The Chat ‘n Chew this Thursday is shaping up to be one packed with discussions and work on some very cool projects. Here are a few of the things going on:

• CAFÉ Huntington (formerly the Starving Artist Foundation) to provide micro-grants to artists and creative projects. The group plans to announce the date for the first dinner: www.herald-dispatch.com/news/briefs/x540213341/Starving-artist-foundation-could-be-useful-to-city
• Culture Center to create a space where people from different backgrounds can share their culture’s food, music, dance, language, history, and art with others. The group will continue working on a location for the events and announce their first fundraiser: www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=104793586232582&v=info
• Recycling. The group is looking at 2 opportunities to improve access to recycling facilities in the area:  www.herald-dispatch.com/news/x540212889/Cabell-County-pursues-recycling-program
• Downtown retail initiative. We’ve had lots of great news regarding downtown retail development: Wright’s is re-opening, Third and Ninth Deli and the Pottery Place are making progress, work is underway to announce a new center for artists and artisans, etc. Bring your ideas and energy to keep the momentum going.
• Creation of an outdoor market downtown. Check out Birmingham, AL as an example: http://www.pepperplacemarket.com/.
• Huntington Art Festival, combining programs of various arts organizations into a single summer spectacle.
• Partnership with MUCH (Marshall University Create Huntington) to create a downtown festival welcoming new MU students to town.

 Upcoming Events You May Find of Interest

Marshall Artist Series Food and Wine Festival: Uncorked      Tickets are now on sale for the Marshall Artists Series annual fundraiser Uncorked!: A food fair and wine festival, from 1 to 4 p.m. Saturday, May 22, on 4th Avenue, between 9th and 10th streets, and inside the Arcade Galleria, in downtown Huntington. Patrons are invited to shop the street food fair for organic, locally sourced, fresh market and enhance their palates with appetizers, main dishes and desserts, prepared by regional chefs, local restaurants and specialty shops. There is no charge to visit the street fair. However, vendors are cash only. Festival goers will have the opportunity to taste more than 40 wines complimented by the jazz sounds of Laura Evans & Company. Tickets to the wine festival are $35 and may be purchased the day of the event in the lobby of the Keith Albee Theater or in advance at the Marshall Artists Series box office, by phone 304-696-6656 or online at www.ticketmaster.com.

Strong Neighborhoods Action Summit            The Strong Neighborhoods Action Summit will be held on May 25th from 7- 8:45 pm at the St. Mary’s Education Center on 5th Ave and 29th St. This is the culmination of a month long series of neighborhood forums where residents identified ways to make their neighborhood safer and stronger. Join us at this city-wide meeting to share ideas and get involved.

Sustainability Training The West Virginia Sustainable Communities program (WVSC) is offering a Sustainability 101 training in Huntington on Monday, May 17, 2010 from 9:30 am to 3:30 pm. The training is being promoted and coordinated by the City of Huntington, Create Huntington, HADCO and Unlimited Future, Inc. WVSC offers this program to garner support from diverse stakeholders to create a Sustainability Team for a community. After the training, our community will be challenged to put together an active group of volunteers who will then work with WVSC to engage in more outreach activities, greenhouse gas inventory, and multiple workshops and meetings to create a Sustainability Action Plan which is suitable for Huntington. Registration is limited to 30 people and the class is full. To be placed on a wait list or for information about future training sessions send an email to createhuntington@gmail.com with your contact information.