You might have noticed the downtown area looking just a bit shinier recently thanks to Scranton Tomorrow‘s Downtown Main Street City Pride Clean-Up initiative. Organized by Scranton Tomorrow, the Scranton Business Alliance, Main Street Initiative committees, downtown employees and volunteers, the City Pride Clean-Up project began yesterday and runs through May 20. Businesses are asked to help plant flowers in front...

If you want to brush up on your public speaking skills – to go farther in business or to make sure you’re prepared for wedding season – you’ll want to learn more about the Greater Scranton Toastmasters Club. The club will be holding a meeting tomorrow night, 6:30-8:30 p.m., at Allied Services Community Room, Moffat Drive, Scranton. Toastmasters meetings are comprised of approximately 20 people...

One of Northeastern Pennsylvania’s longest running arts festivals returns next week when the Fine Arts Fiesta takes over downtown Wilkes-Barre from May 14-17. The Fine Arts Fiesta started in 1956 with dramatic recreations of historical scenes and has evolved into a gathering of some of the most talented visual artists, musicians and performers from across Northeastern Pennsylvania. The center of activity will be...

The Melberger Arts Center (MAC) Gallery, 123 Wyoming Avenue, will open a new exhibit on Friday, “Pennsylvania Seasons: Commonwealth Images and Poetry.” The exhibit of photographs by Dr. Henry F. Smith Jr. and  poetry from 52 Pennsylvania poets compiled and edited by Esther B. Davidowitz will be on display at the MAC Gallery through August 7. An opening reception will be held Friday, May 8, from 6-8 p.m. ...

The warm weather made for an excellent First Friday art walk last Friday through the galleries and businesses of downtown Scranton. At Gallucci Music, The Embassy of Rock, made up of Gallucci students, drew quite a crowd. Antioch performed at Courthouse Square and the musical acts at St. Luke’s Episcopal Church and Starbucks were both worth checking out as well. For photos from venues around the downtown, visit...

For area art-lovers and parents interested in encouraging their children’s artistic side, the Everhart Museum has some great programs coming up in May. Starting May 7 and running through July 27, the Everhart will host “Transformations 2008: Icons & Imagery.” On loan from Studio Art Quilt Associates (SAQA), the exhibit has toured internationally and includes work by 32 artists from nine countries....