Thursday, April 16

 J.M. Stringer Gallery presents Painting Paradise, a group exhibition featuring new works by several artists, exploring personal interpretations of paradise. An opening reception will be held Thursday, April 16th from 4 to 8 pm, as well as Friday, April 17th and Saturday, April 18th from 11 am to 6 pm. The exhibition will be on view through May 30th. Pictured: Robert Caulfield, Summer Day at Cannes.

The Vero Beach Museum of Art presents Dave Mundy’s Soulfege on Thursday, April 16th from 5 to 7 pm.  Concerts are open to the public at a cost of $12 per person; $10 for Museum members. A cash bar is available. Guests are invited to bring their own lawn chairs or a blanket to sit on the grass. For more information visit VeroBeachMuseum.org.

Join the Cultural Council of Indian River County for its Art of Networking on Thursday, April 16th from 5 to 7 pm at The Kilted Mermaid, 1937 Old Dixie Highway in Vero Beach.  Free for Cultural Council Members, $5 for guests.  RSVP 772-770-4857.

The Emerson Center’s Florida Humanities Series concludes on Thursday, April 16th at 7 p.m. with The African Presence in Spanish Florida: Black Seminoles, with cultural anthropologist, Rosalyn Howard, Ph.D.  African slaves have often risked life and limb to escape southern slavery but their options for sanctuary were extremely limited.  Some fled to the Caribbean, while others fled south and joined forces with another group of freedom-seekers, the Seminoles. Free.

Friday, April  17

On Friday, April 17th, from 5:30 to 8:00 pm,  the Cheyenne Band will perform at Riverview Park, SR 512 East & US 1 in Sebastian as part of the Sebastian River Area Chamber of Commerce’s Concerts in the Park.  Free.

 The Riverside Theatre presents comedians Eric Hunter & Christian Saslo on Friday & Saturday, April 17th and 18th with shows at 7:30 and 9:30 pm.  Enjoy free live music outdoors beginning at 6:30 pm with Collins & Co. on Friday and L-Tribe on Saturday.  For Comedy Zone tickets ($16/$18), visit RiversideTheatre.com.

Saturday, April 18

The National Navy SEAL Museum has announced its 2nd Annual Bridge Challenge!  Test your endurance on Saturday April 18th at the Riverside Cafe in Vero Beach.  This is a team event; teams are comprised of 5 members (age 18 and up) and 1 member must be of the opposite sex. Team registration fee is $250. Register at www.navysealmuseum.org.

The  Indian River County Historical Society is holding a Mother/Daughter Tea at the Hallstrom House on April 18th from 2 to 3:30 p.m.  Mothers and daughters are encouraged to wear hats.  Swedish pastries and tea will be served in keeping with the history of the Hallstrom’s heritage. Tickets are $20 for both mother and daughter with any additional guest for $5.  To reserve, call 772-778-3435.

The Vero Beach Branch of the American Association of University Women will meet at 1:30 p.m. Saturday, April 18th, at McKee Botanical Garden, 350 U.S. 1 in Vero Beach, for an ice cream social, Hospice presentation by Sara Pedreira, R.N., and election of officers.   For more information call (772) 257-5703.

Sunday, April 19

The Vero Beach Chamber Orchestra will perform An Evening of Edvard Grieg on Sunday, April 19th at 2 pm at the Vero Beach High School Performing Arts Center. April 19th. Pieces included are Peer Gynt Suite No 1 and Piano Concert No.1 in A Minor featuring Jacob Craig on piano.  Call the VBHS PAC box office at 772-564-5537.

Highlights Next Week

DAY TRIP TO CORAL CASTLE & REDLAND  TRAIL

Join Day Trippin’ with Patti & Vicky LLC on Monday, April 20th, for a tour and lunch at the mysterious Coral Castle followed by a trip down the Historic Redland Tropical Trail to visit the Bonsai Gardens, Schnebly’s Winery and Brewery and the famous South Florida “vegetable stand,” Robert is Here.  The cost is $120 for the full day of activities. To make a reservation, call Vicky at (772) 569-8372.

2015 LAUREL AWARDS

The2015Laurel Awards will be presented to the honorees at the Nineteenth Laurel Awards Celebration on Friday April 24th at the Riomar Country Club. The reception starts at 6:00 pm, dinner at 7:00 pm, followed by the awards program. Reservations, $175 per person, are required by April 17th. Call 772-770-4857 for more information.