If We Were You

WEDNESDAY 6.12

FILM Kick-off Party featuring "Sound City"

FILM at the Erie Art Museum kicks off their summer season with a kick-off party featuring the Dave Grohl-directed documentary "Sound City." The documentary has been garnering lots of buzz since it's debut at the 2013 Sundance Film Festival. The Erie Reader-sponsored  event will also highlight the upcoming season.  Show up early for food and drinks.

When: 6 p.m.

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

Contact: facebook.com/FILMErieArtMuseum

THURSDAY 6.13

Erie Downtown Partnership Block Party

Downtown Erie is the ideal place to be on summer Thursdays. Food, drinks, and live music from The Romantic Era and Money Shot should make for a great night this Thursday. Sullivan's Pub is where the festivities will be located, so it's time to head downtown and unwind -- after all, the weekend's almost here!

When: 6 to 10:30 p.m.

Where: 301 French St.

Contact: 455.3743

Chasing Moira w/ Falling Hollywood

We're not quite sure why Moira is being chased and Hollywood is falling, but when you got two bands this good coming together, it really doesn't matter. The breezy, Dave Matthews Band-tinged Chasing Moira and the whiskey-splashed folk-rock of Falling Hollywood come together for a Sherlock's show that will make Thursday night feel alright.

When: 9 p.m.

Where: Sherlock's, 508 State St.

Contact: 453.760

FRIDAY 6.14

"A Bench In The Sun"

Erie Station Dinner Theatre hosts this comedy about two elderly gents in a retirement home that sit on a bench and bicker all day. Now, the retirement community is in risk of being demolished, and they have to prevent this from happening.  So whether young or old, pull up a seat in the theater tonight and see if these gents can save the theater.

When: 7 p.m.

Where: 4940 Peach St.

Contact: 864.2022

"The Diary of Anne Frank"

Relive this emotional and thought-provoking classic about eight people hiding from Nazis during World War II, as An All Act Theatre showcases its talented youth performers. Admission is $10 per person and $7 for students and seniors. This should be both an enjoyable performance and a realistic reminder of the harsh realities of the Nazi occupation, all told through the world's most famous diary.

When: 7:30 p.m.

Where: 652 W. 17th St.

Contact: 450.8553

SATURDAY 6.15

Fossils, T.J. Borden, and Alex Wilson

What's better than having one experimental musician play for you? Having two! And what's better than having two experimental musicians play for you? Having three! And what's better than... well, you catch our drift, so check out Basement Transmissions tonight when they host Canadian improv jazz/noise/psyche monsters Fossils, Buffalo solo cellist T.J. Borden, and Albion noise-master Alex Wilson, as well as some potential guests to be added later.

When: 7 p.m.

Where: Basement Transmissions, 1501 State St.

Contact: basement-transmissions.webs.com

The Final Clue

At this special event at the Watson-Curtze mansion, the Erie County Historical Society will take you back to the 1920s. Teams of 6-8 will partake in solving a murder mystery, much like Clue. Dressing up is optional, but most will arrive wearing clothes from the era. Single tickets are $50 and team tickets are $250. After party tickets are $20.

When: 8 p.m.

Where: 356 W. Sixth St.

Contact: 454.1813

The Lower Eastside Connection CD Release Party

Local hippie-hoppers The Lower Eastside Connection have been repping their Erie pride since their inception, so now it's our time to return the favor. In honor of their new CD, The LEC will be hosting a party for you hip-hop, funk, and rock fans out there, so get out and support our local scene.

When: 10 p.m.

Where: the crooked i, 1013 State St.

Contact: facebook.com/thecrookedi

SUNDAY 6.16

Daniel Ellsworth & The Great Lakes w/ Looka Looka Looka

With Daniel Ellsworth & The Great Lakes returning to the crooked i yet again, it's probably safe to say they've come to like our town, which is good, because there's plenty to like about the Nashville, Tenn. band. The quartet's 2011 release "Civilized Man" was named to Amazon's Top 100 Albums of the Year list, with catchy-as-hell track "Shoe Fits" landing at their No. 7 track of 2011, so this bands got the goods for a Sunday night out on State Street. 

When: 10 p.m.

Where: the crooked i, 1013 State St.

Contact: facebook.com/thecrookedi

MONDAY 6.17

Sounds of Summer concert series kicks off

We talk all the time about how much there is to do in Erie in the summer, and for most people that's true. For some, possibly some members of our senior community, many of these events may be a bit much. To you, we say head over to Saint Mary's Home East tonight and enjoy the sounds of the Gem City Jazz Ensemble. This series of free concerts will take place at parks throughout the city, so grab a blanket and some chairs and go enjoy a summer night out in Erie.

When: 7 p.m.

Where: Saint Mary's East, 607 E. 26th

Contact: 814.870.1234

TUESDAY 6.18

SeaWolves vs. New Britain Rock Cats

Wolves versus cats? We're pretty sure we know who'll win this one, even if the cats are a-rockin'. But what we are absolutely positive of though is that the first 500 kiddos through the gates each get a free Smith's hot dog, a bag of Utz potato chip, and a Pepsi fountain drink, as part of the "Kids Eat Free Night." So gather up the family and head down to the ballpark and enjoy a game and celebrate foregoing the need to plan dinner.

When: 6:35 p.m.

Where: Jerry Uht Ballpark, 110 E. 10th St.

Contact: 456.1300

WEDNESDAY 6.19

Colton Harper Quartet CD Release Party

Colton Harper of the multi-platinum selling band Rusted Root brings his quartet to PACA for the release of his new LP, Fools Resolution. Harper draws musical influences from is world travels,  including such places as Brazil, West Africa, and Europe. Tickets are $10. 

When: 7 p.m.

Where: PACA, 1505 State St.

Contact: paca1505.com

THURSDAY 6.20

Boom Bap: Summer Edition All-Ages Hip-Hop Show

Boom Bap returns to help dole out a whole bunch of hip-hop goodness. The all-ages show is set to stuff the stage with performers, bringing in Buffalo, N.Y.-based rappers Mad Dukez and Fresh Kils, Cleveland's Muamin Collective, Erie's own Ghost the Ill Figure, plus even more out of state talent.

When: 6 p.m.

Where: Basement Transmissions, 1501 State St.

Contact: basement-transmissions.webs.com

FRIDAY 6.21

Lake Erie Speedway Racing

Racing and fireworks make for a great summer night at the Speedway, so check out the Advance Auto Parts Monster Jam featuring Grave Digger, Monster Mutt, Grave Digger The Legend, Captain's Curse, Stone Crusher, and Hooked.

When: 6 p.m.

Where: 10700 Delmas Drive, North East

Contact: 725.3303 

SATURDAY 6.22

Bay Swim

Living in Erie, it's hard to resist staring at our lake and feeling the urge to swim. If you can't fight that urge any longer, we suggest an outlet – this one-mile long swim starting at Presque Isle State Park and ending at the Erie Yacht club. It's sure to separate the casual swimmers from the hardcore water fans, but both are welcome. And if you're just looking to support your local swimmers, spectators are welcome too. Cost is $50 and limited to 300 swimmers.

When: 7:30 to 8:30 a.m. check in, 9 a.m. start

Where: Presque Isle State Park Vista 3 Parking Lot

Contact: 833.7424

Girls Girls Girls

Some girls just want to have fun, and for the members of Girls Girls Girls, having fun means being badass. The all-female Motley Crue tribute band has gone from breaking out in New Jersey to touring across the nation. Now, these live wires are coming to State Street to show you their wild side.

When: 10 p.m.

Where: the crooked i, 1013 State St.

Contact: facebook.com/thecrookedi

 SUNDAY 6.23

The Riverside Inn Dinner Theatre presents "Boeing Boeing"

Bernard is a self-styled Parisian womanizer. And he has three fiancees -- an Italian, a German, and an American. If that doesn't scream drama, what does? Well, this is a '60s farce, so there's some laughs to boot, especially when an unexpected schedule change -- you guessed it -- brings all three women to Paris and to Bernard's apartment... at the same time! Thankfully, Bertha -- Bernard's housekeeper -- is there to help with the juggling act since this womanizer's love life is certainly up in the air.

When: 2:30 p.m.

Where: The Riverside Inn Dinner Theatre, One Fountain Avenue, Cambridge Springs

Contact: 800.956.9490

MONDAY 6.24

Cruisin' the Bay

Attention car lovers! Mondays this summer are for you. Fire up that classic car and get on down to the Bayfront Parkway Park-n-Ride. Don't have a sweet vintage ride? Who cares! Bring the family down and enjoy food, music, raffles, giveaways and contests. A great way to spend a Monday night in the summer.

When: 6 to 9 p.m.

Where: Bayfront Parkway Park-n-Ride, foot of Liberty St.

Contact: 814.474.5183

TUESDAY 6.25

Lagoons by Pontoons

Listen. Watch. Enjoy. All as the sunsets over the waters at Presque Isle. Take in the sights and sounds of the Isle's event wildlife while experiencing a PI sunset during this special Lagoons by Pontoons evening session. Registrations for the boat's 16 seats are available on a first-come, first-served basis by phone or in person at the Park Office, starting 10 a.m. Monday, so reserve early so you don't miss this free event.

When: 7 p.m.

Where: Lagoon Launch, Presque Isle State Park

Contact: TRECPI.org