FIRST FRIDAY
- The Gallery Hop at Artworks Around Town on Friday, Sept. 7, will usher in a two-month celebration of the art of plein air painting. As a preliminary to “Paint Historic Wheeling” set for later this month, the early weeks of September will feature plein air paintings by associate members of Artworks. The Studio Gallery will exhibit treasures painted by members in years past, and the North Gallery will celebrate a recent trip by member artists to France. In July, six artists from the Wheeling area spent a week painting the landscape along the Rhone River south of Lyon. Participating in this trip were: Donna Hall, Sandra Hadsell, Bobbi Priebe, Pat Jacobson, Bob Sako and Janet Wang. The Gallery Hop is a free reception open to the public and takes place from 5:30 to 8 p.m. at Artworks, 2200 Market St., Wheeling.
- Oglebay Institute’s Towngate Theatre will host several free programs Friday, Sept. 7. View an exhibit in The Gallery at Towngate that features the artwork of Pat Jacobson. At 7 p.m., Robert Gaudio “The Troubadour” will perform upstairs on the Harold G. O’Leary stage. At 8 p.m., The Prosers, a group of local spoken word artists, will perform in the theater. www.oionline.com
- Have a “Taste of Wheeling’s Finest” at the First Friday First Class Flight wine tasting at Good Mansion Wines. A reservation-based, sit-down tasting with a presentation of a flight of five fine wines, starting with a Champagne, is set for 6 p.m., Friday, Sept. 7. Each wine will be served with hors d’oeuvres or small plates from the kitchen and ends with a dessert from the patissier. Reservations are required; limited to 20. $25. www.goodmansionwines.com
- Stop in and try six featured wines at the Walk About Wine Tasting, 6-8 p.m. Friday, Sept. 7, at Casa di Vino — House of Wine. Cheese and meat trays will be provided. 2261 Market St., Wheeling, $10. 304-905-8537.
- Before you head out to all the evening First Friday events, check out Lunchtime Live! at Market Plaza, with music provided by the Wheeling Park Bluegrass Band, 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.
GET THE LED OUT
From the bombastic and epic to the folky and mystical, Get The Led Out (GTLO) has captured the essence of the recorded music of Led Zeppelin and brought it to the concert stage. The Philadelphia-based group of six veteran musicians will perform at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 6, at The Capitol Theatre. GTLO recreates the songs in all their depth and glory with the studio overdubs that Zeppelin themselves never performed. www.capitoltheatrewheeling.com
HERE COMES THE EXPO
The Ohio Valley Bridal Expo returns to its original home, WesBanco Arena, from noon-4 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 9. 304-280-1851; ovbridal@yahoo.com
CELEBRATING GRIFFITH
A unique art walk celebrating the art of Tom Griffith will take place Thursday, Sept. 6, in downtown Wheeling. The event is sponsored by the Friends of Wheeling Inc and Wheeling Heritage. Participants will visit historic buildings including the Stone Center, Vagabond Kitchen, West Virginia Independence Hall, West Virginia Northern Community College and Wheeling Artisan Center. Guides will provide information about the buildings and will lead participants as they walk from stop to stop. Each stop will feature the artwork of Griffith of that building. Light beverages and hors d’oeuvres will be provided at each stop, ending with desserts, wine and beverages at the Artisan Center where a full gallery of Griffith’s work will be on display, and the artist himself will be in attendance. $35. 304-232-5903; jujan@comcast.net
TEA TIME
The Eckhart House will host a Grandparents Tea Luncheon on Saturday, Sept. 8, in celebration of National Grandparents Day. Tea fare includes assorted tea sandwiches/savories, scones with sweet cream and jam, seasonal fruit, confections and gourmet tea. The event is open to the public. For reservations, call 304-232-5439.
DAY OF REMEMBRANCE
- On Sept. 11, 2001, the course of American history changed. On the 17th anniversary of that traumatic day, pause to remember the lives of those lost and injured and to honor those who rose in service. Join Rabbi Joshua Lief of Temple Shalom, West Virginia poet laureate Marc Harshman, poet the Rev. Bonnie Thurston and Wheeling Symphony Orchestra principal cellist Elisa Kohanski for a program of prayer, poetry, music and meditations at noon, Tuesday, Sept. 11, at Lunch With Books at the Ohio County Public Library. Lunch With Books programs are free and open to the public. Attendees are welcome to bring a bag lunch, and complimentary beverages are provided. 304-232-0244; www.ohiocountylibrary.org
- At 7 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 11, Temple Shalom will host the communitywide Sept. 11 Service of Remembrance. Rabbi Joshua Lief will be joined by Wheeling Mayor Glenn Elliott, and other civic officials and clergy from across the community.
START THE CONVERSATION
Racism, domestic abuse, mental illness and addiction — it’s time to start the conversation. “The Wyleane Project,” a film/theatrical experience meant to prompt discussion, will be screened at 6 p.m. Friday, Sept. 7, at West Virginia Northern Community College’s B&O building. The event is hosted by the Cultural Diversity and Community Outreach Department of the YWCA. The cast of “The Wyleane Project” consists of several local talents including: Gretchen Schneider, Vincent Marshall, John Reilly, Michael Moran, Dee Gregg, Claudia Raymer and Chermayne Davis. The event is free of charge, but donations will be accepted. There will be light food and refreshments provided by Tito’s Sloppy Dog. All are welcome.
KICKING OFF THE GREAT AMERICAN READ
The Ohio County Public Library will host a kick-off party for “The Great American Read,” at 7 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 6. Community members are welcome to share reflections about their favorite novel from the list of 100 Favorite Novels. 304-232-0244; www.ohiocountylibrary.org.
ART IN THE DIGITAL AGE
The opening reception for Convergence: Art in the Digital Age will be held from 6:30-8:30 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 6, at the Stifel Fine Arts Center, 1330 National Road, Wheeling. The exhibit celebrates the use of computers to bring artists’ imaginations to life through the conversion of binary data into incredible original art. Featuring more than a dozen regional artists, pieces include digital imagery, manipulated photographs, 3D installations, video, 3D printer creations and more. The exhibit is on display through Oct. 26. www.oionline.com