• First things first: Brian Huntley is the MAN. The Globe’s graphics guru took an idea from Scott Meeker, a slew of photographs from art walk artists and T. Rob Brown and a bunch of nitpicking and revisions from yours truly. He turned it into the awesome image on the cover. Good on ya, brothaman.
• Also, I owe Mary Castleberry and the region’s square and round dancers a huge apology. For the past two weeks, I have omitted her report of dances across the region. Do Si Do returns in this issue; you’ll find them in the events calendar on page 14. You’ll find my sincere apologies right here: I’m sorry.
• It’s lame to be geeked out over the weather, but last weekend’s beautiful days were well-seized and much appreciated.
My stepson and I went to Grand Falls, where we saw guys on bikes with no seats maneuver them up and down the rocks. They didn’t get anywhere fast, but they looked cool getting there.
We also conquered some of the trails at Wildcat Glades Conservation and Audubon Nature Center, took the dog on a walk at Cunningham Park and grilled up a storm of great food (including K.C. strips and chicken breasts with a new applewood rub). We all need more days like that.
• I never thought I would feel sorry for Benjamin Linus, but last week’s episode of “Lost” served a double gut punch of sympathy for the snake. In the flash-sideways, he used his Machiavellian skills to help someone else out. And in the regular timeline, he bared his heart and confessed his sins. No doubt that Not-Locke is going to have something to say about that.
Plus, the episode gave me new fuel for my theory that it was the evil spirit in that cabin, not Jacob.
• I’m kind of excited to see what they’ve done with the ol’ Swiss Villa. When I was growing up, that was the place to see a show. I remember, as a high-schooler, filling up my car with friends to see Damn Yankees and Bad Company.
Now named the Black Oak Mountain Amphitheater, the venue has been renovated and booked with a solid retro lineup. None of the acts particularly excite me (except for BB King), but I would like to see how they have cleaned up the place. There’s more info in our Road Trips section on page 6.
• I’m flat-out stoked for the return of Third Thursday.
I got my start in journalism at 417 Magazine, which at the time was located on Walnut Street downtown. Springfield’s downtown area has a creative, artsy, urban vibe that gets in the blood and hooks you like Springfield-style cashew chicken, and I loved walking around the area day or night.
When downtown Joplin is filled with urbanite art lovers strolling the streets, it exudes the same attitude. Third Thursday can’t come soon enough.
• This column is dedicated to irrational exuberance, but I must lay the smack down on the Joplin Public Library. Get this: Those no-fun, parade-rain-on-ers are hosting a Lego building event next week, but it’s intended for kids no older than fifth grade. What about 37-year-old geeks who were ready to share their entire collection of Lego bricks (including all the cool magnetic ones), huh? Huh?
