By Staff
NILES – There a number of family fun events going on in downtown Niles this weekend.
Friday, June 22
You're invited to come to Second Street between Main and Sycamore in downtown Niles for the first ever Downtown Niles Street Dance. Eat some delicious barbecued chicken and ribs from Lark's barbeque of Benton Harbor – Chicken or Rib Tip Dinners for $5 will be available from 5 to 8 p.m., Hm7 will entertain the crowd from 6 to 9 p.m. This is part of the "Niles in Motion" celebration this weekend.
Saturday, June 23
Artisans will be located at different downtown venues, where the public, free of charge, can go to see the works of the accepted artists and be able to watch artisans at work. Watch Potters, Lamp Work Glass Artists, Painters and others ply their craft.
Performances
Second Street between Main &Sycamore
"Dancing With the Stars" presented by Niles Academy of Performing Arts
Bring a chair, sit back and relax as our "Cool Stars" entertain you.
11 a.m. to Noon, Positively Dance
12:45 p.m. to 1:30 p.m., Niles Kids
2 p.m. to 2:45 p.m., Music Kids
Aerial Angels
Part of the new Circus/Cirque tradition – High flying female circus artists performing feats of grace, beauty, and strength on the aerial hoop and aerial silks, acrobatics, fire-eating and crack bullwhip target-taking.
Four free performances at 12:15 p.m., 1:30 p.m., 2:45 p.m., 4 p.m.
On 3rd Street
between Main &Sycamore
Frame of Mind: 215 East Main Street – Walk through the frame right into The Bar at the Folies Bergeres, Manet's fabulous painting will be recreated "live" by gallery owner, Helen Moorman and several of her artist friends.
Face Painting: Fun for all ages.
Balloon Animals: How do they do that?
Caricature Drawings: Take a minute and become a cartoon character, at least on paper.
Spirit Readings: Choose a drawing, and have the Spirit Reader discuss your aura.
Henna Designs: Plain or exotic – Have a Henna design drawn on your hand, ankles or a place of your choosing. Only takes a minute, lasts about two weeks, and looks Really Cool
Art Car: Help paint the Art Car on Third Street – Special Thanks to Dee's Auto Body for the car!
Cool People Doing Cool Stuff
Seminar Schedule
Corner of Main and Front Street
11 a.m. 11:30 a.m. and 2 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. "Alpacas 101." Drop by and meet the Alpacas anytime or be early for the scheduled seminars, as they are bound to be crowded. Listen to Sandy Nesbit of Pastoral Profits, Buchanan, as she shares her knowledge of raising Alpacas and the many uses for their wool. Hand-outs included.
Niles Corner Building 127 East Main Street
11 a.m. to 11:45 a.m. "Questions about Quilting?" Get your questions answered as you watch Robin English, from The Robin's Nest, cut fabric and piece together the beginnings of a quilt.
12 p.m. to 12:45 p.m. "Designing with Ceramic Tiles"
Be sure to take notes while a Lowe's expert demonstrates how to create a broken tile mosaic, decorate on tiles and create a unique and interchangeable tabletop with ceramic tiles. Hand-outs included.
1 p.m. to 1:45 p.m. "Faux Painting Finishing Techniques"
Learn to paint with textures as again our Lowe's expert will demonstrate texture painting using American Tradition Texture Stone various application tools and methods. Hand-outs included.
2 p.m. to 2:45 p.m. and 3 p.m. to 3:45 p.m. "The Art of Jewelry"
Create your own earrings to take home and wear. A lesson and supplies are provided by our own Red Shoe Jeweler, Meg Truesdell. Limit 15 people at each session.
4 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. "The Secret Life of Beeswax"
Learn how beeswax is made as you make your own beeswax candle with help from Kathy Hempel of Blossomland Bee Supply
4:30 p.m. to 5 p.m. "Knit One, Purl Two"
Learn about yarn, needles, casting on and off and some basic stitches from Jenny Kupfer, artist extraordinaire. Plus, view her handmade creations and visualize your possibilities.
"Learn to Dance and Be Cool"
Mini-lessons presented by Niles Academy of Performing Arts
3 to 3:30 p.m. Ballroom Dance (Cha-Cha, Waltz, and Jitterbug)
3:30 – 4 p.m. Creative Movement (for the Young Child)
4 – 4:30 p.m. Hip-Hop for anyone who can keep up
4:30 – 5 p.m. Ballroom Dance, for those of you who missed the first session.
Do It Yourself
11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Decorate a Cookie 113 N Third St. outside County Down Pastries &Deli. Sit a spell and decorate a cookie with Michele Prillwitz. If you're not happy with the way it looks, then gobble it down….while supplies last
12 p.m. to 2 p.m. Back Alley Tie-Dye behind Manifesto's at 209 E Main. Bring your T-shirt, towel, fabric, whatever and learn the art of Tie-Dye with Boyd Nutting and Assistants. Oh, you already know how? Well come on back, and show us your stuff…while supplies last
Chalk the Walk
10 a.m. to Noon Open to everyone. Sign up for a spot on Sycamore St. between 2nd and Front St. for Chalk the Walk. Bring your own chalk or use our limited colors. This was quite popular last year, so reserve your space early.
12 p.m. to 2 p.m. Chalk the Walk Begin drawing as you design and draw sidewalk art. Prizes will be awarded after the judging.
On the Sidewalks Around the Town
12 p.m. to 3 p.m. Red Shoe Jewelry Peaceful Art – Calm down a bit as you step inside Red Shoe Jewelry and Apparel and listen as Johanna Drew plays her originally composed piano pieces. Some chairs and a cold beverage will be provided as well as autographed copies of Johanna's CD.
Pocket Park just east of Majerek's
10:30 a.m. to11 a.m. and 3:30 p.m. to 4:15 p.m. "Story Telling as an Art" Niles Drama Club/ Four Flags Players Sit on the grass and listen to a story you help create, or just listen and be entertained.
County Down Pastries &Deli 115 North 3rd Street
Dave Dale -Blues Guitarist
Manifesto 109 East Main Street
Vince Conaway – Dulcimer Player
Patty Bunner – Potter in the window
Riverfront Park Amphitheater
5 p.m. Finish the day by enjoying a performance by the 30+ piece NAC Community Orchestra at Riverfront Park.
The Artful Library 620 East Main St
9 a.m. to Noon Wish you could fly? Practice folding and flying a wide range of paper airplanes, and then at the Niles Public Library
3 p.m. to 5 p.m. Compete for prizes when you let your plane soar. Distance counts!
We are giving away copies of the World Record Paper Airplane Book for the longest distance thrown in each contest.
2-2:30 Sit back and relax as you listen to the mellow tones of Library Voices as they perform a series of readings from their spoken repertoire.
Children's Library Mobile Making Entries will be displayed, 3 prizes will be awarded.
Photo Contest – CaptureIt!
Capture the moments as you wander around town, and snap art in motion with your digital, film, or brownie cameras. Check out the following web-site for contest rules. Prizes awarded. www.nilesphotocontest.googlepages.com/captureit