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The year’s biggest night of local music is happening in downtown Jamestown this weekend.

Infinity Visual and Performing Arts will hold its 14^th annual Local Music Showcase (LMS) fundraiser on Saturday, Sept. 9.

Dubbed “The Night Music Reigns,” LMS will take place throughout 9 venues in Downtown Jamestown and features nearly 50 local musical acts. Events begin at 6 p.m. and will last into the night, ending at 2 a.m.

This year’s venues include: Brazil, Forte, Labyrinth Press Co., MoJo’s, Shawbucks, The Pub, The Q, The Wine Cellar and the Infinity Arts Café.

It takes over 200 individual volunteers from the community to make Infinity’s annual Local Music Showcase event a success. All funds raised directly benefit Chautauqua County students and support music and arts education for area young people at the Infinity Center through private lessons, group classes, hands on learning experiences, and performance opportunities.

Pre-sale tickets for Local Music Showcase are currently available at a discounted rate of $10. They can be purchased online or in person at the Infinity Center until Friday, September 8.  Wristbands for $15 will be available at two ticketing kiosks on the night of the event. Kiosks will be open at Shawbucks (212 W 2^nd St) from 6 p.m. and 2 a.m. or the Infinity Arts Café (300 East 3^rd St) from 4 p.m. to 2 a.m.

For a full schedule of acts for each venue please visit www.infinityperformingarts.org or find Infinity’s 14^th Annual Local Music Showcase on Facebook!

Pictured, from left: Jamestown development director Vince DeJoy, The Pub employee Melissa Williamson, The Pub owner Mary McCusker, Jamestown mayor Sam Teresi, and The Pub manager Sam Lisciandro.

JAMESTOWN – A downtown landmark has received recognition from Jamestown mayor Sam Teresi for its 50 years in business.

On Monday morning the mayor was at The Pub on North Main Street to read a proclamation and declare December 14, 2015 as The Pub Day within the city. During his presentation, the mayor talked about the importance of having a locally owned and operated business stay open for 50 years.

“The longevity of this makes it special,” Teresi said. “We are blessed as a community still to have a core to our urban center – the downtown area – that’s physically in tact and that’s populated by locally owned and operated businesses. For one to endure for 50 years and to be as successful if not more successful than the day it opened means everything.”

Jamestown native and former pro football player Jim McCusker first opened the establishment at 209 N. Main St. on Dec. 13, 1965. The business was significantly damaged by a fire in 2013 but was able to reopen its doors less than a year later.

The business is currently owned by McCusker’s widow, Mary McCusker, who co-owned the business with Jim until his death in February. His nephew Sam Lisciandro serves as the manager.

According to the Jamestown Post-Journal, former pro football player and owner of the Pub restaurant Jim McCusker died Friday at the age of 78.

McCusker was born and raised in Jamestown, attending Jamestown High school and played for the Red Raiders. He then went on to play college football at the University of Pittsburgh and was drafted into the Chicago Cardinals in 1958. Throughout his years in the NFL, McCusker played for the Philadelphia Eagles and the Cleveland Browns. In 1964, he played for the AFL’s New York Jets.

Following retirement, Jim returned to Jamestown and for many years he owned a restaurant and bar on North Main St. in Jamestown called “The Pub” with his wife, Mary. In 1982 he was inducted into the Chautauqua Sports Hall of Fame.

The eleventh annual Local Music Showcase (LMS) is set to take place this Saturday at ten participating venues with all proceeds once again going to Infinity Visual and Performing Arts.

According to Infinity Executive Director Shane Hawkins, this year the fundraiser is even more important than ever with Infinity moving into a new location in the ground floor of the Lynn Building, 301 E. 2nd St., Jamestown, NY with classes expect to begin there in October. The renovation’s budget for the new Infinity Center is $222,000.

The ten venues this year are Brazil, Cibo, Forte, Infinity, Jamestown Skate Products, Mojos, The Pub, The Reg Studio Theater, Shawbucks and the Wine Cellar.

The cost to attend LMS is $10, which will pay for an all-access wristband that allows attendees admittance into any and all participating venues. Pre-sale event tickets can be purchased at Infinity Visual and Performing Arts Center at 115 3rd Street and exchanged for wristbands the evening of the event. Wristbands can also be purchased the evening of the event at participating venues.

For more information on the event or to volunteer, call (716) 664-0991 or visit www.infinityperformingarts.org. A complete listing of all musical acts and times they will perform can be found online at Infinity’s website and also at the organizations Facebook page.

The Pub during its official reopening on Tuesday, July 22, 2014. (Image Source: Jamestown Mayor’s Office – www.facebook.com/mayorteresi)

JAMESTOWN – A long-time favorite destination in downtown Jamestown is once again open for business.

The Pub, located on N. Main St. in Jamestown between Second and Third Streets, held its grand reopening Tuesday afternoon. The reopening was welcome news for patrons and community members who were concerned about the future of the long-running business after an electrical fire destroyed much of the interior in January, 2014.

The reopening was made possible, in part, through help from the Jamestown Renaissance Corporation and the city development department.

According to the Jamestown Post-Journal, the Jamestown Fire Department was called to a fire on North Main Street at The Pub bar and restaurant. The call came in just before 7 p.m. when a witness reported seeing flames inside The restaurant.

Upon arrival, smoke could be seen pouring out of the restaurant’s front door and window, both of which firefighters had broken to vent. According to today’s article, Crews continued venting the building by breaking all of the second-floor windows above both The Pub and the adjacent Lisciandro’s restaurant.

Public safety officials closed off the area of North Main between 2nd and 3rd Streets while crews worked to put the fire under control. A portion of 2nd Street was also closed to traffic. The extent of the damage was not immediately known. Investigators will be at the scene today to try and determine what may have caused the fire.

Once again, all proceeds will benefit Infinity Visual and Performing Arts, Inc.

Participating Venues include: Mojos, Shawbucks, Cibo, The Pub, Labyrinth Press Company, Forté, The Wine Cellar, The Reg Studio Theater, Jamestown Skate Products and Infinity Arts Café.

Pre-sale event tickets can be purchased at Infinity Visual and Performing Arts Center at 115 3rd Street and exchanged for wristbands the evening of the event. Wristbands can also be purchased the day of the event at participating venues.

For more information – including a complete schedule, call (716) 664-0991 or visit www.infinityperformingarts.org.

A total of 40 different acts will be participating in this year’s LMS.  The Venues are Mojos, The Pub, Labyrinth Press Company, Forte, The Wine Cellar, Suburban Blend, The Reg Studio Theater, and Infinity Arts Café.

Pre-sale event tickets can be purchased at Infinity Visual and Performing Arts Center at 115 3rd Street and exchanged for wristbands the evening of the event. Wristbands can also be purchased the day of the event at participating venues.

For more information – including a complete schedule, call (716) 664-0991 or visit www.infinityperformingarts.org.