An Abundant Life - Two Years And Growing!

This past Friday was the two year anniversary of YES Gallery. August 23 is also the day when I moved to New York City a number of years ago, and I chose that date for the Grand Opening of YES Gallery when I opened the gallery in 2022.

As I wrote recently, there has been so much going on that it's been difficult to schedule events or even to know when I'm going to be able to have a celebration at the gallery, but I saw a window of time around the opening date and I decided that I had to celebrate it because it's a beautiful blessing in my life to have the gallery, and it's in many ways a miracle that it opened at all and that it's still open. There have been so many wonderful things that have happened since the Grand Opening day, and wonderful things that began even before that day, and having a celebration was not only something that would bring some fun and joy, but it also is a reminder of how much I have to be grateful for.

I was able to set the date and make the invitation, and I had wonderful plans to do something special that night, but I wasn't quite sure what would actually happen until the day before when I sent the invitation to Jack who performs at the gallery sometimes with one of his bands and sometimes solo under the name of Visionary Module. He and I had spoken about some ideas he had for the date, but nothing had been decided, and I wasn't sure if he was available or not because I hadn't had a chance to follow up with him and make a plan. When he received the invitation he asked if I'd like him to play solo that evening, and I enthusiastically said YES! It's always such a pleasure to have him perform and the friends who join him to watch and listen and be a part of the celebration are always wonderful people.   

A few days before the anniversary, a rainbow appeared in the sky outside the gallery. When I first opened in 2022, something similar happened, and it felt so much like a beautiful reminder of the promises of God that encouraged me when I opened and encouraged me now. The day of the event was so beautiful, with temperatures and sunshine and light summer breezes that made me remember how lovely August days can be. As I created a video while Jack played, Jeremy Roche who has work in the gallery appeared to say hello. It's always such a blessing to see him and to have him arrive as I was creating the video of Jack and the gallery felt like perfect timing. One of the visitors had parked their turquoise bicycle right near the YES Gallery sign, and that seemed a perfectly lovely and fun touch too. There is so much joy at YES Gallery, and these wonderful people bring so many blessings that make the joy overflow.

A Beautiful Two Year Anniversary

At YES Gallery

408 6th Street

Hoboken, New Jersey

With Live Music By The Marvelous

Visionary Module

And Wonderful Guests

Including Jeremy Roche

And A Wonderful Turquoise Bike

Blessings,

Jannie Susan

  

An Abundant Life - A Walk In The Park

As I've written about in these pages before, I've been traveling back and forth to Massachusetts for a while now because of some business that is very important and part of my own life in a very deep and meaningful way. A few times I've written about the wonderful place I've been staying while there, The Ritz Carlton Boston which is a newer hotel, and also my own history with the first Ritz Carlton that was there that is now under new management as another hotel. My life history has so many parts of it that are part of Boston and Massachusetts, and I've written about that too, but today I want to share a little bit about the last trip I took and how a walk in the Public Gardens brought back so many memories all at once that I found myself feeling like I was walking back in time.

The times that I've been traveling to Boston before over this past year since last fall have been in weather that is either wintry or rainy or not the best weather for wandering, The other difficulty I've found in taking my usual walks is the timing of how I am traveling and staying and where I need to be when. I usually arrive in the afternoon by train, and the first time I traveled I needed to get my bearings, but after that trip I did find that I had a little bit of time. But the weather wasn't encouraging for walking, and it was so lovely to just stay indoors in such a wonderful environment that the Ritz Carlton and the staff provide that I didn't venture out except when I needed to leave the next morning and head to another train and get to another place, and then at the end of that day I headed straight back to New York. On my way from North Station to South Station, and sometimes if I had a little bit of time on my way from the Ritz Carlton to North Station, I'd look around and try to remember my times in years past in the places I once knew so well, but it's hard to take the time to reminisce when you're trying to figure out the best route to catch a train and you're on a schedule. 

When I traveled in late May, the weather was really beginning to be beautiful, and I needed to meet with someone in the afternoon for part of the business I've been traveling for, but then after that I decided that I'd try to take a walk in the Boston Commons nearby. It's right near the hotel, and I walk through it or around it often to get somewhere else when I'm on these trips, but I decided that afternoon to enjoy the sunset time of golden hour before going inside for dinner and the rest of the evening. That short walk made me want to take another longer one the next time, and so when I was traveling more recently, even though I had less time this time around, I decided to take a longer walk during the longer days of sunlight we have now. 

I began in the Commons, and then walked through from one end to the other, allowing my feet to follow the leading of where I felt I needed to go to rather than letting my head try to figure it out, and I found myself crossing a street and walking into the Public Garden where the Swan Boats are. As I've written in these pages before, I love the E.B. White story "The Trumpet Of The Swan" and have loved it since I was a very young child, and though I knew the Swan Boats were near to the Ritz Carlton, I hadn't realized exactly where they were in relation to the Hotel until I walked in the Public Garden and saw them. Memory is such a strange thing, because all at once when I walked through the gate of the park so many feelings came rushing back, all very beautiful and special. I remembered having a picnic with my first love one afternoon and some of the beautiful walks we'd taken together there, and I remembered being a little girl and asking if I could have my birthday have part of it be taking a ride on a Swan Boat and how excited and happy I was, and other times after that when I'd had so much fun and joy on one of those wonderful boats.

As I walked through the Public Garden I saw the willow trees and the beautiful plantings, the bridge and foot path, and all of the people out enjoying the beautiful afternoon. I remembered things in the way that memory can be, that brought back my own life to me in a way that only deep memories can. Being in that Garden and seeing the Swan Boats and knowing that though all this time has gone by I can still walk there and even take a ride on a Swan Boat if I want to is something so precious and meaningful. There are places that we have in our hearts that we sometimes wish we could go back to, and knowing that sometimes we can visit and see and feel the person we once were is a way to bring us in a fuller circle to who we are now.

The Swan Boats

In The Boston Public Garden

Blessings,

Jannie Susan

An Abundant Life - By The Beautiful Sea

 Last week I had the opportunity to attend the summer season for Shoppe Object in New York City. When Shoppe Object first started a number of years ago, I attended it then, and because it's such a wonderful experience, whenever I am available and have time to go I try my best to make some time to do it. The organizers host the event twice a year, and in the summer season they also have a special New York Harbor Cruise, and that is an extra special blessing on top of the wonderful blessing of the event itself.

Shoppe Object is a Trade Show for creative entrepreneurs from around the world, and there are so many wonderful designs and creations there that it would be easy to spend every day of the three day adventure, immersing myself in exploring the beautiful designs and objects and meeting the wonderful creative people who have made them. Because my schedule with YES Gallery and my other projects is such a busy one, although I'd like to attend for all the days and all the hours possible, I have to find time between everything else I'm doing and find some time to be away from YES Gallery. It's definitely worth the stretch that it puts on my schedule, because it's so inspiring, and I always meet people who are not only wonderful people who make wonderful things, but I also find really wonderful items to bring to the curated selection at YES Gallery. Last year I was able to bring in some really beautiful sketching and writing notebooks from Gry Mttr, and I began conversations with some other wonderful people about bringing in their wonderful designs and also the possibility of being able to add some wonderful beverages. This year among other exciting creations I found some exquisite candles made with fresh flowers and herbs, and a coffee creator who I had not known about who also has chocolate! There were also some beautiful three dimensional fold out gift cards that were so beautiful and so fun that they gifts in and of themselves that were reminding me of childhood. Gorgeous pencils from a company that I had always liked were there as well and I found out they also have custom orders and other products that can be enjoyed by Artists and Writers and Gallery Owners like me as well as the people who visit YES Gallery. 

This year Shoppe Object was in two locations, on Broome Street and also on the Pier where they have been in the past. After visiting both locations I made my way to the Seaport for the Harbor Cruise, and it was such a truly lovely and inspiring evening after a lovely and inspiring day. Such a beautiful blessing and I'm so grateful to Shoppe Object for all they do to create this wonderful event and make it so special and so beautiful!

On New York Harbor

With So Much Gratitude

To Shoppe Object

Blessings,

Jannie Susan

An Abundant Life - The Art Of Music

About two weeks ago or a little more I was at my local supermarket and I saw someone I know who I hadn't seen in a while. Her name is Karina and she is a wonderful singer and performer, and she told me that she was now the Entertainment Director at Saku, a restaurant in Hoboken that I have written about in these pages before and that I always enjoy visiting. She said she would be at Saku that coming Sunday, and so I put the date with her name in my calendar and made a point to be there.

For some reason in our conversation at the supermarket I hadn't realized she'd be singing on that Sunday, perhaps because we were talking quickly as we were both at the end of the day, trying to find our food items and get on our way home. Whatever the reason I had just thought that she'd be there and someone else would be performing, but when I walked in and asked if she was there, the very nice young man at the front entrance told me she was singing in the next room. I was very happy to hear that because I always enjoy her performances, and that night she was singing with Dave, a singer and guitarist who I've heard at other performances of hers in the past when they were with a band. They're both so enjoyable to listen to and they sing and perform so well together that it was truly a fun and entertaining evening and such a beautiful blessing to be in that lovely restaurant that always has such wonderful service, enjoying great food and mixology and listening to wonderful live music.

The following Wednesday evening Karina told me that she and Dave would be at Farside Tavern in Hoboken for Open Mic night. I'd never been there but had always heard about it and seen it as I walked by, and so I added that to my calendar and planned to be there. That evening also was a wonderful one, and in addition to the cover songs that Karina and Dave perform as part of their set list, they sang some originals that they'd written.

The name they've given themselves is "Good Vibes Only" and I have to say it suits them. There's joy and fun and beauty in what they're bringing to the public in these venues with their music and their performance and presence, and it's an art form that for me is always so meaningful. Music and performance, singing and playing wonderful guitar is something that goes back in my own life for as long as I can remember. My brother was a singer and guitarist who played in bands but also sang and played all the time at home, I have been singing and playing something, sometimes guitar though not as well as Dave does and sometimes just singing with other bands and performers, my whole life. Listening to music, going to concerts, singing, making music and performing are such important parts of my consciousness and my world, and having the opportunity to enjoy the music and performance, the voices and guitar playing of Karina and Dave is really such a wonderful experience and only good vibes.

 

Karina and Dave

Good Vibes Only

At Saku

936 Park Avenue

Hoboken, New Jersey

https://sakuhoboken.com

https://www.instagram.com/goodvibesonlynj

And At Farside Tavern

531 Washington Street

Hoboken, New Jersey

https://www.farsidetavern.com/

Blessings,

Jannie Susan

An Abundant Life - Community Celebrations And Community Building

This past week the Feast of St. Ann's began in Hoboken, and on Friday, the day of the procession, I was at YES Gallery. I had heard from the marvelous Monte San Giacomo members only club around the corner that they would be offering roast beef sandwiches with hot peppers for anyone who wanted to join them that day, and I made sure to stop by because it's such a special place and a special time and roast beef with hot peppers is a favorite. 

I'd just finished my sandwich at YES Gallery when I heard the faint sound of drums and a marching band, and so I began taking a video thinking that the procession would go by the gallery. They went around the corner to the left first and then came around again on the street below, so I didn't see them but I could hear them beautifully. After taking some time in front of the club, the procession continued on to the church and the festival area. There was something that was so joyful about seeing and hearing this happening on a beautiful summer day, and I found myself feeling so happy and energized with the feeling of community that this event brought together.

 On Saturday afternoon I received a message from one of my dearest friends, the Reverend Maria Isabel Santiviago, who is now retired, that she would be one of the women honored in a celebration at St. Ann's Church For The Deaf in Manhattan for Women In Ministry. St. Ann's Church For the Deaf is the church where we met in 2009 when I first began teaching Nutrition and Health Classes with Cornell University Cooperative Extension in New York City as part of a program called "Making The Most Of Food" which was the expanded version of a pilot program I'd participated in the year before named "Kitchens Of Faith." She asked me if I'd be willing to teach to the Deaf Community if she translated and I said yes, and then we went on from there to collaborate together and teach several workshop series. It was the first time that anyone from Cooperative Extension in New York had taught that community in the 40 year history of the nutrition and health program, and we were highlighted at of of the conferences and in a newsletter for the work that we did together. It was so much work but it was made so beautiful by the people involved and this beautiful Reverend, Maria.

When I heard that she would be honored at the celebration I made plans to go because I'd been wanting to see her for a while and this would be a beautiful way to share time together. I'll be writing more about that in future posts, but for now, I'll post about the St. Ann's Festival in Hoboken with some photographs and videos from the lovely people and celebrations that happened during those days when I was blessed to be at YES Gallery and enjoy the community celebration and hospitality.

A Wonderful Roast Beef Sandwich

With Hot Peppers

Enjoyed At YES Gallery

With So Much Gratitude

To The Monte San Giacomo Club Members

For Their Community Hospitality

The Faint Sound Of Drums

And A Marching Band

Rounding The Corner

With The Full Procession

Continuing On Their Way

To The Church And Festival

The Feast Of St. Ann's Festival

Hoboken, New Jersey

Blessings,

Jannie Susan

An Abundant Life - A Musical YES

Last week I wrote about the marvelous Visionary Module and how he helped encourage me to plan an event at YES Gallery on July 14. It really was such a beautiful afternoon and evening, and I'm so grateful that he followed up with me to plan this event that I called the Summer Celebration.

As always, his music and performance made the afternoon such a beautiful and multi-faceted and enjoyable one, as he played guitar and sang b both covers and new material he's written. It's such a beautiful blessing to have such a wonderful musician, singer and songwriter perform at YES Gallery and I have so much gratitude to Jack for helping to make the evenings such a very beautiful and very special one! 

With Jack

After His Performance

At YES Gallery

408 6th Street

Hoboken, New Jersey

With So Much Gratitude

To Jack For A Stellar Performance

And To Fred Watson For The 

Photographs And Collage

He Created 

Blessings,

Jannie Susan

An Abundant Life - Summer Celebration

A few weeks ago I saw one of the musicians who has performed at YES Gallery in the past at an art opening event for at the Hoboken Historical Museum for Jeremy Roche, one of the Artists who has work at YES Gallery. His name is Jack, but he performs under the name of Visionary Module, and he had not only done some wonderful solo performances at events, but he also performed with different variations of his always stellar band at different times and put together a truly wonderful afternoon and evening of four different bands and performers last fall during the Hoboken Artists Studio Tour. He'd been too busy since then to perform, but when I saw him at the Hoboken Historical Museum he said that he felt like he would have some time in the next few months and that he had some new music he wanted to try out. I've been so busy myself with so many things, and sometimes things that come up unexpectedly or that I have very little planning time for, that the last two months I haven't had a chance to schedule an event. When I first opened the gallery I planned to have regular events, and ever since then I've had something every month, but with everything else going on I wasn't sure when I'd have a chance to schedule anything again until Jack told me he had some new music he wanted to try out and I responded that if he had time I'd make time to schedule an event.

When I next heard from Jack he was following up from our conversation, and he said he was available to do something in July and that he'd been practicing his new music. That was just the kind of message that I needed to get me looking at my calendar, and I sent a message back that I thought Sunday, July 14 in the late afternoon and early evening could work if that worked for him. He responded that it did and so the date was set.

July 14 is my Mother's birthday, and it is the anniversary of the day when I said my definitive YES to the person whose space is where the gallery is, to say that yes, I would do this thing called a gallery and take a plunge and a chance that I didn't know what would happen with. It feels so good and so right to be celebrating on that day, and to have Jack playing his new music in the space is a gift. I'll have more photographs and videos after Sunday, but for now, here's a wonderful photograph by Jeremy Roche that I took a screen shot of when it was part of his Artist Talk at the Hoboken Historical Museum, from the afternoon that Jack put together last fall during the Hoboken Artists Studio Tour, and I'm also including the invitation that has a photograph of my own of some gorgeous flowers, roses from a neighbor's front area that they let me cut at the height of their blooming. YES Gallery is always so full of beautiful people sharing their beautiful gifts, and these photographs show a taste of all the goodness and blessings that are shared.

YES Gallery

Summer Celebration Invitation

YES Gallery

During The Hoboken Artists Studio Tour

Photograph By Jeremy Roche

Screenshot From His Artist Talk

Online At The Hoboken Historical Museum

Blessings,

Jannie Susan