Postcards from the tour: Wedding bells

Greetings from Colorado

Unusual things happen on the road. For example, Tuesday (yes, April Fool’s Day) I married John Weiss. Well, no, he married Delia, but I was the officiator of their wedding in Colorado Springs. And that’s no joke.

John is the founder and publisher of the Colorado Springs Independent, a spunky alternative news weekly that has been such a force for progressive change in this former right-wing bastion. The Independent hosted an afternoon book event at Colorado College drawing more than 250 people. We finished the book signing at 5:30pm, then we raced to John & Delia’s home for the 6:30pm ceremony held outdoors — outdoors, for God’s sake! — at the foot of Pike’s Peak in subfreezing cold. It was a wonderful wedding. Some 80 family members and friends sat swathed in blankets. One of John & Delia’s young sons (theirs was a long and complicated courtship) played “Here Comes the Bride” on trumpet, loving vows were exchanged, and by the powers vested in me by no one in particular, I pronounced them husband and wife. In Colorado, that’s perfectly legal. Just another day on this crazy tour.

Hightower

VIDEO: Hightower speaks at Brave New Films

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Postcards from the tour: Beer brunch

Greetings from Colorado

A beer brunch! Is this a great country or what? On a snowy Sunday, I joined a bunch of local Common Causers for a brunch-time benefit in Fort Collins, Colorado. It was held in the New Belgium Brewery, where “Fat Tire” and other great beers are brewed. Though there was an ample spread of great food, laid out for us, I took breakfast straight from the tap. (It’s just grain and water!) Kim and Jeff Jordan, the founders of New Belgium, were there and they are a perfect example of the progressive business spirit that DeMarco and I celebrate in Swim Against the Current. The brewery (now producing half a million cases a year) is worker-owned, aggressively green, strongly supportive of grassroots community groups… and is a fun enterprise for all involved. The road I’m on is long, but events like this one make it smooth.

Hightower

Postcards from the tour: Books for independents

Greetings from California

It’s a joy to work with so many of America’s independent bookstores on on this tour. In the past three days, we’ve done events with Stacey’s in San Fran, Cody’s in Berkeley and Book Passage in Marin County. The last one is renowned as a community center that draws serious readers and area activists eager to discuss ideas, and the place was overflowing with a rollicking crowd of about 250 on Friday. The questions were sharp the political spirits high — we even had a timely comment from Maggie, a dog that was in attendance. She had been perfectly still until I mentioned Dick Cheney’s name, at which point Maggie let out a yelp of disapproval, earning her the biggest applause of the whole event. Now I’m off to Colorado where we’ll working with such other greats stores as Boulder Books and Tattered Cover.

Hightower

Postcards from the tour: Sun and fun

Greetings from California

From the snows of Maine just a few days ago, I’ve reached the balmy climes of southern California. Along the way, DeMarco and I have been generously aided by so many progressive organizations and friends, who are making the tour enjoyable as well as successful. In Los Angeles, Suzie Shannon put together a 300-person book benefit for Poverty Matters a vibrant advocacy organization she founded. Suzie did this despite delivering her baby, Grace, only a few weeks ago. In fact, Grace attended our event, which was held in the beautiful sanctuary of the Immanuel Presbyterian Church — baby Grace’s first political exposure. Likewise the great progressive filmmaker Robert Greenwald hosted DeMarco, me and an overflowing crowd for a talk at his muckraking video center, Brave New Films, in Culver City (video coming soon!). Then last night, Steve Skrovan — a noted screenwriter and union captain in the recent successful strike in the writer’s guild — pulled together a lively bunch at the Neighborhood Unitarian Church in Pasadena. It’s a long trail I’m traveling, but folks like these make it a pleasure. See you down the trail…

Hightower

Postcards from the tour: Home sweet Texas

Greetings from Texas

Touching home base for a couple of days, we had two glorious events in TX. In the Art Deco-ish River Oaks Theater in Houston, some 250 KPFT radio enthusiasts (a Pacifica jewel that carries my commentaries twice a day) came together for a benefit/book talk. Then in Austin, we had a Spring equinox extravaganza at a beloved urban farm called Boggy Creek. It was a benefit for the Texas Organic Farmers and Gardeners, and more than 300 folks turned out for a joyous evening. Delectable food was served up by a dozen of Austin’s top chefs and food artisans, music from The Lovers and La Strada filled the air, kids romped among the chickens and rows of veggies/flowers, local beer lubricated the event, a 60-degree night and a nearly full moon graced us, the crowd cheered the stories DeMarco & I told in Swim Against the Current and the spirit was so high that people hung around more than an hour after the event was over. Next: California!

Hightower

Postcards from the tour: Progressive hangouts

Greetings from DC

One of the most enjoyable aspects of this 40-city is the variety of venues for our book events. Old town halls, renovated theaters, venerable churches and such great bars as Busboys and Poets in Washington DC, where I did an event this week with Progressive Democrats of America. Owned by Andy Shallal, who is both a savvy businessman and progressive firebrand, this restaurant/bookstore/bar/theater/hangout has hosted many boisterous political blowouts and we did our best to live up to that standard. Speaking of progressive Democrats, Representative John Conyers spent the evening with us, and we were also joined by two terrific congressional candidates — Donna Edwards of Maryland and Chellie Pingree of Maine. Now, I’m winging my way to Houston and points West.

Hightower

Postcards from the tour: Luck of the Irish

Greetings from Maine

As I was driven from my Portland, ME hotel to a TV interview this morning at 9am, we passed an Irish bar that already was overflowing with St. Patty’s Day revellers, saluting a saint with breakfast pints of Guinness. At the NBC station, my interview was completed by Boys of the Lough, a terrific five-piece band from Ireland. Then I caught a plane to Washington, DC, where I’m staying at Jury’s — an Irish-owned hotel on Dupont Circle. Tonight I’m doing a fun book event with Progressive Democrats of America, which is being billed as “Get Your Irish On with Hightower“. We didn’t really plan all of this Irishness, but I take it as a sign that the gods are smiling on us.

Cheers,
Hightower

© Jim Hightower. Photos by Jay Harris and Beth Wilson.