Sponsored by Bristol Herald Courier, Proud Partner of Believe in Bristol

Border Bash in Historic Downtown Bristol — Motel Rodeo and Todd Day Wait's Pigpen

Motel Rodeo

June 03, 2014
Set in Historic Downtown Bristol, Border Bash continues on Friday June 6, 2014 in the 600 block of State Street. The evening’s events will start with children’s activities, crafters, and concessions at 6PM. Live music begins at 7PM with Motel Rodeo followed up by Todd Day Wait’s Pigpen around 8:30PM. As always, Border Bash is free to the public!

Motel Rodeo: Conceived outside the classrooms of East Tennessee State University's Bluegrass, Old Time, and Country Music Studies program, Motel Rodeo draws heavily from curriculum coupled with personal taste, and delivers their sound in a lively, energetic manner. The band has spent a great amount of time developing their craft, creating a unique sound deeply rooted in the traditions of early country. A Motel Rodeo performance is sure to deliver high energy, foot stompin' music with tight vocal harmonies accompanied by pedal steel, fiddle, mandolin, banjo, and guitar. For more information, check out www.reverbnation.com/motelrodeo.

Todd Day Wait’s Pigpen: In 2009, Todd Day Wait put everything he owned on the curb of his home in Columbia, Missouri, and started what would become a seemingly never-ending cross-county voyage. Traveling in a vegetable oil-powered shuttle bus, he headed out to California by way of the Rocky Mountains, and ended up in New Orleans. Along the way, he found collaborators where he could, picking up one line-up for a few states and rotating regionally. Relying on each musician’s various strengths, Wait adapted his music to suit them, shifting genres as he did states. For more information, please visit http://tdwpigpen.com.

“Border Bash is always a great night, and a wonderful way to get a sneak preview of some of the fantastic bands that will be playing at Rhythm & Roots later this year,” said René Rodgers, Associate Director of Believe in Bristol. “This summer concert series is a real celebration of music, and by setting these concerts in our historic downtown, it’s always a lively and fun atmosphere. There’s sure to be something for everyone!”

Border Bash is hosted by Believe in Bristol, Birthplace of Country Music® and the Cities of Bristol. Border Bash would not be possible without our community support. Our sponsors in 2014 include Along Come Mary Interior Design – Mary Jane Miller, Alpha Natural Resources, Ann & John Tickle, Bank of Tennessee, Benjamin Walls Gallery, Blackbird Bakery, Blakley Mitchell Co., Brenda & John Fincher, Bristol Herald Courier, Bristol Virginia Utilities, Campbell Printing, Celebrate Bristol, Coca-Cola, Commonwealth Coal Corp., Cranberry Lane, Dent K. Burk CPA Firm, Doug & Amy Williams, Dr. and Ms. Bennett Cowan, Jr., Edward Jones Investments – Robert Hollo, Rob Simis, Brad Baker and Greg Fahn, Electric 94.9 FM, Express AV Productions, First Bank of Virginia, First Tennessee Foundation, Joe & Pam Kerr – Kerr Boswell Inc., Kil’n Time, Mary Landrum, Merrill-Lynch, Renasant Bank, Revolution Curbside Recycling, Sarah Hull – Serendipity, Spiegler Blevins & Company CPAs, State Line Bar & Grille, Strongwell, The Homer A. and Ida S. Jones Trust, The Williams Company, Tom & Barbara Smith, Tri-City Tent & Event, Walling Distributing, WCYB News 5, Wells Fargo Foundation, WXBQ 96.6 FM and Z-Rock 99.3.

Believe in Bristol hosting Informational Merchant Gathering

June 03, 2014
Attention Downtown Businesses, Residents, and Entrepreneurs! Believe in Bristol will be hosting an Informational Merchant Gathering on Monday, June 9, 5:30 — 7pm at the Believe in Bristol IdeaSpace, 36 Moore Street, Bristol, VA. Presentations will include:

* Birthplace of Country Music — Update on the museum
* Sandy Ratliff, Virginia Department of Small Business & Supplier Diversity — iPad Workshop: How mobile technology can improve your bottom line
* US Army Corps of Engineers — Flood proofing your business
* 2014 — 15 Downtown Entrepreneur's Prize Announcement.

Refreshments will be served, and the meeting is open to the public! For more information, please visit believeinbristol.org or call 276-644-9700.

Welcome to Downtown — Quaker Steak & Lube!

June 03, 2014
Believe in Bristol wants to give a WARM WELCOME to new downtown restaurant Quaker Steak & Lube. They've had a packed few weeks getting ready to open their doors, and now the time is here for their GRAND OPENING on Wednesday, June 4, starting at 3pm with music from HB Beverly from 5 — 8pm! So come on out and support your local economy with an order of wings! For more information, contact Quaker Steak & Lube at 276-644-9647. And check out their FB page to see their June specials!

TDEC Presents Check to City for Energy Efficiency Program

June 03, 2014
Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation Commissioner Bob Martineau presented a check to the City of Bristol in the amount of $575,000 in funding for the Energy Efficiency Assistance Program, a new grant program for low to moderate income homeowners. The program was introduced in early April.

Over 100 applications were processed by the City with approximately 85 being qualified. The program will provide assistance to homeowners with a free in-home energy evaluation and financial support to install recommended energy efficient upgrades. Program partner Bristol Tennessee Essential Services will provide the evaluation to the qualifying applicants. Each applicant will then receive a customized implementation plan that sets out specific home energy improvement measures.

“By encouraging investments in home energy savings, the Energy Efficiency Assistance Program has two long-term goals; to decrease air emissions associated with the generation of electricity and to increase economic opportunity of participating homeowners through reduced energy use and lower monthly utility bills,” Martineau said.

Each home owner will be eligible for up to $15,000 in assistance until funds are depleted.

“We are so excited for our community. Being able to help our neighbors by installing basic energy saving upgrades such as windows, doors, insulation, and heating and cooling systems will bring long term benefits to families who have struggled through bad economic times. It really is a saving factor on their utility bills. This is just tremendous,” said Vice-Mayor Lea Powers.

The Energy Efficiency Assistance Program is funded by a Clean Air Act settlement agreement between King Pharmaceuticals, LLC, the United States Environmental Protection Agency and the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation. The settlement agreement was negotiated through the assistance of the Tennessee Attorney General’s Office, TDEC’s Office of General Counsel and the Division of Air Pollution Control and entered into the federal district court in Greeneville in August 2013. TDEC committed to dedicate a portion of the settlement funds to complete homeowner energy efficiency improvement measures under the consent decree, establishing this program to be administered under a contract with the City of Bristol. Shari Brown, the city’s Director of Economic and Community Development who will be overseeing the program said, “We are always looking for ways to assist the community with new programs through various funding options made available. This program was a perfect fit for everyone.”

For more information contact the Office of Economic and Community Development at 423-989-5514 or sbrown@bristoltn.org.

Help Write a Part of Bristol's History! Contribute to the Bristol Historical Association's Cookbook Project

June 03, 2014
By popular request, the deadline for submitting recipes and photographs for the Bristol Historical Association's unique cookbook project has been extended through Sunday, June 8th. This unique book will be published in the Fall of 2014 in recognition of the 35th anniversary of the organization and will represent an exclusive collection of recipes, historic images, and articles highlighting local historical facts and trivia. If you have a memory or story or photo to share about the recipe(s) you send, please include those as well! For handed-down recipes, you may memorialize or honor the family member or friend from whom the recipe came and add a note with a short story about the person and recipe.

Send your recipes and/or photographs to: Bristol Historical Association, P.O. Box 204, Bristol, Tennessee 37621. You may also e-mail recipes and photos to BHACookBook@aol.com. Include your name and phone number to confirm accuracy of all submissions.

Proceeds from this project will further the work of the Bristol Historical Association in the Twin-Cities. Please visit the Association's website for further details on this and other worthwhile community projects, www.bristolhistoricalassociation.com. For more information call 276 494 9925 or email BHACookBook@aol.com.

Registration open for Who Art You? summer art camp in Historic Downtown Bristol!

June 03, 2014
Find Yourself at Art Camp in Historic Downtown Bristol!

By joining our Who Art You? camp, your child can leave their mark on the Bristol arts! This camp focuses on 15 downtown arts and entertainment activities hosted by our local arts-related businesses — activities include painting, pottery, graphic arts, creative movement, music, storytelling, karate, yoga, and much, much more.

There are two week-long summer sessions, with the camp running daily from 9a.m. to 3p.m. Session 1 is scheduled for June 23 — 27 and Session 2 for July 21 — 25; the cost is $250 per child and $25 off for 2+ children. The age range is 8 — 12.

To register your child for Who Art You?, contact Believe in Bristol at 276-644-9700 or info@believeinbristol.org. The registration deadline for the June camp is June 16 and for the July camp it is July 14.

Summer Reading Programs Set to Begin at the Bristol Public Library

June 03, 2014
The Bristol Public Library invites children through adults to attend free Summer Reading Programs and activities at the Main Library in downtown Bristol and at the Avoca Branch Library in Bristol, Tennessee. Participants can explore activities that include reading, story times, crafts, movies and entertainers. For a complete schedule of events for the Main Library’s Children’s and Teen Summer Reading Programs go to www.bristol-library.org/Childrens-Department or www.bristol-library.org/Teen-Department. For the Avoca branch schedule go to www.bristol-library.org/Avoca-Branch-library.

Last summer more than 4,000 participants took part in the activities of the Children’s and Teen’s Summer Reading programs at the main Library and the Children’s SRP at the Avoca Branch Library. An even larger number of participants is expected this summer with new groups and activities set to kick off the week of June 16th at the Main Library. The Avoca SRP is already underway.

For additional information call 276-645-8780 for the Main Library or 423-968-9663 for the Avoca Branch Library.

Downtown Bristol Blog

Superhero Drawing Class at Kil'n Time with Bridgeforth Design Studio

June 10, 2014
On Tuesday, June 10 from 2 — 5 p.m., our best buds from Bridgeforth Design Studio will be at Kil'n Time to teach a Superhero Drawing Class! The session costs $50 and includes all instruction, materials, supervision and snacks. This was one of our most popular classes last year with many new heroes born — so register now! Call the studio at 423-573-9950 to register.

Apple iPhone/iPad Workshop at the Bristol Chamber of Commerce

June 10, 2014
The Bristol Chamber of Commerce will be hosting an Apple iPhone / iPad Workshop on Tuesday, June 10, 11:45am — 1:45pm. During this workshop, you will learn: * Device set up * Email and social networking * Taking & sharing photos, videos and music * Using Wi-Fi and other data connections * Tips for extending battery life * The latest accessories to enhance your device * And much more! Register now at verizonwireless.com/workshops or contact 276-466-6880 (Verizon) or 423-989-4850 (Chamber).

Special Announcement from BCM!

June 10, 2014
Birthplace of Country Music will have a special announcement on Tuesday, June 10, 2:30 pm at The Paramount Center for the Arts! We really hope to see you there, can't say much now but more to come soon.....look for the countdown in the Bristol Herald Courier and at BelieveInBristol.org!

Watercolor and Ink Workshop: "Flowers" at 606 State Street Gallery

June 08, 2014
Come on out to 606 State Street Gallery for a Watercolor and Ink Workshop: "Flowers" on Sunday, June 8, 3 — 5pm. Cost is $35; registration in the gallery or on Facebook. The workshop will be led by C. G. Shaver, and you will leave with an 18x24 final product ready to frame. All supplies included, except for .25mm Micron 01 pens, which are available for purchase at $3/each. For more information, go to the gallery's website: www.606statestreetgallery.com or call 423-573-2438.

Mary McCarty Book Signing at the Bristol Public Library

June 07, 2014
The Bristol Public Library will have a book signing by local author Mary McCarty on Saturday, June 7 at 2 PM in the J. Henry Kegley Meeting Room. Her book See You in the Morning will be available for purchase from the author. See You in the Morning tells the story of Mary’s extraordinary mother, Evelyn McCarty. Mother of twelve, Evelyn narrates the story of her life and how her Christian values, determination, and courage helped raise her family. Set in Southwest Virginia, See You in the Morning is a journey through a remarkable life and family stories.
Click here to read more.

AACA car show at TriSummit Bank Parking Lot

Photo courtesy of Randy Smith

June 06, 2014
Come downtown and enjoy the Antique Automobile Club of America – Appalachian Region Car Show on Friday, June 6! This car cruise-in is held every Friday night, end of April through October, 6 — 8pm in the TriSummit bank parking lot across from the Bristol Train Station in downtown Bristol. It's always a fun night — full of classic cars!

Tunes @ Noon with Tim Landis & Friends

June 06, 2014
Tim Landis returns to the Paramount's Tunes @ Noon stage on June 6, 2014, at 12pm for a performance of richly resonant basso songs. From Mandalay to Dublin and back home again, Landis will take you down the low road in song. Landis will debut an original composition by locally based and nationally recognized composer Evelyn Pursley-Kopitzke. This sacred work is inspiried by one of Landis's favorite biblical scriptures reverently and sensitively composed by Pursley-Kopitske. And once again, Tim has invited some friends along. Joining Tim is dramatic baritone Mark Owen Davis. Mr. Davis is a member of the renowned Paramount Chamber Players and regularly performs with the Symphony of the Mountains. Also joining Landis for this performance is Soprano Julia Barker of Voice by Julia. Ms. Barker is a recording artist who regularly performs at the Paramount. There is a suggested $5 donation at the door. For more information, contact the Paramount at 423-274-8920.

Support your local small businesses with Sunset Shopping Downtown!

June 05, 2014
As the weather continues to get warmer and brighter, remember to come out for Sunset Shopping in Downtown Bristol! We'll be here again this Thursday, June 5 until 8pm — and every Thursday night for the next six months! So go ahead and mark your calendars and make your plans — it's the perfect way to have a great night out and support your local businesses! For more information, please visit www.believeinbristol.org or contact Believe in Bristol at 276-644-9700, info@believeinbristol.org.

American Made Father's Day from Pointer Brand — Store Wide Discount!

June 04, 2014
In honor of dads everywhere, Pointer Brand is offering 20% off of everything store wide through Father's Day with the code '4DAD.' Don't miss out (and don't forget Father's Day)! Check out their website to find all the Father's Day gifts you'll ever need: http://pointerbrand.com/.

Get your tickets now! Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor® Dreamcoat at The Paramount Center for the Performing Arts

June 04, 2014
Theatre Bristol returns to the Paramount Center for the Performing Arts stage with the Broadway hit musical by Tim Rice and Andrew Lloyd Webber, “Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor® Dreamcoat" this June. Six performances of “Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor® Dreamcoat” will open on Friday, June 20th, and continue Saturday, June 21st, Sunday, June 22nd, Friday, June 27th, Saturday, June 28th, and Sunday, June 29th. Evening performances on Friday and Saturday will be at 7:30 pm and Sunday matinees will be at 2:30 pm. Tickets available now online or call the Paramount Box Office at 423-274-8920, Tuesday through Friday, 9am to 5pm. The show will open with a gala event with special $15 tickets. All tickets are already priced with group rates for everyone, including families, church, and community groups at $12 for adults and $10 for students and seniors. Gold Circle seating is also available by calling 423-383-5979.
Click here to read more.

Calling all artists! It's time for State of the Arts Artist Power Hour Competition!

June 04, 2014
Calling all artists! From painting, photography and mixed media to woodturning, sculpting, collaging and art improv — we want you all! Come out on State of the Arts Weekend and be a part of Artist Power Hour Competition on Saturday, June 21, from 11am until noon at the Farmers' Market, Downtown Center, State Street. * This free event is open to all varieties of artisans: painters, sculptors, jewelry makers, crafters, collage enthusiasts, woodcarvers, and much more! * Artists will have only ONE HOUR to start and finish their art project. * Artists will need to bring all their supplies and table or easel, as well as a tip jar. * Artists should arrive prior to the event to set up and be ready to start making art at 11am! * There will be 3 winners to represent 3 categories: Artists' Choice, People's Choice, & Most Tips * The winning artist (People's Choice) will be written up on the Believe in Bristol website and FB page, and get displayed in one of the downtown galleries for one month. For questions or to register, contact Believe in Bristol at info@believeinbristol.org. Please register by Wednesday, June 18.

Watt's Up? Help the Paramount Light the Marquee!

June 04, 2014
The Paramount Center for the Arts has launched a Capital Campaign called "Watt's Up?" to fund the repair and revitalization of the marquee. This project will include replacing the 1,960 incandescent bulbs with LED bulbs, upgrading the warblers (the device that allows the lights to "chase"), and making necessary repairs to the marquee panels. If you would like to help us with this effort by sponsoring a bulb for $20, please mail or bring your tax-deductible donation to the Paramount. Thank you for your support! For more information on how to donate, call 423-274-8920 or email paramountcenter@btes.tv, or go to the website: www.theparamountcenter.com.

KP's first Farm-to-Table evening — fresh food, fun night!

June 04, 2014
KP's first of the year farm-to-table evenings is on Wednesday, June 4! Menu includes: Buttermilk fried chicken.. fresh greens and local peas...Fresh North Carolina Trout....working on some fresh goat cheese...Strawberry stack cake...and plenty of local beer! Call for your table on 423-764-3889.

Upcoming Events

Virgie R. Fleenor Art Gallery at the Bristol Public Library Features "Retric" Showing by Fiber and Mixed Media Artist Margaret Gregg

May 02 - June 28, 2014