Short Takes: Tri-Cities Indian Women’s Association Holding Masked Ball

MASQUERADE MASALA
Make a difference. That was the goal of the Tri-Cities Indian Women’s Association when it was formed in 1994.
And so they will host a Masquerade Masala or masked ball, a formal dinner, dance and silent auction on Oct. 18 at the Country Club of Bristol.
All proceeds will benefit the Second Harvest Food Bank of Northeast Tennessee, said Sudha Venkataraman, president and co-founder of the Tri-Cities Indian Women’s Association.
“Hunger is something we need to address,” Venkataraman said.
Second Harvest feeds approxmately 27,000 people in region each month, said Kathryn Smith, director of community relations for Second Harvest.
“We could not do what we do without community support,” Smith said. “This is one example of good people doing good things to help our community.”
In turn, those who attend the event can anticipate a grand evening, Venkataraman said.
“We will have a mix of Western and Indian music and dance,” she said. “If someone wants to come in Indian clothing, they are welcome to. Some people will wear ballroom clothing. It will be very entertaining.”

IF YOU GO
What: Masquerade Masala: Fundraiser for Second Harvest Food Band of Northeast Tennessee
When: Oct. 18, 6:30 p.m.
Where: Country Club of Bristol, 6045 Old Jonesboro Road, Bristol, Tenn.
Admission: $30 per person, $55 per couple; masks will be available at the door for $3
Info: (423) 477-4053 or (423) 646-1958
Web: http://www.netfoodbank.org

JERICHO SHRINE CIRCUS
Think of clowns and camels, Russians and Romanians, lions, tigers and elephants.
It isn’t Barnum and Bailey, but the Jericho Shrine Circus should enliven Freedom Hall in Johnson City from Oct. 17-19.
Performers clad in rainbow colors will seemingly defy sense and gravity as they tiptoe along the high-wire, interact with animals many times their size and prompt the crowd into a chorus of oohs and ahs.
Bring the kids and buy cotton candy. While the circus caters to kids, it also has a way of making the old feel young if but for a little while. Pure magic.

IF YOU GO
What: Jericho Shrine Circus
When: Oct. 17 at 7 p.m.; Oct. 18 at 11 a.m., 3 p.m. and 7 p.m.; Oct. 19 at 1:30 p.m. and 5:30 p.m.
Where: Freedom Hall, 1320 Pactolas Road, Johnson City, Tenn.
Admission: $11 for adults and children ages 6 and older, children ages 5 and under are admitted free
Info: (423) 461-4884
Web: http://www.shrinecircusfund.com

MOUNTAIN WOMEN RISING
Music, poetry and storytelling will fuel a performance titled “Mountain Women Rising” on Oct. 21 at Emory & Henry College in Emory, Va.
Featuring five members of Floyd, Va.-based Appalachian Women’s Alliance, their message essentially relates that women can overcome that which inequality has wrought upon them.
Performers include Roberta Schultz, a singer and songwriter from Wilder, Ky. Her spare songs address various hurdles that women encountered in the past and into the present within the region.
From Clincho, Va.’s Edna Gulley, who was born and reared in a coal camp, to poet Sandi Keaton-Wilson, the show aims to entertain while making sure to inform. Radical? You bet. Quiet? Not a chance.

IF YOU GO
What: Mountain Women Rising
When: Oct. 21, 7:30 p.m.
Where: Emory & Henry College Memorial Chapel, Emory, Va.
Admission: $3-$10
Info: (276) 944-6846
Web: http://www.appalachianwomen.org

TOM NETHERLAND is a freelance writer. He can be reached at .