Not familiar with Manna Meal? Manna Meal provides breakfast and lunch 365 days per year to anyone who stops by, no questions asked. Anyone can show up and eat. And anyone can come down and volunteer (hint, hint).
Manna Meal has been averaging between 300 to 400 people per day. The average cost per person is right about 2 bucks so this is a very important fundraiser.

Expect a great night of music on March 7th at St. John’s Episcopal. Bare Bones will perform featuring: Bill and Becky Kimmons and Mark Davis. Expect a variety of A’cappella, Gospel and Folk music. Then, get ready for Martin Luther King Jr. Male Chorus. Sounds like it’s going to be a great night to help a great organization.

Doors open at 6:30pm with the music at 7:00pm. This event is FREE and open to the public but please DONATE to this awesome cause.

Manna Meal needs you to help them help others!

More information? Contact Jean at jean_mannameal@verizon.net or call 304-345-7121.

First up, what is the Charleston Blues Society?
They promote shows by blues artists, sponsor hands-on workshops for all ages in blues history, such as playing instruments, singing and songwriting. They encourage research, performance and publication of the history of African-American music in West Virginia.

The Charleston Blues Society also has a goal of preserving the rich blues heritage of our area. During the early 20th century, many African-Americans moved here to work in the salt mines, railroads and coalmines.

Saturday, February 28th check out the opening of an exhibition of vintage photographs from Charleston musician Hubert “Rabbit” Jones. Jones provided photos of West Virginia music legends like Winston Walls, Ann Baker, Bricktop and many more. This is the kick-off to the Legacy Gala. The exhibition will be held at Heritage Towers (612 Virginia St. E) from 5:00-7:00pm and is free and open to the public.

The Legacy Gala
It’s NOT an awards ceremony. This is a recognition celebration for music, musicians, past and present, who have played an exceptional role in our culture and they have not been acknowledged and many have gone unrecognized.
The Gala is a huge part of the history project designed to gather photographs, stories, recordings and other materials that will help us see West Virginia’s musical past.
The Gala is March 7, at the Coonskin Park Clubhouse Oak Room, starting at 7:00pm.
The Gala evening includes dinner, performances by Legacy honoree Nat Reese, Bob Redd and blues piano player Barrelhouse Bonni and possibly others.

Tickets ($50 in advance, $60 at the door) can be purchased at Heritage Towers, Clo’s Uptown Eatery (1219 Washington St. E.) and also from the Charleston WV Blues Society at chaswvblues@yahoo.com or by calling 304-590-1042.
To read more about the Charleston Blues Society, check out their events calendar (performance updates) and/or to subscribe to their newsletter, visit them online at www.chaswvblues.org

February is Black History Month and you can stop by Malden, WV and tour the childhood home of Booker T. Washington, noted African-American educator (1856-1915).

You can follow the very path where a young Booker walked after he was freed from slavery and worked in the salt mines. You will learn about his quest to teach himself to read and how that determination paid off and led to his becoming president of the Tuskegee Institute in Alabama at age 25.

After returning home to WV, Booker was an advocate for moving the state capital from Wheeling to Charleston and he was very influential in having the 1890 land-grand institution located in the Kanawha Valley. That institution is now West Virginia State University.

Tours include:

• Norton House (circa 1840) the oldest frame house in Malden, home of the Norman Jordan African American history collection.
• African Zion Baptist Church, Washington attended services.
• Replica of Washington’s cabin.
• Historic Hale House (circa 1838) home of former Charleston mayor, John P. Hale.

Open to the public:

Saturday, February 21 from 10am to 2pm and Sunday, February 22 from 2pm to 4pm.