Up and Coming Weekly is a weekly publication in Fayetteville, NC and Fort Bragg, NC area offering local news, views, arts, entertainment and community event and business information.
Issue link: https://www.epageflip.net/i/19373
Bohemian Festival Brings Eclectic Group to Library by STEPHANIE CRIDER For years the Cumberland County Public Library & Information Center has been hosting events that support literacy, but they are great supporters of arts and culture, too. Every 4th Friday you can fi nd some sort of concert, performance or exhibit at the Headquarters Library on Maiden Lane, and throughout the year there are assorted performances, events, lectures and competitions that make our community more interesting and engaging. Case in point — the upcoming 5th Annual Bohemian Music and Art Festival on Nov. 14. The Pate Room at Headquarters Library will be transformed into a celebration of great music and art from 12 - 7 p.m. Music lovers can look forward to hearing the sounds of some of Fayetteville’s favorite performers who we fi nd all around town on a regular basis — the Chris Cox Band, Robbie Reid Band, Corky Jones, Blues Enigma, The Guruvs, Original Nature, Fat Freddy’s Cat Band, Ray King Percussions and others. “It will be highlighting local artists and musicians,” said Cumberland County Public Library & Information Center Headquarters Branch Manager Jane Casto. “The line up has changed a little bit but they are all local. The focus, in the past, has been on blues but Claudia Schwartz is the person who put it together and I think she has tried to get a little of a mix in there. There will be some acoustic, some electric — it is more of a variety.” Art enthusiasts will be treated to the works of painter Dorothy Finello, glass artist Shannon Davis, Kerstin Hanson and her chakra inspired jewelry, Robin Deffendall, Jeff Coleman and others. “The artists are there all day,” said Casto. “They are there for people to browse and look — and buy. You can purchase music and art and they will give a 20 percent donation to the Friends of the Library.” Event organizer Claudia Schwarz added that this is a great way to do some Christmas shopping for those gifts that you just won’t fi nd anywhere else. “This is really a chance to not only support local artists and musicians by purchasing their work, but it supports the library, too, and offers a chance for unique gifts as well,” said Schwarz. Local belly dancers, Shadows of the Fire, will round out the event with a performance late in the afternoon. Bringing such an eclectic group together every year has become something that the event organizers really look forward to. It gives people a chance to come to the library and to do something different. “We get a lot of regular customers and new faces, too,” said Casto. “We hope that people will come back just to see what else the library has to offer. We always have a library table of information as well, so we can promote that we have music, we have books on music, we have books on making art — so if it inspires you, you can investigate your creative side at the library.” It is not just coming and seeing the musicians, you can come and learn more about a particular technique you’ve seen, or if you want to learn more about music or to listen to music, the folks at the library can do all that. The event is appropriate for all ages. “Many people who attend enjoy the fact that they can come and it is not a bar, it is not in a big setting — it is more of an intimate setting where they can really listen and enjoy the music,” said Casto. “It really brings music to a very comfortable secure environment.” To fi nd out more, give the library a call at 483-7727. STEPHANIE CRIDER, Staff Writer. COMMENTS? 484-6200 ext. 222 or editor@upandcomingweekly.com. Yule Mart Starts Holiday Season at Fort Bragg by JHANA LEWIS It seems today that there is a gadget to do virtually everything for you, that all presents come with bells, whistles or … a touch screen, and homemade and handcrafted gifts are a thing of the past. In light of this, the 2010 Yule Mart seems like a piece of much needed nostalgia to a time when everything wasn’t manufactured and mass produced. Yule Mart is a showcase of local, regional, and out-of-state crafters and artists and their creations, sponsored by the Fort Bragg Offi cers Spouses Club. More than 70 booths will be featured, offering a wide variety of items, such as quilts, holiday decorations, jewelry, paintings, furniture, Americana crafts, and much more. They will be selling their handmade crafts and products this November 19, 20 and 21 in the Ritz Epps Gym, Fort Bragg. “We have lots of new vendors this year, as well as some old favorites” said Yule Mart chairperson Tracy Curran. “My Sister and I is a new vendor this year. The Promise is back and they are always a big hit. The Buy n Bragg will be there again, which is our (Fort Bragg Area Spouses Club) boutique here on post — they sell Fort Bragg related items.” Mr. and Mrs. Claus will be taking a break Mrs. Claus’s Bake Shop will be fi lled with cookies, brownies, muffi ns and breads, as well as fresh fruit and sugar free items for sale. Of course all of the proceeds go right back into the community on and around Fort Bragg. “We had about 3,000 shoppers last year and this year we are shooting for at least 4,000,” said Curran. “All of this goes back to our community through welfare grants to community organizations that support the military as well as on scholarships and continuing education scholarships for spouses of military members. Last year a lot of local schools both on and off post benefi tted from general welfare fund grants including the Fort Bragg animal shelter, the Armed Services YMCA, Operation Homefront N.C. and the Fisher House.” Shoppers enjoy regional crafters and artisans at Yule Mart. from their busy schedules and stopping by, with Mrs. Claus’s Bake Shop and Santa’s Workshop both in the Ritz Epps Physical Fitness Center. Donate or buy tasty treats or bring the kiddies to shop for low priced gifts for their family and friends. “There is a new feature this year at Santa’s Secret Workshop,” said Curran. “This year we have an EFMP (Exceptional Family Member Program) shopping experience, and we are very excited about that. That will be on Sunday Nov. 21 from 10-11 a.m. We are very excited about that. It will be a little less chaotic than our other shopping times.” WWW.UPANDCOMINGWEEKLY.COM One of my earliest memories of Christmas is sitting with my uncles, aunts and cousins at the dining room table covered with beads, string and pipe cleaners making our own ornaments. Eventually they got so popular that we began to sell them to friends and family members, as well as in our church. We enjoyed the money, but nothing could ever put a price on the bond that we created together and the delight in making something with our own hands that gave such joy to others. This year I urge everyone to step away from the gadgets and electronics, and give something made with care, and support our neighboring artists and talent. “The mall and other retailers are standard — everybody can fi nd what you fi nd at the mall, but these are all unique hand crafted items,” said Curran. “I think the uniqueness would be the reason to come and shop at Yule Mart. The stuff you will fi nd at Yule Mart you are not going to fi nd at the mall or any other retail outlet.” NOVEMBER 10-16, 2010 UCW 7