A Genius Idea for Your Valentine

Picture this: You're having a romantic Valentine's dinner with your beloved in downtown Kalamazoo . . . A group of oddly assorted yet highly attractive people enters the restaurant. To eat? Perhaps . . . but no. They almost seem to be heading right for your table. And, hey, isn't that Mary Teutsch (PAC '00) among the group? It certainly is! They gather round your table and serenade you and your Valentine, a cappella. Yessssss! BEST. VALENTINE. EVER. The wonderful a cappella group Notified is taking reservations for downtown Kalamazoo restaurants between 5:30 and 10 p.m. on Saturday, February 12 at $35 per serenade. Contact Cece Weeks at ceceweeks@hotmail.com or check out Facebook for more information.

On a more mundane but nonetheless important note: The GLCS Performing Arts Foundation will meet Tuesday, February 8, at the usual time of 5 p.m. at the Richland Area Community Center. Apologies to those who can't make it at 5 this month. Please feel free to come in late or send topics for our consideration to performingartsfoundation@gmail.com. Many thanks!

Endless Summer

January, we laugh at you! We are all going to enjoy "Endless Summer" on Saturday. It's a special benefit concert by the Kalamazoo Symphony Orchestra at Miller Auditorium at 8 p.m. on Saturday, January 29. The orchestra will conjure up July on the beach with a tribute to the Beach Boys. This is the Gull Lake Area Rotary Club's way to raise funds to eradicate polio around the world. Tickets for the concert are $15, $25 and $35. Tickets for the gala wine and hors d'oeuvres reception to follow are $25. Tickets for both events are available from any Rotarian, or call the KSO at (269) 349-7759 and mention Gull Lake Rotary.

Music notes

First note: Don't miss the show choir holiday concert Wednesday, December 15, at 7 p.m. at the Gull Lake Middle School Cafetorium.

Then, at 7 p.m. on Thursday, December 16, Gull Lake Band Parents' Association meets in the high school band room.

Last note, but not least: Notified, the wonderful a cappella group that includes Gull Lake's Mary Teutsch, performs at 8 p.m. Saturday, December 18, at Stephie's Coffee House in Dowagiac. Expect some holiday cheer.

Holiday cheer!

Enjoy two wonderful holiday concerts on Saturday, December 11, in the Gull Lake High School Gym! Start off with the Middle School bands at 1 p.m., then stay for the High School bands and vocal choir at 4 p.m. Cheers!

Farewell party at Blue Water Gallery

On Friday, December 10, 6 to 9 p.m., be at the Blue Water Gallery for their reception for their Holiday Small Works Show, plus the photography of Dean Pennala and charcoal drawings by Dave Middleton. We are very sad to say that this is Blue Water's final reception: They'll be open through December 23, then closing after that. We're so sorry to see you go, Blue Water!

Monday night jazz

The Gull Lake Jazz Orchestra will be playing at the Union Cabaret and Grill in downtown Kalamazoo at 7:30 p.m. Monday, December 6. Relax and enjoy!

Good Wassail to You!

It's time to go wassailing in Richland! The snow just makes it more scenic. It happens Thursday, December 2, 5:30 to 8 p.m., all around town.

In more mundane business, it's the last call for arts news, alumni news, and calendar listings for the December-January edition of the PAF newsletter, Footlights. We'll include dates through February and maybe even into March. Please send info to PerformingArtsFoundation@gmail.com by Thursday (December 2) afternoon. Thanks!