Just Around The Corner: February 3, 2000

Just Around The Corner
Noteworthy Events in the Greater Harrisburg Area

Keystone Chocolatefest Weekend 2000
Hershey Lodge and Convention Center
February 6

Chocolatefest Weekend is back and the Hershey Lodge and Convention center is ready to play host to chocolate lovers throughout the region.

The event will feature a chocolate sampling, silent auction, live entertainment, a raffle, and a variety of children’s activities. WGAL-TV’s Brad Hicks has signed on to be the celebrity host of the event.

In addition to the Chocolatefest, the Weekend also encompasses the Second Annual Keystone ChocolateBall, an elegant, black-tie affair, that will feature live music from Big Tubba Mista and will include dinner, dancing, and a live auction.

The Weekend, which raised over $75,000 last year, directly benefits the Keystone Human Services family of agencies, including Capital Area Head Start, Keystone Children and Family Services, and Keystone Behavioral Health Systems, Inc., among others.

The Keystone Chocolatefest 2000 will be held in the Hershey Lodge and Convention Center’s Great American Hall on Sunday February 6, 2 p.m. – 5 p.m. Tickets prices are $12.50/adult ($15 at the door, as available), $5/children 4 – 12, and free for children three and under. Tickets are available at Boscov’s, Pealer’s Flowers, The Hershey Lodge, The Hotel Hershey, and Keystone Human Services.

The Keystone ChocolateBall will be held from 6:30 p.m. – midnight, February 5th. Ticket prices are $100 per person and $150 per patron by calling Keystone Human Services at 232-7509.

Phildanco
Rose Lehrman Arts Center, Harrisburg Area Community College
February 26

Hailed by The New York Times as "exuberant" and as "brazing physically" by the Village Voice, Phildanco has been described by many as a contemporary dance company with unparalleled energy and superior technical ability.

The Philadelphia Dance Company will perform two pieces from a newly created dance suite entitled, On the Shoulders of Our Ancestors. The selections are entitled, "Labesse II" and "Echoes: A Celebration of Alvin Ailey." Phildanco will also dance "La Valse" and "Beattyville" at the performance.

Founded some 30 years ago by Joan Myers Brown, the Dance Company has been featured in concert with The Philadelphia Orchestra and have performed in such prestigious venues as New York’s Madison Square Garden, Lincoln Center, and the Joyce and Delecorte Theatres.

In addition to the Saturday performance, the Dance Company will be in the area on Thursday and Friday, the 23 and 24, to conduct a variety of educational activities. On Thursday, February 24, the group will helm a Dance Masterclass in HACC’s Evans Physical Education Building, Dance Studio, Room 107 at a cost of $10 per participant. The Company will also host an open lecture in the Lehrman Arts Center’s Studio Theatre from 12 p.m. – 1p.m. Admission is free.

Phildanco will perform at the Rose Lehrman Arts Center on February 26 at 8 p.m. Ticket prices are $23 for adults and $16 for seniors and students. For tickets, call 231-ROSE or 214-ARTS. Advance ticket purchase is highly recommended.

Film: Starship Troopers
Allen Theater
February 13

Always thought that living in the new Millennium would be living in a wildly crazy and futuristic environment? Even though that hasn’t happened — yet — you can still go to the outer limits in your mind. Be a part of Lebanon Valley College’s "2000: What’s Next?" spring film series, a series that will explore science fiction and its role on the big screen.

Released in 1997, Starship Troopers is based on the novel by Robert Heinlein. The epic tells the struggle of a young group of soldiers who battle for their citizenship by warding off giant, mutant-like, brain-eating insects on the planet Kiendathu. Directed by Paul Verhoeven, the film stars Casper Van Dien, Bond girl Denise Richards, Neil Patrick Harris, and Patrick Muldoon. Don’t miss the dazzling special effects and the quirky one-liners.

Starship Troopers will be at the Allen Theater in Annville on February 13 at 4 p.m. Ticket prices are $3/general admission and free for students with I.D.

Jazz Beneath The Stars
State Museum
February 12

If it’s true that there’s nothing like an evening beneath the stars … then an evening of Jazz Beneath the Stars must be even better!

Back by popular demand, the Friends of the State Museum are again sponsoring the event — a showcase of elegant desserts, appetizers, champagne, and, of course, the combination of stars and the hottest jazz in town.

New to this year, the event will also include dancing — at the request of the patrons. "Our visitors really enjoyed spending time in the planetarium, but we also had requests for an area to dance in," said David Volkman, Co-Chair of this year’s committee. "We are excited about trying something a little different this year."

Music will be provided by CoCo & Company in the Planetarium and the Robin Work Trio in Memorial Hall.

Don’t miss the opportunity to dance the night away under the glow of the stars!

The State Museum’s Jazz Beneath the Stars will take place on February 12, from 7 p.m. – 11 p.m. Ticket prices are $20/person, $18/Friends’ members. Tickets can be purchased in the Museum shop located on the Museum’s ground floor or charged by phone at 772-6997.

Last year’s event was a sell-out, so be sure to get your tickets in advance!

15th Annual Chameleon Bluesfest
Chameleon Club
February 18 – 19

One of the highlights of the rock year, the Chameleon Club’s annual Bluesfest is one event that a true music lover cannot afford to miss. Held for the 15th year, the 2000 edition of the Bluesfest is boasting a lineup that features such acts as Chris Cain, Magic Red, and The Mighty Sam McClain.

As a special attraction, the entire event, held from 6 p.m. – midnight both nights, will be recorded live in the Club’s Lizard Records Recoding Studio for the purpose of creating a 15th Chameleon Bluesfest CD to be released in the spring. Advance copies can be ordered at the event.

The Chameleon Club’s 15th Annual Bluesfest will be held the weekend of February 18 and 19. Doors open at 6 p.m. and ticket prices are $15 each night or $25 for both nights. The Chameleon Club is located at 223 N. Water Street, Lancaster. For more info, call 393-7133.

Bal Masque — Blues in the Night
Whitaker Center
February 19

Held regularly as a major fundraiser by the Art Association of Harrisburg, Bal Masque is a gala costume dinner/dance that has been wowing the region since 1940.

This year’s theme is Blues in the Night and, by all accounts, the Whitaker Center should come alive with arts supporters decked out in their finest interpretations of the theme — ranging from the color to anything derived from the word itself, ranging from specific topics such as "Blue Suede Shoes" and "Blue Lagoon" to such abstract ideas as the sky or the ocean.

Music for the evening will be provided by Perky Scott and Extremity, and the dinner will be catered by the Harrisburg Hilton and Towers.

In addition to dinner and dancing, the evening will also play host to a costume contest, with costumes judges in categories such as "Most Comical," "Most Beautiful," and "Best Millennial Interpretation." Winners of the costume contest will be announced at 11 p.m., at that time that the winner of the raffle will be announced, as well. Top raffle prize for this year’s event is two tickets on American Airlines to fly to a U.S., Caribbean, Canadian, or Mexican designation.

Proceeds from Bal Masque will benefit the Art Association’s AAH School and Educational programs.

Bal Masque 2000, "Blues in the Night," will begin at 6 p.m. at the Whitaker Center for Science and the Arts, downtown Harrisburg.

For invitations and for more information, call the Art Association at 236-1432.