Labor Day extravaganza planned to celebrate Uptown Bill's 10th anniversary

UPTOWN BILL'S celebrates its 10th anniversary with a giant Labor Day extravaganza. The day includes the Ralston Creek Fair & Flea Market, a series of special programs, all full day of music and a showing of the documentary "A Friend Indeed."

Uptown Bill's is the crosstown cousin of the Wild Bill's Coffeeshop, a part of the community for more than 30 years. Wild Bill's began as a place of employment for Bill Sackter and later became a symbol of "abilities awareness" around the state and beyond.

Extending the idea of the original coffeeshop, Uptown Bill's includes not only a coffeeshop, but also a bookstore a performance venue and other businesses. These are located at 730 S. Dubuque St., six blocks south of downtown Iowa City. A second group of businesses, including a vintage shop and record store are located at 2203 F. St. Individuals with disabilities and community volunteers staff each of the businesses. A non-profit organization called Extend the Dream Foundation is the umbrella for all of these enterprises.

Uptown Bill's opened in the summer of 2001 at the corner of Gilbert and Court streets. The coffee house and bookstore moved last year to its present location at 730 S. Dubuque. The new location has emerged as a popular music venue for both local and regional musicians.

The upcoming Labor Day event (Monday, Sept. 5) opens with a pancake breakfast (7 to 9 am). The annual Ralston Creek Fair and Flea Market starts at 8 am and continues til 3 pm. The Fair and Flea Market will take place in the University of Iowa parking lot across from Uptown Bill's.

Music starts at 10 am and continues into the evening. Here's a look at who's performing:

10 am: Pennies on the Rail

11 am: Drew Hayward

1 pm: Irish Sessions

3 pm: Tom's String Band

4 pm: Beat Prairie

5:30 pm: Deadhorse (Ambient rock from Erie, PA)

7 pm: Greg & Susan Dirks

Several of the neighboring businesses are planning open houses or other events as well on Labor Day.

The day's events will end with a showing of "A Friend Indeed: The Bill Sackter story" at 7:45 pm. The film traces the life of Bill Sackter and Wild Bill's Coffeeshop.