Art Design & Dine adds a creative jolt to downtown Cheyenne

The Art Design & Dine Art Tour happens tomorrow evening, Thursday, July 14, 5-8 p.m., in Cheyenne.

During this very fine local event, art venues open their doors to anyone interested in browsing and possibly buying art in a friendly atmosphere.

Participating galleries:

Participating food venues include Suite 1901, the Laramie County Public Library Cafe and Ruby Juice.

AD&D is two years old now and getting better all the time. Some great shows for July, including:

Clay Paper Scissors presents watercolors, prints, two kinds each of ceramics and tote bags! This show features Amy Misle, Amy Iribarren, Kandice Starbuck, K.K. Hamblin, Meggan Stordahl and Steve Schrepferman!

This month will feature live music and literature at two locations:

The Fiddlers on the Range (the Bob Mathews family fiddlers) will be at DeSelms Fine Art from 6-7:30 p.m and local writer Mike Shay (that's me) and will be at Clay Paper Scissors Gallery & Studio from 5-6 p.m. I will read excerpts from my work. I rehearsed with my ukelele accompanist Linda Coatney Tuesday night but, on Wednesday, she was called out of town on a family emergency. She will be replaced with a hologram.

It's a little unusual to stage a reading in a locale where everyone is coming and going. But I will come up with something appropriate.

Thanks to the Cheyenne Arts Council for providing the entertainment. More performances will enliven future AD&D events. AD&D provides another jolt of energy and creativity to downtown Cheyenne. The Lights On! Project is providing another needed jolt to downtown, so is the new construction. And a big welcome to the Morris House Bistro and its Carolina Low County Cuisine. Can't have enough innovative eateries in the downtown area.

Don't forget that the Cheyenne Old-Fashioned Summer Melodrama launches its 2011 season Thursday night. My wife Chris and I will be volunteering at the Atlas Theatre. Come on down, buy a ticket and prepare to be interactively entertained. We have beer too!

Let's Move! program gets kids up and moving and creating and eating healthy food

Having fun at the Manhattan Children's Museum

This new program sounds fun and educational -- with emphasis on the fun. Kids who take part in activities that promote healthy local foods and artistic movement and creativity (and creating) will be better prepared for the challenges they will inherit from their elders. And less likely to believe that the local food movement is a Commie plot. They also may get the strange idea that public-funded entities (That Darn Gubment!) such as museums and libraries are essential to their community’s well-being. We can hope. And support innovative projects such as Let’s Move!

This blog post comes from Susan Hildreth, director of the Institute of Museum and Library Services:

The space shuttle wasn’t the only launch in Houston last week! At a meeting with thousands of museum professionals I had the great honor of joining First Lady Michelle Obama as we launched Let’s Move! Museums and Gardens. 

 Speaking via video message to attendees of the Association of Children’s Museums and American Association of Museums Annual Meetings, Mrs. Obama said, “Everyday, in museums, public gardens, zoos, and so many other places, you expose our children to new ideas and inspire them to stretch their imaginations. You teach them new skills and new ways of thinking.  And you instill a love of learning that will stay with them for the rest of their lives. 

Every day, you all make such a difference in the lives of our children. And that’s why I’m so excited to work with you on an issue that is so critical to their health and well-being.”  

The national initiative, coordinated by the Institute of Museum and Library Services, will provide opportunities for millions of museum and garden visitors to learn about healthy food choices and physical activity through interactive exhibits and programs. 

Museums and gardens are eager to do their part in making a difference. Many of them have core missions that focus on creating healthy environments for children and their families.

Let’s Move! Museums & Gardens will focus on interactive exhibits, afterschool, summer programming and food service that help young people to make healthy food choices and be physically active.