2010 Downtown Festival of the Arts

The Champaign Park District’s 7^th Annual Downtown Festival of the Arts, is August 21^st just in time for students returning to campus. This festival is in the streets of Downtown Champaign and is continuously growing and capturing the cultural atmosphere of Champaign. Along Main, Neil, and Walnut Streets artists will have booths displaying their art for one day. Along with artists selling their wares there are three stages: the main entertainment tent, performing art stage, and a family entertainment stage. This is a great chance to enjoy some late summer outdoor seating and visit your favorite stores and restaurants as well. Or you can pick up lunch or dinner and some drinks and enjoy the stage seating.

Main Entertainment Tent

Date	Time	Performer	Style
Sat., Aug. 21	10:00am – 11:00am	Brainchild	Funk/Reggae
	11:30am – 1:00pm	Marry Harris	Jazz
	1:30pm – 3:00pm	South Fork	Bluegrass
	3:30pm – 4:30pm	Holly Holmes Quartet	Cultural Jazz
	5:00pm – 7:00pm	Doko Benjo	Funk/Jam

Performing Art Stage

Date	Time	Performer	Style
Sat., Aug. 21	10:30-11:30am	Early Music
	12-1pm	Steely Pan	Steel Drums
	1:30-2:30pm	Free Dance Lessons
	3-4pm	Class Act Theatre
	4:30-5:30pm	Trikhala	Belly Dance
	6-7pm	Djibril Camara and Ballet Allah Tantou	African Dance

Family Entertainment Stage

Date	Time	Performer	Style
Sat., Aug. 21	10:30-11:30am	Prairie Dogs
	12-1pm	Andrew Anderson	Magician
	1:30-2:00pm	Parkland Props	DSC’s Music Group
	2:30-3:00pm	Prompting Theatre	DSC’s Theatre Group
	3:15-4pm	Dance Arts	Dance
	4:30-5:30pm	Patricia Hruby-Powell	Storyteller
	6:00-7:00pm	Andrew Anderson	Magician

A quick, informal Facebook/Twitter poll has yielded some results of artists that will taking place this year. Below are links to their blogs, if you are an artist that will be taking part email info@downtownchampaign.com or tweet DTChampaign or Facebook the Champaign Downtown Association.

Participating Artists

Shoshanna Bauer

Jason Bentley

Sarah Coulter – Who will also be demonstrating her loom weaving.

Audra Ziegel

Champaign 150th Music Festival!

Downtown Champaign is celebrating 150 years this summer with a fantastic Music Festival on July 9^th and 10^th. Come out for a jamming evening in downtown Friday the 9^th for a music crawl at some of your favorite spots! See a preview of Friday’s line up below!

And don’t forget to come out on Saturday for a full day of all your favorite music acts showcased on three stages throughout downtown Champaign! For these stages to be set-up, remember there will be street closings July 10^th:

Neil Street – From Hill to University
Church/Main Street – From Randolph to Chestnut
Park Street – From Randolph to Neil
Walnut Street – University to Washington
Chester Street – Next to the City Building

Check out www.champaign150.com for more information!  Find a map of road closures and event locations here.

MUSIC CRAWL – Friday July 9^th

4:00-10:00pm- DJ Mertz, DJ Belly, DJ Kirkwood, The Fresh Kills (punk), and Ryan Groff (acoustic) @ Exile On Main Street

5:00-7:00 pm- Special Showing of “Some Like it Hot” at The Art Theater

6:00-7:30 pm- Ashley Riley @Aroma Café

6:00-10:00pm- Jeremy Harper & Bryce Johnson (Modern Rock), Lisa Cerezo & Steve Meadows (Classic/Modern Rock), and Mayhew The Traitor (Indie/Folk Rock/Old Country) @ Memphis on Main

6:30-8:30pm- Cara Maurizi and Jason Bentley @ Boltini- Jason Bentley is a singer/songwriter whose guitar driven folk/rock suspends lyrically earnest songs that range from uncertainty to adoring appreciation. Singer/songwriter Cara Maurizi uses her clear voice and her simple keyboard to create hummable melodies and lyrics from the heart.

7:00-8:30 pm- Paige Luebchow @ Cakes on Walnut

7:00-9:00pm- Ryan Groff (from Elsinore) solo acoustic @ Indi-Go Artist Co-Op

8:00- 8:30 pm- Eva Hunter @Aroma Café

8:00-10:00pm- Los Guapos (afro-cuban jazz) @ Cowboy Monkey

8:00pm—10:00pm- Dudley Owen Jazz band @ Cafe Luna

9:00pm- 12:00 am- David Howie @ Bentleys Pub

9:00pm-12:00 am-   Delta Kings (rock/blues) @ Mike-N-Mollys

Music acts on Saturday, July 10th

NEIL and MAIN ST. STAGE
12:00-1:00pm – Bow-Dacious String Band
1:30-3:00pm – Feudin’ Hillbillys
3:30-5:00pm – Kilborn Alley
5:30-7:00pm – Candy Foster and Shades of Blue
7:30-8:30pm – Lonely Trailer
9:00-10:30pm – HUM

WALNUT and CHESTER ST. STAGE
12:00-1:00pm – CU Symphony and Conservatory of East Central Illinois Students
1:30-2:30pm - Desafinado

3:00-4:00pm – Recycled Rhythms
4:30-5:30pm – Rumba Na Biso
6:00-7:00pm – Beat Kitchen
8:00-9:00 – Finchley Boys
9:30-11:00pm – Tons O Fun Band

CHESTNUT and MAIN ST. STAGE
12:30-1:30pm – One Voice
2:00-3:00pm – New Orleans Jazz Machine
3:30-5:00pm – The Prairie Dogs
5:30-6:30pm – Shark Bandit
7:00-8:00pm – The Duke of Uke and His Novelty Orchestra
8:30-10:00pm – Delta Kings

As well the historical exhibit that was previously at the Illinois Terminal will be temporarily at 34 E. Main St. TJ Blakeman, Planner II with the City of Champaign, will also be leading historical tours beginning from here at 1 and 3 pm.

Article by Ayla Ault, CDA Communications Intern

Downtown Scavenger Hunt June 27th

For those who enjoy Downtown Champaign nightlife, Altered Egos in partnership with the Cowboy Monkey presents their third annual photo scavenger hunt on June 27. The event, first created three years ago by Altered Egos owner Jason Dunavan, Adam and Ben (General Managers of Cowboy Monkey and SOMA), to celebrate Dunavan’s birthday. It has become a public event for anyone 21 and older.

The event begins at 6 PM at the Cowboy Monkey and ends at Soma for the after party. There is a $10 entry fee per person, or $50 for a team of five.

Teams search for items such as Champaign’s oldest bar. The list is a composite of ideas generated by many people.

“It is just a bunch of friends for a day, nothing too insane,” Dunavan said. There are prizes for the event such as a paid bar tab.

Last year there were about 15-20 teams, and then people who didn’t participate also went to the after party at SOMA. Dunavan expects more teams this year.

“I’m just looking forward to seeing everyone.”

The event is sponsored by Red Bull and Power & Soul Productions.
Date: June 27, 6 PM
Price: $10
Location: Downtown Champaign, begins at the Cowboy Monkey

To RSVP on Facebook click here.

Article written by Liz Fedak, CDA Communications Intern

May 1st Ascension, Fashion show Benefit for Center for Women in Transition

The Orpheum Theatre at 346 N. Neil St. will be hosting the 5th Annual Charity Fashion Show, Ascension, to benefit the Center for Women in Transition this May 1st, 2010.

Tickets are $20 in advance and $25 at the door. VIP tickets are also available which include the pre-show party, free cocktail,priority seating, and a gift bag. Available from Casey Ludwig at casey.ludwig@powernsoul.com.

Tickets may be purchased online at http://www.powernsoul.com or at these locations: H2O Salon (109 N Broadway, Urbana, IL), Bella Mia Boutigue (1422 S Neil St, Champaign, IL), The Orpheum Theatre (346 N Neil St, Champaign, IL). As well tickets are available from the Ascension models & Power n Soul staff.

Space is limited, get your tickets soon.
THE CENTER FOR WOMEN IN TRANSITION (CWT) is a non-profit homeless shelter in Champaign-Urbana, that offers support services and safe transitional housing to disadvantaged women and their children.
(www.cuhomeless.com)

THE HISTORIC ORPHEUM THEATRE is almost a century old. Opened in Champaign, Illinois in 1914 and it a main stop along the vaudeville circuit. The Orpheum was designed as a scale model of the opera house in Versaille (France) and designed by the same architects who designed the famed Chicago Theatre. It accommodated both live vaudeville performances and the projection of film. Preserved from demolition in 1991, the Orpheum is now home to a children’s museum. We are honored to be in such a great space with such rich entertainment history!

Blind Post (for CASA)

What is CASA?
CASA volunteers are appointed by judges to watch over and advocate for abused and neglected children, to make sure they don’t get lost in the
overburdened legal and social service system or languish in an inappropriate group or foster home. They stay with each case until it
is closed and the child is placed in a safe, permanent home.

What is this event?
50 pieces of postcard art. Each piece with a starting bid of only $20.10. And it’s a blind bid-you don’t know the artist ’til you buy the art. Some of the artists: writer & producer Mark Roberts; Bacaro owner Thad Morrow; Good Day New York’s Entertainment Anchor, Julie Chang; Mike Frerichs; Barry’s Farm, and many more.

When?
Thursday, April 22 from 5- 7 pm, a short break from Ebertfest

Where?

Indi Go Artist Co-Op, 9 E. University Ave.

RSVP Here

Kids Art 4 Kids

Radio Maria and Crisis Nursery of Champaign are partnering in presenting the 2nd annual Kids Art 4 Kids Art Auction. All proceeds will benefit the Crisis Nursery of Champaign.

The art show is comprised of original works by children from the Champaign and Monticello school districts. These works have been grouped and uniquely framed to dramatize their impact.

The concept for the show came from David Spears, owner of Radio Maria. He approached area teachers with the idea that children could contribute to their community through the use of art. He hopes to emphasize the value of creativity and the arts in the community and society at large. In an age where art instruction in schools at all levels dwindles, it is important to realize that art delights the creator and the viewer alike and has its place in our daily lives. Radio Maria hopes to continue working with area schools to make a charity art auction a yearly event.

Work is currently exhibited at the restaurant and most pieces may be bid on in the silent auction.

Sunday, April 11, the conclusion of the silent auction will take place with a reception beginning at 6:00 pm. At 7:30 a live auction of selected pieces will take place. (Check or cash payment preferred.) Their tapas menu will be served all evening, along with a special menu for the kids. Tickets are $7.00 in advance/$10.00 at the door. Children’s admittance is FREE, as is admission for the artists’ families.

Radio Maria wishes to thank Crisis Nursery of Champaign, Art Coop, PACA, Fasteners Etc., and all the students and teachers who helped to make this event possible.

DoCha Chamber Music Festival

DoCha is composed of University of Illinois faculty, students, community members, and friends collaborating together. They are seeking to be a collective effort of Classical musicians who are continuing traditions and adapting to the changing world.  These Downtown Champaign enthusiasts are helping to build ‘DoCha’ to be a thriving destination spot.

Organized by Pacifica Quartet viola player, Masumi Rostad, they will be taking ‘DoCha’ by storm this April 1st-3rd.   Many artists are involved and links to their websites is available at www.DoCha.org

WHEN and WHERE?     Getting an advance table reservation with the venue might be a good idea…

Eric Show

Hearts for Haiti at Class Act

Civil Rights Project at Indi Go Artist Co Op

A new series of paintings and drawings depicting the work carried out by African-Americans and their supporters during the mid twentieth century. Work is by James Patterson. Proceeds will benefit the Don Moyer Boys & Girls Club.

Opening reception will be February 5, 7-10 pm

Solo Exhibitions: February 5 and 21

Indi Go Artist Co-Op is located at 9 E. University Ave.

Check out the Facebook pictures

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