If We Were You

WEDNESDAY 5.29

10th Sports Memorabilia Auction

Want to get Steelers' signatures while helping a good cause? Head to the Ambassador Center for a chance to meet current Steelers Antonio Brown and Ryan Clark, who led the lineup of special guests at this year's auction, benefiting the Edinboro Fighting Scots' 17-sport intercollegiate athletic program, as well as adaptive athletics. Erie's own Kevin-John, celebrity sports artist, who's been commissioned by the likes of Jerome Bettis and Hines Ward and worked for ESPN for over 10 years, will be onhand with a big announcement. Admission is $10 and autograph tickets range from $20 to $40, with over 250 items up for bid that evening.

When: 5 to 9 p.m.

Where: Ambassador Center, 7794 Peach St.

Contact: 732.2000  

THURSDAY 5.30

Dramashop Presents: [title of show]

The first and only musical of Dramashop's 2012-2013 season is about two men that are trying to write their own musical -- about trying to write  a musical. The show at Gannon's Schuster Theatre features humorous dialog as well as witty song lyrics as the two men struggle to achieve their goal. General admission is $15 and $5 with a student ID.

When: 8 p.m.

Where: 620 Sassafras St.

Contact: dramashop.org

FRIDAY 5.31

Gallery Night

Heralded as one of the best ways to spend an evening in downtown Erie, Gallery Night returns. Head to one of the 13 participating venues to view exhibits free of charge and enjoy free appetizers, drinks, and entertainment. Visit at least five galleries and earn a chance to win a $25 gift certificate to a participating gallery.

When: 7 to 10 p.m.

Where: Erie Art Museum, 20 E. Fifth St.

Contact: ErieArtMuseum.com

Face Down in High Water

For the past decade, local band Face Down in High Water has been performing up a storm that's made them plenty of fans here in The Gem City. The local rock sextet returns to Sherlock's for a show that should go rather swimmingly. In fact, the show should be much better than that joke.

When: 10 p.m.

Where: Sherlock's, 508 State St.

Contact: 453.7760

SATURDAY 6.01

Eerie Roller Girls vs. Little Steel Derby Girls

Head out to Presque Isle Skating -- formerly Evan's Skateland -- for the Roller Girls second home bout of the 2013 season as they look to kick, smash, pass, and beat the gals from Youngstown. Tickets are $12 at the door, but if you buy in advance, you can save $2 -- which you can use at the concession stand during the match or at the after party at the Oasis Pub immediately following the event.

When: Doors 6:30; whistle 7:30 p.m.

Where: Presque Isle Skating 3162 West Lake Road

Contact: eerierollergirls.com

10th Annual Car Show hosted by VVA Chapter 435

It's time to finally show off that flashy and impractical car your spouse didn't want you to buy. Enter your vehicle for $3 or come as a spectator for free. The event will feature oldies music, raffles, a silent auction, and trophies. All proceeds go to local veterans and their communities, so get your ride in shipshape and head to the Erie Soldiers & Sailors Home to support a great cause.

When: 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Where: 560 E. Third St.

Contact: herbieshang38@yahoo.com

One Erie One Love Part II: A Benefit Artshow for Kids

We all like to give back to the community, and few people in Erie work as hard as The Box does to ensure we have every opportunity to help those around us. For just a $3 cover, you can help support Big Brothers Big Sisters and attend this all-age event featuring artwork from some of Erie's premier artists while enjoying performances by William Weyes, Doc Proto, Flannel Gang, Hollahouse, Dommy Doo, T Speed, E-Slaya, C. Brown, L'Cardio, K-Sanz, and Whodat Peez. This event truly is One Erie, One Love.

When: 2 to 7 p.m.

Where: PACA, 1505 State St.

Contact: paca1505.ning.com/

Aqueous w/ Jeff Bujak

Some bands go around and play the same set list for every show. Luckily, there are groups like Aqueous. The groove-tastic rock band is swinging back through Erie to wow both devoted fans and newcomers with their electric live shows and improvised tunes. With intelligent dance music master taking the stage as well, this Saturday is meant for fun and dance-worthy jams.

When: 10 p.m.

Where: the crooked i, 1013 State St.

Contact: facebook.com/thecrookedierie

SUNDAY 6.02

GEAE Educational Forum

Every year Greater Erie Alliance for Equality hosts an educational forum, and this year's topic is: Religious Allies of the LGBT Community. An interfaith panel about religious support for LGBT people and relationships will be present, so bring your questions and your friends who need to hear that there is support amongst religious communities. The event is free and open to the public and tea, coffee, and cookies will be served.

When: 2 to 3:30 p.m.

Where: 21 La Rux Dix, 21 W. 10th St.

Contact: GreaterErieAlliance.com

Perdition w/ guests at Basement Transmissions

There are many types of metal. You've got iron, cobalt, brass, copper, nickel, and all sorts of others. However, despite all of those fine lustrous chemical elements, we tend to focus on the more musical varieties of metal, so we'd suggest you go see local rockers Perdition when they return to shred on the Basement Transmissions stage.

When: 5:30 p.m.

Where: Basement Transmissions, 1501 State St.

Contact: basement-transmissions.webs.com

MONDAY 6.03

TREC and the Big Green Screen

Get your week off to a great start with a trip down to the Presque Isle. And any trip down to the Peninsula isn't complete without a stop at the Tom Ridge Environmental Center. While you're there we suggest you check out one of the incredible films now showing on the Big Green Screen, especially the new Tornado Alley. We've seen recently the awesome destructive power a tornado unleashes. This movie puts you right there, as the tornado is born. Hold on tight!

When: 11 a.m., 1 and 3 p.m.

Where: TREC, 301 Peninsula Dr.

Contact: 814.838.4123

TUESDAY 6.04

Lagoons by Pontoons

Arise and go now, if always night and day you hear the lake water lapping with its low sounds by the shore calling you away from the grey. At least William Butler Yeats said something like that, and if it's good enough for Yeats, it's good enough for us. And now thanks to the Tom Ridge Environmental Center, you can take a midday break and enjoy the natural beauty of the Presque Isle Lagoons with a one-hour interpretive boat tour.

When: Signups at 10 a.m.; tours at 11 a.m., 1, and 2 p.m.

Where: Lagoon Launch, Presque Isle State Park

Contact: TRECPI.org

WEDNESDAY 6.05

Mid-Day Artbreak with S2M Acoustic Rock

Today kicks of the popular Mid-Day Artbreak series. Join S2M Acoustic Rock for a lunchtime performance of classic pop and blues on the Fifth Street patio of the Erie Art Museum. While enjoying the free tunes, you can grab a quick lunch at the Wave Cafe.

When: Noon to 1 p.m.

Where: Erie Art Museum, 20 E. Fifth St.

Contact: ErieArtMuseum.com

THURSDAY 6.06

Jake Banta

You can't complain about a chance to go catch some killer blues and drink some delightful brews. They work so well together, they even rhyme. That being said, Jake Banta of Jake's Blues fame will be treating the crowd at Sprague Farm and Brew Works with some tasty licks and funky blues riffs.

When: 6 p.m.

Where: Sprague Farm and Brew Works, Venango  

Contact: 398.2885

Crooked Bass

DJ NatasK, along with the rest of the local 814 Bass Crew -- Ghost Alive, Matter, and Matisflex -- welcome Smartie Roc and Get Nasty to The Gem City. For those pining for ear-numbing bass and dubstep/techno beats of the new generation, accept no substitutions, and hear us loud and clear: Get to the crooked i to start your weekend early.

When: 10 p.m.

Where: the crooked i, 1013 State St.

Contact: facebook.com/thecrookedierie

FRIDAY 6.07

The Fabulous Thunderbirds

Would you walk 10 miles on your hands and knees or wrestle with a lion and a grizzly bear -- at the same time, nonetheless? Only those Tuff Enuff will -- and they'll be catching The Fabulous Thunderbirds' performance at Presque Isle Downs and Casino at their Racetrack Patio for a mere $10-15.

When: 7 p.m.

Where: Off I-90, Exit 27, 8199 Perry Hwy

Contact: 1.866.ERIE.FUN

"A Night in Espana"

If you haven't made it out to an Erie Chamber Orchestra show this recently, you best be going to see "A Night in Espana," as it closes out the classical music crew's season. If you have been to a show, then you'll not want to miss this one as Classical guitarist Nicholas Goluses joins the ECO as it performs Rodrigo's "Fantasia para un gentilhombre."

When: 7:30 p.m.

Where: First United Methodist, 707 Sassafrass St.

Contact: http://www.gannon.edu

SATURDAY 6.08

B.T. Sessions Vol. 1 CD Release

Growing up, most of us learned that sharing is caring. Well, some local artists really care about their listeners with the B.T. Sessions Vol. 1 CD Release (see page 16 for Matthew Flowers' review of the album), three different artists will share the spotlight. In promotion of their new split CD, Optimistic Apocalypse, Life(Liss), and Amber Alley will play a one-time-only group performance with A.D. Wondersound.

When: 7 p.m.

Where: Basement Transmissions, 1501 State St.

Contact: basement-transmissions.webs.com

 SUNDAY 6.09

All An Act Theatre presents: "The Diary of Anne Frank"

In cooperation with Triple Threat Studio, All An Act's Footlights Theatre Program presents Wendy Kesselman's heartfelt drama directed by KC McCloskey that centers on the lives of eight people holed up in an attic attempting to escape Nazi captivity. Efforting to cultivate Erie's young, talented rising stars, the drama captures the fear, the hope, the laughter, and the grief -- all told through the world's most famous diary.

When: 3 p.m.

Where: All An Act Theatre, 652 W. 17 St.

Contact: 450.8553

MONDAY 6.10

Four Perspectives of Presque Isle and the Bay Area Photography Exhibit

Head down to the Tom Ridge Environmental Center for this intimate look at Erie's most beautiful and precious asset. Local photographers Brian Berchtold, Marty Drabic, Steve Friel and Ron Vollentine share their interpretations of scenic Presque Isle and Presque Isle Bay in this exhibit which continues through Labor Day. It's located on the second floor, and is available for your viewing pleasure free of charge.

When: now through Labor Day

Where: TREC, 301 Peninsula Dr.

Contact: 814.833.7424

TUESDAY 6.11

Black Flag with Good for You

If you haven't heard by now, you've been living under a rock. If you have heard, you know you're ready to rock. But back to those of you who haven't -- you're hearing it now and for the last time: Founding member Greg Ginn has reunited Black Flag and will rock the crooked i tonight, not only with the formative punk-rock legends, but with the Mike Vallely-fronted Good for You. Shows like this don't come around often enough, so head to the crooked i — you'll be glad you did.

When: 8 p.m.

Where: the crooked i, 1013 State St.

Contact: facebook.com/thecrookedierie


[Editor's note: The entry on Wednesday, June 5 has been edited to accurate reflect the correct performing artist.]