DANCE - FINE ARTS - MUSIC - THEATER - WRITING

ARTBITS by Richard B. Harper


VOLUME 13 * * All Arts News On the Web * * October 8, 2009

STUFF YOU SHOULDN'T MISS

      ArtBits always features a calendar of the goings on of Franklin County artists. Check out these events around Franklin County. Each issue includes the entire text of our weekly newspaper column.


      Stop in for live music and more at the Fairfax Music Sessions at the Foothills Bakery in Fairfax most Saturday afternoons at 1 p.m., at various restaurants around Franklin County throughout the week, at the Bayside in St Albans Town most Sunday afternoons, and the Cambridge CoffeeHouses at 7 p.m. on the first and third Wednesday of every month.
     These gatherings bring new opportunities, gossip, "show-and-tell" and occasional workshops. The booked performances and acoustic Open Mike Nights feature music, readings, and more from the best new artists in Vermont.

      Find links to these events and more in our Spotlight!

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SPIKE ON THE FARM

      Friends of the Opera House and Dairy Farmers Working Together present Big Spike Bluegrass in the Opera House at Enosburg Falls on Saturday at 7:30 p.m.
      Big Spike plays hard-driving bluegrass from the traditional "golden age" of the genre. With Bill Gaston, banjo, lead and tenor vocals; Michael Santosusso, upright bass, tenor, and lead vocals; luthier and instrument designer Pete Langdell, guitar; Freeman Corey, fiddle; and Neil Rossi mandolin, fiddle, lead, and baritone vocals, they emphasize 3- and 4-part harmonies and solid original material in the traditional style. Together, they have played in Three Wheel Drive, Smokin' Grass, The David Bromberg Band, The Spark Gap Wonder Boys, Two Chord Jones, and Bob Yellin & The Joint Chiefs Of Bluegrass.
      There will be a surprise auction at intermission to benefit DFWT.
      Admission is $10 with half the proceeds going to DFWT. Tickets are available at the door and advance sale sites. Call 802.933.6171 or 802.848.7446, email, or click here for more info.


ART ON THE WALLS

WESTON--Corliss Blakely's Fall Art Show continues with oil paintings and prints in a gallery not far from the Vermont Country Store. Kennie Lyman has joined Corliss with a show of Functional Pots. Weston will also host a craft fare this weekend.
      "The foliage is gorgeous right now," Ms. Blakely said. "We're supposed to have lots of sun today through Sunday." She has already "sold a couple of nice originals and lots of prints."
      The show is open daily 10 a.m. - 5 p.m. and runs only through Columbus Day. Click here for more info.


COME TO THE FOOTLIGHTS!

WESTFORD--Fairfax Community Theater Company begins a two week run of Two Dragon Tales and a Taste of Saki: an Evening for Children of All Ages tonight at the Brick Meeting House. The five short one-act family oriented plays include wit of Saki in The Storyteller, The Boar-Pig, and The Open Window, plus a master chef in Drrrragon Stew, and The Reluctant Dragon. We will surely learn why the dragon is reluctant after the stew is made.
      The play is directed by Margie Cain and produced by Margie Cain, Walter Mahany, and Jerry Starks.
      This weekend, FCTC holds forth tonight, tomorrow, and Saturday in the Brick Meeting House at 7:30 p.m. There will also be a Saturday matinee at 2:00 p.m. Next weekend, FCTC moves to First Congregational Church in St. Albans.
      Admission is $10 for adults and $8 for children and seniors. There is also a Family Ticket Special of four tickets for $30. Click here for more info.


HYDE PARK--The Lamoille County Players performance of Rodgers and Hammerstein's Cinderella continues today through Sunday at the Hyde Park Opry House.
      The cast offers several Fairfax/Georgia folk including Blaize Hall, Fairfax, as the orphan Cinderella, Brenda Hall as the Queen, and Meredith Roberts in the ensemble. The ultimate fairy tale and musical comedy is directed by Frank Weston and produced by Bruce Finney with Music Director Shaun Booher.
      Evening performances tonight, tomorrow and Saturday at 7 p.m., and a Sunday matinee at 2 p.m. Admission is $18 for adults, $12 for students or seniors. Call 802.888.4507, or www.LCPlayers.com for tickets and info.
      Evening performances tonight, tomorrow and Saturday at 7 p.m., and a Sunday matinee at 2 p.m. Admission is $18 for adults, $12 for students or seniors. Call 802.888.4507, or click here for tickets and info.


CALL FOR PERFORMERS

     The annual Opera House Talent Search is right around the corner. The popular variety show offers cash prizes in both Junior and Adult Divisions.
      Participants must attend a Mandatory Rehearsal at the Opera House on Sunday at 1 p.m. Performers must register ahead of time and need to bring their back up music, if any, on CD.
      Call Sarah Jo Willey (802.933.4403 days), email, or click here for more info.


ON STAGE LIVE

HARTFORD--The Starline Rhythm Boys and Girl Howdy play the American Legion tomorrow at 8 p.m. There will also be Swing and Two-Step dance instruction with Faye Grearson at 7:30 p.m. Click here or click here for more info.


FRANKLIN--The Green Mountain Folklore Society will hold its Fall Meeting at the Franklin Homestead on Saturday, starting with a social hour at 9 a.m. There will be a pot luck dinner at noon.
      Folklore is people, their stories, their songs, their arts and crafts. The arts include folksay, folk tales, folk verse, and folk songs.
      Call 802.879.1925 or click here for more info.


MONTPELIER--The State House Open House/Step Up for Kids Day features Jon Gailmor, Rik Palieri, Rebecca Padula and others on Saturday at 1 p.m. to 2:30pm at the State House in Montpelier.
      The event is co-hosted by the Kids Are Priority One Coalition and Every Child Matters and sponsored by over 50 organizations, agencies and businesses. Call 802.272.0795 or click here for more info.


MONTPELIER--The Starline Rhythm Boys host a CD release party for Masquerade for Heartache at Charlie-O's on Saturday at 9:30 p.m. click here for more info.


SOUTH HERO--Fiddleheads perform the South Hero Apple Festival on Sunday at 12 noon. The group of young musicians learns and performs traditional fiddle tunes associated with Northern Vermont. Click here for more info.


JEFFERSONVILLE--The Village Tavern hosts Open Mic at 8 p.m. on Thursdays.


FAIRFAX--The regular Music Session continues Saturday with acoustic instrumentalists playing traditional songs at the Foothills Bakery, 1-4:30 p.m. Admission is free by donation.


ST. ALBANS--Chow Bella offers Music to Dine By with John Cassel on the piano on Wednesdays at 6:30 and the jazz and improv of Vern Colburn on the Piano on Fridays at 5:30. Call 802.524.1405 or click here for more info.


ON STAGE (ALMOST) LIVE

      The Vermont Youth Orchestra will appear on Across The Fence (WCAX, Channel 3) on Tuesday, October 13, at 12:10 p.m., immediately after the news and weather. The segment will feature live footage from the VYO's final concert of their tour at the Palais du Justice, in Poitier, France.


ART FOR SALE

     Franklin County Court Diversion is peddling a “Just Desserts, a 2010 calendar with 15 of "the most decadent, delicious dessert recipes," all compiled, baked, photographed and tested locally. Calendars are $10 each plus postage and include a stack of printed recipe cards.
      "Yummy," photographer April Henderson called them.
      FCCD also has an assortment of 10 photographic note cards with envelopes, all from Ms. Henderson's photos.
      "They make great thank-you or sympathy cards, or are nice for just keeping in touch the old-fashioned way," she said. Also $10 per pack plus postage.
      Call April Henderson (802.527.5560) for info or to buy.


CLICK HERE: ART SITE OF THE WEEK

     Author Suzi Wizowaty is a freshman legislator from Burlington. Her novels for adults and children include The Round Barn and the spooky adventure, A Tour of Evil. She teaches creative writing and hosts workshops which focus on getting started, or flash fiction (microfiction). Her site opens to her legislative blog and includes books and contact info.


FRANKLIN COUNTY BOOKSHELF

      ArtBits features a quick weekly peek at the bookshelf or night stand of the folks you know in and around Franklin County. That popular feature has a page of its own at the Franklin County Bookshelf here on the AAC site.


SUPPORT LIVE ARTS IN YOUR TOWN!


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      This article was originally published in the St Albans Messenger and other traditional print media. It is Copyright © 2009 by Richard B. Harper. All rights reserved. Archival material is provided as-is. Links are not necessarily maintained (if a link in this article fails, try Google.com or your favorite search engine).
      Thanks to recent misuse of copyright material on the Internet by individuals and archival firms alike, we emphasize that your rights to this article are limited to viewing it and printing it for personal use only. You must receive explicit permission from the All Arts Council and the author before reprinting or redistributing this article in any medium.