Oak Ridge Today

Sponsored: Ulster Project to celebrate peace-building with Mardi Gras event

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

Ulster's Mardi Gras Feb 23 2019

The Ulster Project has been operating in the Oak Ridge and Knoxville area for almost 33 years. You can help them celebrate 33 years of peace-building in Northern Ireland and the United States by joining them for their inaugural Ulster’s Mardi Gras, where they will celebrate the Gulf Coast tradition of Mardi Gras.

The event is scheduled from 6-10:30 p.m. Saturday, February 23, at St. Mary’s Catholic Church.

The featured band will be a local favorite, The Missing Goats. And they expect to have some zydeco dancing lessons.

The menu will include salad, seafood gumbo, Cajun roasted pork loin and chicken, red beans and rice, Cajun green beans, chicken and sausage jambalaya, king cake (prizes for the baby), and banana pudding. Beer and wine will be available for sale, and there will be a silent auction. [Read more…]

International entertainers, food & crafts at Children’s Museum on Feb. 23

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

Spice of India dancers will perform traditional Indian dances on Feb. 23, 2019, at the Children’s Museum International Festival. (Photo by Rob Welton)

Spice of India dancers will perform traditional Indian dances on Saturday, Feb. 23, 2019, at the Children’s Museum International Festival. (Photo by Rob Welton)

 

The Oak Ridge International Folk Dancers will join entertainers representing cultures around the world when the Children’s Museum of Oak Ridge hosts its annual International Festival on Saturday, February 23.

The family-friendly International Festival will present entertainment, crafts, and cuisines from many countries, with musical and dance entertainment on stage throughout the day and crafts for children to make and take home, a press release said. The festival entertainment will be from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. February 23 at the Children’s Museum at 461 West Outer Drive in Oak Ridge.

Crafts that children may make and take include crocodile masks, an Egyptian necklace, and a French flag, the press release said. They may also learn about collecting international postage stamps and take their own passport around the festival booths to have it stamped and get a prize. [Read more…]

Today: Dine and Donate to support ADFAC

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

Dine out on Monday, Jan. 14, 2019, to support ADFAC! Our featured restaurants this month are the five local Subway locations in Clinton, Oak Ridge (1968 Oak Ridge Turnpike), Rocky Top, and Oliver Springs (shown in photo). Additional participating restaurants are Burchfield's, Dean's, Gallo Loco, Hoskins, Mediterranean Delight, Razzleberry's, and The Soup Kitchen. Dine & Donate is also supported by Leidos, State Farm - Randy McNally, and Oak Ridge Today. ADFAC exists to support and serve those in need by assisting them in becoming stable and self-sufficient. Please visit adfac.org for more information. (Submitted photo)

Dine out on Monday, Jan. 14, 2019, to support ADFAC! Our featured restaurants this month are the five local Subway locations in Clinton, Oak Ridge (1968 Oak Ridge Turnpike), Rocky Top, and Oliver Springs (shown in photo). Additional participating restaurants are Burchfield’s, Dean’s, Gallo Loco, Hoskins, Mediterranean Delight, Razzleberry’s, and The Soup Kitchen. Dine & Donate is also supported by Leidos, State Farm – Randy McNally, and Oak Ridge Today. ADFAC exists to support and serve those in need by assisting them in becoming stable and self-sufficient. Please visit adfac.org for more information. (Submitted photo)

 

Dine out on Monday, January 14, to support ADFAC!

The featured restaurants this month are the five local Subway locations in Clinton, Oak Ridge (1968 Oak Ridge Turnpike), Rocky Top, and Oliver Springs.

Additional participating restaurants are Burchfield’s, Dean’s, Gallo Loco, Hoskins, Mediterranean Delight, Razzleberry’s, and The Soup Kitchen.

Dine & Donate is also supported by Leidos, State Farm – Randy McNally, and Oak Ridge Today.

ADFAC exists to support and serve those in need by assisting them in becoming stable and self-sufficient. Please visit adfac.org for more information.

Dine and Donate today to support ADFAC

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

ADFAC Dine and Donate Sept 10 2018

The local restaurants listed above are donating a portion of their sales to Aid to Distressed Families of Appalachian Counties (ADFAC) as part of Dine and Donate today (Monday, September 10).

Dine and Donate is a monthly event. Restaurants supporting ADFAC each month are Burchfield’s, Dean’s, Gallo Loco, Hoskins, Mediterranean Delight, Razzleberry’s, Outback Steakhouse, Soup Kitchen, and Subway locations in Clinton (both), west Oak Ridge (1968 Oak Ridge Turnpike), Oliver Springs, and Rocky Top. [Read more…]

Today: Want to have a great meal, help others? ADFAC has the answer!

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

Doris Carl, assistant food and beverage director, is one part of the fantastic team at Burchfield’s. Burchfield’s staff go the extra mile to ensure you have a wonderful dining experience! (Submitted photo)

Doris Carl, assistant food and beverage director, is one part of the fantastic team at Burchfield’s. Burchfield’s staff go the extra mile to ensure you have a wonderful dining experience! (Submitted photo)

 

Want to have a great meal and help others at the same time? ADFAC has the answer!

On Monday, August 13, several local restaurants will be donating a portion of their sales to Aid to Distressed Families of Appalachian Counties, or ADFAC.

“Don’t heat up that kitchen—let someone else cook for you!” ADFAC said in a press release.

Burchfield’s Restaurant, located inside the Doubletree Hotel is the featured restaurant for August. [Read more…]

Oak Ridge Neighborhood Watch has pancake breakfast Saturday

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

The Oak Ridge Neighborhood Watch Program will host a pancake breakfast from 8-10 a.m. Saturday, August 11, at Aubrey’s Restaurant at 481 South Illinois Avenue in Oak Ridge.

Tickets are $5 per plate. A plate includes two pancakes, eggs, bacon, and a fountain drink, milk, orange juice, tea, or coffee. Tickets are on sale now from Joana Springmier at jspringmier3@gmail.com or (865) 272-5153, or Barbara Brower at bbrow13@gmail.com.

The Oak Ridge Neighborhood Watch Program is a self-funded organization that relies solely on donations and fundraisers to promote safe neighborhoods.

“Thanks for your support!” organizers said.

This press release was submitted by Joana Springmier.

Arts festival in Jackson Square on Saturday

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

Mad Hatters Art Festival Through Looking Glass 0718 390x600

The Mad Hatter’s Arts Festival in Jackson Square on Saturday will feature arts and crafts vendors, poetry, music, food, dancers, authors, and interactive arts stations.

The free festival, the first of its kind, is scheduled from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. It’s presented by Through the Looking Glass Antiques and Collectibles in Jackson Square.

A Jabberwocky Poetry Slam is scheduled at Razzleberry’s Ice Cream Lab and Kitchen from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. An open mic will start at 2 p.m. for walk-ins who didn’t sign up for the family-friendly event but want to perform.

Sixteen local songwriters will perform original acoustic music all day, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., in the square. There will also be musicians playing cover songs at the festival, said Linda Johnston of Through the Looking Glass.

At noon, the Oak Ridge Civic Ballet dancers will perform in the square. [Read more…]

Secret City Festival is this weekend

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

Although numbers weren't immediately available, organizers said a record-setting crowd attended the Three Dog Night concert at the Secret City Festival on Saturday. (Photo by Jon Hetrick)

A record-setting crowd is pictured above at the Three Dog Night concert at the Secret City Festival in June 2015. (File photo courtesy Jon Hetrick)

 

The Secret City Festival on Friday and Saturday will feature music, food, children’s activities, historic exhibits, arts and crafts, technology, robotics, magic, a juggler, a K-9 search demonstration, wine tasting, tours of two federal sites, veterans parade, an attempt to set a world record in a basketball game, and headline concerts featuring Dennis DeYoung and the Music of Styx, and Little River Band.

There have been pre-festival events this week, including a Battle of the Bands tonight (Thursday, June 7), and a live radio broadcast featuring two bands on Monday, and a Children’s Movie Night on Wednesday.

At the Secret City Festival this weekend, a main stage concert on Friday night will feature Dennis DeYoung and the Music of Styx. The opening band is The Band Legacy. The show starts at 7 p.m.

The main stage concert on Saturday night will feature the Little River Band. The opening band is Janelle Arthur. The show starts at 7 p.m.

Tickets are available online or at Citizens First Bank at 1298 Oak Ridge Turnpike for $25. [Read more…]

Pre-Festival Wednesday night: Children’s Movie Night features ‘Despicable Me 3’ at ORHS

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

Children’s Movie Night tonight (Wednesday, June 6) will feature “Despicable Me 3” at Oak Ridge High School. It’s a pre-festival event for the Secret City Festival this weekend.

The movie is scheduled to start at 9 p.m. Wednesday at Ben Martin Track at Oak Ridge High School.

The first pre-festival event was Monday, a live radio broadcast by WDVX 89.9 FM, featuring Ridge City Ramblers and Kukuly and Gypsy Fuego.

Another pre-festival event this week, before the Secret City Festival on Friday and Saturday, is a Battle of the Bands at the pavilion at Alvin K. Bissell Park at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, presented by United Way of Anderson County, the Oak Ridge Youth Advisory Board, and MERLE FM.

There are many events scheduled for the Secret City Festival on Friday, June 8, and Saturday, June 9. [Read more…]

Pre-Festival tonight: WDVX live broadcast with Ridge City Ramblers

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

Ridge City Ramblers

Ridge City Ramblers

 

A live radio broadcast show in Oak Ridge tonight will feature Ridge City Ramblers and Kukuly and Gypsy Fuego. It’s a pre-festival event for the Secret City Festival this weekend.

Ridge City Ramblers plays bluegrass, and Kukuly and Gypsy Fuego plays gypsy jazz, according to WDVX 89.9 FM, a listener-supported radio station that will broadcast the show live.

The concert is this evening (Monday, June 4). The music is scheduled to start at 6 p.m., according to WDVX and ORNL Federal Credit Union, which is presenting the show.

It’s the first in a series of free summer concerts in Oak Ridge called the “Summer Sessions” and presented by ORNL Federal Credit Union. Performers will include bluegrass and Americana bands from throughout the region. Future concerts will be held on the following Saturdays: July 21, August 18, September 8, and October 6. All concerts will be held outdoors at the pavilion in Alvin K. Bissell Park at 1401 Oak Ridge Turnpike in Oak Ridge. They are free. The full lineup can be found on ORNL FCU’s Facebook page or at ornlfcu.com/summer-sessions. [Read more…]

Reminder: Flatwater Festival, Flatwater Tales this weekend

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

Ridge City Ramblers perform at the Flatwater Festival in 2017. (Photo courtesy Flatwater Festival)

Ridge City Ramblers perform at the Flatwater Festival in 2017. (Photo courtesy Flatwater Festival)

 

Reminder: The second Flatwater Festival presented by the three Rotary clubs of Oak Ridge will be held from noon to 9 p.m. on Saturday, June 2, at Melton Lake Park.

And the Flatwater Tales Storytelling Festival, which will feature three world renowned storytellers, has events on Friday and Sunday. It is the first storytelling festival in the Oak Ridge area.

Organizers said the Flatwater Festival on Saturday will include bands, beer, boat races, and bounce houses; wine, water, and soda; and face painting, food vendors, and fun for all, including corn hole games.

New this year is a team-building regatta featuring up to 20 boats. It will be held from 12:30 to 5 p.m. in collaboration with the Oak Ridge Rowing Association. A “build a boat” race by participants who make their own cardboard boats ahead of time will be held at 5 p.m. [Read more…]

Three Rotary clubs present Flatwater Festival on June 2

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

Ridge City Ramblers perform at the Flatwater Festival in 2017. (Photo courtesy Flatwater Festival)

Ridge City Ramblers perform at the Flatwater Festival in 2017. (Photo courtesy Flatwater Festival)

 

Bands, beer, boat races, and bounce houses. Wine, water, and soda. Face painting, food vendors, and fun for all, including corn hole games.

The second Flatwater Festival presented by the three Rotary clubs of Oak Ridge will be held from noon to 9 p.m. on Saturday, June 2, at Melton Lake Park.

What’s new this year? A team-building regatta featuring up to 20 boats will be held from 12:30 to 5 p.m. in collaboration with the Oak Ridge Rowing Association. A “build a boat” race by participants who make their own cardboard boats ahead of time will be held at 5 p.m.

In addition, the festival at Melton Lake Park is sandwiched between the Flatwater Tales Storytelling Festival events on Friday, June 1, at the University of Tennessee Arboretum and Sunday, June 3, at the Oak Ridge Playhouse.

The three-day festival will be a fundraiser for the three Rotary clubs’ community service projects, including four new benches for the Oak Ridge waterfront in 2018, a press release said. [Read more…]