First Things A round-up of things happening in SW

First Things

Something Musical Free outdoor concerts offer nostalgia and more

Shayne Steele

The nice thing about outdoor concerts? You can spread out a little bit, maintain social distance and still enjoy the music. You’ll have four opportunities this month in Kalamazoo and Portage. Kalamazoo

The Concerts in the Park series, presented by the Arts Council of Greater Kalamazoo, will offer two concerts at Bronson Park this month:

July 19: The Michigan Nightingales — A Kalamazoo-based gospel group.

July 26: Shayna Steele — New York-based R&B and jazz vocalist.

Bring lawn chairs or blankets for these 4 p.m. performances. In case of rain, the concerts will be held in the First United Methodist Church, 212 S. Park St., across from the park. Check the Arts Council website, kalamazooarts.org, for schedule updates or changes. Something Happy Frolic among the sunflowers

If you need a little color in your life, then plan to frolic among the flowers at the Sunflower Festival at Gull Meadow Farms, in Richland.

Festival hours are 2–6 p.m. July 31 and Aug. 7 and 14 and 10 a.m.–6 p.m. Aug. 1, 2, 8, 9, 15 and 16. Portage

The Michigan Nightingales

This month’s Summer Concert Series performance, presented by Portage Parks & Recreation, will be “drive-in style,” letting attendees listen to the music from the comfort of their own cars at Ramona Park, 8600 Sprinkle Road.

The tribute band Motown Nation will perform at 7 p.m. July 30, singing songs by Motown artists such as Stevie Wonder, Aretha Franklin, Frankie Valli, The Supremes and The Temptations.

For more information, visit mypark. portagemi.gov or call Portage Parks & Recreation at 329-4522.

Something Stringed ‘Visionary’ Dixon’s Violin to play at Bell’s

Dixon’s Violin, featuring a violinist whose music has been described in reviews as “transforming,” “mesmerizing” and just plain beautiful, will perform at 8:30 p.m. July 25 in the Back Room at Bell’s Eccentric Café, 355 E. Kalamazoo Ave.

Dixon, who first picked up the violin at 10, improvises on a five-string electric violin with a looping system he developed to create an all-live one-man symphony. He has toured internationally, given numerous TED Talks and has been a staple at both the Burning Man festival and the Electric Forest music festival, among other events.

Tickets are $12. Dixon was originally scheduled to appear at Bell’s on April 25. All tickets purchased for that performance will be honored for this one.

For more information or to purchase

tickets, visit bellsbeer.com.

The farm offers five acres of sunflowers, including some that are bigger than your head. Admission to the festival is $13 and includes family activity areas, a petting farm, a wagon ride out to the sunflower patch, and one sunflower to cut and take home. For tickets or more information, including any schedule changes, visit tinyurl.com/sunflowerfestkzoo or call 629- 4214.

Something Stealthy Help bring the Nighthawk to the Air Zoo

Last year the Air Zoo learned it would receive a Lockheed F-117 Nighthawk for public display. The Nighthawk was one of the U.S. Air Force’s first active military stealth aircraft.

When the highly decorated Shaba (tail number 817) arrives this fall, the Air Zoo will be the first non-governmental facility in the country — and the only museum in the state of Michigan — to display an F-117.

With the complications and challenges resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic, the Air Zoo is seeking the public’s help to fund the transportation of Shaba to Kalamazoo and its partial restoration. The museum and science center needs $200,000 to fund Shaba’s journey.

Not only will a donation help in the effort to bring the Nighthawk to its new home, but because of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act, it could be refunded dollar-for-dollar up to $300 per individual when you file your 2020 taxes or $600 for married couples filing jointly. The Air Zoo suggests consulting with your tax professional for more information on this charitable program.

To make a contribution or to get more information, visit airzoo.org/ get-shaba.

Something Delicious Get your food truck fix

If you’ve been missing those mobile menu choices offered by the area’s food trucks, you will have several opportunities this month to make up for lost time.

Food truck vendors will be returning to Bronson Park on Fridays in July for Lunchtime Live! events presented by the Kalamazoo Parks & Recreation Department. The events run from 11:30 a.m.–1:30 p.m.

In addition, the Late Night Food Truck Rally will take place from 8-11 p.m. July 10 on Water Street between Church and Rose streets.

Participants are asked to maintain a social distance of 6 feet between themselves and other customers in line.