marva's kitchen
Marva's Kitchen is my new venture. I make Jams, Jellies, Chutneys, Cakes, and other lovely foods which I sell at local venues and from my web site, http://www.marvaskitchen.co.uk. Our Brecon Beacons property used to be the site of an old orchard. We still have some of the original apple, damson, sloe berry, and pear trees in our garden, plus gooseberries, currants, raspberries, elderflower, and strawberries. During the summer and autumn seasons, I use the fruit from the garden in the Jams and Jellies, and also make other products using fresh produce where possible from local growers and sellers. Please feel free to visit our Marva's Kitchen website to see what is currently on offer.
Hay-on-Wye
Most recently Hay-on-Wye has been in the news as a new twin town of the once fabled Timbuktu, Mali through the tireless efforts of Anne Brichto (who spearheaded the twinning initiative), Michael Eccles (who also helped revive David Eveleigh's Hay on Fire Festival through the Department of Enjoyment), and many many others. But internationally renown seems to have originated with Hay on Wye as home to the original concept of the Book Town, made famous by Richard Booth. It is also the place where the Hay Festival began as a literary event. Hay-on-Wye and the many villages in this area has some of the warmest and friendliest residents in the world. This rural community includes a diverse mix of artisans, musicians, writers, painters, sculptors, natural health practitioners, organic food producers, among others. For more information about Hay and surroundings, please visit the Hay website or contact the Hay Tourism Office.
The Globe
The Globe is a new venue in Hay. It launched in the summer of 2008 and has continued to grow from strength to strength. The Globe is like a minature version of the Barbican meets the ICA meets charming cafe culture, set in a venerable chapel building. The events programmed at the Globe range from Film, Live music, Comedy, and DJ nights for grownups to weekly Hip Hop dance classes for children. For more information about the Globe, please visit their website.
Hay Festival
Since moving here about 5 years ago, I would say that Hay has maintained it's presence as a cultural mecca due to the work of several people in the town. Definitely through the work of Richard Booth when he wove his marketing magic as the King of Hay, making Hay-on-Wye the leading book town in the world. My understanding is that he was one of the original crew behind the Hay Festival.
But, Peter Florence has turned Hay Festival into a model of cultural significance around the globe, with similar events happening in other centres. Locally Hay Festival is situated now just outside Hay. The move accomodates the visitors and has provided an opportunity for other types of cultural activities to take place in Hay itself, with shuttles running for the duration of Hay Festival between stops in and around Hay and the Hay Festival site. For details about current Hay Festival activities and the other global Hay Festival related events, please see the Hay Festival website.
Baskerville Hall Hotel
The local cultural landscape includes Clyro, which is home to Baskerville Hall Hotel, a wonderful performance space for festivals and other types of gatherings. This is the original site of the Baskerville Hall which is the setting of Sherlock Holmes and Hounds of the Baskervilles.
The Baskerville Hall Hotel staff are friendly and courteous. For more information about activities, please visit the Baskerville Hall Hotel website.
Glasbury Arts
Just down the road from Hay, off the road to Brecon, you will find a wide range of quality events produced by Glasbury Arts.
The Glasbury Arts events range from choral performances to stellar theatrical productions. For more information, please see the Glasbury Arts website.
Llanigon
Closer to Hay, about 15 minutes walking from the Hay Festival site, is Llanigon - a border village which is home to one of the oldest churches in the UK. There are frequent secular and religious events presented in the church year round. Also the village hall is home to various theatre, music and other community events.
Brecon Jazz
The town of Brecon is about 30 minutes drive from where we are. The event has recently been given a new lease on life, supported by the Arts Council of Wales and run by Hay Festival under the leadership of Peter Florence. Brecon is a lovely town, home to a gorgeous cathedral and a great performance venue on the canal, Theatr Brycheiniog.
From the Friends of Brecon Jazz news section, plans include: South African piano legend Abdullah Ibrahim, Cameroonian saxophonist Manu Dibango and the Tunisian oud master Anouar Brahem will headline the 2009 Brecon Jazz Festival from August 7 to 9. Festival favourite Courtney Pine will also return to perform his new album inspired by Sidney Bechet, Tradition in Transition. For more info you can join the mailing list at Brecon Jazz website.
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