Entertainment Spotlight: Abigail Cantor

It's been my pleasure to work with the talented and versatile Abigail Cantor on a number of occasions.  She's the leader of two ensembles, The Cantor Set and Shira. (Geeky math types will enjoy this play on words)


The Cantor Set plays jazz standards, blues, and their own musical concoctions.  They understand that rhythm and tempo are critical for dancing, so they keep melody and rhythm at the forefront through their improvisations.  She works with top jazz musicians to create a very danceable and musically interesting performance. The Cantor Set is available for receptions and parties.

Shira offers eastern European, jazz/klezmer fusion and liturgical melodies for services. Shira was formed in 1988 and at that time was the only Jewish music band in the Madison area.  They're available for both ceremonies and wedding receptions.


Both of these ensembles put on a great show with fun, danceable music. Ms. Cantor plays Clarinet, Sax and recorder. Depending on the needs of the gathering she draws on a talented pool of the top local musicians to fill out a three to five person ensemble with keyboard, bass, drums, saxophone or trumpet. 


Specs:
Contact Person: Abigail Cantor
e-mail: shiramusic@sbcglobal.net, or info@thecantorset.com
phone: 608.238.2452
website (for the Cantor Set): http://www.thecantorset.com

Chocolate Spotlight: TerraSource Chocolates

One of the coolest businesses I know of is TerraSource Chocolates, owned by Josie Pradella.  Terrasouce offers organic, vegan, fair trade chocolates using locally produced fruits and spirits. Terrasource is one of those businesses that's founded on the principle of doing well by doing good.  

Two-piece favor boxes are perfect for weddings.  They are made from specialty paper containing native prairie seeds grown and harvested in the midwest. Your wedding guests get to enjoy handcrafted vegan dark chocolates sourced with local, organic and fair trade ingredients, then plant the box paper to plant a native prairie garden appropriate to the midwest bioregion.

Another fabulous product Terrasouce offers is "Share Squares" which are used to raise funds for Solar Cookers International. Through the Share Squares program, Terrasource Chocolates was able to send 60 solar ovens to Haiti in 2010.  These solar cookers are not only used to prepare food, but also to purify water. The Share squares are packaged in compostable cellophane and the tags are produced from high recycled-content paper.  Share Squares are dairy-free, gluten-free, soy-free and delicious. 

Finally, Josie  is a co-founder of Dane Buy Local which is a network of locally owned businesses, who support one another and our community. She works to engage other businesses to find common areas that they can work together. 

Here are a few testimonials.

"These are bold, new chocolates with great "local" flavors. I love them!"
- Rick Richards

"Dark chocolate is good for your health - these chocolates are good for your soul."
- Sara Richards

Here are some specs:

Phone: 608-221-0588 or toll-free (877) 808-9217
Email: josie@terrasourcechocolates.com 

Website: TerraSourcechocolates.com

Business Associations Green America Greener Business certified member, co-founder of Dane Buy Local,

Good Works: Share Squares Solar Cookers for Haiti, TerraSource is also uses organic ingredients, eco-friendly packaging and uses fair-trade practices

Address: TerraSource Chocolates LLC, P.O. Box 14114, Madison, WI 53708-0114
Pricing: Check out the online catalog for pricing on the various products.

Photographer Spotlight: Anda Marie

Working with Anda Marie Photography is a true joy!  She did a brilliant job capturing beautiful images of Claire and John's Wedding, and I look forward to working with her again! Her excitement about being a wedding photographer is effusive.  "I can't imagine anything better!" When I asked her what she loves the most, it's the people.  She loves her clients, she loves the other professionals she's met and the photographers she's become friends with.

  She's always been an an artist, and has always taken pictures.  Her business started organically... she photographed a friend's wedding and put the pictures on Facebook. The pictures went viral and she was almost immediately booked through the following year and quickly became a full time wedding photographer.  She's been featured in Style me Pretty and has traveled throughout the U.S. photographing gorgeous weddings!

Her style is editorial/artistic.  She stages the details (Shoes, dress, etc) like a magazine fashion layout, and she'll take some time with the bride and groom to stage some gorgeous shots to help them look their very best.     During the rest of the day she doesn't stage shots, so much as keep in touch with where the best artistic view of a given moment will be.

She prefers to take a minimal number of posed family portraits (10 minutes with immediate family). If you're concerned  you won't get pictures of your favorite aunt, though, not to worry- she focuses a lot of her candid shots on your close friends and family.


Here's what she says about herself...

I love to capture what's honest... I love to make images that are authentic and full of life, movement and style.  I enjoy giving you something you can hang on your walls as art... and therefore I look for what's interesting and not what's perfect.

Here are some specs.

Website: http://www.andamarie.com

Blog: http://www.andamarie.net

E-mail: andamarie@andamarie.com

Style: High Fashion Editorial blended with artistic photojournalism

Green Practices: All her ordering is on line.  She uses eco-friendly albums made from recycled products and uses a local printer for her photographs

Price: Wedding packages range from $3000 to $9000

Professional associations: PPA and WPPI

Location: Based in Madison, but happy to travel world wide! (Italy, Morocco, Brazil?)