This week, Grand Stafford Theater, a member of the Innovation Underground and a new live music venue in Historic Downtown Bryan, was honored with the City of Bryan’s Willie Bennett Spirit of Downtown Award. The team is honored and humbled by the award and eager to tell the story of what is just the beginning for this great downtown venue. The Innovation Underground (IU) took a few minutes to interview Grand Stafford Theater General Manager Carlton Lee to hear first hand the story and plans for the Grand Stafford.

IU: How did it feel when you and the Stafford team first heard that the Grand Stafford Theater received the Willie Bennett Spirit of Downtown Award? Were you expecting this at all?
Carlton Lee, GST: I was surprised and very proud of the hard work that the people on our team put into making this happen. It is humbling to know that there are unnamed people out there that have been positively influenced by Grand Stafford Theater. It is hard to know everyone of your supporters by name so this honor let’s us know that we are on the right track. I am thankful to all of our patrons, partners and supporters. Without their help this would not have been possible.

IU: Who all was involved in the remodeling of the Stafford? What was the experience like from remodeling to the first opening?
Carlton Lee, GST: Our contractor Larry Daniel of Make Rite Contracting was amazing! We had a hard deadline and I let him know that up front. I called him because I know his strong work ethic and quality craftsmanship. Larry would clock 40 hours in three days because he wanted to see us up and running and was committed to the goal of Grand Stafford. Other pivotal people on our remodeling were James Tates of Christian Brothers Plumbing and B&B Electric. We thank all of them for their hard work!

IU: What drew you and the people involved to reopen the Stafford?
Carlton Lee, GST: I was drawn in by the opportunity to be a part of something different. Music is exciting. It breaks down barriers between people and creates a common bond. Also, downtown Bryan is historic. I have heard stories about the Stafford from people who remember it as far back as the 50s. I am happy people can build new memories in this place. Our team really wanted to put together a project that would bring something fresh to the community as a whole; contribute in a meaningful way to culture, commerce and community downtown.

IU: Do you and the Stafford team have any particular plans or ideas for the future?
Carlton Lee, GST: One thing we are doing is listening to feedback from our community. We are headed in a new direction and the community has a lot of influence on where we go from here. Starting in the spring we will feature Two Tons of Steel once a month. If you haven’t seen them they are a wildly talented Texas swing band from Austin. Some of the crowd’s favorite shows from the fall will be back, like David Ramirez, a singer-songwriter based in Austin.

We are also going to bring a lot of up-and-coming bands and artists to introduce the community to the quality music that Texas has to offer. Some of my favorite shows in the fall were bands I didn’t know existed and now I have their album on my playlists!

To keep up with the latest on Grand Stafford Theater, visit the web site at www.grandstaffordtheater.com , follow on Twitter @StaffordTheater and like GST on facebook at http://www.facebook.com/GrandStaffordTheater .

At the Innovation Underground, we are always working on projects to support communities as they seek to grow vibrant economies. The Distributed Urban Farming initiative, better know around here as DUFi, is one of those projects. DUFi uses local, urban farming to encourage healthy communities. Over the last several months our project team has been researching best practices, building test planting beds and building the relationships that will be critical to sustaining DUFi over the long term.

After a great deal of work by our interns and volunteers, the DUFi pilot garden is open and the team launched a campaign on Kickstarter to generate the financial support we need to take DUFi to the next level. We plan to:

– build additional food plots around downtown Bryan

– share best practices and demonstration projects with the community

– grow food and provide it to local restaurants so we can eat healthy food grown right here in Bryan

– share our enthusiasm for great, fresh food with kids and adults

– bring other communities to Bryan to learn how they can start their own DUFi

To learn more and support DUFi, visit our Kickstarter page and be part of the movement for good food, good health and good growth!

Visit our DUFi project website to see more project pictures and learn more.

Imani Tumani Upendo, Inc. will hold its second annual M.O.V.E. event in coordination with First Friday in Historic Downtown Bryan this Friday October 5th. The M.O.V.E. event will feature Jimmy Needham and offer a motivating message encouraging all to use their voice for the Lord.

The M.O.V.E. message encourages participants to MOTIVATE others, seek OPPORTUNITY for change, use your VOICE for the Lord and EXPERIENCE God’s grace. The show will also feature inspiring stories of Imani’s mission work in Africa.

The event will take place at the Palace Theater with doors opening at 7PM. Event tickets are available for purchase online at Eventbright. Tickets are $8 online and $10 at the door.

Imani-Tumani-Upendo is a start-up non-profit  that serves mission organizations in Africa. By complimenting existing organizations, Imani helps families develop a better future and defeat poverty. Imani is located at the Innovation Underground, a private business incubator owned by Advent GX and located in historic downtown Bryan, TX. Imani-Tumani-Upendo means Faith-Hope-Love.

Advent GX launched its Arts and Innovation series of gatherings with a house recital by Concert Pianist Roberto Hidalgo. More than 50 friends of Advent GX, the Innovation Underground (IU) and Downtown Bryan enjoyed an afternoon of piano and networking followed by a reception with wine and refreshments.

The intimate event was held in the IU Parlor on the main floor of the Federal Building in Historic Downtown Bryan. Roberto Hidalgo introduce each selection, providing insight into the connections between the featured composers. Roberto Hidalgo is known for programs that combine Latin American works with those from traditional western repertoire. During the IU event, he performed a selection of works by Leo Smit, Manuel M. Ponce, Leonard Bernstein,Carlos Chavez, Mario Lavista and Aaron Copland.

Roberto has participated at festivals such as Foro de Compositores del Caribe in Medellín, Colombia; Festival Cervantino in Guanajuato; Foro Internacional de Música Nueva “Manuel Enríquez”, in Mexico City; Festival Internacional de Interpretación, in Gerona, Spain, the Chappaquiddick Summer Music Festival and the Festival-Institute at Round Top,Texas.

His appearances include the Bing Auditorium at the LA County Museum Los Angeles; Weill Recital Hall at Carnegie Hall, Town Hall, Bruno Walter Auditorium and Merkin Hall in New York City; Palacio de Bellas Artes, Sala Blas Galindo, Sala Nezahualcoyotl, Sala Carlos Chávez in Mexico City.

He holds degrees from Mannes (BM and MM) and The Manhattan School of Music (DMA) where he studied with Nina Svetlanova.

He has participated at festivals such as Foro de Compositores del Caribe in Medellín, Colombia; Festival Cervantino in Guanajuato; Foro Internacional de Música Nueva “Manuel Enríquez”, in Mexico City; Festival Internacional de Interpretación, in Gerona, Spain, the Chappaquiddick Summer Music Festival and the Festival-Institute at Round Top,Texas.

His appearances include the Bing Auditorium at the LA County Museum Los Angeles; Weill Recital Hall at Carnegie Hall, Town Hall, Bruno Walter Auditorium and Merkin Hall in New York City; Palacio de Bellas Artes, Sala Blas Galindo, Sala Nezahualcoyotl, Sala Carlos Chávez in Mexico City.

With pianist Marc Peloquin, he has given succesful two-piano concerts hailed for their innovative programs. A First Prize winner of the Artist International Competition, he has received support from The Magowan Family Foundation and the Faculty Resource Grant from the Bloomingdale School of Music where he is a member of the faculty.

He holds degrees from Mannes (BM and MM) and The Manhattan School of Music (DMA) where he studied with Nina Svetlanova.