Arts & Culture / Entertainment

A summer party is quite a simple concoction at heart. Comprised of one part summer weather and one part family and friends, this magical mixture results in a truly wonderful creation ? good, old-fashioned fun. Of course, sometimes a summer shindig transforms from a little get-together into a big event propelled by popular demand. Just look at The Gathering at Chaffee?s.

Although Erie apparently loves Kansas, and the Buckinghams, and Vanilla Ice, Erie knows music, and Erie?s got soul, which is why she loves Blues and Jazz. She loves being outside, on the grass, listening to these distinctly American art forms at the summer?s best fest ? so you know she?ll be at the 20th Annual Erie Art Museum Blues and Jazz Festival in Frontier Park August 4 and 5.

If we were you, here's what we would do...

Relocating to Erie, one of the first shows that I saw was Panorama, in the corridor of Villa Maria Academy, then a comparatively small and prestigious show located with the rest of the Erie Summer Festival of the Arts.

I'm excited. Two of my favorite things - public radio and drinking beer from a jar - are marrying to make something even better.

Summers in Erie are chockfull of celebrations. Without even looking for them, you could stumble across a few festivals over the course of a couple of days. By combining live music and good food, you have the recipe for a fun-filled event. Really, the only thing that would be better is a musician that can serve up some grub while laying down some killer tunes.

"Won't you be my neighbor?"

Fifth Street between State and French streets shuts down Friday, June 29 for Erie Art Museum's biggest fundraiser of the year.

The Erie Art Museum Spring Show has long been the premier regional art exhibition in Northwest Pennsylvania. It is satisfying, then, to be able to give it new kudos.

The past, present, and future of Erie's summer Tuesday nights.

For your viewing pleasure: a comedy, a drama, and a documentary -- all available for instant streaming on Netflix and instant reviewing here at Erie Reader.

?Don?t take photographs willy-nilly, you have to have a project.?

For your viewing pleasure, three critically-acclaimed classics ripped from the Erie Reader Queue.

Continuing now through May 27 at the Ronald E. Holstein Gallery, Steve Dana's "Backyard: Small Sculptures."

On Thursday, May 17, an official opening ceremony will reintroduce ?The Feather,? now reconstructed and here to stay.