LenoreTroia.com: NEWS

I was golfing last year in south Florida with some great friends, one whose home town was Miami, and I asked her what it was like growing up with hurricanes. She said when she was a kid these storms had no numbers attached to them, in other words, no categories based on wind speed. A bad storm was just that, a bad storm. Well now that I have lived through Tropical Storm Fay, after witnessing Cat 1 through 5 hurricanes in the last 15 years or so, I truly know what she meant.

Three years ago my house in Key West was flooded by Hurricane Wilma (which was maybe a Cat 2 or Cat 1, depends on who you talk to) when it caused a storm surge that infamously wreaked havoc in many neighborhoods on the island. I will never forget the street filled with dead refrigerators and other household appliances, rugs, couches, essentially full interiors of people’s houses. Truly, a site to behold.

The build up to Wilma had the mystique of hurricane status and upon its approach people were scared, even with all the hurricane fatigue going on after the likes of Charlie, Ivan, Jeanne, Frances, and a whole bunch more....but all "hurricanes", not "tropical storms"....so much mightier and seemingly intimidating. Until "Fay"!

On Monday of this week, Fay blew in and out of the Keys dumping rain and becoming what one Key West commissioner would call "the dress rehearsal to the big one". But no one would ever expect it to get stronger, stretch across the entire state, and then dump an unprecedented amount of water in central Florida leaving behind neighborhoods worse off than what the victims of Wilma endured.

And it is still going strong and headed for many more neighborhoods. And...drum roll please...it's still a "tropical storm"....and never did become a hurricane!

So, the moral of the story is...a bad storm is a bad storm, and each storm has a life and personality of it's own, as individual as the time and place it hits and probably a million other factors that only your meteorologist knows. But the thing is...it's not in the number, the category, or the type of storm that makes it dangerous and life threatening. Another reason labels and type casting can be limiting and misleading.

In the words of Jimmy Buffett, we will always be "trying to reason with hurricane season"....but I think a Gertrude Stein twist on the subject may be truer...."a storm is a storm is a storm..."and not" by any other name"....

Prayers to all who got drenched.....and....I am not looking forward to the next one...... currently hanging out with my folks in central Florida…..where they used to worry about me living in Key West!

Tropical Storm Fay video
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8fzBklYqEJQ
Yikes!,
Lenore

Since I have had several calls and emails asking about TropicaI Storm Fay, and since the national news does not always relay what our local news here in Florida is able too, I thought I would forward some info about it. Since I am currently in central Florida, I can only give info that was relayed to me from Key West commissioner Teri Johnston about the Florida Keys. Apparently, there was some flooding in Key West with a fair amount of wind gusts, but the middle Keys, primarily Marathon, got pelted with rain and was hit the hardest.

But now there is actually much more concern here in central Florida since the storm has been very slow moving and has strengthened in the last day and hours. My good friend Susan Anderson just phoned from Cocoa where the storm hit very hard yesterday and is still there right now. She said it felt like a hurricane with its intensity and Barefoot Bay, very close by, was hit really hard with homes damaged and a few injuries. Very extensive flooding is happening in Brevard County and many people had to be rescued from their homes in boats. There are also lots of reports of alligators and sea creatures in the flood waters....so reminisient of Hurricane Wilma that flooded my house in Key West in '05.

What the concern is now is that the storm is expected to go off shore some time tonight, possibly develop into a Cat 1 Hurricane and turn around and hit central northeastern FL again. I am currently in Volusia County which is in the line of the storm with Flagler County in the early morning tomorrow.
So we will have to wait and see (like we always do with these storms). So far, I am in Deland with my folks, and we are doing OK at the moment. We are getting lots of rain with a few gusts. However, we are not sure if we will be that lucky after it turns into a hurricane and comes back inland....... Mickey and his friends are trying to use some "magic " to keep the storm north of Orlando....
I'll keep you posted.....
Lenore

During our recent trip to Florida, my sister-in-law drove us into Naples one day, which is where my brother works. Very nice city, Naples. Lots of money there. In addition to beachfront homes that more resemble hotels, they have a Fifth Avenue full of lovely boutiques and high-end retailers. It was in one of those lovely boutiques that I discovered Lenore Troia.

The shop, called Wind in the Willows, was very pink, and full of fabulous, fanciful clothing, jewelry and accessories, both for the person and for the home. (And yes, I did buy something.) The place was so crowded with bright sparkles and beachy colors and fluffy marabou and other fun things that it was almost hard to maneuver. And just when I thought I’d seen everything available for sale, some other charming bit of whimsy would catch my eye and make me smile. There were also two cats meandering through the miscellany, something else that added to the feeling of having been transported to a place where everything was happy and easygoing and pleasing to the eye.

I describe the shop in detail, because as I was wandering through it, the music playing was perfect for the atmosphere. It was bright and sparkly and happy, too. I really started paying attention to it, though, when I heard this lyric: “She wants a Cuban cigar.” That was when I started smiling at the music playing, in addition to the shop’s wares.

Naturally, I had to ask the salesclerk who the artist was they were playing. She graciously went to the back room and returned with this CD, “Sand Dancing,” whose artist and title I wrote down so that I could further investigate when I got home. I was delighted upon checking iTunes to find not just this CD available, but five others. Just like that, I was able to put Lenore Troia on my iPod.

I love this collection. Upon listening, my husband and I decided she’s a mix of Kirsty MacColl, Michael Franks and Jimmy Buffett--fun, smoothly jazzy and tropical. The first two songs are a little slower and more mellow than “She Wants a Cuban Cigar,” which comes third and throws the CD into a calypso direction. Then comes what may be my favorite in the collection, even more than “Cuban Cigar”--”It’s Time to Live Again.” This song could have come from a black and white movie with Xaviar Cugat’s Orchestra and Carmen Miranda singing beneath a big fruit hat. It’s terrific. Then we move back to jazz, then into reggae, then jazz again (a really nice version of “Summertime”). She winds up with “Andante, Andante,” which is almost classical, and a piano instrumental of “God Bless America” that was evidently chosen along with versions by Jimi Hendrix, Woodie Guthrie and Lee Greenwood (among others) for a network Fourth of July celebration.

Upon checking out Troia’s web site, I also discovered she’s a transplanted Floridian, originally from New York and having grown up in Connecticut. (There seem to be A LOT of people from the northeast who’ve picked up and moved to that state.) She’s now evidently a fixture of the Florida Keys, playing clubs and events in the area (or wherever bodies of water can be found.)

I know I’ve been bitching and moaning about summer lately, but Lenore Troia’s music is a welcome addition to my summertime music collection. And although I’ve had enough of summer, thankyouverymuch, I can never have too much summertime music.

Pina coladas on me, everybody!
Posted by Elizabeth Bevarly

Thanks Elizabeth!!!
best to you....Lenore

What a month...it started out to be a simple surprise party for Madam Commisioner Teri Johnston, and turned into a series of gigs with Key West's finest musicians!! From Aqua to Virgilio's to the Garden, the venues and the music were incredible...and the audience was filled with folks I haven't seen for ages....a grand reunion of sorts....and so much fun was had by all!!!

Upon arrival I had the great pleasure of teaming up with Ken Fradley, world class horn player, and the one and only Skipper Krippitz. We jammed at the V (Virgilios) 'til the wee hours of the morning....I would then team up with Skipper again with the amazing Gordy Micheals, on keyboards and guitar, at the Garden on Sunday afternoon, what a crowd, and then back at the V the following week with the phenomenal Marty Stonely on sax....the very talented Laura Wood was there attracting new fans with her incredible rythymic talents and energy...it was truely a musical banquet!!

My good freinds from Raleigh NC Jan and Ann, Cindy and Kim, and the rest of the gang prompted an impromptu pool party at Pearls Rainbow that was so fun and delightful...a real splash!!....So great to hang with all the gals...our own private event...fantastic!! Thanks for letting us do that Leslie!!

At Aqua we celebrated Teri Johnston's birthday and of course Cha Cha Ublonski made her appearance dazzling the crowd....the conga line impressed the Duval street masses and pictures are on display in the photo gallery....

The most moving event of the week was also at Aqua when a benefit for a local gal, Karen, was held and hosted by her dear and devoted friend Wendy....a truely monumental moment was witnessed when Wendy auctioned off shaving her head to raise money for Karens cancer treatment fund. Again, Key West folks continue to amaze with their caring spirit and generosity!!! Thanks to all who attended and gave to the cause....

Check back again to see where my next adventure takes me....I will be back in Key West in September...

'Til then, enjoy the summer.....

hugs,
Lenore

Hi folks,

I'm just back from a wonderful trip and mini tour of he Florida Keys.
I had the great pleasure of performing with the fabulous Mark Wally,
guitarist/vocalist, in our Double Dose Duo, and the wonderfully
talented Laura Wood, percussionist, singer/songwriter....and also
joined Larry Smith, Dave Feder and Skipper Krippitz on some other
musical excursions...and last but not least enjoyed having good friend
J.C. Costello sit in on harmonica.

Special thanks to our hosts, Sue and JC in Key Largo, Teri and Dar in
Key West and Lisa in Miami for dealing with the musicians'
life.....and special thanks to Robin Fear for all those
extras.......oh yes, Mom and Dad too......

Now onto what's happening back up north. I just finished producing a
CD called "Songs for Autism". It is a collection of original songs
from a group of extraordinary musicians who have either been affected
personally by autism with their own children, or just simply want to
support the cause of bringing awareness to this epidemic.

Aside from producing this CD, I am also one of the artists
contributing music, along with Kelly Flint, Dave Feder, Laura Wood,
Bari Koral, Marc Von Em, Bottle of Smoke, Caravan of Thieves, Judith
Tolluch and Motherlode. These are among some of Hudson Valley, NY and
the Florida Keys finest!! Every aspect of the production of this CD
has been donated included the artwork by Sue Beal of Island
Information Services, Key Largo, FL. Susan Limongello is the
excecutive producer, meaning, she has donated the money for
manufacturing this CD.

This first run of CD's is limited and we are only selling them by
check or money order at this time. The Autism Resource Center is in
the process of setting up a link on it's website for the next run of
CD's for credit card, pay pal etc. I've just had so many requests that
I am giving the folks on my mailing list an advanced opportunity to
purchase this CD.

There will also be a concert on Sunday, April 27, from 7-10 PM, to
benefit the Autism Resource Center featuring artists from this CD, at
The Towne Crier, Pawling NY, http://www.townecrier.com/. This will be
the official release party of "Songs for Autism".
For information about this event call 845-278-7272, ext. 287 for
tickets and information or www.PutnamARC.org
For $15.00 (plus 4.95 shipping and handling), you can purchase a
truly great compilation of music...while having every dollar you spend
go directly to the Autism Resource Center,
www.autismresourcecenter.info.

So...if you are interested and want to support a great cause, please
send a check or money order of ($19.95 total) payable to:

Autism Resource Center
memo on check:Songs for Autism
c/o
PARC
31 International BLVD
Brewster, NY 10509

Hope to see some of you at the show....

Thank you so much!!!
hugs,
Lenore

Can't express how great it was to be back in the Keys this past January...not only in Key West, but Key Largo as well!! It was so wonderful to see old friends who I have not seen in years. Plus, Sundowners and Snappers are such great venues!!! Mark Wally and I will be back down there in late March...check out our schedule:

http://www.lenoretroia.com/hostbaby/merge?stage=calendar
Special thanks to our good friends who took such good care of us...Robin Fear, who rescued Mark at the airport...Lisa K who put up with the late night musician types...and Shea, my new puppy love, Sue and JC who's hospitalty is endless, Teri and Dar for opening there home to us..the greatest caretakers of all time, Mark B. at La Te Da for feeding us so well at Sunday Brunch, Dave Feder for making sure we had some gigs, Donna Barnett for being a great bud, Mary Jo for being a great everything, Laurie and Jill at Aqua for letting us pop in to play when ever we want, Sue and Ken for making the journey and always being our compadres, Doug and Deb for re-connecting with us and thanks to Sue for making the connection with them about us, Larry Smith for always welcoming us to play at the Pier House, all my friends who showed up at Aqua, and Lisa Kaminsky for the Days Inn connection!!!

A special note about Skipper Krippitz who put together an amazing benefit at St. Pauls church to raise money for Franko Richmonds cancer treatment. It was AWESOME!!!!

Also, Mark Watson and Randy Thompson blew me away with their show at the La Te Da Crystal Room- "The Broads of Broad Way Three Ways"- believe me guys, I mean girls, you no longer need a third way...the two of you have more than arrived and can rival any show any where!! Very proud of you both!!!!
And it was so wonderful to spend time with Mark W.'s folks Hilda and Papa Tim...Love them both!!!

It was also fantastic to come back to NY in time to return to La Mirage Steak House and play for some of the best dancers I have ever seen in an audience. The dance floor is home to a group of serious ball room steppers...just how serious...lets just say they bring a seperate pair of dance shoes just for a smooth ride!!!

So, my musical partner Mark Wally, loved being in the Keys, who wouldn't, and I think my freinds loved him being there as well. We are both looking forward to our return....

I am itching to do some writing which is what I will be doing during the next month....

So....til next time....come see us soon.... and keep those dance shoes movin'....
Hugs!!
Lenore

Played at a GREAT New Years Eve party at Carefree Resort in Fort Myers...those folks danced up a storm...always a pleasure to play there, one of my favorite places..great to see some old friends again, and the hospitality was awesome!!

La Mirage up in New York has been fun also....but that temperature dropped and now I'm headed to the Florida Keys!! Mark Wally will be joining me down there, and our Double Dose Duo will be jamming it's way from Key Largo to Key West!!

Hope you are all managing to stay warm...and I
hope to see some of you along the way!!

Can't wait to do a little sand dancing myself...
Hugs,
Lenore

Seasons Greetings my good friends!!!

Well, I know some of you are enjoying beautiful warm temperatures, while others are experiencing the not so pleasant frosty air that St.Nick thrives in...and some of you, like myself, are having a bit of
both worlds if you are traveling!!

What ever seasonal climate changes you are enduring, I hope you have a bit of time to enjoy yourself with a little dancing and holiday partying along the way...in moderation of course!!!

To all my friends who have been writing kind things to me about my music, I thank you so much. You are the ones that keep me wanting to write more and more.... the musician audience relationship is truly the connection of souls and you have my appreciation for your precious correspondence!!

I have been performing and traveling quite a bit, as well as being involved with numerous creative projects. I am working on several CDs and will have release dates sent out very soon!

As some of you know I am working in the Double Dose Duo with Mark Wally, guitarist vocalist extra-ordinaire! We are mostly playing in New York at the moment although we did have a great gig in Sarasota last month. We are making new friends along the way and have played some fabulous parties and clubs this season.
We have our schedule up on our website:
http://www.doubledoseduo.com Please sign our guest book when you visit!

I am truly inspired by the amount of exposure my music has been getting through the Internet. It is so exciting to have people downloading my songs from all over the world!! I thank you all for your continuous support!!

For those of you who have inquired to my where-abouts over the holidays, I will be in Fort Myers on New Years Eve, which is already sold out, sorry...but I will keep you all posted for any more Florida sightings...

I wish you all a wonderful holiday season and hope your New Year Celebration is a fun one!!

Hugs and candy cane kisses!
Lenore
http://www.lenoretroia.com http://www.doubledoseduo.com

So busy I never get to write in this news journal any more....sorry about that....

It's been a time of transitions, heavy family stuff, but not to worry, it's the cycle of life....

I am having the best time with my musical partner Mark Wally! He is SOOOO talented....great guitar player and singer!! We played at one of our new venues last night, La Mirage, and we had a really fun time....check out the calender, we have lots of dates coming up....

And more good stuff....I have had the opportunity to do some really great things this year...played a wedding for Sue and Ken's daughter Tracy in Cocoa Beach, a 50th birthday for my good freind Terry in Key West, re-unite with my buddies there for Womenfest, got to play with Larry and Christine at the Pier House-always a blast, got to play for the new reigning Fantasy Fest Queen, Mary Lou Hoover, and then my good freind the new commish, Teri Johnston, boy am I lucky to hang out with the best and the brightest!...had my good freinds Cathy and Margie visit from Kentucky at the Hudson House in Cold Spring, (one of my regular solo gigs- and Mark fills in for me a lot there if you want to see him as a soloist)...so sorry I missed MOTM's this year, like I said, family stuff....

So sorry I couldn't play for the Colemans 5th anniversary. I hope it was a good one....and also missed playing for Kim and Cindy for their 25th anniversay in North Carolina...all very special people...congrats!!!

Did lots of travelling this year which has given me renewed inspiration...and I am really excited about new songs and recording. Mark and I have a new CD which I will tell you all about very soon.

Thats all I have time for now, but I will try to get back to you all very soon.....

Hugs,
Lenore

Well folks...after taking a lot of time off and gigging only intermittently, I am almost back to full throttle again…but not quite, because I want to stay, shall I say, centered, and happy…the music biz can really burn you out, and I don’t want that to happen again…. but I feel great and full of energy and I’m ready to roll, and rock!!

I will be heading to Key West next week just in time for WomenFest 2007…looking forward to connecting with old friends. Check out my calendar…maybe you can catch a show down there….or up here!

And speaking of friends, I have been making some wonderful new ones! A wonderful guitarist and singer, Mark Wally, and I are working as a duo now. We call ourselves “Double Dose” and we are performing quite a bit in the Hudson Valley area. So far, it has been great fun…and I am meeting great people!! We just finished recording our first CD together and it will be available in about a month.

I also have a lot of other great musical friends I want to mention. I became an official member of the “Life-size Gorgeous Cocktails” These cats are serious rockers and we all were given alternate cocktail names… mine is “Tina Colada”. They are a great group of musicians and I hope to play with them again really soon… I am also working this week with a great jazz guitarist named Steve Lamattina, and I will be up in the Catskills with Bob Grimm and his band for a gig this weekend. And I will join Larry Smith for a night at the Pier House when I am in Key West and also jamming with Laura Wood on congas….so I am blessed with new musical opportunities, which I hope will continue!!

And speaking of great musicians…don’t forget to check out Dave Feders newest CD featuring his twelve-year-old son Nyan…truly amazing! I will stop by to visit them on my way to Key West….as well as my good friends Sue and JC…

Mark is in Europe right now, so it works out perfectly for me to head south (September)… and he will be joining me on my next adventure to the keys and Florida in November…plus a special event in Chicago that we are looking forward too. I will be gone for a couple of weeks in October on a trip to northern Italy.
I have spent the last two years taking time to travel and have had the great fortune to visit Toronto, California, Ecuador, Galapagos, Peru, Machu Picchu and Sicily. Traveling to some of these places has been life transforming…

I hope to see some of you along the way!!!

‘Til next…keep on sand dancing!
Hugs,
Lenore

Key West Botanical Garden Showcased In Washington, D.C., Exhibit
Jun 04, 07 | 1:26 pm

KEY WEST, Florida Keys -- Twenty-six species of Florida Keys plants and trees from the Key West Tropical Forest and Botanical Garden are on display in Washington, D.C., this summer as part of an exhibit titled "Celebrating America's Public Gardens."



The Key West Tropical Forest and Botanical Garden is one of 20 U.S. garden institutions invited to participate in the exhibit, spearheaded by the United States Botanic Garden and the American Public Gardens Association to celebrate the diversity and importance of the nation's public gardens.

The Florida Keys garden exhibit stands on the terrace of the U.S. Botanic Garden Conservatory, located on the National Mall at the foot of the U.S. Capitol. It was designed and constructed by a Keys team that journeyed to Washington from the Tropical Forest and Botanical Garden.

Species represented in the exhibit -- many of them endangered -- include the buccaneer palm, Florida thatch palm, satinwood tree, locust berry shrub, Florida silver palm and lignum vitae tree.

Created to suggest a tropical hardwood forest, the Keys garden display features plant labels explaining how early settlers used the flora in their daily lives as well as informative signage detailing the biodiversity of the Florida Keys.

The Key West Tropical Forest and Botanical Garden, the only frost-free tropical moist forest garden in the continental United States, is a 15-acre tract containing more than 600 species of trees and plants, including more than 60 endangered species. Attractions include a visitor and biodiversity center, waterfall courtyard, three self-guided tours, 1.5-acre butterfly habitat and nature chapel.

Located at 5210 College Road, the Key West garden is open 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. June 15 through Oct. 15 and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Oct. 15 through June 15. Admission is free.
The exhibit in Washington, also free, can be viewed daily 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. through Oct. 8, 2007.

For more information, visit www.keywestbotanicalgarden.org

Spring is looking fabulous...I know it's been a while, but I have been busy as a bee!!!
Hope all is well with everyone!
I'll be back at the Hudson House on Mothers Day....then off to Europe at the end of the month....
til then hugs......
Lenore

Feeling so much to be thankful for.........hope you all had a great day!!!

I'll be travelling to Ecuador and Peru for the next two weeks. I'll have a full report when I return......

Sorry I had to turn the guest book off....to much spam coming through.....

Take care and happy shopping!!

hugs,
Lenore

Returning to Key West after almost a year was both excting and emotional for me. It was so great to see my good friends even if only for a "Moment In Time"......

I got to perform in such a variety of venues. My first stop in Florida was in Fort Myers to play for the Halloween Dance at Carefree Resort. The gals were all costumed up and danced the night away....a great time... and I'm looking forward to going back for the next party!

My showcase with Larry Smith was just TOO MUCH FUN!!!!! I love when Larry adds his fantastic sax and keyboards to my music....and what a treat to have Michael Thomas sit in and jam with us as well. Gina Masserati and I had a blast stumbling through our Frank and Nancy Sinatra duet.....I think it was pretty hilarious....and topping off the night was Mark Watson, from Broadway Three Ways, recapturing with me some great memories from past La Te Da times. The biggest surprise was Sally Foster! She still has that great set of pipes and her version of Georgia was fantastic!

I was very touched when Sharon, Pam and Terry presented me with a hat that read "She's Back", Lenore Troia 2006. Almost everyone got to sign it, and it will truely be treasured. My good friends Kathy and Margie from Kentucky were a great surprise to see (the M & M's), and it was also a treat to see Carmen Rodriguez and Sandy Crawford out on the town as well!! Nice to see Hayward out and about and Mike and Bruce and Ruth and Frank! MaryD. also sounded great singing a song or two....

This time in Key West I was somebodies "house guest". Susan and I stayed at the home of Cotton and Jodie, our good friends, and we ventured over to the Pier House for dinner before singing with Larry. Lo and behold it was yet another Key West adventure. Sitting out on the beautiful deck we were greeted by helicopters and Coast Guard cutters searching for one of the Mallory Square entertainers who pulled a Halloween prank on the town by doing a Houdini disappearing act only moments prior to our arrival. After hours of search and rescue teams scouring the waters, the hoaxter was found relaxing at a local bed and breakfast. Needless to say, he is in big trouble now....Only in Key West!!.....

That night was "Ladies Night" at the piano bar and I again had the opportunity to join Larry and Christine Cordone. What a wonderful night of harmonizing especially when Kathleen Peace jumped into the mix. Wow!! Wish it was in my studio and put onto disc... Some great moments.
The "Latitude" duo (with Billy Peoples and Buddy)was in the audience...so sorry I ran out of time and missed them at the Roof Top...hope to catch them next time! Dana and Ray and Ray's sister, Joey and Jonathon gave me a big smile with their "Lenore Rocks" neon fans glowing in the dark!!!

Working with Joanie (bartender and actress extraordinaire) at the beach party Wednesday really brought back memories of those magical Key West tropical nights!!
Mary Jo joined in on congas, and so many other good friends were there... Donna B, Donna M, Robin and Terry, Patty and a new friend, Buddy, Billy P., DK and his lovely wife, Brent Burns, Laura (of Black and Skabuddah), Ruth and Mark on their anniversery!... new friends from New Jersey.....Carmen R. sang, and the keyboardist from Sunny Jim's band sat in as well.

I was also graced with a visit from Key West's new royalty, Queen Fizz, and King Gregg. I am so proud of both of them and grateful for their hard work. Congrats...way to go!!!!

Friday night was the Pearl's Girls night.....a fantastic evening of dancing and new memories. Thank you Heather and Leslie!! A great performance by Chef Lindsey...she can cook and sing!!! Who knew? It was so great to see my good friends all together again under the disco ball.....
And later stopped by La Te Da to see Laura and Russ and of course, Sassy!! Saw Mark W. and his sister Laurie, and a bunch of old friends.....

One more stop on the way to the airport in Miami was the Key Largo benefit for the Marc House. It was a wonderful dinner and great gig....and I was overwhelmed to hear Nyan, David Feder's 11 year old son, who obviously is following in his Dad's footsteps, or should I say fret steps, on the guitar. What a future he has in store....but also always great to hear Dave with his wonderful music. Saw, briefly, some old friends from the days I lived in the upper keys, and of course, my dear friends, Sue and JC. Unfortunately, there is NEVER enough time to spend with everyone......

Well, this was just jotting down some of my thoughts about the trip. I've gotten a photos from Billy Peoples and Kathy from Kentucky.
Check 'em out:
http://lenoretroia.com/photos.html
Now I have to get back into the studio and capture some of my thoughts and feelings about all of this into music.......

Til next, keep sand dancing.....
hugs,
Lenore

Don't you love how I'm covering the north and south in one fell swoop!..

Anyway, I have played at the Towne Crier for the Womens Voice concert for several years now....but last night was probably the most incredible one! The traditional favorites, KJ Denhert, Megan Fogarty and her fabulous hubbie on piano, Mike Mancini, and Motherlode were more stellar than ever, and returning again this year, Kismet Lyles and Anne Kline did a fine performance as well.This years newcomer Ilene Reid was spectacular. They put me last on the program, and I was really nervous to follow these gals! All and all, it was a fabulous night for a great cause and organization...congrats also to the new executive director, Ann Ellsworth, and great to see Joanne DePaola out of the executive directors seat and into her jeans!. Kacey from WHUD was in extreme rare form and had us laughing out loud with her MC wit. Loved sitting with all my friends from PARC! But.....my favorite person in the audience was Molly!! Thanks again to everyone who supported this event!! And thanks again to Janet S. who invited me back and put it all together!
Here is a thank you I got for the show:

Hi Lenore
Thank you so much for sharing your time, talents and expertise at our 17th annual benefit concert A Woman’s Voice—Singing for Our Lives. It is always so great to see you. You certainly light up the room!!!
Your performance was extraordinary and left all of us who attended extremely excited and inspired. The evening was a great success because of your energy and generosity!
Your support of the Putnam/Northern Westchester Women’s Resource Center makes it possible to offer quality programs and services to families who are victims of domestic violence and sexual assault, and to provide prevention and educational programs to increase the level of awareness in our community. We cannot thank you enough for caring.
On behalf of all of women and children your generosity will reach, thank you for helping us to end domestic violence and to promote “Peace in the World Begins with Peace at Home.
I look forward to working with you again next year.
Cordially,
Janet Schweigler
_________________________
Now let's go south of the border....
CONGRATS to Fizz and Gregg, two of my favorite Key West people who were crowned Queen and King respectively at last nights coronation.

Here is the news, straight from the Key West Citizen:

Fantasy comes true for King McGrady, Queen Rettew
BY MARK HOWELL

Citizen Staff


Crowned King and Queen of Fantasy Fest 2006 at the coronation Friday night were Gregg McGrady and Meta "Fizz" Rettew.

The latest royal couple raised more money for AIDS Help than the other candidates. All the funds raised by all five candidates during the past six weeks go toward AIDS Help. The total amount raised this year was $173,857.

Rettew, an employee at Headlines Hair Salon, and McGrady, executive director of the Key West Business Guild, beat out Ida B (David Axtell) as queen and Sue Maurer and Scott Briscoe running as combined king and queen.

In an atmosphere not unlike high school prom night, campaigners and performers packed the ground-floor rooms of the Westin Hotel to prepare for the evening's entertainment. Prior to the announcement of the winners, Rettew seemed unconcerned about winning. The joy of the campaign, she explained, was in "discovering the generous heart of Key West."

"I challenge you to find any place else on Earth as generous as here," she said.

Asked how he felt about the campaign, McGrady replied: "Absolutely fantastically, overwhelmingly tremendous. The whole thing."

Introducing the candidates, AIDS Help president Robert Walker asked the crowd to acknowledge that each of them had given up "their time and their lives" to raise money for the agency and its clients. "They help make Key West a community where everybody wins, where we all love each other."

Queen candidate Ida B told The Citizen, "I love this place and I've loved being the object of everyone's desire." Briscoe and Maurer, first candidates ever to run as a single unit, said the campaign was a life-changing experience. "It caught me off guard, the number of people supporting us who had sons or brothers who had died of AIDS," Briscoe said. Nevertheless, said an exhausted Maurer, "I've had so much fun."

One T-shirt that defined the evening said "Delightfully tacky, yet unrefined."

Fantasy Fest 2006 has begun.

I'll be in Key West next week. Hope to see some of you there....
Hugs,
Lenore

NEW!!! Click any of these links to check out the latest music from CD Baby. It is the best site for independent music.
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Hi folks,

Lots of things to tell you about. Check out the photo page for some new pics. Had a visit with Deb and Patrick on their northern tour....and also see all the Key West Fantasy Fest candidates.
http://www.lenoretroia.com/photos.html Fantasy Fest candidate websites:
www.fizzforqueen.com www.greggforking.com www.missidab.com www.ashipoffools.com Give as generously as you can to these candidates.

You can also see on my schedule page that I have a bunch of things coming up in New York and in Florida.
http://lenoretroia.com/calendar.html
Hope to see some of you along the way!

Enjoy the leaves as they turn to beautiful colors.....

Hugs,
Lenore

We have four wonderful candidates running for king and queen in Key West this year. The two very special people I support are Fizz and Gregg.
Please check out their websites and make a donation if you can.....

http://www.fizzforqueen.com http://www.greggforking.com
Thanks, and I'll be getting back to all of you with the results of the CD Baby contest very soon....
Keep sand dancing..........
hugs,
Lenore

First, I am thinking of all my freinds in the Keys getting ready for Ernesto. Hoping it isn't to much of a hit and it goes somewhere else, but looks like lots of my freinds all over Florida need to worry. Just watching and waiting......I hate that!

Now onto this past weekend... I played a 50th birthday surprise party for Vik, via Sandy, aka Shoe. We were treated royally by Dot and Maggie, our hosts in St. Claire Shores, and the party was in Eastpointe (right outside Detroit). It was all fabulous, Vik was surprised by the opening conga line, and the night was filled with great fun! What I loved best was getting to know people who I knew only from their visits to Key West, showing us their own turf. What a blast. Thanks so much to all of you.........


Don't forget, only two more days left to my CD sale.......It ends August 31, 2006.
click this link to buy CD's:
http://www.lenoretroia.com/hostbaby/merge?stage=home
Again, thanks to everyone who bought CD's this month to help me with the contest!!

I'm still on the road and will get back to you all soon......

Keep sand dancing..........

hugs,
Lenore

This is the last week of the $7.99 CD sale I've been running this August-part of a contest for CD Baby to get on to their annual CD Baby Sampler. Thanks to all of you who have purchased CD's this month! (And all year 'round!!)

To purchase click on this link: http://www.lenoretroia.com/hostbaby/merge?stage=home
Since the manatee was spotted on the Hudson River, I've received emails from my good friend Susan Anderson telling me she has read about a spotting in Boston and Rhode Island. Are these sea cows looking for greener pastures?? I'm sure as soon as the temperature drops up here they will become snow birds for sure, and return down south to those warm waters....

And speaking of temperature, the weather here in NY has been stellar....August has just been spectacular! And I have a new gig at the Hudson House in Cold Spring, NY, which has been fabulous!! I've already had some folks from Pelham, NY stop by after seeing me down in Key West. That was a wonderful surprise.

I will return to the Hudson House on Labor Day weekend-Sept. 2, Saturday 2-6 PM, and Sunday Sept. 3, 1:30-5:30 PM. Click this link for details: http://www.lenoretroia.com/hostbaby/merge?stage=calendar
One more thing....
I want to thank from the bottom of my heart, my good friends in Key West from F.I.R.M. who worked so hard to get Fair Insurance Rates in Monroe County for all the folks who live in the Keys. Congratulations on the win in the state of Florida!!!
Donna, Cindy, Teri, Heather,Vicki…..you are the best!!!!!!!!!!!!

Traveling to Michigan and Toronto this weekend and parts of up state NY- to play some music, and to see some new sites along the way.....

Hope you all enjoy these last weeks of summer.....

Keep sand dancing.....
hugs,
Lenore

Hi folks,

There are many times I still ponder the wonders and blessings of living in the Florida Keys, and though I am spending my time in the northeast right now, and enjoying it very much, the appeal of tropical living is still amazing to me.
I was wowed by the discovery of a manatee in the Hudson River, and now again I read an article about a man from Yonkers doing what I thought was impossible. Tropical fruit, north of the border…..read on…..

But first, I want to let you know I will be at the Hudson House in Cold Spring, NY, again this weekend, August 19 and 20th.
Click this link to find out details:
http://lenoretroia.com/calendar.html
AND DON'T FORGET TO HELP ME WIN THE OPPORTUNITY TO BE ON THE CDBABY SAMPLER BY PURCHASING ANY CD THIS MONTH FOR ONLY $7.99!!!! Click this link to see how:
http://lenoretroia.com/home.html
Yes, the Yonkers man does grow bananas
By ERNIE GARCIA
elgarcia@lohud.com
THE JOURNAL NEWS (Original publication: August 15, 2006)
YONKERS, NY
No, it's not another sign of global warming. The small trees with the elephant-ear leaves in Frank Parisi's front yard really are bananas. In fact, the Japanese fiber bananas are more like house guests because his personal jungle spends the cold months in its own room inside Parisi's home on Grassy Sprain Road.
"It's become an obsession," Parisi, 56, a cash-control coordinator, said of his tropical plants, which include orchids, bromeliads and other epiphytes.
"I've had people — especially from the tropics — they'll be driving down the street. They'll stop, back up and they'll look because they are amazed there is a banana tree here," said Parisi, who also keeps banana trees in a 170-square-foot greenhouse in his back yard.
Despite their tropical origins, banana plants are not that hard to grow in the Northeast, said Marc Hachadourian, curator of glasshouse collections at the New York Botanical Garden. He said both the musa basjoo, or Japanese fiber banana, and the musella lasiocarpa, or yellow banana, can grow in New York if taken indoors for the winter or heavily mulched and wrapped in plastic sheets if left outdoors.
"(Bananas) love our summers. People will plant them in the ground and they can take off and sometimes double their size," Hachadourian said. "It's a really popular trend in gardening to use the tropical plants that have huge growth rates."
Parisi first became interested in banana trees almost 30 years ago while on vacation in Hawaii. His bananas, which are only about 1 to 2 inches long, are not edible.
Hachadourian said intrepid gardeners can plant edible bananas on a sunny windowsill from dwarf banana varieties that only reach 2 feet in height. Still, raising bananas for consumption isn't as effortless as a trip to the supermarket.
"Growing them is easy. Getting them to produce fruit is a bit of a challenge," Hachadourian said.
Going tropical

Some tropical plants can flourish in New York summers, provided they are brought indoors for the winter or carefully protected outdoors


• Thai Beauty Caladium: A large, red-leaf perennial with green and white veins throughout. Its bulbs must be dug up and brought indoors during the winter.

• Ricinus communis, or castor bean: An erect shrub with broad, deeply lobed green leaves that produce greenish-yellow flowers borne on spikes that turn into reddish-brown capsules covered with brown spikes.

• Agave geminiflora: A pin cushion agave that grows in a compact rosette producing hundreds of spines growing 3 feet tall and 3 feet wide. Cold damage at 25 degrees.

Source: www.stokestropicals.com

Lenore will be performing:
Saturday afternoon 3-7 PM, August 19th
Sunday afternoon 1:30-5:30 PM, August 20th
Hudson House - http://www.hudsonhouseinn.com 2 Main Street
Cold Spring, NY 10516
(845) 265-9355

Check out the article below about the manatee sighted in the Hudson River!!

And don't forget about my $7.99 CD sale going on this month!!! To order just click on this link:
http://www.lenoretroia.com/hostbaby/merge?stage=home
Now onto this news article!

Unusual Hudson River sighting: a manatee
By THE JOURNAL NEWS
FROM STAFF REPORTS

(Original publication: August 7, 2006)

NEW YORK (AP) — In the heat of summer, all sorts of tourists head north to cooler climes. This year, a manatee has joined the crowd, cruising past the nightclubs of Manhattan and continuing north to Westchester.

The massive animal has been spotted in the Hudson River at least three times in the last week — first off the Chelsea and Harlem sections of Manhattan, then to the north in Sleepy Hollow.

"It was gigantic," said Randy Shull, who said he spotted the unusual visitor yesterday afternoon while boating at Kingsland Point Park in Sleepy Hollow. "When we saw it surface, its back was just mammoth."

Last month, trackers saw the manatee as it swam north, first near Delaware, then Maryland, then New Jersey. By Saturday, it was seen in Manhattan.

Kim Durham, rescue program director for the Riverhead Foundation, a nonprofit group devoted to marine mammals, called it a "bona fide" sighting, but there isn't photographic proof.

It is unusual for one of the creatures — often associated with the warm waters of Florida — to travel so far north, although they have been reported along the shores of Long Island and even Rhode Island.

Manatees are an endangered marine mammal. Florida wildlife experts counted 3,116 in their annual survey in February.

John Vargo, the publisher of Boating on the Hudson magazine, said his alert about the sightings was met with disbelief by some boaters.

"Some were laughing about it, because it couldn't possibly be true," he said.

"I'm 70 years old, and I've been on the river my entire life," Vargo said. "I've seen dolphins and everything else, but never a manatee."

Can you believe that!!!!!!!
hugs,
Lenore

I want to thank the folks who have gotten my August CD sale off to a good start!! Again, all CD's are on sale this month for only $7.99!! So stock up for the holidays, or get the ones you don't have yet. The more I sell, the more I increase my chances of getting on the CD Baby Sampler which gets heard by thousands of people, maybe even you!!
To purchase click on this link: http://www.lenoretroia.com/hostbaby/merge?stage=home
Check this out--a manatee was seen swimming in the Hudson River!! I kid you not. I opened the paper this morning and low and behold there was a picture. Personally, I think it followed me up here from Key West..... I actually think its a good sign that the Hudson is a little cleaner.....

And speaking of the Hudson River, I had a great time playing on a wonderful cruise Friday night! Thanks to all of you who supported that fabulous event!!

I will be heading out to the mid west and then up to Toronto at the end of the month. Happy birthday to all Leo's and Virgo's......

I apologize to all my freinds for being away from Key West for so long. I promise I will be back, late October, early November (want to be there for the Meeting of the Minds). Can't wait to see everyone!!

I dug up a few old photos and put them in the photo gallery. I'll put up more as I find them...

That's is for now....
Stay in touch!!
And keep on sand dancing!
Hugs,
Lenore

Hi again folks!

This month I am running a special sale of all my CD's. That's right- all of them....every title!

For this month only, you can purchase any CD from this website for $7.99!!!!! That's right...only $7.99!!!

To purchase click on this link:
http://www.lenoretroia.com/hostbaby/merge?stage=home
Just think, you can stock up for birthdays and holidays!!!

By buying CD's this month, you can also help me to qualify for the special CD Baby compilation coming out in the fall. Who ever sells the most CD's this month will have a track selected by CD Baby to be included on their annual international speical edition CD compilation!!!

So it's a win win! You get a great deal on my CD's, and I have the opportunity to be included in a great recording project!!

Thanks to all of you in advance!!!

I hope you are managing to stay cool my freinds!.....it's been a very hot summer so far!!!

Still keeping an eye out for tropical storm Chris.....

hugs,
Lenore

Celebrate well and
enjoy the fireworks!!!!

hugs,
Lenore