RSS – Recent Posts- Insider’s view of dinner at Songwriter’s Café
- Food for the Soul: Music and Aubergines at the Songwriter’s Café
- Food in Music: It’s not very far, Sugar…
- Reclaiming Civilization: The Anniversary of Gandhi’s Salt March
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- Sir John Stuart, Earl of Bute: Prime Minister and Botanist
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Tag Archives: Culture
Insider’s view of dinner at Songwriter’s Café
An earlier post on Songwriter’s Café shared a glimpse of this live-streamed music venue in Birmingham, England. As the first guest blogger on A Dash of Culture, Robin Valk of Radio To Go imparts his intimate view of the flow that brings together musicians and wordsmiths over dinner each season with host Paul Murphy at Songwriter’s Café. It starts on Wednesday, when Paul and Valeria work out some numbers. How many musicians? How many helpers? What sort of margin for error? How’s the salad patch looking? Then it’s off for eggplants and supplies for Thursday night’s communal supper. Are we … Continue reading
Posted in Culture, History, Music
Tagged Aubergine, Birmingham, Culture, Eggplant Parmesan, Music, Paul Murphy, Robin Valk, Songwriter's
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Food for the Soul: Music and Aubergines at the Songwriter’s Café
It always amazes me how the simple act of preparing and sharing a meal brings people together in so many creative ways, especially when the experience includes live music and poetry. These moments are even more special when the artists are the dinner guests. This is how the Songwriter’s Café is run over in Birmingham, England. Host Paul Murphy is singer and songwriter in the Birmingham band, The Destroyers, a 15-member ensemble of very energetic musicians. What started in 1996 at a local tavern as an open venue for musicians and poets to come together has morphed into a small, … Continue reading
Posted in Culture, Music
Tagged a dash of culture, Aubergine, Birmingham, Culture, Eggplant Parmesan, England, Music, Paul Murphy, Robin Valk, Songwriter’s Café
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Reclaiming Civilization: The Anniversary of Gandhi’s Salt March
From the earliest times, humans have harvested and traded resources. Salt is one of the oldest harvested commodities, with salt extraction sites appearing in archeological records as far back as the late Neolithic period, right around the time civilizations were moving from the Stone Age into agrarian societies. In fact, salt extraction is considered a process indicating the step toward organized society. It certainly required coordinated efforts to mine rock salt or collect salt crystals from water sources. Salt extraction also required more advanced technology than simple stone tools, and early pottery helped to advance salt processing. Briquetage was a … Continue reading
Posted in Culture, History
Tagged archeology, briquetage, Culture, food preservation, Gandhi, salt, salt-curing
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Sir John Stuart, Earl of Bute: Prime Minister and Botanist
March 10: On this day in 1792, Sir John Stuart, Earl of Bute, Scottish nobleman and Prime Minister of Great Britain, died in London at the age of 78. Though he is not well known in America, he should be. His career in the court of King George III was significant in the shaping of events that led up to the American Revolution. This includes his involvement in the French and Indian War, known as the Seven Years War in Great Britain. His ensuing military decisions for the American colonies were also significant, such as the extended presence of British … Continue reading