Stars Fell on Spartanburg: Hub City's Celebrity Encounters

What happens when Hollywood celebrities, big-time sports figures, and national politicians make their way to a Southern city known for its cotton mills, chili cheeseburgers, and Baptist churches? A crazy new book called Stars Fell on Spartanburg: Hub City's Celebrity Encounters.

A searchlight in the sky will lead the way as the Hub City Writers Project hosts a Hollywood-style book launch Wednesday, Nov. 12, from 7-9 p.m., in the lobby of the Spartanburg Memorial Auditorium, where a multitude of stars frolicked over the years. On hand for this special event will be Elvis Presley, Richard Nixon, Dale Earnhardt, three dozen authors, a big pile of books, and much, much more.


Spartanburg High School students are dressing up as characters for the book-signing event, including three who will perform as the Kingston Trio.

Stars Fell on Spartanburg presents eyewitness accounts of dozens of celebrity stopovers in the Hub City. These stories are told through personal essay, oral history, and, to spice it up, poetry, fiction, and song. Pop culture meets local history and creative writing in this entertaining, illustrated volume that has something for everyone.

Fifty writers and storytellers take you along on their adventures: fetching a soft drink for Elvis Presley at the Carolina Theatre, sharing a microphone with the Beach Boys, chauffeuring football legend Bart Starr. They invite you to go antiquing on Main Street with Martha Stewart, to sneak up on Julia Roberts at the local ballpark, to eat a fancy dinner with actress Joanne Woodward, and to visit heavyweight champ Jack Dempsey in the old Cleveland Hotel.

They take you on the tour bus with Hank Williams Jr., to a downtown poolroom with a barefoot Harry Connick Jr., and back in time to encounter baseball giant Ty Cobb, famous evangelist Billy Sunday, and renowned scientist George Washington Carver. You'll see the stars as you never have before and bear witness to a Southern city's dance with fame.

Stars Fell on Spartanburg is the 35th title published by Spartanburg’s Hub City Writers Project, a non-profit literary arts organization founded in 1995. The paperback book sells for $11.95 and is available at area stores or at http://www.hubcity.org/.

Feed the Community 2008

Feed the Community is an annual event that was first begun 19 years ago to ensure everyone enjoys a hearty meal on Thanksgiving Day. Last year, approximately 6,000 meals were prepared and the number is expected to exceed 7,000 this year.

To volunteer this Thanksgiving call 582-7556.

Join us - Hub City Art Park Opening

Located in the Hub-Bubneighborhood, the newly developed park is on the corner of Daniel Morgan Avenue and Henry Street. In walking distance from Hampton Heights, Brasserie Ecosse and Hub-Bub, this park is open to all to enjoy. See you on November 5th!

2008 Spartanburg Young Professionals Events Announced.

Spartanburg Young Professionals has announced their event line-up for the rest of 2008. For more information concerning SYP(pronounced "sip")visit their website or e-mail spartanburgyoungprofessionals@gmail.com.

Art Walk

We announced yesterday about our upcoming Art Walk scheduled for the third Thursday of each month. Above is a City Channel segment featuring some of the Art Walk founders, Ed and Shannon Emory and Andrew Babb. Enjoy!

Open Mic Night - Next Saturday.

OPEN MIC NITE @ the Showroom at Hub-Bub
Saturday, October 25, 7pm-10pm
Door Prizes, including an iPod!Open to all High School Students

Pizza, Drinks, & Snacks Available for Sale.$5 at the door for students/$10 for adults.
Bands, Instrumentalists, Singer/Songwriters, Slam Poets, and Actors wanted! Must sign up in advance to perform! Spaces are filling quickly!Need more info? Wanna sign up to perform? Contact L. Hurley at 864.562.4199.

Sponsored by Youth Voices & the Spartanburg Youth CouncilYouth in Philanthropy Project FundraiserAll Proceeds Benefit Spartanburg Non-Profits Serving Youth and Education.

This group of students ages 11-17 has been around for only 2 years, and already they've established a presence in Spartanburg, and a reputation for their commitment to our community. Nominated by members of the Spartanburg Youth Council, they include students of all different backgrounds, opinions, ideas, and beliefs. They are united to raise awareness of youth issues, and to steadily increase their fundraising through the Youth in Philanthropy Project.

Last year, Youth Voices' YIPP raised $12,000 to benefit youth and education in Spartanburg. Their goal this year: even more. In addition to their usual fundraising, they want to increase public awareness of their efforts and the indispensable role young people can play in making a difference in their own community. Their idea: Give all youth a voice and an opportunity to pitch in. The forum: Open Mic Nite at Hub-Bub.So, got a talent? Want to be heard? Want to join an effort to make a difference? See you there.

Join us - Thursday, Oct 16th

Team Pink Palooza

Pretty In Pink? No, it's not Molly Ringwald.
Legally Blonde? Nope, not that one either.

Marisa Axelrod and Brooke Jackson, contestants on the CBS hit show The Amazing Race will be pink and blonde at Barnet Park on Sunday October 12th from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. Barnet Park will host Amazing Race 'like' competitions and there will be one GRAND prize winning team upon the finish line of the event. Afterwards, kick-back with some friends and good food to watch episode 3 of Season 13's Amazing Race shown live on stage.

Team Pink, consists of two Southern Belles who would not dare leave the United States without wearing their signature pearls and pink attire. Their blonde ambition and Southern charm helped them out on their own travels across the globe. Please come out and support the girls that represented South Carolina in pink with pride.

Tell all of your friends to come out and join in on the Team Pink Palooza!
Please pre-register online at http://www.teampink.com/ or call (864)278-9706.
Team Pink pride at Barnet Park and fun for all looking for a good race.