photo by: Journal-World File and Contributed Photos

Left to right: glasswork by Bob Gent, pianist Chaeyoung Park, trick-or-treaters on Massachusetts Street.

Two pianists studying at one of the most prestigious performing arts schools in the world will return to the city where they met for a one-night performance this weekend.

Chaeyoung Park and Anna Han, students of the Juilliard School, will return to Lawrence for a duo performance dubbed “A Tale of Two Pianists.” Park and Han will perform 7:30 p.m. Saturday at Theatre Lawrence, 4660 Bauer Farm Drive. Tickets are $10.

photo by: Contributed photo

Pianist Chaeyoung Park, who partially grew up in Lawrence, will perform at Theatre Lawrence this Saturday.

Park, 21, is originally from South Korea, but partially grew up in Lawrence. She told me she still has family in town and she is excited to return for the performance.

“I spent about half of my life in Kansas,” she said. “Within those years I met so many wonderful people, music lovers and supporters. I always have a place to practice or play a recital. I just really appreciate the supportive, encouraging and nurturing environment Lawrence has been for me.”

Han, who is from Arizona, and Park met in 2011 at the International Institute for Young Musicians, which is held at the University of Kansas each summer.

Now, not only are the two both studying at Julliard, they are learning under the same instructor.

“She’s one of my closest friends,” Park said of Han.

Both said they are excited for the performance because they get to play the piano, which is often a solitary instrument, together at the same time.

Han said that’s not something pianists do often, but her friendship with Park allows them to work together nicely, even if either of them improvises while playing.

“It’s nice to do that with someone whose playing I know and respect and someone whose personality I trust so much,” Han said. “I feel like (the way) people play oftentimes says something about their personality. It kind of sounds like their voice, their timing or their way of emoting. So being able to feel that on a human level that’s not impeded by language or by words is quite special.”

Final Friday

The month is almost over, which means local artists are setting up new exhibits throughout town for Final Friday.

This month, Final Friday will also include the Watkins Museum of History throwing it back to the 1940s for a a vintage jazz concert.

The museum, located at 1047 Massachusetts Street, is opening a new exhibit that focuses on what life was like in Kansas during World War II. The exhibit will be open from 7 to 9 p.m. Friday. To help celebrate the exhibit’s opening, the David Basse Trio will play music from 7 to 8 p.m.

Bandleader David Basse is a jazz expert and a fixture on Kansas Public Radio, where he hosts regular programs of jazz favorites, according to a news release. The museum’s original 19th-century concert piano will see some use during the concert.

A full list of Final Friday events can be found on the Explore Lawrence website.

Saturday art show

photo by: Contributed photo

The glasswork of Bob Gent will be on display at the art show on Saturday.

As I’ve learned through this weekly column, one day is not enough to contain all of the art in Lawrence.

The S&S Artisan Pub and Coffeehouse, located at 2228 Iowa St., will host an art show on Saturday called “Intersection of Beauty.”

Artists Gene Tyner and Bob Gent will display their paintings and glassworks, respectively, with an open house from 6 to 10 p.m. The event is free and open to the public.

Tyner’s art often focuses on the parks, fields and churches of Kansas, according to a news release. Gent creates mostly functional objects, such as vases, bowls and plates.

The venue will also have coffee, craft beer, wine, vegan and vegetarian food for sale.

Historic social clubs presentation

A town as historic as Lawrence has many community entities that date back pretty far. Local women’s social clubs are no different.

Several clubs with histories dating back to the 1800s will gather at the Lawrence Public Library on Sunday to teach residents more about these groups and their history.

Clubs participating in the event include the 20th Century Club (established 1895), Altrusa (1951), Friends in Council (1871), Ladies Literary League (1882), Lawrence Bridge Club (1912), Lawrence Music Club (1892), League of Women Voters (1931), Prairie Acres Garden Club (1958), Round Table (1880), Tennola Literary Club (1902), University Women’s Club (1900), Ventura Club (1895), and Zodiac Club (1878).

The event begins 2 p.m. Sunday at the Lawrence Public Library, 707 Vermont St., in the auditorium.

The program will include a presentation on the history of social clubs by Sarah Bell, membership coordinator at the Watkins Museum, and Deborah Dandridge, associate librarian for the Kansas collection at KU’s Spencer Research Library.

“The history of women’s clubs in Lawrence is fascinating,” Bell said in a news release. “Women began these clubs because they were excluded from many avenues of public participation and were craving an intellectual outlet.”

Downtown Halloween Trick-or-Treat

photo by: Mike Yoder

A boy dressed as Pinocchio and the woodworker Geppetto makes his way down Massachusetts Street during the annual downtown Lawrence trick-or-treating event in 2017. The event returns on Wednesday.

Okay, enough with this arts and social stuff. Time to get down to what we all really want at the end of October: tons and tons of candy.

The annual Downtown Trick-or-Treat event returns on Halloween, which is Wednesday. The event begins at 5 p.m. and last until, well, all the candy runs out (the Facebook page for the event list 6:30 p.m. as the end time).

It’s really quite simple. If you have children who are going to dress up for the holiday, take them downtown, go to stores and pick up some candy.

Have a fun time and a happy Halloween!

If you have an event you think I or the Lawrence community should know about, please send the information to me at dlysen@ljword.com. To follow my event coverage and experiences, follow me on Twitter @DylanLysen.