A First Friday vendor is all smiles as she sells jewelry and trinkets at her 1st Street booth. Tonight’s events include hot dogs, block parties, bands and plenty of shopping opportunities. David Stone photo

Our Town Temple

This month’s First Friday events include a soft grand opening for a new Downtown business — J&M’s Dogs & Paninis, located at 8 E. Avenue A.

The business will be having a party for guests with food, drinks and music.

“We will be passing out samples of our hot dogs and paninis,” said Marquita Frank, who owns the business along with husband Jeremy Mitchell. “Customers can also buy hot dog and panini meals that come with chips. We’ll throw in a free beer with each purchase.”

J&M’s will be open Friday night from 6 to 9 p.m.

“Starting next week, we will be open every Thursday, Friday and Saturday,” she said. “Our hours will be 10:30 a.m. to 2 on Thursday and Friday, and 10:30 a.m. to 5 on Saturday.”

“We hope to expand the hours in the future,” she said.

The shop will feature six varieties of hot dogs and five variations of panini sandwiches.

“The Texas Dog should be popular,” she said. “It’s a hot dog topped with pulled pork, jalapenos and cheese. We smoke the pulled pork ourselves.”

The Parlour Antiques & Oddities will hold a fun Cinco de Mayo party with free snacks and beverages, and they'll also have their prize wheel out so customers can have a chance to win discounts and cool stuff.

But, one of the highlights of this month’s First Friday is sure to be a special event only held at The Parlour.

It’s called The Forbidden Nugget and it involves dissecting owl poop — we’ll call them “pellets.”

Yep, for a scientific investment of $25 you and the gang will discover the  secret eating habits of the world’s wisest predator. Participants will receive a dissection kit that contains two sanitized owl pellets, tweezers, gloves, a guide, a container for bones, a goodie bag and a store coupon.

This drop-in-style event will run from 4-7 p.m.

Mexiko Cafe –  On this Cinco de Mayo First Friday, Mexiko Café will celebrate their first year anniversary in business by staging another of their colorful, Latin-themed block parties with tunes by DJ Taurus, and with cool and colorful vendors out for local small business shopping.

The Virtuoso Violins from Academie Musique will be performing classical selections at three locations in Downtown Temple. According to Alex Sellers, director of the ensemble, the Violins will be performing at Nami’s beginning at 6:30 p.m., then moving to The Courtyard on Main at 6:45. The final stop will be at 7 p.m. at Birdcreek Burger Co.

Fire Base Brewing will be celebrating First Friday Cinco de Mayo w/ Lupita's Food Truck, Astron+55 Latin Band, Rowdy Axe Co, Rollin in the Dough Dessert Truck, and several vendor booths.  Block party 4 till 10 pm. 

Ras Kitchen will celebrate with a Mother’s Day concert featuring Lady Songbird and DJ Selectah SpidaTech upstairs in their banquet hall at 17 S Main St. 

Tour Temple & Corky’s Wine Bar will have The Flexin’ Texan food truck on-site during the evening and karaoke night with DJ Hogue will begin at 8 p.m.  Also, earlier in the evening, they’ll offer a beer and wine trail bus tour from 4-8 p.m.

Mo’s Railyard Saloon will have an awesome Cinco de Mayo party with music by DJ Smooth, $4 pulled pork sandwiches, $3 Cinco de Mayo frozen margaritas, and $4 strawberry daiquiris.

O'Briens Irish Pub will be open all evening to serve First Friday guests, and they will offer 20 percent off an appetizer when you mention First Friday.

Green Door will offer 20 percent off an appetizer when you mention First Friday and will put on a live piano show by Russell Boyd.

Bird Creek Burger Co. will offer half-priced appetizers (excluding chili), and happy-hour all day with $2.50 domestics, $3 draft beer, and $4 select glasses of wine.

Artist 2 Artist Showcase will stage an art show and vendor sale at the Main Street Courtyard at 5 S. Main Street. This month, they will feature lots of cool vendor booths including Obscurely Wicked Oddities & Antiques and Boogies Parties. Chewbacca Cinco de Mayo tee-shirts will also be on sale.

Artist Noel Johnson will hold an art sale on the sidewalk next door to O’Briens Irish Pub.

The Yard Food Truck Plaza – Will offer tasty eats from several food trucks:

• The Taqueria Mi Lindo Nayarit food truck - Will offer a 10 percent discount to any guest who utters the words: First Friday.

• The Chock Full of Cheese food truck – Will offer a 10 percent discount to any guest who mentions First Friday. They’ll also be selling some yummy Springtime brownies with cheesecake frosting, and they’ll be showing off some cool new decorations on their trailer.

• The 808 Island Grindz food truck will offer a 10 percent discount to any guest who mentions First Friday.

• The Mama Lama Mobile Kitchen will offer a 10 percent discount to any guest who mentions First Friday.

Precious Memories and Gift Shop will have a Santa on-site with a Cinco de Mayo theme and they will offer Cinco de Mayo beverages and specials for Mother’s Day as well.

Cha Community will celebrate National Nurses Day by offering all nurses (with badge shown) one free 8 oz boba tea! Also, throughout the evening, all guests will be eligible for one free topping per drink and $1 off their Taiwanese Cold Noodles!

Bird Creek Burger Co will offer a Cinco-de Mayo ‘Birra Quesadilla Tacos with chips & guac’ special all weekend, half-priced appetizers (excluding chili), and happy hour all day with $2.50 domestics, $3 draft beer, and $4 select glasses of wine.

Temple Public Library will be celebrating Fiesta Day on the first Friday in May. They will feature some very cool arts, crafts, activities, and inspired book displays, so be sure to stop by for a visit.

Darling Décor and More will be open all evening for First Friday shoppers.

FoxDog will have the Bahler Street Pizza food truck on-site, and as always they will offer the finest coffee, craft beer, and wine from 4:30-10 pm.

Treno Pizzeria & Taproom will offer discounts on selected beers & wines.

The Hub will be open until 8 pm. We're offering refreshments and a new permanent jewelry pop-up shop.

BJ’s Brewery and Tasting Room will have Lupita’s food truck on-site and they’ll be serving up cold craft brews on tap to First Friday guests.

J Kowboy Wine Bar will offer a happy hour for First Friday guests with discounts on selected beers and wines from 5-7 PM. 

Cheeves Brothers Steak House will let you take your pick of appetizers from their menu which will be 1/2 off from 5-7 pm in their bar and lounge. They will also offer 1/2 priced specials on selected beers, wines by the glass, and call level liquors

La Dalat will offer 10 percent off appetizers and $3 for coffee or hot tea to anyone who mentions First Friday.

PJ’s Tabletop & Catering will be open all evening to serve First Friday Guests

Thai Cafe will be open all evening to serve First Friday Guests

Pignetti’s will feature Lobster Night and Osso Buco.

Nami Japanese Steak & Sushi will offer several First Friday happy-hour drink and appetizer specials.

FRIDAY | MAY 6, 2022

CHANTICLEER PERFORMANCE IS SATURDAY

A cappella group is something to crow about

Our Town Temple

Named after the singing rooster in Chaucer’s Canterbury Tales, Chanticleer has been performing “early” music since 1978.

The names and faces have changed many times, but the 12-member, Grammy-winning vocal ensemble continues to delight.

“Chanticleer began with a focus on Renaissance period music from 1400 to about 1600, but we’ve expanded to include more modern pieces as well,” Tim Keeler, the group music director said this morning from a plane over Albuquerque. The all-male a cappella ensemble performs in Santa Fe before flying to Central Texas for Saturday’s concert at the Cultural Activities Center.

“We travel a lot — we do about 100 concerts a year,” Keeler said. “At least we did before the pandemic. But, we’re back at that pace. We’re  keeping a full schedule all year, but we are in high demand around Christmas.”

While Chanticleer’s repertoire is rooted in the Renaissance, it has continued to expand to include a wide range of classical, gospel, jazz, popular music and a deep commitment to the commissioning of new compositions and arrangements.

“We’re so excited to bring our music to Texas,” Keeler said. “It’s going to be a good time.”

Tickets for the Chanticleer concert are available at cacarts.org.

STEEL MAGNOLIAS — A LOT OF LAUGHS

Temple Civic Theatre’s production of Steel Magnolias opens tonight. The show is directed by Natasha Tolleson and stars Ashlee Boyd as Truvy, Kehly Trojan as Annelle, Eve Raine as Clairee, Miriam Kellar as Shelby, Regina Corley as M’Lynn and Mary Anzalone as Oiser. For show times and tickets, visit templecivictheatre.com. David Stone photo

TBI GRADUATES 57 STUDENTS

Temple College President Christy Ponce cords Temple High student Ariana Helt during a Silver Cording ceremony honoring Texas Bioscience Institute students who have completed 16 hours of community service, 16 hours of job shadowing, submitted at least three college applications and attended workshops and lectures. According to Rosa Berreles-Acosta, executive director of Temple College’s Dual Credit & High School Partnership programs, 57 students will graduate from TBI this month. Courtesy photo

CALENDAR OF EVENTS

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