What’s Happening in Florence, AL — Day 3

Everyone loves to go to Music in the Park

Music, music, music! Today is the weekly Music in the Park Concert Series from 11:30-1:30 at Wilson Park in downtown Florence. Today’s artist is Mitch Mann. No admission charge, but you should take your own chair or blanket to sit on. Take a picnic lunch with you, too, to enjoy while you listen to the music! Not sure if the weather is going to cooperate today, but you can check with WQLT or another radio station about whether it is cancelled.

Also during lunchtime today, you can visit McGraw’s Coffee House to hear Kate Tayler Hunt and Kimi Samson. They start at noon and there is no admission. Hey, here’s an idea…grab some lunch from McGraw’s (today’s special is the veggieburger and a side), listen to some music there for a few minutes, then stroll over to the park and catch part of that one too!

Swamper’s in the Marriott Shoals has Tim Cannon performing from 5-7 pm, and if you miss Mitch Mann in the park you can catch him here from 8-11 pm.  On the Rocks in downtown Florence is featuring DJ tonight starting at 9 pm. There may be a cover charge on this one…not sure how much.

If you want to improve your computer skills, the Florence library is having a class in Basic Microsoft Excel this morning from 10:30-12:30. According to the description, the class is for intermediate users (not sure why its called “basic”…hmmm) You do have to preregister, so call Abby Carpenter at 256-764-6564, ext. 27,  to see if they still have seats available.

Story time for Little Ones (babies and pre-schoolers) is also today from 10:30-11 at the library. This week’s story is Koala Lou by Mem Fox.

Finally, at the library today (wow, they are busy today!) Is another eReader Party starting at 2 pm. Seating is limited so you have to register by calling 256-764-6564, ext. 27. The party is in the conference room.

What’s Happening in Florence, AL – Day 1

Monday.

The first day of summer.

Seems like a good day to start something new!

“There’s nothing to do around here!” How many times have you heard that? I hear it all the time and I just don’t understand it! One of the beautiful things about living in Florence and the Shoals area is that there is ALWAYS something to do.  Whether you are interested in music, books, art, theatre, fishing, sports, or anything else you can think of, something is ALWAYS going on!

Apparently, not everyone can find all those things, so for the next year (if I stay on top of it! lol) I am going to document “something to do” every day. So if you have an event planned and want to get the word out, let me know!

Monday, June 20, 2011

Now I haven’t played backgammon since I was a child, but I have a friend who plays it with much shouting and gnashing of teeth on his phone. I’m thinking it must be more exciting than I remember! On Monday nights, the Northwest Alabama Backgammon Club sponsors a tournament at O’Charley’s on Cox Creek Parkway. The tournament begins at 6 pm, with registration at 5:45 and free lessons beginning at 5:15. Registration fee is only $1 and the tournament fee is $1. I looked at the membership list and it seems like there is a variety of ages, and they welcome all levels of player. Could be a good (and inexpensive!) way to meet new people if you’re new in town!

During the day this week, you can also take a short ride into downtown Tuscumbia to the Tennessee Valley Museum of Art for a couple of different art exhibits. First is the Helen Keller Art Show of Alabama. This touring exhibit includes artworks created by Alabama children who are visually impaired, deaf, or deaf/blind. Also at the same museum is the Watercolor Society of Alabama Annual Juried Competition. Admission to the museum is $5 for adults and $3 for students. Both exhibits will be there through July 8.

The library is always a good place to find something to do. Today from 2-2:45 pm, the kids (grades K-4) can “travel” to Australia through books and powerpoint presentation by Miss Brianna in Youth Services. The “Let’s Visit a New Land” program focuses on a different country every week. For all ages, there is an e-reader party at 5 pm tonight. This is an opportunity to try out different types of e-readers and find out more about how to get books for them. Registration is required due to limited seating, so call 256-764-6564, ext. 27 or email classes@flpl.org to sign up.