More Culture Than Yogurt
That’s March in Lansdowne and vicinity, when a person can’t swing a sack of tulip bulbs without hitting a dramatic, musical, or art event of some sort. Hope you rested in January and February, because it’s going to be a busy month if you’re an arts supporter.

The Fun –- and we mean that capital F -- starts tonight, opening night of High School Musical at Penn Wood Middle School. Far and away the most popular dramatic offering in schools across the country, this adaptation of the Disney movie focuses on teens, cliques, and love, with all the singing and dancing that traditionally accompany such a tale (think Grease and West Side Story). The middle schoolers give it their all for three performances only, tonight through Saturday at 7:00 pm, Penn Wood Middle School, 121 Summit St., Darby. Tickets are $3 for kids, students, and senior citizens, and $5 for everyone else. Get them at the door.

Also opening this week is the funny, punny play, Fools. Presented by Celebration Theater, Fools is a comic fable about a young schoolteacher, new to a remote Ukrainian village, who falls in love with a woman already being wooed by another. To make matters worse, he learns that the village is cursed with stupidity and that he too will fall under the curse if he stays there for more than 24 hours. A little Neil Simon, a little Mel Brooks, a little Dr Seuss -- with a dash of Fiddler on the Roof -- Fools starts tomorrow night and runs Thursdays through Sundays until March 22 at the Twentieth Century Club. Tickets are $12 to $17.

Tonight, March 6, from 4 to 8 pm, The Art Gallery @ Noel Schmidt Furniture invites you to the opening reception for watercolorist Jim Ryan and photographer Bill Greenan. The gallery is on the lower level of Noel Schmidt Furniture, 32 E. Baltimore Avenue, and is a terrific clean, well-lighted space devoted to promoting the work of local names in the art world. Stop by the opening to meet the artists and (the most important part of all art openings) to see and be seen. There will be refreshments!

Plays? Check. Art? Check. But how about classical music? Check and mate. The Lansdowne Symphony Orchestra’s next concert, Signs of Spring, features works by Rossini, Fauré, Rimsky-Korsakov, and Franck. Notably, this performance is dedicated to the memory of Elisa De La Cova, beloved longtime Lansdowne resident and ardent LSO supporter. The concert is 3:00 pm, Sunday, March 16, at the Upper Darby Performing Arts Center, Upper Darby High School.

Finally, word apparently is leaking out that we got the goods music-wise. Just in case you missed it, check out this piece from the Philadelphia Inquirer a couple weeks ago lauding the Lansdowne Folk Club and mentioning our “burgeoning and eclectic music scene.” Burgeoning and eclectic are in fact perfect descriptors of the arts here in general.

The Lansdowne Main Street Program is looking for volunteers to participate in an exciting new project. We are looking to continue to make our downtown the walkable, prosperous destination that it deserves to be. The Farmers Market is a great addition, Lansdowne Loves Movies is coming soon, and we're proud of our foundation businesses, old and new alike. It is in this spirit of progress that we now look to step up our business recruitment effort, targeting specific business sectors that will add to our downtown, fill retail gaps, and create an ideal diversity of goods and services to help make a day in downtown Lansdowne better than ever. We need volunteers to help organize a town tour and seminar for entrepreneurs in our targeted business sectors. Let us know if you are interested, and we'll get you up to speed on our findings, and how we're going to go about this recruitment effort. Contact Main Street Manager Gary Chilutti at 484-461-7001, or gary@lansdownesfuture.org.

Looking for Volunteers?
Does your community group need to connect with volunteers? The LEDC wants to help. Here's how: Fill out our Need Volunteers form to place your free call for volunteers. We'll list your specific volunteer needs in this space, giving you exposure to many local community-minded folks.

In addition to the many wonderful cultural events listed in the column at left, don't miss these upcoming events:

Regency Cafe presents Christopher Glenn
Thursday, March 6, 7:30 pm; Regency Cafe, 14 S. Lansdowne Avenue; Free
Enjoy the guitar and folk songs of Christopher Glenn at Regency Cafe this week.

Jim Boggia at Lansdowne Folk Club
Thursday, March 27, 7:30 pm; Twentieth Century Club, 84 S. Lansdowne Avenue; $15-$18
Philadelphia-based singer-songwriter Jim Boggia returns from a series of perfomances at SXSW in Austin to present his own catchy, intelligent songs at the Lansdowne Folk Club. For more info visit the Lansdowne Folk Club online.

View the complete listing of local events

Do you have an event to announce?
Send your upcoming events to events@lansdownesfuture.org to have them included in this space!

New Website
The Lansdowne Farmers Market has relaunched its website, complete with blog! What’s next -– a MySpace page? (Perhaps . . .)
Spend most of your summer Saturdays at the Farmers Market already? Want to get paid for it? Now’s your chance, as we have an opening for a Market Manager. The job description is available here. Combining community involvement and environmental responsibility with a good time, this position is a great part-time opportunity for the right person.
We are also seeking volunteers to help out with other Market tasks. We’re glad for any assistance offered, but we might also be able to help you. If you (or someone you know) is a student who needs to fulfill a requirement for community service, drop us a line.
Finally (for now), we’re on the lookout for groups and organizations interested in sponsoring events to take place in conjunction with the 2008 Market. Community groups, clubs, and other organizations are invited to visit our website and submit your proposal. We provide the space and there’s no fee; you just have to come up with an event and get the word out about it. Easy, huh?

The Changing Culture of Consumers and Community
by Gary Chilutti
While Lansdowne has many unique and wonderful assets that make this very special, rising arts town what many call the ’Jewel of Delaware County,’ the forces that led to the change in its economy and its rebirth are quite common. [read more]

Arts & Crafts Show: The LEDC is seeking artists and crafters to participate in the Lansdowne Arts & Crafts Show, to be held Saturday, May 3, in the municipal parking lot on North Lansdowne Avenue next to PNC bank (site of the Farmers Market). Tables are available for $25 per artists; for exhibitor information and further details please see this application form.

Facade Grants: Grants are available to business owners in the central business district for facade improvement. This program can provide up to a 50% match for qualified businesses. For more information please contact Gary Chilutti by calling 484-461-7001 or sending an email to Gary@LansdownesFuture.org.

Fundraising: Help the LEDC make Lansdowne even better by making a tax-deductible contribution today. Funds are used to support projects such as the Lansdowne Farmers Market, Lansdowne Arts Festival, Lansdowne Loves Movies, and all sorts of great stuff (including this newsletter!). Gifts can be made online at www.LansdownesFuture.org/donate.

Volunteer: Yet another way to make Lansdowne a great town...volunteer for the LEDC. We have spots open in Facade Design, Organization, Promotions, and Economic Restructuring. To volunteer, please contact Gary Chilutti by calling 484-461-7001 or sending an email to Gary@LansdownesFuture.org.