THE WOODSTOCK INDEPENDENT
A&E
June 12-18, 2013
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Renaissance Faire: a portal to the past By RHONDA MIX The Independent A portal to the past will open soon in Bull Valley, where Renaissance fair enthusiasts will have the opportunity to step back in time, don their favorite 15th century garb and engage in a variety of amusements. e Stickney House Foundation, in conjunction with the village of Bull Valley, will host the first Bull Valley Renaissance Faire from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Saturday, June 22. e event will feature vendors and actors in period costumes, an inflated bounce castle for children, food, music, a beer garden, craft tables, jewelry vendors, a performance by wandering troubadour David HB Drake, balloon art by Brian Kennedy of Apollo Magic, performances by professional belly dancer Dimitra, a stockade, a Bull Valley police officer dunk tank, games for children and a variety of activities re-
lated to the Renaissance period. e day’s festivities will end with a pig roast banquet. Bull Valley’s inaugural event will take place on the grounds of Still Farm, located along Country Club Road. e 61acre property recently was donated to the village, and the purpose of the fair is to bring attention to the grounds and act as a fundraiser for the Stickney House — a unique residence built in 1849 that was designed without 90-degree angles. e house once belonged to the George Stickney family and is registered on the National Register of Historic Places. Stickney House Foundation President Nicole Horn said the foundation puts on fundraisers regularly, and the organization believed a Renaissance fair would be a great opportunity to try something new, bring some fun to the community and draw attention to the newly acquired Still Farm property. Horn said one of the goals is that the property, which features
an old barn and oak savannah, will be used for events and fundraisers in the future. “We hadn’t done a Renaissance fair before, and we wanted to do something fresh,” she said. “So far, the idea has had such good reception in the community.” A number of community members and Ren fair enthusiasts have volunteered, including a few people who regularly visit and work at the well-known Bristol Renaissance Faire, Bristol, Wis. Horn said the Stickney House Foundation hopes to hold the event annually, but said the foundation is open to changing the theme as well. She believes community support of the historic Stickney House is vital for McHenry County and said she encourages people to attend the fair for this reason. “Stickney House is a piece of our history that is unique not only in architecture but also to McHenry County,” she said. “Over the years, McHenry County is los-
» MOVIES
The Entertainer WOODSTOCK’S ENTERTAINMENT HIGHLIGHTS
» MUSIC LIVE MUSIC AT EXPRESSLY LESLIE’S June 14, 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Expressly Leslie Vegetarian Specialties Woodstock Square Mall 110 S. Johnson St. Free expresslyleslie.com JAZZ JAM June 21, July 5, 7 p.m. Stage Left Café 125 Van Buren St. 815-338-4212 $5 donation jazzonthesquare.com John Nellson and Billy Denk will host jazz on the Square. WOODSTOCK FARMERS MARKET MUSIC June 15: Big Fish will perform 9 to 10:30 a.m., The Beaumonts will perform 10:30 to noon. June 18: Rebecca Williams will perform 9 to 10 a.m., Pete Jonsson and Rich Prezioso will perform 10 a.m. to noon. Woodstock Square Free woodstockfarmersmarket.org WOODSTOCK SUMMER CITY BAND CONCERT June 12, 19, 26, 7:30 p.m. Woodstock Square Bring lawn chairs and gather around the bandstand. An ice cream social will run concurrent to the concert. Themes are: June 12: “Begin Again” June 19: “Love is in the Air” June 26: “Streets” STAGE LEFTOVERS June 12, 26, July 10, 7: 30 p.m. Stage Left Cafe’ 125 Van Buren St. 815-334-3555 The band will include Rich Prezioso, Joe Pesz, Brian Murphy, Laurel Palma, Pete Jonsson and
Les Urban. OPEN MIC NIGHT June 14, 28, 7 p.m. Stage Left Café 125 Van Buren St. $3 donation offsquaremusic.org Open Mic is sponsored by Off Square Music. Various artists will perform in 15-minute slots. MAIN STREET MUSICFEST June 21, 22, 5 p.m. Various bands will perform just off the Square through the evening. The event is sponsored by D.C.Cobb’s. June 21: 97 Nine, 9:30 p.m. June 22: Modern Day Romeos, 9:30 p.m. LIVINGSTON TAYLOR June 22, 7 p.m. Woodstock Opera House 121 Van Buren St. $35 815-338--5300 Guitarist Livingston Taylor has been called a natural performer and storyteller. His repertoire includes folk, pop, gospel and jazz. LORIE LINE: COME TOGETHER June 24, 7:30 p.m. Woodstock Opera House 121 Van Buren St. $42 815-338-5300 Pianist Lorie Line is known for her compositions, creative arrangements, costumes and sense of style on the stage. She will be joined by her Fab Five, including a drummer, bassist, guitarist, trombone player and violinist. PICKLE PALOOZA June 29, 11:30 a.m. to 11 p.m. Woodstock Harley-Davidson 2050 S. Eastwood Drive $10 at the gate, $7 in advance woodstockpicklepalooza.com The festival will consist of afternoon family fun, contests, food, pickles and an outstanding music lineup. All proceeds from food purchases will benefit Woodstock VFW and local military veterans.
Previews of films currently playing at the Woodstock Theatre by Jay Schulz ‘FAST & FURIOUS 6’ CIA agent Luke Hobbs played by Dwayne Johnson (“The Rundown”) recruits Dominic Toretto, played by Vin Diesel (“Pitch Black”), and his team to bring down a villain who specializes in vehicular warfare. “Fast & Furious 6” is directed by Justin Lin (“Fast Five”) and also stars Paul Walker (“Joy Ride”), Michelle Rodriguez (“Avatar”) and Jordana Brewster (“The Faculty”). RATED PG-13, 130 MINUTES ‘EPIC’ A teenager finds herself in the deep forest where a battle rages between good and evil forces rages. “Epic” is directed by Chris Wedge (“Ice Age”) and stars the voices of Colin Farrell (“Fright Night”), Josh Hutcherson (“The Hunger Games”), Aziz Ansari (“30 Minutes or Less”), Amanda Seyfried (“In Time”) and Beyonce (“Dreamgirls”). RATED PG, 120 MINUTES ‘NOW YOU SEE ME’ A team of illusionists that robs banks as part of its stage performance is tracked by the FBI and Interpol. “Now You See Me” is directed by Louis Leterrier (“The Transporter”) and stars Jesse Eisenberg (“Zombieland”), Mark Rufalo (“Zodiac”), Woody Harrelson (“Natural Born Killers”), Isla Fisher (“Wedding Crashers”), Morgan Freeman (“The Shawshank Redemption”) and Michael Caine (“A Shock to the System”). RATED PG-13, 116 MINUTES ‘THE PURGE’ Set in the future where there is no crime, a family is terrorized during the 12-hour period of lawlessness known as the purge. “”The Purge” is directed by first-time director James DeMonaco and stars Ethan Hawke (“Gattacca”) and Lena Headey (“300”). RATED R, 85 MINUTES ‘THE INTERNSHIP’ Owen Wilson and Vince Vaughn team up eight years after their smash hit “Wedding Crashers.” This time they lose their jobs selling watches and take internships at Google. “The Internship” is directed by Shawn Levy (“Night at the Museum”) and also stars Rose Byrne (“Insidious”) and Aasif Mandivi (“The Daily Show”). RATED PG-13, 119 MINUTES
BULL VALLEY RENAISSANCE FAIRE Where: Still Farm, 11114 Country Club Road, Bull Valley When: 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Saturday, June 22 Admission: $14.95/adults, $7 children Phone: 815-459-4833 ing a lot of its historical structures. We are trying with this small structure to [preserve and] give back to the community.” e Bull Valley Renaissance Faire will take place at 11114 Country Club Road, Bull Valley. General admission is $14.95 for adults and $7 for children ages 6 to 12. Children 5 and younger are free. Tickets to the pig roast banquet are $10 for adults and $7.50 for children. Dinner prices include two beverages. For information, call 815-459-4833.
‘THIS IS THE END’ James Franco (“127 Hours”) hosts a party for all his celebrity friends that just happens to coincide with the apocalypse. Hilarity ensues. “This is the End” is directed by writer Evan Goldberg and actor Seth Rogan (“The 40 Year Old Virgin”). RATED R, 107 MINUTES ‘WORLD WAR Z’ United Nations employee Gerry Lane traverses the world in a race against time to stop the Zombie pandemic that is toppling armies and governments and threatening to destroy humanity itself. “World War Z” is directed by Marc Forster (“Finding Neverland”) and stars Brad Pitt (“Legends of the Fall”), Mireille Enos (“The Kiilling”) and James Badge Dale (“Iron Man 3”). RATED PG-13, 116 MINUTES ‘MAN OF STEEL’ 2D AND 3D A young journalist is forced to confront his secret extraterrestrial heritage when Earth is invaded by members of his race. “Man of Steel” is directed by Zack Snyder (“300”) and stars Henry Cavill (“Tristan and Isolde”), Amy Adams (“Cruel Intentions”) and Michael Shannon (“Bad Boys II”). RATED PG-13, 143 MINUTES