December into Spring Iowa Women's Music and Events

Howdy folks!

This is an updated list of Iowa’s live music, arts, social events and culture for, by, featuring, and of interest to women and friends for December into Spring. To submit events or to sign up a friend to receive this list by e-mail, please e-mail iowalisa@juno.com. You can also view this list on-line at www.myspace.com/iowalisa. These blogs have a comprehensive list of announcements, one-time events, and recurring events.

ANNOUNCEMENTS:

L-WORD PREMIERE: January 6 will be the first episode of the fifth season of the L-Word on Showtime! I will again be having a weekly gathering at my house to watch it on Sunday nights. If anyone wants to come to an L-Word party on Sunday nights in Cedar Rapids, please e-mail me for more info: iowalisa@juno.com. The show starts at 9 p.m., but we will be starting the party at 7 p.m. on January 6 with a potluck and some warm-up DVDs!

LEARN GUITAR FROM THE MASTER, GAYLA DRAKE PAUL: Gayla will be teaching 12-week Adult Accelerated Beginning Guitar Classes on Monday and Tuesday nights, January through March at West Music Recital Hall in Coralville (Mondays) and Marion (Tuesdays). The Accelerated Guitar Method is a new approach combining some of the most powerful, time-honored oral tradition techniques with the discipline of music theory. By the end of the 12 weeks, you’ll know numerous chord shapes and have a guitar-based understanding of key centers and chord theory; read music, guitar tablature and fretboard diagrams; pick up any songbook and play; know how to tune and care for guitars and prevent injuries to hands and wrists. Monday classes are from Jan. 7-March 31, 6:30-7:30 p.m. at Coralville West Music. To register for Coralville, contact Shannon at 319-351-2000. Tuesday classes are from Jan. 8-March 25, 6:30-7:30 p.m. at Marion West Music. To register, contact Amanda at 319-377-9100. Students will need their own guitar; learning materials provided. Tuition $300.

GAYLA DRAKE PAUL IN PREMIERE GUITAR: Gayla has written several articles for the national magazine Premiere Guitar. Check out her November article on DADGAD tuning at http://magazine.premierguitar.com/Magazine/Issue/2007/Nov/More_DADGAD.aspx. Search for other articles by Gayla for 2007 at http://magazine.premierguitar.com/Magazine/Article_Search.aspx and type “Gayla Drake Paul” in the Author search field.

NOW ON DISPLAY AT CSPS/LEGION ARTS: Three new exhibits are in the galleries: Bringing It to Bear, an installation by Ann Marie Penaz, St. Paul; Down to the River, photos by Sandra Dyas, Iowa City; and recent drawings and paintings by Kettle, Cedar Rapids. Come for a concert at one of the Midwest’s best music venues and see the art too. Check out www.legionarts.org for a full schedule and details.

EQUALITY WORKSHOPS: Get all the information you need to effectively discuss LGBT issues with friends, family, and neighbors at the One Iowa/Human Rights Campaign "Equality Workshops." Through these workshops, you will gain knowledge about LGBT issues at the state and federal levels and equip yourself with the tools to represent the LGBT community's issues during the Iowa Caucuses. These workshops will be held in four locations: Ames, Iowa City, Cedar Falls, and Des Moines. Sign up now! RSVP to James Taylor at james@one-iowa.org or by phone at (515) 710-0606.

AMES
Ames City Hall Council Chambers Room
December 3rd @ 7:15pm-9:00pm
515 Clark Avenue
Ames, IA 50010

IOWA CITY
Iowa City Public Library (Room A)
December 4th @ 7:15pm-9:00pm
123 S. Lynn Street
Iowa City, IA 52240

CEDAR FALLS/WATERLOO
Cedar Falls Public Library (Meeting Room)
December 5th @ 7:00pm-8:45pm
524 Main Street
Cedar Falls, IA 50613

DES MOINES
Des Moines Public Library (Central Location)
December 6th @ 6:30pm-8:00pm Room 2 and 3
1000 Grand
Des Moines, IA 50309

SCHOOL FOR MORAL COURAGE: Check out the School for Moral Courage’s Community Calendar at http://www.schoolformoralcourage.com/september.html.

NEW MUSIC: Go to www.ladyslipper.org for the best in “women’s music” and women in music. Lots of new titles have been released recently, including a DVD of a Melissa Etheridge “Awakening” concert, as well as new titles by Holly Near, Aretha Franklin, and a lot more! Ladyslipper is a great place for holiday gifts too!

JOIN THE IOWA CITY PRIDE COMMITTEE 2008!: The Planning Committee will be meeting monthly to plan next summer's Pride festivities. They are looking for people with energy and vision to help with fundraising and planning. It's a fun group and a great way to serve the community. Meetings are the third Sunday of each month at the Iowa City Public Library at 3 p.m. For more information, contact Bridget Malone at malone.bridget@gmail.com. If you don’t want to serve on a committee, you can still send ideas for events at www.queerconnections.org/pride.

SACRED SPACE HAS MOVED: The Sacred Space Meditation Center has moved from the downtown location to the eastside of Iowa City. Their new address is 526 Terrace Road. For directions, email info@icsacredspace.com or call 319-400-3088. They have a new Sufi Circle that is forming, reflexology classes, meditation courses, and a lot more. E-mail info@icsacredspace.com for the entire listing of events and offerings.

DO YOU GET LC? Lesbian Connection is the free worldwide forum of news, ideas, and information for, by, and about lesbians, with info on festivals, travel, conferences, retirement communities, books, and much more. Ambitious Amazons have been publishing since 1974, and they mail issues out every other month in plain brown envelopes. If you’d like to start receiving LC for free, all you need to do is email elsiepub@aol.com with your full name and mailing address. It’s a great grassroots magazine with the scoop on everything “L”!

SAVE THESE FESTIVAL DATES!: The National Women’s Music Festival is being held July 10-13, 2008 on the campus of Illinois State University in Normal, IL. Watch for updates on the Women in the Arts website: www.WIAonline.org. For all you campers, Michigan Womyn’s Music Festival will be held August 5-10, 2008. Check out www.michfest.com for updates! The Iowa Women’s Music Festival will be held September 19-20 in 2008! Plan to be there for our big 15th Anniversary! Watch www.prairievoices.net for updates in the spring.

WEBSITE FOR MIDWESTERN EVENTS: If you want to know what’s going on in neighboring states for women, check out Kai Phillipi’s website www.lambdabuzz.com.

IOWA WOMEN’S BASKETBALL: The U of Iowa women’s basketball team is starting a new season right now and they are looking pretty good. Carver Hawkeye Arena is a great place to watch the games! Here is their home schedule: 12/8 Northern Illinois, 12/9 Hawkeye Challenge Championship, 12/22 Western Illinois, 12/28 Penn State, 1/6 Ohio State, 1/13 Wisconsin, 1/24 Purdue, 1/27 Michigan, 2/3 Indiana, 2/7 Michigan State, 2/17 Minnesota, 2/28 Northwestern. Check for times at www.hawkeyesports.com.

DANCE CIRCLE: The Dances of Universal Peace are simple circle dances set to chants and songs from different spiritual traditions. All dances are taught beforehand. The dances are healing and inspiring for those who dance and help to bring more peaceful energy into our community and world. All are welcome! The Iowa City dance circle meets every second Sunday through May at: Unitarian Universalist Society of Iowa City, 10 South Gilbert St. Dances led by Sophia Virginia Melroy. For more info, call 319-338-1778

WAKE THE MUSE!: Wake the Muse is an experiential weekend January 25-27 for creative women that will feature workshops focusing on the theme of The Creative Process from Inspiration to Manifestation. The featured presenter for the weekend is Carol Lynn Pearson who is an accomplished writer and performer, as well as a contributing author to the popular series Chicken Soup for the Soul. The conference will have workshops by other presenters on the topics of Music, Dance, Theater, Visual Arts, Women's Traditions and Crafts, Lifestyle and Small Business or Non-profit Development. For an application, contact: Sarah Hobart, Executive Director, Heartland Daughters Productions, 515-664-3784, HeartlandDaughters@gmail.com, www.heartlanddaughters.com.

CANS FOR THE QUIRE: Audra and Steph are collecting cans and bottles, returning them, and donating the money to help Quire members go to the GALA Festival next summer in Miami, FL. They are hoping to raise $20,000 (not all from cans of course) so that they can send 30 Quire members to this special event. Spread the word and e-mail Steph if you have cans and bottles to pick up: rainrock66@yahoo.com. They will pick cans up in the Iowa City area, or you can deliver the cans to them.

LOOKING FOR CD’S TO REVIEW: Art Scene, Iowa’s only publication for the arts, is in need of Iowa and Midwest music to review in their monthly publication. Send music to review to: Art Scene, 8657 Douglas Ave., #136, Urbandale Iowa, 50322. For more info, call 515-210-7066, visit www.artsceneiowa.com, or e-mail roderick@artsceneiowa.com.

CONNECTIONS, the Iowa City organization that provides social and networking opportunities for GLBT folks and friends with a range of interests, is in full swing. Connections offers it all (a nature group, a spiritual group, a chess group, a movie night group, a cooking group, and a sewing group, just to name a few), and what it doesn’t offer can be arranged! Check out the Connections website at www.queerconnections.org. For more info, e-mail queerconnections@yahoo.com.

IOWA PRIDE NETWORK: If you are interested in getting more involved and active in Iowa's GLBTQ community, focusing on safe schools and LGBT student leadership and development, check out the Iowa Pride Network's new website http://www.iowapridenetwork.org. Register at http://www.iowapridenetwork.org/jointhenetwork.htm to join this LGBT and Allied network of students and supporters.

WOMEN’S CULTURAL COLLECTIVE: Check out the happenings in Des Moines and the surrounding areas that are sponsored or supported by the Women’s Cultural Collective (WCC) at www.iowawcc.org.

KATIE ROCHE’S NEW TV SHOW: Iowa City musician, community organizer, videographer, and producer Katie Roche’s new TV show "The Community Voice" is available on channels 4 and 5 locally in Iowa City, as well as online. Shows are about a wide range of things, from music, to community happenings, to travel, to politics. Watch online at www.communityvoice.TV or www.youtube.com/thecommunityvoice. To contact Katie, e-mail Katie-Roche@citychannel4.com.

NEW COMMUNITY BULLETIN BOARD: Kelly Carrell has created a new community bulletin board for events of interest to LGBT people and advocates. To view or post events, go to http://www.kellycarrell.com/bb.

NEW FREE MONTHLY MAGAZINE IN IOWA CITY: Watch for a new monthly magazine to be hitting the free newsstands in Iowa City: Creative Crossroads. Creative Crossroads is a free, 16 page monthly publication targeting 22 to 55 year old Iowa City/Coralville and surrounding area inhabitants attracted to interesting, relevant, and meaningful content. Creative Crossroads touches on an array of local, regional, national, and global topics of discussion. Content ranges from music to business, art to science, political to humanitarian issues, and more--all of which have a profound effect on our lives.

NEW GREEN SEARCH ENGINE: There is a new green website called http://www.ecoseek.net, the internet's first green product search engine. Its mission is to make it easier to find, research and buy eco-friendly products from all over the world. Businesses, orgs, or individuals can list their eco-friendly products, services or CSA in EcoSeek’s directory for free. E-mail comments, suggestions or questions to info@ecoseek.net.

ONE-TIME EVENTS:

Monday, December 3, 5:30-7:30 p.m., PTDN (Professional and Technical Diversity Network) THIRD PLACES dinner and social at La Salsita, 700 1st Ave. NW, Cedar Rapids. PTDN organizes “Third Places” events at interesting gathering places throughout the Cedar Rapids / Iowa City Corridor where people interested in understanding and promoting diversity can gather and visit. Everyone is welcome! For more info or to get on the PTDN list, e-mail russ@novotnys.info.

Wednesday, December 5, 7-9 p.m., SHARON BOUSQUET at the Grand Opening of the Wine Bar at Petit Paris, 111 Court St., Fairfield, downstairs in Petit Paris restaurant. For more info, call 641-470-1624 or visit www.petitparisiowa.com and www.sharonbousquet.com. Sharon will play both holiday songs and original music. Wine, beer and appetizers will be available from 5-10 pm, full menu upstairs in the restaurant.

Wednesday-Saturday, December 5-8, TRIBUTE (Christmas show with Carol Montag, Nina Swanson, and Kathy Donnelly) at CSPS, 1103 3rd St. SE, Cedar Rapids. This show is sold out all days!

December 6-30, RADIO CITY CHRISTMAS SPECTACULAR at Civic Center of Greater Des Moines. For info and tix, visit www.ticketmaster.com.

Friday, December 7, WISHING CHAIR at Lighthouse Coffeehouse, West Des Moines.

Friday-Sunday, December 7-9, EASTSIDE ARTISTS ANNUAL ART SHOW AND SALE, “Local Art from Hand & Heart” at the Masonic Building, 312 College St., Iowa City. Located half a block from the IC Public Library. Hours are 10 a.m.-8 p.m. on Friday and 10 a.m.-5 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday. For more info, visit www.eastsideartistsiowacity.com. From jewelry, to paintings, to ornaments, to photography, to baskets, to woodwork, it’s all there, and it’s in time for holiday shopping!

Saturday, December 8, 8 p.m., BRIANNA LANE and LIZ STAHLER at Ritual Café, 13th St. between Grand and Locust Sts., Des Moines. This is a great women-owned coffeehouse with fabulous music, coffee, and food. For more info, call 515-288-4872, e-mail ritualcafe@aol.com, or visit www.ritualcafe.com, www.briannalanemusic.com, and www.lizstahler.com. Suggested donation at the door.

Saturday, December 8, 3 p.m., WOMEN’S GATHERING at the Serenity Healing Center, 5250 N. Park Town Place NE, Cedar Rapids. This is an informational gathering for the women of our community. This is being put on by the same women who present and participate in the Native American drumming/singing events. Bring a $2 donation toward rent of the room, a small snack or drinks to share, and drums or crafts or anything you would like to share. This event is listed in the CR First Nations events at http://crfirstnations.spaces.live.com/. For more info, call Peg 319-202-0017 or Michelle 319-241-9679.

Saturday, December 8, 7:30 p.m., SWEET HONEY IN THE ROCK, Hancher Auditorium, Iowa City. Visit www.hancher.uiowa.edu.

Saturday, December 8, 9 p.m., SHARON BOUSQUET at Isabella’s (co-bill with Truckstop Souvenir), 1375 Locust St., Dubuque. For more info, call 563-585-2049, or visit www.isabellasbar.com and www.sharonbousquet.com.

Sunday, December 9, 6-8 p.m., IOWA CITY PRIDE 2008 WINE TASTING FUNDRAISER at The Piano Lounge, 217 E. Iowa, Iowa City. $20 suggested donation benefits IC Pride, and attendees get a great social opportunity, free samples of several wines, information about the wines provided by Certified Wine Specialist Dan Katalinich, free hors d’euvres, and a lot of fun! For directions or more info, go to www.thepianolounge.com and www.queerconnections.org.

Sunday, December 9, 11 a.m.- 3 p.m., HOLIDAY AT HEART, fundraising bazaar for the Domestic Violence Intervention Program (DVIP) to support youth and adult victims of domestic violence. Held at North Ridge Pavilion, Coralville. This event will feature small gift items available for purchase. Highlighted items include DVIP’s “Feed Me” Cookbook, Pins by Lucinda, Gift Cards featuring art by children staying in our shelter and baked goods donated by volunteers. There will be cookie decorating activities for kids. Every year DVIP has a gift drive to support families and individuals staying in our shelter. This event will provide a drop off location for our gift drive. The list of items needed for the Gift Drive is at: http://www.dvipiowa.org/Holiday%20Wish%20List%20-%202007.pdf. For more info about the event or DVIP, visit www.dvipiowa.org.

Sunday, December 9, 10:30 a.m., SHARON BOUQUET performs special music for Unity Church of Moline/Quad Cities, www.unityQC.org.

Sunday, December 9, 6:30 p.m., SHARON BOUSQUET performs special music for the Unity Church of Clinton’s evening service.

Wednesday-Saturday, December 12-15, MY FAIR LADY, Hancher Auditorium, Iowa City. Visit www.hancher.uiowa.edu.

Friday, December 14, 6:30-9:30 p.m., SHARON BOUSQUET performs at Cibo Fusion Restaurant and Lounge, 685 Marion Blvd, Marion. Come for the great atmosphere, terrific people, incredible food, and awesome music! For more info, call Cibo Fusion at 319-447-1414. No cover!

Friday, December 14, 7:30 p.m., MCC ENTERTAINMENT SERIES, “The Gift of Laughter,” at the Metropolitan Community Church of the Quad Cities (MCCQC), 3019 Harrison St., Davenport. This event is free, but donations at the door are welcomed and will go directly to MCCQC. Concessions will also be available. For more info, contact producer Mona Ritemon at m.ritemon@yahoo.com.

Friday, December 14, 9 p.m., LOJO RUSSO at the Brown Bottle Pub, 5th Ave. & 16th St., Moline, IL. Check out www.iowacitybrownbottle.com/molinelocation_css.htm and www.lojorusso.com.

Friday-Sunday, December 14-16, 8 p.m., LYNNE ROTHROCK in concert at Liars Theatre in the Campbell-Steele Art Gallery, 1064 7th Ave., Marion. Backed by a full band and featuring special guest artists, Lynne’s “Christmas at Liars” show offers something for everyone. Tickets $25, available at the Gallery, 319-373-9211 or Liars Theatre, 319-899-8444.

Saturday, December 15, 7 p.m., QUIRE (Eastern Iowa’s GLBT Chorus) WINTER CONCERT “Seasons of Love,” at Zion Lutheran Church, 310 N. Johnson St., Iowa City. For more info, check out www.thequire.org.

Saturday, December 15, 8 p.m., OUT OF BOUNDS, CSPS/Legion Arts’ monthly open stage. For more info, visit www.legionarts.org/events/Oob12.htm, call 319-364-1580, or e-mail info@legionarts.org. Legion Arts is located at 1101 3rd St. SE, Cedar Rapids.

Sunday, December 16, 3 p.m., HERSONG – Quad Cities Women’s Chorus, in a benefit concert for winter needs, at St. John’s Lutheran Church, 4501 7th Ave., Rock Island, IL. For more info, e-mail jiduax@yahoo.com.

Monday, December 17, 5:30-7:30 p.m., PTDN (Professional and Technical Diversity Network) THIRD PLACES dinner and social at Sushi Popo, 725 Mormon Trek Blvd. (in the strip mall behind Fareway), Iowa City. PTDN organizes “Third Places” events at interesting gathering places throughout the Cedar Rapids / Iowa City Corridor where people interested in understanding and promoting diversity can gather and visit. Everyone is welcome! For more info or to get on the PTDN list, e-mail russ@novotnys.info.

Tuesday, December 18, 7-10 p.m., KIMBERLI hosts an open mic at the Blue Strawberry Coffee Company, 118 2nd St. SE, downtown Cedar Rapids. Great atmosphere, coffee, music, food, beer, and wine. To get on the play list, contact Kimberli at flyingmonkeyscr@aol.com. Or sign up the night of the open mic starting at 6:30 p.m.

Friday, December 21, 8 p.m., KATE MORRISSEY at Ritual Café, 13th St. between Grand and Locust Sts., Des Moines. This is a great women-owned coffeehouse with fabulous music, coffee, and food. For more info, call 515-288-4872, e-mail ritualcafe@aol.com, or visit www.ritualcafe.com, and www.katemorrissey.com. Suggested donation at the door.

Friday, December 21, 8-10 p.m., SHARON BOUSQUET performs at the Java House, Friday Night Music Series, Washington St., half a block from the Ped Mall, downtown Iowa City, www.thejavahouse.com, no cover.

Friday, December 21, 9 p.m., SCOTT AND MICHELLE DALZIEL at Cedar Lodge, Manchester. For more info, visit www.cedarlodgesteakhouse.net and www.dalziel.net.

Saturday, December 22, 8 p.m., WENDY JANS at Ritual Café, 13th St. between Grand and Locust Sts., Des Moines. This is a great women-owned coffeehouse with fabulous music, coffee, and food. For more info, call 515-288-4872, e-mail ritualcafe@aol.com, or visit www.ritualcafe.com, and www.wendyjans.com. Suggested donation at the door.

Saturday, December 22, 7 p.m., SCOTT AND MICHELLE DALZIEL at Isabella’s, 1375 Locust St., Dubuque. For more info, visit www.isabellasbar.com and www.dalziel.net.

Friday, December 28, 8 p.m., KRISTIN FORD at Ritual Café, 13th St. between Grand and Locust Sts., Des Moines. This is a great women-owned coffeehouse with fabulous music, coffee, and food. For more info, call 515-288-4872, e-mail ritualcafe@aol.com, or visit www.ritualcafe.com, and www.kristinford.com. Suggested donation at the door.

Saturday, December 29, 6:30-9:30 p.m., SHARON BOUSQUET performs at Cibo Fusion Restaurant and Lounge, 685 Marion Blvd, Marion. Come for the great atmosphere, terrific people, incredible food, and awesome music! For more info, call Cibo Fusion at 319-447-1414. No cover!

Saturday, December 29, 8 p.m., SCOTT AND MICHELLE DALZIEL at Ritual Café, 13th St. between Grand and Locust Sts., Des Moines. This is a great women-owned coffeehouse with fabulous music, coffee, and food. For more info, call 515-288-4872, e-mail ritualcafe@aol.com, or visit www.ritualcafe.com, and www.dalziel.net. Suggested donation at the door.

Monday, December 31, PIETA BROWN and friends perform at CSPS/Legion Arts’ first-ever New Year’s Eve party, 1101 3rd St. SE, Cedar Rapids. For tix or more info, visit www.legionarts.org, e-mail info@legionarts.org, or call 319-364-1580.

Sunday, January 6, L-WORD SEASON 5 PREMIERE on Showtime, starting at 9 p.m. in Iowa.

Monday, January 7, EASILY AMUSED at Drake University, Des Moines.

Friday, January 11, 7:30 p.m., PAULA POUNDSTONE at the Gallagher-Bluedorn Performing Arts Center, on the campus of UNI, 8201 Dakota St., Cedar Falls. For more info or tix, visit www.uni.edu/gbpac.

Friday-Saturday, January 25-26, 8 p.m., BLACK SHEEP in concert at Liars Theatre in Campbell Steele Art Gallery, 1064 7th Avenue, in downtown Marion. Black Sheep is Carlis Faurot, Mike Maas, Dixie Collins and Patty Ankrum. Tickets $25. Tickets may be ordered by calling the Campbell Steele Gallery at 319-373-9211. Doors open 45 minutes in advance of each show. Wine, beer, soft drinks and light hors d'oeuvres are available. For more info, call Liars Theatre at 319-899-8444 or email info@liarstheatre.com.

Friday-Sunday, January 25-27, WAKE THE MUSE, an experiential weekend of creativity for women, with workshops, performance art, and presentations, in the Des Moines area. For more info, contact: Sarah Hobart, Executive Director, Heartland Daughters Productions, 515-664-3784, HeartlandDaughters@gmail.com.

Saturday, January 26, 7:30 p.m., MCC ENTERTAINMENT SERIES, “Bring on the Music,” at the Metropolitan Community Church of the Quad Cities (MCCQC), 3019 Harrison St., Davenport. This event is free, but donations at the door are welcomed and will go directly to MCCQC. Concessions will also be available. For more info, contact producer Mona Ritemon at m.ritemon@yahoo.com.

Monday, January 28, 5:30-7:30 p.m., PTDN CORRIDOR WELCOME RECEPTION at the Iowa Children’s Museum, Coralville. Bring the kids! PTDN is the Professional and Technical Diversity Network, bringing together people who want to promote diversity in our community and network with others of like minds. For more info, contact Russ@novotnys.info.

Thursday, February 14, A LAURA LOVE VALENTINE at CSPS, 1103 3rd St. SE, Cedar Rapids. For more info or tix, call 319-364-1580, e-mail info@legionarts.org, or visit www.legionarts.org. Special surprises are in store for you this night, including rumors of a Valentine’s dinner that you can have with your sweetie.

Monday, February 18, 7:30 p.m., TOSCA (the opera), performed by Teatro Lirico D’Europa, at the Gallagher-Bluedorn Performing Arts Center, on the campus of UNI, 8201 Dakota St., Cedar Falls. For more info or tix, visit www.uni.edu/gbpac.

Saturday, February 23, 7:30 p.m., PABLO ZIEGLER and CLAUDIA ACUNA (Chilean vocalist), at Hancher Auditorium, on the campus of U. of Iowa, Iowa City. Visit www.hancher.uiowa.edu.

Saturday, February 23, 7:30 p.m., MCC ENTERTAINMENT SERIES, “Black Performing Arts,” at the Metropolitan Community Church of the Quad Cities (MCCQC), 3019 Harrison St., Davenport. This event is free, but donations at the door are welcomed and will go directly to MCCQC. Concessions will also be available. For more info, contact producer Mona Ritemon at m.ritemon@yahoo.com.

Sunday, February 24, 2 p.m., AXISTheater COMPANY, The Number 14, satirical, silly, and quirky slice of urban life; theater on a bus! Great for families! Hancher Auditorium, on the campus of U. of Iowa, Iowa City. Visit www.hancher.uiowa.edu.

February 29 and March 1, 7 p.m., HERSONG – Quad Cities Women’s Chorus, in a joint venture concert with Unitarian Church Coffee House, 3707 Eastern Ave., Davenport. Admission $10.

February 29 and March 1, DIVAPALOOZA 2 at Theatre Cedar Rapids, 1st Ave. SE and 3rd St. SE, downtown Cedar Rapids. For tix or more info, call 319-366-8591.

Friday, March 7, 7:30 p.m., ANGELIQUE KIDJO, Hancher Auditorium, Iowa City. For tix and info, visit www.hancher.uiowa.edu.

Friday, March 7, 7:30 p.m., AXIS DANCE COMPANY (merging the dance of dancers with and without disabilities), at the Gallagher-Bluedorn Performing Arts Center, on the campus of UNI, 8201 Dakota St., Cedar Falls. For more info or tix, visit www.uni.edu/gbpac.

Friday, March 28, COWBOY JUNKIES at The Englert Theatre, 221 E. Washington St., Iowa City. For tix, call 319-688-2653, stop by the box office, or order online at www.englert.org!

Saturday, March 29, 7:30 p.m., THE 5 BROWNS (5 brothers and sisters who are virtuoso classical pianists), at the Gallagher-Bluedorn Performing Arts Center, on the campus of UNI, 8201 Dakota St., Cedar Falls. For more info or tix, visit www.uni.edu/gbpac.

Saturday, March 29, 7:30 p.m., MCC ENTERTAINMENT SERIES, “Powerful Women,” at the Metropolitan Community Church of the Quad Cities (MCCQC), 3019 Harrison St., Davenport. This event is free, but donations at the door are welcomed and will go directly to MCCQC. Concessions will also be available. For more info, contact producer Mona Ritemon at m.ritemon@yahoo.com.

Tuesday, April 8, 7 p.m., CAROL MONTAG at Musser Public Library, 304 Iowa Ave., Muscatine. For more info, call 563-263-3065.

Saturday, April 12, 8 p.m., SUSAN WERNER at CSPS, 1103 3rd St. SE, Cedar Rapids. For more info or tix, call 319-364-1580, e-mail info@legionarts.org, or visit www.legionarts.org.

Saturday, April 12, 7:30 p.m., CHERRYHOLMES (award-winning bluegrass family), at the Gallagher-Bluedorn Performing Arts Center, on the campus of UNI, 8201 Dakota St., Cedar Falls. For more info or tix, visit www.uni.edu/gbpac.

Sunday, April 13, 2 and 7 p.m., GYPSY (touring Broadway production) at the Gallagher-Bluedorn Performing Arts Center, on the campus of UNI, 8201 Dakota St., Cedar Falls. For more info or tix, visit www.uni.edu/gbpac.

RECURRING EVENTS:

Every Friday and Saturday, 6:30-9:30 p.m., live music at Cibo Fusion, 685 Marion Blvd, Marion. Come for the great atmosphere, terrific people, incredible food, and awesome music! For more info, call Cibo Fusion at 319-447-1414. Sharon Bousquet performs the 2nd Friday and 4th Saturday of every month.

Last Tuesday of every month, 7-10 p.m., KIMBERLI hosts an open mic at the Blue Strawberry Coffee Company, 118 2nd St. SE, downtown Cedar Rapids. Great atmosphere, coffee, music, food, beer, and wine. To get on the play list, contact Kimberli at flyingmonkeyscr@aol.com.

Second Wednesday of every month, 6:30-8 p.m., STONEWALL DEMOCRATS, the GLBT Caucus of the Democratic Party, meets at The Blue Strawberry Coffeeshop, 118 2nd St. SE, downtown Cedar Rapids. For more info, contact Greg Williams, President of the Linn Co. Chapter, at linnstonewall@mchsi.com or call 319-389-0093.

Every Friday, 8-10 p.m., Uptown Bill's Small Mall, 401 S. Gilbert St., in Iowa City hosts an OPEN MIC. Everyone and all genres of performance are welcome.

First, third, and fifth Thursdays of each month, 6:30-8:30 p.m., EVENINGS FOR SPIRIT, women gathering at SpiritHill to share our spiritual experiences, visions and longings. The evenings include time for sharing and time for silence. Laughter, tears and singing are often shared as well. No specific spiritual practice is followed. This event is always open to newcomers. SpiritHill Retreat, 604 Cedar Valley Road, West Branch, 319-643-2613, spirit-hill@earthlink.net.

First Tuesday of every month, "CONNECTIONS," an organization of individuals and families that comes together to form, build and sustain queer community in the Iowa City/Cedar Rapids area, meets and has many specific-interest groups that hold meetings throughout the month. For more information about Connections and upcoming events, e-mail karen-haslett@uiowa.edu or contact Carlton Blackburn at carltonbburn@yahoo.com or 319-341-0195. Sign up for the Connections listserv at http://groups.yahoo.com/group/connections-news/ or e-mail connections-news-subscribe@yahoogroups.com. Free. If you want to start a group, e-mail your ideas to connections-news@yahoogroups.com. E-mail the general Connections e-mail address at queerconnections@yahoo.com and visit their new website at www.queerconnections.org.

Every Sunday – SUNDAY NIGHT BLUES JAM at the Yacht Club in Iowa City, hosted and coordinated by NIKKI LUNDEN. 8 p.m.-midnight. Food and drink specials. For more info, e-mail sticklunden@yahoo.com.

Last Saturday of every month, Augie’s at 313 20th St. in Rock Island, IL hosts KARAOKE NIGHT, which owner Rick Goulet says is heavily attended by the women’s community. Call 309-788-7389 for more info.

Every Thursday, 5-7 p.m., Augie’s at 313 20th St. in Rock Island, IL hosts an evening HOME-COOKED DINNER, benefiting Aids Project Quad Cities. For $5, get a great meal and donate to a great cause. Call 309-788-7389 for more info. Get on Augie’s e-mail list to receive weekly updates with the ever-changing dinner menu by e-mailing r.goulet@mchsi.com.

Second Tuesday of every month, 5:30-7 p.m., EQUALITY IOWA’S HAPPY HOUR is held at Ritual Café, 1301 E. Locust St., downtown Des Moines. Come get to know what EqIA has to offer you and how you can get involved with changing the lives of the LGBT community in Iowa. Equality Iowa is working tirelessly in Des Moines and around the state to improve the civil rights of LGBT people through lobbying, education, and public policy work. For more info about Equality Iowa, contact Sandy Vopalka at PoliticInIA@aol.com or 515-537-3126 or visit www.equalityiowa.org. Ritual Cafe is a women-owned establishment, smoke-free, with a great atmosphere. For more info about Ritual Cafe, e-mail ritualcafe@aol.com or call 515-288-4872.

Every Friday night, 6-7:30 p.m., “WHAT THE BLEEP DO WE KNOW” HAPPY HOUR at Ritual Café, 1301 E. Locust St., downtown Des Moines. Come join us "down the rabbit hole" and redefine happy hour as we meet weekly to explore science and spirituality. Weekly event. No cover. This is a women-owned establishment, smoke-free, with a great atmosphere. For more info, e-mail ritualcafe@aol.com or call 515-288-4872.

Every Saturday, noon to 1 p.m., WOMEN FOR PEACE IOWA host Weekly Street Corner Vigils for peace, rain or shine. Meet at the corner of 1st Ave. and Collins Rd. SE (in front of Granite City Brewery), Cedar Rapids. Show your support for our troops by calling for their return from Iraq. For more info, e-mail khall479@aol.com.

Fourth Tuesday of every month, WOMEN FOR PEACE IOWA book discussion group, 7:00 p.m. at The Peace Center, 1029 3rd St., next to CSPS, Cedar Rapids. For more info, e-mail khall479@aol.com or call 319-393-2508.

Second Tuesday of every month, WOMEN FOR PEACE KNITTERS meet for knitting, crocheting, and discussion, 9:30-11 a.m. at Prairiewoods, 120 E. Boyson Rd., Hiawatha. For more info, call 319-377-3252 or go to www.womenforpeace-iowa.org.

Fourth Tuesday of every month, WOMEN FOR PEACE KNITTERS meet for knitting, crocheting, and discussion (yes, a second day of the month!), 7-8:30 p.m. at the Marion Public Library, 1095 6th Ave., Marion. For more info, call 319-377-3252 or go to www.womenforpeace-iowa.org.

Every Tuesday evening, 7:30-9:30 p.m., ARGENTINE TANGO practice and open dance, at the Wesley Center, 120 N. Dubuque St., Iowa City. A donation of $1-2 per person is requested for use of the Wesley Center. For more info, contact Karen Jackson at 319-447-1445 or e-mail kljedgewood@msn.com.

Every Saturday, 3:30 p.m., SALSA LESSONS taught by Gloria Zmolek, at CSPS, 1103 3rd St. SE, Cedar Rapids. No experience or partner necessary. Lessons are free; donations accepted. For more info, contact Gloria at 319-365-9611 or visit www.bailelatino.org.

Every Thursday, 7 p.m., COUNTRY LINE DANCING, taught by members of the Women’s Cultural Collective, at the Thoreau Center, 35th and Kingman Blvd., Des Moines. Cost is $5.00 per person per night. You will need to bring your own beverages. For more info, e-mail Billie Dyer at chachacha1@excite.com.

Every Friday, 6 p.m., GAY FRIDAY, Greater Des Moines all-inclusive dinner group, sharing issues affecting the GLBT Community @ allies. Meet for food, fellowship & films at the Friends Meeting House, 42nd and Grand, Des Moines (enter from 42nd Street). For more info, contact gay_friday_dm@yahoo.com. Gay Friday is open to everyone interested in GLBT issues, regardless of sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, age, disability, nationality, religious or political affiliation.

First Saturday of every month, 11 a.m., QCAD 1st SATURDAY POTLUCK BRUNCH, Plaza Office Bldg., 1705 2nd Ave., Ste. 508, Rock Island, IL. QCAD is Quad Citians Affirming Diversity. This is a monthly (1st Saturday) social and brunch event for all. Bring a dish to share. Please RSVP at 309-786-2580 with the number of people attending.

Last Friday of every month, 7 p.m., QCAD LESBIAN MOVIE NIGHT, Plaza Office Bldg., 1705 2nd Ave., Ste. 508, Rock Island, IL. QCAD is Quad Citians Affirming Diversity. For more info, call 309-786-2580.

Every Monday, 4-5 p.m., TUTORING AT OSADA: Join Women for Peace Iowa at 905 3rd St SE, Cedar Rapids, in Apartment 110, to tutor elementary-age African refugee children. No teaching experience required, just a willingness to give a little TLC to some beautiful children. For more info, e-mail khall479@aol.com.

First Friday of the month, FAIRFIELD ART WALK. For more info, visit www.FairfieldArtWalk.com.

Every Thursday, SCOTT AND MICHELLE DALZIEL host an open mic at Grape Harbor in Dubuque from 8 - 11 p.m. Visit www.grapeharbor.com and www.dalziel.net.

Every 2nd and 4th Friday of the each month at 7 p.m., a DRUMMING CIRCLE meets at the Unity Center of Cedar Rapids, 3791 Blairs Ferry Rd. NE, Cedar Rapids. For more info, call 319-393-5422.

Thanks for supporting live music, your community, and women in the arts!
Lisa