Retail & Restaurant News:

Bad Dawgs, 72 Merrimack Street: Gourmet Hot dogs and More…  For information call 978-970-DAWG or visit www.baddawgs.com for more information.

MR. Jalepeno, 124 Merrimack Street: Authentic Mexican Cuisine,Call 978-710-0789 for delivery.  Open Monday – Friday 10:00 AM to 9:00 PM and Saturday – Sunday 12:00 PM to 8:00 PM.

Sammy’s Pizzeria & Grill, 127 Merrimack Street: Gourmet Pizza and much more. For more information or delivery call 978-452-6500.

Blue Taleh, 15 Kearney Square: Come in for some Thai, Japanese or mouth watering Sushi.  For more information visit www.bluetaleh.net

CENTRO Restaurant & Bar, 24 Market Street: A GREAT PLACE FOR DINNER OR A DRINK BEFORE OR AFTER A SHOW.  COFFEE AND DESSERT SPECIALTIES.  Dining Room hours: Monday/Wednesday/Thursday 11:30AM to 10:00PM, Friday 11:30AM to 11:00PM, Saturday, bar opens at 4:00 PM, dining from 5:00 PM to 11:00 PM Sunday, Bar opens at 3:00 PM, Dining from 4:00PM to 9:00PM.  All Nights extended bar hours. Please visit www.centrolowell.com for more information.

Eleni's Fashion Gallery at the AYER LOFTS:  With spring here, it is time to look in our closets and update our wardrobe. All you need to do is call Eleni 978-453-0055. For more information visit Eleni's new website. www.bridalfittings.com

Goodyear Tire and Auto Service, 338 Merrimack Street: Open on Sundays.   Appointments are accepted if you call 978-454-0457 or you can just drive in.   Bring this advertisement in on Sunday and receive $5 off any service.

Hookslide Kelly’s, 19 Merrimack Street:  Catch all the Red Sox and Celtics games on McDermott Way, outdoor seating and TV’s.  For more information call 978-654-4225.

Life Alive an Urban Oasis & Organic Cafe, 194 Middle Street: In the heart of Lowell's beautiful Arts District has a new Spring Menu and Hours.  Get gorgeous and vibrant for the summer...with seating indoors and out, eat in and take out, the fresh homemade food is delicious and ready fast for your pleasure!  For more information visit www.lifealive.com    

La Boniche Restaurant, 143 Merrimack Street: Through June 29 - Pamela Wamala - pastel paintings, "Celebrating Nature," inspired by a road trip through the Cotswolds.

Mambo Grill, 129 Merrimack Street:  Signature contemporary Baja-style Mexican fare with Californian influences. Open mike night each Tuesday at 5:30 PM and live music every Friday Night from 8:30 PM – 11:00 PM.   For more information visit www.mamboburrito.com

Olive That and More, 167 Market Street:  COMING SOON– “ROCK BAND” CONTEST FRIDAYS! TEST YOUR SKILL AT THE GAME “ROCK BAND” VERSUS OTHERS.  Special:  Soup of the Day!  Pair with any COLD 1/2 Sandwich for only $6.95 for small or $7.95 for medium.  For more information visit www.olivethatandmore.com

Sangria's Bar & Grill, 179 Central Street:  Watch BIG …Win BIG!  Watch the Red Sox at Sangria's and get a raffle ticket.  Drawings are 10:00 PM at Sangria's every Thursday starting May 1.Each ticket stays in the raffle all season long...the more you watch here, the better your chances! 2 Red Sox Tickets(drawn monthly, seats between home & first) 2 Spinner Tickets(drawn weekly, front row seats at home plate).  For more information visit www.sangriaslowell.com

Salon City Inc (An Aveda Concept Salon and Spa) 173 Market Street: "Spring into the Warm Weather!" - with a brand new look! Book a partial or full highlight or foil and receive a complimentary hair gloss, which adds shine as it deeply conditions your hair, leaving it feeling thicker, healthier, and less fly-away. Mention this promotion when booking your hair color service so we may allow extra time for your visit. Call us at (978)458-1132, or visit www.saloncityinc.com for more information. Salon City Inc is an Aveda Concept Salon and Spa.

The Worthern House Cafe, 141 Worthern Street: Every Wednesday Night from 9:00 pm- 1:00am Open Mic Night /Singers-Songwriters lament.  For more information call 978-459-0300 or visit www.worthenhousecafe.com

Sports & Events:

Concord River Greenway Park Community Meeting, Monday, May 12 from 7:00 PM to 9:00PM, Middlesex Community College Cafeteria.  Come learn about the first section of the Greenway to be constructed this summer on the Davidson Street Parking lot, to include public art work by artist Wopo Holup.

Arbor Day Tree Planting at the city's new dog park! Thursday, May 8 at 10:00 AM, VFW Highway at 1st Street.  Join us in celebration of Arbor Day (and Lowell’s 11th year as a Tree City USA) as we plant nine trees at Lowell’s new dog park on the VFW highway. Youth from CTI’s YouthBuild Program will be helping with the planting of the trees. In partnership with Lowell Unleashed and the City of Lowell.

Tsongas Industrial History Center Summer Day Camps.  Looking for fun this summer? Then sign up for the Tsongas Industrial History Center's summer day camps.  This year's themes include: Boott Camp, a hands on look at the birth and growth of Lowell, where children build a canal system, weave on looms, and see how people lived over 100 years ago; Wonders of Water, explores water power, transportation and recreation as children go out on a National Park boat in the Merrimack River; and National Parks Adventures Camp, children visit four different National Parks, meet a Minute Man, and travel to the Boston Harbor Islands.  For more information visit www.uml.edu/tsongas.

Lowell Parks and Conservation Trust is seeking adventurers… Whitewater Rafting Season in Lowell is Underway.  You can experience the thrill of Class III and IV whitewater right in the heart of Lowell this year (season currently underway), on Lowell’s Hidden Jewel, the Concord River!  Lowell Parks & Conservation Trust’s whitewater rafting on the Concord River received a Best of Boston Award from Boston Magazine as Best Urban Adventure.  The rafting program has also been featured in the 1998 Yankee Magazine Travel Guide to New England and on NPR’s It’s Only A Game.  For more information visit www.lowelllandtrust.org.

Lowell Spinners individual tickets for ALL Lowell Spinners home games are now available both online and through phone/box office sales. The Lowell Spinners box office can be reached directly at 978-459-1702. Phone and box office hours are Monday through Friday from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Internet sales will continue unabated. Ticket Prices for the 2008 Season are: Premium Box seats are $8, Box seats are $7, Reserved seats are $5 and Standing Room tickets (only available once each event sells out) are $4.  For more information visit www.lowellspinners.com.

New York-Penn League Announces Logo Contest!   The New York-Penn League has roots dating back to 1891 and owners ranging from actor Bill Murray and NFL Legend Jerome Bettis to Baseball's Ironman, Cal Ripken Jr. Now the NYPL WANTS YOU! Following the conclusion of the 2008 season, the NYPL's primary logo will be retiring and the league is looking for creative fans to design its replacement. Serious artists are invited to submit their creative renditions to tbawmann@lowellspinners.com by June 1. All designs must be done in Vector Format using Adobe Illustrator or Macromedia Freehand. The winning designer will receive a great prize pack of NYPL perks and prizes. For more information and rules and regulations. For more information visit www.lowellspinners.com.

The Lowell National Historical Park, the University of Massachusetts Lowell and the Lowell Festival Foundation present its annual Summer Music Series at Boarding House Park.  The 19th Season starts with concerts that begin June 27 and continue through September 6. The Summer Music Series comprises of folk, classic, roots, world music and the best in blues.  For more information visit www.lowellsummermusic.org 

The Lowell Devils 2008 – 2009 season tickets are on sale now, call 978-458-PUCK.  Stop by and visit the Devils team store, featuring the latest in Lowell Devils gear, located in the Devils office at the Tsongas Arena. The store is open from 8:30 AM to 6:00 PM Monday through Friday.  For more information visit www.lowelldevilshockey.com.

The Pollard Memorial Library, 401 Merrimack Street: Mother Goose is on the Loose!  Tuesday May 6 from 10:30 AM – 11:30 AM.  Independent / Foreign Film Night: Thursday, May 8 at 6:30 PM. Film:  Her Name is Sabine (French, with English subtitles, 85 minutes).  For more information, visit www.pollardml.org.

Museum & Gallery News:

ONTO UM, 155 Middlesex Street:  An interactive Art & Poetry marketplace by Ed Marshall & Jerry Beck.  Grand “Brand” Opening, Saturday May 24, 7:00 PM – 10:00 PM.  See the new and improved creative economy.  Come experience the sublime-side of consumerism!  For more information call 978-590-3759.  

Ayer Lofts Gallery, 172 Middle Street, Lowell:  Through May 25 "The Creative Tension;" by former Lowell artist Barbara Gagel and New York sculptor, Karen Kettering Dimit.   For more information visit www.ayerlofts.com

The Brush Art Gallery & Studio, 256 Market Street: GOING TO THE DOGS exhibition.  Going To The Dogs is a collaborative effort between the Brush Art Gallery and Greyhound Welfare - works by artists who have been inspired by dogs; exhibit continues through June 15.  For more information please visit www.thebrush.org

Lowell National Historical Park, 246 Market Street, Lowell: Spring Hours (through May 23):  Visitor Center, 246 Market Street: 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM. daily.   Boott Cotton Mills Museum, 115 John Street: 9:30 AM – 4:30 PM daily.  Mill Girls & Immigrants Exhibit, 4O French Street: 1:30 PM - 4:30 PM daily.  Walking Tours: 2:30 daily. Register for this year’s Great Explorations Summer Day Camps:  Boott Camp, July 7-11 and July 28-August 1 - birth and growth of Lowell; children build a canal system, weave on looms, and see how people lived over 100 years ago;Wonders of Water, July 21-25, explores water, power, transportation and recreation as children discover the Merrimack River on a National Park boat;National Parks Adventures Camp, July 14-18 - children visit four different national park areas, meet a Minute Man and travel to the Boston Harbor Islands. Each camp runs Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m.-3:00 p.m. summer camp programs are designed and staffed by professional educators with a ratio of one staff member for each 8-10 children. Snacks and T-shirts provided; children bring a brown bag lunch; $175 per week, sibling discount. Boott Camp and Wonders of Water for ages 8 to 12, and National Parks Adventures for ages 10 to 14; pre-registration required. For more information or to register call 978-970-5080.

The New England Quilt Museum, 18 Shattuck Street Current Exhibition: The Whole Story: Wholecloth Quilts by Hand and Machine.  This exhibit highlights the design and beauty of the wholecloth quilt. Both hand and machine stitching techniques are represented in quilts from the museum’s permanent collection, private collections and invited artists.  For additional information please visit www.nequiltmuseum.org

Revolving Museum, 22 Shattuck Street:  Saturday, May 10, 1:00 PM - 4:00 PM: Destination World – Toying Around Town (at North Common), Free – All Ages. // Saturday, May 17, 1:00 PM– 4:00 PM:  Rockin’Rollers Workshop with Jay Hungate.  For more information visit www.revolvingmuseum.org or call 978-937-2787.

Everyone is an Artist: Take an Art Class at the Revolving Museum:  The Revolving Museum,  is now offering a variety of adult art classes at the museum. Now is a great time to try something new because you do not need any art experience to join one of the classes in May. The first three beginning art classes offered are Digital Photography, Sculpture/3D Art and Stone Carving. Taught by a local artist, each class is a six-session series is a hands-on learning experience.   Register now - class size is limited.  Visit www.revolvingmuseum.org for more information and to register

University Gallery at UMass Lowell McGauvran Student Union First Floor, 71 Wilder Street:  April 14 - May 8, Materia Oscura/Dark Matter: Photographs of Urban Africa and the Diaspora, By Kerry Stuart Coppin.  For more information visit www.uml.edu/dept/art

Western Avenue Studios, 122 Western Avenue: Open Studios- First Saturday of every month, noon to 5pm - Western Avenue Studios opens its doors to the public. Come browse the latest works by our artists.  For more information and directions, visit www.westernavenuestudios.com.

Loading Dock Gallery - The Gallery is now Open! Hours are from 11:00 AM to 4:30 PM, Wednesday through Sunday!!  www.theloadingdockgallery.com

Whistler House Museum of Art, 243 Worthern Street:  Cape Cod School &Provincetown Artists: April 26 - June 21.  Upcoming exhibition: Art Quilts at the Whistler IV: July 1 - August 15, Reception: Saturday, Aug 9, 1:00 PM - 3:00 PM. For more information visit www.whistlerhouse.org.

Brom Yoga at 119 Gallery, 119 Chelmsford Street. Looking to bring more strength, flexibility, and cardiovascular health to your body? How about decreased stress? Holistic approach to fitness for your body is what Brom Yoga is all about! Join us for some fun, flowing, vigorous exercise followed by deep relaxation.For class times, directions, and more information visit www.bromyoga.com or call Jon at 978-852-2765

Got Tickets?

The Lowell Memorial Auditorium  - Tickets are currently available for Medium and Clairvoyant Lisa Williams from Lifetime’s Life Among the Dead, Thursday May 8 at 8:00 PM and Melissa Etheridge for two shows, Friday July 18 at 8:00 PM & Saturday July 19 at 8:00 PM.  For more information visit www.lowellauditorium.com.

Merrimack Repertory Theatre – Tickets currently available for The Four of Us with shows running from April 17th to May 11th.  One of the freshest new playwrights in America makes his area debut. Best friends from the beginning, novelist Benjamin and playwright David face challenges as the life path they once shared splits in two. Adult personalities clash with youthful attitudes in this hilariously smart comedy. When Benjamin writes a hit novel, will their friendship be able to withstand the test of fame and jealousy? And more importantly, who should pay for lunch?  For mature audiences. For more information visit www.merrimackrep.org

Tsongas Arena - Tickets currently available for Bill Gaither & the Homecoming Friends Give it Away Tour, Friday May 16 at 7:00 PM.  For more information please visit: www.paultsongasarena.com 

Business News

All Downtown This Week submissions should be sent to csamaras@lowellma.gov no later than Thursday at Noon each week for events happening the following week.

Have a great week!

Christopher Samaras
Downtown Coordinator
City of Lowell, Division of Planning & Development
50 Arcand Drive
Lowell, MA 01852
t: 978.446-7200 ext 1434
f: 978.446.7014
www.lowellma.biz

Development Opportunity: www.hamiltoncanal.com