Weekly Downtown E-News 1/10/08

Downtown Announcements: The Muncie Downtown Business Council will have its first member meeting of the year on Wednesday, Jan. 30th at 3pm in the Star Press building conference room. There will be a networking event at the Horizon Convention Center on Thursday, January 24th. Members and those interested in Downtown Business Council membership are encouraged to attend. Details will be forthcoming in a separate email.

The biggest Mardi Gras this side of the Mississippi is back! This year's Muncie Gras will take place on Saturday, February 2nd, from 7pm-2am in the streets of Downtown Muncie. Weather is not an obstacle this year... there will be tons of places to get out of the cold. A new addition this year is (3) 40’X100’ heated tents. Stay tuned to munciedowntown.com for entertainment line-up and more information as it becomes available.

Website update - The 24-hour web cam at MuncieDowntown.com has been recently upgraded - the cam no longer requires a login and password to view the streaming video. Click Here to watch the view from the corner of Charles and Walnut streets. We've also added some new photos to the gallery, so please check it out if you haven't lately. Additionally, the Downtown Deals coupon sheet for January is now available on the website. Click Here to download and print your own coupon sheet, or email info@munciedowntown.com to request printed copies.


JANUARY EVENTS:

10th - Winter Carnival OPEN HOUSE at Community Center for Vital Aging, 4:00-6:30PM. FREE and open to the public. Observe and participate in demonstrations of Yoga, Tai Chi and Sweating To and With the Oldies (our new exercise class). Participants can sign up for all of our new classes, have refreshments, get health screenings, and play carnival games with door prizes. Please call the CCVA at (765) 289-4541 to reserve your seat.

11th Cornerstone Center for the Arts: TRIAD Meeting open to the public

11th Minnetrista: It Stings Your Toes and Bites Your Nose 1-3pm

11th Cornerstone Center for the Arts: Brown Bag and a Movie 12-2pm FREE

13th - Open Kiln Night: Small Pieces at Minnetrista, 4 - 8 p.m. Choose from a wide variety of glass, use Minnetrista's cutting tool, and fire your own piece to take home. Size templates will be provided. Knowledge of glass cutting and basic techniques is required to participate. Space is limited, pre-registration is required. Call (765) 282-4848 or visit http://www.minnetrista.net.

16th - PBS Program Club, 2 - 4 p.m. This month's discussion is about "Prayer in America." Call (765) 282-4848 or visit http://www.minnetrista.net.

16th - Community Center for Vital Aging presents WONDER WOMEN 6:30 -- 8:00 p.m., FREE lecture by Elaine Cotner of Ball State University's Women's Studies Department. Please call the CCVA at (765) 289-4541 to reserve your seat.

17th Muncie Chamber of Commerce host a speed networking meeting at the Horizon Convention Center 2-4pm call Nance Buchert for details 751-9114

19th - Show & Tell: Kick in the New Year at Minnetrista, 1:30 - 3 p.m. Kick in the New Year with a lesson in Kung Fu. Learn how this martial art is also a form of meditation. Kung Fu trainers from Laughing Monkey will demonstrate and show you a few moves. Call (765) 282-4848 or visit http://www.minnetrista.net.

21st - Muncie Children’s Museum will be open for Martin Luther King Jr. Day. Visit www.munciechildrensmuseum.com for program info.

22nd - Community Center for Vital Aging presents HOME BASED BUSINESS: HOW TO GET STARTED AND BE SUCCESSFUL 6:30--8:00 p.m., FREE Small Business Development Center director, Rick Leibowitz, will share information on how to start a small home business and be successful. Please call the CCVA at (765) 289-4541 to reserve your seat.

23rd - Community Center for Vital Aging presents INVENTIONS OF THE 21ST CENTURY 6:30 -- 8:00 p.m., FREE lecture by Dr. Rich Seymour from the BallState University's Department of Technology. Please call the CCVA at (765) 289-4541 to reserve your seat.

25th - Community Center for Vital Aging presents a CRAFT SEMINAR 10:00 a.m. -- 12:00 p.m. Cost includes 2-3 craft activities to make and take home. Please call the CCVA at (765) 289-4541 for cost and info.

26th Muncie Children’s Museum Free Family Saturday. Visit www.munciechildrensmuseum.com for program info.

26th - 7th Annual Dead Leaf Festival returns to Centerstage. Doors open at 2:30pm, Music Starts at 3:30 pm. This is an All Ages event. Alcohol will be available to those of age with ID. Bands: Headliners- Soraia & Red Horse also- Legion, Necrophagous, Malachai, Antagonists, Consumed by Fury, nomonic, & MAAX.

28th - Community Center for Vital Aging presents BABY BLUES, BEAUTIFUL BROWNS: EXCELLENT EYE INFORMATION 6:30 -- 8:00 p.m., FREE lecture byDr. Vasilis Makris. Please call the CCVA at (765) 289-4541 to reserve your seat.

30th - Community Center for Vital Aging presents FLOWN THE COOP 6:30 -- 8:00 p.m., FREE lecture by Dr. Bradley Hartman from Associates in Mental Health.

30th - The Downtown Business Council will meet Wednesday, January 30th, at 3:00 p.m. in the conference room at The Star Press building, 345 S. High St. Downtown Business Council is not limited to businesses and merchants. Residents, organizations and supporters of downtown in general are all encouraged to attend.

JANUARY ONGOING:

Through January 12 - Minnetrista will exhibit "White River Turtles: Paintings from Brian Gordy". Call (765) 282-4848 or visit http://www.minnetrista.net.

Through January 20 - Minnetrista will host Anne Frank: A History for Today. Call (765) 282-4848 or visit http://www.minnetrista.net.

Through January 20 - Minnetrista will exhibit "Indiana Acres: The Changing Face of the Family Farm". Call (765) 282-4848 or visit http://www.minnetrista.net.

Through January 20 - Minnetrista will exhibit "B'ruchim Habaim: Midwestern Sanctuary". Call (765) 282-4848 or visit http://www.minnetrista.net.

Through January - Artworks presents an exhibit by Jack Orrick, "The Wood Speaks," with an opening reception at First Thursdays, January 3, 2008, from 5:30 pm to 8:30 pm

Through January - Gordy Fine Art & Framing will continue its annual Print Show, featuring twenty area artists. Selections will include many sizes, subjects and price ranges, with all works available for purchase. The print show is the largest exhibit of the year at Gordy's. Prints may be removed from the exhibit at the time of purchase. The Annual Print Show will continue through January.

Through January - Gallery 308 presents an exhibit by Margie Prim, to open on January 3, 2008. The public is invited to the opening reception, 5-8 p.m., when light refreshments will be served and the artist will be on hand.

Jan 28-Apr. 24th Cornerstone for the Arts winter classes. Call for more info about classes at 281-9503 or visit www.cornerstonearts.org.

UPCOMING IN FEBRUARY:

2nd - Downtown's annual Mardi Gras (Muncie Gras) returns. Advance tickets are now available. Visit munciedowntown.com for details, or call Downtown Develoment at 282-7897.

3rd and 10th Artist Within offers Fused Glass classes from 11-5pm more details visit www.theartistwithininc.com

8th - David Allan Coe at Doc's Music Hall, with Michael Martin Band and The Silver Dollar Family Band. Show starts at 9pm, doors open at 5. Visit docsmusichall.com for info.

10th - Indiana Public Radio's 7th annual "All Things Chocolate," February 10th at Minnetrista. Registration deadline is Feb. 7. For more information, call Carol Trimmer at 765-285-5887. Registration form and guidelines may be downloaded at www.bsu.edu/ipr.

14th Artist Within Valentine’s Day Desserts and More 6-9pm

22nd - Get Your GROSS On! (For Grown-ups Only) at Minnetrista, 5:30 - 7 p.m. Complimentary drink, tasty treats, and an exploration of everything gross, featuring the exhibit, Grossology: The (Impolite) Science of the Human Body. Registration Deadline: Friday, February 15. Call 282-4848 to make your reservation.

Through February -Artworks will exhibit “From Heart and Hand” by Arline Johnstone and Donna Cunningham, February 7 through March 6, 2008. An opening reception will be held during First Thursday, Feb 7, 5:30pm to 8:30pm

Feb. 2nd - April 27th - "Grossology: The (Impolite) Science of the Human Body" exhibit at Minnetrista. Call (765) 282-4848 or visit http://www.minnetrista.net.

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