Tootsie Yr2: Lubbock, TX
May. 18th, 2023 08:33 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
taz_39We were only in Lubbock for three days.
Yet somehow, I managed to have ADVENTURES.
This is why I always say that everywhere, no matter how lame it seems, has something special. It really is true!
This morning we loaded onto the bus and had an uneventful ride there.
We arrived early which was really nice.
The hotel we're staying at is...erm...a little vocal about their religious views.
Yes that's a massive granite Ten Commandments directly next to the hotel door.
I mean, I guess when it's your business, you use it to say whatever you like!
That aside, the rooms were pretty standard so it was all good.
Unpacked and made a cup of tea and relaxed until sound check.
The theatre is an easy walk, my hotel room is right next to a stairwell so down five flights and out the door and I could see the theatre from the exit. Walked over and was surprised to find that it's a VERY new modern building (usually in these smaller towns we play at basically high school auditoriums built in the 50s).
The front (stock image):
The theatre (cool ceiling!):
But my favorite part was the Stage Door, which was landscaped all around by Texas wildflowers and grasses!
According to an article I found, some locals don't like it and think it's unsightly/a nuisance.
But for a non-Texan like me these wildflowers are novel and beautiful. I took many pictures!
This one is called Stokes' aster, the swirly bud opens up into this firework-looking, creamy pastel purple bloom.
Lance-leaved coreopsis, tropical milkweed, evening primrose, and golden columbine.
I love the spikes coming off the back of the columbine bloom.
The sun was setting at this point so my lighting started getting wonky.
The show went well and we had a lovely engaged audience.
We were all VERY tired and it showed; I came in early on a measure for the first time in ages because my brain just was not in performance mode :/ But Tuesday and Wednesday we have no travel and only one show each night, so that should be plenty of time to recover.
-----------------------------------------------------------
Tuesday I indeed woke up feeling rested.
During last night's show I had been Googling around to find out what there is to do in Lubbock.
I randomly stumbled across something called "Little Crow's Market".
It showed up as a shop on Google Maps, but when you looked at images there was nothing there.
A little more research and I discovered that it's an ART VENDING MACHINE!!
This is a project by a local artist, who collaborates with businesses to leave vending machines stocked with art scattered about town. The one that I found nearby is sadly out of commission as the creator is a bit busy to maintain it at the moment, but there was another in an adjacent town's local coffee shop...ten miles away.
I debated with myself about the cost of an Uber to get out there.
In the end, YOLO won over frugality.
Because when am I ever going to be in Lubbock, TX again?
Isn't it worth a bit of extra $$ to support local artists, and have an experience that I'll always remember?
So off I went, first to a Goodwill about a mile from the coffee shop because I wanted to look for pants and also get some exercise.
No pants but I found a cute cropped black jacket. Not my usual style but it fit so well that it seemed criminal not to get it.
Then a 1.5 mile walk to the coffee shop. This way, I suppose, it felt more like a Real Quest.
The walk was through a nice residential area, very enjoyable.
The coffee shop was in a plaza with a Mexican restaurant, if you didn't know what you were looking for you might easily pass it.
Inside it was cozy with couches and tables, art on the walls and paper lamps hanging from the ceiling.
There was a table covered in stickers and postcards and such made by local artists as well.
The cashier was friendly, and as they don't get many "tourists" to Lubbock he wanted to know where I was from, what I was in town for, how do I like Lubbock so far, etc. Eventually we got around to placing an order, I just got a cold hibiscus elderberry tea which felt wonderful to drink after my walk in the desert heat.
Then it was time to play with the art vending machine!
There were all kinds of little mini-arts inside. Most were around $8, With the overall price range being between $5-$15.
I really wanted a Mystery Art Bag but hadn't brought enough cash for that plus the thing I really DID want, which was an enamel pin of the creator's logo (a little crow wearing a golden crown).
So, crow pin it was. Here we go!
(CLICK HERE to watch the vending machine work!)
That was fun! Turns out there was a crow sticker in the packet as well, so I'll put that on my coffee thermos.
About that time a young mother and her son came in, obviously regulars as the cashier greeted them by name and then proceeded to babysit the kid as mom ran back out to the car for something she forgot. Mom ordered drinks while the kid ran around, at one point bouncing off the plush armchair I'd settled into. Not being loud or rude or anything, just being a kid. I smiled politely and continued sipping tea and editing my vending machine photos. The kid settled down once he and mom had their goodies.
After a while they left, and I called an Uber to take me back.
As I stood to gather my things, I noticed something bright red sticking out from the gap between the chair and my bag.
It was a Chinese tasseled knot. A traditional good luck charm.
It definitely hadn't been there when I sat down (the armchair was dark brown and I 100% looked before sitting.)
And the tassel was not worn or damaged as though it had fallen off of something else.
I even scanned the coffee shop and art table but didn't see any others, not even hanging from the paper lamps.
I can only guess that the kid dropped it there...intentionally or unintentionally? Who knows.
(The mother and child were Asian, for context and/or to explain my semi-racist assumption.)
So...I took it for what it was. Good luck. Tied it to my shoulder bag, and took the Uber back.
Here's my bag studded with my modest collection of memento pins.
We have
- Venus flytrap pin, just because I like them :)
- Sandwich Hag banh mi logo pin from the restaurant in Dallas
- SomiSomi taiyaki pin from the restaurant in Vegas (this was the ONLY fun thing that I got to do in Vegas before coming down with covid)
- Cincinnati Dinner Train pin, to never forget that wonderful visit to my train home.
- The Little Crow's Market pin that I got from the vending machine today!
- Mr. Yuk pin. It glows in the dark! Because I'm an 80s kid :p
- My Princes Cruises employee badge
- A Ringling old-school logo memento pin
- A Tootsie lapel pin
- Tooth-shaped "little rock" from Little Rock, AR
- Buc-ee's pin!
- I-95 pin, because I've driven up and down it basically every year since I could drive
- An inside joke pin featuring artwork of our Music Director holding a Beef on Weck sandwich, artwork by our Assistant Company Manager
- A "tree star" keychain (IYKYK)
...and the bright red Chinese good fortune tassel.
Back at the hotel I had lunch, then walked to another nearby thrift store and a Walmart.
Didn't need much, it was just an excuse to be active.
During that time Jameson texted to let me know he'd also been called to sub for Candlelight. Yay!
We probably won't get to play on the same shows (if we get to play shows at all), but it's cool that we both got called!
The show went well that night, although there was a "sewage leak" smell permeating the entire theatre.
Even new buildings have problems.
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Wednesday, It was a joy to wake up and realize that I had nowhere to be!
Breakfast and I managed to get a lot of things done: writing to Crowne Plaza Corporate to share my horrific experience in Dallas; calling a restaurant in Brooklyn to arrange a gift certificate for my sister; reactivating my secondary bank account; making a hair appointment for Thousand Oaks; scheduling a delivery of birth control; having Jameson water my plants; applying to around twenty jobs; and partially packing for tomorrow's travels.
For lunch I walked to Nashwell, an Australian cafe here in Lubbock.
I ordered the roast beef sandwich with veggies and onion pear jam, but they were out of the jam which is kind of the whole point of the sandwich. So it was plain roast beef with mayo on a very odd roll (gluten free maybe?). Because of that, no pics, boring.
Back at the hotel I was surprised to get a pre-interview screening call from an Orange County job as a Deputy Clerk.
It's pretty much admin work, it could be many types including interactions with the public or back-end data entry.
Either way I'm glad if I get to interview!
Later in the afternoon I got word that a dear friend had passed away, so spent the hours before the show moping a bit and thinking about him.
The show went well.
And afterward, there was a wall tag for us to sign, the size of one brick. Can you find my signature?
--------------------------------------------------------------------
Thursday morning, and we travel to Kansas City MO (KCMO).
I lived here for several months after the circus closed, which was a huge mistake financially and emotionally.
But it's a beautiful city and a treat to revisit it.
We're staying outside the downtown area, and the hotel is not walkable to the theatre, so we have rental cars.
The theatre itself should be interesting as it's outdoors!
Other than that, I have a few friends that I may meet up with, and a foodie stop or two.
And then, finally a layoff! I can see my Jameson! And my bananas in person!
--------------------------------------------------------------------
Other Lubbock things:
Another flower that I found outside the hotel, aptly called "bird of paradise".
Some wall tags backstage at Buddy Holly Hall, each of which took up one brick.
Piff the Magic Dragon was here! Jameson and I saw him perform in Vegas.
Alton Brown's tour also came here just recently. I REALLY wanted to see his show but they were always a few months ahead of us.
Yet somehow, I managed to have ADVENTURES.
This is why I always say that everywhere, no matter how lame it seems, has something special. It really is true!
This morning we loaded onto the bus and had an uneventful ride there.
We arrived early which was really nice.
The hotel we're staying at is...erm...a little vocal about their religious views.
Yes that's a massive granite Ten Commandments directly next to the hotel door.
I mean, I guess when it's your business, you use it to say whatever you like!
That aside, the rooms were pretty standard so it was all good.
Unpacked and made a cup of tea and relaxed until sound check.
The theatre is an easy walk, my hotel room is right next to a stairwell so down five flights and out the door and I could see the theatre from the exit. Walked over and was surprised to find that it's a VERY new modern building (usually in these smaller towns we play at basically high school auditoriums built in the 50s).
The front (stock image):
The theatre (cool ceiling!):
But my favorite part was the Stage Door, which was landscaped all around by Texas wildflowers and grasses!
According to an article I found, some locals don't like it and think it's unsightly/a nuisance.
But for a non-Texan like me these wildflowers are novel and beautiful. I took many pictures!
This one is called Stokes' aster, the swirly bud opens up into this firework-looking, creamy pastel purple bloom.
Lance-leaved coreopsis, tropical milkweed, evening primrose, and golden columbine.
I love the spikes coming off the back of the columbine bloom.
The sun was setting at this point so my lighting started getting wonky.
The show went well and we had a lovely engaged audience.
We were all VERY tired and it showed; I came in early on a measure for the first time in ages because my brain just was not in performance mode :/ But Tuesday and Wednesday we have no travel and only one show each night, so that should be plenty of time to recover.
-----------------------------------------------------------
Tuesday I indeed woke up feeling rested.
During last night's show I had been Googling around to find out what there is to do in Lubbock.
I randomly stumbled across something called "Little Crow's Market".
It showed up as a shop on Google Maps, but when you looked at images there was nothing there.
A little more research and I discovered that it's an ART VENDING MACHINE!!
This is a project by a local artist, who collaborates with businesses to leave vending machines stocked with art scattered about town. The one that I found nearby is sadly out of commission as the creator is a bit busy to maintain it at the moment, but there was another in an adjacent town's local coffee shop...ten miles away.
I debated with myself about the cost of an Uber to get out there.
In the end, YOLO won over frugality.
Because when am I ever going to be in Lubbock, TX again?
Isn't it worth a bit of extra $$ to support local artists, and have an experience that I'll always remember?
So off I went, first to a Goodwill about a mile from the coffee shop because I wanted to look for pants and also get some exercise.
No pants but I found a cute cropped black jacket. Not my usual style but it fit so well that it seemed criminal not to get it.
Then a 1.5 mile walk to the coffee shop. This way, I suppose, it felt more like a Real Quest.
The walk was through a nice residential area, very enjoyable.
The coffee shop was in a plaza with a Mexican restaurant, if you didn't know what you were looking for you might easily pass it.
Inside it was cozy with couches and tables, art on the walls and paper lamps hanging from the ceiling.
There was a table covered in stickers and postcards and such made by local artists as well.
The cashier was friendly, and as they don't get many "tourists" to Lubbock he wanted to know where I was from, what I was in town for, how do I like Lubbock so far, etc. Eventually we got around to placing an order, I just got a cold hibiscus elderberry tea which felt wonderful to drink after my walk in the desert heat.
Then it was time to play with the art vending machine!
There were all kinds of little mini-arts inside. Most were around $8, With the overall price range being between $5-$15.
I really wanted a Mystery Art Bag but hadn't brought enough cash for that plus the thing I really DID want, which was an enamel pin of the creator's logo (a little crow wearing a golden crown).
So, crow pin it was. Here we go!
(CLICK HERE to watch the vending machine work!)
That was fun! Turns out there was a crow sticker in the packet as well, so I'll put that on my coffee thermos.
About that time a young mother and her son came in, obviously regulars as the cashier greeted them by name and then proceeded to babysit the kid as mom ran back out to the car for something she forgot. Mom ordered drinks while the kid ran around, at one point bouncing off the plush armchair I'd settled into. Not being loud or rude or anything, just being a kid. I smiled politely and continued sipping tea and editing my vending machine photos. The kid settled down once he and mom had their goodies.
After a while they left, and I called an Uber to take me back.
As I stood to gather my things, I noticed something bright red sticking out from the gap between the chair and my bag.
It was a Chinese tasseled knot. A traditional good luck charm.
It definitely hadn't been there when I sat down (the armchair was dark brown and I 100% looked before sitting.)
And the tassel was not worn or damaged as though it had fallen off of something else.
I even scanned the coffee shop and art table but didn't see any others, not even hanging from the paper lamps.
I can only guess that the kid dropped it there...intentionally or unintentionally? Who knows.
(The mother and child were Asian, for context and/or to explain my semi-racist assumption.)
So...I took it for what it was. Good luck. Tied it to my shoulder bag, and took the Uber back.
Here's my bag studded with my modest collection of memento pins.
We have
- Venus flytrap pin, just because I like them :)
- Sandwich Hag banh mi logo pin from the restaurant in Dallas
- SomiSomi taiyaki pin from the restaurant in Vegas (this was the ONLY fun thing that I got to do in Vegas before coming down with covid)
- Cincinnati Dinner Train pin, to never forget that wonderful visit to my train home.
- The Little Crow's Market pin that I got from the vending machine today!
- Mr. Yuk pin. It glows in the dark! Because I'm an 80s kid :p
- My Princes Cruises employee badge
- A Ringling old-school logo memento pin
- A Tootsie lapel pin
- Tooth-shaped "little rock" from Little Rock, AR
- Buc-ee's pin!
- I-95 pin, because I've driven up and down it basically every year since I could drive
- An inside joke pin featuring artwork of our Music Director holding a Beef on Weck sandwich, artwork by our Assistant Company Manager
- A "tree star" keychain (IYKYK)
...and the bright red Chinese good fortune tassel.
Back at the hotel I had lunch, then walked to another nearby thrift store and a Walmart.
Didn't need much, it was just an excuse to be active.
During that time Jameson texted to let me know he'd also been called to sub for Candlelight. Yay!
We probably won't get to play on the same shows (if we get to play shows at all), but it's cool that we both got called!
The show went well that night, although there was a "sewage leak" smell permeating the entire theatre.
Even new buildings have problems.
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Wednesday, It was a joy to wake up and realize that I had nowhere to be!
Breakfast and I managed to get a lot of things done: writing to Crowne Plaza Corporate to share my horrific experience in Dallas; calling a restaurant in Brooklyn to arrange a gift certificate for my sister; reactivating my secondary bank account; making a hair appointment for Thousand Oaks; scheduling a delivery of birth control; having Jameson water my plants; applying to around twenty jobs; and partially packing for tomorrow's travels.
For lunch I walked to Nashwell, an Australian cafe here in Lubbock.
I ordered the roast beef sandwich with veggies and onion pear jam, but they were out of the jam which is kind of the whole point of the sandwich. So it was plain roast beef with mayo on a very odd roll (gluten free maybe?). Because of that, no pics, boring.
Back at the hotel I was surprised to get a pre-interview screening call from an Orange County job as a Deputy Clerk.
It's pretty much admin work, it could be many types including interactions with the public or back-end data entry.
Either way I'm glad if I get to interview!
Later in the afternoon I got word that a dear friend had passed away, so spent the hours before the show moping a bit and thinking about him.
The show went well.
And afterward, there was a wall tag for us to sign, the size of one brick. Can you find my signature?
--------------------------------------------------------------------
Thursday morning, and we travel to Kansas City MO (KCMO).
I lived here for several months after the circus closed, which was a huge mistake financially and emotionally.
But it's a beautiful city and a treat to revisit it.
We're staying outside the downtown area, and the hotel is not walkable to the theatre, so we have rental cars.
The theatre itself should be interesting as it's outdoors!
Other than that, I have a few friends that I may meet up with, and a foodie stop or two.
And then, finally a layoff! I can see my Jameson! And my bananas in person!
--------------------------------------------------------------------
Other Lubbock things:
Another flower that I found outside the hotel, aptly called "bird of paradise".
Some wall tags backstage at Buddy Holly Hall, each of which took up one brick.
Piff the Magic Dragon was here! Jameson and I saw him perform in Vegas.
Alton Brown's tour also came here just recently. I REALLY wanted to see his show but they were always a few months ahead of us.
