Cajun Spotlight 

Cajun and Zydeco Music and Dance in the Upper Midwest 
 December 2000 

LOCAL CAJUN/ZYDECO EVENTS

  1. 1) The New Riverside Ramblers play for three dances in December. They are at the Cedar Cultural Centre on Saturday the 9th, at the Half Time Rec on Sunday the 17th and at Tapestry Folkdance Center on Saturday the 30th.
  2. 2) Also playing for the Sunday night dances at the Half Time Rec in December are JJ's Zydeco Paydirt on December 3 and The Cajun Hot Soles on Sunday the 10th. There will be no dance at the Half Time Rec on December 24 and December 31.

DANCE LESSONS 

Maurine McCort's popular zydeco lessons continue in December with Zydeco 3 (Rockin' the Rhythm) on December 2, 9 and 16. Lessons are on Saturdays from 4:30 to 6 pm and take place at the Oddfellows Hall at Raymond and Hampden in Saint Paul. Call her at (651) 488-6269 for information and to confirm dates and times. Look for Cajun dance lessons in early 2001 and then a zydeco series.
 

FOLKLORE VILLAGE CAJUN WEEKEND

It looks like the Cajun Weekend at Folklore Village Farm will be March 16-18. The staff this year will include Edward and Danny Poullard; others will be announced soon. We will provide details as they become available.
 

MARDI GRAS AT THE CEDAR

Mark your calendars now for the annual Mardi Gras Celebration. It is set for Saturday, February 24th at the Cedar Cultural Centre. Playing will be The Bone Tones, The New Riverside Ramblers and another band to be named soon.
 

CAJUN JAMS AT HOMESTEAD CONTINUE

Just a reminder to all musicians that the Cajun Jam at Homestead Pickin' Parlor is still going strong. It is held the second Wednesday from 7 to 9 pm Homestead Pickin' Parlor is at 6625 Penn Avenue S. For information call (651) 647-6063.
 

FROM THE MINNESOTA CAJUN AND ZYDECO MUSIC AND DANCE ASSOCIATION

The membership appreciation party held in November was a great success! Everyone loved the way the Polish American Hall combined a cozy feel with plenty of room to dance. 
Next up for the Krewe is a dance party with live music by the Swamp Sextet. It will be January 13 at the Oddfellows Hall in Saint Paul. There may be another dance in January also; stay tuned. Complete details in the next issue.
The Krewe is very excited about the Cajun Dinner & Dance Cruise with The Bone Tones scheduled for Saturday, June 16th. Cruise along the Saint Croix, enjoy a buffet style dinner and a cash bar and dance to The Bone Tones. Space is limited and Krewe members can reserve a spot until February 1st. After that it is open to the general public. Cost is just $30. People have already been signing up so Krewe members should act today. To get your spot call Carroll Franco at (651) 699-0376 or email her at cafzydeco@yahoo.com.
 

UPCOMING CAJUN AND ZYDECO EVENTS

  • December 03 - JJ's Zydeco Paydirt : HALF TIME REC, ST. PAUL
  • December 09 - The New Riverside Ramblers : CEDAR CULTURAL CENTRE, MINNEAPOLIS 
  • December 10 - The Cajun Hot Soles : HALF TIME REC, ST. PAUL
  • December 13 - Cajun Jam : HOMESTEAD PICKIN' PARLOR, RICHFIELD, MN (7-9 PM)
  • December 17 - The New Riverside Ramblers : HALF TIME REC, ST. PAUL
  • December 30 - The New Riverside Ramblers : TAPESTRY FOLKDANCE CENTER, MINNEAPOLIS
  • December 30,31 - C. J. Chenier & the Red Hot Louisiana Band : FITZGERALD'S, CHICAGO
  • December 31 - Geno Delafose & French Rockin' Boogie : OLD TOWN SCHOOL/FOLK MUSIC, CHICAGO
  • December 31 - The Midway Ramblers : FIRSTNIGHT CELEBRATION, EVANSTON, IL
  • January 10 - Cajun Jam : HOMESTEAD PICKIN' PARLOR, RICHFIELD, MN (7-9 PM)
  • January 12 - Beausoleil : UNIVERSITY OF NORTHERN IOWA, CEDAR FALLS, IA
  • February 03 - The Cajun Hot Soles : CATHOLIC CHARITIES DANCE, ST. CLOUD, MN
  • February 14 - Cajun Jam : HOMESTEAD PICKIN' PARLOR, RICHFIELD, MN (7-9 PM)
  • February 17 - Beausoleil : A PRAIRIE HOME COMPANION, ST. PAUL, MN
  • February 24 - Mardi Gras Party w/ The Bone Tones, more : CEDAR CULTURAL CENTRE
  • March 14 - Cajun Jam : HOMESTEAD PICKIN' PARLOR, RICHFIELD, MN (7-9 PM)
  • April 11 - Cajun Jam : HOMESTEAD PICKIN' PARLOR, RICHFIELD, MN (7-9 PM)
  • June 16 - Cajun Dinner & Dance Cruise w/ The Bone Tones : ON THE ST. CROIX, CALL FOR DETAILS


NOTE: Please call to confirm events more than six weeks from first item on calendar. 
 
 

PIE IN THE SKY...

Last year the staff of NOTES & STEPS decided to have a potluck Thanksgiving dinner at the office shortly before the real thing. It turned out quite well, although several folks brought in sweet potatoes and there was more cans of cranberry sauce than we knew what to do with. The big problem was that no one bought any desserts. We had a fine meal but for dessert were stuck with what the nearby convenience store had to offer (Twinkies anyone?). At this year's potluck, unfortunately, everyone had learned the lesson from last year too well - everyone contributed a pie! No turkey, no stuffing, no mashed potatoes...jut pies. Next year will will have some sort of sign up sheet beforehand, but in the meantime, we have our office refrigerator full of leftover pie. We also have a great quiz theme. Can you match the title with the performer?
 
01) CHERRY PIE a) Jay & the Techniques
02) CUSTARD PIE b) Bob Dylan
03) AMERICAN PIE c) Tommy Armstrong
04) HONEY PIE d) Skip & Flip
05) COUNTRY PIE e) Led Zeppelin
06) APPLES, PEACHES, PUMPKIN PIE f) The Beatles
07) HEDGEHOG PIE g) Paul McCartney
08) FLAMING PIE h) Don McClean

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NOTES & STEPS/CAJUN SPOTLIGHT is an independent newsletter about Cajun, zydeco and other traditional music & dance events and news in the upper Midwest and beyond. A one year subscription is $10.00. E-mail: Notessteps@aol.com or NOTES & STEPS/CAJUN SPOTLIGHT, John Tallaksen, P. O. Box 582192, Minneapolis, MN 55458-2192