TEXARKANA -- Texarkana's heritage will get the red-carpet treatment on Nov. 24, with a celebration of the 150th anniversary of Scott Joplin's birthday.
The event, which will be held downtown at the new Flying Crow rail-car restaurant project of David Peavy and organized by the Regional Music Heritage Center and Scott Joplin Support Group, will include a red-carpet entrance for guests, live jazz music and hors d'oeuvres.
Live music will feature ragtime and jazz pianist Allen Batts, saxophonist Desmond Smith and singers Candace Taylor and Valerie Cooper. At the 1894 Gallery nearby, a silent auction will be held for a commemorative portrait of Joplin painted by Texarkana native H.M. Fort Jr. and two round-trip Amtrak tickets between Texarkana and Austin-San Antonio.
The festivities are scheduled to start at 7 p.m. for all, but at 6 p.m. a VIP reception will get things going early. Red-carpet guests will be asked to dress in accordance with the theme "cocktail fantasies," said Carol Collins-Miles of the Joplin group and a Regional Music Heritage Center board member.
Attendees will also get a preview of renovations at the 1940s-era, art deco-styled, lounge rail-car, which used to be known as the Super Chief because it transported stars between Los Angeles and Chicago.
"We will be christening The Flying Crow and hosting the birthday anniversary of Scott Joplin," Collins-Miles said.
Joplin is the famed ragtime composer who grew up in Texarkana and first studied the piano there.
"We are looking at it as a movable birthday celebration," Collins-Miles said. The patio at the rail-car will be open with tables, and a second bar will be situated in the 1894 City Market, where the gallery is located.
The video Scott Joplin -- Hometown Hero will play at the 1894 building, as will a 15-minute trailer for it edited by the Regional Music Heritage Center's David Mallette.
Regarding the "cocktail fantasies" attire, Collins-Miles said, "It doesn't have to be something contemporary." If attendees would like to wear fashions from the days of Joplin, go for it, she said, adding that people should have fun with it.
Collins-Miles said the groups holding this celebration would like to expand it in the future, but for now there couldn't be a better time to celebrate Joplin's 150th birthday anniversary.
"We just want to be able to support this event year after year, and I'm happy that David [Peavy] has such vision," Collins-Miles said about their plans and the venue.
The birthday celebration revels in two aspects of Texarkana heritage: Scott Joplin and the city's founding as a railroad town.
Peavy said The Flying Crow is looking good with working bathrooms, and historical photographs on the walls. It's exciting to host this occasion to honor Joplin, "a musical genius," he said.
And about the railway car's condition, Peavy said, "It's going to be in immaculate condition. It looks really good right now." He is donating the use of it and the gallery, and all this is happening where Texarkana started, he said.
"It's exciting to be involved in something like this," Peavy said.
Metro on 11/11/2018