
Nominations Wanted for Bristol TN/VA Mayors' Award of Distinction 2013
April 09, 2013The Cities of Bristol Virginia and Tennessee are seeking nominations for the 2013 “Mayor’s Award of Distinction”, which recognizes individuals or organizations that have made extraordinary contributions towards the enhancement of the Bristol community. These contributions can be in business, education, health and/or welfare of others, and arts and entertainment. Achievement of regional, national or international recognition, while also positively promoting Bristol, will also be strongly considered.
In order to be considered for nomination, individuals must have been born here, have lived or worked here, or demonstrate very strong ties to Bristol Tennessee/Virginia. Organizations to be considered must be able to demonstrate exceptional and highly beneficial service to the Bristol community.
Self-nominations are welcome. All nominations will be reviewed by an award panel comprised of members from civic and non-profit groups and the media. This panel will then choose the winner or winners of this prestigious award for the conferral by the Mayors.
The recipients will be the guests of honor at a community reception to be honored May 5th, 2013 at The Paramount Center for the Arts.
If you would like to nominate an individual, organization or yourself, Please provide the following information supporting your nomination:
•Description of nominee’s projects, activities or service and when these efforts occurred. Please include up to two (2) pages.
•Statement explaining why the nominee’s contribution is particularly outstanding. Please attach up to one (1) page.
•Supplemental materials – letters, brochures, etc. Maximum four (4) enclosures.
You can access the nomination form at http://www.bristolva.org/.
Deadline for submission is 5 pm on Monday, April 15, 2013.
Call for Community Curators at Birthplace of Country Music® Museum

Do you have an interest in Bristol’s history? Knowledgeable about our music heritage? Passionate about Bristol’s community? The Birthplace of Country Music® invites you to become a Community Curator for the upcoming Birthplace of Country Music® Museum! Slated to open in August 2014, the BCMM will tell the story of Bristol as the Birthplace of Country Music®.
To fully tell that story, BCMM needs your input. A team of scholars has been working on museum exhibits for several months—these folks include historians, professors,editors, filmmakers, and museum experts. This team also wants to make sure that the community’s voices are heard,and invites community participation in these exhibit projects for those who want to be involved.
The first Community Curators meeting will take place on Thursday, April 18, 2013, at 5:00 p.m. in the BCM office located at 416 State Street Suite A in Bristol, Tenn. The meeting will kick off the first of several Third Thursday meetings about the museum.
For more information, please call BCM Marketing Associate Sarah Tollie at 423-573-1927 or e-mail curator@birthplaceofcountrymusic.org.
Bristol Public Library Receives Over 2,000 Books from U.S. Solutions Group Employee Book Drive

The Bristol Public Library received over 2,000 books today from a U.S. Solutions Group Book Drive held during the month of March.
“I am very proud of how our employees came together for this cause during last month. We have approximately 2,000 books that we brought today, so we are very glad to be able to contribute to the library’s programs,” stated Amber Gregory of U.S. Solutions Group.
The items donated will be used throughout the library and in the Gift Shop.
“As the seasons change and snow turns to sunshine, our donations grow. The sun was definitely shining on us today with the amazing book donation from U.S. Solutions group,” stated Janice Hoelscher, Circulation & Gift Shop Supervisor of the Bristol Public Library.
For more information on how you can donate, please call (276) 645-8780 or visit www.bristol-library.org.
Downtown Bristol Blog
Calling All Actors and Singers: Auditions for Anne of Green Gables, A New Musical at Theatre Bristol

Theatre Bristol will hold auditions for Anne of Green Gables, the musical production, on April 14th and April 15th at 512 State Street in Bristol, TN. Directed by veteran actor and director Chris McVey, Anne of Green Gables tells the story of Anne, a young orphan with a bright imagination, and her experiences in the small, tight-knit community of Avonlea. Based on the classic, “Anne of Green Gables” by Lucy Maud Montgomery, with adaptation by Janet Yates Vogt and Mark Friedman, this musical presentation has played across the country at the South Carolina Children's Theatre, Savannah Childrens Theatre, and was featured in the 60th Anniversary season at the Boston Children's Theatre in Spring of 2012. Theatre Bristol is proud to bring this timeless favorite to the ARTspace stage for the very first time. Anne of Green Gables features a large and adaptable cast size of men, women, and children. Performances are scheduled for the weekends of June 14th and 21st. Auditions will be held at Theatre Bristol on Sunday, April 14th at 4:00 pm and Monday, April 15th at 6:30 pm at Theatre Bristol, 512 State Street, Bristol, TN. Actors do not need to attend both auditions. No preparation is necessary. Actors do not need to bring a headshot or resume to the audition but should have a list of conflicts for April through June. Callbacks, if needed, will be Tuesday, April 16th and Thursday, April 18th.
Click here to read more.
Second City: Laughing Matters at the Paramount

SECOND CITY COMEDY TOUR ~ Laughing Matters will be at the Paramount Center for the Arts on Saturday, April 13, at 7:30p.m. Chicago's legendary sketch comedy theatre, The Second City: Laughing Matters features some of the best sketches, songs, and improvisations from The Second City's 52-year history. The Second City is truly a Chicago landmark and a national treasure. With economic uncertainty, political gridlock and a dearth of Kardashians clogging up our televisions, laughing has never mattered more and The Second City is here to bring some well needed silliness and hilarious spontaneity to a world in need of some comic relief. The Second City: Laughing Matters puts comedy first in a wickedly funny revue that skewers and celebrates in equal doses. Tickets: $38 Adult, $34 Seniors, $24.50 Students, $32.50 Groups of 6 or more. To buy tickets, contact the Paramount on 423-274-8920.
Photo Workshop "The Art of Seeing Part II" at blowfish emporium

Come join the second Photo Workshop “The Art of Seeing Part II” at blowfish emporium on Saturday, April 13, 12:30-3:30p.m. Cost is $45 per session. This isthe second in a 2-session introductory workshop designed to help photographers at every skill level to develop a better understanding of how to compose a creative image with any size or model camera by applying a series of easy step-by-step creative techniques. Be sure you finished your homework assignment from the first class so you will have plenty to discuss! This class must be prepaid and pre-registered. For further information and to register, please contact blowfish emporium on 276-644-1428 or info@blowfishemporium.com.
Crisis Center hosts Clothesline Project at State Street Farmers Market

April is Sexual Assault Awareness Month. In honor of this, Crisis Center is partnering with Abuse Alternatives to organize the third annual Clothesline Project to honor women affected by sexual and domestic violence. The Clothesline Project works to raise community awareness about the reality of violence, provide support and expression to survivors, provide information on how to identify and prevent sexual and domestic violence. The Clothesline Project is a visual display of shirts designed by survivors/friends of victims of sexual violence. Those who have experienced such violence will have the opportunity to express their feelings through the creation of t-shirts, which will be on display. The display provides healing for survivors of violence and educates the public about the prevalence and impact of violence against women. Join us April 13th from 11:00am to 3:00pm at the State Street Mural-Farmers Market at 810 State St, in Bristol, TN.
Click here to read more.
Health Education Series at Bristol Public Library: "Obamacare in 2013: Where Do Things Stand Now?"

The Bristol Public Library is partnering with East Tennessee State University’s Bristol Family Medicine Residency and Wellmont Health System to bring a comprehensive health education series to the Tri-Cities. The series will take place at the Bristol Public Library at 7pm on the second Thursday of every month, beginning in April. These public forums will feature outstanding speakers from our region to discuss a wide range of important issues in health, including specific diseases such as cancer and diabetes, public health concerns, and changes in health care brought on by the Affordable Care Act. Following each presentation will be a question and answer session. Dr. Raymond “Robin” Feierabend of the Quillen College of Medicine and ETSU Family Physicians of Bristol will moderate the series. He will be leading the discussion at the first event on Thursday, April 11th at 7p.m. in the J. Henry Kegley Meeting Room at the Bristol Public Library with the topic “Obamacare in 2013: Where Do Things Stand Now?”. For more information on this series or other adult programming, please call (276) 645-8781 or visit www.bristol-library.org.
Upcoming Events
Bristol Rhythm & Roots Weekend Passes on Sale for $45
January 01 - May 31, 2013Thursday Pastel Drawing Classes at One of a Kind Gallery
March 14 - April 11, 2013606 State Street Gallery Featured Artists for April: Lauren Pruett and Alexis Snyder
April 01 - 30, 2013April youth and adult activities at the Bristol Public Library — storytimes, book clubs, and much more!
April 01 - 30, 2013Business Week at the Bristol Public Library
April 08 - 10, 2013Call for Community Curators at Birthplace of Country Music® Museum
April 10, 2013Census Bureau Statistics for Small Businesses Workshop to be held at Bristol Public Library
April 10, 2013Health Education Series at Bristol Public Library: "Obamacare in 2013: Where Do Things Stand Now?"
April 11, 2013Laura Thurston & Stuart McNair at O'Mainnin's Pub
April 11, 2013Beer tasting at Inari Wines
April 12, 2013Laura Thurston & Stuart McNair at Stateline Bar & Grille
April 12, 2013Honey Badgers at Machiavellli's
April 12, 2013Wolf Creek at 620 State
April 13, 2013Second City: Laughing Matters at the Paramount
April 13, 2013Photo Workshop "The Art of Seeing Part II" at blowfish emporium
April 13, 2013Sean Ashby at Machiavelli's
April 13, 2013Temper Through Tears at O'Mainnin's Pub
April 13, 2013Wine tasting at Inari Wines
April 13, 2013Crisis Center hosts Clothesline Project at State Street Farmers Market
April 13, 2013Calling All Actors and Singers: Auditions for Anne of Green Gables, A New Musical at Theatre Bristol
April 14 - 15, 2013Open Jam at O'Mainnin's Pub
April 15, 2013606 State Street Jammers at 606 State Street
April 15, 2013ETSU Old-Time, Bluegrass & Country Bands at the Pickin' Porch
April 15, 2013Guido Au'Some Open Mic Players at O'Mainnin's Pub
April 16, 2013How I Became a Pirate at the Paramount
April 18 - 20, 2013Ryan Ward at O'Mainnin's Pub
April 18, 2013Beer tasting at Inari Wines
April 19, 2013Press Conference to announce Border Bash 2013 Line-up!
April 19, 2013The Shifters with Electric Ills at O'Mainnin's Pub
April 20, 20137th Annual Corn Bread & Collard Greens Blues Festival
April 20, 2013Wine tasting at Inari Wines
April 20, 2013ETSU Old-Time, Bluegrass and Country Bands at the Pickin' Porch
April 22, 2013606 State Street Jammers at 606 State Street
April 22, 2013Open Jam at O'Mainnin's Pub
April 22, 2013Unplugged Open Mic at O'Mainnin's Pub
April 23, 2013JP Parsons at O'Mainnin's Pub
April 25, 2013Beer tasting at Inari Wines
April 26, 2013Drifting Westward at Machiavelli's
April 26, 2013Kristen Cothron at 620 State
April 26, 2013King University Jazz Ensemble and Jazz Choir present DANCE! at the Paramount
April 26, 2013The Paramount Chamber Players present Lasting Impressions at the Paramount
April 27, 2013Wine tasting at Inari Wines
April 27, 2013More Upcoming Events »