• Tweet

For the first time ever, contemporary art images from “The Best of Beijing: Contemporary Chinese Art” collection will be seen in the United State, and Florida Southern College’s Melvin Art Gallery is the site chosen to host the event.

The “Best of Beijing” exhibition consists of 34 works by 30 artists, many of them large-scale paintings and photographs. The works were assembled by two galleries, Red Gate Gallery in Beijing and the Byron Cohen Gallery in Kansas City, Mo., and brought to Miami Beach for the Art Basel festival last month.

James Rogers, chairman of the Division of Fine, Applied and Performing Arts at FSC, had seen some of the works on a trip to Beijing in 2004 and realized it would be affordable to bring them to Lakeland from Miami.

The Byron Cohen collection will be on exhibit until Feb. 5, when it will return to Beijing. The Red Gate collection will continue on exhibit until March 19, when it will travel to Cologne, Germany.

Don’t miss this chance to see this amazing collection of Chinese Post-Modern art.   The Florida Southern College galleries are open to the public from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday when the College is in session.

Technorati Tags: Chinese Art, Florida Southern College, Lakeland Florida, Things to Do

No related posts.

• Tweet

For those of you here in Polk County, Florida who will be out and about Christmas shopping tomorrow morning, December 20, 2008, up and down the Highway 27 Corridor, be sure to please stop by the Polk Outpost 27 Visitor Center between 10:00-11:00 am and hear the “Haines City Strings” perform your favorite holiday music!

The “Haines City Strings” group is comprised of students from Boone Middle School, Daniel Jenkins Academy, Haines City High School, and International Baccalaureate – East Haines City.

Visitor Services Office: Polk Outpost 27-Visitor Information Center 101 Adventure Court, Davenport, FL Located on Hwy 27, 1/2 mile South of Interstate 4 at Exit 55.

Toll Free: 800-828-7655
Local: 863-420-2586
Fax: 863-420-2593

www.visitcentralflorida.org

Technorati Tags: boone middle school, haines city high school, holiday music, polk county florida, Real Estate, Things to Do

No related posts.

• Tweet

Orlando Ballet, Central Florida’s only professional resident ballet company, will perform The Nutcracker at the Tampa Bay Performing Arts Center. Highlighted by memorable sets and costumes, Orlando Ballet?s The Nutcracker features dazzling visual imagery, dynamic dancing and glorious music.

Technorati Tags: Things to Do Winter Haven FL, Things to Do, Winter Haven FL

No related posts.

• Tweet

EVENT: An Evening with Winter Haven, FL Author James W. MacMeekin
DATE/TIME: Saturday, December 6th, from 6:30 to 9:30 PM
LOCATION: Ridge Art Association, 210 Cypress Gardens Blvd., Winter Haven, FL 33884

James W. MacMeekin, a Winter Haven resident, will be discussing his recent activities and signing books at Ridge Art’s “Black and White and Read All Over,” exhibition this Saturday, December 6th, from 6:30 to 8:30 PM.

MacMeekin, a Wall-Streeter for 25 years, occupied offices on the 88^th floor of New York City’s Number One World Trade Center. Now “retired,” he has authored three books.

The first, Lincoln Laughing, (Media One Publishing, 117 pages, $11.95) depicts some of the highlights in Abraham Lincoln’s life, from the time of his early childhood, to his assassination. It is brief, but historically accurate. MacMeekin describes these events punctuating each with anecdotes, stories and jokes used by Lincoln to explain his decisions and actions. President Lincoln was noted not only for his genius and physical presence, but also his humor and superb ability to communicate.   This book provides a rare insight into that ability.

MacMeekin’s second book, Richard O’Kane, and the Sinking of the Forty-Nine (Three River Books, 349 pages, $18.95) details the true story of Commander Richard O’Kane, Captain of the submarine USS Tang. O’Kane revolutionized the use of WWII submarines from an underwater vehicle to that of a speedy surface vessel capable of quick, massive, and destructive force with the ability to outrun pursuing Japanese destroyer-escorts. O’Kane sank a total of 49 Japanese ships, received The Congressional Medal of Honor, and his last patrol was characterized by the U.S. Navy as, “The greatest submarine cruise of all time.” The Military Writers Society of America has reviewed MacMeekin’s book calling it “…a must read, with riveting, well written images.”

MacMeekin’s latest book, The Politically Incorrect Notebook, (Three River Books, 175 pages, $13.95) just   released, contains 25 “essays” pertaining to many issues important to all U.S. citizens. Although humor is employed throughout the book, it is a serious review of population growth, climate change, entitlement programs, Medicare, Social Security, education, and much more. His future plan is to take each essay, and turn it into an in-depth, book length analysis.

MacMeekin’s books can be ordered via his website or by calling 1-863-289-1191.

Technorati Tags: Books, James MacMeekin, ridge art association, Things to Do

No related posts.

• Tweet

Tampa Bay Performing Arts Center presents Gioachino Rossini’s "The Barber of Seville"

Technorati Tags: Things to Do Winter Haven FL, Things to Do, Winter Haven FL

No related posts.

• Tweet

The 11th annual Historic Old Northeast Candlelight Tour of Homes takes place in St. Petersburg.

Technorati Tags: Things to Do Winter Haven FL, Things to Do, Winter Haven FL

No related posts.

• Tweet

The Family Celebration of Lights has become a tradition for hundreds of families in our community. It is a wonderful opportunity to be together and enjoy the holiday season wi

Technorati Tags: Things to Do Winter Haven FL, Things to Do, Winter Haven FL

No related posts.

• Tweet

This year’s Annual Winter Haven, FL Festival of Trees has moved from its usual Citrus Dome location and instead will be held at Winter Haven Airport’s new 13,000 square foot terminal on the northern end of Gilbert Field adjacent to US 92.

Sponsored by the Ridge Art Association, this year’s event will be held on Thursday December 4th, at 7:00 PM.   Food will be provided by Carrabba’s Italian Grill and Richard’s Cafe’, with all proceeds from the $50.00 per person entry fee going to the Association.

Please see this informative article written by the News Chief’s Andrea Clacano Cruz for more information on this very special event.

Photo Credits: The Lakeland Ledger, Destination Winter Haven

Technorati Tags: festival of trees, gilbert field, ridge art association, Things to Do, winter haven airport, Winter Haven FL

No related posts.

• Tweet

Polk Community College’s Student Activities Department – Winter Haven Campus will host the Humane Society’s Adopt-A-Pet event on Nov. 21 from 9 am to1 pm. It will be held on the north side of the Student Center (WST) on the Winter Haven campus.

Adopt-A-Pet is open to students, faculty, and the community. If you’d like to adopt an animal, you must be at least 18 years of age. If you’re renting a room or apartment, you must have permission from your landlord to adopt an animal.   For more information call 863-298-6819.

On a personal note, Buddy – pictured here – is one of our two “rescued” dogs.   Our lives would not be the same without this little meatball and his brother Charlie!

Technorati Tags: Finance, Humane Society, PCC, polk community college, Things to Do, Winter Haven

No related posts.

• Tweet

Cat Carter, blogger extraordinaire over at the LakelandLocal blog has started her “Christmas List” of holiday events going on in the Lakeland, FL area.   She’s done a heck of a job pulling this together, and asks that we all take a look to see if there’s anything to add.

If you know of an event worth adding, give Cat a jingle!   I’m sure she’ll be happy to add it on!

Lakeland, Florida Holiday Season   –   Calendar of Events

• November 22 @ 9am – Breakfast with Santa & Elf Workshop
• November 22 from 9-3pm – Elves Shelves Gift Shoppe
• November 22 @ 11:30am – Holiday Magic Show with Luis Campaneria
• November 28 @ 5:30pm – Salvation Army Kettle Kickoff
• December 2 @ 6pm – 20th Annual Holiday Walkabout
• December 2 @ 7:30pm – Southeastern University Community Christmas concert
• December 4 @ 7pm – 28th Annual Lakeland Christmas Parade (map)
• December 5 @ 6pm – First Friday “Holiday Happenings”
• December 5 @ 7:30pm – Florida Southern College presents Annual Christmas Gala
• December 6 @ 9am – Breakfast with Santa
• December 9 @ 5pm – St. Paul Lutheran Church Bell Choir @ Lakeside Village
• December 9 @ 7:30pm – Imperial Symphony Orchestra: Simply Christmas
• December 11 @ 7:30pm – Harrison School of the Arts presents “Music of the Season”
• December 12 @ 6pm – Holiday Art Festival
• December 13 @ 9am – Breakfast with Santa
• December 13 @ 10am – Free Holiday Movies
• December 13 @ 7:30pm – Florida Dance Theatre presents “The Nutcracker”
• December 14 @ 2pm – Florida Dance Theatre presents “The Nutcracker”
• December 15 @ 6pm – R. Bruce Wagner Elementary
• December 19 @ 6:30pm – Scott Lake Elementary School
• December 20 from 1-4pm – Pre-Kwanzaa Celebration and Workshop
• December 20 @ 8pm – “Classic Albums Live presents A Very Lennon Christmas”

List originally posted by Cat Carter on her LakelandLocal Blog.

Photo Credit: redpepperflakes on Flickr

Technorati Tags: Florida, florida holiday, imperial symphony orchestra, lakeland fl, season calendar, Things to Do

No related posts.