LOTS TO DO THIS WEEK * FALL COMING IN * IN THE NEWS * Bill's Coffeeshop Newsletter * Vol. 11 * Nov. 19, 2010

FALL IS COMING

INTO OUR LIVES

Try to remember 

the kind of September

When life was slow and oh so mellow

Try to remember

when grass was green and grain was mellow

     -- The Fantasticks (Tom Jones/Harvey Schmidt)

THERE'S no doubt now; autumn is here. There have been hints for weeks -- a cooler wind here, a few leaves falling there. But this week it is official. For those who like precision, the exact time that autumn begins this year is Wednesday, Sept. 22 at 11:09 pm. Of course, that's only true for the Northern Hemisphere. If you live in the Southern Hemisphere, like our longtime reader Julie Dreschler, Sept. 22 is the first day of spring. 

I've always thought that the 'Try to Remember' song from The Fantasticks captured the essence of fall, a combination of wonder and wistfulness. On the one hand, nature is alive -- trees full of color and flocks of birds everywhere. But on the other hand, fall signals that summer is over and that winter lies ahead. There are many wonderful versions of this song. Here are two I especially like:

One is by Roy Orbison: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ksVrsVrDl9Q&p=7D82FBB01F8C3E53&playnext=1&index=4.

The second is from Harry Belafonte: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ksVrsVrDl9Q&p=7D82FBB01F8C3E53&playnext=1&index=4

Perhaps you have favorite versions of this song, too. Let us know and we'll let other readers know as well.

For lots more about autumn, including some art and literary references, check this Wikipedia page: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Autumn

LOTS TO DO THIS WEEK

AT UPTOWN BILL'S 

Whew, there's a lot going on at Uptown Bill's this week. Check out this list of activities:

Monday, Sept. 20, 7-9 pm: Acoustic music from Finn Miles, a musician from Des Moines. Details: www.finnmiles.com

Wednesday, Sept. 22: Planning meeting for new spoken word Open Mic. 6 pm. 

Thursday, Sept. 23: Art & Music Night, 6 to 8 pm. Tonight's theme: Space. All kinds of art are welcome. Some supplies provided; you are welcome to bring your own.

Friday, Sept. 24: Open Mic Night, 7 to 9 pm. Two hours of short music sets.

Saturday, Sept. 25, Saturday Night Music, 7 to 9 pm: Ben Schmidt plays this week.

All events at Uptown Bill's are open to all ages and all abilities. If you haven't yet visited the new location at 730 S. Dubuque, pick one event this week and come see us. 

NEW UPTOWN BILL'S IS

PROFILED IN GAZETTE

A story about the new Uptown Bill's appeared recently in the Gazette (Cedar Rapids/Iowa City). Click on this link to find and read it:

http://easterniowalife.com/2010/09/03/spirit-of-uptown-bills-remains-at-coffee-shops-new-location/

 

You'll find another story at this site about Thursday and Saturday night events planned during September and October at Uptown Bill's. 

Also, here's a link to a recent story about Uptown Bill's which appeared in the Daily Iowan, the student newspaper at University of Iowa:

http://www.dailyiowan.com/2010/08/27/Metro/18430.html

FOLLOW BILL'S

ON TWITTER

Would you like updates on activities at Uptown Bill's? Follow "Uptown Bill's" on Twitter. Also check our Facebook site and the Uptown Bill's web page: www.uptownbills.org.

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Bill's Coffeeshop Newsletter is a virtual extension of the spirit and legacy of Bill Sackter and the Bill's Coffeeshops. Published since 200, it is written by Tom Gilsenan, a former manager of the origial Wild Bill's Coffeeshop and now manager of Uptown Bill's. A file of many back isues can be found at the Coffee and Community weblog: http://coffeeandcommunity.blogpost.com.

Wild Bill's Coffeeshop is a project of the School of Social Work at the University of Iowa. Located in North Hall, it has been a part of campus life in Iowa City for more than 35 years. The coffeeshop is open weekdays from 8 am. For more information, call (319) 335-1281. On Facebook, look for Friends of Bill's Coffeeshop.

Uptown Bill's is a crosstown cousin of the original coffeeshop. Now located a 730 S. Dubuque in Iowa City, it includes a bookstore, performance venue and other businesses in addition to a coffeeshop. Uptown Bill's is open every day from 8 am. For more information, call (319) 339-0401. On Facebook, look for Uptown Bill's. Also, check out the website at www.uptownbills.org.