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"Rise Together Allentown" PPL Center & Allentown Arts Park Celebration Scheduled

08/27/2014

Members of the public can get their first view of the brand new PPL Center and be entertained by the city’s arts community at the “Rise Together Allentown” PPL Center Open House and Arts Park Celebration on Saturday, September 13 beginning at 1pm.

Mayor Ed Pawlowski, Lehigh Valley Phantoms owners Rob and Jim Brooks and representatives of the city’s arts community announced details of the celebration at a morning news conference today in the Arts Park.

PPL Center, home to the Lehigh Valley Phantoms of the American Hockey League, will host its first event on Friday, September 12 when The Eagles appear in concert. The public can tour the 10,500 seat arena the following day and be entertained by the city’s arts community which will be setting-up shop in the Arts Park.

“The new arena is a fantastic building with all the modern amenities,” said Allentown Mayor Ed Pawlowski. “This is the chance for the public to get an inside glimpse of the facility for free. It is also a tremendous opportunity to acquaint the public or reacquaint the public with other organizations within walking distance of the arena.”

The Arts Park is a centerpiece for the downtown Arts District and provides city residents, employees who work in the city, and visitors with a wonderful place to relax. Set between the Allentown Art Museum of the Lehigh Valley, The Baum School of Art and Miller Symphony Hall, it focuses the city’s efforts to work with the arts to revitalize the downtown commercial district and surrounding neighborhoods.

Organizers detailed the activity that will take place inside and outside the arena, on the Arts Walk, in the Arts Park and inside Miller Symphony Hall and the Allentown Art Museum of the Lehigh Valley.

“The September 13 celebrations are a wonderful opportunity to showcase to our community the efforts of many in opening the arena and a means of highlighting the extraordinary cultural community that is downtown,” said Allentown Art Museum of the Lehigh Valley President & CEO David Mickenberg. “The Baum School of Art, the Community Music School, the Allentown Symphony Association, the Liberty Bell Museum, Civic Theatre of Allentown, Youth Education in the Arts and the Allentown Art Museum of the Lehigh Valley all are proud to participate in this event. The celebrations on the 13th and the events taking place downtown and in the Arts Park bring focus to the cultural community and the Arts Park as a key component of the Arts Walk and the redevelopment of this essential part of our community.” Admission is free at the Art Museum as part of the event.

“The Allentown Symphony Association is happy to welcome the Arena to the vibrant downtown Allentown Arts Community,” said Executive Director Sheila Evans. “The open house and celebration event coincides with the Allentown Symphony Orchestra Opening Gala concert at 8pm Saturday and 3pm Sunday with famed pianist, Garrick Ohlsson. I encourage everyone to come to the arts district to see the many faces of Arts in Downtown Allentown. We are happy to invite attendees to an Open Rehearsal of the Allentown Symphony –as well as tours of our newly restored historic theatre balcony—until 5pm; as well as welcoming music lovers, children and adults, to try out the instruments of the orchestra at our instrumental petting zoo in the Arts Park.”

“The Liberty Bell Museum is looking forward to showcasing Allentown’s unique history with the hiding of the Liberty Bell,” said Museum Manager Sara Jane Brace. “Children will be able to create Liberty Bell pictures and get their picture taken with Pip the Mouse. Allentown’s ‘Liberty Bell’ cast in 1769 which hung in Zion’s ‘Liberty Bell’ Church will also be on display.”

The Allentown Parking Authority is reducing parking fees to $3.00 at its facilities on September 13 from noon until 5pm. Parking will also be reduced to $3.00 at the Arena Reserved Deck which will be open from noon until 5pm.

The arts celebration is supported by Air Products, City Center Lehigh Valley, Alvin H. Butz and the Allentown Arts Commission.

Outdoor activity concludes in the Arts Park with Noches de Ritmo from 4pm to 7pm. La Ola Radio personalities will host this interactive musical event, featuring prizes, ticket giveaways, dance performances and a musical set by the amazing performers of ‘Duo Perfecto.’

Arts enthusiasts are invited to explore more than the downtown opportunities on September 13. Allentown ArtsFest is taking place at Cedar Beach Park on September 12, 13 and 14.

Allentown ArtsFest is hosted by the Alternative Gallery of Allentown and brings together a variety of fringe art forms into a three day outdoor festival, including; upcycled sculptures & installations, breakdancing, chalk art, technology, graffiti, film, improvisational theater, stand-up comedy, two stages of music & performances, a skate park with live demonstrations and more.

Local restaurants and food vendors will serve unique dishes as well as festival favorites. Shangy's will be hosting six local craft breweries with a wide variety of beers for sale.

More than 50 art vendors, small businesses, organizations and non-profits are participating.

For further information on the PPL Center Open House & Arts Park Celebration contact events@allentownpa.gov or mcarrigan@global-spectrum.com

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 “Rise Together Allentown”

PPL Center Community Open House & Allentown Arts Park Celebration

Saturday, September 13, 2014



All events are free* and open to the public.

Allentown Parking Authority facilities and the Arena Reserved Deck are reducing parking fees to $3.00 on September 13 from 12-5 PM.



AGENDA



PPL Center

701 Hamilton Street

1-5 PM

· Self-Guided Arena Tours

· Bounce Houses, Face Painting and Balloon Twisters

· Book Drive presented by Cops n’ Kids

Bring a book to donate or bring $1 to donate to a new book. Books will be donated to local schools.

· Community Action Stations

America on Wheels, LVHN, The Morning Call, Muhlenberg College, PPL, WFMZ

· Mascot Central

· Local Live Entertainment



Arts Walk

Hamilton Street, between 6th and 7th Streets

1-5 PM


· “Broadway on Hamilton”

Musical Performances by Actors of Civic Theatre of Allentown



Arts Park

North 5th Street, between Linden and Hamilton Streets

12-1:30 PM

· Tim Harakal Music



1-5 PM

· Rise Together Allentown, Community Sculpture, Charlie Brouwer

Allentown Art Museum

· Instrumental Petting Zoo

Allentown Symphony Hall

Children and adults can try out orchestra instruments.

· Ceramics Raku Firing, Renzo Faggioli and Ceramics Students

The Baum School of Art

Raku is an exciting traditional Japanese process of firing ceramics that includes the removal of pieces from the kiln while still glowing hot. Several firings will take place throughout the day.

· Pip the Mouse and Arts Activities

Liberty Bell Museum

Children will be able to create Liberty Bell pictures and get their picture taken with Pip the Mouse.

· Community Music School Information Table



1:30 PM

· Rise Together Allentown Dedication



2-3:30 PM

· Billy Bauer Band



3:30-4 PM

· Xcape Dance Company

Youth Education in the Arts



4-7 PM

· Noches de Ritmo

La Ola Radio personalities will host this interactive musical event, featuring prizes, ticket giveaways, dance performances and a musical set by the amazing performers of ‘Due Perfecto.’



Miller Symphony Hall

23 N 6th Street

1:30-2:45 PM

· Open Orchestra Rehearsal

Allentown Symphony Orchestra



2:45-5 PM

· Miller Symphony Hall Tours



8 PM (and 3 PM September 14)

· Classical Season Opening Gala (*tickets are required)

Allentown Symphony Orchestra



Allentown Art Museum

31 N 5th Street

11 AM-4 PM

· Allentown Art Museum is Open



Allentown ArtsFest

Cedar Beach Park, 2600 Parkway Boulevard

September 12-14, Friday & Saturday 12-8 PM, Sunday 11 AM-5 PM


ArtsFest is hosted by the Alternative Gallery of Allentown and brings together a variety of fringe art forms into a three day outdoor festival, including: upcycled sculptures and installations, breakdancing, chalk art, technology, graffiti, film, improvisational theater, stand-up comedy, two stages of music and performances, a skate park with live demonstrations and more.

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