ARTS

ONGOING

Small Wonders, an exhibit featuring artists Nancy Green and Lorraine Roy, will be on display at the Grimsby Public Art Gallery, 18 Carnegie Lane, until October 26. Admission is free.

The Niagara Pumphouse, 247 Ricardo Street, NOTL, has all-day workshops on Saturdays. Bookings for October are as follows: Oct. 18 - Stepping Out of Your Comfort Zone with Susan Wintrop; Oct. 18 - Atmosphere Workshop with Diane Vogel; Oct. 25 - Life Drawing for Beginners with Jim Kerr.

An October exhibit at the Niagara Pumphouse, 247 Ricardo Street, NOTL, will feature Linda Hankin's "Ideas in Art." Hankin is a versatile and talented artist with eclectic tastes and a colourful brush.

Brock University's Centre for the Arts has a vast professional entertainment season lined up for the Sean O'Sullivan Theatre in '08-09, featuring acts from October to April. For information, call the box office at 905-688-5550 ext. 3257, 1-866-617-3257 or order tickets online at www.arts.brocku.ca.

The Niagara District Art Association, 5070 Victoria Ave. in Niagara Falls, is having a painted art exhibition juried by professional artist and Dundas art teacher Marla Panko. The show will be open every Sunday in October, from 2 to 4 p.m. Admission is free.

Oct. 10

The Welland-Port Colborne Concert Association presents Anastasia to kickoff its 2008-09 season. For tickets call Hilda Belcastro, membership chair, at 905-788-1648. The show is at the Centennial School auditorium at 8 p.m. The next show is the Orchestra Internazionale d'Italia on Nov. 2.

Oct. 15

The Niagara Heritage Quilters' Guild will host a social hour at 6:30 p.m. Oct. 15, followed by a meeting at 7:30 at Merritton Community Centre 7, Park Street. Guest speaker for October is Rosemary Makham. Rosemary is an award winning teacher and quilter who grew up in Nova Scotia. She will be showing her beautiful quilts while discussing quilt-making and teaching. For further information, call Elaine at 905-935-9048.

Oct. 15-18

The St. Catharines Art Association will hold its fall show at the St. Catharines Public Library, Wed. Oct. 15 through Sat. Oct. 18 featuring the work of more than 30 local artists. Library hours are Tues - Thurs. 10 a.m. to 9 p.m., Fri. 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Sat. 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Wheelchair accessible.

Oct. 16, 23, 30

The St, Catharines Downtown Association is bringing the big screen back to Downtown St. Catharines for the last three Thursdays of October. Playing will be six classic Halloween movies at the Market square, with shows starting at 7 p.m. and 9 p.m. each night. AIDS Niagara will be on site for all three evenings, where they will be selling popcorn, candy and drinks.

The Pelham Art Association is proud to present a workshop on Design, focusing on pattern and texture by award-winning American artist Denise Speery, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. in the Festival Room at the Pelham Library Fonthill. Contact Mary Powley at 905-892-2546.

COMEDY

ONGOING

Casino Niagara features free live entertainment every weekend, from 10 p.m. to 2 a.m. New York Minute: October 10 to 11. Taxi: October 17 to 18. For information, visit casinoniagara.com.

Yuk Yuk's at Casino Niagara. Featuring Allyson Smith with Fred Proia and David Tsonos, October 9 to 11. Featuring Kyle Radke with Jean Paul and Vito D'Amico, October 16 to 18. For tickets and information, call 905-262-LAFF (5233).

NOV. 20

The Niagara Falls Comedy Fest, Thursday, Nov. 20, will feature the talents of home-grown comedians Rodney Pentland and Mark Matthews, and Nikki Payne. Proceeds from the event will benefit the construction of a Kidney Dialysis Centre in Niagara Falls. The festival will be held at the Greg Frewin Theatre, on 5781 Ellen Avenue in Niagara Falls. The show begins at 8 p.m. Tickets are $19 and may be purchased from the Greg Frewin Theatre at 905 356-0777, online at tickets@gregfrewintheatre.com, or in person. For further details, visit www.NiagaraFallsComedyFest.com.

LITERATURE

ONGOING

The Heart of Niagara Fall Reading Series is hosted by the Pelham Public Library. Future authors include: Kelley Armstrong (Oct. 28), Gregory Lamberson and Derek Clendening (Oct. 29), Barbara Fradkin (Nov. 11). The library seats 80. Readings begin at 7:30 p.m. and $5 or $7 tickets are recommended to be purchased in advance. Call 905-892-6443.

The seventh annual Grimsby Author Series will feature 12 authors in six evenings at the Casablanca Winery Inn. Dates include: Andrew Pyper and Alissa York (Oct. 22), Kenneth J. Harvey and Fred Stenson (Nov. 10), Helen Humphreys and Kristen den Hartog (Dec. 1), Mary Lou Finlay and Kenneth Whyte (Feb. 4), Edeet Ravel and Lee Gowan (March. 4) and Paul Quarrington and Terry Fallis (April 1). Tickets are available at the Grimsby Public Library, 18 Carnegie Lane, for $15 each or $75 for the entire season. Proceeds support the library and art gallery.

MUSIC

OCT.18

The Inaugural Niagara Music Forum goes Oct. 18 at the Four Points Sheraton, Schmon Parkway, Thorold. The forum will provide musicians and music industry practitioners a chance to network and learn in a fun environment. To attend, register ahead at www.niagaramusicforum.com. Cost is $35 plus GST.

OCT.22

Chorus Niagara children's choir is set to perform on Wednesday Oct. 22 at 7 p.m. at the Niagara United Mennonite Church on 1776 Niagara Stone Road or Hwy 55 in Niagara-on-the-Lake. Guests at the church will include Timothy Marrie, conductor and Lynne Honsberger, accompanist. Also present will be Kinder Konnection with special guest choristers Kinderchor Cantemus from Hamburg, Germany and Clemens Bergemann, conductor. Tickets are $10 for Adults/Seniors and $5 for Children 12 and under.

Oct. 23-25

From Oct. 23 to 25, the seventh annual Thorold Blues Festival will be taking place in downtown Thorold. The event features some of the finest blues artists from Canada and the USA at various venues each night. Proceeds go to the NHS new hospital building fund, autism Society Niagara Region and the Thorold Community Activities Group Building fund. For more information visit www.canalbankshuffle.com.