Dance Thru The Decades at Art In the Park June 1!

Anyone, it seems, can Dance With The Stars. But how about dancing down through time? You’ll be able to do just that on Friday, June 1 at Art In The Park.

                 

Summer fun begins with Art In The Park, and what better way to kick off the sunny season then by celebrating at the exciting Art In The Park launch party on Friday evening? We’re going to be grooving to the sounds of the 1960s, `70s and `80s, so dig out those bell-bottoms, platform shoes and gnarly bangles and beads.

The fun begins in the Spirit Tent at 5 p.m., so get your best retro gear on and stroll down the very red carpet -- past the panting paparazzi and right into the Blue Apple photo booth. Get down, get silly and see yourself online later. For just $10 you can enjoy the sounds of the sixties with The Eccentrics, the 1970s with Super Seventies live and the Eighties with `80s Inc. There will be neat prizes for the best costumes of the decade, and some “on the spot” dance contests.  Fine food and beverages will also be available.

“Like, seriously, you totally have to check out our awesome Dancing Thru The Decades launch party”, Art In The Park chair Renee Pare, said. “This party is going to be totally rad, right off the hook”.

Advance tickets are available now at all WFCU locations or by calling the Windsor Rotary (1918) office at 519-253-6382. Visit aipwindsor.com to learn more.

Under the auspices of the Rotary Club of Windsor (1918), the 34^th annual Art In The Park will be held on the grounds of Willistead Manor on Saturday and Sunday June 2 and 3. More than 250 exhibitors from across Ontario, Quebec and British Columbia will display their art and creative crafts in enticing booths and displays arranged around the Willistead Park perimeter.  Again, shopping hours have been extended from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Saturday and from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Sunday.

Beer, wine and other refreshments will again be available in the Spirit Tent, which will also offer great musical entertainment on Saturday and Sunday.

The Rotary Club of Windsor (1918) -- which has hosted Art In The Park since 1978 – will once again provide free parking and complimentary bus shuttles to and from Willistead Park on the show days, Saturday and Sunday.  Courtesy shuttles will run a continuous schedule between two satellite parking lots, at the Hiram Walker employees lot at 2072 Riverside Drive E. at Montreuil St. and the Windsor Regional Hospital lot at 1591 Kildare Rd. north of Tecumseh Rd. E. 

Proceeds from Art In The Park go toward supporting local special needs children, youth and adults as well as to the ongoing restoration of Windsor’s architectural jewel, Willistead Manor. To date, this eagerly anticipated annual cultural event has raised more than $1 million.


by Alan Halberstadt www.alanhalberstadt.com

18th Annual Media City Film Festival May 22 to 26, 2012

International filmmakers flock to Windsor and Detroit

Windsor's Media City Film Festival opens its 18th annual edition on Tuesday, May 22 at the Detroit Film Theatre, 4200 Woodward Avenue. The festival announced its program last week, including the full-colour, 80-page catalogue, now available to read online.

 Filmmakers will attend from Vienna, London (England), Paris, Amsterdam, Berlin and across North America, along with numerous critics, curators and other cinema professionals. Audiences from Ann Arbor and Detroit can travel to the screenings on the FREE Media City Shuttle. 

 The 18th Media City Film Festival continues until Saturday May 26 with nightly screenings at the Capitol Theatre (121 University West) in Windsor, and afternoon events at the Art Gallery of Windsor. More than 75 new film and video artworks screened in 13 programs with artists in attendance from around the world. Among the highlights:

·            Tuesday May  22, 8 pm at the Detroit Film Theatre: Opening screening featuring the North American premiere of "differently, Molussia", the new film by Nicolas Rey (France). Filmmaker in attendance.

·            Wednesday May 23, 6 pm at the Capitol Theatre: Opening Party in Windsor sponsored by Mill Street Beer with introductory remarks by Media City organizers, IAIN BAXTER& and other guests, followed at 7:30 pm by the special program IAIN BAXTER&: Super 8 INFORMATION including thirteen, previously unseen S8mm films made by the Windsor-based, Governor General Award-winning artist in the late 60s and early 70s. IAIN BAXTER& in attendance to discuss the films.

·            Thursday May 24, 6 pm at the Capitol Theatre: Regional Artists Program featuring 15 new short films by artists from Windsor, Detroit and surrounding areas. A new "Best Local Film Award" is sponsored by Caesars Windsor.   

·            Friday May 25, 7:30 pm at the Capitol Theatre: Special program of rare archival films from the post-war Austrian avant-garde and the North American launch of the book "Film Unframed" recently published by the Austrian Filmarchive . Filmmaker and curator Norbert Pfaffenbichler attends from Vienna to introduce the screening.

·            Saturday May 26, late night at Phog Lounge (157 University West): festival closing party and award ceremony, including a screening of Super 8 films by Dagie Brundert (Berlin) with the artist in attendance.

·            Wednesday May 23 through Saturday May 26 at the Capitol Theatre: Six additional International Competition Programs with dozens of new films from around the world; numerous artists in attendance to discuss their work.

For full program details, schedule and ticket information visit http://mediacityfilmfestival.com/films-and-schedule-2012

Get on the Bus! Sponsored by the Detroit Bus Company, Media City offers a FREE bus service for US patrons each night of the festival, with pick-up and return locations in Detroit and Ann Arbor. Schedules and seat reservations through the festival website. Ride the one and only cross-border film shuttle in the world!

Media City is a co-presentation of the House of Toast Film & Video Collective and the Art Gallery of Windsor


by Alan Halberstadt www.alanhalberstadt.com

Memorial Ride To Honour Fallen Cyclists Takes Place May 16, 2012

Bike Friendly Windsor and Windsor Downtown Mission to Host 'Ride of Silence'

 After an overwhelming success at 2011's event, Bike Friendly Windsor Essex (BFWE), a local cycling advocacy group, is hosting the city's second annual Ride of Silence. This will be a memorial ride dedicated to those who have been injured or killed while riding their bikes. BFWE is teaming up with the Windsor Downtown Mission for this event, which will take place on Wednesday, May 16th, beginning at the Mission (664 Victoria Avenue). Registration for the event is at 6pm, and the ride will commence at 7pm sharp.

Cyclists will take to the roads in a slow, silent procession to honour cyclists who have been hurt or have died due to an accident while cycling on public roadways. Although cyclists have a legal right to share the road with motorists, the motoring public often isn't aware of these rights, and sometimes not aware of the cyclists themselves. This event aims to raise motorists' awareness, demonstrating that cyclists have a legal right to the use of public roadways without fear.

Riders are invited to wear black arm bands in order to show support for friends and family who have suffered, and a red arm band if they themselves have been in an accident while riding. Helmets are required for this event and bright clothing is highly recommended for the ride home after. Bike lights are a mandatory safety feature for the ride home, as well.

A funeral hearse, donated by the Anderson and Walter D. Kelly Funeral Homes, will provide safe escort for the participants and underscore the dire implications of not heeding the intended message of the event. A police escort will also be present during the entire ride around the downtown core.

There is no cost to participants and no pledges to be collected, but donations will be welcomed. Proceeds will go towards furthering BFWE's goals of making Windsor-Essex a bike-friendly region, as well as helping the Downtown Mission continue their necessary service to Windsorites.

About the Ride of Silence (www.rideofsilence.org):

Chris Phelan first got the idea for a memorial ride in Dallas of 2003 after his friend, endurance cyclist Larry Schwartz, was killed by a passing bus mirror on an empty road. Within weeks, the first Ride of Silence was organized and over 1000 riders participated in the emotional event. Since then, Ride of Silence rallies have taken place worldwide, and thousands of people have supported the movement by riding slowly and silently, en masse, on the third Wednesday of May.  

About Bike Friendly Windsor Essex (www.bikefriendlywindsor.com):

Bike Friendly Windsor Essex was formed in January of 2010, and its goals are to represent all cyclists in Windsor and to help make Windsor a more bicycle friendly city. It is their belief that a strong cycling culture is an important aspect of any forward thinking city, and that cycling can improve the health, economy, and environment of our local community.

More information about this event can be found on the Bike Friendly Windsor Essex website at www.bikefriendlywindsor.com. Anyone with questions, or anyone interested in volunteering at this event, can email the group at bikefriendlywindsor@gmail.com.


by Alan Halberstadt www.alanhalberstadt.com