Free concert at The Fox: Portland Cello Project

2nd Saturdays Downtown presents …The Portland Cello Project from Oregon

Saturday, May 8, at 7 – 10pm

This free concert will be at the lovely Fox Tucson Theatre, 17 W. Congress Street. Info from their website:

“From The Rialto Theatre and Hotel Congress on the east end to The Fox Theatre on the west, downtown Tucson will come alive in a series of free-to-the-public, arts, entertainment, shopping and dining happenings called 2nd Saturdays Downtown, set to kick off Saturday, May 8, 2010 and every second Saturday of the month thereafter.

Kicking off the 2nd Saturdays series in grand style is a world-class free concert by the Portland Cello Project (www.portlandcelloproject.com) at the Fox Theatre. This indefinable ensemble transcends your typical conceptions of what a string group can do, playing everything from inspired original compositions, to obscure 19th -century folk songs to straight-ahead rock n’ roll. As a special treat, Tucson-based singer-songwriter Howe Gelb will join the ensemble as they combine symphonic stylings with one of Tucson’s most renowned musical collectives.

Portland Cello Project, photo by Tarina Westlund

Thanks to Tucson’s Providence Service Corporation (NASDAQ: PRSC) for helping to underwrite this show.”

And thanks to Ian Fritz (co-organizer of the Eat More Pie! Contest) who alerted me about this concert, as his sister Anna (pictured above) plays in this Portland Cello Project.

2nd Saturdays Downtown (www.2ndsaturdaysdowntown.com) monthly events will be from 5 to 10 p.m., with the next ones scheduled for June 12, July 10, and August 14. Check out their website for more activities, for this ongoing “Urban Street Fest”.

This inaugural Saturday event will also feature an outdoor stage on Scott Avenue between Congress St. and Broadway Blvd., to include music by The Modeens (6 to 7 p.m.), The Mission Creeps (7:15 to 8:30 p.m.), and Greyhound Soul (8:45 to 10 p.m.). Sounds like Downtown Saturday Night has finally returned, on a monthly basis.

Another reason to go on down to downtown!

Let them eat pie!

An Annual Pie Baking contest (since 2003) is coming up on Sunday April 11. Enter your favorite pie (fruit, cream, vegan, other) between 1 and 2 p.m. at Dunbar School Auditorium (325 W. 2nd St., at Main Ave.), followed by judging.

Eating of these pies (yum) is from 4 to 7 p.m., once the winners are announced. These delicious pies will be sold for $3 a slice, or $5 for two slices.

For more info: www.pieparty.org (including photos of previous year’s contests). Organizers are Megan “Turtle” Southern and Ian Fritz.

You can eat as much as you like. Here are the prize categories:

Best in Show –
Wins a 4 night stay at a beachside condo in Puerto Penasco, Mexico, and chooses the recipient of the event proceeds from a list of non-profits on the website (also see list below).

Pie contest logo

– First Place –
(one in each category)
Dinner for two at Janos, Maynard’s, The B-Line, or Lovin’ Spoonfuls

– Second Place –
(one in each category)
A whole pie from Bentley’s, Cup Cafe, Pastiche, or Epic Cafe

– Third Place –
(one in each category)
A 2010 edition “Eat More Pie” t-shirt

Ribbons will be awarded to all winning pie bakers, including third place. A prize will also go to the most creative pie.

So, get out that favorite, secret, gourmet pie recipe from your Tante Gunhild, Uncle Toby, or Greatgrandma, and bake it up for this pie contest.

One lucky non-profit from this list will receive the event proceeds:

Center for Biological Diversity
Desert Harvesters (4/15 update: received $3,750 proceeds)
Dunbar Coalition
Earth First! Journal
Gloo Factory
KXCI
No More Deaths (No Mas Muertes)
Nuclear Resister
Owl and Panther Project
Sky Island Alliance
Tucson CARES (Companion Animal Rescue, Education, and Support)

Eat more pie!