Kentucky Blog | Genuine Kentucky
Kentucky Vacations | Kentucky Lake
Grand Rivers Variety has added two encore showings of The fabulous 50′s Show. Apparently it has been a fabulous success. If you haven’t caught the show yet, you have two more chances to do so: September 28th and October 4.
The 50′s are all gussied up and waiting for you at the Badgett Playhouse in beautiful Grand Rivers, Kentucky. Click HERE for more information. See you there!
My husband made three videos last night – and the one above might just be my favorite (though I love them all). This one features the beautiful people of Grand Rivers, Kentucky and the vocals of Thomas Michaels. The song is Ramblin’ Fever and it’s currently my favorite song, thank you very much.
I could listen to it all day long.
I’ll post the other videos on the blog this afternoon. They’re all fantastic – love it when the hubby waxes brilliant.
I set up a YouTube channel for Genuine Kentucky to feature all of the videos we make. Click the link above to access the full set.
.jpg "Condos at Green Turtle Bay Marina - Grand Rivers, Kentucky")
Green Turtle Bay Resort & Marina Condos (Click for a larger view!)
Happy birthday, gorgeous! Green Turtle Bay is 25 years old this month (April, 2009). To celebrate, they are offering a 10% discount on any reservation for Condos to customers whose birthday is also in April.
They will give you a 10% discount birthday present when you show them your valid driver’s license with proof of your April birthday. Sadly, this affects me in no way whatsoever, since my birthday is four months away, but I certainly want to wish them a heartfelt happy birthday.
If you’ve never seen Green Turtle Bay Resort & Marina in Grand Rivers, Kentucky, you really should make an effort to do so. They celebrate the water way of life with every breath they take. The area is beautiful, the staff is incredibly friendly, and I’m sure I’ve told you about Docker’s Bayside Grill once or twice. Two words: Onion Rings.
There are over seventy town house condominiums available with gorgeous views of Green Turtle Bay and Lake Barkley. You can rent one for a day or a week or buy one for a lifetime of weekends filled with water, fishing, boating, tennis, golf, and onion rings. Just let me dangle my feet in the cool lake water in between trips to Docke’rs Bayside Grill and I’ll be happy.
From Green Turtle Bay’s Web Site:
Green Turtle Bay Resort offers one, two, three, and four bedroom luxury condominium units. Each unit is individually owned and tastefully appointed in a variety of styles, with each bedroom featuring its own private bath. All units have a fully equipped kitchen, washer/dryer, and gas grill; most feature fireplaces and pull out sofas. Units are complete with linens, towels and complimentary coffee.
Click HERE for more information right away. The most memorable summer of your life is waiting!
Pickin’ and Grinnin’ will be showing at Badgett Playhouse in Grand Rivers Kentucky through March 28th. That gives you plenty of time to mark your calendar for a night of catfish (Willow Pond, of course!), sweet tea, hushpuppies, and great entertainment. Don’t forget the popcorn – it’s fantastic.
Click HERE for the dates.
December arrived here in Kentucky flaunting his typical showmanship. It’s sleeting and toe-freezingly cold here in Owensboro which means one thing to my family: Hot Chocolate! (Click the link for my favorite hot chocolate recipe.)
It also means we run around less, so we can enjoy one another more. And people wonder why I love winter so much. Holidays, hot chocolate, snow, family time – what’s not to love?
Be sure you keep an eye both eyes on the Variety! Music, Memories, and More Schedule. I don’t want you to miss the Variety! Christmas show, Tuna Christmas (I’m still laughing…), or the It’s A Wonderful Life: A Live Radio Play.
If you want to make some very special, even magical Christmas memories for yourself and your family – as soon as you leave this site, I want you to head over to the Grand Rivers Variety Website and order your tickets.
You’ll have the time of your life and after each show, you’ll be saying, “Wow. That caffeinated, chocolate addicted, chitty chatty, animal obsessed, snow loving gal from Genuine Kentucky knows her stuff.”
Yes. Yes, she does. And now she’s off to make more hot chocolate.
Click the audio below (the black triangle – for those who are about as technologically inclined as I am) as Bill Minihan describes Tuna Christmas and It’s a Wonderful Life: A Live Radio Play.
Podcast: Play in new window | Download
Some things just crack me up. Okay, A LOT of things crack me up. I love nothing more than a good laugh (not even coffee). But, you know how there are just certain people or situations that send you into fits of laughter every single time?
In addition to my goofy family, things that tickle my funny bone the most are Jack Black (one look – that’s all it takes), Lucille Ball, Dane Cook (his stand up routines – NOT his movies), The Andy Griffith Show, Chirs Rock, Borat (sue me)… and on and on.
But none of them crack me up any faster than Steve Sherling and Bill Minihan do, especially when they’re getting their Tuna on.
We saw Tuna Christmas a few nights ago. There was a really good crowd there and everyone laughed until they ached. Before the show began, while the stage was dark, I could see Steve and Bill coming out all decked out in a couple of their Tuna characters.
Sure enough, I started laughing even before the lights came on – and long before either spoke. I thought, “Great, the people around me are going to think I’m three sheets to the wind.” (Which would be a pretty wild trick for me to pull off since the strongest thing I drink is coffee.)
Fortunately, a few other people had seen “Greater Tuna” earlier this year, too, and were laughing early as well. That, or they were laughing at the crazy lady on the second row.
You know, I’m not sure the laughs stopped until the show was over. Literally, people were still laughing during intermission as they were talking about what they’d seen so far. These two guys are absolutely hysterical. We saw the show on opening night and they pulled it off flawlessly. With all the lines, all the costume changes, all the set changes, etc. I thought there’d be a misstep. I guess I assumed these guys were human.
At one point, one of Steve’s delightful characters, Charlene, is talking to her buxom mom (Bill). She’s sort of thinking out loud, kind of like a “I wonder….” When there was a pause, I thought, “Uh oh, he’s human after all…”
Nah. He was simply, in character, searching for his… her… next thought.
I have no idea how they remember all of these lines. I mean, it’s two actors portraying an entire town of the most colorful characters you’ve ever seen.
Tuna Christmas is incredibly, incredibly funny. You have to go check this out for yourself. I guarantee, you’ve never seen anything even remotely like this. If you’re as fond of movies and acting as I am – and if you like to laugh anywhere near as much as I do, you’re in for the time of your life.
I read a lot of biographies about actors/actresses for my own enjoyment and for my Hollywood blog. I read a bio about the amazing Rex Harrison once. He was talking about the importance of a stage actor to remember one thing: “Never leave anything on the stage.”
Bill Minihan and Steve Sherling certainly don’t leave anything on the stage. They give all they’ve got to the audience, and then some.
The only thing is, I’m a little worried about these guys. You see, I also remember a quote by Owensboro, Kentucky’s own Johnny Depp. The Depp said, “With any part you play, there is a certain amount of yourself in it. There has to be, otherwise it’s just not acting. It’s lying.”
So, there’s, among others, a little Didi Snavely, Vera Carp, Petey Fisk, Charlene, Arles, and Stanley in Steve Sherling?
And there’s, among others, a little Pearl, Bertha Bumiller, Sherrif Givens, and Thurston Wheelis in Bill Minihan. Not to mention their waitress characters?
Sweet!
See the play. See the play. See the play. Click HERE for more information. Then see the play.
You’re well aware, by now, that one of my favoritest places on earth is Grand Rivers, Kentucky. I’ll let you in on another little secret – I love the holidays like no one else. I swear, my level of excitement can hang with any 6 year old!
So, I’m loving the way Grand Rivers embraces this magical time of year. You can’t go wrong when you combine one of the most special places on earth with the most special time of year.
Click through to learn more about Grand Rivers’ Festival of Lights and the Variety! Christmas Spectacular.
Can’t you feel the excitement in the air already?! If not, get to Grand Rivers and you’ll come face to face with it…… And, you know where you have to take your face while in Grand Rivers – The Fudge Factory!
Man oh man oh man. I’m now officially dying for some of their peanut butter fudge.
Edit: This village looks extra gorgeous with it’s Christmas wardrobe on! You really have to see it for yourself. We tried to take pics but they didn’t turn out. We shall try again.
This Fall, Grand Rivers has Family, Fun, Festivals, Food, and Fudge on its mind. Fantastic!
The Hunter’s Moon Festival will take place October 11. Mark your calendar and get ready to get your groovy all the way on.
The Grand Rivers Southern Storytelling is something else the community is really excited about.
The following is courtesy of Grand Rivers.com:
The first Grand Rivers Southern Storytelling event will include seven professional songwriters and storytellers in two full nights of southern music and tales. Here is the lineup:
Appearing Friday Night -
A native of Covington, GA, Andy Irwin started out in comedy, but added music and storytelling because he had a lot more to say. In storytelling circles, he is known for relating the adventures of his eighty-five-year-old aunt, Marguerite Van Camp, M.D. He’s always on the go, performing at festivals, and theatres throughout the United States, including two gigs at the National Storytelling Festival.
Mary Hamilton has a straightforward “just talking” style, using her voice and her body to tell stories. Mary entertains audiences of adults, families, or children with Kentucky tales, world folk & fairy tales, plus a few myths, legends, true stories, and original fiction.
Amy and Cole Bruce have performed at the Badgett Playhouse in productions of Variety!, Always Patsy Cline, and Pumpboys and Dinettes. Amy and Cole now live in Nashville, TN where they do studio work, write and record music, and performed live for various artists and songwriters. As part of the Grand Rivers Southern Storytelling Event, Amy and Cole will perform some of their original songs.
Appearing Saturday Night –
Kaci Bolls was born and raised in the college town of Murray, Kentucky. Kaci now lives in Nashville and has become an in demand demo singer, singing the demos for songs that have been cut by artists such as LeAnn Rimes, Carrie Underwood, Sara Evans, and more. She can’t wait to share some of her own songs and the stories behind the songs.
Michael Reno Harrell hails from the Southern Appalachian Mountains and is an award winning songwriter, as well as a veteran storyteller and entertainer. Michael’s recordings top the Americana Music Association charts year after year. Michael’s natural knack for storytelling has earned him praise from both the music community and the storytelling world.
Ellouise Schoettler calls herself an “old-time Southern storyteller” like those she grew up listening to in her native North Carolina. Schoettler combines personal memories with family and local history in stories that reveal and bring to life moments in the lives of ordinary people.
Join us in Grand Rivers for this celebration of southern heritage and enjoy a variety of lively talks that inspire, make you laugh and celebrate a simpler time. Show times are 7:00 p.m. Friday and Saturday nights, October 10 and 11. Call the Badgett Playhouse Box Office at 888-362-4223 for tickets today. Information is online at www.grandrivers.com/storyfest.
Food-licious News!:
Sugar and Spice will feature a Oktoberfest buffet starting October 3, at 5:00 p.m. and continuing every weekend through October 26. You can look forward to traditional German favorites – sauerbraten, schnitzels, red cabbage, kraut and more. Reservations required. Call 362-2362.
And, as always, don’t even think about stepping foot in Grand Rivers without going by The Fudge Factory for the best fudge on earth.
I’ll be adding more Grand Rivers news later today. They simply have too much going on to cover in one article. Apparently autumn has the same intoxicating effect on them that it does me. Ragweed be danged, I’m having a great autumn!
The Grand Rivers Hunters Moon Festival will soon be getting its groovy on. And when it does, it’ll be a glorious thing. In addition to the Festival, be sure you attend the Grand Rivers Storytelling Event.
And just why is the Grand Rivers Chamber feeling so groovy? This will be the 30th Anniversary of their Famous Fall Festival featuring Food, Fun, Crafts, Live Music, Children’s Activities and the Big Parade! They’d like to extend an invitation for everyone to join them and celebrate 1978 – 2008…. thirty year’s of fun!
The Grand Rivers Hunters Moon Festival will take place Saturday, October 11.
Visit the website to learn more.
* The great picture of the adorable girls throwing peace signs is used courtesy of Grand Rivers.com. There are beautiful smiles, and then there are beautiful smiles!
The Hunter’s Moon Schedule Courtesy of Grand Rivers.com:
Here is the full schedule for Hunters Moon. Join us for this special “70s” themed festival and celebrate 1978 – 2008. Thirty
year’s of fun!
Thursday, October 9
Little Mister and Miss Pageant at the Community Building, 6:30 p.m. Admission is $1.00 admission. No charge for contestants. Registration 5:30 p.m. You can pick up applications at First Kentucky Bank in Grand Rivers or the Chamber office.
Friday, October 10
Dance at the Community Building featuring the Stanley Walker Band. Admission is $5.00 and the dance starts at 7:00 p.m.
Saturday, October 11
Craft & Retail Vendors, Taste of the Lakes Food Vendors, Children’s Games and Activities in Little Lake Park, starting
at 9:00 a.m. All Day.
Chamber Silent Auction beside Chamber office from 9:00 a.m. until 4:00 p.m. Winners will be announced at 4:30 p.m. Come bid on lodging packages, restaurant gift certificates and merchandise from our local stores.
Children’s Halloween Costume Parade 10:30 a.m. Registration. Starts in front of the Badgett Playhouse. Prizes for best costumes and floats. No pets. Free.
Grand Rivers Trolley runs from 10:00 a.m. until 10:00 p.m.. Free.
The Big Street Parade, 2:00 p.m. on JH O’Bryan Street.
Cake Walk 4:15 p.m. in the street dance area in Little Lake Park. Walk to win cakes and pies. $1.00 to enter.
Final Street Dance of the year will be in the bandstand/street dance area of Little Lake Park, 7:00 PM until 10:00 p.m.. The band Southern Fry’d will entertain.
