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This Week’s Events
Willy Wonka will be at the Erie Playhouse January 16-18. This play is adapted from the 1971 film, Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory, which starred Gene Wilder in the title role. All of your favorite characters and songs (including “The Candy Man” and “Pure Imagination”) are featured in this show that overflows with music, comedy and heart. All seats $12.00 with special Saturday matinees. For more information visit the Erie Playhouse website.
The Cleveland Indians Winter Caravan will be held at the Gertrude Barber Center on January 20 beginning at 6:30 p.m. The event features a ballpark dinner, remarks by the players and coaches, an auction of team memorabilia and game ticket packages, and autographs for all the kids. Tickets are $8 per person, and are available in advance at the Barber National Institute, or at the door the day of the event. For information, call 453-7661. Last year the event drew more than 600 baseball fans.
The Allegheny College Art Galleries will present “Materialisms” and “Sometimes a Fantasy”—two exhibitions featuring diverse works by 13 regional artists—from Jan. 20 through March 4. In conjunction with the opening reception, two of the artists will present slide lectures about the process, materials and content of the works they created for the shows. The lectures will begin at 7 p.m. on Tuesday, Jan. 20 in the Art Galleries, with the reception continuing until 9 p.m.
In a combined celebration of the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and the inauguration of President Barack Obama, Allegheny College will host a week of special events, Jan. 18-23. Political activist and writer Kevin Powell will offer the week’s keynote presentation on “Dr. King, Civil Rights, Hip Hop and Barack Obama” on Wednesday, Jan. 21 at 7 p.m. in Ford Chapel. From his base in New York City, Powell has published nine books, including “Be a Father to Your Child: Real Talk from Black Men on Family, Love, and Fatherhood,” “Someday We’ll All Be Free” and his newest, “The Black Male Handbook: A Blueprint for Life.” He has written for such publications as Esquire, Newsweek, the Washington Post, Essence, Rolling Stone, the Amsterdam News and Vibe. Powell is a Writing Fellow for the Joint Center for Political and Economic Studies and a Phelps Stokes Fund Senior Fellow.
The 2008 Employer of the Year Awards will be unveiled by the Economic Development Corporation of Erie County at our 27th Annual Dinner on January 22, 2009. These prestigious awards are given to a Manufacturing and a Non-Manufacturing company in recognition of their investment in the Erie community during the past year, whether it is investment in plant, buildings and equipment, or investment in people through job creation. Additional awards will be presented to the 2008 Honor Roll Companies.
The Erie Art Museum will exhibit The Notebooks of Frank Novel beginnig on January 23. Self taught artist Frank Novel has been relentlessly filling notebooks with page after page of detailed
drawings for more than two decades. In a unique and personal way, Novel’s work exemplifies the
universal human urge to create. In the Frame Shop Gallery.
January Events
The Shiloh Baptist Church Choir, under the direction of Frederick Dixon, will perform a concert in honor of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., on Sunday, Jan. 25, at 4 p.m., in St. Mary’s Chapel at Mercyhurst North East, 16 West Division Street, North East. A reception will follow. The concert is free and open to the public. Call (814) 725-6277 for more information.
The drum and bugle corps, Lake Erie Thunder, will hold its first rehearsal on Sunday, January 25th at East High School from 11:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. Brass players and percussionists are invited to attend. Camp fee is $15. Click here for more information.
Assistant Professor of Philosophy and Religious Studies Vika Gardner, who teaches Islamic studies at Allegheny College, will present a series of free public lectures on Islam in the coming months. All of the lectures will be held in Room 105A of the Oddfellows Building. The series will begin at 6 p.m. on Tuesday, Jan. 27. “Islamic Prophets: Moses, Jesus, Muhammad” will explore Islam’s view of the earlier prophets who are important to Judaism and Christianity as well as Islam, showing how they are also revered in the Qur’an. The lecture will be followed by time for questions, as well as for more informal discussion over coffee, tea and snacks in the Oddfellows Building foyer.
Rince Na Tiarna School of Irish Dance presents Annual Pub Night at Molly Brannigans on Thursday, January 29, 2009 5 – 9 p.m. Local Celebrity Bartenders donate their tips to benefit RNT School. Baskets to be raffled throughout the evening. Chance to win one of five $100.00 cash prizes. Irish dance performances from 5:00 PM – 9:00 PM. Irish dance, music & fun!
Saturday, January 31 from 6 – 8 p.m. is the Erie Bluffs Night Hike. Those interested in attending should meet at Tom Ridge Environmental Center at 5:30 p.m. before proceeding to the Erie Bluffs for a guided tour. For more information call (814) 833-7424 or email.
February Events
The Harlem Globetrotters are bringing their 2009 “Spinning the Globe” World Tour to Erie on Tuesday, February 3, 2009 with their basketball wizardry, hilarious antics and fan interaction. Tickets start at $16.00.
At 7:30 p.m. on Wednesday, Feb. 4, Preacher Moss will lecture at 7:30 p.m. in the Yehl Room of the Waldron Campus Center, 124 West 7th St. The lecture is sponsored by Gannon’s Activities Programming Board.
The Erie Art Museum’s Kids as Curators exhibit will open on February 6 and run through March 22, 2009 in the Annex Gallery. An exhibit of objects from kids’ collections, curated by kids for kids. This year we feature work of Harding Elementary, General McLane High School, and Walnut Creek Middle School. Sponsored by Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield and the Institute of Museum and Library Sciences.
Gannon University’s Erie Chamber Orchestra will hold its monthly concert at 7:30 p.m. Friday, Feb. 6, in the University’s Mary, Seat of Wisdom Chapel, 520 Peach St. This performance will be the “Guess the Composer Concert.” Free and open to the public. Gannon University’s Erie Chamber Orchestra is conducted and directed by Bruce Morton Wright. For more information, call 814-871-7755.
Best-selling author, nationally recognized speaker and accomplished ultramarathoner Danny Dreyer will speak on “Developing a Consistent Personal Wellness Program: The Five Mindful Steps to Lifelong Health and Energy” at 7 p.m. on Friday, Feb. 6 in Ford Chapel at Allegheny College.
There will be a cooking class at the Boothby Inn on Saturday, February 7 from 11 a.m. – 3 p.m. B&B host Gloria Knox will show you her secrets of good breakfasts and brunches. Space is limited and costs $50 per person. For more information call (814) 456-1888.
Saturday, February 7 from 10:30 a.m. – 12 p.m. there will be a guided ski tour of the Erie Bluffs. You will see animal tracks, winter landscapes and much more. If there is not sufficient snow, a hike of the same subject will still take place. No fee but you must register by February 1 and bring your own equipment. Meet at the Tom Ridge Environmental Center at 10 a.m. to carpool or meet at the Erie Bluffs parking lot at 10:30 a.m. For more information call (814) 833-7424.
Bean Day is a fundraiser for the Second Harvest Food Bank. Attendees are invited to bring a bean-based entry to be judged and shared. Event will be held Saturday, February 7, 2009. Still to be determined is the time and location (tentatively 3 – 8 p.m. at the Ss. Peter and Paul social center, 34th and Wallace).
At 7 p.m. on Wednesday, Feb. 11, Gannon will host a showing of the movie “Trouble the Water.” The showing will be held in room 104 of the Zurn Science Center, 143 West 7th St., and is co-sponsored by Gannon’s Center for Social Concerns, Office of Service-Learning, Activities Programming Board, International Student Office, and the Departments of Psychology, Sociology, Social Work, and Criminal Justice.
Gannon University’s Schuster Theatre’s next show, “The Trachinae,” a fiery Greek tragedy, will be shown Thursday, Friday, and Saturday, Feb. 12-14, and Thursday, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, Feb. 19-22. All Thursday-Saturday performances begin at 8 p.m., Sunday matinees are at 2 p.m. Gannon’s Schuster Theatre is located at 620 Sassafras Street. Ticket prices for the general public are $5. For more information, contact the Theatre at 814-871-7493 or 814-871-7720.
If you’re looking for something different to do in celebration of Valentine’s day, you should consider the Erie Planetarium’s Valentines Dinner Under the Stars. There will be two shows with dinner from 6 p.m. – 8:30 p.m. on February 12 & 13. For more information call (814) 454-1813, ext. 0.
The Erie Philharmonic presents The Piano Man – A Tribute to Billy Joel on February 14, at 8 p.m. For more information call (814) 455-1375 or visit the website.
The SeaWolves are looking for enthusiastic, outgoing individuals of ALL ages to join their team. The ‘Wolves will be hosting their second annual Job Expo on Saturday, February 14, 2009 at the Erie Civic Center from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. We are filling positions for our “Wolf Pack” promotional team, ushers, concession stands, mascots and other exciting game day jobs. The job expo will be located in the Civic Center suites and interested parties can enter at entrance B near the southeast corner of the arena. Perspective game day employees will fill out applications and interview for positions on the spot. For more information about the 2009 Erie SeaWolves Job Expo, contact (814) 456-1300 or visit www.seawolves.com.
Erie Gay Business Alliance will meet on February 18 at Matthew’s Trattoria, 153 E 13th St at 7 PM. Local activist Doris Cipolla will be speaking about marriage equality and other issues relevant to the GLBT community to the Erie Gay Business Alliance, which is for GLBT professionals and business people and their supporters. Phone: (814) 456-9833. Email: egba-owner@eriegaynews.com. Sign up for the email list at http://lists.eriegaynews.com
Gannon University will host a Financial Aid Workshop at 6:30 p.m. on Wednesday, Feb. 18. The workshop is free and open to the public and will be held in room 1200 of the University’s Palumbo Academic Center, 824 Peach St. The informational session is designed to help high school students and their parents better navigate the sometimes complex financial aid process. It will include an overview of the entire financial aid process, including a step-by-step review of the questions on the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). It also will cover definitions of terms parents and students should know, the various aid programs available, and tips on how to apply and the application process. For more information, call 814-871-7337 or 1-800-GANNON-U, or visit http://www.gannon.edu/admiss/undergrad/finaid/workshops.asp.
The 11th annual MECA Bar Stool Open will be held on Saturday February 21, 2009 in downtown Erie, PA. Entry fee is $100 per team of 4 golfers, $25 per person. Must be 21 years of age or older to participate. Click here to for the registration form.
Erie’s favorite event is right around the corner. The 18th Annual Erie Trivia Night Challenge will be held on Thursday, February 26 at the Avalon Hotel, 16 West Tenth Street, Erie. The event will benefit children in the Achievement Center’s Physical Rehabilitation programs. Participants in the event will be treated to an evening of lavish raffles, a silent auction; dinner fit for a king, and of course, the coveted Achiever’s Title. “Captain Dan” Geary will be returning as our master of ceremonies. “Captain Dan” will be navigating participants through three rounds of rip-roaring, mind-teasing Erie trivia questions to arrive at the infamous, “final question.” Registration starts at 5:30 p.m. Dinner is at 6 p.m. with the trivia to start at 7 p.m. Cost is $50 per person or $400 per table of eight. Dinner and game play included. For more information, call Susan A. Smith at 814-459-2755, Ext. 1115.
February 27 will be the Erie Art Museum’s Nouveau, a party serioes for 20-40 somethings. African safari theme features African textiles, drumming circle, tie dye workshop, donation bar…and a dose of new. Sponsored by PNC Bank, Erie Times News, Bob FM, Molly Brannigans, Bud American Ale
