Fitchburg's FIRST THURSDAY Listing of Events March 3, 2011

FITCHBURG – Fitchburg First Thursdays invites the public to
experience, and be part of, a downtown renaissance on March 3. If you haven’t stopped to take a look around the downtown corridor recently, come see what you’ve been missing: from arts and culture establishments to a global array of sit-down restaurants, from art galleries to an independent bookstore, the offerings are many.

First Thursdays provides a great opportunity to experience what the downtown has to offer, with special programming and expanded hours. The tradition continues March 3 with an evening full of activities spanning downtown. Food, live music, arts and crafts, dinosaur fossils, live animals and coupons for CenterStage at Fitchburg State University tickets.

Here are the First Thursday sites, times and programming scheduled for Thursday, March 3, 2011:

Fitchburg Public Library {610 Main Street}, 4 to 7 p.m. – Join library
staff for “Round the world in crafts and stories,” as well as the
Friends of the Library book sale

Design at 639 {639 Main Street}, 4 to 8 p.m. – Sneak preview of
completed chairs for ARC’s “Artistic Musical Chairs Auction.”

Rollstone Studios {633 Main Street}, 4 to 7 p.m.— Meet members of the Finnish Center at Saima Park; 5 to 7 p.m., Exhibition and opening reception for “True Identity: Believing It all,” part of the Voices of Fitchburg Series featuring mixed media work by C.M. Judge. Includes a special screening of “MALE” from “FemLink: The International Video Collage,” screening featuring 26 artists from as many countries; 5 to 7 p.m., Live music with Peter Cowley on mandolin. Throughout, Rollstone Studios will have coupons redeemable for discounted tickets to the CenterStage at Fitchburg State University arts and culture series.

Boulder Art Gallery {960 Main Street}, 4 to 8 p.m. – hosting “Barb’s
Handmade Jewelry.”

Fitchburg Art Museum {25 Merriam Parkway}, 4 to 8 p.m. – Free
admission to all exhibitions. Don’t miss The Jude Peterson Photography Collection, an exhibition of 80 prints, selected from over 300 photographs bequeathed to the museum. The exhibit honors Peterson (1966-2009), a New England collector and benefactor. The Jude Peterson Photography Collection runs through March.

The Rabbit Hole {805 Main Street}, 4 to 8 p.m. – Be the 25th person to walk through the door of this independent bookstore and win a $25 gift certificate.

Cafe Chaibo {13 Cushing Street}, 5 to 7 p.m. – take a sample from
Chaibo’s signature chocolate fountain, and don’t forget to pick up a
Discover CenterStage at Fitchburg State University coupon.

Faith United Parish {820 Main Street}, 6 to 7:30 p.m. – Dino
Adventures by Animal Adventures, featuring fossils, dinosaur skulls, velociraptor claws, dinosaur skin and more dinosaur artifacts that you can see and touch, as well as live animals such as monitor lizards, alligators, scorpions, birds and snapping turtles. This is a program to excite any dinosaur lover.

Stratton Players at FATV {175 Kimball Street}, 7 p.m. – Storytelling
live! Hosted by Sally Cragin, participants engage in on-air personal
storytelling. This was created originally by Massmouth of Boston. The performance will be presented live on Channel 8 at 7:30 p.m. A studio audience is welcome, and free tours of the FATV studio will be offered.

Destaré {320 Main Street}, 8 p.m. – Relax to the sounds of the Jazz
Depot while enjoying a discounted martini tasting event.