Best Bets: Plunge, ride to kick off PTTP

Published 10:18 am Thursday, January 29, 2015

Austin is ready to start fighting cancer this weekend, and there are many events to get community members to join in. Whether it’s racing across the ice on a snowmobile, jumping into East Side Lake or staying inside a warm gymnasium to watch the Packers wrestling match, there is something to get everyone excited this weekend.

1. Watercolor Journaling

5:30 to 7:30 p.m., Thursday, Austin ArtWorks Center

Pam Urick’s Watercolor Journaling class will introduce participants to a new type of personal record-keeping: using watercolors to give life to the impressions of an object or event, and then outlining the colors with ink. No experience is necessary. The cost is $38 for Austin Area Commission for the Arts members and $43 for non-members. For more information, call 507-434-0934.

2. The Bridge Annual Winter Chili Feed

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11 a.m. to 2 p.m., Saturday, The Bridge, 108 Oakland Ave.

Enjoy a hot chili lunch, complete with cornbread and a beverage. A $6 donation is requested, and proceeds go to support activities and materials for the Bridge.

3. PTTP: Snowmobile Speed Run

11 a.m., Saturday, East Side Lake

The Snowmobile Speed Run is a new event for Paint the Town Pink. Snowmobilers will race across East Side Lake. Entry fee is $5 for three runs. Registration opens at 9:30 a.m., and the event starts at 11 a.m. The event is sponsored by the Spam Town Snow Drifters. All proceeds will be donated to the Hormel Institute for breast cancer research. Prizes will be awarded for the top speeds. Hy-Vee will have a food and beverage tent on the east shore of the lake. For questions or more information, call Steve at 507-433-1982.

4. PTTP: Plunging for Pink Polar Plunge

2 p.m., Saturday, East Side Lake

The third annual Plunging for Pink into East Side Lake will start at 2 p.m. at the boat launch in East Side Lake Park, located along Oakland Place Northeast. Vision 2020 Waterways, Austin Parks & Recreation, Austin Street Department and the Austin Fire Department — firefighters volunteer to assist in the water — will all help put on the event. After plunging, participants will enter heated, enclosed trailers to warm up and change out of their wet clothes. Hy-Vee Food Stores also is sponsoring a tent for food and beverage, including Caribou Coffee, at East Side Lake for the two Jan. 31 events, with proceeds being donated to the Institute. The tent will be near the plunge site on the lake’s east shore. A post-plunge party will be offered at Torge’s Live in the Austin Holiday Inn, starting with a meal at 6 p.m. with food donated by Hormel Foods Corp. and Hy-Vee. Plungers will eat for free; other guests can eat for $10 per person. An awards ceremony for the plunge will be done before 9 p.m. when the band Mister Peabody performs at Torge’s as part of the evening.

5. Spaghetti Dinner and Trimmings

11 a.m. to 2 p.m., Sunday, Masonic Hall, 304A North Main Street in Austin

Eat spaghetti and enjoy good company at the Masonic Hall in Austin. The event is sponsored by Unity Chapter No. 29, order of the Eastern Star. The event has a $10 donation, and everyone is welcome. Carry-outs are available. Other events. Other Paint the Town Pink events that are going on this weekend include the AHS boys hockey pink game at 7:30 p.m., Saturday, at the Riverside Arena; Dad’s Belgian Waffles from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., Sunday, at the Eagles Club; the Austin Packer wrestling pinkout night from 6 to 9 p.m., Thursday, at the Austin High School; and the Austin High School girls hockey pink game from 7:30 to 9:30 p.m., Thursday, at Riverside Arena.