Lowell Handmade Art, Music, Film, Food, Culture & More in Boston's Favorite Mill City: Downtown This Week 7/26/2010

Mark your calendars. From August 1 -15, restaurants throughout the Greater Merrimack Valley region will participate in the Greater Merrimack Valley Second Annual Restaurant Showcase Week presented by the Greater Merrimack Valley Convention and Visitors Bureau.. Food lovers will have the chance to sample the best cuisine that each participating restaurant has to offer. There will be either a two-course lunch or three-course diner with fixed prices starting at just $9.10. Restaurant Showcase Week kicks off on July 29^th at Lowell's LeLacheur Park, home of the Lowell Spinners, with our Summer Sam Fest celebration. Come experience food samplings from our participating restaurants and take part in our Sam Adams comparative beer tasting while enjoying live music provided by Jen Kearney and the Lost Onion. All proceeds will benefit the Merrimack Valley Food Bank. For more information and a list of participating restaurants, visit www.merrimackvalley.org

In this issue

Retail & Restaurant News

Sports & Events

Museum & Gallery News

Retail & Restaurant News

Barnes & Noble, 151 Merrimack Street: Author Book Signing and Reading, Saturday, July 31st 2:00 PM. Thousand-Cricket Song, by Catherine Strisik, is a glimpse into Cambodian life 25 years after the invasion by the Khmer Rouge regime. For more information call 978-458-3939.

Welles Emporium, 175 Merrimack Street: Handmade gifts, clothing, jewelry, home accessories and collectibles for any occasion. For more information visit www.wellesemporium.com

Olympia Restaurant, 453 Market Street: July 19 - September 1. Half price menu Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday. For more information visit www.newolympia.com.

Sports & Events

Outdoor film screening and National Night Out celebration: See "E.T.: The Extra-Terrestrial", Tuesday, August 3 (rain date, August 10) at the C.W. Morey Elementary School, 114 Pine Street.

Don't miss this FREE special outdoor event presented by the Lower Highlands Neighborhood Group, the Lowell Police Department, and other event partners in commemoration of National Night Out! Festivities begin at 6:00 PM with visits and demonstrations from the Lowell Fire Department and the Lowell Police Department K-9 Unit. Stay for a special outdoor screening of "E.T." starting at 8PM, including free popcorn! Complete details at www.lowellfilmcollaborative.org.

Lowell Farmers Market: Locally grown produce is better tasting, better for you, better for our local economy and better for our global environment! Open every Friday from 2:00 PM to 6:00 PM through October 22nd at JFK Plaza, Lowell City Hall. Live cooking demonstrations at 4:30 PM. For more information contact Community Teamwork, Inc. (978) 459-0551.

Lowell Spinners are hosting a special comedy show to benefit Spinners Charities August 19 in the Gator Pit. Comedians Jimmy Dunn (NESN, Olympia Sports), Paul Nardizzi, Dave Rattigan and Graig Murphy will partake with a buffet included for $25.00! For more information and tickets visit www.lowell.spinners.milb.com.

Pollard Memorial Library: Beat the heat and join us for a summer storytime! These story times are designed for children ages 4 to 7. Space is limited, and registration is require, August 11, 10:30 AM - 11:30 AM. For more information, visit www.pollardml.org.

June through September the Lowell Summer Music Series presents summer concerts at Boarding House Park at French and John Streets in Downtown Lowell. For more information visit www.lowellsummermusic.org

Museum & Gallery News

Lowell Quilt Festival, August 12 - 14. This year's festival offers more excitement than ever before as this judged and juried exhibit will feature hundreds of entrants from around the country and around the world. For more information visit www.lowellquiltfestival.org

Lowell National Historical Park, 246 Market Street

: Through August 23: Canal boat tours daily: "Working the Water Boat Tour" - 90-minute tour on the Pawtucket Canal; daily at 11:00 AM, 2:00 PM, 3:00 PM, Thursday. & Friday at 1:00 PM "Engineering Innovation Tour" - two hour tour; daily at 12:00, Thursday & Friday at 3:30 PM. The "Full Works" Tour - by boat, trolley and foot, starting at Lower Locks, through Swamp Locks and Guard Locks on the Pawtucket Canal, to the Merrimack River, Francis Gatehouse, Pawtucket Gatehouse and "River Transformed" exhibit at the Wannalancit Mills; three hour tour Saturday, July 31, 2:30 PM; Sunday, Aug. 8 & 22, 2:30 PM; "Evening Cruise" - pack a brown bag supper for a cruise on the Merrimack River, Pawtucket Canal, the mill pond and the upstream section of the river; two hour tour, Thursday and Friday, 6:00 PM.

: Betsy Bloomingdale and the Haute Couture. August 14 - January 2. This exhibit gives a rare and fascinating glimpse into the personal world of style of Betsy Bloomingdale, one of the America's most celebrated socialites and fashion icons. Showcases magnificent designs from the couture houses of Givenchy, Chanel, Dior, Valentino, Yves Saint Laurent, and many more, worn to celebrated occasions, including the wedding of Prince Charles and Lady Diana Spencer. Visit www.athm.org.

The Loading Dock Gallery: Metaphorically Speaking by Laura Gawlinski and Laurie Simko, July 28 - August 29. Artists Reception: August 6, 6:00-9:00 PM For more information visit

www.theloadingdockgallery.com.

Brush Art Gallery & Studio, 256 Market Street: Artists at the Brush Exhibition: Fluidity, June 13 to August 6. For more information please visit www.thebrush.org.

119 Gallery, 119 Chelmsford Street: Members Exhibit, July 13 - July 31. For more information visit www.119gallery.org.

Whistler House Museum of Art, 243 Worthen Street: Lowell- Rooftops and Widow's Walks by Don Sullivan. June 23 - July 29. For more information visit www.whistlerhouse.org

Western Avenue Studios, 122 Western Avenue: 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 visit www.westernavenuestudios.com.

New England Quilt Museum, 18 Shattuck Street: Contemporary Broderie Perse: An Elegant Revival, July 15 - October 17.

For more information visit www.nequiltmuseum.org

Got Tickets?

Tsongas Center at UMass Lowell: Slayer and Megadeth w/ Testament, Saturday, August 14th at 7:00 PM. For more information visit www.uml.edu/tsongascenter.

Merrimack Repertory Theatre: July 5 - August 13. Young Artists at Play Summer Theatre Program for students in grades 1-12, that includes theatre camps, performance seminars and musical theatre workshops.. For more information visit www.merrimackrep.org.

The Lowell Memorial Auditorium - Tickets are currently available for Menopause The Musical, August 3 & 4 and The Cast of the Deadliest Catch Live, Featuring Captain Sig and the Hillstrand Brothers, September 11. For other shows and tickets please visit www.lowellauditorium.com.

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