Calendar of Events

By Robert Harling / Directed by James Fisher

Concerned with a group of gossipy southern ladies in a small-town beauty parlor, the play is alternately hilarious and touching—and, in the end, deeply revealing of the strength and purposefulness which underlies the antic banter of its characters.

Theatre Knoxville Downtown, 319 North Gay Street, Knoxville. Info: 865-544-1999 or email: info@theatreknoxville.com. www.theatreknoxville.com

You've waited for it, and now it's here! Fill up your bookshelves with the best deal going on books. In fact, it's such a good deal, you can buy a bundle and donate them to a nursing home or school near you!

Browse through thousands of used books; proceeds benefit the Knox County Library.

At Bearden High School, 8352 Kingston Pike, Knoxville, TN 37919. Info: http://www.knoxfriends.org/book-sales/annual-used-book-sale/

The Sundress Academy for the Arts, a branch of Sundress Publications, is thrilled to announce its summer Fiction Writing Retreat, which will be held from Friday, May 29th to Sunday, May 31st, 2015. The three-day, two-night camping retreat will be held on SAFTA’s own Firefly Farms in Knoxville, Tennessee and focus on fiction writing, with break-out sessions on writing dystopian literature and historical fiction.

A weekend pass includes instruction, writing supplies, food, drink, transportation to and from the airport, and all on-site amenities for $200, with tents, sleeping bags, and other camping equipment available to rent. Payment plans are available!

The event will be open to all writers of all backgrounds and provide an opportunity to work with many talented and published fiction writers from around the country, including Dr. Meagan Cass and Amy Sayre Baptista.

Sundress Academy for the Arts: 195 Tobby Hollow Ln, Knoxville, TN 37931, (865) 560-6106, safta@sundresspublications.com

Directed by Pedro Tomas. Based on the popular book by Pam Munoz Ryan. Esperanza Rising is the story of a wealthy Mexican girl whose privileged existence is shattered when tragedy strikes, and she and her mother must flee to California. Forced to work in a migrant labor camp, Esperanza must learn to rise above her difficult circumstances and discover what she's truly made of. Set in the turbulent 1930's, and based on the popular book by Pam Muñoz Ryan, Esperanza Rising is a poetic tale of a young girl's triumph over adversity.

The Rose Center, 442 West Second North St., Morristown, TN, 37814. Information: 423-581-4330, www.rosecenter.org

General Admission

At Clayton Center for the Arts: 502 East Lamar Alexander Parkway, Maryville, TN 37804. Tickets are available at the Clayton Center Box Office M-F 10AM-6PM or by phone or online: 865-981-8590, www.ClaytonArtsCenter.com

Come celebrate the release of the new compact disc from Jazz Flautist T. Michael Branner with a free concert at the Bistro at the Bijou featuring Keith Brown, Will Yager and Garrit Tillman. "Live In Performance/ The Lost Anthology" will be on sale.

Don't miss this free event! There is No cover charge. Dinner reservations are strongly recommended. Limited bar seating is also available.

Bistro at the Bijou, 807 S. Gay Street, Knoxville, Tennessee 37902, (865) 544-0537 for reservations. Info: tmichaelbrannerconceptet@yahoo.com

Statehood Day Celebration in the Blount Mansion Gardens; food, drink and merriment commemorating the creation of the state of Tennessee here in Knoxville in 1796. Celebrating the pioneers who settled and transformed the southwest territory into the vibrant state of Tennessee, the Blount Mansion Association will be hosting its annual Statehood Day in the Blount Mansion garden, which has been maintained by the Knoxville Garden Club for 81 years. Additionally, there will be a chance to see the newest exhibit in the Visitors Center. The exhibit is an in depth look at the evolution of the houses and neighborhood from the time Governor Blount first built here in 1792 until today.

A cocktail dinner will be served by Holly’s Eventful Catering, and there will be an open bar available. This night of entertainment and mingling to celebrate the birthday of the State of Tennessee is not to be missed. Proceeds will go toward supporting the mission and educational activities of the Association.

Knox County’s only National Historic Landmark and oldest house museum, the Blount Mansion is considered the birthplace of Tennessee, and it was built by William Blount who came to Knoxville
to be Governor of the Territory South of the River Ohio. Under Blount’s leadership efforts were made to organize the Territory into the 16th state of the United States in 1796, and the state
Constitution may have been drafted in the Governor’s office here on the historic Blount Mansion property. It is owned and operated by the Blount Mansion Association, Inc., a nonprofit, educational organization.

Reservations can be made by phone, email, or online.

Blount Mansion, 200 W. Hill Avenue, Knoxville, TN 37902. Information: 865-525-2375, info@blountmansion.org, www.blountmansion.org

Ever wonder what the zoo is like after everyone goes home? Join us for a Family Bedtime with the Beasts adventure and find out! Pre-registration is required. Info: rgorzeman@knoxville-zoo.org

Knoxville Zoo, 3500 Knoxville Zoo Drive, Knoxville, TN 37914. Open every day except Christmas. Information: 865-637-5331, www.knoxville-zoo.org

Enjoy train rides from the Barrel Train Express, Bounce Houses, Face Painting, Magic Shows, Animal Encounters from the Knoxville Zoo, Princess Manicures, Hip Hop Dance lessons, Cheerleading and Gymnastics exhibitions, giant obstacle course by Premier Athletics with a special guest appearance by Barbie!

Cost: $5 per child - adults are FREE! https://www.facebook.com/KnoxvillesLargestKidsParty

Spend a Night on the Town with drink specials at 5 downtown hot spots. All proceeds benefit the Y's Annual Campaign, to provide scholarships for Y programs and memberships to those in our community who need us most. Check-in will begin at 7pm at Sapphire, and the night will include specials at: Sapphire, Downtown Grill & Brewery, 5 Bar, Preservation Pub, & Scruffy City Hall. If you pre-register (by Friday, May 29th at 12pm), your $10 wristband gets you specials at all 5 locations plus cover charge all night 7pm-close (at Pres Pub & Scruffy City Hall). Wristbands will be $15 at the door at Sapphire. Must be 21 years of age or older.
Beginning at 7:00PM, May 29.
Please see ymcaknoxville.org for more information.

Now!! The Electrifying Return of America’s Most Powerful Concert Force and Number One Selling Solo Artist in U.S. History! Garth Brooks Makes His First Appearance in Knoxville in over 18 Years!

GARTH BROOKS WORLD TOUR
with Trisha Yearwood
Thursday, May 28 7:30PM
Friday, May 29th 7:30 PM
Saturday, May 30th 7:30 PM
Sunday, May 31, 7:30 PM
Thompson Boling Arena
Knoxville, TN

Buy ONLY at the following: www.KnoxvilleTickets.com/Garth or 1-844-4GarthB (1-844-442-7842)
The Garth Brooks World Tour Sponsored by GhostTunes

For the fifth year, the East Tennessee Historical Society (ETHS) is pleased to announce its participation in Blue Star Museums to offer free museum admission to the nation’s active duty military personnel and their immediate families, as well as National Guard and Reserves, from Memorial Day through Labor Day 2015. Blue Star Museums is a collaboration between the National Endowment for the Arts, Blue Star Families, the Department of Defense, and 2,000 other museums across America. Leadership support has been provided by MetLife Foundation through Blue Star Families. The program provides families an opportunity to enjoy the nation's cultural heritage and learn more about their new communities after completing a military move. The complete list of participating museums is available at www.arts.gov/bluestarmuseums.

“As the Volunteer State, Tennesseans are always among the first to respond to our country’s call,” says Cherel Henderson, ETHS executive director. “The Blue Star Museums is a wonderful way for us to give back and to say thank you for your service and sacrifice.”

This year, more than 2,000 (and counting) museums in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and American Samoa are taking part in the initiative. Museums are welcome to join Blue Star Museums throughout the summer. This year’s Blue Star Museums represent not just fine arts museums, but also science, history, and children’s museums, and nature centers.

About Blue Star Museums
Blue Star Museums is a collaboration among the National Endowment for the Arts, Blue Star Families, the Department of Defense, and more than 2,000 museums across America. The program runs from Memorial Day, May 25, 2015 through Labor Day, September 7, 2015.

The free admission program is available to any bearer of a Geneva Convention common access card (CAC), a DD Form 1173 ID card, or a DD Form 1173-1 ID card, which includes active duty U.S. military - Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines, Coast Guard, as well as members of the National Guard and Reserve, U.S. Public Health Service Commissioned Corps, NOAA Commissioned Corps - and up to five family members. Please see the chart of the acceptable IDs (PDF). Some special or limited-time museum exhibits may not be included in this free admission program. For questions on particular exhibits or museums, please contact the museum directly. To find out which museums are participating, visit www.arts.gov/bluestarmuseums. The site includes a list of participating museums and a map to help with visit planning.

East Tennessee Historical Society, 601 S. Gay Street, Knoxville, TN 37902. Museum hours: Monday-Friday: 9AM-4PM, Saturday: 10AM-4PM, Sunday: 1-5PM. Library: Monday-Tuesday: 9AM-8:30PM, Wednesday-Friday: 9AM-5:30PM, Saturday: 9AM-5PM, Sunday 1-5PM. Information: 865-215-8824, www.easttnhistory.org