Sep. 4--"A Night in Athens" trio known for performing music that is both authentic and gutsy, will entertain guests at the Coast Greek Night festival Sept. 5 at IP Casino Resort and Spa in Biloxi.

Theirs is the kind of music that begets lots of rhythmic hand clapping and foot tapping as the entertainers seem to stay always on the move, the music always joyful.

Presented by the Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church community, the local Greek Night tradition started in 1967, has been through several transitions and resumes this year for the first time since Katrina.

Dress is cocktail attire and tickets are $55 per person, with a cash bar. A silent auction begins when the doors open at 6 p.m.

"A Grecian Odyssey," its theme, will take guests on a stroll through the Greek Isles with music, dance and an array of Mediterranean dishes and pastry specialities. Some of the dishes planned are Bouti, a rotisserie haunch of lamb with rosemary jus; Pastitsio, which is beef with pasta, kefalotiri cheese and mild spices baked under a smooth bechamel sauce with nutmeg; Fassoulakia, Greek style stewed green beans; and the famed baklava dessert, which is made of flaky layers of phyllo dough sheets with a nut and honey filling topped with Greek syrup.

A dance group out of Mobile will perform popular Greek dances and festival guests are invited to join in for the traditional line dances.

Trio members George Antonopoulos, Nick Trivelas and Joanna, who uses no last name, are all vocalists. The two men play the bouzouki, a traditional Greek instrument that resembles a banjo or guitar in appearance but has an entirely different sound.

George Antonopoulos from Pireas, Greece, is a bouzouki virtuoso and entertainer extraordinaire, has performed throughout Europe, Canada, the U. S. and parts of Central America. In the midwest, according to the site, greekband.com, he's been dubbed 'the Greek Elvis."

In his other band called "Nick Trivelas & the Aegeans," Trivelas has provided traditional Greek dance music, as well as swing, rock and R&B for more than 25 years. In addition to singing and the bouzouki, he plays guitar with the Athens trio.

The Trio recently released its third CD, titled "A Night in Athens #3." The first two were "A Night in Athens... Live at Zorbas!" and "A 2nd Night in Athens."

18th Art Walk

the biggest yet

Ocean Springs merchants have lined up en mass behind Saturday's 18th Annual Art Walk 2009, to be held downtown from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. with a street party atmosphere scattered with bands and musicians.

Reflecting the largest numbers in Art Walk history, there are more than 56 merchants and 90 artists and crafters signed up for the traditional Labor Day weekend event, said organizer Diane Boyd. Artists will exhibit and sell their work in front of a sponsoring business, which benefits from the crowd-appeal of the artist it sponsors as well as the event's all-day public attendance.

"Normally, artists have to pay a booth fee at an arts and crafts festival," Boyd said, "but not here. The merchants pitched in money to do the advertising." Artists , who are coming from across the Coast as well as Tupelo and Mobile, will exhibit, sell and sometimes demonstrate in front of the store that sponsors them.

This year's event will showcase original pottery, paintings, jewelry and more and is hosted by Bayou Belle and local merchants.

The Ocean Springs Chamber of Commerce said business participants include Al Fresco's Italian Bistro, The Bay Collection, Bayou Belle, Bernard Clark Antiques, Bliss, Candy Cottage, Chandeleur Outfitters, Chef Scott's, Corner Cafe & Bakery, Denim Blues, Forever Green, Gabbie's on the Avenue, Garden Gate/BP Flags, Gina's Antiques & Gifts, Government Street Grocery, Grant's Mens Shop, Hayden Dent, Hillyer House, Home & Garden Gallery, Indulgence, Kathleen's Fiber Arts, Lady Di's, Leo's Wood Fired Pizza, Lexi Lu, Local Color Gallery, Lovelace Drugstore, Maison de Lu, Manhattan Grill, Miner's Toy Store, Moran's Art Studio, Mosaic Tapas Bar, On the Menu, Party Girls, Phoenicia Gourmet, Poppy's on Porter, Riley & Riley Photography, Salon Boudreaux, Salmagundi Shop, Sea About It, Skin Deep, Stilettoes, Tato-Nut, Theresa's Gallery, The Very Thing, Todd Boswell Salon, Two Dogs Dancing, Utopia, as well as the Ocean Springs Chamber of Commerce, Ocean Spring Fresh Market and Art Market.

Details: 875-7008.

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Copyright (c) 2009, The Sun Herald, Biloxi, Miss.

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