Oak Ridge Today

Arts festival in Jackson Square on Saturday

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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…]

Oak Ridge Civic Ballet presents ‘The Nutcracker’ next weekend

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The Oak Ridge Civic Ballet Association will present “The Nutcracker” next weekend, November 19 and 20, 2016. (Photo by ORCBA)

The Oak Ridge Civic Ballet Association will present Tchaikovsky’s “The Nutcracker” next weekend, November 19 and 20. The performances will be at the Oak Ridge High School Performing Arts Center.

Directed by Molly Koon Quist, “The Nutcracker” offers artistic entertainment for family members of all ages, a press release said. The feature shows will include the added value of the University of Tennessee Chamber Orchestra and Farragut High School Advanced Chorus, a press release said.

“We are thrilled to showcase our talented dancers in such a classic ballet for the Oak Ridge community,” said Christy Rickman, president of ORCBA.

Courtney Walker and Fancisco Aguilar of the Georgia Ballet as well as Grant Howard as the Russian Soloist will join the talented cast from East Tennessee. Frank Murphy of Classic Hits 93.1 will also make a guest appearance, the press release said. [Read more…]

Barbara Ferrell receives Muddy Boot Award

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David McCoy Barbara Ferrell and David Bradshaw June 17 2016

Barbara Ferrell, center, received a Muddy Boot Award in a surprise ceremony on Friday, June 17, 2016, in conjunction with the Lavender Festival in Jackson Square in Oak Ridge. Also pictured are Dave McCoy, left, and David Bradshaw. (Submitted photo)

 

Barbara Ferrell, who owns The Ferrell Shop in Jackson Square, received the Muddy Boot Award on Friday.

The award is given by the East Tennessee Economic Council. It is a tribute to people who, through their work and community activities, make East Tennessee a stronger region.

The mid-year Muddy Boot Award was given to Ferrell in a surprise ceremony on Friday in conjunction with the annual Lavender Festival in Jackson Square.

Ferrell has been a leading independent retailer in Oak Ridge for more than 25 years, a press release said. She has been the driving force behind the successful Lavender Festival, which celebrates its 18th year this year. [Read more…]

Frustration increases, Council not pleased as Jackson Square work stretches into fall

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Jackson Square Parking Lot Meeting

Oak Ridge municipal staff members and Mayor Warren Gooch met with Jackson Square merchants at Razzleberry’s Ice Cream Lab and Kitchen on Wednesday, July 29, to discuss the $1 million parking lot renovation, which is not yet finished but could be “substantially complete” by Sept. 15. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

 

One merchant said he’s lost more than $100,000 in sales. Another said she had to close her business. And a third has posted signs that express frustration with the pace of construction at Jackson Square.

At one time, there was hope that the $1 million parking lot renovation at Jackson Square would be complete by the Lavender Festival in mid-June. But that didn’t happen. Now, the latest construction schedule estimates that it will be “substantially complete” by September 15—in time for Taste of Anderson County—but not finished until the end of October.

Officials have said the primary delay has been with the interactive fountain that will be installed in the center of Jackson Square. It still hasn’t arrived, and officials have said it could take four weeks to install. On Monday, the contractor and her attorney said the fountain could arrive in Oak Ridge on Wednesday.

Even business owners who had an optimistic outlook earlier have lost their patience with the project, which is mostly funded with a state grant. Their primary frustrations: The work has taken much longer than expected, the schedule keeps getting extended, and there have been too many days when, they say, they’ve seen no signs of work. In the meantime, the parking lot in front of their stores was closed for months, and they believe that the construction fencing and orange barrels drove away some potential customers.

“Why can’t they finish this?” asked Jonathan Goldstein of The String Workshop.

“We’ve been nice long enough,” said Dean Russell, owner of Dean’s Restaurant and Bakery.

“I think our frustration is how many days we’ve seen nothing happening as our customer base declines,” said Steve Seivers, who has a law practice in the square, the city’s original town center.

On Monday, the Oak Ridge City Council joined the chorus of frustration. [Read more…]

Chocolate Evening will benefit Agape House on May 9

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Chocolate Desserts

Truffles, fudge, brownies, cake, and plenty of chocolate tastes to satisfy a sweet tooth will be offered at “An Evening of Everything Chocolate” on Saturday, May 9, in support of Agape House of Oak Ridge.

The evening, from 6:30-9 p.m. at the Oak Ridge Unitarian Universalist Church will feature 10 tasting stations with a variety of chocolate culinary temptations, along with coffee and tea to wash them down.

Bakers and candy makers are invited to bring their best creations to the evening’s baking contest. For an entry fee of $10, bakers may enter any dessert containing chocolate, with celebrity judges tasting the entries and awarding a gold medal to the winning dessert. The dessert should contain eight servings. Contest judges will be caterer Judy Dodd, Oak Ridge City Council member Rick Chinn, and Oak Ridge School Board Chairman Keys Fillauer. [Read more…]

Reminder: ORHS Masquers present ‘Oliver’ from March 6-8

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ORHS Masquers Oliver

Pictured above are Lucas Potter as Fagin, Toby Taylor as Oliver, and Matt Harder as the Artful Dodger in the ORHS Masquers production of “Oliver.” (Submitted photo)

 

Oak Ridge High School Masquers, the school’s drama program, will present the musical “Oliver” in four performances in March.

The performances are scheduled for Friday, March 6, at 7 p.m.; Saturday, March 7, at 2 p.m. and 7 p.m.; and Sunday, March 8, at 2 p.m., at the Oak Ridge Performing Arts Center at ORHS.

Director Dana Wham, whose first performance as a young actor was in “Oliver,” has directed, choreographed, or acted in numerous adult and children productions throughout the region, and says this year’s musical is the biggest the school has produced during her time as director. [Read more…]

A Taste of Ireland on Saturday features Irish food, drink, music, dancing

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Shamrock Road

Shamrock Road will play at A Taste of Ireland on Saturday, February 28, in Oak Ridge.

 

A Taste of Ireland on Saturday will feature Irish food, drink, music, dancing, and a silent auction.

It’s presented by the Ulster Project of East Tennessee, and it’s scheduled from 6-10 p.m. Saturday, February 28, at St. Mary’s Family Life Center in Oak Ridge.

The dinner will feature Irish specialties that include shepherd’s pie, potato and salmon pie, and lentil soup. Dessert will be just as special, with Bailey’s Irish Crème bars and Andes Mint Chocolate brownies, among other options, a press release said.

The silent auction will include a bed and breakfast getaway, a variety of gift baskets including a sandalwood fragrance basket donated by the Ferell Shop in Oak Ridge, and a basket of goodies and gift cards donated by the Casual Pint in Knoxville. [Read more…]

Sponsored: Let’s spice things up, Valentine!

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Spice Society Chili Powder

Spice Society Chili Powder

 

Organic, non-GMO herbs and spices. Come take a whiff.

Available at The Ferrell Shop at 235 Jackson Square in Oak Ridge. The Ferrell Shop is open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Tuesday through Friday and from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday. The shop is closed on Sunday and Monday.

Call (865) 483-0961 for more information.

Valentine’s Day: Bissinger’s Chocolate since 1847

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Bissingers Signature Classic Chocolate

Bissinger’s chocolate: Fine chocolate made from all-natural ingredients for Valentine’s and every day.

Available at The Ferrell Shop at 235 Jackson Square in Oak Ridge. The Ferrell Shop is open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Tuesday through Friday and from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday. The shop is closed on Sunday and Monday.

Call (865) 483-0961 for more information.

Young Professionals ‘cash mob’ at Ferrell Shop on Saturday

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The Young Professionals of Oak Ridge will have its fourth quarterly “cash mob” on Saturday at The Ferrell Shop in Jackson Square.

A cash mob is an event designed to provide an economic boost to a deserving local business. Everyone in the community is encouraged to participate, a YPOR press release said.

Saturday’s cash mob is scheduled from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Owner Barbara Ferrell is excited that her business, which is celebrating 30 years, was chosen.

“We plan to have hot spiced cider, and a sampling of some of the food items we sale,” Ferrell said.

The Ferrell Shop sells candles, greeting cards, toiletries and soap, tabletop items, as well as toys, kitchenware, calendars, and ornaments, an announcement said.

Past cash mobs have included The Epicurean, Downtown Hardware, Mickey’s Produce, and J&M Butcher shop. All of them have seen an increase in sales on the day of the cash mob as well as weeks and months after, the press release said.

One business owner said the cash mobs have helped reach new, younger customers.

The Ferrell Shop is located in the Historic Jackson Square. Earlier this year, Oak Ridge was awarded a $798,687 grant to be used in the revitalization efforts for the square. One goal of the grant is to stimulate economic diversification in the Jackson Square District, with an objective of increasing spending in Jackson Square by 25 percent during the next five years, the press release said.

“Our organization aims to encourage our members to eat, shop, play and live local,” it said.

For more information, call The Ferrell Shop at (865) 483-0961 or visit ypor.org.

The Ferrell Shop is located at 235 Jackson Square.