Calendar of Events

The Poulenc Trio (Irina Kaplan Lande, piano; Liang Wang, oboe; Bryan Young, bassoon) is the most active touring piano-wind chamber music ensemble in the world. Since its founding in 2003, the trio has performed in 45 U.S. states and at music festivals around the world, including the Ravello Festival in Italy, the San Miguel de Allende Festival in Mexico, and the White Nights Festival in Russia. In a recent review, the New York Times praised the trio for its “elegant rendition” of Piazolla’s Tangos. The Washington Post said the trio “does its namesake proud” in “an intriguing and beautifully played program” with “convincing elegance, near effortless light and grace”.

All children 18 & under can attend for free. A ticket must be reserved either online or at the door to guarantee admission. Seating is limited for chamber series performances. Early reservations are strongly recommended.

At Unitarian Universalist Church of Oak Ridge, 809 Oak Ridge Turnpike, Oak Ridge, TN 37830. Oak Ridge Civic Music Association: 865-483-5569, www.orcma.org

This spring, we're pumped to welcome veteran comedian James Gregory to the U.S. Cellular Stage!

Bijou Theatre, 803 S. Gay Street, Knoxville, TN 37902. Information/tickets: 865-522-0832, www.knoxbijou.com, www.ticketmaster.com

Free admission, and the reading will also be followed by a discussion session with the actors, audience, director and playwrights.

Under the Esso Moon by Linda Parsons
A young girl growing up in a crumbling family dynamic in an apartment above the gas station run by her stepfather. A dramatic coming-of-age story set in not-long-ago Knoxville.

At Theatre Knoxville Downtown, 317 N. Gay Street, Knoxville. Tennessee Stage Company: 865-546-4280, www.tennesseestage.com

The Knoxville Literary Exchange is a free, monthly poetry and prose writing workshop open to high school age students. The workshop will focus on giving students the opportunity to engage in writing, share their writing, and receive encouraging feedback--all in a supportive, safe space. The Knoxville Literary Exchange meets every third Saturday in the fall (September, October, November, and December) and spring (February, March, April, May). For further information, please contact organizer Liam Hysjulien at KnoxLitExchange@gmail.com

The Central Collective, 923 N. Central Street, Knoxville, TN 37917. Information: 865-236-1590, info@thecentralcollective.com, www.thecentralcollective.com

There are many ways of preparing herbs for your health and happiness. Teas and Tinctures. Salves, Balms and Poultices. Infusions and Diffusions. Fermentations, oils, and so much more. At this workshop, hosted by Jim Buckenmyer, we will learn all of these methods and more. This popular workshop is being offered at the request of people that have enjoyed previous workshops at James White's Fort. The cost is $20 and is limited to only 25 people. Please bring a unique snack and lunch dish to share with fellow participants. Reservations will go fast! Purchase online or call the Fort at 865-525-6514 and save your spot today.

James White's Fort, 205 E. Hill Ave, Knoxville, TN 37915. Information: www.jameswhitefort.org

Celebrate World Storytelling Day when as many people as possible tell and listen to stories in as many languages and at as many places as possible, on the Spring
equinox.
Join Smoky Mountain Storytellers' celebration at Vienna Coffee House, 212 College St, Maryville, TN 37804 on Saturday, March 18, at 6-7:30PM.
Coffee & Desserts Available. Parking. Benefit SMSA. $5 Donations gratefully accepted.
Contact 865-429-1783, or Cuznjan@juno.com. www.smokymountaintellers.org.

Enjoy An Evening of Jazz at the historic waterfront home of John Trotter,
3106 Kingston Pike, on Saturday, March 18th, 6:00-9:00PM.

You are invited to a wonderful evening of jazz with Knoxville's own Keith Brown Trio, KB3, plus special guests. Musicians include Keith Brown, piano; Jon Hamar, bass; Kenneth Brown, drums; Vance Thompson, trumpet, Will Boyd, reeds; Tamara Brown, vocals.
Heavy hors d'oevres, delicious desserts and wine will be served!

Tickets are $65. All proceeds benefit your Knoxville Jazz Orchestra, a 501(c)3 non-profit organization.
For reservations, email Sheena McCall at jazzknoxvville@gmail.com.
Knoxville Jazz Orchestra: 865-573-3226, www.knoxjazz.org.

Sequoyah Birthplace Museum offers a free lecture on March 18 at 2:00PM, "To Transmit in Perfect Safety: The Cherokee Code Talkers in World War I." At a critical point during the battles of the 30th Division in France, its Cherokee members stood tall. This is their story. Pat Gang is student of military history and holds a BA in history from the University of Tennessee. He has served as editorial director for three books on local church history and is the founder of "Keeping Your Stories Alive," a local concern specializing in veteran histories. He is also the author of the newly-released book "It Was A Two Egg Mission" about an incident during the 8th Air Force bombing campaign against Germany in WWII. Mr. Gang lives in Knoxville.

March 18, 2017 2:00 PM - 3:00 PM (ET) at the Sequoyah Birthplace Museum.
Sequoyah Birthplace Museum, 576 Hwy 360, Vonore, TN 37885. Hours: M-Sa 9-5, Su 12-5. Information: 423-884-6246, www.sequoyahmuseum.org

Join us on Saturday, March 18 from 5:30 until we decide to go home for our Grand Opening! Join us at 6:00 for a very special announcement of what's to come at our space. Enjoy beverages & food from local food trucks & breweries, followed by a sampling of local performing arts groups from 7:00-10:00. At 10:00, we welcome Sound Graffiti to round out the party. Come see our beautiful space, meet our amazing team, and party hard at Modern Studio. https://www.facebook.com/events/258113147972892/

Modern Studio, 109 W Anderson Ave, Knoxville, TN 37917. Information: 865-323-2425, www.modernstudio.org

Meet your favorite “Star Wars” characters without making a trip to a galaxy far, far away! Star Wars characters will be meeting fans and posing for photos at Zoo Knoxville. The day will also feature a Jedi Training Camp that includes light saber training and special instructions on how to use The Force, allowing each child to leave a certified Jedi knight. Visitors are encouraged to wear their own “Star Wars” attire to celebrate the occasion. Children ages 12 and under who come dressed as their favorite Star Wars character will receive $5 off a child’s admission. (Star Wars Character Day discount cannot be combined with any other discount or offer.) The opportunity to meet “Star Wars” characters is included with general zoo admission.

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

The Appalachian Arts Craft Center will hold its Spring Porch Sale starting on Thursday, March 16, and running for about two weeks. The Porch Sale, held each spring features outdated stock, seconds, student crafts and unjuried work by members of the Center. It’s an excellent time to get great deals.

The Appalachian Arts Craft Center is a nonprofit center that has been fulfilling its mission by promoting traditional artists and crafts in the East Tennessee area for over 40 years. The center is located at 2716 Andersonville Highway 61 in Norris, Tenn., one mile east of I-75 north at Exit 122. For more information, call 865-494-9854, or visit www.appalachianarts.net.

Marble City Opera will be presenting Verdi's La Traviata at Historic Westwood. The mansion will become the set, Violetta's home, and the audience will become Violetta's party guests! It will be an extremely intimate, exciting, and interactive performance of this timeless opera. Narrators will help tell the story before each act, and characters will guide patrons through the performance.

March 16, 17, & 18 @ 7:30pm. Tickets may be purchased at www.marblecityopera.com/tickets.

Westwood Home, 3425 Kingston Pike, Knoxville, TN. Marble City Opera: 646-217-1580, www.marblecityopera.com