The Fourths Be With You

Fourth Friday through July 4th

Next Friday, June 26th, is FOURTH FRIDAY DOWNTOWN. Here's the schedule:

Noon-2 pm, Courthouse Square - Food and other vendors, plus live music by the CE Band and fun lunchtime activities. Brush up your golf putting. Play a quick game of chess. Get a massage! (only 50 cents per minute)
5-6 pm, Jus' Java (317 Swede) - Meet The Editor/Reporter. Stan Huskey and Oscar Gamble from The Times Herald will be on hand to chat with customers about what's happening in Norristown.
5-7 pm, Sessano Cafe & Deli (Airy and Swede) - Award winning sandwiches meets group art. Munch while you paint a masterpiece.
5-9 pm, Banh Mi Bar & Bistro (31 W Main) will offer a special 3-course meal and live music provided by the CE Band. Seatings at 5 and 7 pm. $25 
7-10 pm, Jazz on Cherry Street (216 Cherry) features Cedric A. Napoleon & Friends (former members of Pieces of a Dream jazz and R&B band) $15 Tickets online at this link.  
8-10 pm, Las Palmas Del Sur (10 W Main) - Mexican cuisine and live Mexican music. No cover charge.
8-10 pm, Jus' Java - Open Mic. Café food, gourmet coffee. No cover charge.
8-11 pm, Salsa on Cherry Street (216 Cherry, upstairs) - Lesson from 8-9 pm ($7) and free dancing from 9-11 pm
10-midnight, Almaz Cafe (14 W Main) - Ethiopean/American cuisine, drink specials and a DJ.

On Saturday, June 27th, from 8:30 am to 2 pm, Men of Excellence is hosting a FREE Football Clinic for students grades K-8 at Norristown Area High School. FREE lunch will be provided. For information, call 484-636-6566 or email dmilligan@nmoe19401.org

Also on Saturday, June 27th, from noon to 5 pm, CADCOM will celebrate 49 years (!) in Norristown at their Community Day at Oak St (Simmons) Park. Basketball tournament, vendors, health screenings, food , music, and children's activities. For info, contact Heather Lewis at 610-277-6363 x166. Come out and support CADCOM. They do a lot for Norristown. And this is going to be a fun day.

Sunday, June 28th, at 3 pm (cocktail hour at 2 pm), "Sounds of the Symphony"--A Unique Afternoon Concert featuring world-renowned cellist Steve Kramer & friends, at Theatre Horizon, to raise much-needed funding to refurbish and reopen the Centre Theater and the Centre Theater Music School. General Admission $35. More information at this link or TICKETS at this link  (Please come out and support Centre Theater and the birth of Norristown as a classical music center in the county. I've always felt embarrassed that little Ambler could have a first rate orchestra while we, the county seat, has no venue for classical at all. Time to add a new type of music to our repetoire, Norristown.)

Sunday, June 28th, 7 pm, Concerts In The Park features the Beach Bumz at the Elmwood Park Bandshell. FREE. Bring a lawn chair or blanket. Food Available.

Monday, June 29th, 11:30 am to 1 pm. the Norristown Family Center is hosting an Open House and Community Meeting at 1314 DeKalb Street.

Monday and Tuesday, June 29-30, from 3 -7 pm, the Norristown Small Business Assistance Center in conjunction with The Greater Hispanic Chamber of Commerce and The Enterprise Center are hosting a small business expo at the Montgomery COunty Intermediate Unit, 2 W Lafayette, 1st Floor.

Monday June 29 through August 7th, Carver Community Center will host a free “Young Innovators Program” for 30 middle school children. They'll have the opportunity to engage in Science, Technology, Engineering and Math. Participants will receive a healthy breakfast and lunch and an opportunity to swim at the pool for a discounted price.

Registration is open for ACPPA's Summer Dance Camp for 8-14 year-olds. From Monday, June 29th through Thursday, July 2nd, from 6-8 pm, students will have the opportunity to do ballet, hip hop/street jazz, and learn about stage makeup and theatre performance/etiquette. Camp is just $60 per student (members get a discount). You can sign up in the office, or through ACPPA's website.

Friday, July 3rd, Christ UCC Church at Noble and W Marshall will host a FREE Independence Eve Concert at 7 pm in their parking lot (indoors if it rains). On the bill is N. Cameron Chandler and his gorgeous baritone voice singing everything from gospel to opera to standards. Also on the bill is The Song Sheets blending beautifully as they perform folk, pop, musical music and others. Bring a lawn chair. Food will be sold, benefiting UCC's youth programs.

Here is the schedule of activities for Saturday, July 4th:

7:30 am  Registration begins for the 5K Run at Norristown Area High School. Race begins 8:30am at Norristown Farm Park, proceeds go to Mission Kids.
10:30am - Parade begins at Airy & Swede Streets. The route is Airy to Astor to Marshall to Stanbridge to Sterigere to Elmwood Park. Pick a spot along the route, wave flags and be amazed. All for FREE.
NOON - Entertainment begins at the Bandshell in the Park (plus food, vendors and kid's activities)
12:30pm - Old School Band
6:30pm - Allen Reynolds Band (some notices say Sofa Kings, but I'm pretty sure it's AR)
8:00pm - Fireworks
For more info call 610-270-0421.

From now through July 31, the Norristown Business Association is running a photo contest. You can win a free dinner for two at the small business Norristown restaurant of your choice or freebies from other local restaurants. All you have to do is take pictures of yourself and friends/family eating out at our restaurants. Details can be found at this link. Fourth Friday is a great time to start.

Enjoy the next couple of weeks. I hope to be back on the Diary by the 2nd week of July.