Contrary to popular belief, 7Bends.com is not just another web presence that started out with a BANG, and ended with nary a whimper… The entire crew at 7Bends (along with as many friends, relatives and passers-by that we could rope in,)  has been busily preparing the inaugural issue of our premier print publication, ‘7Bends – The Magazine‘,  and quite frankly, no one has had the energy to write too much of anything on the web site lately.

Let me add one small proviso to the aforementioned statement, our Business Matchmaker – CEO, Managing Editor, Marketing Strategist, part-time Design Consultant…, (and she makes a mean cup of coffee too folks,) Susan Thompson (aka, SurfsongUSA) has been writing day and night,  providing content, as well as much of the incidental accoutrement that goes into the making of a magazine. All those little things, like tables of content, publishers credits, contact information, etc. that no one really gives much thought to – till you go to look for them.

The 7Bends magazine is envisioned to inform, entertain, enlighten, and hopefully amuse local residents and visitors alike, while providing a vehicle to promote Valley Business’ to highly targeted populations in neighboring regions, first and foremost the Washington D.C. corridors, beginning with the Leesburg, Reston and Fairfax areas. Through careful  targeting of distribution points and methodologies, spearheaded by our top-notch distribution team, 7Bends will be placed in the hands of those most likely to be in the market for the goods and services our advertisers have to offer.

Rounding out the key-players list is Juanita White, Creative Director and for the rest of the weekend, lay-out person, extraordinaire for the magazine, making sure all the pieces fit and come out right-side-up, (not inside-out), and on the right page.

A special thanks to Fran Romeo, of ChampagnePromotions.com and Marcy McCann of LtdEditionPrints.com for their assistance in everything from running down last minute ads to reminding us to eat when we had completely forgotten. You are appreciated.

Look for our first issue to be out the first week in June – for a partial listing of pick-up locations, please see http://7bends.com/magazine/

I remain,

your humble facilitator of mass communication,

James Maas (aka, Meriweather)

The Wild West Mayfest is underway today in Strasburg Virginia. Hundreds of people – young and old, and every age in between, lined the streets to see the parade at 4 p.m.

Music is now out on the street, including the band, “Outlaw Jazz,” from the D.C. area. They’re playing at 234 West King Street (Route 11) outside the new office of 7Bends.com and LtdPrints.com – and right next door to Outkast Customz Motorcycles. Come join us. … And, watch for more Mayfest photos through the evening. (Free Shenandoah County event)

(Bottom Photo: The Mykle Lyons band played at the Strasburg Mayfest in the Shenandoah Valley this evening.)

This Saturday, May 16, in Strasburg, Virginia, The Mykle Lyons Band will be performing outside of the new 7Bends.com office following the Mayfest Parade in Strasburg. The jazz duo (upright double-bass and saxophone) will begin playing tunes around 5:30 p.m. at 234 West King Street – on the south side of downtown Strasburg (across from Christina’s Cafe).

The band has been dubbed “Outlaw Jazz” by many, as they often play rock songs in a jazz format, as well as music reflective of the late 1950’s and early 1960’s, similar to the style of Miles Davis.

Originally from New Orleans, their “ringleader,” Mykle Lyons, 30, lives in Reston, Virginia, where he regularly entertains at the Hyatt Regency Reston. A former member of the Loston Harris Trio, Lyons and “Three For All” have been playing together for about a year.

A graduate of Virginia Commonwealth University, Lyons was heavily influenced by the teachings of Ellis Marsalis. Lyons has toured and performed throughout the country with such entertainers as Ellis Marsalis, Branford Marsalis, Wynton Marsalis and Vinton Herring. He was also a featured performer at the 1992 Inaugural Gala at the National Gallery of Art in Washington, D.C. and occasionally performs for former Vice President Al Gore and his family.

In addition to 7Bends.com, other sponsors of the Band include: ltdprints.com and Outkast Kustomz, a new custom motorcycle shop in Strasburg.

For more information about the Mykle Lyons Band, visit: myklelyons.com