Bradenton's Village of the Arts announces photo contest

   There's no shortage of photogenic spots in Bradenton's Village of the Arts. Take a photo of one of them and you could win some cool prizes.

   The Village of the Arts has just announced a new Instagram photo contest. The way it works is, you take pictures somewhere in the Village of the Arts and you post them to Instagram with the hashtag #VOTAPHOTO, along with information about exactly where you took the photo.

   The photos with the most "likes" win gift certificates from galleries and restaurants within the Village of the Arts.(More specifics about the prizes will be announced later.) 

   The only restrictions on the photos is that they have to be taken in the Village of the Arts during the contest dates, Oct. 31-Dec. 1. Once you post the photos, they'll become the property of the Village of the Arts and you'll get credit if your work is used in promotional material.

   The Village of the Arts is near downtown Bradenton, bordered by 14th Street West, Ninth Street West,  Ninth Avenue West and 17th Avenue West. For more information about the contest, contact Luke Sokolewicz at 727-688-4599 or luke.sokolewicz@gmail.com.

   

WEEKEND: Village of the Arts in Bradenton hosts 'Sweethearts Artwalk'

Zoe Von Averkamp, right, serves visitors Eleanore Neumann and Dorothy Werner of Bradenton a little chilled sangria as they tour Averkamp's Divine Excess gallery and outdoor garden in during an Art Walk at Village of the Arts in Bradenton. HERALD FILE PHOTO

Read more here: http://www.bradenton.com/2012/05/04/4026512/art-walk-at-bradentons-village.html#storylink=misearch#storylink=cpy

Take a walk on the romantic side Friday and Saturday through the Village of the Arts in Bradenton during this month's Valentine Day's inspired "Sweethearts Artwalk."

Twenty galleries will be displaying pottery, jewelry, paintings, folk art, sculptures, art to wear in colorful 1920s cottages.

Looking for a romantic eating experience in the village? Check out one, or more, of the neighborhood's five dining destinations:

Arts and Eats, Charisma Cafe & Art, Downs' Bradentown Lunch & Dining House, Ortygia Ristorante, Sweets' Bakehouse.

All five restaurants will be open and offering specials Friday and Saturday.

Details: 6-9:30 p.m. Feb. 1 and 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Feb. 2, The Village of the Arts, located 4 blocks south of Manatee Ave. between 9th St. W. and 14th St. W. in downtown Bradenton. Information: 941-747-8056 or www.villageofthearts.com.

Check out what else is going on in Weekend. 

Read more here: http://www.bradenton.com/2013/01/31/4372772/take-a-sweethearts-artwalk-through.html#storylink=cpy

Read more here: http://www.bradenton.com/2013/01/31/4372772/take-a-sweethearts-artwalk-through.html#storylink=cpy

WEEKEND: Grand opening for Arts & Eats in Village of the Arts, Joe Nichols and more in Bradenton and beyond

There's a new player in the Village of the Arts.

And he wants to meet you.

Attendees are invited to join chef Jim Copening and Donna Slawsky for the grand opening of Arts & Eats Restaurant and Gallery in the heart of the Village of the Arts this Friday and Saturday.

Read more.

Country star Joe Nichols at Joyland and more in Weekend.

WEEKEND: Florida Georgia Line at Joyland, Trampled Under Foot at Aces, Boyz II Men at Mahaffey

Tyler Hubbard, left, and Brian Kelley of country music duo Florida Georgia Line.

The parents of Lakewood Ranch High seniors Josh "Bubba" Rogers and Brett "Bswag" Wagner have teamed with Joyland and one of the hottest new acts in country music for a benefit concert to celebrate their sons' birthdays and raise seat belt awareness.

The 1st annual B.U.B.B.A. Birthday Bash concert on Friday will feature a performance by Florida Georgia Line, with all of the ticket sales going to the Buckle Up for Bswag and Bubba Association.

Also known as B.U.B.B.A, the organization was started by Gena Rogers and Debbie Wagner, the mothers of the two boys who lost their lives as a result of a car accident on Christmas night last year.

Tyler Hubbard, of Monroe, Ga., and Brian Kelley, of Ormond Beach -- they formed FGL a couple years ago in Nashville -- will be holding a special meet and greet for the families and friends of Josh and Brett at the Bradenton country music venue.

During a recent phone interview with the Herald, Kelley recalled that some high school friends of his lost their lives in a car crash.

"We've always been about giving back and when we heard about this event we jumped at the chance," he said.

Read more.

• One of the most buzzed about acts on the blues scene of recent years, Trampled Under Foot makes a highly anticipated stop at Aces Live today in Bradenton.

Read more here: http://www.bradenton.com/2012/10/04/4224962/trampled-under-foot-at-aces-live.html#storylink=cpy

• Boyz II Men, which have a date in St. Pete today, brilliantly updated R&B in the 1990s with a New Jack Swing sensibility while never overshadowing the group's rich, smooth, timeless vocals.

• The Village of the Arts celebrates the opening of Bradenton's new Riverwalk (grand opening Oct. 18) and the inaugural Bradenton Blues Festival (Dec. 1) with "A River of Art in Blue" Artwalk.

Read more here: http://www.bradenton.com/2012/10/04/4224954/blues-artwalk-at-village-of-the.html#storylink=cpy

• And more in Weekend.

Read more here: http://www.bradenton.com/2012/10/04/4224960/boyz-ii-men-at-the-mahaffey-in.html#storylink=cpy

—Photo: Tyler Hubbard, left, and Brian Kelley of country music duo Florida Georgia Line. Adam Taylor/Republic Nashville

Read more here: http://www.bradenton.com/2012/10/04/4224952/florida-georgia-line-headlines.html#storylink=cpy

Bradenton voted No. 2 best small city for arts

Visitors to Bradenton's Village of the Arts check out a sidewalk display of art outside the Divine Excess gallery during Friday's Art Walk. PAUL VIDELA/pvidela@bradenton PVIDELA@BRADENTON.COM

Read more here: http://www.bradenton.com/2012/05/04/4026512/art-walk-at-bradentons-village.html#storylink=misearch#storylink=cpy

The Friendly City continues to grow in popularity with readers of AmericanStyle Magazine.

Survey participants voted Bradenton the second best small city arts destination in the country, up from No. 10 last year and No. 22 in 2010.

“This confirms the great collaboration we have and the public support for arts in their community," said Johnette Isham, executive director of Realize Bradenton. “It’s just an incredible recognition of the community."

She cited the collaborative work being done with her non-profit organization, elected city officials, Bradenton Downtown Development Authority, the Bradenton Area Convention and Visitors Bureau as well as cultural partners such as the Manatee Players, ArtCenter Manatee and the Village of the Arts.

"Bradenton, a sunny locale 45 miles south of Tampa, may not be on your radar for arts destinations yet, but it should be," reads the opening sentence of the blurb on page 66 of the new summer edition of AmericanStyle. "It's home to Florida's largest art colony, the Village of the Arts."

No other Bradenton attractions are mentioned. 

On page 63, the Baltimore-based publication notes that "Rosie Stewart of Bradenton, Fla., is the lucky reader who was randomly selected to win a $500 gift card  for voting in AmericanStyle's 15th annual Top 25 Arts Destinations poll."

Stewart commented on why she selected her hometown.

"Eclectic and creative artists and crafters abound in this community," her statement reads. "It seems like there's always something new to check out!"

Sarasota ranked No. 1, up from fifth place last year.

Other small Florida cities in the Top 25 are Key West (4) and Naples (9).

St. Petersburg finished first among "mid-size" cities for the second year in a row, while Tampa placed third in the same category. Miami ranked No. 7.

The top three "big cities" for the arts according to American Style readers are New York, Washington, D.C. and Chicago.

The sole Florida city on the list, Jacksonville, is No. 15.

This is the 15th year the magazine has released its survey of readers.

AmericanStyle has a print circulation of 125,000, according to its 2011 media kit, and can be read online at www.americanstyle.com.

“The crowning jewel of this incredible recognition will be the opening of the Manatee Performing Arts Center next March,” Isham said.

Bradenton No. 10 best small city for arts

'Voice' finalist Beverly McClellan to play Village of Arts in Bradenton

The Village of the Arts will host a major concert this Friday (March 2) when highly talented blues singer/songwriter/guitarist Beverly McClellan performs for free from  6:30 to 8 p.m. at the Blues Revue office.

McClellan appeared on season one of NBC's "The Voice," finishing in the top four as part of Christina Aguilera's team. Her latest CD, "Fear Nothing," will be available for sale at the Blues Revue office.




This appearance will coincide with the City of Bradenton and the Village of the Arts in celebrating the installation of the sculptural work by nationally known public artist Catherine Woods. The sculpture titled Chrysalis Launcher is one of the new prominent pieces in the City of Bradenton's public art program. The event will also be held on Friday (March 2), from 5:30 to 6 p.m. on the corner of 9th St. W. and 12th Ave. W. Music, food and beverages will follow the unveiling. This will take place at the corner of 12th Street West and 11th Ave.

McClellan will also be attending the dedication and has most recently appeared at The Clearwater Sea Blues Festival and 17th Annual Human Rights Campaign Gala at the Charlotte Convention Center. McClellan also performed for The Grammy Foundations "One Night Only: A Celebration of the Live Music Experience" along side performers including Grammy winners Robert Cray, Jonny Lang with whom McClellan performed a duet and also three solo songs.

McClellan will be starting a tour with B.B. King on March 20.

Details: 6:30 p.m. March 2, Blues Revue, 1001 11th Ave. W., Bradenton. Admission: Free. Information: 866-702-7778 or bluesrevue.com.