PACE Yourself

Sunday, November 13, 2011
Friday evening my Hot Mom and I went to see the Vienna Boys Choir here in Parker. The young men were extremely talented, and I thoroughly enjoyed their performance. The only recommendation I would make is to say that next time, they should skip the ABBA, Sting and Queen numbers and stick with Vivaldi and Haydn.

The venue for this event is the newly constructed Parker Arts, Culture & Events (PACE) Center. This facility was funded by a bond initiative a number of years ago, and we've been watching the progress of construction. We voted for it, as we wanted our community to have access to a variety of events and activities. It's located only two blocks from the Big Yellow House, which is also pretty darn convenient.

PACE is very much like most community auditorium and events centers - it has an indoor theatre, an outdoor amphitheatre, event rooms, an art gallery*, a dance studio, classrooms, outdoor patios, a media lab, and catering and teaching culinary kitchen. They're offering a variety of performances in their inaugural season, including opera, symphony, brass, chorale, and a variety of shows geared toward children. They offer classes for adults and children, including culinary, culture and arts, science workshops and dance.

For some reason the opening of this facility in my community - so close to my home - makes me really very happy. I'm delighted that the community in which I live has made a commitment to the arts in the form of the Center, and that something other than sports is being supported and encouraged among the resident kids. And the fact that they offer science workshops as well as the arts? BONUS.

The Smart Man and I will be attending two more shows this season (Celtic Nights and Rocky Mountain Brassworks), and I've discovered that Parker also administers a scholarship fund for low income families so that everyone might participate in recreational activities. Provided I can ear mark my donation for activities offered at PACE, I think I've found a new charitable cause.

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*The inaugural featured artist in the Gallery is one Tadashi Hayakawa, a Japanese American whose work is really quite beautiful...and out of my price range. But in a strange turn of events, he was also the Maitre'd at Junz, one of our favorite restaurants here in Parker. He's since retired from that day job and now works on his art full time. Good for him.

7 comments:

Jeri said...

Mmm... classes. Sounds like a wonderful venue!

Anne C. said...

Mmmm... Junz...

JstPam said...

Wow, Parker has changed so much in the time since I lived there (1984 -1993), and I saw huge growth in those years. Where is PACE located, I don't remember seeing it on my random trips to and through Parker. I will be hitting yor town tomorrow, so I will look for it!

Janiece said...

It's on the corner of Mainstreet and Pine, East of Parker Road.

JstPam said...

Ahhhhh......haven't been that direction in a while. Furthest east on Main Street I go is to Los Delicias!

Janiece said...

That's one of our faves, too. Give me a ring the next time you plan to come down - Las Delicias is 3 blocks from the Big Yellow House and we can meet for lunch!

JstPam said...

How about lunch on Tuesday the 15th? I can't ring you , but my number is on my fb.....call or text!