Ron Klopfanstein’s Hot Seat: Media Monday Arts & Entertainment News for the week of Monday, May 20th – Sunday, 26th
May is Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander Heritage Month. It is a time to reflect and celebrate the important role that Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders (AANHPIs) have played in our shared history. The Utica Public Library has a display of books on the subject, and Keaton & Lloyd Bookshop is hosting an Asian Pacific-Islander American Potluck on Saturday. Also, Ravenswood Comics has lots of new titles debuting on Wednesday. For more information on these events and other arts, entertainment, and cultural events happening this week in the Mohawk Valley, scroll down and meet me in the Hot Seat every Monday at 5 pm on 95.5 FM and streaming at 955TheHeat.com and on the TuneIn app. For more on Hot Seat: Media Monday, go to Uticaphoenix.net/MediaMonday/
📽️🎭🖼️📚🎸📺
On Friday, May 24th, at 8:00 AM, I will be on the WKAL-1450 AM Morning Show. Tune in or stream it live with your TuneIn app. I’m looking forward to another fun discussion of retro TV and pop culture of the 20th century!
📽️🎭🖼️📚🎸📺
Cinema Capitol will present I Saw the TV Glow and Wildcat on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday at 4 p.m. and 7 p.m., Sunday at 1 p.m. and 7 p.m., and the following Monday at 7 p.m. In I Saw the TV Glow, Teenager Owen tries to make it through life in the suburbs when his classmate introduces him to a mysterious late-night TV show, a vision of a supernatural world beneath their own. In the pale glow of the television, Owen’s view of reality begins to crack. Wildcat invites the audience to weave in and out of celebrated Southern Gothic writer Flannery O’Connor’s mind as she ponders the great questions of her writing: Can scandalous art still serve God? Does suffering precede all greatness? Can illness be a blessing?
For more information, go to https://www.facebook.com/RomeCinemaCapitol.
📽️🎭🖼️📚🎸📺
The Dunham Public Library is having this month’s “BYOB” Bring Your Own Book Club meeting on Thursday, May 23rd, from 6:00 – 7:30 pm. This is a no-commitment, laid-back gathering to discuss any book you are currently reading or have recently finished. You can give suggestions, get suggestions, or just relax and talk with others. This program is for adults ages 18 or above.
For more information, go to https://www.facebook.com/DunhamPublicLibrary
📽️🎭🖼️📚🎸📺
Keaton & Lloyd Bookshop is hosting an Asian Pacific-Islander American Potluck on Saturday, May 25th at 1 pm. Celebrate Asian Pacific-Islander American Heritage Month with a celebration of Asian cuisine! Bring a dish of your favorite Asian food to share with others. Remember the ingredients list or recipe in case someone has food allergies! Free and open to the public.
For more information, go to https://www.facebook.com/keatonandlloyd
📽️🎭🖼️📚🎸📺
Munson presents the film Riddle of Fire on Wednesday, May 22nd, and Saturday, May 24th, at 2 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. Riddle of Fire is a neo-fairytale set in Wyoming. It follows three mischievous children as they embark on an odyssey when their mother asks them to run an errand. On the hunt to obtain her favorite blueberry pie, the children are kidnapped by poachers, battle a witch, outwit a huntsman, befriend a fairy, and bond together to become best friends forever.
For more information, go to: https://www.facebook.com/MunsonUtica
📽️🎭🖼️📚🎸📺
The Oneida County Pride Association will present Pride Eve Drag Story Hour on Friday, May 31st, at 6 p.m. at the Tree House Reading and Arts Center. Admission is FREE, and this is a child-friendly event. The second annual Pride Festival is Saturday, June 1st, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Mohawk Valley Community College. This is a family-friendly event that will include vendors, community resources, performers, and more! The Pride Drag Show (for ages 21 and older) will be on Saturday, June 1st, at 8 pm at the Uptown Center for Creative Arts.
For more information, go to: https://www.facebook.com/OneidaCountyPride
📽️🎭🖼️📚🎸📺
The Other Side is presenting “Jazz at The Other Side” with Ember on Saturday, May 25, 2024, at 7:30 pm. Based out of Brooklyn, NY, the trio features Sauquoit native Vinnie Sperrazza on drums, saxophonist Caleb Curtis, and Noah Garabebian on upright bass. Tickets can be reserved by calling 315-735-4825 or emailing kodomenico@verizon.net. They are $20 per person, with student tickets priced at $10.
For more information, go to: https://www.facebook.com/OtherSideGallery
📽️🎭🖼️📚🎸📺
Players of Utica will present Funny Girl on Thursday, June 13th, at 7:30 p.m., Friday, June 7th, at 7:30 p.m., Saturday, June 8th, at 2 p.m., Sunday, June 9th, at 2 p.m., Friday, June 14th, at 7:30 p.m., Saturday, June 15th, at 2 p.m., and Sunday, June 16th, at 2 p.m. Tickets are now on sale, $20 for general admission, $18 for subscribers, and $12 for students.
For more information, go to https://www.facebook.com/PlayersOfUtica
📽️🎭🖼️📚🎸📺
Rome Community Theater will present The Spitfire Grill: A Musical on Friday, June 7th and Saturday, June 8th at 7:30 pm, Sunday, June 9th,at 2:30 pm, Friday, June 14th and Saturday, June 15th at 7:30 pm, and Sunday, June 16th at 2:30 pm. Also, Anastasia on July 11th – July 14th For more information, go to https://www.facebook.com/romecommunitytheater
📽️🎭🖼️📚🎸📺
Wednesday is New Comics Day at Ravenswood Comics. Each week, they have several exciting new releases available. This week’s titles include the milestone issue The Amazing Spide-Man #50, Cobra Commander #5, and a new release from DSTLRY entitled White Boat, which has a magazine-size format!
For more information, go to https://www.facebook.com/RavenswoodComics
📽️🎭🖼️📚🎸📺
The Tramontane will now open at 7:30 a.m. on Tuesdays and Wednesdays. On Thursday, May 23rd, they will present a Utica Poets Society Comedy and Spoken Word Open Mic at 7 p.m. Admission is $3, and doors open at 7 p.m. They are also looking to hire one or two people to work part-time. Please request an application through Tramontanebat@gmail.com.
For more information, go to https://www.facebook.com/TRAMONTANECAFE
📽️🎭🖼️📚🎸📺
The Uptown Center for Creative Arts hosts an improv event every Thursday at 7 p.m. They invite people to attend “an open-to-all, pay-what-you-can, drop-in improv class followed by a community improv jam where everyone is invited to play, with plenty of opportunity for some stage reps!” They also have Comedy Open Mic nights every Wednesday; sign-ups begin at 7 pm, and the show starts at 8 pm.
For more information, go to: https://www.facebook.com/utcany
📽️🎭🖼️📚🎸📺
Utica Dance has three performances this week: ballet on Thursday, May 23, at 6:00 pm and Saturday, May 25th, at 1:00 pm, and Jazz/Tap/Contemporary on Friday, May 24, at 7:00 pm and Saturday, May 25th, at 1:00 pm. Tickets start at $20.
For more information, go to: https://www.facebook.com/uticadance
📽️🎭🖼️📚🎸📺
The Utica Public Library is celebrating Asian American Pacific Islander Heritage Month with a display of books exploring the history and culture of Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders! Learn about the many contributions Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders have made throughout history.
For more information, go to: https://www.facebook.com/TheLibrary.UticaPublicLibrary
📽️🎭🖼️📚🎸📺
On WCNY, Tune in to Spatchcock Funk: Tearin’ Up a Lake on Tuesday, May 21st at 9 pm. From cocktails to tacos, the gang ships out to teach you all the party tricks to make a day on a boat tasty, mostly safe, and definitely fun. Learn how to prep for the water and have a great time in the sun with https://www.facebook.com/SpatchcockFunk
For more information, go to: https://www.facebook.com/WCNYPBS
📽️🎭🖼️📚🎸📺
Links
Cinema Capitol: https://www.facebook.com/RomeCinemaCapitol
Dunham Public Library: https://www.facebook.com/DunhamPublicLibrary
Keaton & Lloyd: https://www.facebook.com/keatonandlloyd
Kirkland Art Center: https://www.facebook.com/KACenter
JWatch Productions: https://www.facebook.com/jwp2023
Hamilton College: https://www.hamilton.edu/campuslife/arts-at-hamilton/events
Ilion Little Theater Club: https://www.facebook.com/ilionlittletheatre
Mohawk Valley Blues Society: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100063480703532
Mohawk Valley Community College: https://www.facebook.com/MVCCCampusEvents
Oneida County Pride Association: https://www.facebook.com/OneidaCountyPride
Other Side: https://www.facebook.com/OtherSideGallery
Paris Hill Barn & Cafe: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100054371027027
Players of Utica: https://www.facebook.com/PlayersOfUtica
Ravenswood Comics: https://www.facebook.com/RavenswoodComics
Rome Community Theater: https://www.facebook.com/romecommunitytheater
SNUG Utica: https://www.facebook.com/snugutica
Tramontane Cafe: https://www.facebook.com/TRAMONTANECAFE
Treehouse Reading and Arts Center: https://www.facebook.com/treehousereadingandarts
Unity Hall: https://www.facebook.com/historicunityhall
Uptown Theatre for the Creative Arts: https://www.facebook.com/utcany
Utica Dance: https://www.facebook.com/uticadance
Utica Public Library: https://www.facebook.com/TheLibrary.UticaPublicLibrary
Utica University Theatre: https://www.facebook.com/UticaUniversityTheatre
Uticon: https://www.facebook.com/uticon
WCNY: https://www.facebook.com/WCNYPBS
WKAL: https://www.facebook.com/WKAL1450
WRVO: https://www.facebook.com/WRVOPublicRadio
📽️🎭🖼️📚🎸📺
Ron Klopfanstein is a multimedia investigative journalist, news and features editor, and creative content producer for the Utica Phoenix digital platform and 95.5 FM “The Heat” broadcast and streaming. He also hosts the Hot Seat: Media Monday every Monday at 5 pm, broadcast on 95.5 FM and streaming at 955TheHeat.com. Like him at Facebook.com/ReadRonKlopfanstein, Follow him at Threads.net/@RonKlopfanstein, Instagram.com/RonKlopfanstein, Twitter.com/RonKlopfanstein, Tiktok.com/@ronklopfanstein, and subscribe to his channel at YouTube.com/@RonKlopfanstein. Read all his work at Muckrack.com/ron-klopfanstein.
