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Get Out: Go Red

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americanheartgoredThis Friday, young women attending the Go Red for Women Luncheon
are sure to learn that heart disease is not just a man’s disease or something that only affects people over 50.

In fact, heart disease is the number one killer of women ages 20 and older. And not just that, but more women die from heart disease—which includes coronary artery disease, arrhythmias, congenital heart defects, heart attack, and stroke—than the next five causes of death combined, including all forms of cancer. Luckily heart disease is largely preventable.
For Heidi Vancura, 32, of Cedar Rapids, those statistics are close to her heart, literally.

About four of five years ago, Heidi began having what she calls “spells” where she would foam at the mouth and blackout for 20 seconds or so then have to be rushed to the hospital by ambulance. After one such “spell”, she was diagnosed with dilated cardiomyopathy. Heidi has an enlarged heart that doesn’t pump blood properly. Since her diagnosis she’s had surgery to insert a defibrillator, makes regular visits to a cardiologist, and is on medication for the rest of her life. Certainly a list most 20- or 30-somethings don’t have on their to do list.

But Heidi is a lot like most young people her age. “If I didn’t have a heart problem, I wouldn’t think anything of it,” she says. “But there is so much to know about the heart.”

And while she lives with heart
disease every day, Heidi is getting
life back on track. She recently
started playing tennis again (a favorite past time she’d given up for the past few years.) She also hopes
to start a support group of sorts so that she and other young women in the area can get together and talk about how they’ve been affected by heart disease.

This girl’s obviously got heart.
­— KATIE

Get Out: Making overtures

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Orchestra Iowa’s ‘Generation O’ series kicks off

Think going to the symphony means blue-haired ladies, unforgiving ushers and the agony of not knowing when to clap? Think again. Tonight, Cedar Rapids’ Orchestra Iowa launches the first installment of “Generation O,” a series of events designed to bring young professionals and other symphony listeners together over a glass of wine and a night on the town.

For the doubters among us, it may just prove that classical music is sexy.

The event, a new offering this year from Orchestra Iowa, has all the ingredients of a posh night out: a preconcert cocktail reception at Zins in Cedar Rapids, followed by a behind-the-scenes tour at Coe College’s Sinclair Auditorium with music director Timothy Hankewich, musicians and Orchestra Iowa production staff. Then it’s on to the entree, a program that features the well-known — Beethoven’s First Symphony — and the not-so-well-known – Respighi’s “Gli Uccelli.”

There’s a reason for that, says Hankewich.

“It’s important to give audiences a taste of something they know they’re going to like, but like any great meal, to introduce something that they’re unfamiliar with but likely to remember even more,” he says.

For Generation O, the goal is to offer young Corridor professionals — and anyone else who likes a little Beethoven with their Brie — a social networking event at an affordable price as well as a backstage pass to the world of classical music.

“The point of this whole Generation O experience is to introduce people to the orchestra, introduce them to great music, but at the same time break down the barriers so that they’re not afraid,” Hankewich says. “People love to learn, but on the other hand, they hate to feel ignorant. When you can create a safe atmosphere where people can come together, go out, have a great time with their friends and enjoy great music – then you’re in for a good evening.”

That’s a particularly important thing to keep in mind, considering that while America’s orchestras are good at reaching school-age children and their parents — or perhaps grandparents — 20 and 30-somethings can sometimes be overlooked. And reaching that market can be crucial to the continued success of the orchestra as well as the well-being of its audience.

“Nowhere is it written in stone that a community needs to have a symphony orchestra,” Hankewich explains. “Like all the arts, we have to earn our relevancy every day, and that means reaching out to new audiences and making the orchestra as visible as possible in as many contexts as possible.”

That combination of social networking and community outreach is something that Hankewich, who’s in his fourth year as an Iowan after leaving his previous post in Kansas City, understands personally.

“It’s been a real privilege getting a chance to know some of the great minds in this area,” he says.

By getting to know Orchestra Iowa friends and supporters, he explains, he’s been able to feel right at home in the Corridor — a sentiment that Generation O is designed to cultivate.

“It’s been remarkable, without a doubt, to enjoy getting the chance to become an Iowan and get acquainted with the community. I’ve made some of the best friends of my life here.”

— JESSICA

Just Dance

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It’s OK, you can admit it – we’ve all busted an MTV-worthy move in the privacy of our living room or gotten down while doing the dishes. But when it comes to dancing in the presence of, well, other people, it’s tempting just to flash back to that tragic junior high social and pull up a chair.

Fear not, though: The Corridor’s dance scene has enough going on to have you up off the sofa and down with your bad self in no time. And no matter what makes you want to move – salsa, belly dancing, foxtrot, tango, swing or hip-hop – there’s somewhere you can go and someone who wants to teach you.

Consider it your own little dance revolution.

SUSIE MURRAY, DANCE NEW YORK, MARION

Before “Dancing with the Stars,” most of us put ballroom lessons in the same box as shuffleboard and pitted prunes – something best left to Grandma. Then came the “DWTS” phenomenon and people started thinking: wait a minute, ballroom dancing is hot. And while we might not all have the body of Karina Smirnoff or the fancy footwork of Maksim Chmerkovskiy, there’s no reason not to give it a go, says Dance New York co-owner Susie Murray.

“Take the leap – what’s the worst thing that could happen?” she jokes. Murray – a competition pro with a number of titles under her rhinestone-studded belt – didn’t start in ballroom herself, instead coming to dance as a career after working as an interior designer. And when her husband and studio co-owner Derrick saw her take the leap, he followed too.

 “Derrick didn’t have a dance background,” Murray says. “But when I became a teacher, he started taking lessons and coming to parties, and it went from there. You can start from scratch – everything’s teachable.” Today, the Murrays compete and perform across the country, including an appearance at Friday’s American Cancer Society Hope Lodge Gala, a “Dancing with the Stars”-style event taking place at the Marriott Hotel in Coralville.

The Murrays’ students range in skill from absolute beginners to competition veterans and vary in age from pre-teen to – well, let’s just say that dancing keeps people young. And whether young or old, single or in pairs, everyone’s welcome on the floor. Says Murray: “It’s a very social thing. Most people make a lot of friends dancing – everyone is extremely friendly in the dance community.”

If that’s not enough, there are also the health benefits of ballroom to consider– mental as well as physical. “Most people don’t realize how much of an effect dancing has on their entire life,” Murray says. “It gives people confidence. I’ve had students say they should pay for the therapy as well as the lessons!”

GLORIA ZMOLEK, CEDAR RAPIDS

Remember the movie “Dance With Me”? If that got your pulse going, salsa may be the thing to try. And with a burgeoning scene in the Corridor, you can strut your stuff at a nightclub or in a more formal setting – whatever strikes your fancy.

Gloria Zmolek, an art teacher at Linn-Mar High School, started dancing salsa almost a decade ago and never looked back: “It’s the only New Year’s resolution that I’ve ever kept,” she says. “I didn’t even know what salsa was, but one thing led to another and I got very addicted!”

These days, Zmolek and her daughter Laurel Zmolek-Smith are doyennes of the Corridor dance community. Go to almost any salsa event and you’ll find them there, dancing with students who’ve started out in their Saturday afternoon classes at CSPS/Legion Arts in Cedar Rapids. Over the years, Zmolek says, she’s seen the salsa scene grow from a tiny band of devotees to a large, thriving group. “There’s a really healthy community between Iowa City and Cedar Rapids,” she says. “We started with just one place a week, and now we have three, sometimes four.”

Even better, Zmolek says, is that salsa brings together people from across the globe. “It’s a very diverse population for Iowa,” she explains. “At our last lesson we had students from Guatemala, El Salvador, Mexico, India…“ And no matter where you’re from, we all have one thing in common: Everybody likes to party. One of the things that makes salsa a favorite for Zmolek, she says, is the excuse it gives you to go out and have a good time.

“We’re in a society where people don’t get dressed up any more,” she explains. “When you dance, you can dress however you want to, put on makeup or whatever you want – you don’t ever feel out of place, you just feel like ‘Hey! I look hot!’”

MARK McCUSKER AND NORA GARDA, ACEXPERIMENT/INTERDANCE, IOWA CITY

If there’s one message Mark McCusker and Nora Garda – founders of ACExperiment and InterDance in Iowa City – are shouting loud and clear, it’s this: Just get off your backside and dance.

“We don’t believe that anyone has two left feet,” Garda says. “People just need to try.” And if that means taking a formal class or simply showing up to boogie, it’s all valid. “We teach the rules, but you don’t have to obey them,” McCusker says. With that in mind, he and Garda host a variety of events, from Tuesday night open dance sessions at Old Brick in Iowa City to the full-scale annual Iowa Dance Fest. It’s an alternative, they say, to the regimented classes we may have been shuttled through as kids – as well as the bar scene we might get a little tired of as grown-ups.

“People like to go out, and if you don’t go to the bars, you don’t know where to go,” Garda says. Instead, she suggests, find a drop-in class or a special event to sample. Where to start your search? Consider what you already enjoy.

“One way to choose a dance style is just to ask yourself ‘What do I want to wear?’” McCusker says. “High heels, jeans, tights? Say you like to dress hip-hop. Simple. Join a hip-hop class like MOvMNT in Cedar Rapids.”

 But be careful, Garda cautions – once you find your feet, you might get a bit swept off them, too. “Sometimes I feel a little guilty when I go to work and say ‘I’m so tired, I danced for four hours last night,’” she says.

“I feel a little spoiled.”

– Jessica Schilling

 WHERE TO GO

Ballroom:
- Dance New York, http://www.dnyia.com
- Cedar Valley Dance Club, http://wheedance.home.mchsi.com
- Ponderosa Ballroom, http://ponderosaballroom.com

Hip-hop:
- MOvMNT Dance Company, http://www.movmntdancecompany.org

Salsa:
- Baile Latino, http://www.crsalsa.org/
- Cedar Rapids/Marion salsa Facebook group, http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=49875894847

Swing:
- University of Iowa Swing Dance Club, http://www.uiowa.edu/~uiswing
- Hawkeye Swing Festival, http://www.hawkeyeswingfestival.com

Tango:
- Iowa City Tango Club, http://www.tangoiowa.org

Arabic dance:
- Kahraman Dance Studio, http://www.kahramandance.org

General dancing:
- Swing Out Iowa, http://www.swingoutiowa.com
- ACExperiment, http://ace-xperiment.blogspot.com
- InterDance, http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=115603942949
- Arts a la Carte, http://www.artsalacarteic.org
- Cultural Corridor, http://www.culturalcorridor.org

 

Get ready to rumba

So you think you can dance? You may think again after seeing the ballroom pros in action.

Champions of the Dance will be spinning onto the Englert Theatre stage in downtown Iowa City at
8 p.m. Friday.

You’ll see the fancy footwork of dancers featured in ABC’s “Dancing with the Stars,” the BBC’s “Strictly Come Dancing” and “The American Ballroom Challenge.”

Among those luminaries are Andrey Motyl and Inna Brayer from “Dancing with the Stars”; national champions Hugo Villanueva and Jessica McMorrow; German youth champions Thanh Tran and Zoya Altmark; and theater arts champions David and Natalie Wakefield.

They’ll be whirling, twirling, dipping and flipping to the waltz, fox trot, Charleston, quickstep and jive, as well as the passionate Latin rhythms of the cha-cha, rumba, mambo and more.

Audience members will no doubt be as breathless as the stars afterward.

Tickets are $35 and $30 at the Englert Box Office, 221 E. Washington St., (319) 688-2653 and www.iowatix.com

For more information, go to www.englert.org

For a video preview, go to www.championsofthedance.com Your head will be spinning as fast as their feet.

— Diana Nollen, The Gazette

Burning up the dance floor

Not quite ready to don the dancing shoes yourself? Watch other brave souls take a turn for a good cause at “Dancing for the Stars” Saturday at 6 p.m. at the Coralville Marriott Hotel and Conference Center.

The event benefits the Russell and Ann Gerdin American Cancer Society Hope Lodge in Iowa City, which provides non-medical lodging for out-of-town cancer patients and their families who travel to Iowa City for cancer treatment. Organizers hope to raise $40,000.

Based on the TV show, “Dancing with the Stars,” the gala will feature 12 Eastern Iowa celebrities coupled with expert dancers will demonstrate ballroom dancing to the lively music of the Rod Pierson Big Band featuring Craig Boche.
The dancing gala features a reception, dinner, a live auction, dancing and special speakers. Local dancers representing various organizations, educational institutions, government and business include Bruce Aune, Dr. John Buatti, Catherine Champion, Elizabeth Chrischilles, Steven Grace, John Grier, Patricia Heiden, Sharman Hunter, Michael Lensing, Katherine Moyers, Lane Plugge and Joyce Summerwill.

The gala also will feature a reception, dinner, a live auction and featured speakers. Tickets are $100 each or $1,000 for a table of 10.

For more information, go online to www.hopelodgegala.com or call 1 (888) 266-2071, ext. 7104.

Get out: Haunted places

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blackangelThese are the legends and reports of incidents which come from the authors ­­— Chad Lewis and Terry Fisk, in their book, “The Iowa Road Guide to Haunted Locations.” These are just the six in Linn and Johnson counties. Lewis said they don’t rank them since they let the adventurer decided which places earn that title.
Note: All descriptions bellow have been paraphrased from their book. Check out their Web site at www.unexplainedresearch.com

Oak Hill Cemetery, 1705 Mount Vernon Rd. SE, Cedar Rapids
Legend says there is a woman named Tillie who is said to make her presence known by ensnaring those brave enough to pass through at night. Witnesses report seeing a mysterious ghostly woman walking the grounds with a small candle in her hand. Rumors say that she was a practicing witch in Cedar Rapids in the 1800s who was stoned to death. Others said she was a poor woman in Cedar Rapids who died without any money or possessions and roams the cemetery. Her grave use to be in an area surrounded by an iron gate, but the gate was removed and Tillie is said to now roam the cemetery.

Carlos O’Kelly’s Mexican Cafe, 3320 Armar Dr., Marion
One night when an employee was closing the restaurant, the phone kept ringing on and off. When she returned after multiple trips to check the phone she discovered a cup of coffee on her desk. Several employees have also reported seeing plates, cleaning supplies, and cooking equipment fly off the shelves for no reason as well as blenders turning on and off on their own.

pleasantridgePleasant Ridge Cemetery, 4 Miles North of Palo on Palo Marsh Road
Known as the “13-Step cemetery,” because there are only 12 steps visible during the day but a 13th appears at night-leading people into the cemetery- Investigators reported a ghostly phantom running through the cemetery. Visitors have reported seeing a green ball of light hovering over the Lewis family graves. Many have reported to have been touched or pushed by an unseen forces. Eerie unknown human shapes have also been reported to be.

Matsell Bridge and Mansion, Matsell Park Road, Viola
Though the mansion no longer exists, legend says haunting still exists around the bridge It is said that if you drive onto the bridge and shut off your car, an unknown force will push you across the bridge. Reports of handprints on people’s back windows have been reported. But beware, local teens are said to believe that if the ghosts of the bridge get angry they will try and break your windows or even push you off the bridge.

The Black Angel of Oakland Cemetery, 100 Brown St., Iowa City
Legend says every Halloween the statue turns a shade darker because of the souls it has taken throughout the year. If you touch the angle at exactly midnight it is said you will die within seven years. If you stare directly into the statue at midnight it is said you will suffer a fatal curse. And it is said if any woman who is kissed in front of the Black Angel will die within six months unless she is a virgin. There are many versions of the story explaining why the statue turned black. One is because the ashes of a woman named Teresa are buried under the angel. Her evilness is said to have caused the statue to turn black. Another says that a man constructed a statue over his wife’s grave but it turned black due to her infidelity during the marriage. And another says it’s cursed because two men urinated on the statue and died in a car accident that night.

Get Out:

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MR. SHUCKS

Kernels Schedule

July 4 5:05 p.m., Quad Cities River Bandits (Armed Forces Day/Fireworks following game)
July 5 2:05 p.m., Quad Cities River Bandits (Kernels Baseball Cards)
July 6 6:35 p.m., Quad Cities River Bandits
July 7 6:35 p.m., Quad Cities River Bandits
July 8 6:35 p.m., Fort Wayne TinCaps (MLB Player Magnets Night)
July 9 6:35 p.m., Fort Wayne TinCaps (Country Night)
July 10 6:35 p.m., Fort Wayne TinCaps
July 11 6:35 p.m., Dayton Dragons (Fireworks following game)
July 12 2:05 p.m., Dayton Dragons (Best Western Long Branch Visor Day)
July 13 12:05 p.m., Dayton Dragons (Lunch at the Ballpark)
July 25 6:35 p.m., South Bend Silver Hawks
July 26 2:05 p.m., South Bend Silver Hawks (Family Faith Day)
July 27 6:35 p.m., South Bend Silver Hawks
July 28 6:35 p.m., Kane County Cougars
July 29 6:35 p.m., Kane County Cougars (MLB Player Magnets Night)
July 30 6:35 p.m., Kane County Cougars
Aug. 7 6:35 p.m., Beloit Snappers
Aug. 8 6:35 p.m., Beloit Snappers (Fireworks following game)
Aug. 9 2:05 p.m., Beloit Snappers (Hall of Fame Day)
Aug. 10 12:05 p.m., Beloit Snappers
Aug. 11 6:35 p.m., Wisconsin Timber Rattlers
Aug. 12 6:35 p.m., Wisconsin Timber Rattlers MLB Player Magnets Night)
Aug. 13 6:35 p.m., Wisconsin Timber Rattlers (Ladies Night)
Aug. 14 6:35 p.m., Wisconsin Timber Rattlers (Jimmy Buffett Night/Pre- and postgame concerts: Cedar Island Band)
Aug. 24 6:35 p.m., Clinton LumberKings
Aug. 25 6:35 p.m., Clinton LumberKings
Aug. 26 6:35 p.m., Clinton LumberKings (MLB Player Magnets Night)
Aug. 27 6:35 p.m., Clinton LumberKings
Aug. 28 6:35 p.m., Peoria Chiefs
Aug. 29 6:35 p.m., Peoria Chiefs (Special Olympics Night/Fireworks following game)
Aug. 30 2:05 p.m., Peoria Chiefs (Summer Reader Recognition Day)
Aug. 31 6:35 p.m., Peoria Chiefs
Sept. 5 6:35 p.m., Burlington Royals (Fireworks following game)
Sept. 6 5:05 p.m., Burlington Royals (Fireworks following game)
Sept. 7 2:05 p.m., Burlington Royals (Fan Appreciation Day)

Get out: Get Red, White and Blue

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Cedar Rapids Freedom Festival

Check out the map of events.

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June 18

Tribute to Heroes Luncheon - Help recognize five community heroes and kick off Freedom Festival 2009 at this inspirational luncheon. There will be music by locally-known Baily Holland and Mark Vincent Pence and Ashley Lerch, Ms. Wheelchair Iowa 2008, will read her essay “The Hero in My Life.” Lunch begins at 11:30 a.m. at the Cedar Rapids Marriott, 1220 Collins Road NE, admission is $30 and includes a complimentary Freedom Festival button.

June 19

Patriotic Pops Concert – Maestro Timothy Hankewich will direct the nationally-acclaimed 80-piece Cedar Rapids Symphony-Orchestra Iowa as they perform popular patriotic songs. Local singer Janelle Lauers will open the concert and perform with the Cedar Rapids Symphony-Orchestra Iowa on several pieces. Gates open at 5 p.m., concert begins at 6 p.m. General admission tickets are $10 ($5 for ages 6-12), or $15 for preferred seating (all ages, includes a chair in front of the stage), Freedom Festival 2009 button required, available at the gate for $3. Concert will be held at Kirkwood Community College and fireworks will follow at 10 p.m.

June 20

Freedom Festival/CVB Cricket Classic – Check out this distant cousin of America[']s favorite pastime as local teams compete with teams from surrounding states in a new “20-20″ format. Matches will be held at Seminole Valley Park at 10 a.m. and the tournament will continue through June 21 and June 26-27.
A Passport to Fun - Gather a team of friends, family or co-workers and head out to Cherry Hill Park to participate in this Olympic-style competition. Events include swim competitions, contests, games and relay races. Cost is $20 per team for four events, Freedom Festival 2009 button-wearers will receive $3 off. 10:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m. Visit www.crrec.org for a complete list of events and rules.
Classic Rock Concert Night - America, with hits like “You Can Do Magic” and “Horse with No Name,” will take the stage at Kirkwood Community College at 7 p.m., followed by Three Dog Night, known for songs like”Joy to the World” and “Black and White.” General admission tickets are $15, or $20 for preferred seating, Freedom Festival 2009 button required, available for $3 at the gate. Local artist will open the concert at 6 p.m. and fireworks will follow at 10 p.m.

June 21

Tug-of-War Tournament - Freedom Festival 2009 and local members of the United States Amateur Tug-of-War Association will host teams from around the Midwest in this tough-pulling tournament. The tournament is 1-3 p.m. and part of the Action Zone activities at Kirkwood Community College. Admission is free with a Freedom Festival 2009 button.

June 25

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Balloon Glow - Enjoy an evening of music, food and colorful, glowing balloons on the grounds of Brucemore Historic Site. Free admission with a Freedom Festival 2009 button, 7-10 p.m.

June 26

Quantico Marine Corps Band “American Pride” Concert - An evening of musical entertainment including traditional marches, patriotic favorites, jazz, country and popular contemporary music. Concert begins at 7 p.m., admission is free with a Freedom Festival 2009 button but an admission voucher, obtainable from the Freedom Festival office, is required.

June 27

Adult Kickball Tournament - Form a team and participate in a daylong tournament of that childhood favorite game. The tournament will be held at the Noelridge Park Softball Diamonds beginning at 9 a.m. Admission is free for spectators, team registration fee is $75/team and teams must preregister by phone 319-286-5731.

June 28

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Great Cardboard Boat Regatta - Teams compete in boats they built out of cardboard. The regatta will be held at noon at Robbins Lake at Ellis Park. Sheets of cardboard are available in a specially marked trailer in the parking lot of Sams Club, 2605 Blairs Ferry Rd NE. Preregistration by Friday, June 19, is preferred. For more information, go to www.freedomfestival.com.

July 1

Office Olympiad - Gather a team and prepare to test your office survival skills. Events will include coffee cup race, speed typing race, “Best Conversation Around the Coffeepot” competition, “Best Why I’m Late For Work Excuse” and more. Additional award categories include Most Caffeinated (or Spirited) Team, Most Inappropriate Office Attire and Most High Strung Team. Competition will be held on Second Street in front of the Freedom Festival Office at noon, awards ceremony at 4:15 p.m. Admission is free for spectators and team registration is $10.

July 4

Patriot’s Bazaar and Farmers Market - Support local growers and crafters and choose from a selection of specialty and handmade items, wines and produce from area vendors. Items for sale will include wood crafts, personalized frames, jams and jellies, jewelry, quilts, baked goods, candles and much more. The Market will be held on the Second Avenue Bridge from 7:30 a.m. to noon.

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Celebration of Freedom Fireworks - Bring your blanket or lawn chair and enjoy the area’s largest pyrotechnic display at Kirkwood Community College. The fireworks will be preceded by a selection of marches and patriotic tunes performed by the Cedar Rapids Municipal Band at 8 p.m. and the display will begin at 9:45 p.m. Admission is free, check the July 2 edition of The Gazette or Hoopla for parking and traffic directions.

Get Out: Iowa Arts Festival

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squirrel_nut_zippers

GET OUT {Get artsy…again!

Get visual and musical
Iowa Arts Festival
Information: www.summerofthearts.org/artsfest

The Iowa Arts Festival takes over the streets of Downtown Iowa City next weekend and event organizers say this year is bigger and better than ever.

View the works of 143 artists in this year’s expanded street festival. The venue now includes Iowa Avenue to Linn Street and back down Washington Street to form a large square in the heart of downtown Iowa City. It includes a new and emerging artist stage area where festival goers can get an up close and personal view of emerging talent and art demonstrations.

But we have to admit it’s not all about the art. There’s also great musical entertainment throughout the festival that art lovers of all ages can enjoy. The Squirrel Nut Zippers headline the main stage on Friday night, followed up by Robert Earl Keen headlining on Saturday. Other performers include The Damnwells, the Finders & Youngberg Band, The 100′s, and the Kevin Gordon Band. Just don’t forget your lawn chair (unless you plan on dancing the day away).

Also, check out the Family Stage for even more entertainment options. There’ll be a magic show, an escape artist, storytelling, Celtic music and Native American songs and tales. There’s also a Global Village where kids can pick up a passport and travel from country to country. In fact, Sunday is deemed Children’s Day, with even more activities for wee ones to enjoy, like dinosaur sculptures, nature art, BubbleMania, face painting, and much more.

And what would a good festival be without good eats. Stop by “Culinary Row” to enjoy a variety of regional and ethnic foods. Plus, don’t forget downtown Iowa City is teeming with art galleries, boutiques and unique shops that will be open for business during the festival. Stop by the Iowa Artisans Gallery, for example, to see artist demonstrations by gallery artists Astrid Hilger Bennett, Carl Homstad and Barbara Bernier, Heather Wetzel and others in the U.S. Bank parking lot. Or take part in the Gallery Walk Friday from 5 to 7 p.m. to see even more original art at 18 locations in downtown Iowa City.

The Iowa Arts Festival and related activities run from June 5 to 7 in downtown Iowa City. The even is free. For more information visit www.summerofthearts.org/artsfest.

Get out: Watch and Learn

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Get board savvy

GOT on Boards
Information: www.access-iowa.org or leadership@access-iowa.org

Whether you’ve joined a local non-profit board of directors or you’d like to, this is the event for you. This training event will teach you more about serving on a non-profit board including dealing with board stress, roles and responsibilities of board members, finance and cash flow, public relations skills for board members, and time management. Plus, they’ll be networking and appetizers by blend.

GOT on Boards will be from 5:30 to 8 p.m. Tuesday (5/5) at the Cedar Rapids Area Chamber of Commerce, 424 First Ave. NE, Cedar Rapids. Cost is $10 for members, $20 for non-members and $5 for full-time students. Register at www.access-iowa.org.

Get artistic

Chalk the Walk
Information: www.cityofmtvernon.com

It’s going to be wild in Mount Vernon this weekend. Chalk the Walk, Iowa’s largest-ever Madonnari festival will pay tribute to beloved children’s book “Where the Wild Things Are” by Maurice Sendak. Madonnari is a form of public art originally done by street artists. Go color one of the 2-foot by 2-foot squares. Hang out to see the more than 2,750 square-foot drawing take shape and watch professional Madonnari artists create their own 8-by-10-foot works on the sidewalk. In addition to the artwork, there will be strolling musicians and vendors.

The festival is from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday and Sunday (5/2,3) in Mount Vernon.

Get Stranded

New Strand Film Festival
Information: www.newstrandfilmfestival.org

The historic New Strand Theatre in West Liberty is the place to be to catch a whole slew of indie flicks this weekend. The New Strand Film Festival features more than 20 films, including “Eastern College” by Chicago-based film maker James Francis Flynn and “A Friend Indeed: The Bill Sackter Story” which received the Iowa Filmmaker Award and Audience Favorite Award at the recent Cedar Rapids Independent Film Festival. Please pass the popcorn!

The film festival kicks off Friday (5/1) at 7:30 p.m. and runs through Sunday (5/3) at the New Strand Theatre, 111 East Third St., West Liberty). Tickets are $5 per day.

[youtube:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F2Cc2eq-_nI]

Get Out: Explore your surroundings

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We’re all guilty of it. The only time you take a minute to enjoy the attractions and activities the community has to offer is when you have out-of-town guests. So here’s a few opportunities to see the area from a new resident’s perspective. Perhaps you’ll discover something new. Learn about area organizations focused on making this community the best if can be at the Corridor Welcome Reception on Monday. And go explore some of the places and people that make this area unique.

Get acquainted

Corridor Welcome Reception
Information: www.eihra.org

New community members and established residents who want to get reintroduced to the Corridor, should attend the The Corridor Welcome Reception. The free night of networking will be an opportunity for employers, cultural organizations and citizens to unite for a diverse, welcoming Corridor. Sponsoring organizations – Access Iowa, Diversity Focus, the Eastern Iowa Human Resources Association, the Iowa Cultural Corridor Alliance, Professional and Technical Diversity Network, Cedar Rapids Downtown District and the Cedar Rapids Area Convention and Visitors Bureau – will have information booths and the Professional and Technological Diversity Network will make a special announcement.

The event is Monday (4/6) from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. at CSPS, 1103 Third St. SE, Cedar Rapids. Complimentary appetizers, beer and wine will be served. An RSVP in encouraged to get an accurate count for food and drink. To RSVP, go to http://eihra.org

Get inspired

Abby Jones Art Gallery Opening
Information: www.myspace.com/abbyjonesart and at http://abbyjonesart.mosaicglobe.com

Abstract expressionist painter Abby Jones will showcase her latest works at a gallery opening at the Paul Engle Center for Neighborhood Arts. Jones, who studied under artist Hugh Lifson, professor emeritus at Cornell College in Mount Vernon, also cites the paintings of fellow abstract expressionists Jackson Pollock and Steve Joy as influences on her style. Abby says: “I am fascinated with the basic scientific principle that energy is neither created nor destroyed. Energy changes form, from potential energy to kinetic energy and back. I explore the threshold of change – when potential energy becomes kinetic energy. That energy exists in the creative process of art making as well as life. Hear more from Abby at the opening.

The gallery opening is at the Paul Engle Center for Neighborhood Arts, 1600 Fourth Ave. SE, Cedar Rapids, Saturday, April 4 from 2 to 4 p.m. Refreshments will be provided.

Get moving

Tango Nuevo and Body Awareness
Information: Elie @ (319) 363-1818

Learn to Tango and move your body in one (or both) of two classes offered at CSPS in Cedar Rapids and the Wesley Center in Iowa City. The first, Tango Nuevo will introduce the concepts of the most recent and modern style of tango, Tango Nuevo. It’s traditional tango with a lot of improvisation and freedom of movement. This is a foundation class is suitable for dancers of all styles and levels including beginners. No partner necessary. The second class, Body Awareness, will teach a variety of Western and Eastern body awareness techniques and low impact exercises to achieve a proper body alignment, balance, flexibility and strength. All ages and abilities are welcome.

The classes are each six consecutive weeks. Cost is $42 or $30 for students. Tango Nuevo in Iowa City is Fridays (started March 27) from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. and in Cedar Rapids Sundays (started 3/29) from 2 to 3 p.m. Body Awareness in Iowa City is Fridays (started 3/27) from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. and Cedar Rapids Sundays (started 3/29) from 1 to 2 p.m.

Get Out…and do something!

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We’ve got talent.Cedar Rapids may be nearly 2,000 miles from the theatrical meccas of Hollywood and New York, but there’s a lot of talent between the Rockies and the Mississippi right here in Eastern Iowa. Need proof? Head to Broadway Maybies, the annual fundraiser for the Young Parents Network, Friday or to CSPS Saturday and Sunday for performances by two area playwrights.

Broadway Maybies
@ First Assembly of God, Cedar Rapids
Information: (319) 364-8909 or www.youngparentsnetwork.org

Every year for nearly two decades, locals have gotten on stage and acted a fool all for a good cause. This year is no different. Young Parents Network will present the 19th annual Broadway Maybies talent show and fundraiser Friday (3/27). Tim Boyle and Scott Schulte will emcee the show featuring acts from area companies. Proceeds from the event will support the early childhood initiatives of Young Parents Network, an agency dedicated to the prevention of adolescent pregnancy and building successful families in Benton, Cedar, Dubuque, Iowa, Jones and Linn Counties. Buy raffle tickets for packages including gift certificates to local restaurants and sporting events in advance at www.youngparentsnetworkorg Tickets are $ each or 6 for $5. You do not need to present to win.

The annual show is at 7 p.m. Friday (3/27) at First Assembly of God, 3233 Blairs Ferry Rd. NE, Cedar Rapids. Tickets are $10 general admission and will be available at the door or in advance at Mercy Medical Center Gift Shop or St. Luke’s Gift Shop. e $10 for the show.

Local playwrights
A night of original theater @ CSPS, Cedar Rapids
Information: (319) 364-1580 or www.legionarts.org

Legion Arts presents two new works by Eastern Iowa playwrights: “My Father’s Imaginary Friend” by Monica Leo of West Liberty and the premiere of “Cedar Rapids Famous” by Joe Jennison of Cedar Rapids. Both plays offer a humorous view of prejudice and ask if we really are as open-minded as we claim to be. “My Father’s Imaginary Friend,” told through puppets, is the story of Leo’s parents and their immigration experiences. Leo is founder and lead puppeteer of Eulenspiegel Puppet Theatre, based at Owl Glass Puppetry Center in West Liberty. “Cedar Rapids Famous” is a one-act comedy set in and around Cedar Rapids in the summer of 2007, during the 22-and-a-half hours when same-sex marriage was briefly legal in Iowa. Jennison is executive director of the Iowa Cultural Corridor Alliance, a group of 100-plus arts and culture organizations in the Cedar Rapids/Iowa City area.

See both plays Friday and Saturday (3/27 and 28) at 8 p.m. The plays are appropriate for audiences high-school aged and older. After the performances join the artists for an informal reception. Tickets are $13 in advance and $16 day of show. Student rush tickets priced at $5 go on sale one hour before the show.