Diana Krall Plaza?????

[Smokey©]

Correct me if i am wrong but i thought the Diana Krall Plaza was the open area in front of the Library by Mon Pettit Choux? There is construction going on there to put in some benchs and other things for an upgrade for the olympics i think?????

I cannot correct you as you are correct to the location. There have been plans for reconstruction of the plaza for quite some time.

The Diana Krall Plaza will see improvements in 2008 and 2009 that will include public art with a musical theme. The artwork will consist of:
• A primary sculpture 24 feet tall and 5 feet wide in the shape of a tuning fork that will form an arch at the plaza entrance
• The sculpture will weather to match the brick and pavement colors on the conference centre and the plaza
• At the base of the tuning fork are images of sound waves created out of black and white stone pavers that will resemble piano keys.
• The portal will be illuminated by light at night and is capped by a bronze bird.
• The name, “Diana Krall Plaza” will be incorporated into the paving stones of the plaza.

*Some of the above changes could be different then originally planned*

[Devlin]

maybe someone can correct me, but as I see it, she grew up here, got out at an early age(17), School & Studies with other famous artists in Boston->LA->New York->First Album in 1990 (long gone from Nanaimo) Honestly, I bet she hardly looked back, and it seems most of her inspiration and success was from sources outside of Nanaimo... (although a couple highschools here DO have pretty awesome Jazz programs)

Just wanted to mention that her family has a long history in Nanaimo including owning downtown businesses in the past. Also that Diana Krall and Elvis Costello do own property in the area and are actually on the island and in town more often than you think. She still has familiy in town, including, i believe, her dad. I myself have seen them numerous times at different places including most often at Beefeaters Restaurant and once at the movies. We sat behind them and Costello actually ended up having a cameo in the movie and they laughed at how he looked.

[Harewoodian]

I know one thing,she hates being called Elvis Costellos wife.

"Hey look,it's Elvis Costellos wife"

[queen of the waterfront]

Apparently we are going to have pop up umbrellas and tables so folks can hear the buskers
I really would prefer trees and funky awnings.
how about a piano bar with an awning?

[Nostradama]

Just wanted to mention that her family has a long history in Nanaimo including owning downtown businesses in the past. Also that Diana Krall and Elvis Costello do own property in the area and are actually on the island and in town more often than you think. She still has familiy in town, including, i believe, her dad. I myself have seen them numerous times at different places including most often at Beefeaters Restaurant and once at the movies. We sat behind them and Costello actually ended up having a cameo in the movie and they laughed at how he looked.

She and Elvis Costello and the twins are living semi-permanently in Vancouver right now, and he's got a show called "Spectacles" on the Bravo channel. Really good. Started the first one a few months ago with, of course, Elton John, as his guest. Has had a lot of people of the same calibre since. Some conversation, some music. She says that they'll stick with Vancouver until the boys are old enough to enter school, and then it's up in the air. I don't know whether they still have their place at Nanoose, but I wouldn't be surprised.

I also wouldn't be surprised if Elton John and his civil partner, David Furnish, have a place somewhere in BC, because David Furnish has family in the Kelowna area. Elton John hosted Diana Krall and Elvis Costello's wedding reception at his restored castle in England.

Must be kind of refreshing for both Diana Krall and Elvis Costello to be in our area, where I guess he'd be called "Diana Krall's husband."

It's possible that there's a Diana Krall nephew on the Nanaimo music scene, flying under the radar, but that's just a suspicion I have.

[nza]

Krall's uncle was my neighbour. I use to see Diana during thxgiving, and shopping at Thriftys. Use to drive an X5. don't know what now. Uncle was/is in a band.

[Nostradama]

I see that council has named a room at the conference centre for thelate Doug Rispin. And he was just *gasp* a city politician!!

There's no doubt that Doug Rispin was a prime mover in the beginnings of the conference centre. I happen never to have been a supporter of the conference centre, but even I would acknowledge that he put in a lot of work getting it underway. In all fairness, no matter how I or others might feel, it would be pretty shabby treatment of his memory if something in it wasn't named after him.

[Nostradama]

Honestly, I bet she hardly looked back, and it seems most of her inspiration and success was from sources outside of Nanaimo... (although a couple highschools here DO have pretty awesome Jazz programs)

Actually, she has "looked back" a lot. She has credited Brian Stovell, her mentor when she was a teen, on the liner notes of a couple of her recordings, I have heard her while being interviewed thanking Brian Stovell, and she has certainly maintained a relationship with Brian Stovell and others in the community.

Not to mention the money she's raised to support multiple myeloma patients, some of whom must be Nanaimo residents (someone else has previously mentioned this.)

Maybe we should name the area, if the name has to be changed, "Brian Stovell Plaza" (although I think that idea of changing it to "Common" instead of "Plaza" or "Square" or something is great. Somehow it sounds more friendly and welcoming.) I'm absolutely sure that Brian, a very quiet and self-effacing man, would be overwhelmed at the honour. And it would acknowledge his contribution to the careers of a lot of other musicians, too, like Ingrid Jensen and many others.

[Flugel Horn]

Krall's uncle was my neighbour. I use to see Diana during thxgiving, and shopping at Thriftys. Use to drive an X5. don't know what now. Uncle was/is in a band.

Randy the piano player in "Ray and the Rockets"

[fitz]

Actually, she has "looked back" a lot....

Yeah, I did change my perspective on that.... about a year ago...

Thanks for posting that article Smokey - certainly gave me a new perspective... even changed my mind on the whole thing.