Steve Paul

Steve Paul

@sbpaul.bsky.social

Career journalist now writing literary biography. Transplanted New Englander in the deep Midwest. Book hound, jazz hound, music lover, traveler, food-wine explorer, poem-flinger, social introvert more or less. President, Biographers International Org.

116 Followers 114 Following 94 Posts Joined Nov 2024
6 months ago
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Arts News | New public artwork taking shape for Barney Allis Plaza – KC STUDIO The Belgian art and engineering team proposing a large-scale installation around the rebuilt Barney Allis Plaza came up with a brilliant plan.

A quick hit on the Allis Plaza art project. Feels good to me:
kcstudio.org/new-public-a...

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6 months ago
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Opinion | He Was the Face and Voice of Gaza. Israel Assassinated Him.

www.nytimes.com/2025/08/21/o...

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9 months ago
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The @kcsymphony.bsky.social marshals all the forces plus two choirs for Mahler's huge 3rd Symph tonight. Buckling up.

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9 months ago
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“Get it hot off of the pit”: a celebration of barbecue | Folklife Today In celebration of National Barbecue Month, AFC Folklife Specialist Meg Nicholas turns to the Center's archival collections for inspiration and insight on what makes for the best barbecue.

Yes, indeed, it's barbecue season. In this blog from the Library of Congress, Kansas City gets some historical love and cooks from all over provide some age-old guidance on the grillin' and smokin' business. blogs.loc.gov/folklife/202...

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9 months ago
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See Hear: Steve Paul on Rambling Around the Arts | The vibes and musical planet waves still stretch back to the early ’60s – KC STUDIO I’m happy to report that the spirit of what we think of as folk music and the legacy of the octogenarian Nobel laureate Bob Dylan seem to be alive and well.

My latest column for @kcstudiomag.bsky.social tracks ways that "A Complete Unknown" has fired up a new generation of fans. @bobdylancenter.bsky.social @definitelydylan.bsky.social kcstudio.org/the-vibes-an...

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10 months ago
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See Hear: Steve Paul on Rambling Around the Arts | The vibes and musical planet waves still stretch back to the early ’60s – KC STUDIO I’m happy to report that the spirit of what we think of as folk music and the legacy of the octogenarian Nobel laureate Bob Dylan seem to be alive and well.

The world of Bob Dylan (and Joan Baez) continues to grow in the wake of "A Complete Unknown." My latest column for @kcstudiomag.bsky.social
kcstudio.org/the-vibes-an...

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10 months ago
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Three book-related events in NY this week--Gillian Flynn launches an imprint, "Ulysses" on trial, @ronaldchernow.bsky.social on Mark Twain.

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10 months ago
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Who invents the world Hint: it's not magic or billionaires, or even an algorithm.

If you're not reading @andreapitzer.bsky.social, you're missing out. Contra AI, she writes, "When it comes to expressing yourself, only you can live and invent your own life."

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10 months ago

Terrific piece of baseball history and the American history the other team wants to suppress.

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10 months ago

Interesting complaint in Lauren Jackson's @newyorker.com review of Chernow's Twain bio: "Chernow, with a fortune-teller’s fondness for physiognomy, detects 'a turbulent gaze,' evidence of 'a tough, hardheaded practicality' destined for success. Or maybe it’s just a teen-ager trying not to blink."

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10 months ago

What? No Nick Adams, from "Big Two-Hearted River"?

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11 months ago

You mean the relentless sameness and color coordinations of the popular novel set? Go get 'em. #books

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11 months ago

Brilliant.

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11 months ago

Dylan sighting, obit for actress Sian Barbara Allen: 'her daughter suggested honoring her mother by reading your favorite book in bed, listening to the "entire Graceland album or any of Bob Dylan's music," and eating some mac and cheese...' @dylan.thefm.club @definitelydylan.bsky.social

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11 months ago

In Topeka last night we're told that Dylan said something like "are these songs for these times, or what?"
Bob must've eavesdropped on @definitelydylan.bsky.social discussion group Sunday. @virgilkinsley.bsky.social @inthephishbowl.bsky.social @britteisnor.bsky.social

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11 months ago
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The pregame view from Crafts and Drafts at the @royals.com ball yard.

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11 months ago

From the super-fantastic Jesse Ed Davis exhibit at the @bobdylancenter.bsky.social in Tulsa. Dylan, Davis, George H, and poet John Trudell, who collaborated with Davis. Also see Dylan on Trudell in PoMS.

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11 months ago

Yes, one of the best of RARW tour.

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11 months ago

Agree with all yr points, one of the best I've heard. New appreciation of My Own Version of You, which now feels like the crux of RARW. All the slower songs seemed powerful.

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11 months ago
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Our man @virgilkinsley.bsky.social playing Dylan tunes at Saturn Room in shadow of Tulsa Theater, where we'll see Bobby himself tonight. @definitelydylan.bsky.social

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1 year ago

Another member of @biographersintl.bsky.social offers good advice in this @literaryhub.bsky.social piece. #books #writing

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1 year ago
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In 1964, when he was just 23, Bob Dylan wrote the prophetic anthem that encapsulates Trump's America Decrying a world characterized by materialism, violence and blind conformity, Dylan echoed the warnings of King Solomon.

I've been immersed in the '74 #Dylan tour and noting the same as @rogovoy.bsky.social explores in this spot-on look at “It’s Alright Ma (I’m Only Bleeding)” as an anthem of our new dark days: “even the president of the United States sometimes must have to stand naked.” forward.com/culture/musi...

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1 year ago

Same as it ever was: "Medicare is not a bank to be used to pay for a tax break for the wealthy." -- Rep. John Lewis, 1994, via @davidgreenberg.bsky.social's bio, "John Lewis"

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1 year ago
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See Hear: Steve Paul On Rambling Around the Arts | The Nelson-Atkins envisions a bold new step into the future – KC STUDIO The best architecture makes us feel alive. The way designers shape materials and the space around people can produce a buoyant sensory engagement before we even think about it.

In the latest @kcstudiomag.bsky.social: My column on expanding the @nelsonatkins.bsky.social #architecture #art kcstudio.org/the-nelson-a...

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1 year ago
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Rally for #Ukraine, downtown Montreal.

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1 year ago
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Enlightening: Anna Cannoni on her grandfather Woody Guthrie's intersections with Pete and Bob at @folk-alliance.bsky.social gathering in Montreal. Stunning home movies. Her mother, Nora, then 11, was watching American Bandstand and couldn't be bothered when Dylan first came to the door. #bobdylan

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1 year ago

Sorry, make it Allison.

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1 year ago
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Was a joy to catch the fabulous Alison Russell, fresh off her run as Persephone in "Hadestown" (saw that in Dec.), as keynote speaker at @folk-alliance.bsky.social conf in Montreal. Big heart, awesome survival story (in her native city), captured in her newest record, "The Returner." Carry on.

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1 year ago
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Well howdy, Leonard Cohen. Crescent St., Montreal. The Folk show is just getting started. @folk-alliance.bsky.social

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1 year ago
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Like a rolling stone, Bob Dylan returns next month to Kansas. For me, he never left. • Kansas Reflector I've been thinking about Dylan lately because he'll be coming to Kansas next month, for shows in Wichita and Topeka.

H/t to Max McCoy Like a rolling stone, Bob Dylan returns next month to Kansas. For me, he never left. #bobdylan kansasreflector.com/2025/02/16/l...

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