My Favourite Time of Day, is Night

One of the perks of being a mom to small children...

...is being announced when you enter the room. It's fun while it lasts. Simply going upstairs and coming back down with the laundry basket used to be enough to warrant a nice big, enthusiastic, "Ma-ma!!!!" upon reentry. Nowadays, if my kids even notice my comings and goings, the most I invariably get is "Can I have a snack?"

And that is why it's so nice to be received by a smiling friendly person at the airport.

And so began a fun filled trip to Winnipeg last weekend, the geographical mid point of our fair and vast country. We were there to perform this concert:

(Just below Mr. Short, and... there we are) 

  

Speaking of Martin Short: 

(spot the tie-in below)

If I could've fit these Godzilla sized superfab platform showstoppers (as seen here displayed on my current summer reading) in the dollhouse attache case that passes for allowable carry-on baggage these days, well you'd better bet I would've.

Yes folks, we flew to Winnipeg to perform a "Disco Fever - Motown Dance Party" at the Club Regent Casino Event Centre, with our friends, the wonderful Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra.

And what a party it was! There was even a dance floor! With dancers! Gavin Hope, Rique Franks, Stephanie Martin and myself sang many great Motown and Disco hits, making sure to dress appropriately at all times.

The dress I'm wearing here is a vintage 1960s beaded mini, given to me by my grandmother many years ago, as originally bought by my glamourous, couture-loving Aunt Helen... very Supremes I think.

I love Steph and Rique's looks here, and isn't it wonderful when a plan comes together?

Stephanie Martin, me (Kathryn Rose), Rique Franks.

Gavin Hope, Rique Franks, the WSO's Maestro Alexander Mickelthwate,  me (Kathryn Rose), and Stephanie Martin. 

Because I didn't make it on to the promo poster for this concert (what am I, chopped liva??), I'll give myself an extra plug with one more shot, because I am rather fond of this new dress... and Gavin Hope is great at posing me backstage!!  ;) 

(Just pretend, won't you, that that nifty pocket door to the loo upon which I was draped was nicely closed...) 

Other highlights of this trip included a sweet surprise from Stephanie Martin, when she presented Rique and myself the gift of these Jellyfish and Jellybean socks (soon to be stolen by our respective young daughters I'm sure).

 

And....

...a strange and perverse obsession with Lauren Bacall's High Point Coffee commercials of the 1970s and '80s. Credit must go to Rique Franks here. She started it. ;)

We were quoting from this one all weekend:

It got so bad that just the sight of coffee, or the word Decaffeinated would get us going again.

 

But you know what? 

My favourite time of day...

...really is night.

Thanks for joining us Winnipeg. See you again.

xo kr

Canada Day fireworks the night before the trip to Winnipeg

Happy 2015 - Kathryn & Rique in a Double Whammy New Year's Eve!

Hi friends, Happy 2015!

Kathryn Rose here.

The women of JnC are all pretty close, and we can often be found hanging out even when we are not on the road.

Rique Franks and I do a few things together at home in Toronto... a very scenic 6k nature walk in her midtown neighbourhood, Bikram hot yoga classes, egging people's houses and running away... the list of favourite common pastimes goes on.

Rique and I were not on the same New Year's Eve show this year. But we were both on 2 different exciting concert trips that Jeans 'n Classics had this year for New Year's Eve, and (along with Katalin Kiss on my gig), we were outnumbered by the men of JnC for both of our shows. That meant for a lotta lips to kiss at midnight! ;)

...Comparing notes afterwards, we thought we'd join forces here, for a joint Blog entry.

Here's mine:

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Back to Back: the music of Billy Joel and Elton John in Reading, Pennsylvania, with the Reading Symphony! 
...by Kathryn Rose

Smartphones have made it very easy for the women of JNC to answer the all important musical question, "what are you wearing for the show?" 

Before most shows, no sooner is the question uttered before a photo of sparkly outfit #01428369.87 goes hurtling through cyberspace from one phone to another. Sparkly variations are culled, shortlisted, and one or two make the final cut, and we have a plan; suitcases are packed, and shows are performed.

This past New Year's Eve, Katalin Kiss and myself turned the Sparkle Factor all the way up to 11:

Preview of Katalin's dress

Preview of Kathryn's dress indecision

Katalin's treadmill nor the edge of my bed don't really do these dresses justice... here we are on the day... you'll see I chose the silver jobby... 

(but the black dress did make an appearance at our post show dinner/champagne hangout, didn't get any shots of that!)

Our dresses in action!

Katalin's dress was originally a vintage '80s dress she spotted and snapped up, with the foresight to have the long hem shortened and the sleeves taken up to 3/4". Great vision, Miss Kiss!

Some rehearsal shots, at the pretty Santander Performing Arts Centre: 

Love this one of Katalin

Okay, I'll add some boys...

Don Paulton

Jean Meilleur and Darryl Stacey

Who's cuter than Jeff Christmas?

When we rolled into town, our driver pointed out the tall Christmas tree on a street corner near our hotel, saying that the tree had made the news as one of the saddest Christmas trees in North America, being compared to Charlie Brown's infamous Christmas tree.
http://www.cbsnews.com/news/ugly-tree-helps-pennsylvania-city-discover-true-meaning-of-christmas/

I couldn't help but take a stroll over to take a closer look after rehearsal. Poor thing, it's not so bad. Maybe a little droopy. But very tall!

Aw, don't you just kind of want to hug it?

Before I sign off... a quick thought on two of my favourite topics, Coffee & Massage:

Road Tip for (good) Coffee Lovers:
Originated by Lis Soderberg
Endorsed by Kathryn Rose
Activated by Katalin Kiss in a moment of need on this trip!

If you love coffee, and hate bad coffee, get a pack of these. Especially if you travel. Bad coffee is rampant on the road. Next time you are drinking a cup of inferior coffee, add one or part of these little puppies into your cup of brown water, stir, and enjoy the fact that you now have something no one else around you has: a better cup of java, at least by half.

And lastly...

What on earth is this...it looks like something... for the bedroom...?

This rather assuming-looking device may draw stares in the airport, but can provide much relief to your sore bits and bobs while traveling. If you don't believe me, ask Don Paulton! He allowed me to use it on him in plain view at the Philadelphia Airport on Jan 1, to the curiosity and possible jealousy of the rest of the band, and world at large. I used to have 2 of them, but lost one on a plane a few years ago.

That's it from me...

Happy New Year!

xo kr


P.S.:

Fine Jean, be that way.

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Rique's NYE concert blog entry:

Shaken Not Stirred in Lima, Ohio (with the Lima Symphony) 
...by Rique Franks

We had a great NYE show in Lima, Ohio.

It was my co-star Gavin Hope's first shot at the Bond show and he did us proud.

[Neil Donell usually sings the male lead on this show; David Blamires has also been an awesome pinch hitter.]

After an epic Odyssey of a travel-day getting there, we flopped into our beds and were welcomed by the bright morning sun on New Year's Eve day.

Rehearsal was almost more fun than the show itself thanks to the brilliance of the symphony and exuberance of conductor, Crafton Beck. With Steve Heathcote driving the beat, Peter Brennan on guitar, Mitch Tyler on bass and John Regan as always doing a great job on piano and as emcee, the show went off without a hitch. We received standing ovations both at the end of the show and after the encore.

The Lima Symphony's Executive Director, Elizabeth Brown then took us to the Met, a local fine dining establishment owned by former Chicago residents, Nicole and Ron, to ring in the new year in fine style.

That's the fair Elizabeth, 3rd from the left, beside me. 

I had one of the best meals I've ever had in that restaurant, and one of the biggest most delicious martinis, aptly named The Bond!!

The downtown core is filled with beautiful old buildings that have not yet all been revitalized the way they have in Toronto.  One such building, Lima Square, was completely vacant and chains draped the front door.

        

I cannot help but think that Lima had a glorious past.

One remnant that has survived and is thriving is the original Kewpee Hamburger joint.

Cars still line up down the street to get a burger and fries. Once inside, you're greeted at the counter by lovely old gals who have probably been working there since they were fresh out of high school 65 years ago.

As you can see, this place is so BEYOND! Steve Heathcote simply can NOT!!
- I have to say it was the best burger I've ever had.

I can't wait to go back to Lima again!

Happy New Year!
-Rique

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See you out on the road in 2015!
(Upcoming Concert Dates)

xo Kathryn and Rique.

A Holiday Message from the Women of Jeans 'n Classics

Hello!
December 25 is mere moments away... we can't let the season go by without sending you a little something from all of the women of Jeans 'n Classics... Enjoy!

Happy Holidays! 

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Lis Soderberg:

Lis sends everyone her warmest of holiday wishes, along with a link to her younger daughter Ellis Barkman's cover of the Christmas classic, "You're a Mean One, Mr. Grinch".
http://soundcloud.com/ellie-barkman/youre-a-mean-one-mr-grinch

(Ellis is 17 years old and will be graduating high school in the Spring. She claims music is a hobby for her, but she sounds like a little more than a hobbyist! We hear she has been accepted into University of Ottawa next year... congrats Ellis!)

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Andrea Koziol:

"Sending light filled wishes to everyone out there!  The dark December days are luscious to me because they are filled with the people I love, and of course, a whole lotta good eating!  I'm looking forward to hunkering down with my family over the next few weeks, and also having the time to write some new music for a few of the projects I'm involved with outside of Jeans 'n Classics.  

One of those projects is my brand new collaboration Tarbelle.  www.tarbelle.com  Have a listen...

Happy Holidays!  Here's to a wicked 2015 for all!"

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Kathryn Rose:

"Shalom! I've had another great year singing and doing admin and tour coordination for Jeans 'n Classics. 

I have three things to share with you this holiday season... 

#1. When it's the first night of Hanukkah and you are about to get the kids from after school daycare and you realize your warped aluminum sad and sorry excuse for a menorah simply needs to be retired, but those 8 days and nights aren't going to light themselves...

....A suspended bread board with tea lights will definitely do in a pinch! Now you know! Now I know!

The lazy susan even fit underneath it with applesauce and sour cream for the potato latkes!

#2. It's a KR Khristmas! Listen to my version of a few Xmas faves here: https://soundcloud.com/kr_kathrynrose/sets/its-a-kr-khristmas-1
...Maybe next year I'll record some Hanukkah hits.

#3. You can make butter (well, a butter substitute) out of coconut oil and cold pressed flaxseed oil. I made 12 jars of it this year as gifts. (Spoiler Alert to friends of mine who haven't received it yet.) Recipe below.

The "Perfect Fat" Recipe
1. Soften a bottle of Coconut Oil by setting jar in a pan of hot water.
2. Pour the soft contents (2 cups) (or 1 + 1/2 cups) Coconut Oil into a pan and heat on the stove medium heat. Add 1-2 cloves of garlic and 1 medium onion chopped. Cook for 3 mins or until partially clear. Remove from oil. Save and reuse cooked vegetables if desired. 
3. Let Coconut Oil cool. Then add 1 cup (or 3/4) of cold pressed flaxseed oil. Mix.
4. Pour flavoured fat mixture back into jars and refrigerate. Use as butter adding sea salt or Herbamare before eating.
5. Step 2 is optional if you don't like onion or garlic, leave plain or add other herbs.   


Before I sign off, I'd like to send a special shout out of thanks to an unseen woman of Jeans 'n Classics, our webmistress Tara Bowd of Sonic Notes. Tara has been very busy revamping many elements at our website this year. Thank you Tara! Check out the changes and additions at: www.jeansnclassics.com

Happy Holidays whatever you celebrate! Looking very forward to the JNC shows in 2015."
xo kr


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Leah Salomaa:

"Winter Solstice and Merry Christmas greetings from me over here in downtown Toronto! 

Here I am singing The Holly and the Ivy as part of the St. Anne's Anglican Church Christmas concert on December 7. 

This holiday I will be curling up with some good books and taking things real slow. I'll also be editing my new music video soon to be up on my website. 

Check for updates at www.leahsalomaa.com. 

All the best to you and yours. Let's have a cracking 2015!"

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Stephanie Martin:

"One of the greatest joys in my life is to get on a stage with a symphony orchestra and feel and be part of the glorious sound! Today, my wish for the whole extended JnC family across North America and around the world is for a happy, healthy and safe holiday season!"

(After a successful recent Kickstarter campaign, Stephanie will soon be working on her next album project, "Walk in the Light." This past month, Stephanie graced the intimate, unique Musideum stage in Toronto for a 2-night run on December 12 & 13, providing a taste of her new material. JnC singers Gavin Hope and Kathryn Rose were in attendance, Stephanie was wonderful! Here's a shot from the Saturday night performance.):

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Rique Franks:

The beautiful and talented Rique Franks also sends her best holiday wishes, along with her version of "Little Drummer Boy" from a few years ago. Have a listen.

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Katalin Kiss:

"Happy Holidays to the loyal and kind friends of Jeans and Classics. 
Looking forward  to another year of shows, with some of the greatest orchestras across North America. 
Wishing you and yours all the best.

Love, Katalin Kiss"

The view from Katalin's wintry log cabin window in Picton, Ontario.

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Those are our holiday messages! 

See you for our 2 upcoming New Year's Eve shows:

•Back to Back - the Music of Elton John and Billy & Joel with the Reading Symphony, (Reading, Philadelphia);

•Shaken Not Stirred - the Music of James Bond with the Lima Symphony (Lima, Ohio).

...and at all the shows in 2015! 
(2015 concert calendar.)

       &