May 2008

Society of the Arts Designer Showhouse and Gardens 2008  
"Twin Acres"
May 3-23
300 E. Macada Road, Bethlehem, PA
Tour this beautiful 5,400 square foot stately 1947 colonial and its two mature acres that has been decorated and landscaped by top-notch professionals. Enjoy lunch in our cafe catered by Lee Gribbens and find some great treasures in our Boutique. For more information, schedules & tickets please visit www.sotashowhouse.org. Call (610)-432-4333, ext. 15.

Historic Bethlehem Fine Art & Craft Show  
Bethlehem Fine Arts Commission
May 10 - 10am to 5pm May 11 - 11am to 5pm
P.O. Box 1851, Bethlehem, PA
Over 80 regional, national & local artists and crafters line Bethlehem's Historic Main Street for a two-day juried sidewalk art show

An Evening of Native American Pottery & Dance  
Home & Planet
May 14, 7:00 PM to 9:00 PM
26 East Third Street, Bethlehem, PA
Join us for an evening of contemporary and traditional Hemish Pueblo native pottery and dance. A donation will be accepted at the door and children will be admitted free of charge. All monies collected will be donated to J. Toya for the Jemez Pueblo, New Mexico. Food and drinks will be served. Call 610-866-7370.

Tunes at Twilight - Eric Mintel Quartet (Jazz)  
Sun Inn Courtyard
May 15
556 Main Street, Bethlehem, PA
The Downtown Bethlehem Association, along with Lafayette Ambassador Bank bring FREE LIVE CONCERTS to the Downtown every Thursday night in May and June. Bring a comfy chair or blanket, a snack, and enjoy a glass of wine from Franklin Hills Vineyard or a beer from the Bethlehem Brew Works. This is a Rain or Shine event (rain location: lower level of the Main Street Commons). Free parking in the garages with our validation at the info table.
Free ~ Call 610-841-5831.

Grand Opening Celebration for S.D. Feather Designs  
S.D. Feather Designs
May 16, 7:00 PM to 10:00 PM
Bethlehem Marketplace, West Walnut Street at Parking Deck Entrance, Bethlehem, PA
Come meet Scott Feather, owner and designer of S.D. Feather Designs to celebrate the opening of the new S.D. Feather designs showroom located in the heart of the historic district of Bethlehem, PA. Come and see the latest in contemporary furniture design as well as custom client driven projects. Friends and colleagues are welcome to attend. Call 1-866-464-9215.

Disney's Beauty & The Beast  
Pennsylvania Youth Theatre
May 16, 7:30 pm
May 17, 2:00 & 7:30 pm
May 18, 2:00 & 5:30 pm
Scottish Rite Cathedral
This sumptuous production of the long-running Broadway musical is the timeless story of a young girl's journey from her safe and familiar home to a mysterious palace. This charming and immensely theatrical production features beautiful music, sets, and costumes and is brought to life by a cast of 70 actors, singers, and dancers. Call 610-332-1400.

Firehouse Friday: Writer's Soiree  
Touchstone Theatre
May 16, 8:00 PM
321 East Fourth Street, Bethlehem, PA
"Bring your love of the written word and an open ear" to Touchstone when the Greater Lehigh Valley Writer' Group presents Writer's Soiree. Local writers share and discuss their work, field questions, and mingle in Touchstone's adjoining cafe space.
$5.00 ~ Call (610) 867-1689.

The Chamber Music Society of Bethlehem presents The Walden Chamber Players  
May 18, 3:00 PM
Foy Hall, Moravian College, at Church and Main Streets in Historic Bethlehem
The Chamber Music Society of Bethlehem is pleased to present the Walden Chamber Players. This group, which consists of a dozen Boston musicians, combines to play a variety of repertoire. For this concert, six of the members who play violin, viola, cello, flute, horn, and piano will be bringing us a program of works by Brahms, Michael Haydn, FaurÃÂÂÂÂÂÂÃÃÃ
Adult $25, Senior $20, Student $5

Tunes at Twilight - Stardust Cabaret with Bob Cohen & Richard Groman (Standards)  
Sun Inn Courtyard
May 22
556 Main Street, Bethlehem, PA
The Downtown Bethlehem Association, along with Lafayette Ambassador Bank bring FREE LIVE CONCERTS to the Downtown every Thursday night in May and June. Bring a comfy chair or blanket, a snack, and enjoy a glass of wine from Franklin Hills Vineyard or a beer from the Bethlehem Brew Works. This is a Rain or Shine event (rain location: lower level of the Main Street Commons). Free parking in the garages with our validation at the info table.
Free ~ Call 610-841-5831.

Fourth Saturday Contra Dance  
Valley Contra Dance Society
May 24, 7:30 PM to 10:30 PM
Unitarian Universalist Church of the LV, 424 Center Street, Bethlehem, PA
Enjoy a New England barn dance, traditional since colonial times. Live acoustic music energizes this couple dance. A lesson at 7 oclock, walk-throughs before each dance number, and calling by a professional caller let newcomers ease into the dancing from 7:30 to 10:30. Informal. The tradition to change partners from dance to dance means you dont need to bring a partner. The only dress code: shoes that will not hurt a nice wood floor.
$10 or $5 for students ~ Call 610-868-7432.

Tunes at Twilight - Burning Bridget Cleary (Celtic Folk)  
Sun Inn Courtyard
May 29
556 Main Street, Bethlehem, PA
The Downtown Bethlehem Association, along with Lafayette Ambassador Bank bring FREE LIVE CONCERTS to the Downtown every Thursday night in May and June. Bring a comfy chair or blanket, a snack, and enjoy a glass of wine from Franklin Hills Vineyard or a beer from the Bethlehem Brew Works. This is a Rain or Shine event (rain location: lower level of the Main Street Commons). Free parking in the garages with our validation at the info table.
Free ~ Call 610-841-5831.

The Lehigh Valley Black African Heritage History Project  
Touchstone Theatre
Fridays & Saturdays from May 30 through June 14
321 East Fourth Street, Bethlehem, PA
This original play (title TBA) is a powerful tapestry of theatre and song, woven from the common threads of oral tradition. Linda Parris-Bailey (Playwright), Peggy Pettitt (Actress/Story Gatherer), and world-renowned musician, Ysaye M. Barnwell (Song Gatherer/Arranger) join Touchstone's Ensemble and a host of community performers to share a century of the African American experience in the Lehigh Valley.
$15 or $13 for students & seniors ~ Call (610) 867-1689.

June 2008

The Lehigh Valley Black African Heritage History Project  
Touchstone Theatre
Fridays & Saturdays from May 30 through June 14
321 East Fourth Street, Bethlehem, PA
This original play (title TBA) is a powerful tapestry of theatre and song, woven from the common threads of oral tradition. Linda Parris-Bailey (Playwright), Peggy Pettitt (Actress/Story Gatherer), and world-renowned musician, Ysaye M. Barnwell (Song Gatherer/Arranger) join Touchstone's Ensemble and a host of community performers to share a century of the African American experience in the Lehigh Valley.
$15 or $13 for students & seniors ~ Call (610) 867-1689.

Tunes at Twilight - Dave Fry (Folk)  
Sun Inn Courtyard
Jun 5
556 Main Street, Bethlehem, PA
The Downtown Bethlehem Association, along with Lafayette Ambassador Bank bring FREE LIVE CONCERTS to the Downtown every Thursday night in May and June. Bring a comfy chair or blanket, a snack, and enjoy a glass of wine from Franklin Hills Vineyard or a beer from the Bethlehem Brew Works. This is a Rain or Shine event (rain location: lower level of the Main Street Commons). Free parking in the garages with our validation at the info table.
Free ~ Call 610-841-5831.

PIRATE PALOOZA II and Habitat for Humanity  
Sand Island
Jun 6-8
Main Street & River Street, Bethlehem, PA
Come 'party with a purpose' for three-days at Sand Island West, Bethlehem with James "Sunny Jim" White, Jimmy and Jimmy Jr. of Jimmy and The Parrots, Tall Paul and Crawdaddy and The John Frinzi Band - all celebrating the music and sound of Jimmy Buffett. This second annual Valley-wide tropical music concert will benefit Habitat Lehigh Valley and Warren County Habitat for Humanity to give a hand up, not a hand out to hardworking local families and those still affected by Hurricane Katrina and Rita. A variety of ticket options available: Friday - $10 per person, 2 for $15; Saturday $25 per person, in advance - $30 at the door; Sunday "Song Writers in the Round" Jam Session - $15. More information availible at www.PiratePaloozaWeekend.com Call 610-865-7081.

First Friday  
SouthSide Bethlehem
Jun 6
Bethlehem, PA
On the First Friday of every month, participating members of the Downtown Bethlehem Association in SouthSide Bethlehem stay open late and host a monthly celebration featuring music, refreshments, art exhibits, in-store specials and more. Call (610) 841-5831.

"Reach for the Stars" Quilt Show 2008  
The Colonial Quilter's Guild
Saturday, June 7 form 10 am to 5 pm & Sunday, June 8 from 10 am to 4 pm

A two day quilt show, "Reach for the Stars", will be presented by The Colonial Quilter's Guild of Bethlehem. The NQA Judged show features a display of 200 Quilts made by the members. There is a Raffle Quilt and Raffles for Janome Sewing Machine, Ott Light and other items. The show features Vendors, Boutique, Tricky Tray, Door Prizes, Demonstrations, "Quilters-in-Training" Activities for School-Aged children and the Colonial Quilter's Cafe. The show is Handicapped Accessible.
Admission is $5 for 1 day, $8 for a 2-day pass. ~ Call 610-365-8428.

Documentary Filmmaking Workshop  
SouthSide Film Festival
Jun 12-15
26 E. Third Street, Bethlehem, PA
Learn how and/or refine your skills at making documentary films in this hands-on, intensive four day course with veteran teachers Mel Halbach and Clayton Farr (FilmTreks.com). This is the fourth year for this very successful workshop. WORKSHOP STUDENTS RECEIVE one (1) SSFF All-Access Pass, compliments of the SSFI. Tuition = $700 (discounts available for certain levels of SSFI membership). Call 610-882-4300.

Tunes at Twilight - The Riffters (Classic Rock)  
Sun Inn Courtyard
Jun 12
556 Main Street, Bethlehem, PA
The Downtown Bethlehem Association, along with Lafayette Ambassador Bank bring FREE LIVE CONCERTS to the Downtown every Thursday night in May and June. Bring a comfy chair or blanket, a snack, and enjoy a glass of wine from Franklin Hills Vineyard or a beer from the Bethlehem Brew Works. This is a Rain or Shine event (rain location: lower level of the Main Street Commons). Free parking in the garages with our validation at the info table.
Free ~ Call 610-841-5831.

Second Saturday Contra Dance  
Valley Contra Dance Society
Jun 14, 7:30 PM to 10:30 PM
Unitarian Universalist Church of the LV, 424 Center Street, Bethlehem, PA
Enjoy a New England barn dance, traditional since colonial times. Live acoustic music energizes this couple dance. A lesson at 7 oclock, walk-throughs before each dance number, and calling by a professional caller let newcomers ease into the dancing from 7:30 to 10:30. Informal. The tradition to change partners from dance to dance means you dont need to bring a partner. The only dress code: shoes that will not hurt a nice wood floor.
$10 or $5 for students ~ Call 610-868-7432.

Experiments with Reality  
SouthSide Film Festival
Jun 16-19
26 E. Third Street, Bethlehem, PA
You are a storyteller; an innovator. You have a story, from real life, that you're dying to shoot; but talking heads or observational camera shots isn't the visual tone you're looking for. You're thinking edgy, abstract, poetic. This workshop will familiarize you with different experimental styles that have found their way into cutting edge documentary film making. This workshop is taught by Shanti Thakur. Tuition = $400 ($350 for SSFI members and students with valid I.D.; and $300 if you are also enrolling in the Documentary Filmmaking Workshop.) Call 610-882-4300.

Kids Animation Workshop  
SouthSide Film Festival
Jun 16-20
26 E. Third Street, Bethlehem, PA
There will be two(2) workshop sessions, combining ages 8-12, that will be conducted from 8:30AM until 12:00PM and 1:00PM until 4:30PM at the Community Action Committee of the Lehigh Valley building at 1337 E. 5th Street in Bethlehem. This is a hands on live animation workshop (not CG) where students learn how to create animated stories building their own models. Taught by Pawel Partyka, director of "The Fantastic Flowershop". Tuition* = $300. Call 610-882-4300.

Tunes at Twilight - The New Groove (Oldies)  
Sun Inn Courtyard
Jun 19
556 Main Street, Bethlehem, PA
The Downtown Bethlehem Association, along with Lafayette Ambassador Bank bring FREE LIVE CONCERTS to the Downtown every Thursday night in May and June. Bring a comfy chair or blanket, a snack, and enjoy a glass of wine from Franklin Hills Vineyard or a beer from the Bethlehem Brew Works. This is a Rain or Shine event (rain location: lower level of the Main Street Commons). Free parking in the garages with our validation at the info table.
Free ~ Call 610-841-5831.

Firehouse Friday:  
Touchstone Theatre
Jun 20, 8:00 PM
321 East Fourth Street, Bethlehem, PA
Touchstone Apprentices take on Bethlehem! This event is programmed and implemented by the Touchstone apprentices in the final stage of their apprenticeship as a means of connecting their creative work with the community.
$5.00 ~ Call (610) 867-1689.

North East Art Rock Festival  
Jun 20-22
Zoellner Arts Center, Lehigh University, 420 East Packer Avenue, Bethlehem, 18015
The North East Art Rock Festival, or NEARfest for short, is a 3-day event celebrating the resurgence of progressive and eclectic music in the United States and around the world. Founded in 1998, NEARfest has quickly grown to become "the most prestigious progressive music festival in the world." 2008 will mark the 10th anniversary of the festival and will feature such acts as Peter Hammill (Van der Graaf Generator), Fish (Marillion), Liquid Tension Experiment, Banco del Mutuo Soccorso, easten Pennsylvania's own Echolyn, amongst others. Tickets for the event go on sale Saturday, March 29th at 10am. More information can be found at http://www.nearfest.com.

Tunes at Twilight - Donovan Roberts (Blues)  
Sun Inn Courtyard
Jun 26
556 Main Street, Bethlehem, PA
The Downtown Bethlehem Association, along with Lafayette Ambassador Bank bring FREE LIVE CONCERTS to the Downtown every Thursday night in May and June. Bring a comfy chair or blanket, a snack, and enjoy a glass of wine from Franklin Hills Vineyard or a beer from the Bethlehem Brew Works. This is a Rain or Shine event (rain location: lower level of the Main Street Commons). Free parking in the garages with our validation at the info table.
Free ~ Call 610-841-5831.

Fourth Saturday Contra Dance  
Valley Contra Dance Society
Jun 28, 7:30 PM to 10:30 PM
Unitarian Universalist Church of the LV, 424 Center Street, Bethlehem, PA
Enjoy a New England barn dance, traditional since colonial times. Live acoustic music energizes this couple dance. A lesson at 7 oclock, walk-throughs before each dance number, and calling by a professional caller let newcomers ease into the dancing from 7:30 to 10:30. Informal. The tradition to change partners from dance to dance means you dont need to bring a partner. The only dress code: shoes that will not hurt a nice wood floor.
$10 or $5 for students ~ Call 610-868-7432.

July 2008

Dali Lama: Teachings on the Great Treatise  
Stabler Arena
Jul 10-15
124 Goodman Dr., Bethlehem, PA
His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama will give an historic six-day teaching on The Great Treatise on the Stages of the Path to Enlightenment (Lam Rim Chen Mo), Tsong-kha-pa's masterpiece on the stages of spiritual evolution. It will be the most extensive teaching of this text that His Holiness has presented in North America. Please visit www.dalilamajuly2008.com for more information. Call (610) 758-3770.

Firehouse Friday: Dramatic Involvement Community Ensemble  
Touchstone Theatre
Jul 18, 8:00 PM
321 East Fourth Street, Bethlehem, PA
Dramatic Involvement Community Ensemble - DICE for short (pronounced DEE-SAY) - uses theatre techniques as a means of addressing social issues in the community. Action on stage - in English and Spanish - leads to action in the community. Call (610) 867-1689.

August 2008

Musikfest  
ArtsQuest
Aug. 1 - 5-11 p.m.; Aug. 2-10 - noon-11 p.m.
Historic Downtown Bethlehem
Musikfest, one of Americas largest music festivals, showcases more than 500 musical performances by local, regional and national musicians and performers on 13 indoor and outdoor stages throughout Bethlehem's beautiful historic district. The 10-day musical extravaganza also features a wealth of foods and desserts, childrens activities, visual arts and fine crafts exhibits and a spectacular closing-night fireworks display. Call 610-332-FEST.

September 2008

Celtic Classic - The Largest Highland Games and Festival in North America  
Celtic Cultural Alliance
Sep 26-28
Historic Downtown Bethlehem
In its 21st year, Celtic Classic is a celebration of Celtic culture and heritage presented on Historic Bethlehem's festival grounds, along the banks of Monocacy Creek. Celtic Classic features authentic food and wares, invitational Pipe Band and Drum Major competitions, Irish and Highland dancers, the best in local, national and international Celtic music, and the U.S. National Highland Games Championships. Volunteer positions available. Call (610) 868-9599.


– Downtown Bethlehem Assocation member