6 things to do this weekend in Iowa City, including a children's literature festival
Help celebrate children’s literature and youth writers in the Iowa City area with the return of the One Book Two Book Festival this weekend.
As for the adults, catch the Chicago comedy show "My Best Friend is Black" at Joystick Comedy Arcade or a new Dreamwell Theatre play by a University of Iowa playwright.
Here are six things to do this weekend in Iowa City.
Iowa City UNESCO City of Literature’s One Book Two Book Festival
Saturday morning: Iowa City UNESCO City of Literature’s annual One Book Two Book Festival kicks off with a book fair at FilmScene at The Chauncey at 404 E. College St. at 10 a.m. Stay for the 10:30 a.m. discussion with Iowa City-based author and illustrator Michelle Edwards on her latest book “Me and the Boss: A Story About Mending and Love.” The book won the Coretta Scott King Illustrator Honor Award and follows bossy big sister Zora and younger brother Lee as he tries to sew. One Book Two Book festivities continue Saturday afternoon with a book character meet-and-greet and a junior high writing jam.
Sunday afternoon: The One Book Two Book Festival culminates with the Write Out Loud Student Award Ceremony. Listen to students from Iowa City-area schools read aloud their winning submissions with the Write Out Loud awarded at 1 p.m. in the Macbride Hall auditorium at 17 N. Clinton St. Winning submissions will be published in a booklet available at the festival and viewable online. Visit the Iowa City UNESCO City of Literature's website for more information about the festival.
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Live standup and improv at Joystick Comedy Arcade
Friday evening: Chicago-based live comedy variety show "My Best Friend is Black" will bring the laughs at Joystick Comedy Arcade, 13 S. Linn St, at 9:30 p.m. The all-Black comedy group presents shows that include standup, sketches and improv for folks of all backgrounds to enjoy their shows. Visit Joystick’s website to purchase tickets starting at $5 for the show.
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Wintertime stroll around the University of Iowa Pentacrest Museums
Friday afternoon: Enjoy a guided stroll around the Pentacrest as part of the University of Iowa Pentacrest Museum’s Tree Tour program, which highlights the ecological diversity of campus trees and centers mindfulness, restoration, discovery and movement, according to the Pentacrest Museums. This wintertime stroll will happen snow or shine. Meet outside near the main entrance to Macbride Hall at 17 N. Clinton St. After the walk, enjoy hot cider inside the auditorium. The stroll is from noon to 1 p.m. Visit the Pentacrest Museums’ website for more information.
Prairie Lights hosts a James Alan McPherson reading event
Friday evening: Prairie Lights, 15 S. Dubuque St., is hosting a special reading honoring the posthumous publication “On Becoming An American Writer: Essays & Nonfiction” by James Alan McPherson at 6 p.m. McPherson, a longtime Iowa Writers’ Workshop professor, was the first Black author to win the Pulitzer Prize for fiction. Essays in “On Becoming An American Writer” explore themes of race, education, law and more, according to Prairie Lights. Some of the readers at this event will include Iowa Writers’ Workshop faculty member James Galvin and director Lan Samantha Chang. Visit Prairie Lights’ website for more information.
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Dreamwell Theatre presents 'the fog comes on little cat feet'
Friday and Saturday evening: Dreamwell Theatre presents the world premiere of “the fog comes on little cat feet” Friday by Amanda Keating, a UI playwright, at The ArtiFactory inside 120 N. Dubuque St. Directed by Michele Payne Hinz, the story is set overnight in the waiting room of the Veterinary Emergency and Large Animal Vet Services of Hamden County. Though the play is a comedy, expect discussion of loss, illness and grief, including animal injury and death. The performances are at 7:30 p.m. on Saturday, there is a talkback after the show with Keating. Visit Dreamwell Theatre’s website to purchase tickets, which start at $15.
UI Dance Company home concert
Friday and Saturday evening: The resident repertory and touring company of the Department of Dance at UI is presenting a showcase premiering Thursday evening and continuing through the weekend. The concert will feature graduate and undergraduate dancers, all directed by professor Melinda Jean Myers. Shows start at 8 p.m. and will be held at Space Place Theater at 20 Davenport St. Visit the Hancher Box Office's website to get tickets, which start at $6.18 for UI students.
Paris Barraza covers entertainment, lifestyle and arts at the Iowa City Press-Citizen. Reach her at PBarraza@press-citizen.com or 319-519-9731. Follow her on Twitter @ParisBarraza.
This article originally appeared on Iowa City Press-Citizen: 6 things to do this weekend in Iowa City, including Prairie Lights
