Virginia Point Going to the Dogs
Who Let the Dogs Out? That’s an easy question to answer on Saturday, it’s The Wayne County Junior Fair Board and Wayne County 4-H have organized the second annual Wayne County Dog Show at 10 a.m. Saturday May 19 at Virginia Point Park in Kenova.

Trophies will be awarded to the dog that comes in first place with ribbons for second and third. Dogs are asked to be on a leash and controllable (for the safety of those attending). The cost is $2 per class day of the show. All proceeds benefit the Wayne County Fair. Checks may be written to Wayne County Fair Board. In the event the show is canceled due to inclement weather, refunds will be provided.

To download a copy of the registration form visit http://wayne.ext.wvu.edu/4h/county_events/dog. Pre-registration is due in the WVU Wayne County Extension Office, PO Bo 127, Wayne WV 25570 by Wednesday May 16. For more info, call Julie Tritz, WVU 4-H Extension Agent at 304-272-6839 or email julie.tritz@mail.wvu.edu.

So Much Wine So Little Time
You can drink your way around the world on Saturday as the Marshall Artists Series has its fundraiser, “Uncorked!” that features more than 60 wines from 1 to 4 p.m. Saturday at the Frederick Building and Keith-Albee in downtown. Tickets are $40 to sample the wines and enjoy a rare afternoon jazz concert by Laura Evans. There’s also a wine class, and two auctions to help the Artists Series.

Check-in begins at 11 a.m. at the Keith-Albee. Tickets are $40 (includes wine tasting). To order tickets contact the Marshall Artist Series at 304-696-3326. Tickets may also be purchased at the Keith-Albee Theatre at 11 a.m. Saturday, May 19.

Go East to the West For The Blues
Shoot over to the beautiful Haddad Riverfront Park this weekend for the fifth annual Charlie West Blues Fest that runs Friday through Sunday with two stages of blues from such national acts as Johnny Rawls and Rod Piazza on Friday, Kenny Wayne Shepherd on Saturday and Ruthie Foster on Sunday.

Music runs 6 to 11 p.m. Friday, noon to 11 p.m. Saturday and 1 to 9 p.m. Sunday. More details can be found at, www.charliewestbluesfest.com

Coon Sanders Nighthawks Fans Bash
If you roll down your windows on W.Va. 10 this weekend, you might just think it's about 1925 — Chicago, New Orleans or Kansas City.

The 45th annual Coon Sanders Nighthawks Fans Bash, a festival celebrating early jazz and Dixieland music, which runs through Saturday, May 19, at the Ramada Inn Limited in Huntington. Enjoy the best Dixieland and early jazz bands from Chicago, North Carolina, Huntington and Columbus.

Thursday night's jam session from 8 to 11 p.m. is free.

Friday night features dinner at 6:30 p.m. with music by Backyard Dixie Jazz Stompers, then at 7:30 p.m., The Northside Jazz Band, The West End Jazz Band with Leah Labrea, the Windy City Songbird, and the North Carolina Dixie Players. Cost is $60.

Saturday includes Jug Band Breakfast from 9 to 11 a.m. with the 1937 Flood followed by a silent movie accompanied by live piano. The cost is $20. From 1 to 3 p.m. Saturday, there will be a tea dance with the West End Jazz Band. The cost is $10.

At 6 p.m. there will be a reception followed by dinner and a night of music by The Northside Jazz Band, The West End Jazz Band with Leah Labrea, the Windy City Songbird, and the North Carolina Dixie Players. Cost is $60.

The weekend all-inclusive package is $150. For tickets and more information, call Dale Jones at 304-633-5241 or email coonsander@msn.com.

Landau at the Keith-Albee
He’s played just about every venue in West Virginia and come May 17, Landau Eugene Murphy, Jr., the Logan, W.Va., native who took home the top prize on NBC’s “America’s Got Talent” Murphy took home the $1 million prize a will be swinging into the historic Keith-Albee Performing Arts Center in downtown Huntington. at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, May 17 at a Rotary-sponsored concert to benefit the Golden Girl Home. Tickets are $25 to $55. Tickets are available at the Marshall Artist Series box office at 304-696-6656, M-F 12-5pm, or at www.ticketmaster.com.

Sunday In the Park
The Town of Ceredo kicks off its 9th season of its "Sunday In The Park" concert series on Sunday, May 20 with the always popular Ceredo-Kenova Alumni Band under the direction of Charles Oshel. Comprised of musicians from ages 18 to 80, the group has entertained thousands of people over its more than 20-year history. The band will kick off the Sunday in the Park series at 2 p.m. in the Jeremy Shoemaker Amphitheater in the Paul T. Billups Park. Admission is free.

For more information contact Nancy Price at 304-453-6814 or at nprice@zoominternet.net.

Get Art and Exercise in Downtown
It’s the third Thursday and that means for the second straight month that a couple dozen downtown businesses will be showcasing some freshly-made local art from 5 to 9 p.m. Thursday, May 17.

At Heritage Station shops check out The Red Caboose, the Watercolor Dreams Gallery, Finds and Designs, where Anna Spaceship’s Drunken Mermaid Oddities will be featured. River and Rail Bakery, where Ashley Phillips is the showcase artist, as well as the brand new Sip Wine Bar, which will have its first art show.

Along Fourth Avenue, check out art at such places as Old Village Roaster, Tahona Grill, and the Unique Huntington Collection home to the art gallery, MiAppa.

Find out more info on the Art Walk at http://www.facebook.com/HuntingtonArtWalk

Go Get Your Cycle On
Huntington is in full bloom and there’s no better way to smell that honeysuckle on the vine and sweet magnolias, than on a good bicycle trip around the city. You can join in the free, monthly community bicycle ride called Critical Mass begins at 6:30 p.m. Friday, May 18 at the Ritter Park fountain.

Cyclists will travel about six miles during the free monthly event, originally organized by local DJ Jesse Clark, a Huntington East High School graduate who has bicycled in Critical Mass groups in Manhattan, Brooklyn and most recently in Charleston.

The Critical Mass monthly bicycle events began in San Francisco in 1992. Local cyclists do a Critical Mass ride very third Friday at 6:30 p.m. beginning near the Ritter Park fountain. The events are not races, and everyone can attend. Regardless if you are slow, fast, young, old, or riding a unicycle, you should come. The only reason you need to come is a desire to ride on the streets your taxes go toward to pave with the vehicle of your choice." The path follows a 6.3-mile loop through the city that is also a flat route.

A Spirit-Filled Sunday Dinner
Holy Spirit Orthodox Church is planning its annual Spring Grille Dinner for noon to 6 p.m. Sunday, May 20, in the banquet hall of the church, located at 1 Woodhaven Drive (5th Street Road and Woodhaven Drive) in Huntington.

The dinner menu features dishes of the eastern Mediterranean region, including chicken kebab, lubee (greens beans in a tomato sauce seasoned with onion and spices); hashwee (rice dressing); salad and a dessert. A vegetarian main dish is also available.

The cost of the dinner is $15 and $10 for children under 10. The church sanctuary will be open throughout the day for tours and offering information about Eastern Orthodox Christian spirituality.

For more information, contact Mary Ann Dolen, dinner chairman, at 304-638-1329 or Dixon at 304-634-0411.

Dave Trippin:
My road-trip pick this weekend is Nelsonville, home to the cozy campus of Hocking College and the 8th annual Nelsonville Music Festival that’s set to draw in thousands of fans Friday through Sunday,with thick lineup of national acts such as Guided by Voices, Iron and Wine Andrew Bird, Dawes, M. Ward, Todd Snider, and many more.

There’s also tons of acts on the Porch Stage and at the No-Fi Cabin. A free Thursday night show at 6 p.m. kicks off the fest with regional acts.

There’s on-site kids activities, local art vendors, camping on site and much more. To purchase passes, or for more information visit www.nelsonvillefest.org or call 740-753-1924.

That’s just a few of the things happening this weekend, check us out online at www.herald-dispatch.com and in the box. 

Also, be sure to go online at www.davetrippin.com for more of our family-fueled day-trips and local travel adventures.