Regrettably, Nicholas is still missing. He hasn’t been seen for about a week now. Yesterday Liz got a call from someone at the Shelter who told her that they thought they had just taken custody of a dog matching Nicky’s description. We were thrilled because both of us assumed that they got our phone number from his license tag. As it turns out, however, the dog somewhat matched the description on one of the flyers we had posted on their bulletin board. The really nice thing about the call, even though it was a false alarm, is that someone at the Shelter took the time to try an match a dog to an owner’s description. As I noted in an earlier post, some of the folks working at the Shelter take an “above and beyond” interest in seeing animals reunited with their human companions. We would like to express our appreciation for their extra interest. We would also like to express our appreciation for our “neighbors,” both near and far who have patrolled their neighborhoods looking for Nicky.

Just a reminder, should you see a dog who looks like Nicky please contact City of Wichita Animal Control before calling us. Their phone number is (316) 350-3360. I was told by an animal control officer at the Shelter that if a licensed dog is brought in, they will contact the owner, and my experience so far is that every time I arrive at a Nicky sighting the dog is no longer in the area.

There are a number of featured activities this week.

The first event of note is the Second Annual Wichita Highland Games and Celtic Festival which will be held Saturday and Sunday at Sedgwick County Park. Hours are 10:00 am to 6:00 pm each day. Events include heavy athletics, Celtic music, crafters, food and other entertainment. We suspect that if you were to attend you might even hear some bag pipers playing “Scotland The Brave.” Tickets are available at the door.

It being the planting season, let us remind you that Saturday is the last day for the Dyck Arboretum’s Flora Kansas. Customers will find plants adapted to Kansas’ challenging climate at affordable prices. Purchases will help support the Arboretum’s mission. Liz and I have several plants we purchased at Flora Kansas, and they have thrived for many years in our yard’s hard Kansas clay, wet springs and arid summers.

The last we heard, tickets were still available for Arts Partners Tunes on the Tarmac fundraiser. Enjoy a Sterling Silver tenderloin dinner, drinks, and delicious cakes on every table. Hand-painted martini glasses with the event’s signature martinis will be available. Chances are you will find something you can’t live without in the auction of great “experiences” and unique items. Then dance to Wichita’s own Blue-Eyed Soul! This fun event is held in a Midwest Corporate Aviation hanger. The event commences at 6:30 pm and ends at 11:00 pm. Check the web site or call (316) 262-4771 for ticketing information.

Also on Saturday, the Great Plains Traveling Vaudeville Show will be featured at the McPherson Opera House. This show is a world premier! A band of talented Kansas performers will present a turn-of-the-century (talking early 20th here) vaudeville show. Fast paced action includes music, comedy, skits, and declamations. Showtime is 7:00 pm. Ticketing information is available at the Opera House web site.

Lastly, on Sunday we have two fundraisers. The timing seems to be such that, if you are so inclined, you could attend both. First, at 2:00 pm Music Theatre of Wichita is sponsoring Kelli O’Hara in Concert at Century II Concert Hall. Then, at 5:30 pm Old Cowtown Museum offers a BBQ Dinner & Auction Fundraiser. Additional information about both events may be found at the respective sponsors’ web sites.

If none of the above events appeal, check out the All About Wichita Calendar to see if there are any other events that may be of interest to you.

Nicholas is still missing. However, at 8:00 this morning, I received a phone call indicating that he had been seen the College Hill neighborhood at 3rd and Roosevelt. I am very confident in the sighting because the caller described the dog she had seen in great detail down to the color of his dog tag. Of course by the time I got there, he had disappeared. Liz and I probably spent a combined three to four hours cruising the neighborhood but to no avail. Should you see Nicky please contact City of Wichita Animal Control before calling us. Their phone number is (316) 350-3360. I was told by an animal control officer at the Shelter that if a licensed dog is brought in, they will contact the owner.

I really appreciated the call about Nicholas. However, I was also fascinated by the sense that I was part of a larger caring community. The caller patronizes “My McDonalds” at Central and Edgemoor. Liz and/or I eat breakfast there several days a week. The store has let us put signs about Nicky on their door. I know most of the morning crew and many of the regular customers by sight and a couple by name. My caller is one of the requlars whose name I do not know. Since Nicky went missing, she has always made it a point to ask about our search when we have seen each other. In addition, totally unsolicited, she offered to canvas the neighborhood this evening and to keep an eye out for Nicky when she walks her dog. I partially attribute this care and kindness to the relationship we share through the sense of community that results from regular though mostly impersonal contact at breakfast.

There are a number of featured activities this week.

First, Bethel College presents Wit Thursday through Saturday. The play follows the last hours of a single, middle-aged academic and Donne scholar, Vivian Bearing, as she is dying of ovarian cancer after undergoing an experimental and aggressive regime of chemotherapy. Performances are at the Krehbiel Fine Arts Center at 7:30 pm. Ticketing information is available at (316) 283-2500.

Starting Thursday and continuing through Sunday the St. James Episcopal Church Guild Hall Players present The Stories of Ruth. This musical sensitively tells the inspiring Biblical story of the young woman Ruth as she left her home to go with her widowed mother-in-law Naomi to return to Bethlehem and become one of history’s great role models of faith and devotion. The story of Ruth is one of only two books in the Bible told from a woman’s perspective. It is also unusual in that its title character was a Gentile convert who became the great grandmother of King David and was in the line of Jesus. Thursday through Saturday curtain time is 8:00 pm. Sunday curtain is at 7:00 pm. Tickets may be obtained by contacting the Church’s office at (316) 683-5686.

Prairie Rose Western Days is Friday through Sunday. This event is an annual festival focusing on the old west. The festival has activities for all ages, providing equal emphasis on both entertainment and history. Each year, we feature activities such as cowboy music, cowboy poets, trick ropers, Indian dancers, gunfighters, reenactors, rides, historical seminars, artists and craftsmen, classic cowboy movies, and much more! The venue is at Prairie Rose Chuckwagon in Benton, KS. See the website for further details.

On Saturday and Sunday the Friends of the Wichita Art Museum host the 52nd Annual Art, Book and Craft Fair. Each year, the Fair focuses on the presentation of high-quality arts and crafts handmade by artisans around the country. Over 80 artists will be selling original art including paintings, drawings, photography, prints, jewelry, ceramics and sculpture as well as one of a kind crafts. This year, for the first time, there will be several musical performers who will be performing throughout the weekend. The Fair will also feature several speakers who are well known artists and art scholars in the community.

Check out the All About Wichita Calendar to see if there are any other events that may be of interest to you.

Congratulations to the Wichita State University men’s basketball team for winning the National Invitation Tournament (NIT) title! The NIT is the nation’s oldest tournament. Winning this game earned the WSU team two firsts. The tournament win is WSU’s first-ever championship in a national basketball tournament. Also, this was the 2010-2011 team’s 29th win of the season, which is sets a single season record. For more information about the game, see the Wichita Eagle.

Local elections will be held April 5th but early voting is also an option. You owe it to yourself and the community to be an informed voter. Voting is both a privilege and a responsibility. You can be an informed voter by reading about the candidates. It’s easy. Just go to The Voter Guide and enter your street address and zip code to find out about candidates running in your district.

In terms of things to do and see for the week, you can celebrate April Fool’s Day with live music at a variety of venues participating in this month’s First Friday.

If you have small children, they’ll be thrilled to know that Sesame Street Live ~ Elmo’s Healthy Heroes will be at Intrust Bank Arena (IBA) from Friday April 1 through Sunday April 3. Performance times and ticketing information may be found on the IBA web site.

If you love 50s and 60s pop and rock, make plans to go and enjoy The Marvelous Wonderettes, the jukebox musical at Cabaret Oldtown on Friday and Saturday nights through May 28. The Cabaret web site provides ticketing information.

Calling All Chocolate Lovers! Saturday, April 2, is an evening to die for when Exploration Place presents its annual Death by Chocolate benefit. If you are eating chocolate to support Exploration Place, it can’t have any calories, can it? Check out the EP web site for more info.

Are You A Glee Fan? If so, you won’t want to miss Glee: The Melodrama at the Mosley Street Melodrama, March 31 through May 21.

If melodrama is not to your liking, but you love Glee, or you just love the sound of a good men’s chorus, you’ll want to catch the Heart of America Men’s Chorus show, Don’t Stop Believin’!: The Music Of Glee. Shows are on Saturday evening and Sunday afternoon at Plymouth Congregational Church. Check out the Chorus web site for times and pricing.

Bartlett Arboretum celebrates spring this weekend with Art at the Arb. The event features music, art and Victorian garden landscapes. Thirty distinctive artists will be showcasing twig furniture, vintage garden antiques, photography, hand-made birdhouses and artifacts – all in consort with Bartlett Arboretum’s organic mission – simplify to restore the soul and soil. Music begins at 12:00 pm each day.

If that’s not enough, there’s tons more on the All About Wichita Calendar. Check out what’s coming and don’t forget to VOTE!

(Blog Wednesday 3/9/2011)

Céad Míle Fáilte, which is Gaelic for a hundred thousand welcomes! Over the next week to ten days, many in Wichita will be celebrating their “Irishness,” whether they have a genetic connection with “auld sod” or not.

Starting things off are two running events on Saturday, March 12. In Hesston, Dyck Arboretum of the Plains is sponsoring the Leprechaun Chase, which is a two mile event for walkers, joggers, or runners. Additional features include games, a shamrock search, informational activities and food. The race starts at 10:00 am, with registration beginning at 9:15 am.

Here in Wichita, the 2nd Annual St. Patrick’s 5K Run/Walk will be held on March 12, with an 8:30 am start time. Registration begins at 7:30 am. The run will start and end at Lawrence-Dumont Stadium and is being coordinated by RUN WICHITA. This family-friendly run/walk will involve a flat course along the beautiful Arkansas River, adjacent to the Historic Delano district. in addition to the race, other highlights include a costume contest, a bagpipe performance by the Wichita Caledonian Pipes and Drums Band and food.

After the March 12th run, the Historic Delano 5th Annual St. Patrick’s Day Parade will commence at high noon. I have been trying to figure out whether I want to march in the parade wearing my St. Paddy’s Day costume (Yeah, I even wear it to work!) or whether I would rather take pictures. At this point, photography seems to be winning. For those who are interested, we have posted a slide show of last year’s parade.

Finally, on March 17th, the day itself, the Annual Blarney Breakfast will be held at Old Chicago East. Hours are 6:00 am through 10:00 am. The event is a fund raiser for Rainbows United and offers you the opportunity to have your breakfast served to you by one or more Wichita celebrities. During the breakfast, you also have the opportunity to participate in a silent auction. I don’t know what will be in this year’s auction, but in the past bidders have had the opportunity to bid on team basketballs signed by current WSU, KU, and KSU team members. Lastly, if you come around 7:00 am, you will have the opportunity to see me in my green outfit. Got to tell you, it’s worth the sight! I must look like a harmless leprechaun because I have been asked to pose with babies and young children.

Added Friday, March 11 for an additional St. Patrick Day event. The Corry Academy of Irish Dance will perform traditional Irish dances some with a modern twist at GracePoint Church on March 17. The show begins at 7:30. The two-hour program will also include vocal and instrumental music. Ticketing information is available at (316) 641-8460.

If you are looking for things to do, please visit our events calendar. The spring college athletic season just started, and we just recently updated our calendar to include most games played by local colleges.

(Blog Monday 11/22/2010)

Recap: Sorry that we have not updated in awhile. Things just seemed to get away from us. We have been somewhat busy since our last post.

For the first order of business, Liz and I would like to wish everyone a Happy Thanksgiving.

Every Monday night for the last three weeks, Liz and I have been taking a class on how to use WordPress to construct web pages. The class is being taught by Davis Sickmon (Classes With Davis). Davis has opened my eyes as to what one can do with software that I initially thought was just for blogging. In case you are interested, this blog uses WordPress. This Pixel Time class meets at Pixel Time Learning Center, which is located in the Wichita’s CityArts building. You can check out either the Classes By Davis or Pixel Time FaceBook pages to see if there are any upcoming offerings that might be of interest. In the interest of name dropping, I have to note that Richard Crowson who describes himself as “part-time Eagle cartoonist, banjo picker, and radio commentator” is a fellow student.

Last Thursday, Liz went to the David Sedaris book talk/signing. Mr. Sedaris is prolific author whose latest book is Squirrel Seeks Chipmunk: A Modest Bestiary. He is also a playwrite and frequent radio commentator. The event was held at Watermark Books & Café, Wichita’s largest and most active independent bookstore. Liz reports that David Sedaris made her laugh out loud again and again. She said there was an overflow crowd with people waiting outside to get their books signed. Mr. Sedaris gracefully agreed to remain until everyone who wanted to do so could meet him. As a sidelight, I have to note that Liz and I first met Rogan, our wonderful standard poodle, at a Watermark book talk/signing.

Last week, Liz also participated in the 2010 Kansas Reads to Preschoolers project as a volunteer for the Wichita Public Library. Liz shared the picture book Up, Down and Around with seven groups of preschoolers at five different locations and says it was a lot of fun.

An article in the Wichita Eagle caught my eye today. Luu Le, owner of Bishop’s Family Dining, donated a complete Thanksgiving dinner to the 250 member congregation of The Word of the Lord International Church. This church, nearly all of whose members are homeless or considered working poor, prepares meals for those in need throughout the year. What particularly impressed me was the fact that Mr. Le made his donation for the second year in a row even though his business is off by 25 percent from a year earlier. Mr. Le’s generous act in the face of some adversity to him reminds me of the Jack London quotation, “A bone to the dog is not charity. Charity is the bone shared with the dog, when you are just as hungry as the dog.” Though it is somewhat inconvenient for me (Bishop’s is on the west side and I am an east sider), I plan to make an effort to occasionally take a meal at Mr. Le’s establishment.

While on the subject of need in the community, a number of organizations which could use our help come to mind. They include:

• Kansas Food Bank;
• The Lord’s Diner;
• Operation Holiday;
• The Salvation Army; and
• Toys For Tots.

Remember that the need is greater than last year and the resources are fewer. As you purchase gifts for family and friends, please remember these or other organizations.

If you are looking for something to do during this holiday season, please visit our events calendar.

(Blog Monday 9/13/2010)

Recap: It’s been a slow week at the Kennedy household primarily because it is allergy season for me (Dennis). Frankly, I find it difficult to get involved in much of anything when my eyes are constantly itching and I spend a great deal of time sneezing.

However, I did manage to start the search for another dog to rescue. Liz and I are specifically looking for a Standard Poodle or a Labradoodle. MeadowBrook Safe Harbor has a black poodle available and we are making plans to meet him next Friday. In addition to MeadowBrook, we also looked for a dog at Caring Hands Humane Society, the Kansas Humane Society (KHS), Kansas K-9 ResQ, Lifeline Animal Placement & Protection (LAPP), and PALS Animal Rescue. We have had personal experiences with two of these rescue organizations. We adopted Rusty and Socks from the KHS and Rogan from LAPP. All of these organizations have many animals from which to choose. If you are looking for a pet you might find a new “best friend” at any one of them.

On Sunday night, Liz attended the Wichita – Metro League of Women Voters’ progressive dinner, which featured delicious food, interesting company and updates on issues from several Kansas legislators.

What’s Coming September 13 – September 19, 2010: Events of potential interest going on in Wichita and surrounding communities this week.

We’ve been getting ready for Big Read – Wichita in October. Liz bought the book that everyone in the community is encouraged to read, Zora Neale Hurston’s Their Eyes Were Watching God and has downloaded the Reader’s Guide from the National Endowment for the Arts. Dennis is adding all of The Big Read events to our calendar of activities.

The Kansas State Fair continues this week in Hutchinson. Grandstand entertainment for the week includes Terry Fator (Monday), the Oak Ridge Boys (Tuesday), Loverboy (Thursday), Blake Shelton with James Otto (Friday), MercyMe (Saturday), and Selena Gomez (Sunday). Showtimes and ticketing information can be found on the State Fair website.

On Tuesday night superstar picture-book author and illustrator Lane Smith returns to Watermark Books and Café with It’s a Book, a hilariously clever new book for book readers of all ages. This event begins at 7:00. This is an event that is of particular interest to Liz because of her involvement with the About.com Children’s Book site.

The Wichita Center for the Arts opens its 2010-11 theatre season with a production of “Lost In Yonkers.” By Neil Simon, the play is a touching story about finding one’s way through the tangled web of family relationships without losing a sense of self or sense of humor. Showtimes are 8:00 pm Wednesday through Saturday and 2:00 pm Sunday. Ticketing information is available on the Center’s webpage.

Saturday evening offers two performances of note. First, with 2:00 pm and 7:30 pm shows at the Mary Jane Teall Theatre, the Wichita Chorus of Sweet Adelines presents an A Cappella Celebration. Second, the Wichita Wind Ensembles is presenting a 7:30 pm show entitled “Mysteries of Music” at Friends University’s Sebits Auditorium. Ticketing information is available at the respective websites.

There are still more things to do. Check the All About Wichita calendar for additional events and exhibits that we didn’t have the room to list here. In the meanwhile, have a good week.

(Blog Monday 8/23/2010)

Recap and What’s Coming: First of all, our apologies for being a day late in posting this week’s blog.

We enjoyed breakfast at Jimmie’s Diner and dinner at China Inn, but it was mostly another quiet weekend avoiding the heat and planning for cooler weather. The brochures are out for Woofstock and we’ll be setting up a Woofstock page and seeking donations for the Kansas Humane Society. Mark your calendars now for Woofstock, and plan to celebrate peace, love and pets and help support the Kansas Humane Society on Saturday, October 2, from 9:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.. at Sedgwick County Park.

August 16-August 22, 2010: This week seems to be a bit slow from an entertainment perspective, but here are some events of potential interest going on in Wichita and surrounding communities.

First of all, Botanica and the Sedgwick County Zoo provide opportunities for relaxation on Tuesday evening. Botanica offers “Tuesdays on the Terrace ~ Salvia & Screwdrivers” which mixes things up with live music, mixology and horticulture. The Zoo features “Twilight Tuesday,” special evening hours for visitors to relax with family and friends while strolling through the Zoo after a long day. Hours for the Botanica event are 5:30-7:30 pm while the Zoo is open until 8:30 pm. Normal admission applies to both events.

Michell Hoover, author of The Quickening will be at Watermark Books and Café on Wednesday evening for a reading and signing. The reading begins at 7:00 pm. While speaking of Watermark, I would like to inform you that this bookstore offers a variety of book discussion groups throughout the month. This week’s offerings include the Longitude (Tuesday 6:30 pm) and the Spanish (Wednesday 6:30) Book Clubs. Information about this and other book clubs may be found at the Watermark website. In addition, the Wichita Public Library hosts a series of reading groups in various locations throughout Wichita. This week’s meetings include the Masters of Mysteries club (Wednesday 7:00 pm) which meets at the Alford branch. Check with the Library website for information about this and other reading groups.

If you like sighing for the dainty heroine, cheering for the hero, and booing the villain, Mosley Street Melodrama‘s current production is THE HARLOT LETTER … or JACK TO THE FUTURE. Show dates/times are Thursday through Saturday. Buffet dinner begins at 6:15 pm and the show starts at 7:50 pm. Ticketing information is available at the Mosley Street website.

The Crown Uptown‘s offering is Dirty Rotten Scoundrels. The show is a musical comedy about two fraudsters, living on the French Riviera, in a town that is not big enough to support two con men. Show dates/times are Thursday through Saturday with a buffet dinner begins at 6:00 pm and the curtain rising at 7:30 pm. On Sunday, dinner begins at 4:15 pm with the show starting at 5:45 pm. Ticketing information is available at the Crown website.

On Saturday the Kansas Acoustic Arts Association is sponsoring “Acoustic Arts in the Park.” This week’s performers will be Katie Vanderford, Curt Turner, and Trevor Stewart & Earthlines. Showtime is 11:00 am. This free concert will be at the bandstand in Central Riverside Park.

There are still more things to do! Check the All About Wichita calendar for additional events and exhibits that we didn’t have the room to list here. In the meanwhile, have a good week.

(Blog Sunday 8/8/2010)

Recap and What’s Coming: This was a busy weekend for the Kennedy household. On Friday evening, a group of us had an excellent dinner at the Hyatt’s new restaurant, the HARVEST Kitchen/Bar. Not only was the food good and the service prompt, but we parked in the Hyatt garage, had our ticket validated by the restaurant, and after dinner, walked through the Hyatt and the convention center to see the Music Theatre of Wichita production of “Curtains,” which was a riot.

Then, on Saturday evening we enjoyed the Celtic Woman show at the Intrust Bank Arena It was our first visit to the arena, and we were impressed! Parking was no problem; neither was traffic bad after the performance. We always enjoy Celtic Woman and this time, they brought a special performer with them, an award-winning bagpiper who also played for the crowd outside the arena after the performance.

August 9-August 15, 2010: Events of potential interest going on in Wichita and surrounding communities this week include:

On Monday evening between 5:00 and 7:30 pm the College Hill Pool will host the “Dog Days of Summer.” This event, sponsored by the Kansas Humane Society, invites all dogs to try wading, paddling, swimming, or diving. The event allows dogs to experience the joy of swimming in a pool without chlorine. Owners can wade only knee‐deep with their dogs in the shallow end of the zero‐depth entry family swimming pool or let the dogs jump by themselves into the deep end. Or compete in the long jump contest, frisbee catch, or largest and smallest dog contests. All dogs must be leashed when not in the pool or participating in contests and current on all vaccinations including rabies. All proceeds go to benefit the Humane Society.

Janet Williams AKA “The Tennessee Tramp” will be appearing at the Looney Bin Wednesday through Saturday. Her audiences consist of folks 18 to 80 as her subject matter encompasses all ages, genders, and ethnic groups. She has an endearing stage presence that makes her audiences think of her as a crazy grandmother, a wacky aunt, or a nutty neighbor. All can relate to her in some way. Showtimes are 8:00 pm Wednesday through Saturday with 10:30 pm performances on Friday and Saturday.

Friday offers Loretta Lynn at the Wichita’s Orpheum Theatre. For over four decades now, Loretta has fashioned a body of work as artistically and commercially successful—and as culturally significant—as any female performer you’d care to name. Her music has confronted many of the major social issues of her time, and her life story is a rags-to-riches tale familiar to pop, rock and country fans alike. Showtime is 8:00 pm. Tickets are available through Select-A-Seat or at any Dillon’s Superstores, and Plant Employee Clubs.

“A Taste of Wichita” will be held on Saturday between 11:00 am and 7:00 pm. This is a benefit for the Lord’s Diner and the City of Wichita’s No More Hungry Children Program The event will feature food sampling, music, art, car show, and childrens activities. It will be held at Naftzger Park which is located downtown at Douglas and St. Francis streets.

On Sunday, Gordon Lightfoot will be performing at the Cotillion. He is the author and voice of many other timeless songs including Early Morning Rain, Sundown, and If You Could Read My Mind. Showtime is 8:00 pm. Tickets are available through the Cotillion or Select-A-Seat.

There are still more things to do! Check the All About Wichita calendar for additional events and exhibits that we didn’t have the room to list here. In the meanwhile, have a good week.

(Blog Sunday 7/18/2010)

Recap and What’s Coming: We didn’t do much this week except try to stay cool and figure out where to put all of the stuff Liz brought home from work. Liz has been making big changes this week as she officially retires from Arts Partners. She plans to spend a lot of her time writing articles and reviews for her website for About.com, which is part of the New York Times Company. Liz does the About Children’s Books site and has an About Children’s Books Facebook Fan Page. Check them out.

July 19-July 25, 2010: Some of the things of potential interest going on in Wichita and surrounding communities this week.

The Babylon Saints perform Monday night at the Blue Lounge. One of the group members is Joseph “Panhead” Peck, a Wichita native and a friend of Liz. The cover charge at $3.00 is quite modest.

Music Theatre of Wichita’s latest show, Annie opens Wednesday with performances Wednesday (8:00 pm), Thursday (8:00 pm), Friday (8:00 pm), Saturday (2:00 & 8:00 pm, and Sunday (2:00 & 7:00 pm). A perfect show for the whole family, this great Broadway treat is packed with wonderful songs, delightful comedy, and a bracing dose of optimism! Ticketing information is available through the MTW website.

Rascal Flatts will be performing at the Intrust Bank Arena on Thursday evening. This country music group is one of the decade’s top-selling and most awarded acts. Showtime is 7:30 pm. Tickets are available at the Arena’s box office or through Select-A-Seat online or by calling (316) 755-SEAT.

Kissin’ Country 102.1 Summer Splash will be held late Sunday afternoon. Featured acts are Eli Young, Randy Rogers Band, Kevin Fowler, and more! Showtime is 4:00 pm at the Hartman Arena. Tickets are available through Stage 1 Tickets.

There are still more things to do! Check the All About Wichita calendar for additional events and exhibits that we didn’t have the room to list here. In the meanwhile, have a good week.

(Blog Sunday 7/11/2010)

Recap and What’s Coming: All of the high energy dancing and singing was a big hit with the audience at Music Theatre of Wichita’s Crazy for You. Liz is already looking forward to Annie two weeks from now.

Liz also attended the Wichita Public Library’s news conference this week to learn about the library’s latest NEA grant for The Big Read. In October, residents of Wichita and other parts of south-central Kansas are invited to read Zora Neale Hurston’s Their Eyes Were Watching God, discuss the book and attend related programs. To learn more, visit The Big Read – Wichita, the new website about the project.

July 12-July 18, 2010: There are a number of events of interest this week.

First on Tuesday evening, two acts that were regulars on the charts in the early ’80s, REO Speedwagon and Pat Benatar, will join forces for a summer co-headlining tour dubbed “Love On The Run.” They will be performing at the Intrust Bank Arena. Showtime is 7:00 pm. Tickets are available through Select-A-Seat online or by calling (316) 755-SEAT.

Also on Thursday, “Weird Al” Yankovic will be appearing at Wichita’s Cotillion Ballroom. The undisputed king of pop culture parody, “Wierd Al” has sold more comedy recordings than any other artist in history. In a career spanning nearly three decades, he has amassed 30 Gold and Platinum albums, 7 Gold and Platinum-certified home videos and 3 Grammy Awards (with 11 nominations). Showtime is 8:00 pm with tickets are available through Select-A-Seat online or by calling (316) 755-SEAT.

Wichita Community Theatre opens a new show this week. Entitled Almighty Bob, the play is about Bob who is being checked into a nursing home. Problem is that sometimes Bob thinks he is God. And sometimes he is right. Bob has become too much of a handful for his daughter Karen, so they’re trying a trial period at Dr. Wally’s nursing home with miraculous results. The show runs Thursday thru Saturday through July 31st. Showtime is 8:00 pm for all performances. Tickets are available at the door.

On Saturday (8:00 pm) and Sunday (4.00 pm) the Heart of America Men’s Chorus will be presenting a show called “Let Music Live.” This show will be a concert featuring music to stir the emotions and illustrate why we sing. The show is at the Orpheum Theatre. Tickets may be obtained online at the Chorus’ website or by calling (316) 708-4837.

There are still more things to do! Check the All About Wichita calendar for additional events and exhibits that we didn’t have the room to list here. In the meanwhile, have a good week.