May 7 cafe get together

[Flowerpot]

I'd like to invite the cafe members in the area to come out to my house Sunday afternoon, May 7, for some pickin and mando tasting. I'm on the north side of Greensboro, between Oak Ridge and Stokesdale.

I'll wait and see the consensus about time and food -- I was thinking we could start around 1:30, 2:00 or so and have anything from snacks to a big grilling party, depending on how many people we have coming and when everybody wants to arrive. I could be pursuaded to smoke some ribs (pretty darned good eating if I say so myself).

Luthier Hans Brentrup will be here for a visit, and will be bringing his new distressed Loar copy prototype with him. He would love to have everybody come try it out.

So what say ye, any takers?

[John Rosett]

i knew that moving to north carolina would bring me closer to my mando-brethren! (sorry, i don't know the matching femine term. sistern?) count me in.

[tricyclist]

I'm new to the whole mando universe and would love to come up (from Belmont) and meet some real pickers, but unfortunately I'll be racing at White Lake that weekend.

[csstanley]

Flowerpot, I go through were you live nearly everyday. I work out of Walnut Cove.

Man, I'd love to come down that way but Sunday's are REALLY bad for me.

We aught to shoot to set up a Saturday sometime soon. :cool:

[Flowerpot]

We may have to set up another Saturday some time... but man, my Saturdays are getting pretty crowded up through early June. I'll keep it in mind for later... I know I won't be able to get everybody together at one time. But I'll start with this one and see what happens.

[kudzugypsy]

keep me posted on the status - even though i'm in Fayetteville, i'd take a trip up. my group is playing with the Fayetteville Symphony on the 6th, so maybe i could swing the trip on the 7th.
i could bring a Paganoni and Nugget and play some guitar for the group.

[Flowerpot]

That sounds great, I hope you can make it. I'm sure we can trade off on guitar duty so everybody has the chance to sample the fine mandos -- I look forward to the Pag, as I've never had one in my hands... I know what I'll think of the Nugget (drool).

Stay tuned for details on the time and how much food we're having. I BBQ'd two pork shoulders this weekend and froze half of it, so I could possibly pull it out. Or fix something new, whatever.

[evanreilly]

lemme see....
from asheville, like, go I-40 East....
mebbe...
tho it may rain.....
and then, what mandolins to bring???
decisions.....

[Gary S]

Thanks for putting this together Flowerpot. I hope to be there next sunday. What can I bring other than a mandolin or 2?...Gary

[AlanN]

Count me in, too. Thanks for hosting it.

[Lane Pryce]

I can be there in spirit as I'll be working. I'd love to send my Mowry A up for some honest feedback from you guys.
Mark sounds like it will be a blast --- wish I could be there. Lp

[Flowerpot]

Now that we mya have a quorum, what do you say about eats? Want to have it at around 1:30, and I can make up some bbq ribs, chuckwagon beans, maybe tater salad and cornbread, and you can bring whatever little dish/salad/dessert you want? Or if you're coming from a long ways off, just throw in your mandolin(s) and come on over. Sound OK? This is the South, it's almost a rule that you gotta have a bunch of food around for any gathering. Somebody could bring sweet tea.

Probably what we'll miss the most if we don't have it will be a bass (I'm looking for a bass, I should really have a "house bass" ready to go).

[kudzugypsy]

sounds great - but ya'll gotta wash the BBQ sauce offn ya hands so you dont get it all over my blond nugget! http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/tounge.gif

[Alex Fields]

I'm pretty sure I can make it. Unfortunately I don't have much to offer in the way of sampling, I have two mandolins (a Silverangel and a refinished 1921 Gibson A1) but they're both just beaters while I'm waiting on my Daley. I have some fiddles (one's a five string) I could bring, I suppose, but my fiddle playing isn't quite on par with my mandolin playing (that is to say, I can play rhythm and I can play fast, but I can't play in tune). I'm also in a temporary break from music because of left hand injuries, but I imagine I'll be okay to go by that time (I sure hope so anyway).

As a vegetarian I suppose I'd be responsible for my own food--I'm used to that. Coffee would be nice though... : )

[dtb]

may I ask........how far is this place from Highpoint, N.C. We will be in Highpoint for my son's graduation that week-end, and if'in it ain't two far away, we may can stop by for a little. That's if the wife wants to. http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif

well, dang....if'in I'd pay attention. It looks like it's right around the corner.

Can you give directions to the place before that week-end.

[MandoPup]

I'd like to be at the gathering and I'm pretty sure May 7th is good for me.
I live in Kernersville just south of Oak Ridge. Later next week I'll check this message site out to verify event and get directions to the place. Thanks for offering to host this Flower Pot. Add me to the list of participants.

[AlanN]

Mark,

I may be able to rustle up a bass man. Let me know if you want me to try.

- Alan

[Scotti Adams]

...man..makes me wish I lived closer.

[Flowerpot]

As for a bass man, that would be cool. There's somebody I could ask that lives here locally, but I don't know how much he's into the mando tasting end of it. I think if your bass guy would like seeing dozens of mandolins too, that'd be cool.

I'll post some directions on here soon. Yep, we're not far at all from High Point, that's where I work, and it's a 20 minute drive.

Sounds like this could be quite an event -- hope the wife doesn't kill me!

I'll keep you informed... FP

[Tom Mylet]

I'm a long time lurker who's come out in order to attend. I hope to come by with Gatchmo. Let me know what I can bring food-wise. Tom

[Hans]

Patty, forgive us! I'm Borrowing Greg Fisher's double "Supercase" so I'll bring the F-4Classic and the new pink-ivory Eclipse in addition to #Lloyd. Looking forward to meeting y'all!

[Bill Van Liere]

Thanks Flowerpot, this is worse than MAS.

I'm stuck up here in Michigan with my Brentrup, BRW, bunch of Flatirons, Steven Owsley
Smith OM, same old Martin(s), and I love southern cookin. Wish I could make it.

BTW, what is sweet tea in your neighborhood?

[Flowerpot]

Sweet tea? It's what you get in a restaurant if you ask for "iced tea", sweetened with a good dose of sugar -- gotta ask specifically for unsweetened tea if you want it that way, and you have to remind them every time they come to fill your glass that it's "unsweet", and then they'll still give you sweet tea half the time anyway. I like sweet-n-low personally, but I don't want to be accused of being a Yankee, so I figued I'd better have some "real" iced tea ready on hand.

Gatchmo? As for bringing food, just tell me what's easy for you to bring (salad, side, dessert, whatever) and post it here so I can remember. Cole slaw, potato salad, veggies/dip, chips, just say the word and we'll know you've got that covered. AT the least, I'll plan on the ribs, chuckwagon beans (great recipe), and some corn on the cob (may have to settel for frozen this time of year), plus whatever the wife decides to cook up. Maybe corn bread.

Stand by for directions... this is shaping up to be great!

[Strange1]

Flowerpot, it all sounds great. Even the true sweet tea. I'm beginning to swing a few people and cafes out this way on serving it. At first they said just put some packets of sugar in it. After I quit rolling on the floor I explained what real sweet tea is. Sorry I can't make as I love that part of the country. I'm about 1500+ miles away in Colo. Have a great time.

Jack

[tricyclist]

Come on now. We know that sweet tea is actually sugar, water, and a slight seasoning with "tea". http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif

I'm actually an oddball around here, in that I don't really care for iced tea. But I've drunk plenty of it, as it's often the only beverage offered at picnics, church dinners, etc.

[MandoPup]

I can bring and play an electric bass if no upright players are interested in being at the get together. Just let me know if you want me to bring my electric.
Ted in Kernersville

[Flowerpot]

OK, here's the directions on how to get to the house. Hope you all can make it. If you're planning to come and didn't say anything here on this thread, please chime in so I know roughly how many to expect. And if you're planning to bring some food, tell me what you're bringing so we don't double up.

From I40, take exit 210 for Highway 68 North. (This exit is in High Point, between G'boro and Winston-Salem.) Go North on 68 about 9.5 miles. Turn Left at the stoplight at Haw River Road. Go 0.5 miles. Turn at the first road to the left, Haw Meadows, which goes into the Arbor Run subdivision. Once on Haw Meadows, go a very short distance and take the first road to the right, Trebbiano Dr, then immediately turn into the first driveway on the left. We are at 7589 Trebbiano Drive, which is on the corner of Trebbiano and Haw Meadows.

From other local points, the turnoff from 68 on to Haw River Rd is about 3 miles South of Stokesdale (where 158 crosses 68), or about 4 miles North of Oak Ridge (where 150 crosses 68).

Ted, I've got an electric bass if we need one, thanks.

If you need some help getting here, email me now for my phone number (it's not listed) and I'll send it to you.

See you on Sunday!

[mandofish]

Boy Flowerpot, this sounds like a great time--wish I could make it from Charlotte!

Unfortunately (at least from a mando standpoint), I'll be on the course at Quail Hollow watching 10 of the world's top 11 players at the Wachovia Championship!

Maybe next time, when golf doesn't interfere...

[mingusb1]

I'm your BASS man! I've got a great upright to bring on over (and play), and anyone else is welcome to play it too! I've also got a couple mandolins (Bill Davis A, Old Wave F) that I'll bring over too.

Looking forward to it! I'll have room in my car for 1 other person and mandolins if anyone needs a lift from Raleigh or points in between--John R., do you want me to pick you up on the way over? Seems we should actually meet after the emailing we have done!

Thanks,
Zack

ps--will anyone have a mando they'd like to sell? I've got a buddy in the market--he's hoping to find something around 1K. I could play it and give him a review.

[Flowerpot]

Sounds great, mingusb. I don't have anything for sale at around 1K, but maybe somebody will. But if you have a bass for sale, I'm in the market for one.
You could talk to Alan N, who's coming from the Raleigh area.

[Alex Fields]

mingus: I'll be there with two mandolins, and both are for sale. One's a 2003 Silverangel F5, but that's well above the 1K range...the other's a refinished (d'oh) 1921 Gibson A1: the collector's value is shot from the refinish, but the sound and playability are superb, and I'll sell for under a thousand. Don't know if your friend would care for the old oval hole sound, but whatever.

[MandoPup]

Ted in Kernersville here.
I'll bring some collards to contribute to the meal.
Another mandolin player will be coming with me so that's two for the list of participants.
Flowerpot, did you say this was going to be an afternoon thing; say, starting around two o'clock?

[Emoore]

I'm also coming out of the woodwork to attend! This will be a great precurser to the SE Comando Gathering. I'll bring my Bluett F-5 and something to eat. Thanks, Flowerpot.

Best,

Ethan

Charlotte, NC

[Flowerpot]

I'll be ready to start up at 1:30, but I'm sure we'll have folks pulling in at different times. Bring on the collards, that sounds good.

[mingusb1]

Hey Flowerpot, thanks in advance for hosting! This is gonna be fun!

I do actually have a bass I am thinking of selling. It's a late 40's/early 50's American Standard. Not the easiest thing to play, but boy can it rock if you're not shy with it.

I'll probably not bring that one out for your party, but we can talk it over.

Looking forward to it,
Z

[David O'Brien]

I would like to attend as well, and can bring my Kimble "A" strung with D'Addario Flat top strings, they are wonderful strings, and bring the Henderson and an old Martin Stlye B. What else is needed in food dept., how about cups, plates, etc?

[Brad Weiss]

Can't believe I'll be out of town on Sunday #http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/sad.gif

Hope this will happen again- I'd be eager to host something in Chapel Hill, if I could get someone like Hans to show up!

[Flowerpot]

Wow, we're up to 13 people plus myself and Hans. So what I really need now is for everybody to bring 40 lbs of Sakrete to widen the driveway...


Plates and cups are not a problem. I've got a 20 gallon cooler for sodas (any requests? Some Mountain Dew to speed up the tremolo?). Just tell me what you want to bring if you want to bring some food, but it's not neccessary. A salad, dessert, veggie tray, chips, or nothing at all is fine.

Oh, if you have a small mandolin stand, or 12 of them, bring 'em. We'll probably have 30 mandolins there easily (!).

And if somebody wants to bring extra ice for the coolers, that'd be nice.

I forgot to add, if you're one of the first to arrive, look for a big white F350 truck that won't fit inside the garage, and that's us. If you're one of the last, roll down your window and listen for 12 mandolins chopping in unison, knocking shingles off the roof.

[Alex Fields]

I like the Flattops too...they're on my Silverangel right now. Elixir lights on the Gibson A. I want to switch to Thomastiks but haven't ordered any yet.

[Gary S]

Hey Flowerpot,
I'll bring a cooler full of ice and some deviled eggs.
See you sunday and thanks for putting this together.
Gary in Summerfield

[Alex Fields]

I'll bring something with no animal products that can survive a three hour drive. : )

[Tom Mylet]

Flowerpot:

Put me down for guacamole and chips. Tom

[John Rosett]

hey zack-
i've been trying to get in touch with you about sunday without any luck. call me at 919-357-4354. thanks, john

[kudzugypsy]

hey guys,
really was looking forward to meeting a lot of the NC pickers, but i got wrangled into doing a theatrical production of "Wildwood Flowers" this spring....which means this sunday will be a full rehearsal with the famous "Carter Family". i will play the part of Chet Atkins and even get some lines, but better yet, this is a great production with some great songs...and the actress playing June aint bad eye candy either...we get to sing "You Rascle You".
they just finished with the Nashville tour and i told them i bet they didnt have a hard time finding a guitar player in that production!
so i get to brush up on my old time country and fake chet licks. and drag out the old '39 L-5.

funny thing - at the initial get together they had some really obscure radio and old Carter Family cuts i had never heard we were listening to....and i immediately picked out Jethro Burns as the mandolin player - no mistaking his style.

ya'll have fun!

[AlanN]

Shoot, that means no nug nug. Oh well, Kudzu, sounds like you'll be busy anyhow. Have fun.

We'll just have to *make do* with the lousy old and new ones that will be there http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif

[Mandoe]

I'm gonna try to make it. Maybe with Gary S. Thanks for hosting.
Brad

[Lane Pryce]

Hot Dang!!!! Collards and deviled eggs ---- thar ez gonna be sum sweet toots I mean tunes coming out o Flowerpot's house ---- 30 miles from my home and I'll be in the ER working. When you folks roll through Asheboro hit the horn. Lp


Who is bring the Gas-X ? Lp

[James O'Brien]

Flowerpot,
I'm a lurking type from W-S. I'm on call this weekend, but just found out someone can cover for me tomorrow afternoon. So, if it's not too late, I'd love to join in. I'll bring my Gil and something else, and try to put together something to eat(cold noodles of some sort). Thanks,
Jim O'Brien

[Alex Fields]

I have a chocolate pound cake in the oven right now that I'm going to bring tomorrow (assuming it's edible--I'm hardly a cook.) I didn't know what else to bring, and I had some mix that I got for Christmas and had never used, so I threw it together.

JLP--was it you that I talked to at Merlefest? I think I played your Mowry at the Rigel booth.

Flowerpot--if you read this before it's too late, what town are you officially listed under? I'm trying to get mapquest directions to print off and there were no listings for any of the cities I tried.

[Lane Pryce]

Hello Alex ---- yeah that was me amd my Mowry --- hope you liked it. Its opening up nicely. There is something to that AD red spruce.
Hope you guys have a good time at the jam today. Lp

[Mandoe]

Really enjoyed the tasting the afternoon. Thanks for hosting, Flowerpot! It was great. Thanks to all the pickers for sharing some great mandos and some great tunes. Thanks Hans for sharing some of his latest/greatest mandos. The distressed Lloyd is a crusher!

Not sure I can remember all the mandos present. Below are a few. Flowerpot and others can expand the list:

Gibson Loar F-5; 2 Gil F-5's; Bluett F-5; Tennessee A-5; Unger A-5; 2-3 vintage Gibson oval hole mandos; 2-3 vintage Gibson F-4's; Kimble A-5; Henderson F-5; BRW F-5; Rigel G-5; 3 Brentrup F-5's; 2 Brentrup Eclipse mandos; 2 Gibson MM's; Dearstone F-5.

Which was my favorite? Well, they are all great in their own way. Interesting, to me, how similar good mandos played by good pickers sound.

Thanks again Flowerpot!!

[David O'Brien]

Hey flowerpot,
Thanks so much for allowing us in to your home, please thank the Mrs. for all the prepartions and for letting a bunch of mandoholics in for the afternoon. It was really a pleasure meeting Hans. I do wish I could have stayed longer. I didn't really get to jam with you guys. Could we do this again, is there a Piedmont Mandolin Orchestra waiting to bust out of this little get together? Anyone who would like to spend a little more time in a similar fashion is welcome to the Southeast CoMando Gathering in Ashe County, NC beginning May 17th-21st, 2006. Thanks again!!

[Flowerpot]

Glad you enjoyed it, Brad, and everybody. There were a ton of mandolins there, and so many good pickers... man, I'm worn out, but that was a blast. Thanks for coming! I knew there would be more mandolin players than you could shake a stick at. Any more, and we would have had to move into the garage too!

Hey, I think I'll post the pics in another thread in the post a picture..." section, since I got quite a few shots. Look over there soon.

[MandoPup]

Flowerpot,
Thanks again for hosting yesterday's mandolin party. I had a wonderful time.
What a beautiful experience hearing and seeing so many great instruments and players stretching out like that.
I think we should have a party like that here in our area of North Carolina once every six months or so.
I'm willing to do what I can to help make it happen again!
Ted Lyons in Kernersville

[csstanley]

Hey, I got 21 acres up here on the NC/VA line in Westfield. Would be more than willing to have a gathering some time. Place to camp if needed.

I do hate that I had to miss it though. Looked like a good time.

[Emoore]

Thanks again for a great time. Y'all should really consider coming up to the mountains for the CoMando Gathering. Five days of mandolin picking is hard to beat!

Ethan

[busstopeddy]

Doh!

Boy am I sorry I missed this.

I did not even see this thread till today.

I live in Pittsboro and I am in need of some new pickin' buddies. My 7 month old son has put a serious dent in my practice time but I can still get out to jam.

Thanks,
Eric

[AlanN]

Thanks again for a great time. #Y'all should really consider coming up to the mountains for the CoMando Gathering. #Five days of mandolin picking is hard to beat!

Ethan
Ethan, don't you mean 'hard to take'?

http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/tounge.gif

Just joshin, sounds like fun, report back.

[James O'Brien]

Let me add my thanks to Flowerpot for organizing this thing, and for opening his beautiful home to all of us -- not to mention the SERIOUS ribs he served. I had a great time and was blown away by the quality of the instuments there and by the level of musicianship. Hope there are more events like this to be had.
Jim O'B

[Tom Mylet]

Let me add my hardy thanks to Flowerpot and his family for hosting the "Hans Gathering." I previously had only played on of Hans mandolins. The others there were all great. In fact so was the entire event: mandolins, mandolin players, tunes and food. Thanks again, Tom

[Alex Fields]

Can someone give me details on exactly where the CoMando thing is? I know it's north of of Jefferson, along Helton Creek, but that doesn't tell me enough to know how to get there...I have this weekend free so I'll show up at least one day, and maybe camp for the weekend, but only if I know where I'm going.

[David O'Brien]

alex,good buddy, we gather in ashe co. at Helton Creek Campground, take 421 to Wilkesboro and stay on 421 past Walmart(ewww)and past Lowes, until you see Hwy 16 north. Take Hwy 16 north, and just keep going. When you see a sign for Shatley Springs Restaurant, you are close. continue north on Hwy 16 for about 4-5 miles. Just before you cross a concrete bridge, take a right and go under said bridge, like a troll, and continue on Helton Creek road crossing many low water bridges until you get to campsite on the right. We begin on Wednesday, come early, stay late. Bring your fiddle and your mandolin.

[Alex Fields]

Thanks for the directions. I take it my banjo wouldn't be welcome (not that I can even play it). : )

[David O'Brien]

no, no bring the banjo, I just thought I heard that you were a fiddler too. If you play banjo, fine, you will not be banished...

[Alex Fields]

I was joking, I do have a banjo but I can't play it. And yes, I play fiddle.

I'd like to camp for the weekend but I'm not sure how I could. I'm not sure if I even have a tent and stuff, or if there's room in my car for it, and I don't think I'd have anyone who could come with me...but I'll try to figure something out. I'll be there for at least one day in any case, and I look forward to it.