Glass City sparkles this week
But the rest of us in the community can dip into the events that are open to the public. With that in mind, here's a rundown of some of the offerings that are open to the conference attendees and the public, followed with some Toledo-area attractions for the out-of-town conference-goers to check out.
All things glass
18th Annual Goblet Grab. This fast-paced event from noon to 1:30 p.m. Friday at the SeaGate Convention Centre, Room 104, is a fund-raiser for the Craft Emergency Relief Fund that offers aid to GAS artist members in times of need. GAS members contribute items to the event that are then sold.
The Marketplace for Glass Artists. This will be open to the public Friday and Saturday from 1 to 4 p.m. Visitors will be able to purchase equipment, supplies, and services from vendors at the SeaGate Convention Centre. Also at the venue will be flameworking demonstrations, lectures, the International Student Exhibition and Sales, and other activities.
Gallery Hop, 6:30-10:30 p.m. Friday. More than 30 venues, galleries, and stores will be open in the downtown area with special exhibits and activities. See toledoblade.com/glassarts for many of the galleries that will be open during the event. Sponsored by the Arts Commission of Greater Toledo, the Hop will include free bus rides to the various venues, and many restaurants on the loop will be open.
Masters lecture at 7 p.m. Friday featuring Fred Wilson, a conceptual artist who focuses on social justice. He will discuss racism in museums, with an emphasis on how art is displayed. This will be at the Toledo Museum of Art Peristyle theater and it is free.
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Around town
Alt-rock veterans Counting Crows are playing at Centennial Terrace on Saturday night. The beautiful outdoor venue about 15 miles northwest of downtown Toledo is an ideal site for an outdoor concert. Tickets are available at the Stranahan Theater box office, 4645 Heatherdowns Blvd., at all TicketMaster outlets, at ticketmaster.com, and by phone at 800-745-3000. A limited number of VIP tickets are available for $71.50. Orchestra seats are $61.50 and general admission tickets are $39.50. Centennial Terrace is at 5773 Centennial Rd.
Downtown should be buzzing all weekend. Many of the various bars and restaurants feature live music and dancing. Click here for a calendar of musical events.