(Going back to find) A simpler place and time…

March 4, 2020

(Going back to find)
A simpler place and time…

Gladys Knight

Jed, Alice, Sarah, Naomi and Elena

Gwen Filosa

Karri Daley



There is an iconic singer that I have wanted to go see live for many, many years and for one reason or another, I have never been to see perform. There have been more than a few times that I had a chance to go and see the legendary Gladys Knight, most notably when I was in Las Vegas during one of her residencies there, but I never was able to actually go and see her, so when I saw that she was going to be appearing in Key West as part of the terrific season of entertainment at the Tennessee Williams Theatre at the College of the Florida Keys, I immediately bought tickets for Kathy and I and have been waiting patiently for this week to arrive.







I was not sure what to expect, at 76 years old, Gladys Knight could have possibly been a shadow of her former self, but I wanted to go regardless. If she was a shadow of her former self, then she must have been the most amazing performer ever, because her show was simply stunning. I could not believe the vitality and energy the woman displayed not to mention the pitch perfect voice that sounded every bit as astounding as ever. She bounded around the stage (in high heels no less) like a twenty year old and had the energy and enthusiasm of the legend that she is.







She had a terrific band and a duo of much younger but equally gifted young women singers with her and she went through a terrific 90 minute set full of all the classic songs from her iconic career with the Pips and her long solo career. The seven-time Grammy award winner was the show of the season at TWFAC and one of the better concerts of any kind that we have seen.

Michael and Howard



While certainly the highlight of the week, seeing Gladys Knight was only one of a myriad of entertaining and fun events going on in Key West as the season continues in full swing with events almost every night. My friend and colleague Howard was in town, staying with us for a few days as he had some work in the RPM office this week, so that was fun. He joined me at the monthly potluck to welcome this month’s artists in residence at the Studios of Key West.





Alice and Howard





This month’s artist include painter Sarah Williams, from Missouri, Alice Hargrave who is a photo based artist from Chicago and Naomi Gordon-Loebl who is a Brooklyn based writer. Kathy and I have been assigned as community host for Naomi and have had a chance to get to spend some time helping her get assimilated to Key West life while she is here and we have been fortunate to befriend all of the artists.

Naomi

Gwen, Elena, Kevin and Mark





The potluck is a chance for supporters of TSKW to meet the artists, see their work and interact with them. We also were able to attend Naomi’s awesome lecture at the Tropic Cinema as part of the Friends of the Key West Library’s lecture series. It was an awesome talk and the first of a few opportunities this week we had to support our friends and their creative endeavors. Our friend Katrin just released her new novel, “This Terrible Beauty” and we went to her first book release event at Shakti Yoga where she read and spoke about her brilliant new book.







Katrin



Stephanie

Gwen

We also went to see our friend Gwen Filosa, one of the funniest people in Key West and one hell of a reporter as well as she performed as part of Comedy Key West at the Bottlecap Lounge and went to see our friend Karri Daley perform an amazing set of live music at the Key West Theater to celebrate the release of her new CD, “Unapologetically Me”. And attended the 4^th anniversary birthday celebration at Judy Blume and George Cooper’s amazing book store, Books and Books at the Key West Studios.

Judy and George



Karri Daley



It was a busy week celebrating some truly talented, smart, entertaining and beautiful women who make our community a better place. How fortunate we are to either be the home to or to attract such creative talent and any of these events this week, may well have been a highlight of many weeks and here they were all jammed into a quick week of truly inspiring and enjoyable events.

Karri





https://sarahwilliams-paintings.com/home.html

https://www.alicehargrave.com/.

https://www.naomigordonloebl.com/

https://katrinschumann.com/

https://gwenfilosa.com/
https://www.karridaley.com/