Music, Flatjacks And, Of Course, First Friday

              The first weekend of May is the REAL kickoff to spring and summer. If you look around Racine County, you'll find music, flapjacks, art and more!

            What a show!  Dairy Statesmen present a pair of cabaret shows on Friday, May 3 at Roma Lodge, 7130 Spring St. This spring's show includes song, dance and guest artist Mark Paffrath. The $31 luncheon cabaret starts at 11:30 a.m. and includes a meal. The evening cabaret, priced at $18, starts at 7 p.m. Dinner, which is not included, is available from 5-7 p.m. Call 262-498-9955 for tickets.

           Fun downtown.  First Friday is back from 4-9 p.m. in Downtown Racine. Head downtown for live music at three locations— the west end of Sixth Street, Monument Square and at Crossroads Park between Third and Fourth streets. There are also carriage rides, artists, food and drink specials, shopping and more. You'll get in free all day at the Racine Art Museum and take on a free, hand-on project from 4-8 p.m. Visit  www.firstfridaysracine.com

            Pancakes anyone?  Call 'em flapjacks or call 'em pancakes, a full day—and we mean a full day—of food and entertainment is in store at the Kiwanis Club of Greater Racine's 59th annual Pancake Day. The Kiwanis and friends are serving pancakes and sausage from 6 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday at Festival Hall, 5 Fifth St., with nearly continuous live, local entertainment. Tickets are $6 in advance; $7 at the door.

            Art and gifts.  The Lakefront Artist Fair, on the Festival Park grounds, runs from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday with fine art and upscale crafts available from more than 125 area artists. There is also a silent auction, basket auction, prize board, raffle and food. The fair benefits the Racine Montessori School.

            New at SC Johnson. A new, free exhibit of Frank Lloyd Wright artifacts opens Friday at the SC Johnson Gallery: At Home With Frank Lloyd Wright located on the company's campus, 1525 Howe St. The exhibit, "Usonia Frank Lloyd Wright's Vision of the American Home," centers on the famed architect's vision for practical, yet beautiful, homes for the middle class. Tours are available by appointment Fridays and Saturdays through September. Click HERE or call 262-260-2154 for tour reservations.

            A sure sign of spring!  You know it's spring when the Racine Farmers' Market reopens for the season. The market, with all of its fresh produce and merchandise, runs from 8 a.m. to noon Saturdays through October at the Case New Holland parking lot, State and Erie streets.

            Live theater variety.  If you're in the mood for live theater, the annual One Act Festival is Friday and Saturday at Park High School's John Burns Theater, 1901 12th St. You'll have an opportunity to see a trio of one-act plays—all directed by advanced theater students. The productions are comedies "Louder, I Can't Hear You" and "Making Nice" and a drama, "A Friend Like Artie."  Curtain time is 7:30 p.m. Tickets are just $3 for all ages at the door.

       The Real Racine website (www.realracine.com) is YOUR source for spring and summer fun. You'll find daily updates on Facebook HERE and on Twitter HERE.