My NW Indiana and More: November 2023

Saturday, November 18, 2023

"A Christmas Story" at the Indiana Welcome Center

I went to the Indiana Welcome Center, located in Hammond, Indiana, to pick up my fur baby son Bubba. I caught him napping on the job. When he woke, all he was interested in was, "where is that food smell coming from!"

The winter holiday season is upon us. One event that we are proud of in "the region" is the movie "A Christmas Story". "Why?" you may ask. Well it is because Jean Shepherd, the writer of this story was raised in Hammond, Indiana. "The region" as we call it, made of Hammond and all that surrounds it.

This movie is an autobiographical of Jean Shepherd when he was young. This started as stories on the radio, then put together in a book called "In God We Trust, All Others Pay Cash", and later the movie "A Christmas Story". Needless to say, this movie has become a tradition across the county. Almost cult like in that families will act out scenes of the movie any place, any time.

Each year the Indiana Welcome Center places on exhibit their tribute to "A Christmas Story". This year it runs from November 11th through December 30th. Of special treat this year is "meet the cast" on December 16th and 17th. Yes, the CAST!

Here are a couple photographs I took inside. Enjoy!

One cool part of this event is submitting your decoration of a tree. Featured below is one decorated by our South Shore Roller Girls roller derby team. Special to me because they have allowed me to photograph their bouts at times. There are many decorated trees there. Vote on your favorite!!!

Hey, if you have photographs of this exhibit that you would like to share with others in this blog, please look me up on Facebook and message me the photograph.

Indiana Visitors Center

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Friday, November 10, 2023

Kyla Webb at Region Ale

I am super glad I went to watch Kyla Webb play at Region Ale tonight. This is my first time seeing Kyla. Wow, what thinker and a doer. I love Kyla's take on cover songs. I love Kyla's own songs.

Kyla fronts for Skirt, a ska fun rock band from Michigan City. Tonight Kyla was with band mate Rob in a duo gig.

Kyla looks like a person with something to say. Kyla's arrangements do the talking. The words just make it more directionable. Kyla’s voice takes you on a ride. Look over here, now there, don’t go to slow now . . .

Kyla is very deserving of being part of the Bushby Back Yard gigs. I just love her voice with soft vibrato. I know you will ask, “Who does she sound like?” Well, she sound like Kyla Webb. So go find out for yourself. Obviously Kyla has a spot in music genera . . . Kyla's own spot. I only watched Kyla for about 90 minutes. My first impression was that others have copied Kyla. (Yes you read that correctly.) Artists like Cindi Lauper, Debra Harry, Gwen Stefani. Slow, sultry, heart beating, jazzy, take it to the hills. Yes, I think Kyla is all that, and still very original doing Kyla's own thing.

Now, do not let that define Kyla. This is my first take. I need more. I will find more. I will drink it as a fine sustenance to keep me alive with a different purpose in life. Yes, this simple 90 minutes does not even touch, just teases.

Okay, back to what I like. Kyla I like. Seek her out and watch her perform. Do as we all do with artists in NW Indiana and show Kyla the praise of being from the region.