I'm in Seattle this week honeymooning and celebrating two milestone birthdays as well! And, of course, loving all the artistic expressions to be found here. I love visiting new places and observing how regional differences influence the work of local artists. The waterfront and the Native American presence is obvious here in the beautiful works we see everywhere. Larger metropolitan areas also tend to provide support (financial and otherwise) with artistic avenues in the public spaces and that's always inspiring.

It seems everywhere we look, there's sculpture sitting alongside a park walkway, or a highway or a street corner. Many buildings and walls have colorful murals or mosaics displayed. We even saw a very colorful installation using chewing gum for its media as we were walking along Post Alley in the Pike Market area. And, yes, the public is welcome to and happily adds to the work. Art? In this case, believe it or not, yes. But don't try that at home, folks!

Closer to home, we've got some great live stage events to see (but leave the chewing gum at home...). It's the final weekend for "Rush Limbaugh at Night School," at the Rialto, the "Yee Haw" variety show is on at PACT, "Aida" continues at Harbor, and "Rocky Horror Picture Show" explodes at the Aurora. The rain will stop, the sun will shine and art will continue to inspire. Go grab some!

Upcoming Events:

• Fridays & Saturdays, 7:30 p.m., through September 25 - Final Weekend. "Rush Limbaugh Goes to Night School" Stage Comedy. Rialto Theater. Admission: $12.
• Saturday, September 25, 7:30 p.m. - "Yee Haw!" Variety Show. Port Aransas Community Theater. Admission: Call for Info.
• Fridays & Saturdays, 7:00 p.m. and Sundays, 2:00 p.m. through September 26 - "Aida!" Harbor Playhouse. Admission: $16.
• Tuesday, September 28, 7:00 p.m. - "Rialto Rhythms" Weekly Open Acoustic Jam. Rialto Theater. Admission: Free ($5 contribution suggested).
• Fridays, 7:30 p.m., Saturdays, 7:00 p.m. & 11:00 p.m. through October 31 - "Rocky Horror Picture Show," Aurora Arts Center. Admission: $14.
• Daily through September 24 - "Man Alive Group Show" Art Exhibit. Art Center for the Islands. Admission: Free.
• Daily through September 30 - "Young Musings." Anita Bransom Debut Art Exhibit and Aransas Pass Chamber Mixer. Main Gallery, Rialto Theater. Admission: Free.
• Saturday, October 2, 7:30 p.m. - "Yee Haw!" Variety Show. Port Aransas Community Theater. Admission: Call for Info.
• Saturday, October 16, 4:00 - 7:00 p.m. - "4th Annual Port Aransas Art Walk." Self-guided tour of art galleries and studios on the island. Art Center for the Islands. Admission: Free.
• Daily through October 16 - "Sylvia Benitez" Art Exhibit Opening Reception. Rockport Center for the Arts. Admission: Free.

Jen Jones Rubinowitz is a member of the Board of Directors of the Rialto Theater, an IRS 501(c)(3) charitable organization fostering art and education through visual art, music and live stage productions in the historic movie theater in downtown Aransas Pass. Her day job is in real estate at Coldwell Banker Myers-Gallagher. If you have someone you'd like to spotlight in this column, drop her a line at jen@jenscoastalbend.com.