ONGOING THIS WEEK

Swinging on a Star is the dazzling, toe-tapping, finger-snapping celebration of the music of Academy Award-winning lyricist Johnny Burke opening this week at Riverside Theatre with performances from October 27th through November 15th. From a smoky 1920’s Speakeasy to the Bowery of the 1930’s, from a World War II USO to a 1950’s Manhattan supper club, Swinging on a Star perfectly weaves various settings and scenes with some of most popular songs of a generation including: “Pennies from Heaven,” “Imagination,” “Road to Morocco,” “Going My Way,” “Moonlight Becomes You,” “Swinging on a Star,” and many more. For tickets, visit RiversideTheatre.com.

The Foyer Gallery of Art at the Emerson Center features paintings by Annette Winkler through December 28th. Annette’s pieces cover very different subjects from tranquil scenes of still life to bold and colorful canvas. There will be a “Meet the Artist” night at the Gallery on Thursday, November 19th from 5 to 7 pm. Viewing hours are Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Sundays 10 a.m. to noon.

Friday, November 6

A new art exhibit, “Of Two Minds,” opens this Friday, November 6th at the Center for Spiritual Care, 1550 24th street in Vero Beach. Meet the artist, Deborah Gooch at a special reception from 5:30 to 7:30 pm. The artist will also give a talk on Saturday, November 7th from 2 to 4 pm on Artists and Inspirations.

The First Friday Gallery Stroll for November 6th from 5 to 8 pm features new exhibits at the galleries in the Arts District. In addition, there will be a shuttle to transport visitors to the various galleries in the district from the parking lot on 12th Court between the Twin Pairs and will run a continuous loop from 5 – 9:30 pm. Make sure to attend the Grand Opening of a new gallery, The Other Half Gallery, 1847 14th Avenue, featuring diverse works by Ann Lee Fuller, Helane Levine-Keating, Inverna Lockpez, Nat Thomas, Gerda Van Leeuwen, and Peter Yamaoka. The exhibit includes painting, mixed media, stoneware and porcelain vessels, photography, and printmaking. (Pictured upper left) Gallery 14 features bamboo sculptor Brent Greene (at right) and photo-realistic painter Viola Pace Knudsen. Art on 18th Gallery presents Reunited: Fashionista Collage by Quentin Walter and tropical wildlife paintings by Nancy Baur Dillen. Main Street Studios’ guest artist this month is Susan Rienzo, who creates art quilts. She uses vibrant saturated colors and is inspired by themes of the tropics and her love of the sun and beach.

HairPeace will perform at the Library Coffee House on Friday, November 6th, from 7 to 9 p.m., at the North Indian River County Library in Sebastian. Ray and Chrystine perform original folk/rock. Admission is free. Refreshments will be served. For more information, call (772) 589-1355.

The Navy UDT-SEAL Museum will host the Muster and Music Festival November 6th through 8th, Veterans Day Weekend. The celebration begins Friday evening with a cash bar happy hour and live music. Saturday commences with an early morning 5K beach run, followed by an afternoon of special guest speakers and several SEAL capabilities demonstrations. Entry into the facility is included. This family friendly venue will showcase the SEAL parachute team, the Leapfrogs; the K-9 tactical team; and additional enemy apprehension displays. For more information visit: navysealmuseum.org.

Arts & Culture in St. Lucie County

The Sunrise Theatre in Fort Pierce brings legendary singer-songwriter, Boz Scaggs, to the stage on Friday, November 6th at 8 pm. Boz is known for hits like Lowdown, which won the Grammy Award for “Best R&B Song,” Lido Shuffle, What Can I Say and the ballad We’re All Alone. For tickets ($59/$65) visit SunriseTheatre.com.

Friday & Saturday

The Treasure Coast Pilot Club presents the 28th annual Autumn in the Park Arts and Crafts Show on Saturday and Sunday, November 7th and 8th from 9 am to 4 pm at Riverside Park. Visit over 90 vendors featuring jewelry, art pieces, woven baskets, pottery, wood furniture and paintings.

Saturday, November 7

The 2nd Original Florida Highwaymen Art Show, Sale and Benefit will be held on Saturday, November 7th at the Gifford Youth Achievement Center, 4875 43rd Avenue in Vero Beach from 10 am to 4 pm. Participating artists are Curtis Arnette, Al Black, Doretha Hair, Roy McLendon (at left), Willie Reagan, Carnell Smith and Charles Walker. A painting by Willie Daniels will be raffled. Author Gary Monroe will speak at 11 am and Al Black will be painting on site at 1 pm.

Sunday November 8

The 18-voice Atlantic Children’s Chorale and the 25-voice Atlantic Youth Chorus Fall Concert will be on Sunday, November 8th at 4 pm at Community Church of Vero Beach, 1901 23rd Street. Admission is free and a free-will offering will be received.

Highlights next week

The American Association of University Women’s Book Review Breakfast will be held on Monday, November 9th in the Richardson Center of the Mueller Campus of Indian River State College. Mary Silva, Executive Director of Literacy Services of Indian River County, will discuss Walk in Their Shoes: Can One Person Change the World? By Jim Ziolkowski. The event begins at 9:30 am with a continental breakfast followed by the book review at 10 am. Free.

A free film about the obesity crisis in America will be shown on Tuesday, November 10th, at 7 pm at the Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Vero Beach. “Fed Up” unearths a dirty secret of the American food industry–far more of us get sick from what we eat than anyone has previously realized.