Folks, the WV Division of Culture and History is getting all cultural witha  free day-long creative writing workshop on Saturday, March 28.  If you write poetry, stories, essays, blog posts, stone tablet carvings, kids’ books, fake phone numbers on bar napkins, on the wall, comics, sandwich orders, or novels, this is a free event you should not miss.

Registration begins at 9, cost is FREE.  It’s at the Cultural Center at the Capitol.  It’s free.  Writers, get over there.

More info, including program details, are here.

The Chemical Valley Roller Girls, Charleston’s only female flat track roller derby team (accept no imitations) will be hosting an information session for anyone interested in volunteering.  What’s that you say?  You don’t skate?  You don’t look good in a mini skirt?  That’s fine!  The team also needs coaches, score keepers, statisticians, referees, graphic artists, and other volunteers – male and female.

So, please, come on down to Capitol Roasters on Wednesday March 25.  Support this new organization of sportswomen and butt-kickers.

If you’ve got a pair of skates itching for some action, and you are a gal over 21, you can also go to CVRG open skate at Skateland of Campbell’s Creek every Tuesday from 7-9 PM.  Everyone is welcome!  If you are female and over 21.  If not, you can still go to the meet & greet and help out.

Find more info on CVRG here, or watch them in action.

Be there!

The Charleston Civic Chorus will perform their FREE Winter Concert. Free, wonderful music!

Sunday, December 7
2:30 PM
Charleston Baptist Temple
209 Morris Street

Here’s what they’ll be singing. See you there!

Bring some toys to the Empty Glass on Monday night for a good cause and some drink specials.

Open Mic Night hosted by Charleston’s own rock machine, Diablo Blue
10:30ish start time
The Empty Glass
410 Elizabeth Street, Charleston

Bring toys, get a drink special, rock out. It’s simple!

And the Marines will be there to collect the toys and, unofficially, to prevent shenanigans.

Saturday, November 22 4 – 8:30 PM
Cultural Center Theater in Charleston

WV Sierra Club presents some FREE films about coal.  It ain’t Twilight, but it should be *enlightening.*  Get it?  Because coal burns to make light.  OK, good.

Films include:

Burning the Future: Coal in America
Kilowatt Ours
The Appalachians

etc.  For a complete list of films and speakers, visit here.

Read selected literary classics and then compare them to a version written from another point of view. Characters previously silenced in the classic versions set the record straight in these re-visioned sequels. Discussion leader is Carolyn Sturgeon, an English teacher at West Virginia State University. Registration is not required but copies of the book are limited. They may be picked up at the Reference Desk.

The first meeting will discuss Jane Eyre by a little gal called Charlotte Bronte. Jane goes from a depressing boarding school to a depressing country house with a depressed guy named Rochester. I mean, he’s handsome and all, but what’s that sound in the attic?

(Find out next month, when they discuss Jean Rhys’s Wide Sargasso Sea)

Re-Visioning Classics Book Discussion Group
Main Library, 123 Capitol Street
Thursday, December 11 5:30 – 7:30 PM

Led by Charleston Book Group legend Carol Campbell, the Monday Book Club meets on November 24 at 6 PM at Taylor Books.

This month’s book is Mr. Muo’s Traveling Couch by Dai Sijie. Mr. Muo returns to his native China after studying in France, only to find his true love imprisoned by a Communist something or other. He can only save her by bringing a virgin to a tyrannical judge. It’s a comic-romantic masterpiece, they say!

This is the last Monday Book Club for 2008, but rest assured it will start afresh in January with a whole wonderful new set of books. If you haven’t been to any this year, feel free to give it a try. This is one book club where people don’t talk about diapers and brownie recipes – only good, meaty book discussions. Yay!

If you work for a nonprofit and you need money, sign up for this free workshop at the Kanawha County Public Library. Librarian Olivia Bravo will show you how to use the Foundation Center’s online database to identify funding sources for your organization. And it won’t cost you anything but time.

The workshop is free, but you have to sign up in advance. Call or email the library to register.

Finding Where the Money Is For Nonprofits
Thursday, December 11
6:30 – 8 PM

Then again on Saturday, December 13
9 – 10:30 AM

Main Library, 123 Capitol Street

(304) 345-4646

While this may not be big news in the same way it is for me, Charleston no longer has to hang its head in shame at a lack of quality, cheap used books. The Book Exchange has finally re-opened! Prepare to waste years of your life in joyous literary browsing.

Hooray.

So visit:

The Book Exchange
1588 Washington Street East
Hours: Tues – Sat 11-6

The management is super-nice, the selection covers every genre of fiction (although mostly that nebulous “general fiction” genre and a hearty selection of paperback romances), and some good nonfiction as well. If you bring in used books, you get $1 off per book. Good deal.

So let me just set up a Saturday afternoon for you: lunch at the Bluegrass Kitchen, browse and browse at The Book Exchange, then on your way back to the car, stop at Second Seating on your way home for discount prices on other people’s knick knacks. Don’t look at me like that, just do it.

If moldings make you salivate, you’re in luck.  East End Main Street is hosting a LemonAid sale this Saturday at 1426 Washington Street East.

This three-story apartment building is being torn down, and starting at 8 AM, you can go in and buy whatever fixtures and doors and such that you want – but bring some tools, because you have to get it yourself.  Plus, the proceeds go toward East End Main Street activities, so you’ll be helping the neighborhood in more ways than one:  help tear down an eyesore, give money for more fun stuff, beautify your own place.  It’s a win-win-win, people.

LemonAid Sale
1426 Washington St. East
8 AM – at least 1 PM

See the article in the Gazette, or for information, contact Ric Cavender at 340-4253.