Do you love gold? The "Gilding Arts" exhibit opens in Pontiac, Illinois, opens on Friday, June 29, 2011.  The Society of Gilders, in cooperation with the City of Pontiac, will open an exhibition space inside the Walldog Mural and Sign Art Museum on 217 Mill St, in the center of downtown Pontiac.

The Society of Gilders is an international organization of artisans who work with gold and metal leaf.  The Society's members' works include using gold on picture frames, architectural items, sculpture, signs, furniture, fine art and other media like jewelry, mirrors, decorative objects, and more. The Society teaches interested artists and craftspeople to work with gold or other metal leaf.  For centuries, it has been a carefully guarded technique.  The Society, through its members, brings the techniques to all.  Artisans work with everything from 23 karat gold, silver, copper, aluminum and various other mixtures of metals to produce glittering objects.

The exhibition space offers an introduction to gilding, a glimpse of the famed "Swift Collection," a brief tour through how gold and metal leaf is made, a primer on how to gild, and showcases everyday items that are brought to brilliant life with gold and metal leaf.  The "Swift Collection" is comprised of tools and work stations that were used during the late 1800s in the hand production of gold leaf.  In addition to the historical artifacts found in the new exhibit, there are gold leaf works for sale.

It is the goal of the Society of Gilders to open a larger, more complete Museum of the Gilding Arts in Pontiac, with expanded exhibits, as well as classrooms and other learning opportunities.

The new exhibit space will be hold its grand opening during the Pre-War Festival that is taking place in the downtown area Friday night,  June 29th, and all day Saturday, June 30th.  A ribbon-cutting ceremony will be held on Friday, June 29 at 10 AM.  The public and press are invited to attend.

Celebrating Union Paci?c's 150th Anniversary

President Abraham Lincoln signed the Paci?c Railway Act 150 years ago, establishing the Union Paci?c Railway Company and connecting the nation. On Saturday, July 14, and Sunday, July 15, Lauritzen Gardens, the Union Paci?c Railroad Museum, The Durham Museum, Joslyn Art Museum, the RailsWest Railroad  Museum, and the Historic General Dodge House are coming together to celebrate Union Paci?c's sesquicentennial and explore this region's rich railroad heritage at Railroad Days 2012!

Each participating venue will offer a variety of family-friendly activities in addition to the venues' ongoing programs and exhibits. A $15 family pass allows admission to and transportation between all six locations. A $5 pass is also available for one additional adult with the purchase of a family pass. While supplies last, each child will also receive a coloring book complements of Union Paci?c. Additional information is available at
www.OmahaRailroadDays.com.

Railroad Days is made possible thanks to the generous support of Union Paci?c Railroad and a grant provided by the Iowa West Foundation. Media support provided by KETV. Printing support provided by Elman & Co.

At Lauritzen Gardens, experience a stunning collection of Mother Nature's ?nest in incredible, vivid, living color. Enjoy 20 inspiring gardens- each a welcoming place of surprise and wonder that change with the seasons and evoke a sensory experience. During Railroad Days, botanical meets mechanical at Lauritzen Gardens.

Visit the model railroad garden to discover seven bridge-chugging, tunnel-zooming G-scale train lines winding through replicas of Omaha's favorite landmarks. Look closely- all bridges, trestles and buildings are made of natural bark, twigs, acorns and seeds. Amazing! Stop by the control shed to meet our friendly engineers.

Fun is just around the bend with free rides through the garden on board the popular Union Paci?c miniature train, a scale model of a 900-series locomotive. Children can also enjoy complimentary rides on a classic 1949 King Amusement Company On-Track Train Ride as it chugs along tracks through the scenic festival garden patio.

Join the Union Paci?c Railroad Museum in celebrating Union Paci?c's 150th anniversary with our newest exhibit "Building America". Since opening in 2003, the Union Paci?c Railroad Museum's ?rst ?oor has been dedicated to sharing the experience of building the Transcontinental Railroad. The new exhibit takes the telling of this story to an entirely new level. With a new immersive design and cutting-edge technology, visitors will be transported to the 1860s as they learn about the monumental work needed for constructing the railroad and the communities that were created along its route. Showcasing over 200 artifacts, some dating back to the 1860s many of our larger collections will be on display for the ?rst time; including 55 ?rearms, 60 railroad lanterns and 64 stereographic images from the building of the transcontinental railroad.

Housed in a historic Carnegie library, the Union Paci?c Railroad Museum features one of the oldest corporate collections in the nation. Here, you'll journey through more than 150 years of history, experiencing the transcontinental railroad's construction; the Lincoln Collection, featuring artifacts from President Abraham Lincoln's rail car and funeral; the "America Travels by Rail" exhibit, which celebrates the height of passenger travel; and the technology and innovation that sustain Union Paci?c as a railroad industry leader.

On January 15, 1931, Omaha's Union Station opened its doors to the public and was recognized as one of the ?nest examples of art deco architecture in the Midwest. In its heyday, the station served over ten thousand passengers daily. Today, Union Station is home to The Durham Museum, one of the country's most vibrant and beautiful hands-on museums. Visitors can explore exhibits that preserve the areas rich history including an extensive train car exhibit with steam engines, a Pullman car, Lounge cars, and a caboose. There is also an impressive 100-foot O gauge model train layout representing Union Paci?c's double track main line during the 1950s. Be sure to stop by the museum's original soda fountain for decadent ice cream treats.

During Railroad Days, see the original Paci?c Railway Act signed by Abraham Lincoln in July 1, 1862. This national treasure is on loan to The Durham Museum from the National Archives. There will also be many activities for children including a puzzle station with images from The Durham's Photo Archive, temporary tattoo stations, and crafts including design your own name train and create your own postcards.

Joslyn Art Museum is a major regional resource for the collection, preservation, and interpretation of the visual arts. The Museum was a gift to the people of Omaha from Sarah Joslyn in memory of her husband, George - both were involved Omaha citizens and generous philanthropists. The Museum's original 1931 building is one of the ?nest examples of Art Deco architecture in the nation, with 38 types of marble from seven countries.

See the exhibition The Great West Illustrated: Celebrating 150 Years of the Union Paci?c Railroad, organized by Joslyn in collaboration with the Union Paci?c Railroad Museum. While visiting Joslyn during Railroad Days, hear Toby Jurovics, Chief Curator and Richard and Mary Holland Curator of American Western Art, give an introduction to The Great West Illustrated in the Museum's lecture hall at 11 am, 1 pm, and 3 pm each day. Younger visitors will enjoy making "train art" by decorating their own 2-D train car and adding an easel backing to make it stand. We'll line them up and see how far the train stretches! Live music will be performed outdoors in the garden throughout the weekend to keep everyone's toes tappin'. An array of self-guided activities, from the Kids Can Do art station and Art Packs to sculpture garden and gallery scavenger hunts, will also be available.

Perhaps one of Council Bluffs' most famous residents, Gen. Grenville M. Dodge has been called "the greatest railroad builder of all time." A Civil War veteran, Dodge's involvement in political, ?nancial and military affairs made him an associate of many of the most in?uential Americans of his time and counsel to presidents, including Abraham Lincoln and Ulysses S. Grant.

In 1869, Dodge built his handsome Victorian home at 605 Third Street at the cost of $35,000, a lavish sum for that day. The fourteen-room, three-story mansion stands on a high terrace overlooking the Missouri Valley, and displays such architectural features as parquet ?oors, cherry, walnut and butternut woodwork, and a number of "modern" conveniences quite unusual for the period.

During Railroad Days, the Historic General Dodge House will unveil its newest exhibit, Dodge's Tracks and Ties in the eight lower level display cases. Follow the footsteps of General Dodge from his early years in Massachusetts, traveling to Iowa with the railroad, his business ventures, military career and friendships with such notable people as Lincoln and Grant. Civil War re-enactors will also be present on the grounds.

The RailsWest Railroad Museum, located in the historic Rock Island Depot, features displays and artifacts from the numerous rail lines that passed through Council Bluffs. The museum is home to an extensive H.O. scale model train layout operated by the Greater Omaha Society of Model Engineers that is a must see for rail fans of all ages. Outside in the train yard visitors are invited to climb aboard the old steam engines and take a ride down memory lane or just sit back and relax in the Omaha Club car that ran between Chicago, IL and Lincoln, NE with a stop in Council Bluffs. Visitors can imagine themselves riding along behind the train in the 1918 cupola style caboose or in the 1967 bay window style caboose. For a challenge, try your hand at sorting mail in the mail car and learn  some interesting facts about the men and women that worked the rails. There is always plenty to see and do while visiting the RailsWest Railroad Museum.

During Railroad Days, visitors will be treated to live music by Perry Burkum and other talented local bands. Vendors will be on hand with mouthwatering hamburgers, hot dogs, and refreshments and there will be plenty of fun and games for the whole family.

Grand Canyon, AZ (June, 2012) - Travel demand is back for Grand Canyon rafting trips during the summer months of June, July and August. Historically this has been the prime time for the limited number of commercial whitewater trips available on the Colorado River through Grand Canyon. Arizona River Runners sees this trend returning as demand increases for these Colorado River trips.

If you have a Grand Canyon family rafting trip on your bucket list, now is the time to plan ahead and secure your space for summer 2013. Reservations are normally made up to a year in advance with many trips selling out immediately after they are made available. There are group rates offered for families and corporate groups of 10 or more traveling together.  Now for a limited time, Arizona River Runners is still accepting 2013 reservations at current 2012 prices. To take advantage of this win-win special, you need to act now because it won't last long.

The popular early season "Hikers' Specials", introduced a few years ago, are available for 2013 in April and early May for those adventure seekers and hiking enthusiasts who don't have to plan their travel around school schedules. These 6, 7, 10 and 12 day white water rafting trips offer additional time for side canyon exploration during the milder Arizona spring temperatures. Many of these amazing hiking trails are only accessible from the Colorado River.

Arizona River Runners Grand Canyon raft trips are all-inclusive; everything is supplied from camping equipment and rafting gear to food, drinks, snacks and more. To secure a whitewater trip for 2013 at 2012 rates call 1-80-477-7238. For your trip of a lifetime don't just look at the Canyon...experience it from the Colorado River looking up. You may never be the same!

About Arizona River Runners

White water rafting through the Grand Canyon offers a unique view of one of the most popular natural wonders of the world. Experience the vacation adventure of a lifetime on a Grand Canyon rafting trip with Arizona River Runners.  Since 1970 they have provided all-inclusive Grand Canyon whitewater trips with customized rafts, all the camping and rafting gear, and food for your Colorado River trip.

DES MOINES, IA (06/18/2012)(readMedia)-- Country act Pistol Annies will open for the Miranda Lambert Grandstand show on August 12. Tickets for all shows are on sale now. The 2012 Grandstand line-up is presented by U.S. Cellular.

Trio Angaleena Presley, Ashley Monroe and Miranda Lambert make up the Pistol Annies. They began writing and recording songs together straight away, but barely had six tracks down when they were offered an opportunity to make their official debut on national TV via the Academy of Country Music's "Girls Night Out" special on CBS in April 2011. The Pistol Annies' smoking debut is an album equal parts sass, heartache and hard knocks, sweetened with just enough wistful Southern romance to reveal a teasing hint of vulnerability.

Country music heats up the Grandstand this year. Other acts include The Band Perry with Easton Corbin on August 14. August 17 features country icon Hank Williams Jr. and his "Taking Back the Country" tour. Country superstars Rascal Flatts will take the stage with Little Big Town, Eli Young Band and Edens Edge on August 19. See iowastatefair.org for the complete line-up.

Tickets for all concert and track events are on sale through all Ticketmaster outlets, online at Ticketmaster.com or by phone at 1-800-745-3000. All concert events are reserved seating; track events are general admission. Beginning July 9, the Fair's Ticket Office will be open 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Mondays - Fridays and 9 a.m. to Noon on Saturdays for walk-up orders only (no mail, phone or fax orders). Convenience charges will apply to all tickets. Grandstand tickets do not include Fair admission.

"Nothing Compares" to the 2012 Iowa State Fair, August 9-19. For more information, call 800/545-FAIR or visit www.iowastatefair.org.

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