American Queen Steamboat to Make State in River City

After a four-year hiatus, the American Queen returns to the waterways in 2012 with two visits to Decatur for on-shore excursions planned for its inaugural season. The American Queen will dock at Rhodes Ferry Park on August 18 from 9am-5pm and again on August 22, 2012 from 8am-4pm. The city of Decatur is included in two tours both featuring Civil War attractions.  

The ten-day Civil War-theme cruise en route from Vicksburg to Chattanooga will arrive at Rhodes Ferry Park on August 18^th at 10 a.m. and will depart at 5 p.m. following the guided tour. Another voyage from Chattanooga arrives in Decatur on August 22 at 8 a.m. and will depart at 4 p.m. for Vicksburg. The guided tour will take passengers to the Carnegie Visual Arts Center, Old State Bank, Blue and Gray Museum, and St. John’s Episcopal Church.

Originally built in 1995 by the Delta Queen Steamboat Company, the American Queen now operates under Memphis-based Great American Steamboat Company. According to the Great American Steamboat Company, the American Queen is the largest steamboat ever built at 418 feet in length and accommodates 436 guests. It is the only authentic overnight paddlewheel steamboat in America, and features exciting shore excursions, cuisine of famed American chef Regina Charboneau, nightly professional showboat-style entertainment, daily lectures by the riverlorian, an onboard river historian, and enthralling calliope concerts.

For more information on the American Queen, visit www.greatamericansteamboatcompany.com and click on “The American Queen”. For more information on the upcoming visit to the city of Decatur, contact Tami Reist, president of the Decatur/Morgan County Convention and Visitors Bureau at 256.350.2028.

The Decatur-Morgan County Convention & Visitors Bureau (DMCCVB)
The Decatur-Morgan County Convention & Visitors Bureau is a not-for-profit organization promoting tourism and economic growth in Morgan County. For information on special events and attractions in Decatur, contact the DMCCVB at 800.524.6181 or 256.350.2028; or visit its website at www.decaturcvb.org. 

Dan Hocter Trio and Kacy Fox and the 2-Timers

 Put music on your menu each Monday by attending the Paul Stroud Concerts by the River series in Decatur, Alabama!  Sponsored by the City of Decatur Parks and Recreation Department, the concert series features a variety of musical styles that are appealing to all ages and provides wonderful family-oriented entertainment.  The

August 13, 2012  Concerts by the River will feature music from the Dan Hocter Trio at 6:00 followed by Kacy Fox and the 2-Timers at 7:00.   The free concert series is held each Monday from May through August and all performances are held at Rhodes Ferry Park. Concerts begin at 6:00 PM and usually conclude by 8:00 PM.  For updated schedule information, please call 256-341-4818 or visit http://www.decaturparks.com/account.php?accountid=70.

 In case of inclement weather, cancellation decisions will be announced after 4:00 PM with information posted on the DPR website and the DPR and  Decatur, Alabama FACEBOOK pages.

The Dan Hocter Trio bill themselves as a “low volume, high quality” group that performs light jazz and easy listening tunes. Band members include Dan Hocter (vocals and keyboards), Terry Bartlett (drums, percussion) and Philip Hughes (vocals and bass.) Kacy Fox and the 2-Timers present a show filled with country and southern rock favorites.  The band got their “2 Timer” name because its members play in several different bands.  Kacy Fox is the lead vocalist for the group and performs with fellow musicians Kira Hughes (drums and back-up vocals), Dan Hocter (keyboard and back-up vocals), Mike Faulkner (guitar and back-up vocals) and Philip Hughes (bass and back-up vocals.)                                                                                                                                        

It's Tailgate Time in Downtown Decatur

Decatur, Ala. – As summer winds down and children look to returning to the classroom, this time of year also means football season is gearing up. As any southerner knows, football, tailgating, and barbeque all go hand in hand, and to celebrate, 3^rd Friday Downtown Decatur announces “Tailgate Time” for its theme for this month’s celebration set for August 17th. In addition, 3^rd Friday also will help kick off Alabama Restaurant Week, a 10-day promotion inviting diners to experience the flavors of locally-owned restaurants.

The festivities begin at 4:30 p.m. Bank Street Green will be offering Angus burgers, all beef hot dogs, pork, beer, ice cream, soft drinks, and spirits and from 5 to 6 p.m. Jimmy Dawes from the award winning BBQ team “Lil’ Bit ‘O Smoke” will be demonstrating techniques for backyard barbecuing and providing free samples. Auburn fans are encouraged to bring their camera to get a picture with Aubie who will be here all the way from Auburn University from 5 to 5:45 p.m.

Live music gears up at 5 p.m. with performances by Kim Stone (at Downtown Dawgs on Moulton Street), “Spirit of 76” (in the gazebo), Sweet Tones Dulcimer Ensemble from the Morgan County Dulcimer Association (in the 600 block of Bank Street), Jordan Landers (at Simp McGhee’s), and AB Boys (on Second Avenue). The Main Stage located in the 800 block of Bank Street will feature Tina Turner Impersonator Dorothy Cole. Her hip shaking music is slated to begin at 7 p.m.

All along Bank Street, antique and classic cars will be on display, Papa Murphy’s Pizza will be providing free samples of its pizza, and Babette Shedd will be face painting (for a nominal fee). Volkswagens will fill Second Avenue and a variety of arts and crafts will be on hand along both streets. Blocks of both Bank Street and Second Avenue will be closed with the cross streets open for traffic.  

Store specials, giveaways, and discounts will be offered at selected retailers and restaurants and many of the merchants will remain open until 8 p.m. Participating streets in 3^rd Fridays include 2^nd Avenue, Bank, Market, Moulton, Grant, and Johnston streets. Admission is free.

Alabama Restaurant Week begins August 17^th with Simp McGhee’s, Vittone’s Pizzeria Ristorante, Café 113, The Casual Gourmet, Timbuck2, and Albany Bistro participating. These restaurants will be offering special fixed-priced meals for lunch and/or dinner from Friday until Sunday, August 26^th. For each restaurants’ menu and pricing, visit www.alabamarestaurantweek.com and click on Morgan County.

For more information on 3^rd Friday, call Ashley Ashwander at 256.355.8993.

Free Slices of Watermelon at the Decatur Morgan County Farmer's Market August 11th

Decatur, Ala. – Free slices of America’s favorite summertime fruit will be available August 11^th when the annual Watermelon Day returns to the Decatur/Morgan County Farmer’s Market. From 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. (or until supplies last), visitors will have the opportunity to sample many different varieties of locally grown watermelon including seedless, yellow, and red.  

In addition, Pepsi-Cola will be on hand providing free soft drinks and there will be an assortment of home-baked goods, flowering plants, and other locally grown fruit and vegetables available for purchase throughout the day.

The Decatur/Morgan County Farmer’s Market, located at 211 First Avenue SE in Decatur, is open Monday through Saturday, 6 a.m. to 5 p.m. now through November 10, 2012.

For more information on Watermelon Day, call Farmer’s Market Manager Burl Slaton at 256.476.5595.

Point Mallard's Model Search tops 1100 entries...not over yet!

Point Mallard marketing department seeks kids for 2013 advertising campaign – ends August 15, 2012.

Decatur, Alabama – Since 2006, Point Mallard Park in Decatur, Alabama, has launched its own model search as part of their annual advertising campaign.  Each year park’s marketing director features “real” local kids for the next season’s ads including billboards, commercials, print ads and more.  Already, over one thousand one hundred participants have entered and the contest isn’t over yet.

Each year, boys and girls, ages 6 months to 13 years are needed to be photographed and filmed for advertising including television commercials, print advertising, internet ads and billboards.  Models are also featured in the Point Mallard’s upcoming Souvenir Calendar featuring a variety of venues and activities found within the 750+ acre park.

“Finding cute kids is not a difficult task at all,” said marketing director Julianne Lowman. “It’s narrowing it down to the final face that gets to be a problem!”  She says narrowing it down to the top seventy-five semi-finalists can get tough.  Lowman says at that point it simply comes down to meeting the child, and photographing them in a fun environment.  “It’s then we really get to see the personality of the child.”  She is looking for wholesome, natural faces. 

Lowman has selected amateur models the previous four years and loves working with the “untrained” as much if not more so than agency models.  “The local kids seem to be very natural, un-coached, photogenic and take excellent direction. Who could ask for anything more?” she said. “Plus they have a wonderful connection to Point Mallard.  It’s their park, and in many instances, their parents have grown up enjoying Point Mallard’s many attractions as well!”

Parents can upload their children’s photographs free of charge to enter the contest online. Point Mallard will select 25 potential winners for onsite interviews based on photogenic ability.   In addition, 50 more kids will be selected by the number of “votes” received to be auditioned for the final selection.  As a fundraiser for the park, each vote costs $1.  Family and friends vote online as often as they wish to select their favorite faces.  A total of 75 kids will be auditioned and photographed for a chance to win the grand prize – their face on a billboard and commercial for the 2013 Point Mallard Park advertising campaign.

Each of these 75 semi-finalists will receive a 2013 season pass to the water park, a $99 value. The Grand Prize winner receives a season pass for a family of four for the 2013 season. 

Twelve finalists will be selected to be photographed and featured in the 2013 Point Mallard calendar, and one grand prize winner will be filmed in a television commercial and be featured on billboards for the park! Other kids will also be kept in a “pool” of faces to be used at other times throughout the year.

This is a rare opportunity for local kids to be cast in television commercials, print ads, billboards and calendar featuring all venues within the park.  The 2013 Point Mallard wall calendar also includes discount coupons valued at over $250 and will be available in November of this year for $20 each.  In addition to the other prizes, each child featured in the calendar receives one free.

Point Mallard officials believe with the addition of a new lazy river, double drop speed slides and other improvements, the 2013 season will provide the models even more of an opportunity to be seen in publicity.

The contest ends August 15, 2012.  Finalists will be announced on the park’s website, Facebook and twitter pages.

Former Point Mallard model search winners are ineligible to enter.

TO ENTER: VISIT www.POINTMALLARDMODELSEARCH.com

Dolphin Tale- Movie in the Park

Have a splashing good time at Point Mallard Park on Saturday, August 11, 2012 and enjoy the movie Dolphin Tale.   (PG, 113 minutes)  The movie stars Morgan Freeman, Harry Connick, Jr., Ashley Judd and Kris Kristofferson in a story based on true events.  Winter is a young dolphin who loses her tail in a crab trap but is befriended by Sawyer, an introverted 11 year old who meets the dolphin at a marine rehabilitation center.  Sawyer rallies friends and family to save the dolphin by convincing a pioneering doctor to build a prosthetic tale that restores the dolphin’s ability to swim. The movie will be shown on at the Spirit of America Stage. 

All movies begin “at dark” and guests should bring blankets, lawn chairs and snacks.  The free “Movie in the Park” series is sponsored by the City of Decatur Parks and Recreation Department.  Efforts are made to select family-friendly or classic movies for audience viewing, however, parents are encouraged to review movies in advance for appropriateness to age, content and interests.  Please leave pets at home as they are not permitted on the soccer field.

Additional information on the movie can be obtained by contacting 256-341-4818 or visiting http://www.decaturparks.com/account.php?accountid=71.  In case of inclement weather, cancellation information will be posted on the DPR website and on the DPR  and Decatur, Alabama Facebook pages.

Michael Quarry and Ben Parker Project

Make Monday your favorite night of the week by attending the Paul Stroud Concerts by the River series in Decatur, Alabama!  Sponsored by the City of Decatur Parks and Recreation Department, the concert series features a variety of musical styles that are appealing to all ages and provides wonderful family-oriented entertainment.  The

August 6, 2012  Concerts by the River will feature music that celebrates the many different elements embraced in the American musical tradition.  Vocalist Michael Quarry will perform at 6:00 and will be followed by the Ben Parker Project at 7:00.  All concerts are open to the public and are held at Rhodes Ferry Park. Concerts begin at 6:00 PM and usually conclude by 8:00 PM.  For updated schedule information, please call 256-341-4818 or visit http://www.decaturparks.com/account.php?accountid=70.

 In case of inclement weather, cancellation decisions will be announced after 4:00 PM with information posted on the DPR website and the DPR and  Decatur, Alabama FACEBOOK pages.

Vocalist Michael Quarry has been influenced by a wide array of musical genres including country, pop, oldies, jazz, contemporary Christian, gospel and rock.  He will share his love of music with the audience by performing a range of songs from artists as varied as Mercy Me, Eric Clapton, the Temptations, Garth  Brooks, Chris Tomlin and Shenandoah.  Born in Fortaleza, Brazil, Michael Quarry is truly “from the south.”  He was adopted from Brazil as an infant and was raised in Decatur, Alabama.   He has been the Associate Pastor and Minister of Music of South Chapel Hill Baptist Church for seven  years.  He is married to Dede Parker Quarry and they have two children.

The Ben Parker Project is a country band with diverse roots running through many different genres of music. Their sound is anchored by 14 year old Ben Parker, who has been called a guitar prodigy. The rest of the band brings their musicianship and vocal diversity to complete the sound. Their shows feature high energy performances with primarily country selections from Hank Williams to Keith Urban, but you will also hear an occasional blues, classic rock, or gospel tune due to the influence of their musical heritage. The show provides something for every member of the family to enjoy!  Band members include Ben Parker (lead guitar, vocals); Zach Lowery (acoustic guitar, vocals); Ryan Gilley (drums); Jacob Walker (keyboard and vocals); Kendra Parker (vocals); and Gaylon Parker (bass guitar, vocals.)  Learn more about the band on their Facebook page or by visiting www.benparkerproject.com.