This Weekend in Lowell: Local Talent

Bob Franke "In Concert"
Thursday April 30, 2009 7pm
Free at the Pollard Memorial Library
Presented by the Parker Lectures


"The Straight Line" A Play
Friday May 1 & Saturday May 2, 2009 8pm
Presented by Image Theatre
$18 tickets online, $20 at the door, Upstairs at The Old Court
Rick and Jim, two disaffected 50 year old men from Boston, seek to spice up their life by drawing a “straight line” across America and just… going. All hell breaks loose when their car breaks down outside a diner in Ogallalah, Nebraska, and they become intertwined with the lives of the locals. Beer, romance, and gunfights in this “Coen Brothers- like” take on the loss of the American Dream.

Hot Day at the Zoo
Friday May 1, 2009 10pm
$10 Cover at Gemstone's above Blue Shamrock
"Friday night local favorites Hot Day at the Zoo christen Gemstones, Lowell's newest music venue on Market Street above the Blue Shamrock. With a growing legion of fans, HDATZ continue to impress audiences up and down the east coast. Last month they played Johnny D's in Somerville nearly bringing down the house with their foot stomping, dance inducing rhythms and high octane live show." Excerpt by Peter Lavender on Audio Floss

A Choreographer's Muse: The Body Talks
Saturday May 2, 2009 7:30pm
Free at the Revolving Museum
The Revolving Museum (TRM) in collaboration with the Youth Dance Company (YDC) presents, “A Choreographer's Muse: The Body Talks” YDC dancers will perform four pieces, followed by a discussion with the choreographers who will speak about dance as it relates to storytelling and their personal motivation for creating the piece they choreographed. The event will conclude with a light reception giving audience members the opportunity to speak one-on-one with the performers and chorographers.

Choreography and Conversation with dancers and artists from the Donna Miceli Dance Center: Courtney Grassia, Ellen Grinder, Adrienne Hawkins, Donna Miceli, Jeffrey Polston

Fancy Free Fashion Show
Saturday May 2, 2009 5-7pm (after WAS Open Studios)
Free at the Western Ave Studios Loading Dock Gallery
Ann Lee presents her latest latest Art-to-Wear jackets for spring. There will be jackets for work, jackets to jazz up your jeans, and jackets to make you want to dance. Refreshments from 5-7 pm; fashion show at 5:30.

"All Fired Up" Art Reception
Sunday May 3, 2009 2-4pm
Free at the Ayer Lofts Gallery
A Panorama of Pulchritudinous Pottery Paintings by Laura Shaw

Tonight in Lowell: Get Out!

With the temperature in Lowell peaking at a record 92° today, there are plenty of reasons to go outside tonight- here are just a few!!

Take Back the Night
6pm at City Hall
People will join together to march through the streets of Lowell to bring awareness to domestic violence and sexual abuse.

Art Reception: Greg Wright
7pm at Centro
Greet the artist and see his works on display at Centro.

Open Mic Night
7pm at Mambo Grill
Discover local singers and songwriters as they perform live on an open mic.

Want to just hang outside for a drink or dessert? Check out these great places to sit and enjoy the outdoors:

Caffe Paradiso
Life Alive
Blue Taleh
Fortunatos
Olé
Beer Works
Brewd Awakening
Courtyard Bar
Blue Shamrock
J.J. Boomers
Hookslide Kelly's
Market St. Market
Time Out Cafe
Mr. Jalapeno
Delicia's
Olympos Bakery

Lowell This Weekend: Meet the Artists!

For a more complete list of events happening this weekend, check out the calendar on the side of our blog! There's always so much more than we can show in one post!


Joe Darensbourg
“Beyond the Book”
The Revolving Museum Friday, April 24th, 7:00pm-9:00pm
General Admission $7, Members $4
Ages 12 and up
Somebody call the Copts! During ”Beyond the Book” Joe will talk about some of the bardic (musical storytellers) traditions, play the Oud (mid eastern Lute), violin and drum.


Donna Berger
The Revolving Museum Saturday, April 25th, 9:30am-10:30am
General Admission $5, Members $3
General Admission per family $15, Members $10
Local illustrator Donna Berger will give a presentation about the process of illustrating a children’s book. She will also read one of the stories she illustrated and demonstrate how she did it.

Brian Bergon
"We've Got To Find An Easier Way"
CD Release Show
Athenian Corner, Saturday April 25th, 1pm
Free, All Ages

Arts League of Lowell
Mill City Inspirations Art Reception
ALL Gallery, NPS Visitor Center, Sunday April 26th, 2 - 4 PM
The show features Laurie Simko's new work inspired by the city of Lowell along with several other local artists.

New England Quilt Museum's
Text and Textile Extravaganza
Saturday, April 25 from 9am to 3pm
The Museum is hosting its popular book and fabric fundraiser for the fifth year! In exchange for a $25.00 donation, participants receive one shopping bag, sized 16" by 12" by 6", to fill to the brim with assorted books, magazines and fabrics.


The Compaq Big Band
Saturday, April 25, 2009, 7:30 PM - 9:30 PM
Durgin Concert Hall, South Campus of UMass Lowell
Free admission

Public Art Tour
Sunday April 26th, 8:30am
National Park Visitor Center at Market Mills, 246 Market Street



If you love theatre, this is the only weekend to catch MCC's performance of Cabaret:

Lowell Goes Green for Earth Day

If you're passionate about environmental issues, there's plenty for you to get involved in Lowell this week!

Tonight (4/14) at 5:30pm you can drop in at Lowell Beer Works for "Green Drinks", a monthly gathering of people concerned with environmental issues in Lowell.

Also tonight (4/14) at 7pm you can catch a free re-screening of "The Garden" at the NPS Visitor Center, which was a sold-out feature during the film festival!


Thursday (4/16) at 6:30pm at Pollard Memorial Library there will be a free screening of Blue Vinyl, which investigates the environmental issues of Vinyl Siding in a comical documentary.

Sunday (4/19) from 12-4pm Rain or Shine, will be the 3rd Annual Earth Day Festival at the community gardens greenhouse.

Lowell Public Arts Video

While browsing for some Lowell-related films, we stumbled on this Lowell Public Arts video, circa 2006. Check it out by pressing play to start the short film:


Interested in producing your own film? Did you know that you can become a member of the LTC (Lowell Telecommunications Corporation) and get free use of the LTC equipment (including internet and high-end digital imaging resources)? We think it's a pretty sweet deal, and with the LTC Youth Matters Film Fest on the way, there's no better time to start creating!

Lowell This Weekend: April 9-12

Thursday April 9, 7-9pm, Pollard Library
Parker at the Pollard: Hollywood Heist: Brinks Job
"On January 17, 1950, seven robbers in Halloween masks walked into a counting room of the Brink�s armored car garage in Boston and walked out with $2.5 million in cash, checks and securities. It was the largest robbery in U.S. history to date. For six years, authorities worked to crack the case. Just before the statute of limitations ran out, one of the robbers ratted out his comrades. Come see author Stephanie Schorow take us through this 'Crime of the Century' and reveal all the exciting details of the case. This event is free and open to the public. Brought to you as part of the Parker Lecture Series." For more information, visit the library calendar or call 978-970-4120.



Thursday April 9, 6-8pm, Dugan Gallery UMass Lowell
Fifteen-Minute Features presents: One Hundred Forty-Four show
Featuring 12 x 12 inch works of art by students, faculty, staff & friends of the UML Art Department. Portion of the proceeds to benefit the Art Student Union @ UML
The Art Student Union @ UML funds various art-related events for current UML students, including biannual New York City trips to museums & galleries and on-campus Open House events." For more information, visit the Dugan Gallery Website or call 978-934-3491.

Friday April 10, 6:30pm - ?, 119 Gallery
6 Bands for 5 bucks
Ram - all girl rock band
I the Eye - dance music and noise
Ununi - noise
Slippery Dixon - Psychedelic Rock
16 Lips - all girl punk band
Black Steel Peacock - noise
For more information visit the 119 Gallery Website.


Saturday April 11, 2pm, Barnes & Noble
Author Reading: "Brush Cat: On trees, the wood economy, and the most dangerous job in America" by Jack McEnany
"Although the logging industry is a lightning rod for green concerns, McEnany effectively presents the case for generations of independent loggers who work the Great Northern Forest in New Hampshire. This is his home, and he did his research on the job and in the local bars. He dips deeply into the centuries of economic interdependence between the towns and the woods, while also describing the care with which “brush cats” tend to the trees." --Colleen Mondor For more information please call 978-458- 3939.

Lowell Film Festival This Weekend!

The Lowell Film Festival has been drawing a lot of outside attention this year, including a wonderful article from the Boston Globe titled, "No run-of-the-mill festival." In Lowell, food and trade are part of focus and from the Boston Herald, "Film Fest Showcases Asparagus, Japanese Westerns, and Seattle Riots".

News on the street is that the Friday Feature Film, The Garden, is already sold out, but that it will be replayed in a few weeks through the National Park Service. This also means that if you'd like to snag a seat to the Saturday night feature film, Battle in Seattle, definitely act soon by contacting Suzz through Lowell Films website.

The venues for the films are cozy and intimate, with just enough room for a passionate crowd of people to get immersed in the filmmaker's vision. Check out the full schedule online and film descriptions so you can plan your schedule full of informational and cinematic films.