Art briefs: Stillwater festival a warm-up for summer

The 36th annual Rivertown Art Festival on May 18 and 19 in Stillwater kicks off a full summer of activities.

The St. Croix Valley's largest art fair will run from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. both days in Lowell Park, featuring more than 100 artists and vendors who work in a variety of mediums.

The festival's Market Place will also return this year, offering gourmet food, specialty clothing and handmade items. Artist and vendor applications are still being accepted until Wednesday, May 15.

Applications are at www.stillwaterrivertownartfestival.com.

Peg Guilfoyle, author of "The Guthrie Theater: Images, History and Inside Stories," along with students from the Guthrie BFA program at the University of Minnesota, will give a presentation on the theater's 50th anniversary from 7 to 8:30 p.m. on May 22 in the Margaret Rivers Room of the Stillwater Public Library, 224 N. Third St.

The cost is $25 per person, $10 of which is tax deductible, and that includes food and wine. Reservations are required by Wednesday, May 15.

Guthrie veteran Guilfoyle has put together photos from each decade in the Guthrie's history, along with anecdotes from actors, directors, stagehands and designers.

Jim Link, Stillwater businessman, creativity coach and author of the award-winning book, "Idea Links," will be the featured speaker at a Writers on Writing program sponsored by ArtReach St. Croix.

The free program is at 7 p.m. Thursday, May 16, at ArtReach St. Croix, 224 N. 4th St., Stillwater.

Link, founder of one of the world's first idea companies 20 years ago, has conducted creativity and "new thinking" workshops at more than 100 companies worldwide, including 3M, General Electric, Target and Cargill. "Idea Links," Link's first book, was recently awarded the Paul Bloomer Award for Best Debut Business Book and was a recipient of a 2013 Axiom Business Books Award.

The goal of the Writers on Writing program is to bring authors into the community to talk about writing, publishing and the writing life. Link's presentation will include a question-and-answer session, book-signing and the opportunity to mingle with other writers, artists and book lovers. All are invited.

Writers on Writing also presents a workshop, "Overcome Your Writing Resistance," with creativity coach Rosanne Bane, author of "Around the Writer's Block." The workshop will be held from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, May 18, at ArtReach St. Croix.

The Warden's House and Hay Lake Schoolhouse, operated by the Washington County Historical Society, are officially open for the 2013 touring season.

The Warden's House, at 602 N. Main St. in Stillwater, is open Thursday to Sunday, with guided tours beginning on the hour from 1 to 5 p.m. To schedule a special tour or if you have questions, e-mail Sean Pallas at spallas.wchs@gmail.com or call 651-439-5956.

Hay Lake Schoolhouse is at Olinda Trail North (County Road 3) and Old Marine Trail, 1 mile south of Scandia. The museum will be open in May on Saturdays and Sundays from 1 to 4 p.m. To schedule a special tour or if you have any questions regarding Hay Lake, e-mail David Sandager at david.sandager@gmail.com or call 651-433-4014.

Lift Bridge Brewery's annual berry brew, Minnesota Tan, is back.

The 2013 version was brewed with raspberries and will be released as part of Craft Beer Week from 6 to 10 p.m. Friday, May 17, at the brewery, 1900 Tower Drive in Stillwater.

Auditions have been set for the Woodbury Community Theatre's summer production of "The Music Man." They will take place at the Merrill Community Arts Center, 380 Rivertown Drive, #200, Woodbury.

Auditions for kids ages 6 to 12 are on Monday, May 13; adults and teens are on Tuesday and Wednesday, May 14 and 15. Callbacks will be on Thursday, May 16. A mandatory cast meet-and-greet will be held on Monday, May 20. Performances start July 11.

For more information, and to sign up, go to woodburycommunitytheatre.org.

Woodbury Parks and Recreation has many opportunities for kids to get into T-ball and soccer.

Pee Wee Sports are for boys and girls ages 4 to 6 and is a gentle introduction to the game of T-ball or soccer. Skills are learned with fun drills, games and practice time. Sportsmanship, physical activity and peer interaction are developed and encouraged.

To register, go to www.ci.woodbury.mn.us or call the Parks and Recreation staff at 651-714-3583.

The Octagon House Museum is offering free tours for mothers accompanied by a paying child (of any age) from 2 to 4 p.m. on Mother's Day.

During the tour, complimentary refreshments will be served in the Carriage House, behind the Octagon House, 1004 Third St. The freshly stocked Museum Gift Shop, also in the Carriage House, will be open for browsing and shopping.

Sunday's visitors will have an early look at this year's décor theme, "One House, One Family, One Hundred Years." Guests can get acquainted with the four generations of the Moffat-Hughes family who lived in the historic Octagon House, and learn about the original owners, John and Nancy Moffat, who built the house in 1855.

Admission is $7 for adults, $3 for students ages 12 to 18 and $2 for children ages 5 to 12. For more, call 715-386-2654 or go to http://community.pressenter.net/~octagon.