Live Quilt Auction will Not be Webcast

Live Quilt Auction on Thursday: Due to technical difficulties, the National Quilt Museum's live quilt auction will NOT be webcast on Thursday, April 28, at 6 p.m. The Live Quilt Auction will now be held inside the National Quilt Museum, 215 Jefferson St.

If you ordered the grilled chicken dinner, it will be served in the Food Tent in the parking lot behind the museum on 2nd Street, starting at 5:00 p.m.

Reminder: If you need to pick up your registration packet, a name badge holder, or want to purchase tickets for workshops, lectures, or special events, come to the Workshop Desk in the entrance of the Pavilion (also known as the Big Marshmallow) in downtown Paducah.

All workshops and lectures are being held in the First Baptist Church, 2890 Broadway on the second level. Just look for the room named the same as in the Registration Guide. There is food available at the church.

Quilts & Vendors:  Don't miss any of the quilts or vendors at the AQS venues - the Pavilion in downtown Paducah (corner of 4th Street & Executive Blvd.), which is also the AQS Bus Stop for the shuttles going to hotels and attractions who are participating; the AQS Vendors on Kentucky in the Finkel Building (200 Kentucky Avenue); and the vendors in the Kentucky Oaks Mall area - the former Office Max building and the former Circuit City building where you will find special quilt exhibits and vendors. The small wall quilts in the AQS Contest, including the Best Wall Quilt, are at the First Baptist Church (2890 Broadway) where there is plenty of parking available.

Day 2 of the show is coming up - see you there!

Ribbon Cutting Today for Dome Pavilion in Paducah, KY

The ribbon cutting at the new Dome Pavilion was celebrated on this beautiful sunny day,

April 14, 2010, at 3:00 p.m.

Mark Thompson, Director of Paducah Parks Services, welcomed the crowd to the festivities. Mark oversaw the Pavilion project and thanked all of the city departments that were involved.

Mayor Bill Paxton addressed the crowd, and acknowledged the many people who worked on a very short timetable to complete this facility in time for the AQS Quilt Show.

Commissioner Watkins told the group that Paducah "gets it" when it comes to tourism and what facilities like this do to make Paducah a better place to live.

Representatives from Arizon Structures from St. Louis, manufacturers of the Pavilion, thanked the City and the crews with whom they worked to complete the facility on time.

M.P. Lawson Construction was the contractor on this job. They recognized the crew members that were on the job from beginning to end.

Peck, Flannery, Gream, Warren, Inc. was the architectural company for the project...and once again they oversaw a project for the City that was completed on time.

Mayor Paxton and Commissioner Watkins wielded the giant scissors to cut the ribbon to officially open the new Dome Pavilion in Paducah. Representatives of the companies involved in the construction, as well as staff members from the American Quilter's Society looked on.

Refreshments were enjoyed inside the Pavilion following the ribbon cutting.

AQS will officially receive the keys to the Pavilion on Thursday when Freeman, the show decorator, arrives to begin marking the floor for placement of the quilt exhibit areas and vendor booths. Vendor load-in will begin on Sunday.

Following the ribbon cutting, I went out the back door of the Pavilion to check out the restroom facilities. These trailers are air conditioned and not any regular porta-potty. There is water to wash your hands, pictures on the wall, and they are very clean.

Just outside the handicapped door is a handicapped restroom, complete with ramp for easy access.

One of the local reporters asked me what I thought of the Pavilion. I can't wait to get it all set up and full of quilts and vendors. No space we ever used inside the Executive Inn will compare with how light and bright this new facility is.

As many of you prepare to head to Paducah, the city of Paducah is putting the final touches up to welcome you. Next week, the city truly does become Quilt City USA! Are your bags packed yet?

Don't forget to take our photo quiz on "How Well Do You Know Paducah?" If you don't know the answers, look for them when you are in town next week. The sights in the photos will be all around you.

Bonnie Browning, reporting from the Ribbon Cutting of the Dome Pavilion at 3 p.m. today