Artifacts 9/22/06

Symphony orchestra opens season Oct. 3

The Southeast Missouri Symphony Orchestra will open its 2006-2007 season at 7:30 p.m. Oct. 3 with a concert by Grammy Award-winning flutist Rhonda Larson in Academic Auditorium. Larson and her three-piece band Ventus will join the orchestra for a program of classical, ethnic, Celtic and jazz-inspired music. For more information, call 651-2265.

Acclaimed poet to read at Southeast Wednesday

Award-winning poet Walter Bargen will read from his newest book "Remedies for Vertigo" at 7 p.m. Wednesday in the Glenn Auditorium on the campus of Southeast Missouri State University. Bargen has published 10 books and two chapbooks of poems. One of those books, "The Feast," won the 2005 William Rockhill Nelson Award for the best poetry book by a Missouri writer. For more information, call Dr. Susan Swartwout at 651-2641.

Drivin' Rain tours with Hollywood Allstarz

Cape Girardeau rock band Drivin' Rain will play two local dates with the Legendary Hollywood Allstarz, a group made up of former members of bands like Dio, Quiet Riot and Black Sabbath. Drivin' Rain will open for the Allstarz Oct. 19 at Mugsy McGuires in Carbondale, Ill., and Oct. 21 at Hillbillyz in Ellsinore, Mo. For more information, visit www.drivinrain.net.

Students exhibiting art across Jackson

Students at Jackson's South Elementary will have their work on display through the end of the month at a variety of locations in Jackson. Displays are up at the Jackson R-2 administration building, Jackson City Hall and Jackson Riverside Regional Library.

Cape coffeehouse holds concert Saturday

The Broadway Books and Roasting Co., 605 Broadway, will play host to its first local music performance from 7 to 10 p.m. Saturday with Dale Haskell. The coffeehouse is a smoke-free environment. For more information, call 334-2326.

Event seeks volunteers, performers, others

Organizers are seeking volunteers, vendors, performers and others for an event Oct. 1 at Cape County Park North. The event, called the Grand Freedom Gathering, seeks to bring community members together to become more acquainted with each other and prepare for disasters. For more information, call Denise Eaker at 651-6220.

University museum hosts Family Fun Day Sept. 29

The Southeast Missouri Regional Museum on the campus of Southeast Missouri State University will host a Family Fun Day from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sept. 29. The event coincides with the museum's current exhibit, "The Last Steam Railroad in America: Railroad Photographs of O. Winston Link." Participants can go on a scavenger hunt, design a locomotive, learn how a steam engine works and drive railroad spikes. For more information, call the museum at 651-2260.

Quilt show takes place Sept. 30, Oct. 1

The 6th Bi-Annual River Heritage Quilt Show will take place from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sept. 30 and noon to 4 p.m. Oct. 1 at the Arena Building in Cape Girardeau. This year's theme is red and white, with red and white quilts and a special arrangement of aprons on display. Prizes will be awarded to the best quilts in several categories. For more information, e-mail geese4@clas.net or visit www.riverquilters.bravehost.com.

Shryock offers two early-October concerts

CARBONDALE, Ill. -- The Shryock Auditorium in Carbondale will start October with concerts on back-to-back nights, one of them free to the public. At 7:30 p.m. Oct. 2, the all-woman Sylvia Smith Percussion Duo will perform a free concert of its percussion-centered music that includes spoken word and theater. At 7:30 p.m. Oct. 3, the auditorium will play host to a concert by Tiemo Libre, a Grammy-nominated group that mixes Cuban ethnic music with salsa, funk and rap. This is not a free concert. For more information or for tickets, call 1-866-646-8849.

'America's Got Talent' auditions in Branson

BRANSON, Mo. -- The NBC show "America's Got Talent" will hold open auditions in Branson at the Chateau on the Lake Resort starting at 8 a.m. Monday. For more information, log on to the show's Web site at www.nbc.com/Americas_Got_Talent.

-- From staff reports