Local artists and musicians couldn’t have asked for a more inviting day as it pertained to this year’s AAAlliance Spring Party and Artburn auction at Jamestown Community College’s Hundred Acre Lot on Saturday.

Although a staple in the local arts community for more than decade, this was the first year I’d attended the annual event, which benefits the Active Artists Alliance and features food, family-friendly fun, the exhibition and subsequent auctioning of locally made art and live music from local bands.

I arrived with my Cold Lazarus bandmates prior to our afternoon performance and, in addition to beautiful, sunshiny warmth, was greeted by a number of familiar and friendly faces. It was my introduction to the keystone event of what was probably the most genuinely enjoyable day I’ve had in recent memory, from start to finish.

After acquainting myself with and embracing my environment, I was then afforded the opportunity to perform with my band, which has become a brotherhood of sorts in recent months. Although it had been upwards of a month since our last performance, we didn’t seem to have missed a beat as we rattled off about eight of our own original songs over the course of an hour to an enthusiastic response from those who were in the immediate vicinity.

More importantly, it was the euphoric sensation I got both while playing and in the immediate aftermath of the show that I felt reinvigorated about the music we’ve been making, and the places we could go with the right amount of focus and determination. In the weeks leading up to the show, I’d been going through some self-imposed doldrums that I’d allowed to begin taking the joy out of my hobbies and general feelings about my own life’s journey.

Playing at the Artburn on Saturday, or, more specifically, the exhilaration I got from playing my band’s own music in such a welcoming environment, rejuvenated my spirit, sense of self-worth and motivation to take this band as far as I can; thereby granting me a sense of mental clarity that had been eluding me for the better part of a month.

With the hundreds of gigs I’ve played over the past 15 years, it would be easy to think that playing music has become old hat. And in some instances I’ve actually had that feeling. Yet I still remain surprised at just how much healing an hour spent playing music for friends and family on a beautiful day would grant me.

My weekly highlights generally revolve around the day or days in which I’m blessed with the opportunity to hang and make music with my Cold Lazarus brethren. It’s brought a sense of purpose to my life that I’d never experienced to this degree before, and I’m more than grateful for the dividends it’s yielded over these past six months.

Now, I’m ready to do it all over again; this time with a feeling that the sky really is the limit!

And now, here’s some of what you can expect to find in the area this week.

HIGHLIGHTS

Little Theatre To Present 80th Anniversary Celebration Saturday: The Lucille Ball Little Theatre will present an 80th Anniversary Celebration event Saturday at 7:30 p.m. In 1936, George and Harriet Warren moved from Cleveland to Jamestown where they spearheaded the evolution of The Players Club, founded in 1920, to a new organization: the Little Theatre of Jamestown. Appearing will be more than 30 stars of the Little Theatre stage, the Junior Guilders, Dennis Webster and others as guests take a journey highlighting the past 80 years and look toward the future of Jamestown’s Community Theatre. The evening will be in honor of Helen and Norm Merrill and the more than 50 years that they have given to the theater.

Tickets are $15 for the event. For more information, call 483-1095 or visit lucilleballlittletheatre.org.

Infinity To Present Annual Spring Showcase Saturday: Infinity Visual and Performing Arts will once again host its annual Spring Showcase at the Jamestown High School auditorium, beginning at 7 p.m. Saturday. Having prepared for the showcase for several months, Infinity’s student performers will display their talents before a live audience via various music ensemble and solo performances, as well as dance and theater performances. The Spring Showcase serves as the largest student performance of the year. Infinity offers something for all ages and experience levels. The Spring Showcase performances are representative of every medium available by Infinity to its students, with the exception of visual arts.

In addition to the performances to be staged at the Spring Showcase, attendees will be afforded the opportunity to win one of three gift baskets totaling $750 in cash and prizes. This year’s prizes include $150 cash, $300 in gift certificates to area restaurants or a $300 value grab bag basket, filled with items from around Chautauqua County. Tickets are $5 each or four for $10, and can be purchased at the Infinity Center, online or from any of Infinity’s board members.

Presale tickets are $7 for adults and can be purchased at the Infinity Center, 301 E. Second St., Jamestown, by calling 664-0991 or online at infinityperformingarts.org/shop.

Tickets will also be available at the door on the evening of the event.

Enchanted Mountain Spirits Distillery To Host Service Industry Night Monday: The Enchanted Mountain Spirits Distillery, 137 Water St., Jamestown, will host a Service Industry Night event for service industry workers Monday from 6-9 p.m. The event is free and open to the public, but is being held for area bartenders, waitstaff, kitchen workers and anyone with ties to the hospitality industry. The evening will feature drink specials and a gift card swap, in which attendees can bring a gift card to their establishment and get another gift card in return. Attendees can represent their business by bringing a $20 gift card or gift basket to swap at 8 p.m. All participants must check in with featured bartender Nick Dean, of Forte, at 7:30 p.m. In addition, Dean will present some of Forte’s unique cocktail combinations and modern mixology to the event.

For more information, find “SIN at Enchanted Mountain Spirits” on Facebook.

Annual Historical Society Gala Fundraiser Is Saturday: The Chautauqua County Historical Society is inviting its members and the community to help support the preservation of local history by attending its annual fundraiser and gala on Saturday in Westfield. “Standing Ground” will take place from 6-8 p.m. at the historic McClurg Museum in Moore Park — located at the corner of Routes 394 and 20 in the village. The fundraiser will feature hors d’oeuvres and wine tasting, along with entertainment will feature traditional Celtic and American folk music performed by Sue Tillotson and Jim Cunningham.

Admission for the event is $50 per person. All proceeds go to support the McClurg Museum and the Chautauqua County Historical Society. For tickets and reservations, call 326-2977.

CCHS To Present ‘Bark ‘N’ Brew’ Fundraiser At Southern Tier Tuesday: The Chautauqua County Humane Society’s eight annual “Bark N’ Brew” charity fundraiser will be held Tuesday at Southern Tier Brewing Company from 5:30-8:30 p.m. This fundraising event provides a limited number of ticketed attendees with barbecue dinner, two complimentary beers, live/Chinese auctions and other fun surprises all in the name of charity. Tickets are $50 each and will include one entry into CCHS’s Cash Bash giveaway, which will offer the chance at one of five cash prizes. The proceeds from the event allow the shelter to offer fee-waived adoption programs, low cost spay/neuter clinics and other animal services year-round to the community.

For more information on the Chautauqua County Humane Society or to receive information on upcoming events, visit spcapets.com or follow CCHS on Facebook.

‘Third Thursday’ To Feature The Bogarts Thursday, June 15: The sixth annual “Third Thursday” downtown Jamestown concert series, presented by the Active Artists Alliance and the Jamestown Renaissance Corporation, will continue with a concert by The Bogarts, with Tony Flint and Deep Fried and Dipped in Honey, Thursday, June 15, starting at 6:30 p.m. “Third Thursday” concerts are free, family-friendly and open to attendees of all ages. Music will run until approximately 9 p.m.

The Winter Garden Plaza is located adjacent to The Wine Cellar at 313 N. Main St. For more information, find the event on Facebook.

HAPPENINGS

To include an upcoming show or event in this column, email gpaterniti@post-journal.com or call 487-1111, ext. 243 by Monday.

Tonight

Left of Center: 6 p.m., Lucille Ball Memorial Park in Celoron

Jacob Swanson, DriveJ and Decho Ensemble: 7 p.m., Labyrinth Press Company, 12 E. Fourth St. in Jamesetown

Comedy Open Mic: 8 p.m., The Q, 104 W. Second St. in Jamestown

Jules-R-Us Karaoke: 8 p.m., Good Time Saloon, 590 Fairmount Ave. in Jamestown

Karaoke with DJ Xcite: 9 p.m., Bullfrog Hotel, 1414 E. Second St. in Jamestown

Karaoke with Felony Entertainment: 10 p.m., Forte, 114 E. Third St. in Jamestown

Friday

No Limit: 5 p.m., Lucille Ball Memorial Park in Celoron

Bill Ward: 6 p.m., The Wine Cellar, 309 N. Main St. in Jamestown

Alex Kates: 6:30 p.m., Southern Tier Distilling Company, 2051A Stoneman Circle in Lakewood

The Acoustic Jukebox: 7 p.m., Ellicottville Brewing on Chautauqua, 57 Lakeside Drive in Bemus Point

Rustic Ramblers: 7 p.m., Lakewood Legion, 174 Chautauqua Ave. in Lakewood

“Beauty and the Beast” screening: 7 p.m., Reg Lenna Center for the Arts, 116 E. Third St. in Jamestown

Moonshine: 8 p.m., Lucille Ball Memorial Park in Celoron

Ken Hardley and the Moose Club: 9 p.m., Lakeview Hotel, 13 Water St. in Mayville

Karaoke with Felony Entertainment: 9 p.m., Shawbucks, 212 W. Second St. in Jamestown

Jeremy Porter and the Tucos with Slow Motion Breakdown: 10 p.m., Mojo’s Music Bar, 104 E. Second St. in Jamestown

Hellraiser: 10 p.m., Bullfrog Hotel, 1414 E. Second St. in Jamestown

Saturday

Only Human: noon, Lucille Ball Memorial Park in Celoron

“Beauty and the Beast” screening: 2 p.m., Reg Lenna Center for the Arts, 116 E. Third St. in Jamestown

Haywhackers: 2 p.m., Southern Tier Brewing Company, 2072 Stoneman Circle in Lakewood

Take Five: 4:30 p.m., Lucille Ball Memorial Park in Celoron

John Cross and Steve Strickland: 7 p.m., Labyrinth Press Company, 12 E. Fourth St. in Jamestown

Steelhorse: 8 p.m., Lucille Ball Memorial Park in Celoron

Smokehouse: 8:30 p.m., Celoron Legion, 26 Jackson Ave. in Jamestown

Jules-R-Us Karaoke featuring Tami T: 9 p.m., Good Time Saloon, 590 Fairmount Ave. in Jamestown

Radioactive: 10 p.m., Bullfrog Hotel, 1414 E. Second St. in Jamestown

Kaleidoscope Sky: 10 p.m., Mojo’s Music Bar, 104 E. Second St. in Jamestown

Sunday

Bill Ward: 4 p.m., Hadley House, 3328 Hadley Bay Road in Stow

Open Jam: 9 p.m., Bullfrog Hotel, 1414 E. Second St. in Jamestown

Tuesday

“Spider Baby” screening: 6 p.m., Chapel Theater, 316 E. Fourth St. in Jamestown

Wednesday

Bluegrass Jam: 7 p.m., Celoron Legion, 26 Jackson Ave. in Jamestown

Ryan Buzzetto: 7 p.m., Good Time Saloon, 590 Fairmount Ave. in Jamestown.