The Update | Donnie Iris, The Vindys in Concert; Christmas Memories at Museum
CORAOPOLIS, Pa. – Donnie Iris, with Youngstown rockers The Vindys, will play the UPMC Events Center at Robert Morris University in Moon Township on March 16.
More guest artists will be announced later.
It will be Iris’ first Pittsburgh area concert in over a year. Iris was scheduled to perform with REO Speedwagon at the Youngstown Foundation Amphitheatre in June but had to pull out of the show because of health problems.
Tickets will go on sale at 10 a.m. Friday, Nov. 17, at ticketmaster.com. An online-only presale will start at 10 a.m. Wednesday; use the code word LUCKOFIRIS.
The Pittsburgh-based Iris’ hits include “Ah Leah,” “Agnes,” “Love Is Like a Rock” and “That’s the Way Love Ought to Be.”
Memories of Christmas Past to Open
YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio – The annual “Memories of Christmas Past” exhibition will open Saturday, Nov. 18, at the Arms Family Museum and run through Dec. 28.
The nostalgic exhibition, now in its 15th year, is presented by the Mahoning Valley Historical Society. Seven rooms of the Arms Family Museum, 648 Wick Ave., will be decorated with vintage ornaments and holiday items.
Visitors can also explore Santa’s Village, which will have hands-on activities for children, and shop for vintage and modern items at the two gift shops.
Admission is $10 ($9 for seniors and college students with ID; $8 for children age 3 to 18; free for children under 3, active military and veterans with ID and MVHS members). Admission also includes a same-day visit to the Tyler History Center.
From Nov. 18-26, admission will be buy one, get one for all who bring in a canned good donation for Operation Feed Our Valley.
“Memories of Christmas Past” is open from noon to 4 p.m. Tuesday-Sunday. Starting Nov. 30, the exhibit will be open from noon to 7 p;.m. It is closed Mondays and national holidays. For information, go to mahoninghistory.org/mcp.
Dinner and a Show at Club Switch
YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio – The Rust Belt Theater Company and Club Switch will present Dinner and a Show, a fundraising event, on Saturday, Nov. 18, featuring food and a performance by Rust Belt founder Robert Dennick Joki.
Doors will open at 7 p.m., with dinner served shortly afterward. The event will be at Club Switch, 221 Belmont Ave.
Act One will feature original and popular music performed by Joki. Dessert will be served at intermission. Then Act Two will feature the talents of local drag diva Starrlet O’Hara.
Dinner will be a buffet of time-tested, homemade recipes prepared by Joki. Vegetarian options will be available.
“My two favorite things in the world are singing and cooking,” Joki said. “I’m very excited to do an event that combines both, especially for such an important cause.”
Proceeds from the event will benefit local service organizations that provide for LGBTQ+ families and individuals during the holiday season.
“The holidays can be especially difficult for people in the LGBTQ+ community, especially those who have been abandoned by their biological families,” Joki said. “Organizations like Full Spectrum Community Outreach are working to make sure people have food and a place to go, and it’s important that we support their efforts.”
Tickets are $25 and can be reserved by calling 330 507 2358 or purchased ahead of time on Eventbrite.
Westminster Symphony in Free Concert
NEW WILMINGTON, Pa. – The Westminster College Symphony Orchestra will present its fall concert at 7:30 p.m. Friday, Nov. 17, in Orr Auditorium.
Under the direction of Melinda Crawford Perttu, associate professor of music, the orchestra will perform Grieg’s “In Autumn Overture,” Dvorak’s “Suite in A [American]” and Sibelius’ “Finlandia.”
The concert is free and open to the public. For those unable to attend, a livestream will be available HERE.
‘Jekkyl & Hyde’ at Boardman High School
BOARDMAN, Ohio – Boardman High School’s drama department will present “Jekyll & Hyde,” the musical by Frank Wildhorn and Leslie Bricusse, at 7 p.m. Nov. 16-18 at the school’s performing arts center on Glenwood Avenue.
The cast features Keegan, Katie Short and Adriana Trafficante.
Tickets are $10 for students and $12 for adults and can be purchased in advance at www.payschoolsevents.com/events/details/29615.
Holiday Parade, Activities in New Castle
NEW CASTLE, Pa. – A winter wonderland and movie magic will come together at the New Castle Hometown Holiday parade Saturday, Nov. 18, downtown.
Festivities will start at 2 p.m., with the parade starting at 5 p.m.
The theme of this year’s parade is “Celebrating 100 years of Warner Brothers Studios.”
Visitors can peruse the Historic Warner Cascade Theatre Museum, home of the first Warner Brothers theater. The museum will show snippets of classic films.
Bugs Bunny will be the grand marshall of the parade, which will feature floats and more than 60 marching units.
The pre-parade events will cover three blocks of East Washington Street. There will be ice sculpture presentations by DiMartino’s Ice, followed by music from local musician Brooke Reiter and speed painting by Cody Sabol.
“Toyland Town” for children will be on Mill Street.
The Tipsy Elf Garden pop-up bar will be set up on Mercer Street and will feature craft beer and DJ Ray Kohnen.
The Confluence will feature concerts by Grandview Soul at 3 p.m. and The 12th Street Band at 7 p.m., and a winter market of crafts and arts will take place at Cascade Galleria starting at 2 p.m.
A shuttle will transport visitors from the Cascade Galleria to the Riverplex.
The Historic Warner Cascade Theatre Museum is requesting new toy donations for its charity “Toy for Tots” in exchange for an illuminated baton.
During the pre-parade hours beginning at noon, the Bijou Theatre will present Looney Tunes cartoons for children of all ages. The films are free of charge.
The museum will soon announce its holiday film schedule, which begins after Thanksgiving. This series will feature much requested Saturday evening showings, and all films are free of charge.
Country at the Boot Series at Yankee Lake
BROOKFIELD, Ohio – Sunrise Entertainment’s new Country at the Boot series will begin Saturday, Nov. 18, at Bootleggers at Yankee Lake Ballroom, 1814 state Route 7.
The series will feature 12 concerts and run through March. Doors will open at 6 p.m., with line dancing lessons.
Bands will start at 8 p.m. Guests must be 18 or older.
Tickets are $15 for general admission and $25 for VIP, which includes reserved premium seating and table service, and can be purchased at thebootlive.com and at the door.
For the schedule of bands, go to the website.
Pictured at top: The “Memories of Christmas Past” exhibition opens Saturday at the Arms Family Museum. (Mahoning Valley Historical Society)
Published by The Business Journal, Youngstown, Ohio.
