The Art Emporium will feature the recent works of T. Paige Dalporto in a show titled “Indelible,” opening Monday. An opening reception will be held from 5:30 to 8 PM Thursday.

The Art Emporium is open 10 AM to 6 PM Monday through Friday, and 10 AM to 4 PM Saturday. The Art Emporium is located at 823 Quarrier Street.

The Habitat for Humanity ReStore will host a do-it-yourself workshop entitled “Creative Light Fixtures”. The event will he held this Saturday from 1 to 4 PM at the Homeowner Education and Community Center on 815 Court St.

The $25 fee covers electrical supplies and an assortment of creative items. Participants are encouraged to bring creative items from home.

The East End Family Resource Center will hold its annual Heart and Soup Dip Dinner from 1 to 5 p.m. Feb. 18 at the Charleston Armory on Coonskin Drive. All proceeds benefit after-school and senior programs at the East End Center. Tickets available at the door or at the center. Call 304-344-1656.

Covenant House presents Chef’s Challenge at 5:30 p.m. March 7 at the Clay Center. Four local chefs will create gourmet meals using only ingredients typically found at the Covenant House food pantry. Tickets are $100. Proceeds benefit Covenant House. Call 304-344-8433.

The 2012 West Virginia Official State Travel Guide has arrived and is available free by request or at Welcome Centers statewide, courtesy of the West Virginia Division of Tourism.

Travelers will find all the information they need at their fingertips. Shopping, dining, lodging, outdoor recreation and entertainment is conveniently arranged by travel region. The guide also contains a 2012 calendar of events occurring statewide.

The guide’s compact size makes it easy to carry in a backpack, glove box or saddlebags. In addition, smart phone users can gain immediate access to online information via QR codes on select ads.

The guide was published in cooperation with Miles Media Inc., which has produced the Official State Travel Guide since 2004. It was printed at Quad Graphics in Martinsburg.

To request a free copy of the 2012 Official State Travel Guide, visit the West Virginia Division of Tourism online at www.wvcommerce.org/travel/requestinformation/ordertravelguide.aspx.

The evening begins at 6 pm with dinner in the Grand Lobby of the Clay Center for corporate sponsors and Gala ticket holders. The special meal will be crafted by master chef Mark Schnurrpusch of Embassy Suites. Attendees have the opportunity to participate in a live and silent auction of amazing and exclusive packages and merchandise. After dinner, guests will adjourn to the Maier Performance Hall for Landau’s performance beginning around 8 pm. Gala patrons will enjoy prime reserved seats or boxes. Individual Gala tickets are $150 for dinner and the concert. Corporate sponsorships start at $500.

Concert tickets will be available to the general public. These tickets go on sale at the Clay Center box office on February 1, 2012. Tickets may be purchased by phone at 304.562.3570 or online at www.theclaycenter.org.

Artistic Director, Selina Midkiff, says, “My children are just ecstatic about the opportunity to sing with WV’s favorite son, Landau Eugene Murphy, Jr. ACC is committed to offering our young people extraordinary opportunities. This absolutely falls into that category! Though they perform with the WV Symphony Orchestra every year, it will also be special as this is the first time they will perform with a “Big Band” directed by Charleston’s own Jeff Flanagan.” Selina added, “I am so appreciative of Landau’s commitment to the children of West Virginia and am grateful he will be a part of ACC’s event.”

Landau Murphy is equally excited, noting that he has never had such a cast of talented “back up” singers. Landau has often performed in the past raising money for various youth organizations in Southern West Virginia, but this is the first time he will actually be joined on stage by such a large ensemble. It is anticipated that the ACC will be joining Landau for a Sinatra classic, New York, New York, while he will be assisting them with a beautifully orchestrated spiritual.

This is ACC’s seventh annual gala to benefit their program and children of the choir. There are approximately 170 children in seven choirs rehearsing in three different counties. ACC’s mission is to develop artistic excellence, a quality music education and extraordinary opportunities for West Virginia’s youth. However, the program is so much more than notes on a page. The music is the medium for helping children be the best they can be.

For more information about the Gala and ACC call (304) 343-1111.

Don’t miss your chance to “be a part of it” – February 24, 2012 at 6:00 pm at the Clay Center.

Date: 2012-02-24

Show times:
Thursday, February 23 – 7:00pm
Friday, February 24 – 10:30am & 7:00pm
Saturday, February 25 – 11:00am; 3:00pm & 7:00pm
Sunday, February 26 – 1:00pm

Tickets are on sale at the Civic Center Box Office, ticketmaster.com or by phone at 1-800-745-3000.

Prices: $45.00; $30.00; $24.00; $18.00; $14.00 depending upon seating location

Start Date: 2012-02-23
End Date: 2012-02-26

Friday, February 17 – 2pm – 10pm
Saturday, February 18 – 10am – 10pm
Sunday, February 19 – noon – 5pm

Ticket Prices:
Adults $6.00
Seniors $5.00
Children 6-12 $1.00 with paying Adult
Children under 6 Free
Start Date: 2012-02-17
End Date: 2012-02-19

The Kanawha County Public Library is holding a writing contest. Teens are asked to write a story or poem to express their feelings about Valentine’s Day.

The entries must be submitted during February at any library location or emailed to amy.a…@kanawhalibrary.org. A release form, available on the KCPL website at http://kanawhalibrary.org/pdfs/artwork_release_form.pdf, must be included.

A prize will be awarded to the top three entries chosen by library staff. Entries will be posted on the library’s website, and winners will be notified when their prize is ready to be picked up.

Google’s fifth annual Doodle 4 Google contest for students in kindergarten through 12th grade is now open. This year’s theme is “If I could travel in time, I’d visit…” The entry deadline is March 20, and only one entry is allowed per student.

The national winner receives a $30,000 college scholarship and a $50,000 technology grant for his or her school, a Google Chromebook computer, a Wacom digital design tablet, a T-shirt featuring his or her doodle and a trip to New York for an awards ceremony May 17. Plus, his or her design will appear on the Google homepage for a day and also on a special edition of a Crayloa 64-crayon box.

This year, for the first time, a winner will be chosen from every state, selected from five finalists. A panel of Google employees will pick the finalists based on artistic merit, creativity and how well the theme is communicated in the work. One finalist will be picked from each age group (grades K-3, 4-5, 6-7, 8-9 and 10-12).

Guest judges and Google’s own team of doodlers will choose the state winners. Guest judges include Katy Perry, Jordin Sparks, “Phineas and Ferb” creator Jeff “Swampy Marsh” and Holly Black and Tony DiTerlizzi, the author and illustrator team behind “The Spiderwick Chronicles.”

When it comes to running one of the Mid-Atlantic region’s top marketing firms, the team at Charles Ryan Associates has learned that two heads can be better than one.

Two years ago, the agency, founded by West Virginia advertising legend Charles Ryan, implemented a number of innovative changes that included a unique management structure.

The top staff position is now shared by managing partners Caryn Durham and Susan Lavenski, who will share their perspectives on successful management in a changing business environment and their bird’s eye experiences from memorable campaigns with high profile clients at the next Elevations Professional Women’s Network luncheon on Thursday, Feb. 2 at the Summit Conference Center.

Tickets for this special event are $30 for Alliance members/$40 future members.

Elevations is presented by the Charleston Area Alliance and Title Sponsor Dow.

Date: 2012-02-02