Weekly Downtown E-News 9/29/06

A REMINDER FROM DOWNTOWN BUSINESS COUNCIL:Another special planning session is scheduled for 7:30 AM, Tuesday, October 10th at the Horizon Convention Center (donuts and coffee served). We should expect to meet for approximately 2 hours. The aim is identify three to four goals that can be achieved over the next 24 months, based on the lists we developed at the last meeting.If there is something you'd like to share with me that you believe would make our time together more productive, please contact Andrew Dale at 284-4987.

SEPTEMBER EVENTS :

30th - Stories Around the World Family Campfire at Minnetrista, 7-9 p.m. Registration deadline: Saturday, September 23. Call (765) 213-3549 to register.

30th - Muncie Children's Museum - DeFur Voran Free Family Saturday. Free admission from 10 am to 5 pm. Everyone is welcome!

SEPTEMBER ONGOING:

Through Sept. 30th - Artist Within exhibit: Hannah Birch's printmaking, "A Study of the Figure", with an opening reception on First Thursday, Sept 7, from 5-8pm.

Through Sept. 30th - Cortex exhibit: Beth Chico will display artist made books along with sculpture by Steven Clark. Live music, food and drink will be featured during the "First Thursday" opening reception Thursday Sept. 7 from 5-8pm.

Through Sept. 30th - Artworks exhibit: Sandy Ezell will exhibit watercolors in varied techniques during the month of September at Artworks Gallery in downtown Muncie. The show will open on First Thursday, Sept. 7, with the artist in attendance from 5 to 8 pm. The public is invited to attend and partake of light refreshments.

Through Sept. 30th - Mitchell Place Gallery will open at its new location at 308 E. main Street, with an exhibit of Digital Collages by David Franklin.

Through Sept. 30th - Gordy's Fine Art & Frame Co. presents exhibit by Tom Minkler

Through Sept. 30th - Back by popular demand, the Muncie Children's Museum's Make & Take craft room will be open every weekday from 3:30-4:30 pm. Fall Crafts will be September's theme.

Muncie Civic Theater is accepting signup for Fall Acting Classes from ages 7-Adult. For more information call 765-288-PLAY

Every Wednesday and Saturday - Farmers Market at Minnetrista: Shop the market Wednesday, 4 p.m. until sold out; Saturdays, 8 a.m.-12 p.m.

Every Thursday - Natural Heritage Farmers Market Corner of Walnut & Charles St Downtown Muncie, Indiana Thursday Evenings from 4 - 6 pm

OCTOBER EVENTS :

3rd - 7th - "Create for the Cure" will take place at The Artist Within. 100% of studio fees collected during the week will go to the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation. Local artists and celebrities have participated in "Paint a Plate for the Cure" and the plates they painted will be in a silent auction during the week and the winning bids will be notified Sat. October 7th and the monies will also be donated to the Komen Foundation.

4th - Middletown Idol Registration Deadline has been extended again to October 4, from 9am to 6pml at Cornerstone Center for the Arts. The event takes placeOctober 6 and 7 at Cornerstone. Cash prizes are awarded to top three finalists. Call the Cornerstone Box Office at 765-289-9687 for more information.

4th - Muncie Children's Museum - Art focused, our Origami hands on workshop begins on Wednesday, October 4 and runs every Wednesday from 4-5 pm. Registration is required. Contact the Museum at 286-1660 for details and cost, or visit our website at www.munciechildrensmuseum.com.

5th - Minnetrista offers Colors of Nature Program for Toddlers 10-10:30 a.m.

5th - ArtsWalk, 5-9pm. Annual event featuring coordinated art shows between Ball State and the many art galleries downtown. Lots going on downtown - music, food, poetry reading, new exhibits and many merchants open for this special event!! Free shuttle is provided between downtown and BSU. For more information, call Downtown Development at 282-7897.

5th - 7th - Local artist/teacher Ana-Marie Delk will have a three day show and sale of her knitted and felted purses and accessories at The Artist Within. The work will be available during studio hours Thursday Oct 5 through Saturday October 7th.

5th - Blue Bottle features live, famous poet: Joseph Kerschbaum

6th - Muncie Children's Museum - Friends & Family Fun Night. Free admission from 3 pm to 7 pm. Frogs Are Green-What Color Are You?

6th and 7th - Middletown Idol, A Solo Vocal Competition (Ages 16 & above) and Junior Middletown Idol Competition (Ages 15 & below) at Cornerstone Center for the Arts. Junior Division Competitions ~ October 6 @ 7:00pm; Adult Division Competitions ~ October 7 @ 7:00pm. Call the Cornerstone Box Office at 765-289-9687 for more information.

7th - IDNR, Division of Forestry Community & Urban Forestry presents a Basic Tree Care Workshop, 9:00-4:00, McCulloch Park, Muncie IN. Registration deadline is 9/29/2006. Download brochure & registration form at http://www.munciedowntown.com/downbloads/BTCtrifold.pdf

10th - Minnetrista offers Animals Just Like Mine Program for 4 & 5-Year-Olds 4-5 p.m. Pre-registration required. Call (765) 213-3549.

11th - Minnestrista offers Textures in Nature Program for 3-Year-Olds 4-5 p.m. Pre-registration required. Call (765) 213-3549.

12th - Muncie Ballet, registration for Nutcracker Class from 5-7pm. Performance based class workshops meet on Saturdays, Oct. 14-Dec. 14, from 12-pm at Cornerstone Center for the Arts. Performance dates are Dec. 15-17th. The Children's Nutcracker is attended by over 1600 community children annually. Now in it's 6th year, families have made a tradition of attending this children's holiday classic. Advance registration may be made at MuncieBallet.org

12th - Minnestrista offers Tree Trekkers Program for 6 & 7-Year-Olds 4-5 p.m. Pre-registration required. Call (765) 213-3549.

12th - 31st - Muncie Children's Museum - Mark your calendars now! The Basement haunted house opens October 12 for its 10th season. For dates, times and admission information, call the Museum at 286-1660 or visit our website at www.munciechildrensmuseum.com.

13th - KNIT IN! to kick off National Knitting Week, at Danner's: Books * Gifts * Yarn, beginning at 5:30 p.m. All knitters and crocheters are invited, please bring snacks to share with the group. It will be just like an old fashioned slumber party. Susan and Linda will be on hand to help with questions. Please feel free to bring friends with you. We anticipate pooping out about 11:00 p.m. or midnight.

13th - Minnestrista offers Sweet Spot "Minne"-Trip for Adults 8:15 a.m.-3 p.m. Stops at Wick's Pie company and Ghyslain Chocolatier!! Registration deadline: October 5. Call (765) 213-3549.

14th - Book Signing with author Clifford Crow and his new book After the Diet's Gone [non-fiction] from 4-6pm, at Danner's: Books * Gifts * Yarn, 1316 North Wheeling Ave. - everyone is welcome!

14th - Muncie Civic Theatre will hold open auditions on Saturday, October 14 at 1:00pm on the main stage of Muncie Civic Theatre at 216 E. Main Street in downtown Muncie. Directors will be seeking actors for the following productions: THE BEST CHRISTMAS PAGEANT EVER (open roles include 4 men and 4 women...all children's roles are already cast); MOON OVER BUFFALO (seeking 4 men and 4 women of various ages); A CHRISTMAS CABARET (seeking 2 men and 3 women singers); and DEATH & THE MAIDEN (seeking 2 men, 1 woman). Auditioners are asked to prepare a memorized one-minute monologue or speech of their choosing. Those auditioning for A CHRISTMAS CABARET should also be prepared to sing a song of their choosing. An accompanist will be provided.

20th -21st @ 8pm - Main Street Studio Theatre will present the The Mystery of Imra Vep by Charles Ludlam at 8pm. Reservations and ticket sales are available by calling 765-288-PLAY or at www.munciecivic.org.

21st - Book Signing with author Joseph Korts, a Vietnam War veteran from Morristown, and his new book Where Have All the Soldiers Gone? [non-fiction] on beginning at 10am, at Danner's: Books * Gifts * Yarn, 1316 North Wheeling Ave. - everyone is welcome!

22nd @ 2pm - Main Street Studio Theatre will present the The Mystery of Imra Vep by Charles Ludlam at 8pm. Reservations and ticket sales are available by calling 765-288-PLAY or at www.munciecivic.org.

26th - 28th @ 8pm - Main Street Studio Theatre will present the The Mystery of Imra Vep by Charles Ludlam at 8pm. Reservations and ticket sales are available by calling 765-288-PLAY or at www.munciecivic.org.

26th - 28th @ 7:30pm - Muncie Civic Theatre will present CATS by Andrew Lloyd Weber. Reservations and ticket sales are available by calling 765-288-PLAY or at www.munciecivic.org.

27th - Witches Ball, Center Stage - A night of reveling with the spirits and partying with the dead, and the living (of course), featuring live music from some of Indiana's finest bands and "The Devils Rejex" America's #1 Rob Zombie Tribute Band!! An all-ages event, but not appropriate for young children. Costume contest, admission charged. Visit www.witchesball.net for info.

28th - Minnestrista: Wind and Our Feathered Friends Workshop for Adults: 10 a.m.-12:30 p.m.

29th @ 2:00pm - Muncie Civic Theatre will present CATS by Andrew Lloyd Weber. Reservations and ticket sales are available by calling 765-288-PLAY or at www.munciecivic.org.

31st @ 8pm - Main Street Studio Theatre will present the The Mystery of Imra Vep by Charles Ludlam at 8pm. Reservations and ticket sales are available by calling 765-288-PLAY or at www.munciecivic.org.

26th - 28th @ 7:30pm - Muncie Civic Theatre will present a special Halloween show of CATS by Andrew Lloyd Weber. Reservations and ticket sales are available by calling 765-288-PLAY or at www.munciecivic.org.

OCTOBER ONGOING :

Through October 15th - at Minnetrista, Open Space: Art About the Land is an art competition and exhibition which seeks to recognize and encourage artists in Indiana who derive creative inspiration from the land, or whose work celebrates the notion of open space as it relates to the land.

Through October - The Artist Within will feature oil paintings by Indiana artist Abbie Parmele. The upstairs gallery will exhibit encaustic paintings by Marilyn Derwenskus' BSU Advanced Painting class. Opening reception Thursday Oct. 5th/5-9. Live demonstratons.

Through October - The Blue Bottle will exhibit photogaphs by Earl L. Conn, local writer, photographer, and speaker. His weekly column, "Traveling Indiana," which appears in five Indiana newspapers, is based on his visits to historic and interesting places around the Hoosier state.

Through October - ArtWorks presents: Award winning Artist Katherine Meade. The show will open on ArtsWalk October 5, with the artist in attendance from 5 to 8 pm. The public is invited to attend and partake of light refreshments.

Opens Sept. 23rd - Exhibits Surf the Wind ongoing exhibit at Minnetrista. Hours: Mon.-Sat., 9 a.m.-5:30 p.m. and Sun., 11 a.m.-5:30 p.m. Take off on an interactive journey into the world of 21st century kites! Admission charged.

UPCOMING:

Nov. 3rd - MPG and Vera Mae's invite you to the4th Annual Fine Wine Dinner & Art Auction at 7 pm. Auction proceeds to benefit A.R.F. Reservations are required, and seating is limited. Call 765-747-4941

Dec. 15-17th - Muncie Ballet presents The Children's Nutcracker, attended by over 1600 community children annually. Now in it's 6th year, families have made a tradition of attending this children's holiday classic. Details at MuncieBallet.org

************************************************************

SEND NEWS ITEMS:

Send information on downtown-related events for the weekly emailed newsletter to nancylnorris@aol.com.

The newsletter is also posted each week on munciedowntown.com. To have other information added to the downtown website, email to info@munciedowntown.com.

***********************************************************