2nd Chance Dance at Jack’s to benefit the Center for Women and Families.

NABC co-owner Kate Lewison wants you to know about this event on Saturday, June 15, to benefit the online.org/">The Center for Women and Families. The 2nd Chance Dance takes place at Jack’s, the NABC Pizzeria & Public House’s longtime neighbor on Plaza Drive.

What did YOU have for breakfast this morning? We were prepping for some Raq'n Roll tonight.

Pictured above is the payoff for hustling down to The Grand at 7:00 a.m. to help promote Raq'n Around the Christmas Tree with Keith Kaiser of WDRB-41 and a trio of belly dancers. La Bocca and Habana Blues provided breakfast, and by the time I thought to photograph the spread, those in attendance had already started carving the bird.

Tonight's Entrance Cost: 1 New Toy or a $10 donation.This year the toy drive will benefit the boys and girls of (AIM) AIDS Interfaith Ministries of Kentuckiana, Holiday Program.

AIM of Kentuckiana provides services to the HIV/AIDS population in the greater Kentucky and Southern Indiana region. AIM is committed to helping people living with HIV/AIDS by providing nutritional, emotional and spiritual support, their Holiday Assistance Program assists aproxamimately 300 children and familes infected and affected by this disease during the holidays.

3rd Annual Raq'n Around the Christmas Tree is Thursday, December 1 at The Grand.

(submitted)

Raqia Belly Dance/The Studio will be hosting their 3rd Annual Raq'n Around the Christmas Tree/ Children's Holiday Toy Drive/Taste of New Albany and Belly Dance Show Thursday, Dec 1, 2011, from 6:30-9:00pm @ The Grand Theater, located on 138 E. Market Street, New Albany, IN 47150.

Entrance Cost: 1 New Toy or a $10 donation. This year the toy drive will benefit the boys and girls of (AIM) AIDS Interfaith Ministries of Kentuckiana, Holiday Program.

AIM of Kentuckiana provides services to the HIV/AIDS population in the greater Kentucky and Southern Indiana region. AIM is committed to helping people living with HIV/AIDS by providing nutritional, emotional and spiritual support, their Holiday Assistance Program assists aproxamimately 300 children and familes infected and affected by this disease during the holidays.

6:30-8:00pm
The evening will start with a Taste of New Albany/ local Southern Indiana food & spirits. In attendance; La Bocca, Habana Blues, New Albanian Brewing Co. to name a few.

8:00-9:00pm
Followed by fabulous local entertainment/ belly dancing show by Al Hamsa, Gypsies of the Nile, Raqia's Stars. Recent performances by Al Hamsa, Gypsies of the Nile & Raqia's Stars include Harvest Homecoming, New Albany, IN, Worldfest, Louisville, KY and Louisville Music News Terrabeat Cultural Showcase, Louisville, KY

A guaranteed unique evening of giving and celebration!

Last year's event was held at the Holiday Inn Express in downtown New Albany, a fabulous turn out with 78 guests in attendance and 220 toys collected, all to benefit AIDS/HIV infected and affected children in Kentucky and Southern Indiana.

Raqia Belly Dance/The Studio; dancing for a great cause/toys for children in need, is led by Rachel Reich, "Raqia" winner of Louisville Magazine's "Best Belly Dance Instructor" Award. She is extrememely humbled and proud to have the opportunity to assist in bringing a sense of joy and normalcy to HIV/AIDS infected and affected children and families during the holidays and looks forward to the generosity and support of all involved in this great cause.

HIV/AIDS affects an estimate of 33.3 million people, including 2.5 milliion being children and new infections continue every year.

Dec 1, World Aids Day, marks a day of hope and increasing awareness, the perfect backdrop and opportunity to support, share and make this year magical for the children.

Happy Holidays!

For more information you may contact The Studio/Belly Dance & More at 812-989-0821.

TONIGHT: Benefit at the Grand tonight; help keep local autism clinic open.

This is far too complex a topic for me to glibly summarize here, so I will not try. Please follow the link and consider attending the function, and/or donating.

Benefit to help keep local autism clinic open; Dance, silent auction to be Oct. 22 at The Grand, by Leah Tate (Tribune)

There will be a “Scare Away Autism” benefit dance and silent auction at The Grand on Market Street in New Albany from 8 p.m. to midnight on Oct. 22. Tickets are $20 per person. There will be hors d’oeuvres and a cash bar. Music will be provided by Lindsey Lane & Axis. The fundraiser is to raise money to help establish a local permanent office for Dr. Schneider.

The sun's finally out again. Time for beer.

I'll be in Madison today and tomorrow at the Ohio River Valley Folk festival, all the while contemplating a grassroots "cut me down, too" symbolic public art campaign in New Albany.

In Milltown, there'll be a benefit for the Blue River Cafe later today. It burned down a couple of weeks ago. It's a nice drive down, and a worthy cause. The Louisville Bats are back in town, and play this evening. Support local business by enjoying a craft beer (Section 115).