Calling all green thumbs...

I interviewed Janie Singleton yesterday (see below), the Executive Director of the High Plains Food Bank. I'm sure you've heard of the food bank, either in reference to a fundraiser at your child's school or when they've been camped outside a United grocery store taking donations around the holidays. What you probably don't know is that the food bank is in need of donations and volunteers year round. They are specifically in need of people right now who are willing to get their hands dirty, working in the organic garden, that is.

Look for the story in the November issue of Amarillo Magazine, and if you are a wannabe gardener with no garden of your own, drive down to 8th and Ross and they'll get you started.


--Jennie

A Race photo and the October issue

Michele and I enjoyed a great morning downtown for the Race for the Cure. The crowd was outstanding and the weather couldn't have been more perfect. Thanks to all of you who showed up, walked, ran, cheered and volunteered. We will surely see you again next year.

The other news of the day is none other than our October issue of Amarillo Magazine. Of course, if you don't subscribe to the newspaper, you might be wondering - how can I get my hands on that? The answer, naturally, is to subscribe. Until you get that little jewel in your hands, try us online. As usual, we love your feedback - good or not-so-good - as well as your ideas for future issues.

Enjoy!

-- Jennie

See you at the Race for the Cure

Your favorite city magazine staff will be walking in the Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure tomorrow. Not only do we want to bring civic awareness to the issues of breast health and breast cancer but also to honor those who lost their personal battle. It is an issue dear to our hearts, so we will continue to show support, physically and fiscally, until a cure is found.

If you see us tomorrow morning, wearing these shirts -

- give us a hearty hello and we'll give you one back. We hope to see a great crowd at the race, not only to see the smiling faces of this great city but also to see your generous support for the Komen organization.

Happy Friday, folks!

-Jennie

Onward with November.

I'm so tempted to splatter November cover photos all over the blog, but in the essence of creating interest (and retaining my job), I'll hold back. The interview is done and the photos are taken, so now it's a matter of weaving it all together for a fabulous story for AM readers.

October will be out this Sunday in subscriber's newspapers and the online version will be ready by 6 a.m. Sunday morning. In the meantime, send us your ideas for 2010. We're already planning 12 months of great content, but we want to make sure we're hitting the mark with what readers want. Email us with your feedback, and don't forget the question of the month.

--Jennie

October Teasers.

We're telling the story of this town,via three families who've lived here since Amarillo was settled. And since there's only so much space in print, we've carried over some of the stories and many photos exclusively online.

We show you how to make a creative version of your family tree:

We give you the Halloween Alternative in outdoor decor:

We show you how to keep your style in swing all day long:

And finally, we give you the low-down on liquid gold just in time for Oktoberfest:

The AM Staff worked hard this month to give readers a magazine full of tangible ideas, and since it goes to print tomorrow, we're already working on November and December (and all of 2010!). Now is the time to send us your ideas and thoughts. (We really do listen!) We are mapping out the next year of Amarillo Magazine, and in an effort to represent everything that is authentically Amarillo, we need to hear from readers.

Don't forget to answer the question of the month, and if you have the winning answer, you'll receive a $100 gift card to any of our advertisers!

--Jennie

9/11

My husband and I went to New York City two years ago. I'd been there once before in college, when the Twin Towers were just another set of skyscrapers in the Big Apple, before September 11 was a date of any significance.

We went to NYC at Christmastime, when the entire city is lavishly decorated, and while we spent the bulk of our time peering through department store windows like little children and enjoying the city lights at night, we went to Ground Zero before leaving. The memorials, and the sadness, are still there.

I don't have anything profound to say on this eighth anniversary of 9/11, but I wanted to share a photo I took of the void, empty space that represents a strange combination of hurt and hope. If you ever plan a trip to New York City, I could give you a list of recommendations - restaurants, shows, streets to walk down... and Ground Zero. I think it benefits us all to take just a moment to remember.

--Jennie

Somebody bring me a pillow.

Our new corner office (which is still a work in progress) is the coldest room in the entire building. That's right, the ENTIRE building. In fact, no less than five people commented on moving day, "You know it gets cold in there, right?" And we just rolled our eyes, laughed at their weakness, and said, "Yeah, we know."

They weren't kidding. We've already transitioned to winter wear and have abandoned using the air conditioning in our cars. (We defrost on the way home.) In fact, Michele and I are in the middle of proof week and spent all morning at the conference table looking for spelling errors and fact checking. We also spent the morning shivering, rubbing the chill bumps off our arms and considering cashmere wraps, that is, until it occurred to us that we should finally those space heaters we asked for.

Hello, 70 degrees! Where have you been all month?

The downside is that now I'm all warm and fuzzy and wanting to catch a nap under my desk.

As we wrap up October and start planning the last two issues of the year, we're pleased with how AM transformed from a niche publication to the city's most comprehensive, informative and creative magazine. We love your feedback, readers, so keep it coming.

And if you haven't already, cast your vote on our Autumn poll (on the left).

--Jennie

Well, that was quick!

As usual, the three-day weekend flew by, and while I'm tempted to stomp my feet and pout, I'm eager to get this season on a roll.

For me, Labor Day weekend has always represented a warm welcome to Autumn, a last hurrah for summer and the start of my favorite time of year. While the first day of fall is technically still two weeks away, I'm already pulling out cold-weather clothes, dusting off my leather boots from the top shelf and planning for the day when we can order a pay-per-view football game and make a big pot of chili. Autumn means constructing the perfect Halloween costumes and boxing up swim suits and sandals until the next year. It means pumpkins and holiday-themed magazines and hitting the 50% off sales at Hobby Lobby for new Thanksgiving and Christmas decor.

What is your favorite thing about fall? Take our poll and let us know what you think! (it's on your left.)

--Jennie

Moving!

We changed offices this week, on top of finalizing October content, so it's been busy around here. Instead of moving our stuff from one room to the other, we decided to step it up and redesign the new place with recycled furniture from the old newsroom and a few purchased vintage-style pieces. It's a work in progress and when it's completed, we'll give you the grand tour.

Until then, we'll be proofing October next week in our make-shift, halfway finished office.