Don’t Miss Event: The 2nd Annual “Buckham Alley Festival” is happening in downtown Flint on Saturday, July 14 and features 10 bands on two stages, dance, food, drinks, street performers, contests, homemade craft vendors and lots more for the whole family to enjoy. This event runs from 6:00 p.m. to midnight. www.buckhamalleyfest.com
*July 9-13: Visit downtown Flint for lunch and enjoy some “Tunes at Noon.” Monday through Friday, from 11:45 a.m. to 1:15 p.m., have lunch at the University of Michigan Pavilion while listening to some free live entertainment featuring a diverse blend of music be Michigan musicians. Purchase or bring a sack lunch. (810) 238-ARTS
*July 9-14: Fenton Winery & Brewery offers handcrafted wines and Micro-brewed beers, delicious food and beer and wine samplings. Enjoy a variety of live entertainment every Friday and Saturday night. Open Monday-Thursday from 3:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m., on Friday from 3:00 p.m. to midnight and on Saturday from 1:00 p.m. to midnight. (810) 373-4194 or visit www.fentonwinery.com
*July 9-15: US-23 Drive-In Theater, located on Fenton Road, is open for the summer season featuring double first run films. Gates open at 7:30 p.m. and movies begin at dusk. (810) 238-0751 or visit www.us23driveintheater.com
*July 9-15: IMAX Trillium Theatre in Grand Blanc (NCG Cinemas): For IMAX show times and information on other movies call (810) 695-5000 or visit www.ncgmovies.com/grand-blanc. “The Amazing Spider-Man An IMAX Experience” – (Rated PG-13) Peter, an outcast high schooler who was abandoned by his parents as a boy, is left to be raised by his Aunt and Uncle. Like most teenagers, Peter is trying to figure out who he is and how he got to be the person he is today. As Peter discovers a mysterious briefcase that belonged to his father, he begins a quest to understand his parent’s disappearance leading him directly to Oscorp and the lab of Dr. Curt Connors, his father’s former partner. As Spider-Man is set on a collision course with Connors alter-ego, The Lizard, Peter will make life-altering choices to use his powers and shape his destiny to become a hero.
*July 9-15: FLINT CULTURAL CENTER CAMPUS:
SLOAN MUSEUM: (810) 237-3450 (Monday-Friday 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. and Saturday and Sunday 12:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.) Enjoy regional history, historic automobiles and hands-on science activities in the Science Discovery Center where children and adults can explore principles of chemistry and physics through exhibits and staff presentations. Stroll through Sloan’s Automotive Gallery and view major automotive exhibits featuring vehicles from the Sloan fleet of over 80 Flint-built automobiles.
- “Muscle Cars: The Hustle Behind the Muscle” – From a 1964 Pontiac GTO to a 1987 Buick GNX, this exhibit is sure to appeal to visitors of all ages. Since they cruised on the scene in the mid-sixties, these high-powered machines changed the face of the automotive industry forever. The engineering technologies and marketing techniques developed during their heyday still influence manufacturing today. Learn the stories that shaped each one of these American icons. Follow the inception and evolution of this modern phenomenon.
- “100 Years of Girl Scouting” – What was started by Juliette Gordon Low and 18 young girls on March 12, 1912 has grown into an American institution with over 3.2 million active members. In Girl Scouts, girls discover the fun, friendship and power of girls together and how to develop their full individual potential. Take a colorful journey through 100 years of Girl Scouting in America.
- “Flint and The American Dream” – Relive Flint’s dramatic history, as the birthplace of General Motors comes to life with over 600 artifacts and photographs, including rare antique automobiles, colorful neon signs, period clothing, household furnishings, commercial goods and much more. Encounter the ups and downs of General Motors, the birth of the UAW and what life was like in Flint during the 50s, 60s and 70s.
BUICK GALLERY & RESEARCH CENTER: (810) 237-3440 (Admission included with Sloan with same operating hours) The Gallery displays over 25 classical and concept locally built automobiles featuring five one-of-a-kind concept Cars – a 1954 Wildcat II, Centurion, Arrow, Phantom and an XP. Also on display is the Buick Bug, which has undergone an extensive renovation.
- “1956 Centurion” – Buick enthusiasts will recognize the “sweep-spear” chrome on the Centurion as being similar to the 1957 Buicks. They might even recognize the rear fins as being like those on the 1959 models. The rest of the car, however, is one-of-a-kind. The Centurion uses a freestanding speedometer with a fixed indicator and rotation dial. A television camera, mounted just above the tail cone, projects images from the rear mirror. Centurion’s “wings”, tail cone and canopy top reflect the influence that aircraft design had on many of GM’s designers.
LONGWAY PLANETARIUM: (Laser Hotline (810) 237-3409 or (810) 237-3400) (Check show time dates and hours below)
- “Club 90’s Laser Show” – (Show times are Monday-Friday at 2:00 p.m.) Enjoy great ‘90s music set to an entertaining laser light show. Club ‘90s features brilliant laser animation. Check out the awesome sounds of Brittany Spears, NSYNC, Backstreet Boys and more. Get “The Party Started” as lasers, digital effects and vibrant colors come alive on the dome above. This laser show is recommended for ages 5 and older.
- “Rusty Rocket’s Last Blast” – (Show times are Monday-Friday at 12:30 p.m. and Saturday at 12:30 p.m. and 3:30 p.m.)
All Rocket Rookies report to class! Lift off with Rusty Rocket and learn rocket basics, relive great moments in space exploration and discover how far it really is to the moon and planets. This sky show is recommended for ages 5 and older. - “Off the Beaten Orbit” – (Show times are Saturday at 2:00 p.m.) Throughout our Solar System are many remarkable, fascinating worlds. Scattered among and beyond the planets are asteroids, comets, moons and dwarf planets. Explore the parts of the Solar System usually ignored and learn about these unusual objects in this original production. This sky show is recommended for ages 10 and up.
THE FLINT INSTITUTE OF ARTS (FIA): (810) 234-1695 (Monday-Wednesday and Friday 12:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m., Thursday 12:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m., and Saturday and Sunday 1:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.) Visit the FIA and browse through their outstanding collections of American, European, Native American, African and Asian art including paintings, sculptures, prints, drawings and decorative arts featuring a complete set of 17th century French tapestries.
- “Designs from the Past: Ancient Chinese Ceramic Vessels” – Enjoy this FIA collection of more than 100 Chinese ceramic vessels from the Neolithic period (6,500 – 1,700 BCE), many which were predecessors to the shapes of early Chinese bronze vessels. These ceramic vessels were frequently decorated with elaborate geometric and stylized patterns, often specific to a certain region of Neolithic China featuring a wide variety of spirals, lozenges, checkered patterns, net patterns, curved bands and saw-toothed bands that emphasized the form of the vessel.
- “The Epic and the Intimate: French Drawings from the Snite Museum” – The works on paper in this exhibition illustrate the history of French drawings from before the foundation on the Royal Academy of Painting and Sculpture in 1648, through the French Revolution of 1789. This exhibit features over 30 works on loan and offers an opportunity to explore the range of media employed including chalk, ink, crayon and more.
- “The Golden Age of Painting, 1600-1800, from the Speed Art Museum, Louisville, KY”
Tremendous changes swept Europe during the two-hundred years in which the art in this exhibition was produced. Advances in the sciences transformed long held views on the way the universe worked and the place of humans within that universe. Technical aspects of art making were honed and codified, as art academies grew in number and power. These exciting times resulted in a golden age of European painting. - “Abstract Expressionism: Then and Now” – This exhibition surveys the American art movement from its origins in the postwar period to the latest developments in the late twentieth century. Third-wave Abstract Expressionist painters, including Roy Lerner, Stanley Boxer and Joseph Drapell, built on the earlier movement, using paints that they invented through working with Golden Paints, developing new techniques and forms of expression.
- “Viola E. Bray: A Legacy of Giving” – The Year of the Bray (2011-2012) honors the 50th anniversary of the Mrs. Viola E. Bray’s contribution of Renaissance and Baroque works, along with a unique gallery, to the people of Flint. This exhibit highlights the works that entered the museum’s collections through the generosity of the Bray Charitable Trust.
*July 9-15: Shop Birch Run Premium Outlets. Find incredible values on all the new season fashions with up to a 65% discount on every day savings. Shop at over 145 well-known brand name stores such as the Pottery Barn Outlet, COACH Factory and the Nike Factory Store. Visit www.premiumoutlets.com for Outlet hours.
*July 9-15: The Machine Shop Concert Lounge, located on Dort Highway, presents weekly live Rock-N-Roll events. On Wednesday, July 11, “Foxy Shazam” takes the stage with special guests “Stars In Stereo, “Cadaver Dogs” and “Wilson.” Thursday, July 12, the Machine Shop presents “Dope” with special guests “Ballz Deluxe”, “Crackjaw” and “XFactor1.” On Friday, July 13, “Whitey Morgan and the 78’s” perform with special guests “Doop” and “The Inside Outlaws.” Doors open at 7:00 p.m. (810) 715-2650 or visit www.themachineshop.info
*July 9-15: Wild Spurs, part of the Jewel Entertainment Complex in Grand Blanc, features Friday entertainment with a DJ, dancing and Karaoke starting at 10:00 p.m. and live country music on Saturday. Also, come out and enjoy the relaxing atmosphere of Paddy McGee’s the ultimate Irish Pub. Great food and company! (810) 694-5960
*July 10: The Flint Public Library, in downtown Flint, is hosting a “Lunch on the Lawn” starting at 12:30 p.m. Ms. Brenda will share dreamy stories on the Library Lawn. Feel free to bring a sack lunch and blanket. Rain Location will take place in the Children’s Room at the Library. (810) 232-7111 or visit www.fpl.info
*July 10, 12 & 14: The Flint Farmers’ Market, in Downtown Flint, is open every Tuesday and Thursday from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. and on Saturday from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Shop for fresh fruit, produce, cheese, meats, Michigan wines, gourmet coffees, desserts, baked goods, flowers, vintage wares, unique crafts, fine arts and more. (810) 232-1399.
While visiting the Market, be sure to stop by “d’vine Wines” for unique gadgets and a selection of Michigan wines and brews – (810) 235-WINE.
Also, visit the Market’s 2nd floor for restaurant service, boutique shopping and a chance to stroll through the “Art at the Market Gallery.” The Gallery offers great gifts of art or just the opportunity to view and enjoy art from over 35 local artists. (810) 238-AATM.
*July 10-15: The Flint Children’s Museum celebrates “OH YUCK!” On Friday, from 12:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m., children can learn about bugs while finding them hiding all around the Museum’s outside Sproutside. Then on Saturday, from 12:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m., visit the Museum’s Sproutside for some crazy cow crafts during “Cow Appreciation Day” and try out the life of a cowboy. The Museum is open Tuesday-Friday from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Saturday from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. and on Sunday from 12:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. (Recommended for ages 2 to 10) (810) 767-5437 or www.flintchildrensmuseum.org
*July 11-15: Crossroads Village & Huckleberry Railroad welcomes all to the 19th Century. There is so much to do in the Village and so many people to talk with. The cider maker is pressing apples while the miller grinds grains into flour at the water-powered grist mill. The blacksmith is hammering hot iron into horseshoes and fireplace tools. Each villager has an important role – from barber to broom maker, doctor to seamstress, homemaker to cleric. Be sure to hop on board the Huckleberry Railroad and enjoy a 40-minute ride through woods, meadows and along the shore of beautiful Mott Lake. Get closer to Mott Lake during a scenic 45-minute cruise on the Genesee Belle, a replica of the paddlewheel riverboats that were popular during Mark Twain’s time.
On Saturday and Sunday, visitors can try their hands at traditional craftsmanship using simple materials. Talented villagers and local artisans will demonstrate their skills and classes will be held all weekend. Quilts from the Village’s historic collection will be on display and two visitors – one each day – will win a handmade quilt. Operating hours are 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. (800) 648-PARK or visit www.geneseecountyparks.org
*July 12: Applewood is hosting a “Bring Your Lunch and Learn” from 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. Bring a sack lunch and soak up the beauty of a summer day on the grounds of Applewood! At 12:00 p.m., take a walk around the estate with Mike and identify a variety of hydrangeas. At 1:00 p.m., Zack and Rachel will share techniques and ideas for creating beautiful perennial gardens. (810) 233-0170
*July 12: Every Thursday, visit Cranberries Café, in Goodrich, for some great food, drinks, company and live music. This Thursday enjoy the sounds of Joel Palmer. Open for lunch, from 11:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., Monday through Saturday, and for dinner on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays from 4:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m., and Fridays and Saturdays from 4:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. (810) 636-3409
*July 12, 13 & 14: The Whaley Historic House Museum is open for public guided tours. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places, the Whaley House is filled with hundreds of family and period artifacts that tell the story of the Whaley’s and Victorian Era Flint. Open for tours on Thursday and Friday at 2:00 p.m. and 3:30 p.m., and on Saturday at 10:00 a.m., 12:30 p.m., 2:00 p.m. and 3:30 p.m. Please call ahead for all other tour times. Tours last about an hour and include the 1st and 2nd floors of the home. (810) 471-4714 or visit www.whaleyhouse.com
*July 13: The “Second Friday ArtWalk” is happening in downtown Flint from 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. Enjoy delicious foods, tasty beverages, live music and works of various local artists on display at The Greater Flint Arts Council, Buckham Gallery, St. Paul’s Church, The Lunch Studio, The Rowe Building Gallery, Pages Book Store and The Yoga Loft. (810) 238- ARTS
*July 13 & 14: Buckham Gallery is open this weekend showcasing “Primal Notations” an exhibition featuring the work of local artists Ian Hagarty and Kenneth Hakala. The Gallery is open from 2:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. on Friday, with an opening exhibit reception in connection with the Second Friday ArtWalk, and on Saturday from 12:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. (810) 239-6233
*July 13 & 14: The Historic Holly Hotel Comedy Club presents professional stand-up comedy featuring Bob Phillips with special guest Connie Ettinger. Shows start at 8:30 p.m. and 10:30 p.m. (248) 634-5208 or visit www.hollyhotel.com
*July 13-15: The Flint Institute of Music presents “Peter Pan – A Fantasy in Five Acts.” Enjoy this action-packed performance filled with adventure, intrigue and jealousy as the Flint Youth Theatre introduces this complex original story in aj bold new adaptation. Recommended for ages 8 and over. (810) 237-1530 or visit www.flintyouththeatre.org
*July 14: Starting at 7:30 a.m., The Flint River Corridor Alliance is hosting “Boats, Bikes, Bricks” – a 12k exhibition triathlon highlighting recreational opportunities in and around the Flint River. The event includes a run through Mott Park, a canoe/kayak ride down the Flint River and a bike ride along the Flint River Trail. A family celebration will follow. (810) 262-2208 or visit www.frcalliance.org
