5 Things to Know Today

Good morning, Bethlehem.

1. Today is Wednesday, June 22, 2011, the 173rd day of the year. On this day in 1969, the Cuyahoga River in northeastern Ohio caught fire. Though it had happened before several times since 1952, this particular fire caught the attention of Time magazine and subsequently the country. The media attention helped launch a new wave of environmental activism, which led to new laws governing water pollution, including the Clean Water Act. For fans of geeky television and film, there are lots of birthdays to celebrate: Tim Russ, Lt. Tuvok from “Star Trek: Voyager;” Mary Lynn Rajskub, Chloe O’Brian from “24;” and the king of B-list actors, Bruce Campbell, who played Autolycus the “King of Thieves” in “Hercules” and “Xena, Warrior Princess,” and Ash Williams in the “Evil Dead” movies and “Army of Darkness,” a personal favorite.
2. “Movies, Games & More,” brings its portable cinema machine to the at 7 p.m. for a free showing “August Rush.”
3. Lots of activity to talk about this evening at the complex. We’ll start with “Stacks in the City,” the inaugural of weekly themed “ladies nights” at the Creativity Commons on the first floor of the center. The opening party has a “Sex in the City” theme, in which women are encouraged to show up as their favorite character. There will be a “Sex in the City” trivia game with prizes, plus merchants from downtown Bethlehem will be on hand to offer fashion advice. It all starts at 6 p.m.
4. Tonight is also opening night of the first-ever RiverJazz Festival at the complex. Bitches Brew Revisited makes a rare live appearance at the Musikfest Café at 7:30 p.m. tonight. The multi-generational improvisational combo explores the legacy of Miles Davis’s landmark 1971 album, “Bitches Brew.” The band, which has appeared at the Montreal Jazz Festival, includes luminaries such as Graham Haynes, James Blood Ulmer and Marco Benevento. Tickets at $59 and $44 are still available. Downstairs at the Air Products Town Square, Craig Kastelnick & Friends play at 7:30.
5. The Phillie Phanatic, which, even can admit, is the best mascot in baseball, makes one of his twice-annual appearances at Coca Cola Park tonight for the IronPigs game with the Indianapolis Indians. Incidentally, the IronPigs still sit in first place atop the northern division of the International League, despite some recent bumps in the road. Tickets are available. Game time is 7:05 p.m.