New Bohemia Arts Festival
Saturday and Sunday, Sept. 4 and 5

The Czech Village and New Bohemia Arts and Entertainment District is living up to its name this weekend when they host the New Bohemia Arts Festival. There are seven stages this year (including Gatherings, Bottleworks, New Bo Park the Matyk Building, Parlor City, Chrome Horse and St. Wenceslaus) where more than 30 musical acts will perform. You can browse through the art booths of more than 30 fine arts vendors from around the Midwest while you listen. And there’s a creative arts area for kids and street performers, too. Plus if you’re feeling spry you can take part in the New Bo Half Marathon on Sunday morning. Viva la vie boheme!

New Bohemia Arts Festival
10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday (9/4) and Sunday (9/5), Third St. SE, Cedar Rapids, Free,
www.newbohemia.org

Labor Day Live
Sunday, Sept. 5

If you’re looking for a way to spend your Sunday, head to Fireside Winery in Marengo to enjoy a day jam-packed with great entertainment. Acoustic folk singer Billy Heller kicks off the day when he takes the stage from noon to 3 p.m., followed by Curry (on harmonica) and Rob Lombard (on guitar) from 3 to 6 p.m. The night finishes off with music from the Jimmy Buffett lovin’ Cedar Island Band from 7 to 10 p.m. Oh and did we mention there’s wine? Salud.

Labor Day Live
Noon to 10 p.m. Sunday (9/5), Fireside Winery, 1755 P Ave., Marengo, $10, (319) 622-4222, www.firesidewinery.com

Conquer the Corridor
Tuesday, Sept. 7

If you’ve ever caught yourself saying “there’s nothing to do here,” then 1) Start picking up Hoopla more often and 2) Make plans to attend Conquer the Corridor. Corridor gurus Quinn Pettifer, of the Downtown District, and Kari Lammer, of Priority One, will clue you into all you need to know to have a good time right in our backyard. There will be time for appetizers and networking (thanks to the Professional Women’s Network) too.

Conquer the Corridor
5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Tuesday (9/7), Cedar Rapids Chamber of
Commerce, 424 First Ave., Cedar Rapids, $5, (319) 981-9887,
www.pwn.org

Three other things

Downtown Cedar Rapids Farmers’ Market
7:30 a.m. to noon Saturday (9/4)
Downtown Cedar Rapids on Third and Fourth Avenues., Free, www.downtowncr.org

Festival of Iowa Beers
1 to 5 p.m. Sunday (9/5)
Millstream Brewing Company, 835 48th Ave., Amana, $15, 319.622.3672, www.mill
streambrewing.com

Heirloom Tomato
Tasting
6:30 to 7:30 p.m., Wednesday (9/8)
Wickiup Hill Outdoor Learning Center, 10260 Morris Hills Rd., Toddville, $2.50, 319.892.6485, http://www.mycountyparks.com/County/Linn/Park/Wickiup-Hill
-Outdoor-Learning-Center.aspx

The American Idol Live! Tour 2010
Thursday, Aug. 26

Relive American Idol season 9 tonight in Des Moines. Fans of the popular show will see and hear the season’s top 10 contestants, including Didi Benami, Crystal Bowersox, Andrew Garcia, Casey James, Aaron Kelly, Michael Lynche, Siobhan Magnus, Katie Stevens and Tim Urban. Season winner — Lee DeWyze — will also take the stage. Who knows, maybe you’ll be able to say, you saw them when …

The American Idol Live! Tour 2010
7:30 p.m. Thursday (8/26), Wells Fargo Arena, 730 Third St., Des Moines, $40.50 to $70.50, www.iowaeventscenter.com

Toby Keith
Thursday, Aug. 26

Are you ready for country music’s rowdiest summer party? It all goes down tonight, when country star Toby Keith rides into town. Keith’s American Ride Tour has taken the superstar all over the country to promote his latest album, “Bullets in the Gun,” which comes out in September. With dozens of number one hits and plenty of awards under his belt, the show promises to make any cowgirl swoon.

Toby Keith
7:17 p.m. Thursday (8/26), iWireless Center, 320 Second Ave. SE, Moline, $62.50, $47.25, www.iwirelesscenter.com

Brucemore Garden & Art Show
Saturday, Aug. 28

The famed Brucemore gardens will be in full bloom this weekend for the Brucemore Garden & Art Show. Saturday’s event will feature ceramics, painting, jewelry, sculpture, glass, and textiles, activities for all ages and of course the beautiful garden. In celebration of the 100th anniversary of the formal garden, the show will honor the work of landscape architect O.C. Simonds.

Brucemore Garden & Art Show
9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday (8/28), Brucemore, 2160 Linden Dr. SE, Cedar Rapids, adults $6, children under 10 free, www.brucemore.org

Three other things

Cedar Rapids Rollergirls: Lord of the Rink
7 p.m. Saturday (8/28)
U.S. Cellular Center, 370 First Avenue NE, Cedar Rapids, $10 in advance, $13 at the door, www.uscellularcenter.com

Sarah Jaffe
9 p.m. Wednesday (9/01)
The Mill, 120 E Burlington Street, Iowa City, $7, www.icmill.com

Boys Like Girls
Friday, Aug. 20

Whether you like boys or girls, you’ll like the concert rolling into the Iowa State Fair on Friday night. Pop-rock sensation Boys Like Girls is hitting the State Fair Grandstand and bringing their high spirits and fun-rockin’ show with them. You’re likely to hear a few of their hit singles like “The Great Escape,” “Hero/Heroine,” “Thunder,” and “Love Drunk.” Plus, new alternative band We the Kings will open the show and get the crowd ready to rock. Now that’s something to like!

Boys Like Girls
8 p.m. Friday (8/20), Iowa State Fairgrounds, E. 30th St. and E. University Ave., Des Moines, $25, 1 (800) 545-FAIR, www.iowastatefair.com

Sheryl Crow and Colbie Caillat
Sunday, Aug. 22

Make no mistake. You might as well stick around the Iowa State Fair until Sunday because you won’t want to miss the Fair’s closing act Sunday night. Nine-time Grammy Award winner Sheryl Crow will be making the crowd happy with her powerful vocals and sing-along lyrics. Plus she’s bringing along overnight sensation and sweetheart crooner Colbie Callait, who works with Iowa City native Jason Reeves, to open the show. Rest assured these two female vocalists will end the Iowa State Fair on a high note.

Sheryl Crow and Colbie Caillat
8 p.m. Sunday (08/22), Iowa State Fairgrounds, E. 30^th St. and E. University Ave., Des Moines, $25, 800.545.FAIR, www.iowastatefair.com

See more photos from Iowa State Fair Concerts:

[View with PicLens]

Taste of Iowa City
Wednesday, Aug. 25

Get a taste for Iowa City and its diverse restaurants next week when more than 35 restaurants line the streets of downtown and the Northside Marketplace for the third annual Taste of Iowa City. The event is hosted by the Downtown Association of Iowa City and the University of Iowa in conjunction with the UI’s Welcome Week. But you don’t have to be student to attend. Tickets will be $1 each and may be used at any vendor.

Taste of Iowa City
4 to 8 p.m. Wednesday (8/25), downtown Iowa City, no admission, food tickets $1 each, http://welcome.uiowa.edu

Aasif Mandvi
Tuesday, Aug. 24

This just in: He’s no Jon Stewart, but The Daily Show correspondent Aasif Mandvi is likely to provide some insightful and humorous entertainment Tuesday night when he appears as part of the University of Iowa Lecture Series. Mandvi will talk about his experiences as a “journalist” in a discussion entitled “The Real Story Behind the Fake News.” You’ll have to hear it for yourself to believe it.

Aasif Mandvi
7:30 to 9 p.m. Tuesday (8/24), Englert Theatre, 221 East
Washington St., Iowa City, Free, (319) 866-2653, www.englert.org

Three other things

Iowa Model-A Day
8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday (8/21)
Amana, Free, www.festival
inamana.com

Wickiup Hill
Scavenger Hung
10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday (8/21)
Wickiup Hill Outdoor Learning Center, 10260 Morris Hill Rd., Toddville, Free, 319.892.6485, www.linncountyparks.com

Beginning Wheel
Pottery Class
7 to 9 p.m. Monday (Mondays through Oct. 11)
The Ceramics Center, 329 10th Ave. SE, Suite 117, Cedar Rapids, $105, 319.365.9644, www.theceramicscenter.org

CEDAR RAPIDS — The Cedar Rapids Museum of Art invites you to its summer fundraiser, Unwind Upstairs.

The even will be held from 5 to 9 p.m.Friday, Aug. 27, 2010, at Daniel Arthur’s, 821 Third Ave. SE, Cedar Rapids.

Relax with appetizers, a cash bar featuring the evening’s a signature drink “The Unwinder,” pitchers of white sangria, happy hour bar specials, live music by Steven Kristopher and free beer samplings provided by 7G Distributing.

Tickets are $25 for museum members and $30 for non-members.

Proceeds will support educational programming at the Cedar Rapids Museum of Art. If you are unable to attend the event, you can still support programming by making a donation. Donations at the $20 level or above will receive a custom thank you lapel pin.

$20 provides art supplies for children’s programming

$35 provides a curriculum kit for elementary schools

$50 provides a school group museum tour with hands-on art activity

$100 provides a full day workshop for children or adults

For information or reservations, contact Beth Roof, the museum’s special events coordinator, at (319) 366-7503, Ext. 213, or broof@crma.org or make your reservations online at http://www.crma.org

Tickets also will be available at the event, but advanced reservations are encouraged.

The Ceramics Center is a non-profit facility whose purpose is to promote understanding, appreciation and professional development in the ceramic arts. The Center is organized and operated by Iowa Artworks, Inc., a 501 (c)(3) not for profit organization supported by earned income, grants, private contributions and memberships.

The Ceramics Center offers a wide variety of classes for all ages. For more information, visit the organization’s website at www.theceramicscenter.org

There are two chances to check out the center

1. NEW BOHEMIA ARTS FESTIVAL

The New Bohemia Arts Festival will be held Sept. 4 and 5 on Third Street SE in Cedar Rapids. The festival includes a variety of art vendors and performers from the Midwest.

The Ceramics Center will be hosting an open house and pottery sale in conjunction with the New Bohemia Arts Festival. The sale will feature ceramic and glass work from the center’s resident artists and advanced students. The Ceramics Center is located at 329 10th Ave. SE, Suite 117 in Cedar Rapids.

2. BRUCEMORE GARDEN AND ART SHOW

The 2010 Brucemore Garden and Art Show on August 28 will celebrate the estate’s 100th anniversary. From 9 a.m. until 4 p.m.  many artists and vendors will give demonstrations and lectures as well as showcase their products.

The Ceramics Center will be at the Brucemore Garden and Art Show to host a variety of activities for kids and families. Children will be able to decorate clay planters with mosaics, color clay tiles, and recreate the Brucemore landscape with clay. The Ceramics Center will also have raku firing on site and a gallery area with pottery for sale.

Jazz Under the Stars
Thursdays, Aug. 12, 19 and 26

The funk stops at Noelridge Park tonight for Jazz 88.33 KCCK’s Jazz Under the Stars concert series. Funk Stop, an 11-piece horn funk band featuring soulful lyrics and a hot horn-and-rhythm section, takes the stage at 7 p.m. Pack a picnic and sit back and relax to Funk Stop’s interpretations of songs by funk bands like Tower of Power, James Brown, Stevie Wonder and Earth Wind and Fire. In the event of rain, concerts will be held indoors at Parlor City Pub and Eatery, 1125 Third St. SE. The Aug. 19 concert features The Janelle Lauer Group; Aug. 26 is The Pat Smith Group.

Jazz Under the Stars
7 p.m. Thursday (8/12), Noelridge Park, 4900 Council St. NE, free, www.kcck.org

Cabaret in the Courtyard
Thursday to Saturday, Aug. 12 to 14 and 19 to 21

The beat goes on at Brucemore this weekend and next with Cabaret in the Courtyard. The courtyard will be transformed under the stars with cocktail tables and chairs. This weekend, Kevin Worley, a Cedar Rapids native touring with the Tony-winning “Jersey Boys,” will perform to a sold-out crowd. Don’t despair, though, tickets are still available for Orquesta Alto Maiz next weekend. Bring beverages but no food.

Cabaret in the Courtyard
7:30 p.m. Thursday to Saturday (8/12-14 and 19-21), Brucemore, 2160 Linden Dr. SE, Cedar Rapids, $15 to $20, www.brucemore.org

Clearheart Vodka Crawl
Friday, August 13

The always-popular Clearheart Vodka Crawl, presented by Cedar Ridge Vineyards and Distillery, begins at Bricks. Register from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. From there, head to Volume, Teeghans, the Piano Lounge, Dublin City and end up at DC’s, where prizes will be given away at 10 p.m. For just $10, you get a glass to carry from bar to bar and a vodka drink at each pit stop. So head downtown for a what will clearly be a good time.

Clearheart Vodka Crawl
5:30 p.m. Friday (8/13), Registration at Bricks, 320 Second Ave. SE, Cedar Rapids, $10, www.downtowncr.org

Three other things

Downtown Getdown: Cedar Island Band
6 p.m. Thursday (8/12)
City Square Park, 1225 Sixth Ave., Marion, free, www.marioncc.org

CRBT Drive-In Movie: Night at the Museum
7 p.m. Saturday (8/14)
Cedar Rapids Bank & Trust, 500 First Ave. NE, Cedar Rapids, free, www.downtowncr.org

Wylde Nept
9 p.m. Saturday (8/14)
The Mill, 120 E. Burlington St., Iowa City, $8, www.icmill.com

Rocking as George Thorogood & the Destroyers are (from left) Jim Suhler, Billy Blough, George Thorogood, Jeff Simon and Buddy Leach. The band will bring its bad-to-the-bone sounds to the Diamond Jo Casino's Mississippi Moon Bar in Dubuque on Friday, Aug.20.

Most of what you’re about to read is true.

In a recent phone interview, George Thorogood artfully dodged biographical questions, peppered his responses with hypothetical situations, laughed, a lot, and

ended our conversation with “Most of what I just told you is true.”

Great. So, all things considering, here are some facts we know to be true about Thorogood:

1. He and the Destroyers are performing at 8 p.m.

Aug. 20 in the Mississippi Moon Bar in Dubuque’s Diamond Jo Casino.

2. He plays a mean guitar. But if you think it’s blues guitar, he says it’s rock guitar.

3. He and the boys cut a new CD last year, “The Dirty Dozen,” driving down the same path they’ve been tearing up since the ’70s, which is a good thing. Thorogood’s gravelly voice is just as full and rich now as it was when he first started singing “Bad to the Bone” 30 years ago. Looking for nostalgia? “Live in Boston, 1982” was released July 27.

4. He’s performed in Iowa before, with stops at Davenport in 2008, the Riverside Casino in 2007 and the Paramount Theatre in Cedar Rapids in 1999.

5. Baseball ruled his world until the British Invasion brought an influx of rockers to American shores.

We’re pretty sure this is true.

He dodged any talk about his reported days in semipro baseball, saying: “I had a great career as a first-base coach for a pickup game — or I could play Madison Square Garden. Now you choose.”

Somewhere along the line, he picked up a guitar, taught himself how to play it and found his new game.

“Learning an instrument is something you live with, whether it’s piano, flute, glockenspiel or accordion,” he says. “You may take a few lessons, learn a couple of chords, then just start banging away until someone comes up and says, ‘I’ll give you $10 to play.’ Then you work until someone gives you $20 to play.”

It’s safe to say he’s making more than $20 these days.

He started carving out his recording career in the early ’70s and his 1982 hit, “Bad to the Bone,” has become part of the pop culture lexicon.

“I sing like a skut-bucket singer. If I could sing like Rod Stewart or Barbra Streisand, don’t you think I’d do it? … You go where you can go. I’m still not working at the carwash.“

Someone asked Freddie Patek, who is just 5 feet 5 inches, how it feels to be the shortest man in the Majors. He said, ‘Better than being the shortest man in the Minors.’

Thorogood puts his own spin on that. “It’s better to be a stooge in heaven than a king in hell.”

— Diana Nollen, The Gazette

Cabaret in the Courtyard
Thursday through Saturday, August 12 to 14 and 19 to 21

It’s music month on the Brucemore grounds, the beat goes on this weekend and next with Cabaret in the Courtyard. The courtyard at the visitor center will be transformed with cocktail tables, chairs and a special ambience under the stars. This weekend, Kevin Worley, a Cedar Rapids native who is currently touring with the Tony-winning “Jersey Boys,” will perform to a sold-out crowd. Don’t despair, though, next weekend Orquesta Alto Maiz will bring their jazz and salsa sound to the cabaret stage. Tickets are still available. Patrons can bring their favorite beverages but no food.

Cabaret in the Courtyard

7:30 p.m. Thursday through Saturday (8/12 to 14 and 19 to 21), Brucemore, 2160 Linden Drive SE, Cedar Rapids, $18 in advance ($15 for members), $20 at the door, www.brucemore.org

Hardacre Film Festival
Friday and Saturday, August 6 and 7

Grab some popcorn and head to Tipton this weekend to catch the award wining films in the annual Hardacre Film Festival. Between Friday and Saturday night they’ll be showing 24 films from a variety of categories — like best narrative feature, best documentary and best Iowa film. The jury has already picked their favorites in each category but you can throw in your two cents for the Audience Award to be given out Saturday night. So sit back, relax and enjoy the shows.

Hardacre Film Festival
6 p.m. Friday (8/6) and 9 a.m. to 11 p.m. Saturday (8/7), Hardacre Theater, 112 E Fifth St., Tipton, $8 per festival event, www.hardacrefilmfestival.com

South Pacific: In Concert
Friday and Saturday, August 6 and 7

You won’t need to board a plane to get a dose of the tropics this weekend at the Englert Theatre, and not just because it’s far too muggy. Iowa City Community Theatre will showcase the music of Rogers & Hammerstein’s “South Pacific,” with a staged reading. The songs from the show sung choral-style. It  is a fundraiser for the group and their ongoing performances.

South Pacific
8 p.m. Friday (8/6) and Saturday (8/7), Englert Theatre, 221 E. Washington St., Iowa City, $20, (319) 688-2653, www.englert.org

Hooverfest
Saturday, August 7

Head to West Branch to get in on the birthday celebration for President Herbert Hoover. Hooverfest kicks off with fun for the whole family. Get signed up for the Hooverball Tournament. There’s a beer garden for the adults and plenty of activities for the kids. Plus there’s free birthday cake, live entertainment and fireworks at dusk. Happy Birthday Mr. President!

Hooverfest
9 a.m. to 11 p.m., Saturday (8/7), Herbert Hoover Presidential Library-Museum and Historic Site, 302 Parkside Dr., West Branch, Free, (319) 643-5327, www.hooverassociation.org

Three other things

Jazz Under the Stars
7 to 9 p.m. Thursday (8/5)
Noelridge Park, Free, (319) 398-5446, www.kcck.org

Ushers Ferry Folk Festival
5 to 10 p.m. Saturday (8/7)
Usher’s Ferry, 5925 Seminole Valley Trail, Cedar Rapids, $12, (319) 286-5732, www.crrec.org

Dawes
6 p.m. Monday (8/9)
Gabe’s, 330 E. Washington St. Iowa City, $12 in advance, $14 at the door, (319) 354-4788, www.iowacitygabes.com

GET OUT

• What: 17th annual Bluesmore

• When: 4 to 9:30 p.m. Saturday; gates open at 3 p.m.

• Where: Front lawn at Brucemore, 2160 Linden Dr. SE, Cedar Rapids

• Performers: The Avey Brothers, Reverend Raven and the Chain Smokin’ Altar Boys and Deanna Bogart Band

• Tickets: Advance prices through Friday: $13 adults and $12 students and Brucemore/Linn County Blues Society members, at (319) 362-7375 or Brewed Awakenings, Chappy’s Safari Lounge, Checkers Tavern, Cooters, J.M. O’Malley’s, the Longbranch, Music Go Round, Music Loft, Parlor City Pub, Stars Guitars and West Music in Cedar Rapids; $15 at the gate; children ages 10 and under free when accompanied by an adult; tickets are non-refundable

• Extras: No on-site parking; no pets, coolers or outside food allowed; food and beverage vendors available on-site, including Jaycees beer tent

• Details: www.brucemore.org, www.lcbs.org or call (319) 362-7375 or (319) 399-5105

Deanna Bogart discovered the piano as a toddler, but it took her a couple of decades to hit her stride and a couple more before she learned to read music.

You’d never guess that when you listen to her sing, play piano or sax. She’s a boogie-woogie, blues and jazz virtuoso, fusing all those styles into a little something she calls “bluesion.”

She’s played several times over the years at Cornell College in Mount Vernon, but this year, she’s headlining Saturday’s Bluesmore extravaganza on the front lawn at Brucemore, 2160 Linden Dr. SE.

The annual event, staged by Brucemore and the Linn County Blues Society since 1994, also features blues-rock, Chicago and Cajun swamp music by the Avey Brothers from Davenport and original blues twists by Reverend Raven and the Chain Smokin’ Altar Boys from Madison, Wis.

On a decent summer day, as many as 4,000 people flock to rock to Blues at the Big House. The action gets under way at 4 p.m. and stretches to 9:30 p.m. That’s a lot of music, so put on your boogie shoes and get ready to get your groove on.

Bogart will be.

She joined the band Cowboy Jazz at age 21 and learned western swing and cowboy rhythms by listening and doing.

At age 27, she picked up a saxophone — about 17 years after she first wanted to play it.These days, saxophone is an integral part of her arsenal, along with keyboards and vocals.

She’s recorded eight CDs and is included on several more compilations, all showcasing the style she honed on the Maryland roots music circuit. After Cowboy Jazz broke up in 1986, she joined Root Boy Slim and two years later, struck out on her own and formed her own band, which will be in the Bluesmore spotlight.

What they’ll play Saturday night is anyone’s guess.
— DIANA NOLLEN