14 Mar 2014

Brucemore's Cool-Season Plant Sale

By Rick Martin

Extend the growing season by learning about and purchasing cool-season plants and vegetables at Brucemore's Cool-Season Plant Sale to be held April 10 and 11 from 12:00 to 6:30 p.m. The plant sale will be held in the 1915 Lord & Burnham Greenhouse located near the center of the Brucemore estate.

"Many annual plants and vegetables benefit from cool-season growth," said Brucemore's Head Gardener David Morton. "The cool-season plant sale is a great opportunity for visitors to kick off the growing season early."

A variety of cool-season plants will be for sale, including broccoli, cabbages, snapdragons, lettuce, and spinach. Brucemore will also sell a few varieties of perennials and indoor plants that can be placed in the garden when warmer temperatures arrive. Cool-season plant sale prices range from $2.50 to $15.00 with all the proceeds benefiting garden and landscape rehabilitation projects at Brucemore. The garden staff will be on hand to provide expert advice on the selection, placement, and care of plants. The Summer Plant Sale will be held on May 10 from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m., featuring Brucemore "heritage" plants, annuals, perennials, hanging baskets, herbs, and heirloom vegetables.

Experience Brucemore, an unparalleled blend of tradition and culture, located at 2160 Linden Drive SE, Cedar Rapids, Iowa. At the heart of the historic 26-acre estate stands a nineteenth-century mansion filled with the stories of three Cedar Rapids families.  Concerts, theater, programs, and tours enliven the site and celebrate the heritage of a community.  For more information, call (319) 362-7375 or visit www.brucemore.org.

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11 Mar 2014

Spring Fever Festival at the Muscatine Art Center

By Lynn Bartenhagen

Join the Muscatine Art Center staff in shaking off the winter "blahs"! The Spring Fever Family Festival is a FREE event on Saturday, March 15th from 1 to 4 p.m. Kids of all ages will create a variety of art projects, watch an artist work on a still life painting, enjoy an indoor picnic with healthy fruits and vegetables and learn about the Blue Zones Project Muscatine. Storytelling will take place at 1:30 p.m.

At the core of the event is the exhibition, "The Art of Living Well". Presented in five sections -Relax, Play, Work, Eat and Belong, the exhibition is a journey into the past so people today can discover some ways to live healthier, happier lives. The exhibition also features a range of artwork, artifacts and photographs. Represented in the exhibition is the work of Grant Wood, John Bloom and Oscar Grossheim.

The Spring Fever Family Festival is funded in part through a grant from the Iowa Arts Council, a division of the Iowa Department of Cultural Affairs, and the National Endowment for the Arts.

Admission is FREE on Saturday March 15.  The event will start at 1:00 p.m. and run until 4:00 p.m.

HIGHLIGHTS:

  • Indoor picnic
  • Grant Wood landscapes
  • Collage self portraits
  • Still life demonstration with artist Bao Thien
  • Storytelling at 1:30 p.m.
  • Booth by Blue Zones Project Muscatine

EVENT DETAILS:

What: Spring Fever!

Who: Hosted by Muscatine Art Center Staff

When: Saturday, March 15, 2014

Time: 1:00-4:00 PM

Where: The Muscatine Art Center

Admission to this program is FREE.

Please contact, Melanie Alexander, Director, with any questions or concerns at 563-263-8282 or by email at malexander@muscatineiowa.gov.

The Muscatine Art Center is open to the public Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday from

10 AM to 5 PM, Thursday from 10 AM to 7 PM and Saturday and Sunday from 1 to 5 PM Admission is FREE.

05 Mar 2014

Family Museum Announces 2014 Spring Break Spectacular Lineup

By Elly Gerdts

Bettendorf – With a week off from school, area parents and kids are looking for fun and exciting activities during spring break. From March 14 - March 22, the Family Museum is offering nine days of just that: programs ranging from live music, live animals, science, and performance art. Events and performances are included with paid admission or Family Museum membership.

 

The Kinetic King Is Back!

Friday, March 14 and Saturday, March 15

Daily Detonations at 4:00 pm

Whoo-Hoo! Your favorite science geek from America's Got Talent will be back building more of his super cool kinetic structures!  Come check out what he has up his sleeve this year! Fresh off an appearance on Russia's One Minute of Fame, The Kinetic King will have brand new chain reaction collapses each day at 4:00 PM! You Bethcha! Check out his videos at www.youtube.com/lunatim

 

Jim Gill's Contagious Tunes Tour

Saturday, March 16

2:00 pm

Jim Gill, an award-winning musician and author, offers more than a show to watch.  Each concert is an opportunity for family play! Twenty years ago Jim released The Sneezing Song and Other Contagious Tunes...on LP record! In order to celebrate the 20th Anniversary of the release of this recording he decided to put together a concert set list featuring some favorites from that recording!  Come and join in the fun!

 

Comedy Sportz "Rated E for Everyone!"

Monday, March 17

10:00 AM

Get ready for some laughs!  The Comedy Sportz team from right here in the Quad Cities will take the stage at the Family Museum!  The "act-letes" hilarious improvisation skits will have kids giggling!  The audience involved show is appropriate for the entire family.

 

West Music's Instrument Petting Zoo

Monday, March 17

2:00- 4:00 PM

Get ready to roll up your sleeves and pet some...instruments! Our friends from West Music are bringing along a sampling of instruments kids can try for themselves.  It's a great way to pique a musical interest in young children. Prizes too!

 

Down By The Creek

Tuesday March 18

10:00 AM Furred Animals; 2:00 PM Feathered Animals

Debbie Wallace is a certified ABC Dog Trainer and Animal Behaviorist. As a passionate pet owner, she will share her love for rescuing animals through her presentation with creatures great and small.

 

Pete the Cat

Producer/Performer Michael Levine!

Wednesday March 19

11:00 AM

Families will sing, dance, shake, laugh, wiggle and learn together as Mr. Michael gets silly with his guitar! Mr. Michael is the music producer of the Pete the Cat stories and songs and the co-founder of The Learning Groove with author Eric Litwin. On stage he shares his music and storytelling inspiration with children as they sing interactive songs and Pete the Cat stories!  If you love Pete the Cat books, you will love Michael Levine!

 

Earth Balloon!

Thursday March 20

10:00, 11:00, 12:00, 1:00, 2:00, 3:00, and 4:00

Step inside the planet Earth!  Get ready to take off your shoes and experience Earth in a whole new way... from the inside!  Earth Balloon is a 20' diameter model of the Earth. The Inflatable globe is made up of a high resolution satellite image with true to life colors. Programs will run approximately 20 minutes on the hour from 10:00 AM-4:00 PM. *Please be aware no more than 30 people will be allowed in Earth Balloon at a time.

 

Bubble Wonders!

Friday March 21

10:00AM

Don't miss this fun, inspiring, sticky, educational show!  Bubble Wonders is full of amazing tricks, including the bubble caterpillar, bubble volcano, the dancing bubble, a bubble merry-go-round, and much more!   The amazing bubble-ologist Geoff Akins will even put a child inside a bubble!   Fun for the entire family!  Show lasts approximately one hour.

 

The Zinghoppers!

Saturday March 22

11:00 AM

You are invited to The Zinghoppers Preschool Party! The show is based off the Emmy Award winning PBS television series seen by over 2 million people daily in over 175 counties.  The show is hosted by the friendly rapper J-Star with Coconuts The Kangaroo on drums and Funky Possum rocking beats on the turntables! Get ready to party rock with three members of what KidzBop On Demand hails as the "hottest new kids band in town."

 

Sponsored by the Iowa Department of Cultural Affairs
05 Mar 2014

The Hauberg Indian Museum adding a new feature

By Dave Cox
The Hauberg Indian Museum at Black Hawk State Historic site is adding a new feature. An audio tour of the museum. Washington D.C. based actor Craig Sechler of Nova, PBS and National Geographic fame narrates your journey though the cycles of moon with the tribe. (Craig is married to hometown girl Julie Waterman and often uses 2dogs digital when in town.) Talented local actor Pat Flahrity, Montreal born actor and WLLR personality Craig Michaels, actor and professor of Theater at St Ambrose University for forty years Mike Kennedy, nationally know children's book author and voice talent Nancy Nehlsen, and wonderful juvenile talent Riley Kelly; contribute to this entertaining, informative, Ken Burns-like audio production.

The script took almost a year of research and writing by Dave Cox (2dogs) and Beth Carvey (Museum Director). Final production was handled by Moline Illinois' 2dogs digital audio. A closed premier for Board members was held at 2dogs March 4th and will be available at the museum soon.
04 Mar 2014

Experience "Cosmos" at the Putnam

By Putnam Museum

COSMOS - A SPACETIME ODYSSEY

Experience the grandeur of the universe on the

Putnam's Giant Screen in the highly

anticipated series premiere of

 

on Sunday, March 9 from 8:00 - 9:00 p.m.

with our partners at: KLJB FOX 18

27 Feb 2014

Order your Easter Springerle Molds from German American Heritage Center

By Janet Brown-Lowe
Order your House on the Hill cookie and craft molds from GAHC!
Receive Free Shipping!
Orders must be in by March 15th!
Pre-payment required! Call 563-322-8844 to order!
Detail Bunny- $23.50
(Rectangular mold, just side image of bunny)
Easter Egg Hunt- $32.50
(Small Egg shaped mold with carrot or flower decoration)
Bunnies in Basket- $29.50
(Square mold, 2 bunnies in basket with eggs)
Ric Rac Rabbit- $32.50
(Large egg shaped mold with single bunny)
Small Pascal lamb- $20.50
(small mold with rounded top, side image of lamb)
27 Feb 2014

New Putnam Science Center

By Putnam Museum

Opening Friday, April 12, 2014

Click here for more information

26 Feb 2014

Mansion Tours at the Muscatine Art Center

By Lynn Bartenhagen

Explore the Musser Mansion and hear the stories of Laura Musser McColm, her family and her domestic servants. A member of the Muscatine Art Center staff will you guide you through each room of the house, explain the various collections and furnishings on display and answer your questions.

Guided mansion tours will be offered at 5:30 p.m. on the first Thursday of the month. The guided tour on March 6th marks the debut of this program. Reservations are not required - just drop in and enjoy!

Admission for the tours is by donation. The suggested donation amount is $5 per person. The tour will last approximately 45 minutes.

HIGHLIGHTS:

  • Paintings from the Mississippi River Collection

  • The Mary Musser Gilmore Collection of French Impressionism

  • Painted and Photographic Portraits of the Musser Family and a Sculpted Bust of Laura Musser as a Child

  • Listen to Historic Music Boxes

  • Collection of Historic Toys

EVENT DETAILS:

What: Muscatine Art Center's Guided Mansion Tour

Who: Hosted by Muscatine Art Center Staff

When: Thursday, March 6, 2014

Time: 5:30-6:15 PM

Where: The Muscatine Art Center

Admission to this program is FREE. Suggested donation of $5 per person.

Please contact, Melanie Alexander, Director, with any questions or concerns at 563-263-8282 or by email at malexander@muscatineiowa.gov.

The Muscatine Art Center is open to the public Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday from 10 AM to 5 PM, Thursday from 10 AM to 7 PM and Saturday and Sunday from 1 to 5 PM Admission is FREE.

25 Feb 2014

Brucemore's Historic Neighborhood Walk

By Rick Martin

Did you know the land surrounding Brucemore was originally developed as the first golf course in Cedar Rapids? Or that the world-famous artist Grant Wood designed windows, murals, and woodwork, leaving his mark on the interiors of several Cedar Rapids homes? Listen to fascinating stories about the rich history and architecture of the neighborhood just outside Brucemore's gates on the Historic Neighborhood Walk - March 27, April 24, and May 22 at 6:00 p.m. Admission is $15 per person and $12 per Brucemore member and includes a Historic Neighborhood Tour flipbook. Space is limited; purchase tickets online at www.brucemore.org or by calling (319) 362-7375.

The Historic Neighborhood Walk is part of Brucemore's Thursday Night Lineup. Every Thursday night Brucemore will feature a different specialty tour focusing on topics for all interests, including arts and culture, Midwestern industry, gardening, landscape design, architecture, preservation, behind-the-scenes at Brucemore, and growing up in the early twentieth century. For more information on the Thursday Night Lineup or upcoming events, visit www.brucemore.org or call (319) 362-7375.

About Brucemore

Experience Brucemore, an unparalleled blend of tradition and culture, located at 2160 Linden Drive SE, Cedar Rapids, Iowa. At the heart of the historic 26-acre estate stands a nineteenth-century mansion filled with the stories of three Cedar Rapids families.  Concerts, theater, programs, and tours enliven the site and celebrate the heritage of a community.  For more information, call (319) 362-7375 or visit www.brucemore.org.

###

25 Feb 2014

LONGSTANDING IOWA CITY ART SHOW EXTENDS ARTIST APPLICATION DEADLINE

By Shannon Wallace

All artists encouraged to apply to the 2014 Riverbank Art Fair by TUES., MARCH 4.

Iowa City, IA, (Feb. 21, 2014) CALLING ALL ARTISTS? The application deadline for the 2014 Riverbank Art Fair has been extended to Tuesday, March 4. All local and regional artists are encouraged to apply to this professional fine arts show that features work across a wide breadth of genres including painting/drawing, clay, woodworking, metal, jewelry, photography, fiber, mixed media and more. Applications are available at http://fineartscouncil.uiowa.edu/riverbank-art-fair/

The Riverbank Art Fair in an indoor exhibition held annually featuring the work of artists across Iowa, the Midwest and beyond. This year, the show will be held on April 26-27 from 10am?5pm on Saturday and 10am?4pm on Sunday in the Iowa Memorial Union located in downtown Iowa City. All patrons 21 years and older are invited to participate in the event's free wine tasting from 12?2pm on Saturday that features a number of local wine vendors. Admission is free and open to the public.

The University of Iowa Fine Arts Council is a self-supporting, non-profit student organization that strives to support and promote local and regional artists within the Iowa City/Coralville area and beyond. Active since the 1970s, the council organizes two professional fine arts exhibitions throughout the year, the Riverbank Art Fair in late April and the Holiday Thieves' Market in December. Both shows offer the opportunity for individuals to become involved with the community while supporting local artists.

END

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