July 9th “KIDS RULE"
Sponsored by:
Sovereign Bank and SouthCoast Hospitals Group

On the July 9th Kids Rule AHA! Night, kids and adults alike are invited to spend an evening exploring and enjoying downtown New Bedford. Highlights include performances of song, dance and theater, creative arts activities especially for kids, and a Band Jam in Custom House Square! The summer music series, The Centre Street Sessions, continues with a special performance by jazz vocalist Marcelle Gauvin. Enjoy performances by SouthCoast Children's Theatre Inc. of a Disney Cabaret and local favorites, the Toe Jam Puppet Band. AHA! doesn’t end at 9pm – enjoy entertainment and food at the AHA! partner restaurants.

Complete schedules available at all listed partners. All activities are FREE and held rain or shine and are from 5-9 p.m. unless otherwise stated.

Highlights

This is the first AHA! night where you can experience the live exhibits in the tanks at the Ocean Explorium, in addition to the dynamic programming on the Science Sphere. Out side the Explorium, the W.O.W. Mobile will be on Purchase St. with touch tanks filled with local wildlife, challenging learning activities, and programs using scientific apparatus.

Band Jam in Custom House Square with  Nick Bishop, Menya, and Commonwealth. Co-sponsored by NBrock and Calico.  Performances from 5-6:30 and 7:30-9 p.m.

Toe Jam Puppet Band in the NBWNHP Visitor Center Garden at 6:30 p.m. 

Build a Historic House This is a fun, hands-on learning activity for children of all ages. Children get to choose and put together a particular architectural style seen in and around New Bedford. Free. Co-sponsored by WHALE and the New Bedford Whaling National Historical Park. At the Corson Maritime Learning Center, 33 William St. Starts at 5:30 p.m.

Centre Street Sessions Whaling City Sound and AHA! present vocalist Marcelle Gauvin at the Kaller Beef Building parking lot on Centre Street. Jointly presented by Fiber Optic Center, Inc. Sets at 5:30 and 7:15 p.m. 

SouthCoast Children's Theatre Inc, present a "Disney" Cabaret on the steps of the New Bedford Free Public Library.  Performances at 6:30 and 7:30 p.m..  Songs will come from " Alice in Wonderland" and "Mulan" as well as songs from other Disney favorites, including "The Lion King" and " High School Musical." 

AHA! Artist of the Month is Michelle Carr. Michelle will talk about her work documenting infants, children and families, and present a slide show of her photographs. Come visit Michelle Carr in her studio in the heart of the Park. 7:30 p.m. 36 N. Water St. 

Dance performances with El Arte Flamenco in the plaza at the Whaling Museum. Co-sponsored by NB Cultural Council. New Bedford Whaling Museum open free to the public 5- 9 p.m. Performances at 6 and 7:30 p.m.

The Showstoppers will be performing outdoors under the terrace tent at the RJD Museum. The House will not be open for visitation, but please fell free to enjoy a quiet stroll in the gardens. Performance from 6:30 to approx. 8:30 p.m. 

The Schooner Ernestina will be offering fish printing for children and adults, using colorful non-toxic paints and fish replicas. The schooner will be open for tours.

Pilgrim Church Home will be serving up root beer floats and children's crafts with Margaret Scott Taylor and Russ Chamberlin.  634 Purchase Street, from 6-8 p.m.

Judith Klein Gallery will be offering drawing and painting for children from 6-8 p.m. The gallery will be opening the new "Summer Show" of fine art and high craft from 16 regional artists, until 9 p.m. 

Join South Coast Music Together Director, Rhonda Plourde, for a demonstration class full of music making fun in Bristol Hall, beyond the entrances to Judith Klein Gallery and the Green Bean.  Grown-ups, infants, little kids, and big ones too will sing, play instruments, and move to the groove of lots songs the whole family will enjoy. To RSVP, email: southcoastmt@verizon.net <mailto:southcoastmt@verizon.net> , call 508 636 7426 or, just show up. Classes at 5:30 and 6:30 p.m.. This demonstration class lasts for 30 minutes, please plan on staying for the full half hour of fun.

Exhibits, Talks and More

The Working Waterfront Festival will be presenting a cartooning workshop with Steve Brosnihan.  He uses the letters of the alphabet to create cartoon caricatures that kids as young as 4 and as old as 12 can draw and enjoy. Whaling Museum plaza, starting at 7:30 p.m.

Author and illustrator present a new children's book. Author Sharon  Nicholson and illustrator Carolynn Baker, will be reading from their children's books "I live in Ethiopia" and their latest "I live in Iceland." New Bedford Free Public Library at 6:00 p.m.

Urbana in Wings Court 2pm - dusk Thursdays July-Aug. 2009 Urbana will provide a venue for an artisan market with demonstrations, acoustic musicians and performances. Urbana continues indoors with Bristol Building Gallery space for painting, sculpture and fiber artists.

NBAM New Bedford Art Museum presents an artist talk with painter Arnold Desmarais.  Arnold Desmarais is a marine and landscape artist who has earned the reputation of a true Realist.  Continuing exhibits: Contemporary American Marine Art  30th Anniversary Exhibition of the American Society of Contemporary Marine Artists, and Vault Series: Small Paintings Curated by Joan Backes Upper Vault, and Paintings on Paper Curated by Joan Backes Lower Vault. 608 Pleasant Street, artist talk at 8, museum open until 9 p.m.

Custom House Square The New Bedford Planning Department seeks youth input on the city master plan. Using flip charts, maps and draft versions on the master plan to collect your ideas and information about where you live. By the fountain, from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m.

Living Statues by the fountain in Custom House Square

Colo Colo Gallery (25 Centre Street) new exhibit “ Terrors & Ecstasies" by artist Michael Hecht 

Pilgrim United Church of Christ presents guided tours of the Sanctuary, Tiffany stained glass window “The Resurrection Angel” and the mosaic of “The Sower” 635 Purchase Street, from 6:30 - 8pm.

Gallery X presents Midsummer Muse, the annual member's show. 169 William Street, gallery open until 9 p.m.

UMASS Dartmouth at Star Store University Art Gallery: 
JOSEF SUDEK FOTOGRAFIE, PRAHA 1956: Photogravures of Work From 1918-55 and KAREL TUMA: Carnival in Roztoky and Unetice 2006. Also, In Gallery 244: Adrian Tio: The Painted Word

ArtWorks! presents HOME DESIGN Exhibition & Sale and Cool Kids Arts Summer Program Exhibit, in the Community Gallery, 2nd floor. 384 Acushnet Avenue, open until 9 p.m.

The New Bedford Waterfront Visitors Center will be open to explore until 9 p.m.

Azorean Maritime Heritage Society at Casa Dos Botes will be open for AHA! night. Located on North Water Street behind the Whaling Museum.


Live Music

Isle of Wright will be performing in Dover Street next to ArtWorks! at 7 p.m.

The Cafe Arpeggio presents the young and talented singer and guitarist Molly O'Leary. 800 Purchase Street, featured performer at 6 p.m. followed by regular weekly Open Mic from 7-10 p.m.

Hibernia Irish Pub presents live music with Shelly & Kristin. 109 William Street, from 7 - 9 p.m.
Bagpiper Colin Everett will perform outside of 106 William St. from 5:30 - 7:30 p.m.

Urbana in Wings Court presents live acoustic music performances. 6-8 p.m.

GENERAL INFORMATION
All activities are FREE and open to the public. Year-round programming is funded in part by the Mass Cultural Council's John and Abigail Adams Arts Program, The Island Foundation, The City of New Bedford, the AHA! partners, individual supporters and in-kind marketing support from the Standard-Times and WBSM. For more information call 508-996-8253 x205 

First time visitors may want to start AHA! Night at the National Park Visitor Center (33 William Street). Complete program flyers with maps are also available at all AHA! venues starting the Tuesday prior to each event.

Directions: From I-195 E or W. Take Exit 15 (Rte. 18). Follow Rte 18 to 2nd traffic signal; take a right onto Union St. At the first traffic signal take a right onto Second Street and take your first left for parking in Custom House Square or continue on two blocks to the Elm Street garage. On-street parking also available for free after 6 pm.

AHA! At-A-GLANCE
Our 2009 Calendar of dates and themes!