June 1998 Just Around The Corner

Just Around The Corner
Noteworthy Events in the Greater Harrisburg Area

Compiled by Andrea M. Ciccocioppo

JUNE 5

Gran Torino at The Courtyard

Gran Torino is a little band out of Knoxville, Tennessee, with a BIG sound. They’ve been playing their special combination of rock, jazz, funk, soul and mostly R&B for a little over two years, performing over 200 shows in their first year and selling out almost every market they play. The band includes the talent of P.J. Alexander on trumpet, piano, organ and vocals; Stephen Decker on lead guitar and vocals; Chris Ford on lead vocals and rhythm guitar; Dexter Murphy on trombone, piano, organ and vocals; Todd Overstreet on bass and vocals; Scott Pederson on trumpet, sax and vocals; Whit Pfohl on drums; and Jason Thompson on sax and vocals. With vocals, percussion, woodwinds, brass, and guitar talent all wrapped up in one band, you know you’re in for a night of great music. Also appearing at The Courtyard that evening will be The Almighty Senators (an incredible funk band) from Baltimore, and Big Tubba Mista (from Harrisburg). For more information on Gran Torino, check out their website at www.grantorino.com.

JUNE 5-7

1998 NSRA Street Rod Nationals East, York Fairgrounds, York

If you’ve ever been in a town where a street rod event was going on, you know what a big deal this is—whether you’re into street rods, or you’re just sitting in the traffic that’s been backed up for blocks as they cruise into town. For those who don’t know the nuts and bolts of this 25th annual event, the National Street Rod Association sponsors this competition of over 5,500 modernized vintage (pre-1949) automobiles which are worth from $10,000 to $35,000 each, and sport beautiful—and often uniquely painted exteriors and luxurious interiors. All vehicles must be driven to the event to be eligible for any awards, which include over $90,000 in prizes, plus a new 1998 S-10 Chevrolet. This year’s Nationals also features over 175 manufacturers and dealers of specialty auto parts who will be selling their supplies, plus special live entertainment each day. The event closes on Sunday with a “Circle of Winners” and awards ceremony. Show hours are Friday and Saturday, 8:30 a.m.-5:30 p.m.; Sunday, 8:30 a.m.-2 p.m. Admission is $10 (adult); $3 (kids 6-12); kids under five free when accompanied by an adult. Tickets are available only at the fairgrounds during the event.

JUNE 12-14

The 18th Annual Central PA Mellon Jazz Festival, Harrisburg

It’s that time of year again when the smooth sounds of Jazz waft through Harrisburg at the Annual Central PA Mellon Jazz Festival, sponsored by the Central PA Friends of Jazz. The event begins on Friday with a concert featuring the David Sanchez Quintet and the Elvin Jones Quintet at the Hilton. Other performances over the course of the weekend at various venues throughout the city include the Buddy Rich Band featuring Steve Smith, the New York Voices quartet, Trumpet player Art Farmer, and Pastor Dred Scott and Steve Rudolf, to name a few. This year’s festival also includes a JazzWalk that runs through a two-block area and features 10 sites with a variety of different styles of music, from Latin to Dixieland. The JazzWalk runs each night from 10 p.m-2 a.m. Tickets to the JazzWalk are $10 and can be purchased at the Hilton. For more information on the Jazz Festival, contact the Central PA Friends of Jazz at 540-1010.

JUNE 14

Independent Filmmaker Jerry Orr, Susquehanna Art Museum, Harrisburg

If you’ve never been to one of Moviate’s events, this is a great one to get you into the world of independent filmmaking. Moviate brings Reading native, Jerry Orr, to Harrisburg for a presentation of his unique style of film and video sketches on Sunday, June 14, at the Susquehanna Art Museum. Orr, a founding member of Berks Filmmakers, an influential organization dedicated to the survival of independent film since 1974, has been involved with all aspects of the underground film scene. This month’s presentation will feature both Super-8 films including Carousel (1984); Chance Hand (1984); Prayer Wheel (1987); and Journey (1988), and video pieces including: The Wizard of Oz: A Metaphysical Dream (1992), Ghost in the Machine (1993), Great Adventure (1994) and more. The program starts at 8 p.m. For more information, call MOVIATE at 737-2176.

JUNE 18

Jubilee Day, Mechanicsburg

The place to be for crafts, food and fun is Mechanicsburg on Thursday, June 18, when the street fair of all street fairs takes over the downtown area. Jubilee Day, now in its 70th year, features over 300 vendors offering a variety of crafts, food and entertainment, including musical performances by several bands (watch for this year’s exciting lineup TBA). And, new to this year’s fest is a petting zoo and pony rides for the kids. The fair takes place on Mechanicsburg’s Main and surrounding streets and runs from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m., rain or shine.

JUNE 27-28

135th Anniversary of the Confederate Invasion of Cumberland County

Civil War buffs and others fascinated by local history will want to check out some of the events occurring around Cumberland County on Saturday and Sunday, June 27-28. The 135th anniversary of the Confederate Invasion of Cumberland County is remembered with living history encampments at Camp Hill, Hampden Township, Lemoyne’s Fort Couch and Mechanicsburg, sponsored by the Camp Curtin Historical Society. And, for more information on how the Civil War affected Cumberland County, the County Historical Society in Carlisle is currently running an exhibit, “The Civil War Comes to Cumberland County,” through December 3, which explores some of the issues, events and personalities that helped shape the community. For more information, contact the Historical Society at 249-6931, or check out their website at www.historicalsociety.com.