Lucy also covers memorable songs by fellow songwriters Bill Morrissey, James McMurtry, Buddy Miller and Jim Lauderdale, and the late Dave Carter. The Red Thread continues Lucys tradition of embracing great songs by other artists. Although Lucy (with husband, Rick and daughter, Molly) will be touring extensively throughout the US in the coming year, the benefit concerts for Half the Sky Foundation will take place in 10 major cities. They are as follows: Saturday, March 6  Lexington, MA; First Baptist Church (too late--sorry folks) Friday, March 12 -- Santa Monica, CA; McCabes Sunday, March 14 -- San Francisco, CA; Cafi DuNord Saturday, March 20 -- Portland, OR; Community Music Center Sunday, March 21 -- Seattle, WA; Tractor Tavern Friday, April 9  Bryn Athyn, PA; Mitchell Performing Arts Center Saturday, April 10 -- Washington D.C.; The Barns at Wolftrap Wednesday-Friday, April 21-23 -- New York City; Joes Pub Friday, April 30  Chicago, IL; Schubas Saturday, May 1 -- Ann Arbor, MI; The Ark For more information about Lucy: http://www.lucykaplansky.com/2004/site.html For more information about her new CD and tour: http://www.redhouserecords.com/ and click on Lucy's picture I've heard The Red Thread and it's wonderful. Thank you, Lucy! Jenny Bowen Executive Director Half the Sky Foundation www.halfthesky.org NOTE OUR NEW ADDRESS & PHONE: 764 Gilman Street Berkeley, CA 94710 USA ph (510)525-3377 fx (510)525-3611 Half the Sky was created by adoptive parents of orphaned Chinese children in order to enrich the lives and enhance the prospects for the children in China who still wait to be adopted, and for those who will spend their childhoods in orphanages. We establish early childhood education, personalized learning and infant nurture programs in state-run Chinese welfare institutions to provide the children stimulation, individual attention, and an active learning environment. ...helping them hold up half the sky ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 8 Mar 2004 15:09:53 -0500 From: bbubar@hearst.com Subject: [lucy-list] Boston Globe review Obviously I have more to say later (glad Kristen managed to give such a good summary of things---I just haven't had a chance to post yet!). But in the meantime, Lucy got a really excellent little review in the Boston Globe...can't find a way to copy it here, but it's in the "press" section on www.lucykaplansky.com. And I had to laugh because the reviewer is none other than Scott Alarik, author of _Deep Community_, whom we worried was giving Lucy short shrift because he didn't put her in his book---guess we can finally REALLY put to rest any lingering questions about whether he likes Lucy or not! Benay ========================================================= This e-mail message is intended only for the personal use of the recipient(s) named above. If you are not an intended recipient, you may not review, copy or distribute this message. If you have received this communication in error, please notify the Hearst Information Services HelpDesk (helpdesk@hearst.com) immediately by e-mail and delete the original message. ========================================================= ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 08 Mar 2004 18:41:50 -0500 From: "Kristen Myshrall" Subject: RE: [lucy-list] Boston Globe review The article reads... "New York songwriter Lucy Kaplansky is becoming the troubador laureate of modern city folk. Her latest CD, "The Red Thread," (Red House), is a probing, heartful meditation on what home means- and where it can be found-amid the isolating din of urban life. She looks past the decay, violence, and displacement to find home in community, family, and a purposeful connection to our past and future. - -Scott Alarik Nice she finally got a great review and a very quoteable one from the Boston Globe! - -Kristen >From: bbubar@hearst.com >Reply-To: lucy-list@smoe.org >To: lucy-list@smoe.org >Subject: [lucy-list] Boston Globe review >Date: Mon, 8 Mar 2004 15:09:53 -0500 > >Obviously I have more to say later (glad Kristen managed to give such a >good summary of things---I just haven't had a chance to post yet!). But in >the meantime, Lucy got a really excellent little review in the Boston >Globe...can't find a way to copy it here, but it's in the "press" section >on www.lucykaplansky.com. And I had to laugh because the reviewer is none >other than Scott Alarik, author of _Deep Community_, whom we worried was >giving Lucy short shrift because he didn't put her in his book---guess we >can finally REALLY put to rest any lingering questions about whether he >likes Lucy or not! > >Benay > > > >========================================================= >This e-mail message is intended only for the personal >use of the recipient(s) named above. If you are not >an intended recipient, you may not review, copy or >distribute this message. > >If you have received this communication in error, >please notify the Hearst Information Services HelpDesk >(helpdesk@hearst.com) immediately by e-mail and >delete the original message. >========================================================= _________________________________________________________________ One-click access to Hotmail from any Web page  download MSN Toolbar now! http://clk.atdmt.com/AVE/go/onm00200413ave/direct/01/ ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 8 Mar 2004 21:22:00 -0500 From: Benay Bubar Subject: Re: [lucy-list] The Half the Sky donation presentation Well, finally I have a chance to add some of my own reflections on the weekend to Kristen's excellent description. I think I will just give some general impressions and then follow that up with the set lists. So---fiirst of all---the Half the Sky presentation. It shows up pretty well in the pictures, but I have to independently confirm, having seen it in person, that Kristen really did put together a gorgeous card...and it was so huge that we weren't sure how we were going to hide it until after the Fall River show. Indeed, there was some pretty funny maneuvering involved. We got to Fall River very early---the show was on the third floor of the building, and we weren't sure we were allowed all the way up right away, so we hung out for a while on the second floor landing, hearing VERY vague strains of Lucy doing sound check above us. Then Kristen realized she didn't have the camera and ran back to the car to get it, leaving me holding the card. I was daydreaming when I suddenly heard footsteps coming down the stairs...and realized I DIDN'T hear Lucy's voice doing sound check anymore! As it happened, there was this random medium-sized potted plant beside me on the landing, and I quickly thrust the huge card behind the plant---the words were facing the wall, but it was still an awfully big thing to hide, and the top of it stuck obstinately above the plant. And sure enough, a moment later, down the stairs and around the corner came Lucy herself---and as we exchanged brief pleasantries, I was desperately thinking, "DON'T LOOK at what's behind the plant, Lucy! DON'T LOOK at what's behind the plant!" Thankfully, she didn't...crisis averted. But that wasn't even our last moment of worry about keeping the secret...after the show, as we waited for Lucy to be free enough from signing CDs to actually receive what we had for her, this guy suddenly shouted out from halfway across the room, "HEY, CAN I SEE THAT POSTER YOU GUYS HAVE FOR LUCY? WHAT DOES THAT SAY? 'WE LOVE YOU, LUCY'?" Way to spoil the moment---horrified, we glanced at Lucy (still busily signing CDs about 10 feet away) and then both absolutely BOLTED toward the guy, hissing fragments of relevant information: "Sssssshhhh! Card! Present! Donation! Surprise!" Kristen sort of shoved it at him so he could take a glance, he nodded appreciatively, and then we tore back to our position waiting for Lucy, who miraculously seemed to have remained oblivious to the hysteria. Finally, we had Lucy's attention, and Kristen presented the card. And I think the pictures on Kristen's site make it pretty clear that we DID manage to keep the surprise from Lucy until the right time---I took those first three photos of her receiving the card, and as much as I was shaking, I'm delighted they came out so well. If you drag them to the desktop and enlarge them, you can really see the expression on Lucy's face, and looking at that first one especially just guts me even now---it caught that wide-eyed look of total shock of which only Lucy is capable. Watching her take in that card---she had to sit down with it after a few moments, and she just gripped it on both sides and stared and stared---was one of the most moving experiences I've ever had. First she could hardly speak, then WE could hardly speak---among the three of us, we could have given a whole new meaning to Cry, Cry, Cry. Everyone involved should know that this really COULDN'T have gone better---it was not only what we hoped, but was more successful than any of us could ever have dared dream. Kristen and I couldn't even get in the car right away when we finally made it outside...we were too overwhelmed. The two of us just hung around for a while in the dark parking lot behind the building ("it's like a movie set out there," Lucy had said earlier onstage---and given the old building, crumbling brick pavement, and misty weather, indeed it was) and looked at each other and laughed and sighed until we hardly had any breath left. And I'm not sure we said anything but variations on "Oh, my God" to each other over and over again all the way back to Boston...but somehow that was a complete conversation. My thanks, too, to all who donated---Kristen and I may been lucky enough to be the ones physically present, but in the ways that matter, it truly felt as if the rest of you were all there, too. Benay ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 8 Mar 2004 22:28:11 -0500 From: Benay Bubar Subject: [lucy-list] Lucy in Fall River 3/5 And now, albeit a bit anticlimactically...on to the shows themselves... The Narrows Center for the Arts in Fall River was located in a warehouse-like building (the name, I became certain, referred to the width of the restrooms, which presented truly remarkable challenges to the non-gymnast), in a vast third-floor space that seemed to be one third art gallery, one third gift shop, and one third churchlike performance space, with a bunch of pews plus a few tables and chairs in front. There were huge windows behind the stage, and as Lucy performed, you could just see behind her the lights of passing cars on a distant highway and the blinking of an airplane tower light...there was a coziness to it all. Rachael Davis was the opener in both Fall River and Lexington---I'd never seen her, but she was perky and pleasant and got the audience singing with enthusiasm on Simon & Garfunkel's "Slip Sliding Away." The sound was great (as would remain true all weekend). Lucy wore...well, the usual, and you can see it in the pictures anyway. She sang: He Thinks I Still Care Written on the Back of His Hand More Than This Guilty As Sin Ten Year Night The Red Thread I Had Something Don't Mind Me Brooklyn Train (on piano) By Way of Sorrow Line in the Sand Diaper Song (prefaced by Molly stories---somewhere in here Lucy talked about how Rick was in the hotel with Molly and had gotten takeout food that evening, but had been given no utensils...so she'd left him eating dinner with one of Molly's baby spoons!) This Is Home Land of the Living Song About Pi Broken Things Encore: Song About Molly (she said she hadn't done this song much since they'd gotten little Molly, but she got through it fine) Ballad of Mary Magdalene (I can never get enough of the way Lucy leans into the chorus on this one) Although Kristen and I had a hard time paying full attention toward the end because of our anticipation of the card presentation, it was an excellent show...and we talked to some nice people sitting near us, among whom were a couple in the process of adopting from China themselves who seemed particularly touched by This Is Home and The Red Thread...and when Lucy was talking about Molly's adoption, someone else in the audience shouted "My daughter came from Korea! She's 20!" prompting Lucy to say to the audience in general, "I LIKE you guys!" By the way, one of the volunteers in Fall River announced at intermission, half in jest, that for a donation of only a couple of hundred thousand dollars, you could have the whole performance space named after you...Kristen and I filed that information away for NEXT time we're trying to give Lucy a present! :-) Benay ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 8 Mar 2004 22:46:13 -0500 From: Benay Bubar Subject: [lucy-list] Lucy in Lexington 3/6 This show was at the Joyful Noise Coffeehouse, which was in a big stone church on the main street of the elegant town of Lexington, MA. It was athe first benefit show for Half the Sky, and it was completely sold out. Though I have learned to be a little wary of the sound for shows that take place in churches, this one defied my expectations---Lucy's voice sounded as gorgeous as I had EVER heard it. Duke Levine played with her and the balance was just perfect---Kristen and I were far back and didn't have the greatest view, but the incredible sound more than made up for it. After Rachael Davis's performance, a WUMB radio host, wearing red in honor of The Red Thread ("I didn't even think about wearing red!" exclaimed Lucy) gave an explanation of Half the Sky and introduced Lucy. I happened to be exhausted almost to the point of illness by the time I got to the Lexington show---a tiredness built up from earlier in the week that had nothing to do with the weekend's travels---and I purposely sat near the door in case I felt faint and had to run out. But soon after Lucy began singing---two sets, no less, with a long intermission so people could pick up information about Half the Sky---I forgot that I had been feeling sick at all. Set one: Cowboy Singer Written on the Back of His Hand Love Song/New York (incredible with Duke's accompaniment) I Had Something (jacket story) (adoption story/Red Thread explanation) The Red Thread Don't Mind Me Brooklyn Train (on guitar, as there was no piano---it sounded incredible) Ten Year Night Set two: More Than This Scorpion Line in the Sand (more Molly talk) This Is Home Land of the Living By Way of Sorrow Hole in My Head Turn the Lights Back On ("it's an angry song...but it's really about liberation") Return of the Grievous Angel Broken Things Encore: Just You Tonight (on guitar---gorgeous) Song for Molly After all the emotion of the previous night, Kristen and I left right after the Lexington show with barely a wave in Lucy's general direction---we were so tired and had an hour and a half of driving ahead---but it was a lovely evening that lulled us into blissful and much-needed sleep before Ridgefield, our final stop... Benay ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 8 Mar 2004 23:21:50 -0500 From: Benay Bubar Subject: [lucy-list] Lucy in Ridgefield, CT 3/7 The final Lucy show of the weekend was in Ridgefield, touted on the road signs as "Connecticut's #1 Town!" I couldn't swear to the veracity of that, but they did have a nice little library there, complete with a separate performance space with art on the walls and cushy chairs (after two nights of church pews and folding chairs, the luxury of the Ridgefield venue was very welcome!). I think the room held maybe 60-75 people, though I'm horrible at those sorts of estimates. It was the first afternoon (and not evening) Lucy show I can ever recall going to...and, more importantly, as Kristen mentioned, it was MOLLY'S first show! Let me just say that adorable is a vast understatement, and that this kid already absolutely knows how to work a crowd...she was encircled by admirers every time she made an appearance with Rick. But the two of them were nowhere in sight when Lucy began the performance, and she started strongly with: Cowboy Singer One Good Reason Loch Lomond Ten Year Night (jacket story) And somewhere in here, things started to fall apart a bit, because it had to happen sometime: Lucy had to explain the album title, which meant mentioning Molly...who was by this point in Rick's arms, quiet as a mouse, in the back of the room. It took Lucy two tries to actually verbalize the concept of what the red thread was...and then she started talking about Molly and how it was Molly's first time officially seeing her mom onstage, and she got so choked up that she finally just gave up and told us all to look back and say hi to Molly! So every head in the room turned to stare and wave at this cheerful little person who was hugging her daddy and issuing only the most occasional and polite of babbles. Lucy was having an incredibly hard time singing with Molly there, so she kept trying to talk until Rick apparently made a move to leave with Molly so as not to distract her...whereupon Lucy said, "No, DON'T leave!" and Rick basically her she should sing something already! And she said OK, she'd just have to think about something she TOTALLY didn't care about...like football...and then she sang: I Had Something The Red Thread She managed fine, but obviously thinking about football wasn't QUITE doing the trick, and it was with palpable relief that she announced she would sing something that WOULDN'T make her cry and continued with: I've Just Seen a Face (the song she'd sung at her wedding, she said) Guilty As Sin Brooklyn Train (on piano) The Angels Rejoiced (by request) Don't Mind Me Diaper-Changing Song ("I don't know what she'll think hearing it now!" Lucy explained...and I couldn't spot Molly at that point to find out!) This Is Home (another hard song for Lucy to do just then, but she pulled it off) Land of the Living Just You Tonight (on piano) Dad's Alphabet Song Written on the Back of His Hand Return of the Grievous Angel Encore: Promise Me Ballad of Mary Magdalene After the show, Lucy briefly performed one of the most amazing feats I'd ever seen---holding a quietly contemplative Molly in one arm while signing CDs with the other! Luckily, Rick swooped in to take Molly back after a few minutes, and there were then two admiring crowds---one around Lucy and one around little Molly, who had entirely missed her usual afternoon nap but was clearly NOT going to cop to being tired and risk missing any of the excitement! All in all, an incredible weekend from start to finish... Benay ------------------------------ End of lucy-list-digest V6 #52 ****************************** This has been a posting from the Lucy Kaplansky mail list digest To unsubscribe send mail to Majordomo@smoe.org with "unsubscribe lucy-list-digest" in the body of the message