Its that time again.  Stop on by Congress St. Coffee and Tattered Pages Bookstore tonight starting at 6:30 for our Open Mic Poetry Night.  It should promise to be a relaxing evening with plenty of time to read your own work as well as listen to the works of others.  Don’t forget we have some refreshing iced coffee in the cafe as well as fruit smoothies, whirls and most any other coffee related drink you can think of.  We’ve got a great used bookstore upstairs as well so take a moment to browse our shelves.

Open Mic Poetry Night is the last Tuesday of every month, with the addition of some specially scheduled poetry nights….because we just can’t get enough of your amazing talent!  Please be sure and check out our blog and our calendar to keep updated on what events we have going on at Welty Commons!

And if you would like to be sent emails to alert you to upcoming events, then be sure and “Join Our Mailing List” in the upper right hand corner of our website.

Stop by the Commons this Thursday night starting at six thirty for a Crossroads classic film screening.  The movie should begin at seven and costs only $7.  We will also hold an Open Mic Poetry session so dust off your old work or bring some new poesy.  The gallery will also be open this evening for those who wish to view the show currently hanging.  This is the last week for this show so check it out.  We are serving a great iced french roast for these hot Mississippi days and of course we have all your favorites like our sweet and creamy Turrtle Whip and the ever popular Toffee Nut Latte.  Of course we also have a variety of non-coffee bevarages so there should be something for everyone to enjoy.  Tiller Baking Company provides our biscotti and cookies and I must tell you the White Chocolate Pecan cookie is fantastic.  Take my word for it. 

It is bound to be a night of fun so we hope to see you here!

There is a misprint in this week’s Jackson Free Press. Open Mic Poetry Reading is not scheduled for tonight.  This will take place on the last Tuesday of each month.  Please join us for our next reading on May25, at 6:30 pm.

The Commons at Eudora Welty’s Birthplace is now selling “Nice Glass by Lizz”.  These beautiful glass pendants  are only $7.00 and would make a perfect Mother’s Day gift! Come by and look at our selection.  We are open Monday-Friday, 7:00 am – 4:00 pm.

Upcoming Art Opening at Commons Gallery: A Holgatastic Photographic Expose’

Thursday, April 22 6:30pm

A Holga is basically an inexpensive plastic toy camera. The camera uses medium format film, which is about twice the size of the old 35mm film. As far as cameras go, they are very low tech and primitive. Unlike other film cameras, there is only one shutter speed and one aperture setting. A photographer is really left to the mercy of the camera as to how it will render a particular scene. For new photographers, the camera seems be much less intimidating than other manual cameras. The new photographer does not have to worry with whether they have their camera set up correctly to take a shot.  For seasoned photographers, the camera’s vignetting (extra exposure around the sides of the image resulting from light leaks in camera) and the extra soft focus stir creative juices.

Ridgeland High School photography students will be holding a Holga show called “A Holgatastic Photographic Expose” The show will be held at the Eudora Welty Commons at 6:30, April 22, 2010. Every image shown will have been taken with one of these Holga cameras.

Ashleigh Andrews, Haley Britt, Jordan Walker, Katie Hammond, Meredith Walker, Shelby Barham, Veronika Jager, Quinith Kipchumba Anna Howard, and Savannah Holman are all students expected to have pieces on display. 

Their teacher, Justin Rives, will also have some pieces on display.  Justin Rives has been a photographer for over the past 15 years, starting with a film camera his father bought him. While now he mostly takes portraits and wedding photography with a digital camera, when he is photographing for himself, he chooses film. Ever since he experienced the excitement of developing his own pictures in a darkroom, he has not been able to totally let go of the film medium. He tries to instill this excitement in his students at Ridgeland High School, where they have a fully operating darkroom for the the Photography I and II classes.   

In a world of digital photography, traditional silver based photo endeavors are becoming rare. Please encourage others to come and see these interesting pieces at Commons Gallery. 

birthday cake by Jessica N. Diamond

You’re invited to come celebrate Eudora Welty’s Birthday with us!

Stop by The Commons for a piece of complimentary cake in honor of Eudora Welty’s Birthday!

Tuesday, April 13, 2010 – from 10am- 4pm

“The events in our lives happen in a sequence in time, but in their significance to ourselves they find their own order: the continuous thread of revelation.”

— Eudora Welty (1909-2001)

Congress Street Coffee and Tattered Pages Bookstore is reopening Monday, March 29th. Our new hours of operation will be Monday-Friday, 7:00am-4:00pm. Come in and enjoy a cup of our award winning coffee from High Point Roasters in New Albany, MS.

Title: Private Party
Location: Gallery & Plaza
Date: 2010-03-20

Title: JFP photoshoot
Location: Commons Hall
Description: prom fashion preview photo shoot
Start Time: 09:00
Date: 2010-03-18
End Time: 12:00

Title: Writer’s Spotlight
Location: The Commons
Link out: Click here
Description: The Writer’s Spotlight is an event that highlights the work of local writers. The Writer’s Spotlight is unlike any other event in Jackson in that it brings together several prominent writers to showcase their talent to an open audience. To become involved, see pictures and more information about this and past events, visit janinejulia.wordpress.com.

Start Time: 07:30
Date: 2010-03-27
End Time: 09:00

Title: Davis on the Map-Photography project
Location: The Commons
Start Time: 11:30
Date: 2010-03-03

Title: “Davis on the Map” Davis Magnet Photography Project
Location: The Commons
Start Time: 8:30
Date: 2010-03-03

Title: Davis on the Map-Neighborhood photography project
Location: The Commons
Start Time: 08:30
Date: 2010-03-01

Title: Davis on the Map-Neighborhood photography project
Location: The Commons
Date: 08:30