Some willing to purchase season tickets — in Ariz.

Hawkeye fans are ready to descend on Arizona Stadium this fall, and the Wildcats are ready.

“We’ve had a lot of inquiries for Iowa specifically,” said Darren Graessle, Arizona director of ticket operations.

So much so that many Hawkeye fans — or hopeful scalpers — have even bought Wildcat season tickets already just to make sure they get seats for the Iowa game Sept. 18.

“We have gotten some people who were interested in just the Iowa game but were willing to buy the whole season to get it because that’s all we’re selling right now,” Graessle said. “I only kind of took note of the bigger orders because some people bought 10 and one person bought 20.”

Single-game tickets for the game don’t go on sale until 12:01 a.m. Aug. 21.

The Iowa ticket office received a 4,000 ticket allotment from Arizona, and Iowa ticket manager Pam Finke said they had no problem selling them.

“We were able to help most folks with the amount their priority level gave them,” Finke said. “But some people requested more, and we weren’t able to help.”

Most Expensive Single-Game Ticket

The game is priced between $35 and $190, depending on seat location. It is the most expensive single-game ticket of the season at Arizona — more than even Pac-10 showdowns with Arizona State and USC.

“It’s a big draw,” Graessle said. “We know it’s very likely we’re going to sell out that game, so you price it accordingly.”

Iowa is in the rare position of not having enough season tickets for its seven home games to meet demand. Arizona is one of five road games some Hawkeye fans might travel to in 2010 to get their black-and-gold fix.

Finke said the ticket office has stopped taking orders on their allotment of 4,000 tickets for Michigan on Oct. 16 and 3,000 tickets for Minnesota on Nov. 27.

Both will become hard tickets for Hawkeye fans to find. If people don’t mind a November road trip, tickets are almost sure to be available for Indiana (Nov. 6) and Northwestern (Nov. 13), two Big Ten locations where season tickets typically are not in high demand.

The Wildcats have not traditionally sold out a lot of games, but there aren’t a lot of empty seats either. Arizona Stadium seats 56,000-plus fans. The Wildcats averaged 52,555 fans for six home games last season.

The stadium record is 59,920, set in 1996 for the Arizona State game.

Expecting A Sell-Out Game

“There’s just a natural interest,” Graessle said. “A lot of people, as soon as we put that game on the schedule, were calling about it.”

“A lot of our folks have contacts down there,” Finke said. “And if you think about it, we don’t get down to that part of the country very often.”

Reach Ryan Suchomel at 339-7368 or rsuchomel@press-citizen.com.

Volunteers . . .

…. Summer of the Arts needs YOU to help to make it all happen! We have an exciting summer of FREE, family-friendly fun planned, but in order for our festivals to be a success, we need hundreds of volunteers to help in short and long-term positions throughout this summer.

Toyota-Scion Of Iowa City Jazz Festival – July 2-4

This year’s Toyota-Scion of Iowa City Jazz Festival (July 2-4), is quickly approaching. We need the support of community volunteers like you to help make this event a success! We are looking for people to help artists, assist in the FUN Zone,  assist in the merchandise booths and many other positions, including our “Green Team” who will help with the biodegradable and recycling program.

All volunteers should visit the Summer of the Arts website and fill out the online 2010 Volunteer Application. Click here to find the volunteer application.  Once you’ve registered as a volunteer, SotA will send you a link to view available volunteer positions and time shifts and instructions on how to secure a time slot.

Receive Free Tee-Shirt And Have Loads Of Fun!

All volunteers will receive a free Summer of the Arts Volunteer T-shirt (with a new design & color this year) to wear at the events.

Other festival events that you can get involved in volunteering with this summer include: The Friday Night Concert Series, the Free Movie Series, Sand in the City, and Downtown Saturday Nights.

Whether you can give an hour or more, we truly appreciate your support for arts in the Iowa City community, and we look forward to another great year of Summer of the Arts programming!

If you have any questions about volunteering please contact Shane Schemmel at shane@summerofthearts.org or Katie McDonnell at volunteers.sota@gmail.com. You may also call our office at 319.337.7944.

The Midwest One Bank Saturday Night Free Movie Series

Weatherdance Fountain Stage In Ped Mall

The Friday Night Concert Series continues this Friday night at 6:30 at the Weatherdance Fountain Stage in the Ped Mall, right outside of the Iowa City Sheraton Hotel.

Currently in their 58th year, the Iowa Summer Music Camp Jazz combos will take the stage this Friday night with excellent performances from this year’s campers. This annual program provides an invaluable experience for young people as they interact with professional jazz musicians in an environment that encourages performance in small group settings.

Make sure to follow Summer of the Arts on both Twitter  Click Here and Facebook Click Here for any important updates leading up to this week’s concert.

via hooplanow.com

Now that summer is in full flower and last winter’s doldrums are a chilly memory, it’s time to make good on that New Year’s promise most of us pledged, our hands clutching another steaming mug of triple-mocha-latte-whatever: Start eating better.

After all, who can’t find something nutritious to love in the season of strawberries, snap peas and other delights, particularly smack in the heart of America’s farm country? Plus making sure you get your daily allowance of fruits, veggies and other good-for-you stuff can also mean you’re doing the environment and the local economy — not just your body — good.

Of course, you don’t have to grow your own grub to reap the benefits. Fortunately for those of us who don’t have the time for a backyard garden – or don’t have a backyard, period – the Corridor boasts an abundance of farmers markets, from Iowa City (Wednesdays after work, Saturday mornings) up to Cedar Rapids (every weekday from 4 to 6 p.m. at various locations, as well as Saturday mornings) and everywhere in between. North Liberty? Try Sundays. Marion? Wednesday afternoons and Saturday mornings.

“There’s nothing like going out and buying a tomato that was picked just that morning, and then going down to the guy who raises some pork and getting some nice bacon, and picking up some good lettuce and a loaf of bread and then sitting down with your family and friends and having something really good,” says Dennis Rehberg, who’s raised pork on his family farm near Walker since the early 1980s and sells his wares at area farmers markets.

“Eating local” may be a catch phrase these days, but beyond the hipster hype there are many reasons to keep tabs on the pedigree of what’s on your plate. For one thing, supporting local farmers, ranchers and other food producers keeps your grocery dollars in Iowa.

Theresa Carbrey, head of education and member services at Iowa City’s New Pioneer Co-op, points out that while Iowa may be an agricultural economy, that’s not necessarily the case once you walk through the supermarket door.

“Even though Iowa is a major food producer, when it comes to food for people, we’re actually a food importer,” she says.

So what’s the real, tangible benefit of skipping the chain superstore and heading for the Iowa-sourced goods? It’s certainly enough for Rehberg to be able to keep his business a local affair.

“I’m not a big pork producer, but I specialize in farmers markets – I sell about 90 percent of my pork there,” he says.

And with that sort of local focus comes another important benefit: Shopper, meet farmer. Farmer, meet shopper.

“You get a really close relationship with people, you watch their kids grow up. It’s how it should be,” he says. “That’s what a farmers market is for.”

Stuck for inspiration? There’s always someone glad to provide ideas for your dinner plans. In fact, says Jill Wilkins, who organizes the Cedar Rapids Downtown District’s farmers markets, the most popular events have been the cooking demonstrations.

“It gives people ideas on how to use the products that are at the markets – and because they can talk to the person who grew it, people tend to try different produce that they wouldn’t at the grocery store,” she says.

“Come down and give it a try,” she says. “Even if you don’t buy anything the first time. We have a lot of vendors, so it can be a little overwhelming. Explore a few new things, and when you make your grocery list for the week, come down to the farmers market first. You can always fill in the blanks at the grocery store, but you’ll be amazed with what you can actually purchase.”

Can’t make it to market? You’re still not doomed to a week of fish sticks and french fries. Stores, like New Pioneer Co-op, can come to the rescue.
The member-owned store, with locations in Coralville and downtown Iowa City, has been in business since 1971. They stock fresh local goodies — everything from mushrooms to artisan Iowa cheeses — with an emphasis on food that’s sustainably produced, local whenever possible and – most importantly – tasty.

“Think of a tomato that’s built to ship from California or withstand getting bounced off the back of a truck — by the time it gets to the table, the pleasure is lost,” Carbrey says. “What we’re doing is a win-win thing; we’re supporting the people who are doing the right thing with the land, and we get a more pleasing product.”

Plus, Carbrey adds, whether you’re buying food or any other product, you’re indirectly sending a message with your dollars. “Choosing food is really an investment in yourself and your community,” she says.

Mix that with the fact that what you add to your basket at the Co-op or the farmers market is almost surely better for you than something you’d pick up in the drive-through line, and it’s a no-brainer.

All you have to do, she says, is start. “Identify the easiest spot to start making some changes, and go from there.”

“Downtown Saturday Night presented by the Downtown Association of Iowa City kicks off this Saturday night at 6:30 on the Weatherdance Stage, right outside the Iowa City Sheraton Hotel, with Rae & the Honeybees, and Mutiny in The Parlor

Lead singer/songwriter and guitarist Rae formed the Honeybees in October of 2007 and released the band’s first EP that next April. A Coralville native, Rae takes her eclectic influences that range from Prince to Tom Petty to Billie Holiday to form an Alternative Folk/Rock sound that will have you relaxed one minute and on your feet the next!

Mutiny in The Parlor keeps times a swingin’ with as their quintet, made up of a Tuba, Washboard, Saxophone, Guitar and Piano. Formed in 2007, this quintet of Iowa City natives proudly plays Swing Jazz from the 1920s and 30’s, and urges its audience to get up and dance!

Make sure to follow us on Facebook (Click Here) and Twitter (Click Here) for updates on this weeks concerts.”

Again, we’d like these to go up either all on Friday or on the days of each event.

“After a rainout last week, the Midwest One Bank Saturday Night Free Movie Series rolls on with with 1994’s Forrest Gump. This look at contemporary American history as seen throught the eyes of Forrest Gump (Tom Hanks in an Oscar winning performance), a  man with a below average I.Q. but a far above-age heart. In his extraordinary life Forrest becomes a college football star, meets three U.S. presidents and fights in the Vietnam. Winner of the Academy Award for Best Picture in 1995, this one of a kind film that combines humor, heart-stopping emotion, and clever effects.

As always the movie will begin on the Pentacrest at sun down.

Make sure to follow Summer of the Arts on Twitter (Click Here) and Facebook (Click Here) for any updates leading up to this week’s film.”

“The Friday Night Concert Series continues this Friday night at 6:30 at the Weatherdance Fountain Stage in the Ped Mall, right outside the Iowa City Sheraton Hotel.

A Friday Night Concert Series favorite, The Diplomats of Solid Sound will perform in this Friday’s show. The band is best known for sifting through American soul to find their own sound. The result is a spare but spicy groove that is equally stirred by the likes of Booker T., James Brown and The Funk Brothers.

In 2007, The Diplomats expanded their family and created The Diplomettes — an all-female group of soul-stunners. This supercharged group is a dance party in a jewel box, guaranteed to groove its way into your head and your feet — and get both moving fast!

Make sure to follow Summer of the Arts on both Twitter Click Here and Facebook Click Here for any important updates leading up to this week’s concert.”

Les Dames du Burlesque with Cirque Stupendo

Friday June 18, 2010 at 8:30pm

Tickets on Sale: Now!

Ticket Availability: Box Office and Online

Monday – Friday
1:00 to 6:00 PM CST
(319) 688-2653

221 East Washington St.
Iowa City, IA 52240

www.Englert.org

Seating: General admission
*Tickets are $12 each

Description

Les Dames Du Burlesque and Cirque Stupendo with Dr. Eli Calico’s Miracle Water Orchestra present a double show sure to amaze, excite, and horrify.

First, Cirque performers balance on the high wire, wail on the saxophone, and disappear into thin air. Then Les Dames enter with their 100% new show, “Exile from Girlville: The Kiss of the Spider Bride” – a story of cruel and exquisitely grotesque beauty… and of redemption.

Cirque Stupendo’s death-defying stunts may make your heart skip a beat, and Les Dames’s curves and shimmys may stop your heart altogether, but be assured – it shall be well worth it.