OK, something cool is going on tonight that I hope you’ll check out. There’s a new series of films going on called “Dinner and Movie Night at the Station.” A group is showing films at Union Station, all with a train theme. How awesome is that? Show up early and for $10 you get a buffet dinner. So, for the cost of a movie and bad popcorn at Tinseltown, you can come to Union Station, check out a cool flick (free if you don’t want dinner), nom on some great food and check out a cool flick in a cool space. How great is that? The movie starts at 6:30 p.m. and dinner is served at 5:45. Here’s the schedule for the next few weeks:

March 1: The Station Agent
March 15: Strangers on a Train
March 29: The Train
April 12: The Night of the Hunter
April 26: North by Northwest

Awesome flicks. Thanks to the folks at the Concourse and Logistics Plus for putting this all together. Please go and check this out. If it goes well, hopefully there will be more and more in the future.

The Erie Zoo reopened this weekend. Hopefully that will bring Spring along with it.

The roof at Walker Brothers Buick-Chevrolet on Route 99 collapsed Saturday due to heavy, wet snow. No one was injured, luckily. Guess the snow decided to give a little more, take a little less at Walker Brothers Buick Chevrolet. That line is better if you hum it.

Your new Erie County Public Defender is Daryl Vandeveld. In addition to being an attorney, Mr. Vandeveld served in Iraq, Kuwait and Afghanistan.

This weekend was also the third anniversary of the opening of Presque Isle Downs and Casino. So far, gamblers have wagered $6.1 billion there. That’s crazy. It will be interesting to see what effect both the upcoming table games will make as well as voters approving gaming in Ohio. I bet a lot of people come to the casino from eastern and northeastern Ohio. Will they come when they can gamble in Cleveland in the future? Magic 8 Ball says ask again later.

North East’s Bella Salon and Day Spa, owned by Darlene Youngs, Cheryl Phillips and Stephanie Hamels, has been named as one of the 200 fastest-growing salons to the SALON TODAY 200, by SALON TODAY magazine, a top business publication for salon and spa owners.

Sports

The Gannon men’s basketball team begins its third consecutive venture into post-season play Tuesday, March 2 when it travels to Indiana (Pa.) for a Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) Quarterfinal game. Game time is scheduled for 7 p.m. IUP is ranked No. 6 in NCAA Division II and No. 2 in the NCAA Division II Atlantic regional rankings. The Crimson Hawks swept the regular-season series, winning 73-66 at the Hammermill Center and 62-49 at home.

Mercyhurst College pounded out 16 hits en route to an 8-2 victory over St. Rose on Sunday afternoon of the Lakers southern swing.

Events

The Erie Art Museum Contemporary Music Series presents a special concert of the Ethnic Heritage Ensemble on Wednesday March 3, 2010 at 8 p.m.at the Erie Art Museum in the second floor annex. After 35 years, the Ethnic Heritage Ensemble is still serving their special brand of 21st century Griot music to people worldwide. The Chicago Tribune writes the trio is “harmonically provocative and rhythmically seductive,” and they consistently deliver jazz that combines ancestral wisdom, exploratory improvisation, and crack musicianship