Events happening this week in downtown Wilkes-Barre: March 10-16
Every Tuesday, the Downtown Wilkes-Barre Business Association and Diamond City Partnership release a list of events happening in downtown Wilkes-Barre. Subscribe here to receive this list via e-mail or just check NEPA Scene each week.
Downtown events
Tuesday, March 10
Event: Wyoming Valley Art League Artists Social
Time: 11 a.m.-4 p.m.
Location: Wyoming Valley Art League (130 S. Franklin St., REAR)
The Wyoming Valley Art League presents Tuesday Art Social! Come and go as you please. Bring your own art and materials and work while enjoying the company and inspiration of other artists! Members only – but anyone can come and purchase their membership the same day.
More information: wyomingvalleyartleague.org or 570-288-1020
Wednesday, March 11
Event: Family Business Alliance presents “Relationship Realities: Emotionally-Mature Leadership in an Age of Avoidance”
Time: 8:30 a.m.-noon
Location: Ballroom, Wilkes University Henry Student Center (84 W. South St.)
Author, global educator, and leadership thought leader John Engels will take us on a fascinating exploration of emotional maturity and immaturity in the family business. John will show us what leadership immaturity looks like and guide us towards more mature functioning as parents, presidents and partners. Research from evolutionary biology and clinical family studies shows that humans and other higher mammals exhibit entitlement, over-functioning, avoidance, and learned helplessness. These immature behaviors compromise the confidence and competence of the individual, and the robustness of the group, whether the group is a business, a family, or a nation. This event is free and open to the public; however, advanced registration is required. Registration begins at 8:30 a.m. with a light breakfast, and the program begins at 9 a.m.
More information: wilkes.edu or 570-408-4590
Wednesday, March 11
Event: 2015 Lenten Recital Series at St. Stephen’s
Time: 11:20, organ recital; noon, service
Location: St. Stephen’s Episcopal Pro-Cathedral (35 S. Franklin St.)
Since the 1920s, St. Stephen’s has presented free musical recitals prior to a Community Lenten Service. Organist Peter Stoltzfus Berton, of St. John the Evangelist Episcopal Church in Newport, Rhone Island is the featured artist at his week’s recital. The liturgist at the noon service will be Mr. Bill Behm of St. Nicholas Roman Catholic Church, and the preacher will be Monsignor Vincent Grimalia of St. Luke’s Villa. There will be additional special musical accompaniment. Free and open to the public; lunch is available immediately following the services in the auditorium for $4. The Lenten Recital Series is presented by the Downtown Ministerium of Wilkes-Barre.
More information: ststephenswb.org or 570-825-6653
Wednesday, March 11
Event: Teen Night at the Osterhout
Time: 6 p.m.-7:30 p.m.
Location: Osterhout Free Library (71 S. Franklin St.)
Celebrate Teen Tech Week with tacos and tech-themed trivia (the winning team gets prizes). Free and open to the public.
More information: osterhout.info or 570-821-1959
Thursday, March 12
Event: King’s College Saint André Bessette Lecture: “Dignity, Vulnerability, and the Care of the Patient”
Time: 4 p.m.
Location: Burke Auditorium, William G. McGowan School of Business (W. Union St.)
Dr. Daniel P. Sulmasy, the Kilbride-Clinton Professor of Medicine and Ethics at the University of Chicago, will deliver the 2015 Saint André Bessette Lecture, titled “Dignity, Vulnerability, and the Care of the Patient.” Dr. Sulmasy’s research interests encompass both theoretical and empirical investigations of the ethics of end-of-life decision-making, ethics education, and spirituality in medicine. He is the author or editor of six books and also serves as editor-in-chief of the journal “Theoretical Medicine and Bioethics.” He was appointed to the Presidential Commission for the Study of Bioethical Issues by President Obama in 2010. Free and open to the public.
More information: kings.edu or 570-208-5900, ext. 5689
Thursday, March 12
Event: Wilkes University Gardner Educational Forum
Time: 4:30 p.m.-6 p.m.
Location: Wilkes University Marts Athletic Center, Room 214 (274 S. Franklin St.)
Presenters Beth Anne Owens and Jennifer Welgosh, psychologists in the Wilkes-Barre Area School District, will speak on the topic of “Addressing Diversity, Sensitivity and Multiculturalism in Our Schools.” Free and open to the public; Pennsylvania certified teachers can earn Act 48 credit for their attendance and participation in Gardner Educational Forum sessions.
More information: wilkes.edu or 570-408-4686
Thursday, March 12
Event: Socrates Café at the Osterhout
Time: 6 p.m.-7:30 p.m.
Location: Osterhout Free Library (71 S. Franklin St.)
Discuss, listen to, and raise questions about a topic chosen that evening. Coffee will be served. Free and open to the public.
More information: osterhout.info or 570-821-1959
Friday, March 13
Event: Osterhout Free Movie Friday: “She Wore a Yellow Ribbon”
Time: 2 p.m.
Location: Osterhout Free Library (71 S. Franklin St.)
Free movie matinee every Friday. This week, the Osterhout presents “She Wore a Yellow Ribbon,” a 1949 western starring John Wayne as Captain Nathan Brittles, a cavalryman who, on the eve of retirement, takes out a last patrol to stop an impending attack. Free and open to the public.
More information: osterhout.info or 570-821-1959
Saturday, March 14
Event: Saturday Clay Days: Animal Totems
Time: 11:30 AM – 1:00 PM
Location: Wyoming Valley Art League (130 S. Franklin St.)
Instructor Ellen Jamiolkowski teaches the basics of hand building with clay: pinch, slab and coiling. The kiln-fired pieces will be decorated with wax crayons, stains, and acrylic paint washes. With clay, the first day is the actual hand building and the second day is the decorating of the pieces that have been fired in the kiln. Participants are welcome to bring clay tools if they have them. Minimum of five students, maximum of 12. Please reserve space. Ages 8-adult. $40 per session; supplies will be included.
More information: wyomingvalleyartleague.org or 570-288-1020
Saturday, March 14
Event: Introduction to Watercolor
Time: 2 p.m.-4 p.m.
Location: Wyoming Valley Art League (130 S. Franklin St.)
Instructor Elaine D. Walton teaches the basics of watercolor in a fun, supportive, and creative environment. This class will show you how to create unique works of art using techniques like wet-on-wet, dry brush, masking, lifting, and color layering. Every skill level is welcome. Bring your own brushes, paper, and watercolors. Sample paper for experimentation will be provided. $15 per class or $50 for four classes.
More information: wyomingvalleyartleague.org or 570-288-1020
Saturday, March 14
Event: Mixed Media Madness
Time: 5 p.m.-7 p.m.
Location: Wyoming Valley Art League (130 S. Franklin St.)
Join instructor Elaine D. Walton in exploring artistic tools, techniques, and materials in a fun, supportive, and creative environment! Students will be encouraged to try new things, explore new mediums, and learn from each other to create unique works of art. At the conclusion of each class, we will have a voluntary critique and art celebration. Limited supplies of glue, newspaper, typing paper, and tape will be provided. Bring anything else that strikes your fancy. Paint, collage, glue, sew, paint, draw, stamp – anything goes in this class! Every skill level is welcome. $15 per class or $50 for four classes.
More information: wyomingvalleyartleague.org or 570-288-1020
Saturday, March 14
Event: Celtic Woman in Concert
Time: 8:00 PM
Location: F. M. Kirby Center for the Performing Arts (71 Public Square)
The unique musical ensemble known as Celtic Woman has emerged as both a spectacular commercial success and a genuine cultural phenomenon. Join us for this celebration of Ireland and spellbinding Celtic heritage through an extraordinary presentation of traditional Irish anthems, pop standards, and original music. Tickets start at $61.
More information: kirbycenter.org or 570-826-1100
Sunday, March 15
Event: Arts Seen Gallery St. Patrick’s Day Parade Sale
Time: Noon-5 p.m.
Location: Arts Seen Gallery on the Square, 21 Public Square
Arts Seen Gallery on the Square will be celebrating St. Patrick’s Day during the downtown Wilkes-Barre St. Patrick’s Day Parade on Sunday, March 15. We will have free coffee, hot chocolate, and homemade cookies for visitors and a special 10 percent off sale on all artwork. Be sure to stop by and browse our gallery featuring a diverse display of unique artwork by over 30 local artists from Northeastern Pennsylvania.
More information: 570-507-0210
Sunday, March 15
Event: The Renal Race 4
Time: 10 a.m.
Location: Public Square
The Renal Race’s vision is for a world free of kidney cancer. Our mission is to walk or run one step at a time to do so! Don’t miss this exciting downtown event, featuring free t-shirts to the first 100 participants, medals to the top three finishers (male and female), many prizes to be given away, and refreshments at the finish line. The Renal Race includes a 5K race through downtown and Kirby and Nesbitt Parks, as well as a fun walk on the River Common. Registration opens at 8 a.m. the day of the event; the walk/run starts at 10 a.m. There is a $25 race fee plus a $2.50 sign-up fee.
More information: therenalrace.org or therenalracepa@gmail.com
Sunday, March 15
Event: 35th Annual City of Wilkes-Barre St. Patrick’s Day Parade
Time: 2 p.m.
Location: S. Main St. and Public Square
The city of Wilkes-Barre is proud to announce a fun-filled day of Irish heritage and culture with the 35th annual St. Patrick’s Day Parade. The parade route will begin at South Main and South Streets and will travel along South Main to Public Square, around the F.M. Kirby Center, and end at the intersection of North Main and Union streets. All ages are welcome to enjoy the St. Patrick’s Day parade activities and performances throughout the day. Children are invited to Barnes & Noble Wilkes/King’s Bookstore for a St. Patrick’s Day story hour at 11:30 p.m. Just Plain Crazy Face Art will also be available at noon on Public Square with parade themed artwork for children and adults. The Irish folk group The Hooley Boys will be performing before the parade on the bandshell on Public Square at 1 p.m.
More information: wilkes-barre.pa.us/stpats.php
Sunday, March 15
Event: Olde Fashioned St. Patrick’s Day Ham and Cabbage Supper at the Stegmaier Mansion
Time: 5 p.m.-8 p.m.
Location: The Frederick Stegmaier Mansion (304 S. Franklin St.)
Begosh and begorrah, it’s a St. Patrick’s celebration! Attend the parade in downtown Wilkes-Barre, then join us afterwards for dinner at the Stegmaier Mansion, just around the corner, and celebrate “the Wearin’ o’ the Green.” Enjoy traditional Irish foods expertly prepared by world renowned Chef Jody Klocko. Learn about the legend of St. Patrick and ancient Irish customs, and revel in the beauty of the mansion. And don’t forget to look for those devilish little leprechauns! Price is $34.50, which includes tax and gratuity; children 10 and up are welcome.
More information and reservations: stegmaiermansion.com or 570-406-1435
Monday, March 16
Event: Campion Literary Society Writing Workshop
Time: 3:30 p.m.-4:30 p.m.
Location: King’s College Sheehy-Farmer Campus Center, Room 115 (W. Jackson St.)
Students, faculty, and members of the community get together informally to complete writing exercises and discuss their own creative writing. Workshops are student led, last about one hour, and are free and open to the public. Light refreshments will be served.
More information: kings.edu or 570-208-5900, ext. 5487
Monday, March 16
Event: King’s College Divine Wisdom Lecture: “Jesus the Jewish Storyteller: Hearing the Parables in Historical Context”
Time: 7 p.m.
Location: Burke Auditorium, King’s College McGowan School of Business (W. Union St.)
Religion scholar Dr. Amy-Jill Levine, University Professor of New Testament and Jewish Studies at Vanderbilt University, will discuss the historical context of Jesus’s parables and the content of his teachings in this year’s King’s College “Divine Wisdom Lecture.” Jesus’ parables were designed to unsettle listeners and prompt them to see the world in a different way. Dr. Levine will discuss the historical context of his teachings – in particular Judaism and the Jewish scriptures that shaped his stories. Dr. Levine’s lecture, titled “Jesus the Jewish Storyteller: Hearing the Parables in Historical Context,” is free and open to the public. The event is co-sponsored by the Interfaith Council of Wilkes-Barre, the McGowan Center for Ethics and Social Responsibility, and the Honors Program at King’s.
More information: kings.edu or 570-208-5900, ext. 5689
Monday, March 16
Event: Allan Hamilton Dickson Spring Writers Series presents Lynn Emmanuel
Time: 7 p.m.
Location: Salon, Wilkes University Kirby Hall (202 S. River St.)
Poet Lynn Emmanuel will read from her work and sign copies of her books on Monday, March 16 as part of the Spring Writers Series, presented by the Wilkes University English Department and sponsored by the Allan Hamilton Dickson Fund. Emmanuel is the author of four books of poetry, including “Then, Suddenly,” which was awarded the Eric Matthieu King Award from the Academy of American Poets, and “The Dig,” which was selected by Gerald Stern for the National Poetry Series. Her poetry has been featured in the Pushcart Prize Anthology and Best American Poetry eight times. Her work also is included in “The Oxford Book of American Poetry.” Emmanuel has also been the recipient of two National Endowment for the Arts Fellowships and a National Poetry Series Award. She is a professor of English at the University of Pittsburgh.
More information: wilkes.edu or 570-408-4532
Downtown exhibits
Luzerne County Historical Society Museum
(69 S. Franklin St.)
Hours: Tuesday-Friday, noon-2 p.m.; Saturday, noon-4 p.m.
Exhibit: World War II: Luzerne County Answers the Call
Dates: March 6-Aug. 29
The Luzerne County Historical Society’s new exhibit, “World War II: Luzerne County Answers the Call,” explores the role played by the residents of Luzerne County in World War II, both on the home front and the war front. The exhibit features photographs, memorabilia, uniforms, and accouterments from the Society’s collection, as well as items loaned by members of the community. The exhibit will open with a reception on Friday, March 6 from 5 p.m.-7 p.m.
Exhibit: Native Americans of Wyoming Valley
Dates: Permanent exhibition
The permanent exhibit on the Native American inhabitants of the area includes local artifacts ranging from stone implements of the Archaic period to the archeological evidence of European influence.
More information: luzernehistory.org or 570-823-6244
King’s College Widmann Art Gallery
(Sheehy-Farmer Campus Center, between N. Main and N. Franklin Sts.)
Hours: Monday-Friday, 9 a.m.-4:30 p.m.
Exhibit: Jeremy Petrachonis: “Abstraction”
Dates: March 9-April 17
Abstract artist Jeremy Petrachonis will display a variety of art works, including pastels, charcoal, and oil paintings, and sculptures during a free, public exhibition titled “Abstraction” in King’s College’s Widmann Gallery. Petrachonis is currently a senior majoring in drawing and painting at Penn State University. The artist will discuss his artwork during a Meet-the-Artists reception from 6 p.m.-8 p.m. on Friday, March 20 in the Widmann Gallery.
More information: kings.edu or 570-208-5900, ext. 5328
The Sordoni Art Gallery at Wilkes University
(Stark Learning Center, 150 S. River St.)
Hours: Tuesday-Sunday, noon-4:30 p.m.
Exhibit: 2014–2015 Dr. Roy E. Morgan Exhibition, Dale Threlkeld: End of Illusion
Dates: Jan. 27-May 17
The work of contemporary American artist Dale Threlkeld is the subject of this retrospective exhibition, organized in conjunction with the Castellani Art Museum at Niagara University. Threlkeld’s “breakthrough moment” occurred in the early 1990s, leading to the signature painting style he is known for today.
More information: wilkes.edu/arts/Sordoni-Art-Gallery or 570-408-4325
Wyoming Valley Art League’s Circle Center for the Arts
(130 S. Franklin St.)
Hours: Tuesday, 10:30 a.m.–5 p.m.; Third Friday Art Walk, 5 p.m.–8 p.m.
Exhibit: Images of Awakening: The Art of Tibetan Buddhism
Dates: Feb. 20 through March 14
The Sandra Dyczewski Maffei Gallery hosts an exhibition of paintings by Andrea Nerozzi, together with traditional Tibetan spiritual art and artifacts from the Padmasambhava Buddhist Center in upstate New York.
Exhibit: Members’ Show
Dates: ongoing
Artwork from the WVAL’s Members’ Juried Show is currently on view in the second floor gallery.
More information: wyomingvalleyartleague.org or facebook.com/wvartleague
Walk Wilkes-Barre
This week’s historic building is:
South Side Bank and Trust Company
264-268 S. Main St. (1913)
The three-story South Side Bank and Trust Company building was built to anchor the long-vanished three-way intersection of South Main, East Ross, and Hazle Streets. It was designed by Wilkes-Barre architects Reilly & Schroeder. Architect Otto Kleeman authored the four-story brick addition on East Ross Street in 1915. After the bank’s closure, the building’s ground floor housed a magistrate’s chambers for many years. Developer Sam Johnson of Main & Ross Street Properties purchased the vacant and dilapidated building in 2004 and proceeded to painstakingly transform the upper floors into 16 luxurious loft-style apartments. The building’s centerpiece – the two-story banking hall, with its tall arched windows, elaborate moldings, and marble wainscot – now houses downtown’s popular new French restaurant, Le Manhattan Bistro.
