Charlie Bird's birthday party, Slats Klug tribute concert lead local things to do
The leaves are out, and the entertainment options are in for the next few days.
Remember that green-winged macaw you've seen cycling about town atop his owner's shoulder? Morgenstern's Bookstore & Cafe is honoring Charlie Bird the parrot as he turns 40.
Music of the late Slats Klug will be performed by local musicians in Brown County, singer-songwriter Dar Williams will visit the BCTand the Ryder is still showing films by Ukrainian directors, about Ukraine. The irreverent Neil Hamburger comes to the Comedy Attic, and the funny film "The Lost City" is playing at the Tivoli.
For a more classical event, catch performances by top winners of the Indiana Chapter of National Society of Arts and Letters during its 56th Annual Showcase of the Arts.
Morgenstern's honors Charlie Bird
"He's basically like having a 3-year-old child," Jojo Porowski, Charlie Bird's owner, says on YouTube. Charlie Bird, that magnificent green-winged macaw who rides around Bloomington on Porowski's shoulder, is celebrating his 40th birthday, and Morgenstern's Bookstore is honoring the splendid parrot on Saturday. They're also celebrating Independent Bookstore Day and the last day of National Poetry Month.
"Charlie Bird Loves Bloomington" is a children's book staring Charlie, who nearly died of an infection in 2018. Generous donors helped fund his medical care, and today Charlie thrives. He could actually make it to age 80, as many of his kind do. Proceeds from the book, available at Morgenstern's and other stores, go to Charlie's care and medical expenses. In addition, online ordering is available at charliebirdbtown.com/shop, where the cost is $15 plus shipping.
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After an earlier owner died and a new placement didn't work out, Charlie chose to live with Porowski in 2004. Stressed, Charlie had plucked out nearly all his feathers, a condition from which many birds don't recover. After a year with Porowski and getting to know the Bloomington community, Charlie's feathers all regrew. Find a video about Charlie Bird and Porowski at charliebirdbtown.com.
Local musicians to salute Slats Klug
Slats Klug was a local musician and storyteller — he knew lots of local secrets — who made six CDs about historic Brown County. Playing music from an early age, he was proficient on piano, accordion, harmonica and guitar. He spent time in New York City and was playing in a country band there, later moving to Bloomington. His swamp-rock band Mojo Hand enjoyed popularity in the 1990s and recorded the album "Tremble."
Remember Klug, who died last spring, by attending his musical tribute at 2:30 p.m. Sunday at the Brown County Playhouse, 70 S. Van Buren St., Nashville; phone is 812-988-6555. Tickets are $20, at bit.ly/3ODZwgn. Twenty musicians from the Bloomington and Brown County area will perform his works. They include Krista Detor, Rich Morpurgo, Steve Mascari, Rex Miller, Doc Malone, Lexi Len Zeigler and others. Proceeds will go to the Brown County Humane Association.
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Klug's CDs include "Brown County"; "Liar's Bench" (1997); "My Brown County Home" (1999); "A Brown County Christmas," volumes 1 and 2 (2000, 2001); "Lies and Love Songs" (2003); "Sweet Magnolia" (2004); "French Lick-West Baden" (2007); and "Summer Sky" (2014).
Dar Williams at Buskirk-Chumley
Tickets are still available for Dar Williams' concert Saturday at the Buskirk-Chumley Theater.
Called "one of America's very best singer-songwriters" by The New Yorker, the folk musician is touring after releasing her latest album, "I’ll Meet You Here" in October. Her lyrics contain "bouquets of optimism, delivered on melodies alternating between beguiling lightness and understated gravity" according to a blurb on the BCT site.
The show starts at 8 p.m. and tickets are $25-$45 at the BTC box office or https://bit.ly/3Lq6dkc.
'Stand with Ukraine' film fest concludes
The Ryder's micro festival of films about Ukraine and directed by Ukrainians comes to a close this weekend.
On Friday, see "Shadows of Forgotten Ancestors" at 7 p.m. at the IU Fine Arts Theater or "The Earth Is Blue As an Orange" at 8 p.m. at the IU Radio and Television Theater.
On Saturday, it's "The Guide" at 7 p.m. at the IU Fine Arts Theater and "Atlantis" at 8 p.m. at the IU Radio and Television Theater.
On Sunday, see "Cacophony of Donbas" at 3 p.m. at the IU Radio & Television Theater. At 3:45 see "Toloka" at the IU Fine Arts Theater or "I Love You, Mariupol" at 4:15 p.m. at the IU Radio and Television Theater.
Admission is free, but donations are welcome, and all proceeds go to Ukrainian humanitarian relief organizations. To see where your donation will be sent, check out this list of organizations and descriptions of each film at theryder.com/film/stand-with-ukraine-film-festival/.
The IU Radio and Television Theater is at 1229 E. Seventh St., and the IU Fine Arts Theater is at 1201 E. Seventh St. Find the festival at theryder.com.
Arts and Letters winners to perform
Indiana Chapter of National Society of Arts and Letters invites its members and the public to the 56th Annual Showcase of the Arts at 2 p.m. Sunday at the John Waldron Arts Center, corner of Fourth and Walnut streets. On Sundays parking downtown is free. Top winners will perform, and awards will be given out. A reception follows. All are welcome.
Bloomington's chapter was founded in 1966 by people representing both Indiana University and the south-central Indiana region. It has given more than $660,000 to emerging young artists preparing for careers. Active professionals in the visual arts, ballet, contemporary dance, drama, literature, instrumental music, voice, and musical theater serve as judges. Many Bloomington winners have attained national and international career success.
'The Lost City' to find laughs at Tivoli
Adam Nee and Aaron Nee directed this comedy with Sandra Bullock, Channing Tatum and Brad Pitt about a private and introverted romance novelist promoting her new book on tour. A wealthy kidnapper goes after the pair catapulting them into fear in the jungle. The cover model, Alan, tries to impress the author by becoming her savior.
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See the zaniness at the Tivoli Theatre, 24 N. Washington St., Spencer, 812-714-8137; Movie Line: 812-714-8069; email is [email protected]. Showtimes are 7 p.m. Friday, 2 and 7 p.m. Saturday and 2 p.m. Sunday.
Neil Hamburger: One night only
His combover is oily, and his jokes are, too. He repetitively pushes up his glasses; he makes fun of everything. Think twice about heckling him though; comedian Neil Hamburger might destroy you. You can give it a try for one night only, at 8 p.m. Wednesday, May 4, at the Comedy Attic.
Hamburger has made audiences guffaw from New York’s Madison Square Garden and the UK’s Reading Festival, to a Hollywood cemetery. He's performed, too, in Tasmanian pubs and a deserted monkey cage in a moldering Catskills zoo.
Having toured internationally as the hand-picked opening act for Tenacious D and Faith No More, he was the topic of the highly rated dramatic 2015 feature film "Entertainment," co-starring John C. Reilly, Tye Sheridan, and Michael Cera.
The Comedy Attic is at 123 S Walnut St., 812-336-5233, comedyattic.com/events. Tickets are $16-$20.
All audience members must show proof of vaccination or a negative COVID-19 test result (not an at-home test) within 72 hours of the performance. No exceptions.
This article originally appeared on The Herald-Times: Bloomington things to do: Charlie Bird birthday, Slats Klug concert
