| | | | The Ninth Annual Lowell Open Studios will welcome visitors to over 135 artists' galleries noon-5pm on Saturday September 26 and Sunday September 27. The first ever Arts Festival featuring musicians and performers at downtown locations will entertain visitors visiting the galleries and the Block Party in the Market Mills Courtyard will keep the party going from 5-7 on Saturday with funky sounds from Dopapod and thrilling Gypsy jazz from Ameranouche. For more information visit www.lowellopenstudios.org
| | Retail & Restaurant News | Barnes & Noble, 151 Merrimack Street: Author book signing, October 8, 5:00 PM - 7:00 PM. Award winning investigative reporter Hank Phillipi Ryan is on the air at Boston's NBC affiliate. She will be here to sign her newest Charlotte McNally mystery Air Time. As with Face Time and Prime Time, Phillipi Ryan will keep you reading late into the night! For more information call 978-458-3939. Ole Restaurant & Tapas Bar, 76 Merrimack Street: You're the Star, Karaoke every Friday night. For more information visit www.oletapas.info
Old Court, 29-31 Central Street: Pub Trivia every Tuesday night at 8:00 PM, Prizes for 1st and 2nd place. Every Wednesday traditional Irish seissiun featuring Doug Lamey and Cliff Mc Gann. For more information visit www.oldcourtirishpub.com
Garcia Brogan's Cantina, Pub & Restaurant, 131 Middlesex Street: For fine Mexican and Irish Cuisine. For more information call 978-446-0005 or visit www.garciabrogans.com. Cobblestones Restaurant: 91 Dutton Street: is proudly a part of Share Our Strength Help End Childhood Hunger in America
September 20th-26th. HAPPY HOUR, Monday - Friday 3:00 PM - 6:00 PM, Drink & Appetizer Specials. For more information visit www.cobblestonesoflowell.com. | | Sports & Events | | Poetry Reading from "The Fogg" by Al Bouchard: Saturday, September 26, 2:00 - 4:00 PM. Reading begins around 2:30. Parker Gallery/Whistler House Museum of Art, 243 Worthen Street. Reading from The Fogg by Alfred Bouchard, which includes poems about Arshile Gorky and his works. For more information visit http://nichefineart.blogspot.com. Celebrate September as Arts Month in Lowell! Performances, galleries, exhibits, and classes are taking place all over the city this month. For more information visit www.cultureiscool.org/arts-month. UMass Lowell River Hawks: This is our town. This is our team. This is our time. Check out River Hawk hockey season ticket plans for the 2009-10 year. The River Hawks reached the Hockey East Championship game last time around before falling to eventual NCAA Champion Boston University. This year promises to be even better with BU, Boston College, and New Hampshire dotting the home schedule. Ticket plans start at just $99! For more information, visit http://adcsquad.com/umass/hockey/index.html.
Lowell Farmers Market, JFK Plaza at Lowell City Hall: Every Friday through mid October from 2:00 PM - 7:00 PM (Except Folk Festival weekend). Purchase fresh Massachusetts grown fruits, vegetables, herbs, ornamental plants, cut flowers and much much more. The Pollard Memorial Library: Join Peter Sheridan on Saturday, October 3, 2009 at 10:30 a.m. for a Tiny Tots concert at the Pollard. These concerts are aimed at children ages three and younger. Big brothers and sisters are always welcome. Join us for a musical morning of singing, dancing and having fun! Admission is free, however tickets are required. Please visit Pollard Memorial Library to pick up your free concert tickets. For more information, visit www.pollardml.org or call 978-970-4122. Pollard Memorial Library's Youth Services Department.
Killer Poet: The Double Life of Norman Porter [2008]: Tuesday, October 6 at 7:00 PM. Lowell National Historical Park Visitor Center, 246 Market Street, Special Guest: Director Susan Gray
Relive the tragic, true story of Norman Porter, a convicted double murderer from Lynn, Massachusetts, who served 25 years in prison before escaping to Chicago where he spent the next two decades living as a poet/intellectual by the name of JJ Jameson - an elaborately crafted false identity. Through the story of one charismatic man, we explore the system of justice and retribution in the United States, and the political nature of sentencing. Presented in partnership with Moses Greeley Parker Lectures.
Visit www.lowelfilmcollaborative.org for more information. The Lowell Devils have a variety of fundraising and entertainment options tailored to Youth Hockey organizations. For more information about any of these programs, for more information call (978) 458-PUCK or visit www.lowelldevilshockey.com.
Save the Date! The 2nd Annual Massachusetts Poetry Festival
Thursday, October 15 - Sunday, October 18, 2009
The 2nd Annual Massachusetts Poetry Festival comes to the City of Lowell in celebration of our state's rich poetic heritage. Following the success of the 2008 Festival, this year's event has expanded to include poetry programs in Amherst, Boston, Cambridge, Fall River, Salem, the Berkshires, and Worcester County, all in addition to the exciting events taking place in downtown Lowell. All programs are FREE and open to the public. Highlights include: 1) over 30 different poetry readings, workshops, discussions, and dance & music performances by renowned regional poets and poetry groups; 2) headline readings with Robert Pinsky, Louise Glück, Anne Waldman, and Afaa Weaver; 3) a Small Press Fair featuring 25 small presses and journals from across New England; 4) a late-night poetry slam competition with teams from New York City and Boston; and 5) a 2-day Youth Poetry Exploration Program welcoming over 200 high school students from 15 area schools for poetry reading and writing workshops, a reading competition, and a Poetry Out Loud performance. Visit www.masspoetry.org for complete information and event registration. | | Museum & Gallery News | Revolving Museum: Come visit us in our new home during Lowell Open Studios. For more information visit www.revolvingmuseum.org American Textile History Museum, 491 Dutton St. What Followed Me Home: Collecting Antique Quilts, Fabrics, and Tools. What Followed Me Home runs through October 4 and Threads runs through October 25. Both are free with paid admission to the Museum. For more information, visit www.athm.org.
The Loading Dock Gallery: Nudes of the World 1999-2009, John Greenwald, September 2 - September 27. For more information visit www.theloadingdockgallery.com.
119 Gallery, 119 Chelmsford Street: Current exhibition: Life is Art is Life is Art is Life is by Claire Elizabeth Barratt and Patrick Pierce. Open Tuesday - Saturday, noon - 5:00 PM. Open during Lowell Open Studios Saturday September 26 and Sunday September 27. For more information visit www.119gallery.org. The Brush Art Gallery & Studio, 256 Market Street: September 24 - October 25: "Herding Cats". A Juried Exhibition to Benefit Homeless and Feral Cats of Greater Lowell. For more information please visit www.thebrush.org. Whistler House Museum of Art, 243 Worthen Street: Current exhibition. Drawings & paintings by Arshile Gorky, Mina Boehm Metzger Collection. September 16 - November 7. For more information visit www.whistlerhouse.org Image theatre. The World Premier sneak preview of Regina Eliot Ramsey's play "Impasto" performed in collaberation with the Whistler House Museum of Art. "Impasto" is a revealing insider's look at the high stakes game of fine art commerce and one woman who beats the system her own way. You will be treated to a viewing of the new Arshile Gorky collection, refreshments, and a Meet and Greet with the playwright and actors. Whistler House Museum of Art, Saturday, October 10th at 7:00PM. Tickets: We suggest a donation of $20.00. For reservations please call the Whistler House at 978-452-7641 Western Avenue Studios, 122 Western Avenue: Open Studios -First Saturday of every month, noon to 5:00 PM - Western Avenue Studios opens its doors to the public. Come browse the latest works by our artists! For more information isit www.westernavenuestudios.com. The New England Quilt Museum, 18 Shattuck Street: Masters Pieces: Haberdashery Textiles in Antique Quilts, September 24 - November 15, featuring quilts made from recycled men's fashions, this remarkable exhibition brings together over 40 stunningly graphic works, made of menswear fabrics recycled from suits and shirts, neckties, pajamas and woolen underwear, military uniforms, work clothes-even argyle socks. The exhibit also features historic advertisements, swatch books, and catalogs from menswear companies, dating from the 1900's through the 1920's. For more information visit a www.nequiltmuseum.org. Contrasting art exhibition at Centro Restaurant . Reception: Sunday, September 20, 1:00 - 3:00 PM. Colorful narrative abstract paintings by artist Jeffrey Lipsky present a bold contrast to Joe Quinlan's black and white images of coastal fishing villages in a joint exhibition through September. | | Got Tickets? | The Lowell Memorial Auditorium - Tickets are currently available for Sonu Nigham, Sunidhi Chauhan & Hard Kaur, October 2, Newsboys with special guests Seventh Day Slumber and Bread of Stone, October 9, Foreever Tango, October 10 and Foreigner, October 17. For other shows and tickets please visit www.lowellauditorium.com
Merrimack Repertory Theatre: Flings & Eros, WORLD PREMIERE! 9/10/2009 - 10/4/2009. Four men party at their own club of skills and muse of love in this creative retelling of Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet. When those four men are the internationally renowned Flying Karamazov Brothers, the evening is guaranteed to be one that resounds with music, antic dance, emotion, hilarity, unexpected twists and, of course, world-class juggling. For more information visit www.merrimackrep.org. Tsongas Arena: Tickets currently available for Superstar DJ - Tiësto, Thursday, October 1 at 8:00 PM and the World Famous Lipizzaner Stallions, Friday, November 6 at 7:30 PM. For more information visit www.paultsongasarena.com.
| | Business News | Lowell Downtown Neigborhood Association: The next LDNA meeting is scheduled for Monday September 28th, 7:00 PM, at the Athenian Corner. Please visit http://lowelldna.blogspot.com/ for more information.
Calling all retailers, restaurant owners and storefront businesses in Lowell. Our popular and Successful Best Retail Practices program is back with its FREE workshop, 1-on-1 advice, and grants. The Free workshop will be offered Tuesday, September 22from 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM at the Federal Morse Building, 50 East Merrimack Street. Call to sign up today 978-446-7200 or register via email at bestretail@lowellma.gov. Please join us for a public meeting to help plan the future of South Common. On Wednesday evening, September 23rd from 7:00 PM to 9:00 PM. Pollard Memorial Library (next to City Hall)
Sponsored by the City of Lowell Division of Planning & Development and the Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs, Gateway City Parks Program.
For more information, please contact Diane Tradd, Chief Design Planner at 978-466-7200.
CITY MANAGER'S SUMMIT SERIES FOLLOW UP YOU SPOKE & WE LISTENED. The following has begun and will be ongoing to completion - estimated 6-8 weeks. The streets impacted include Middle, Palmer, Shattuck, Central, Market, Prescott. Work includes:
Cobblestone repairs on Middle and Palmer Streets
Installation of new crosswalks that are ADA compliant
Installation of new handicapped ramps that are ADA compliant
Removal of the granite rosette at Market/Central/Prescott with new pavement and crosswalks
New crosswalks will be outlined with reused 16 inch wide granite slabs and the 8 foot interior will be smooth concrete with a scoring pattern similar to sidewalks
Construction will impact parking on the section of street where work is underway. This will allow us to retain vehicle and pedestrian traffic at all times. Parking will be restored on weekends and when work is complete. Work will be phased to reduce the inconvenience and disruption to residents and businesses. If any street closings are needed to complete work, advance notice will be provided. The contractor will do his best to complete work timely and with minimal disruption and inconvenience. We appreciate your cooperation during this process which will result in an improved historic district streetscape and enhanced pedestrian experience for all.
If you have any questions or concerns, please contact DPD at 978-446-7200 and mention the Downtown Improvements
| | | Sincerely, Christopher Samaras
Downtown Coordinator Cultural Affairs & Special Events City of Lowell,
375 Merrimack Street
Lowell, MA 01852
t: 978.674-1481
f: 978.446.7089
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