Free

 -Posted by Jon Lunger, ArtsQuest’s Marketing Manager

One of the coolest parts about SteelStacks, that we probably don’t talk about enough, is the large amount of activities that are either free or don’t cost much at at all.

Check out this quick snapshot of some of the free things we’ve got going on…

  6.11 - Flag Day is this Saturday!

Daily - FREE parking.   Enough said.

Daily - FREE Wi-Fi.  Also enough said.

Free concerts…  more than 400 this year alone.

Wednesdays, 12:15-12:45 pm…  FREE Tai Chi.

Saturdays, 11 am - noon…  FREE family hour, with varying entertainment.

Thursdays, starting 6.16…  FREE music & film trivia night.

And that list is nowhere near complete.   We’ve got some more free programming coming up, including the Levitt Pavilion SteelStacks and a ladies night out!

From Hawaii with love

-posted by Jon Lunger, ArtsQuest’s Marketing Manager

Well, I think its safe to say that no one saw this coming.   The ukulele is scorching hot right now…  its like Lady Gaga, but smaller, not alive, and… well, its really nothing like Lady GaGa, except for the fact that both seem to be everywhere at the moment.

If you don’t know what I’m talking about, its ok…  I’m here to help.   You don’t have to admit it, just read the following excerpt from Wikipedia to get caught up.  Everyone else, skip ahead.

The ukulele, sometimes abbreviated to uke, is a chordophone classified as a plucked lute; it is a subset of the guitar family of instruments, generally with four nylon or gut strings or four courses of strings.  

~ Source: Wikipedia

I am not going to pretend I have any clue as to the reasons behind the sudden rise in popularity of this beloved instrument.  In fact I, along with another local blogger/colleague, was recently compelled to purchase one.   I have no idea why, other than the fact that there is something inherently cool about the uke.

Don’t take my word for it…

Jake Shimabukuro

In addition to having the most challenging last name to spell ever, Jake is a ukulele virtuoso.   What does that entail?   Well, it makes him awesome.    Dude can throw down some impressive licks…  Case in point- he covers Bohemian Rhapsody.

You can see him live at the Musikfest Cafe on July 6.

Eddie Vedder

Eddie Vedder is about to release his second, full-length solo album.   Yeah, he’s playing the uke.  The album is even called “Ukulele Songs.”    You can listen to the whole thing, for free, here (NPR).

Foxfur

Mike Doughty brought this duo in to the Musikfest Cafe to open for him.   Despite the fact that I don’t actually have a picture of them with a uke, they rocked out on one. Keep an eye out for this Brooklyn-based duo.

Amanda Palmer

She’s the lead singer of The Dresden Dolls.  She’s an accomplished (and epically amazing) solo performer. She rocks out on the uke.  Check out the album above.

Ingrid Michaelson

Ingrid Michaelson is one of my favorite performers of right now.   She’s a brilliant songwriter… her tunes have been featured in countless TV commercials.   You may not know her by name yet, but you probably already know her music.

 And, you guessed it, she plays the uke.   And we love her for it.

A series of random photos of John Oliver and your chance to win tickets.

-posted by Jon Lunger, ArtsQuest’s Marketing Manager.

John Oliver (from Comedy Central’s The Daily Show with Jon Stewart) is an extremely funny man.

Here’s a completely random series of pictures of him, followed by a link to a contest we’re having (where you can score tickets to his show at the Musikfest Cafe presented by Yuengling on 6.3).

THIS is the aforementioned link to the ticket contest.

A quick, shameless plug

posted by Jon Lunger, ArtsQuest’s Marketing Manager

The SteelStacks arts & cultural campus has been open for a few weeks now.   To all of you who have come down to explore the exciting new facilities, thanks!

Whether you’ve checked out the new awesomeness, or haven’t quite had a chance to come down yet, let me introduce you to a hand-dandy little .PDF file that will make it super easy for you to find out what’s going on:

It’s a snap shot of what’s going on, at SteelStacks and The Banana Factory, 7-days at a time.

You can always pick up your own copy at the Banana Factory or at the ArtsQuest Center at SteelStacks -or- download a copy at www.artsquest.org (in the right hand column).

Enjoy!

Seeing is believing

-Posted by Jon Lunger, ArtsQuest’s Marketing Manager

I possess a unique ability to be simultaneously a morning person and a night owl.

Don’t get me wrong, I love sleeping; it’s one of my favorite hobbies.  But, depending on situation, I’m down with getting up at the crack of dawn or staying up into the wee-hours of the morning.

My point? 

Well as I’ve “grown up,” I find myself waking up pretty darn early during the week.  And you know what?   MTV and VH1 play music videos in the AM.   I know, I know… shocking, right? 

We all love to rag on Music Television for never playing music.  But, if you dare tune in around 6 AM, on most mornings you can see videos.   All sorts of random stuff is thrown in too.   Intertwined between the pop tunes of today they’ll occasionally string together what is presumably leftover programming from 120 Minutes (RIP).

(Side note, it is rumored that 120 Minutes is coming back this year on MTV 2).

Don’t believe me?   Check it out for yourself.