Summer Sundays are perfect for afternoon beer drinking. What could make that better than drinking some beer for a good cause? Check out the info from awesome person extraordinaire Katie Ries. Support this innovative and purposeful project!

I’m writing to let you know about a project I’m working to make happen at CAC Beardsley Community Farm: Urban Land Scout Summer Camp. That’s right– Urban Land Scout Camp! We hope to open our doors this July to sixty campers (grades 5th – 7th) over three sessions.  We’ll do farm chores, eat together, make things, and work on earning Urban Land Scout badges. Best of all, we hope to offer the camp at no cost to our campers and their families. The Tomato Head and Cruze Dairy Farm have generously stepped up to cover our meals, and several local individuals have already contributed to the camp. Now we’re hoping you’ll join us.

We will be gathering this Sunday, from 6-9 pm, at the Birdhouse (800 N. 4th Ave.) to drink nice beer (from the Downtown Grill and Brewery), eat snacks, meet each other, and talk about the project (or whatever you feel like discussing on a Sunday evening with a beer in hand). We’re asking for a donation of $5-10 and an hour or so of your time so we can tell you more about the project. We hope you can join us. If you can’t make it to the event, but would still like to support the project, you can make a tax-deductible donation to our sponsoring non-profit, Schools of Influence Education Foundation, here:

Lastly, if you know a young person rising into grades 5th – 7th (or the parents of one) who attends any of the Knox County schools listed below and who might be interested in Urban Land Scout Camp, please send them our way. Or download this application and hand it to them.

For the past few months Mockingbird has been working with the Bijou Theatre and the Theatre’s board to plan their annual fundraiser. It’s super easy and fun to plan such an event because it is going to be so FABULOUS. I blogged about the amazing food Holly’s Eventful Dining has come up with a couple weeks back. If you haven’t bought your tickets, you should. It’s going to be a blast and is really a bargain considering all the food, drink, entertainment, and general good times that are to be had by all who attend. There will be stilt walkers, a roaming magician, tarot card readings, and MUSIC!

Here’s a not from board president Larsen Jay. Tickets are available HERE.

Next Friday, May 20th, I invite you to come to a special event in downtown Knoxville….the 2011 Jubilee!

With one ticket, you’ll experience a party like no other – complete with amazing performers, exceptional food and drinks, unbelievable buskers and circus performers, and an offering of famous instruments – then you’ll be led to the most historic theatre in Knoxville for a performance by New Orleans legends.

That’s the Bijou Jubilee! and you have the opportunity to be a part of the best party of the year while helping preserving one of our city’s treasures.

Your ticket includes all this (yes, it includes all the food and drink too!):
Pre-party celebration in Krutch Park Extension under the “big-top” tent featuring:
Entertainment from D.J. Steve Greene & Boozehound Gandy Dance
Food & Drink from Holly’s Eventful Dining
Beer Garden by Marble City Brewing Company
Unique presentations from One World Circus, Magicians and Fortune Tellers
The U.S. Cellular Photo Booth
Live auction of one-of-a-kind instruments signed by world-famous performers (Steve Miller, Avett Brothers, Abigail Wasburn, Ryan Bingham, Merle Haggard & Kris Kristofferson)

Then the Big Orange Banditos Marching Band will lead a procession to the Bijou Theatre where you’ll be treated to…A main stage performance by New Orleans’s legends the Dirty Dozen Brass Band!

All of this is included in the $100 ticket price – food, drink, performances, entertainment AND concert….PLUS….every ticket holder also receives a one year “Friends of the Bijou” membership – a $50 value on its own!

And if that wasn’t enough…$75 of your ticket price is a tax-deductible donation to the historic Bijou Theatre, helping to preserve the “Gem of the South” as a cornerstone of cultural and performing arts in our community.

I hope you’ll join me next Friday in downtown Knoxville for the Bijou Jubilee!