A historic celebration in Greensboro
Pocketsize Productions at 127 Front Street in historic Greensboro was the setting for the seasons Open House / Cinco de Mayo celebration on Saturday, May 5.
Hostess Becky Keck, owner of Pocketsize Productions inside of the beautiful and historic Longo Store, held a spectacular gala that featured great food such as homemade chili, salsa and chips, sandwich meats and cheeses, delicious milkshakes, and other treats. Guests were greeted by guest artist Debbie Marino who has held classes for her “Trash to Treasures” demonstrations recently in Greensboro.
Trash to Treasures is a jewelry upcycling workshop were participants can bring in old jewelry, buttons, keys, or whatever you wish and create a unique piece out of those items.
The music of Richard Van Scoter, guitarist for The Rose Project, provided the backdrop of the event as guests arrived. He played an acoustic set and sang a collection of songs including “Summertime” by Sam Cooke. Mrs. Betty Longo was a special guest at the store because she and her husband opened the store in 1953 and she ran it until last year.
Pocketsize Productions allowed Electric Notions to do a live radio show during the event and Betty Longo spoke about her years at the shop and said ” We are lucky to have Becky here.” Longo said the store “was like a drug store without the drugs.” She also sold homemade cakes, pies, milkshakes and cookies to go along with delicious coffee. Longo stated that the stools and counter were purchased when they opened the store and remain to this day.
As you walk into the Longo Store / Pocketsize Productions you are taken back to the times that Mrs. Longo spoke about. The walls are covered with vintage signs, a magazine rack that her husband made, vintage displays and various items from the past. Becky Keck still sells handmade ice cream milkshakes along with Fairly Traded Coffee and items from the many vendors from the surrounding areas.
Mrs. Longo continued, “I loved every minute of my time at the store.” She told Electric Notions that she collected the utility bills from the Greensboro residence and remembers the flood of 1985 as a bad time in the history of the store. She says with a little sadness “The flood of ’85 was bad, it was up to the curb of the store and the basement was flooded to the top step. Friends helped us get everything out of there.”
She is still active in the community as much as she can be and said she was the head of the sewer authority and a founding member of the Nathaniel Greene Foundation. She closed the conversation by telling me about the weekly event held at the store.
” They have a music night on Thursdays and my son brings me down and I enjoy all the wonderful music, I stay the entire time,” she said.
She is talking about “Open Mic Night” every Thursday at 7 p.m. hosted by Richard Van Scoter.
This event is free and open to anyone who wants to listen or play! Coffee, milkshakes, and friendship are available!
Information about Open Mic Night or the wonderful Pocketsize Productions can be obtained at www.pocketsizeproductions.com, Facebook @ http://www.facebook.com/pocketsizePA or 724.998.8484 and ask for Becky Keck.
To listen to the Live in Greensboro event, go to http://electricnotions.com/media.html and the player is on the left or http://www.blogtalkradio.com/electricnotions.
Electric Notions can be found at www.electricnotions.com, Facebook @ www.facebook.com/electricnotions, Twitter at Lpishko, and electricnotions@mail.com.