« Erie PA News and Events for Sunday November 19, 2006 | Main | Erie PA News and Events for Tuesday November 21, 2006 »

Erie PA News and Events for Monday November 20, 2006

The Pennsylvania State Police are urging motorists to buckle up and drive safely during the Thanksgiving holiday driving period. State Police Commissioner Jeffrey B Miller said he has directed troopers to adopt a “zero-tolerance policy” toward violations of the state’s seatbelt and child passenger restraint laws. “If a driver is stopped for a traffic violation and anyone in the vehicle is not properly restrained, the driver will get two citations instead of one,” Miller said. “We want to send a strong message that seat belts and child safety seats save lives.”

Jenson and a couple of her friends saw Pat Monahan of “Train” at Starbucks on Saturday. She wrote that Monahan has “chicken legs.”

Pittsburgh 24 Cleveland 20. Steelers LB Joey Porter said after the game “If you talk and lose, you’re still losers.” Ha!

The Erie Runners Club 2006 Turkey Trot will be held on Thanksgiving Day, Thursday November 23 at 9 am. There are over 1,200 people registered to run in the 10K and 5K runs.

The Gannon University men’s basketball team opens the 2006-07 regular season Friday, November 24 by hosting the 20th annual Gary Miller Classic. Lock Haven faces Pitt-Johnstown at 6 pm and the Golden Knights open against C W Post in the nightcap at 8 pm.

The “Victorian Holidays: A Holiday Heritage Festival” exhibit at the Erie County Historical Society Watson-Curtze Mansion, 356 W 6 St, runs through December 31.

The musical “Aida” will play the Warner Theatre on Tuesday November 21. Some tickets are still available.

Michael Acri Boxing Promotions 22nd annual Erie Boxing Classic will be held Wednesday, November 22, at The Avalon Hotel, 16 West 10th Street in Erie, PA. The first bout will begin at 8 pm. The headliner will be Jesus Francisco “Panchito” Zepeda vs Paul Spadafora (38-0-1, 15 KOs) in a 10 round junior welterweight bout. Tickets, priced at $60 (Golden Ringside), $40 (Ringside) and $20 (General Admission), can be purchased at The Avalon Hotel, Dee’s Cigar Store, Johnny’s Sports Bar and the Ringside Restaurant.

The Erie Central High School Class of 1996 will hold their 10 year class reunion on Saturday November 25 at 7 pm at the Siebenbuerger Club, 2114 French Street. Tickets are $20 per person. For more info, call (814) 898-6063. or email echs1996reunion@yahoo.com .

Gannon University’s Schuster Theatre production of James Joyce’s “The Dead” opens November 30. Set in 1904, the last and best known of the short stories collected in the Dubliners, this intimate musical portrays a homespun Yuletide party with Irish music, dancing, food, drink, and good fellowship. Sparkling songs, many of them traditional-sounding Irish melodies that are performed as entertainment by the partygoers, are all original. Book by Richard Nelson, music by Shaun Davey, lyrics adapted by Davey and by Richard Nelson. Directed by Shawn Clerkin, assistant professor, theatre, and director of the Gannon theatre program. Additional performances will be given Dec 1-3 and Dec 7-9. All shows are at 8 pm, except for Sunday matinees at 3 pm. Schuster Theatre is located at 620 Sassafras St. For more information, call the box office at (814) 871-7494.

Experience Erie’s premier holiday tradition with an outstanding group of musicians and everyone’s favorite newsworthy entertainer, Amanda Post. Singing along with Amanda this season is the ever popular and talented Brenda Evans, close friend and celebrated song master Bob Martin and of course sister Abby Daggett. Lead by piano virtuoso James Madden, the band includes perennial string masters Brian Hunt and Carl Hultman along with James Abate (drums), Dave Stertevant (violin), Derf Hopsecger (bass), and Chris Dempsey (horns). “One Voice for Christmas with Amanda Post” will be performed Saturday December 2 at 8 pm and Sunday, December 3 at 2 pm at the Warner Theatre. Tickets are on sale now at the Warner Theatre Box Office (814) 452-4857. Cost is $12, $18, VIP seating $25.

The Goo Goo Dolls will play a concert at the Warner Theatre in Erie Tuesday December 5. Tickets are on sale now.

Charles M Telesco, a professor of astronomy at University of Florida, will host “Worlds in Collision” during an Open House Night in Astronomy program at Penn State Erie, The Behrend College. Telesco’s presentation will be held at 7:30 pm on Thursday, Dec 7, in 101 Otto Behrend Science Building. It is free and open to the public, and, weather permitting, will be followed by astronomical viewing from the college’s Mehalso Observatory.

The Gem City Jazz Ensemble will also be providing entertainment at this year’s St Vincent Festival of Trees on Friday, November 24th at the Ambassador Banquet and Conference Center on upper Peach Street. Take a break from your hectic and exhausting Black Friday shopping and enjoy the relaxing sights and sounds of Christmas, featuring 50 professionally decorated trees. You’ll probably be out-and-about anyway, so stop in and see them. Gem City will be playing from 7-8:30 pm that evening.

The next production at the Roadhouse Theater is “SantaLand Diaries” and “Season’s Greetings.” Playwright, author, and National Public Radio commentator David Sedaris compose two entertaining, irreverently witty essays which were adapted for the stage by Joe Mantello. The production opens with a post-show reception the evening after Thanksgiving, Friday, November 24 and continues through Saturday, December 23. Admission: Regular seating $12, Riser seating $15, VIP table seating $20. Reservations can be made by phone at (814) 456-5656 or in person at the Roadhouse Theatre for Contemporary Arts 145 West 11th Street. Box Office hours are 2-6 PM Tuesday - Saturday. The theater accepts cash, checks, Visa, MasterCard and Discover.

Two facets of the choral music program at Penn State Erie, The Behrend College, will be showcased at its annual fall concert on Tuesday, Nov 28. The concert will begin at 8 pm in the McGarvey Commons of the Reed Union Building. The College Choir and the Studio Singers both will perform under the direction of Daniel Barnard, lecturer in music. Tickets for the concert are $5 for adults and $3 for students and are available at the door or at the Reed Union Building information desk.

Shangahi Quartet, a versatile ensemble known for its passionate musicality, impressive technique, and multicultural innovation, will perform at Penn State Erie, The Behrend College, on Friday, Dec 1. Their lunchtime appearance, part of Music at Noon: The Logan Series, will begin at noon in the McGarvey Commons of the Reed Union Building. It is free and open to the public.

The War at the Shore II wresting showcase will be held Friday, Dec 1 at the Tullio Arena. Fort LeBoeuf vs Mount Pleasant and McDowell vs General McLane takes place at 6 pm. Edinboro vs Michigan State and Mercyhurst vs Gannon go at it at 8 pm. Tickets are $10 day of event at the door or only $6 in advance through Ticketmaster.

The Holiday Toy Drive (benefiting SafeNet Erie) and Gift Wrapping Party will be held at the Plymouth Tavern, 1109 State Street, on Wednesday, December 13 at 6 pm. Contact Melissa Newell at melissamnewell(at)gmail.com for information regarding the Toy Drive. Yep! has partnered with United Way Young Leaders for this event. Please join them in providing gifts for local families currently being sheltered.

The movies for the Holiday Film Series at the Big Green Screen Theater are The Lion King (Dec 5), The Incredibles (Dec 12), the excellent 1961 version of 101 Dalmations (Dec 19) and Toy Story (Dec 26).

Dennis Weed

Posted by Dennis at November 20, 2006 7:06 AM