Hurdy Gurdy cranks it up

Folks who used to hang out at the old Hurdy Gurdy restaurant and nightclub in Poland are getting a chance to relive old times.

The club, which was in the building that now houses The Fireplace restaurant at 2075 Western Reserve Road, closed in 1995.

Shawn Lawless owned and operated the Hurdy Gurdy from 1991 to 1995. He is putting together a 20-year reunion for his former customers and employees that will take place Sept. 26 at The Fireplace.

Lawless — who is also in the Jimmy Buffett tribute band Fins to the Left — has booked the band Confederate Railroad for the reunion. Confederate Railroad frequently played at the Hurdy Gurdy in the early ’90s.

Doors open at 4:30 p.m., admission is free and everyone is welcome — not just Hurdy Gurdy regulars.

Confederate Railroad will take the stage at 9 p.m. and will be preceded by some opening acts. Lawless pointed out that the band won an Academy of Country Music award for Best New Group on May 26, 1993, and played a sold-out show at the Hurdy Gurdy two weeks later. The band will play its hits, including “Jesus and Mama,” “Queen of Memphis” and “She Took It Like a Man.”

For information, go to facebook.com/hurdygurdygang.

CEDAR POINT UPDATE: MANTIS, HALLOWEEKENDS

Cedar Point amusement park is retiring its Mantis roller coaster on Oct. 19, with the last ride at 8 p.m.

The coaster opened at the beginning of the 1996 season and gave more than 22 million rides since then. It was billed as the tallest, fastest and steepest stand-up coaster in the world when it opened.

The park will announce plans for its replacement at a later date.

In the meantime, Cedar Point is bringing back its annual HalloWeekends, which will run from Friday through Nov. 1. Hours are 6 p.m. to midnight on Friday nights, 11 a.m. to midnight on Saturdays and 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Sundays. Go to HalloWeekends.com for details and ticket info.

CELEBRITY DJ MICHELLE PESCE TO BRING CIROC PARTY TO AREA

Celebrity DJ Michelle Pesce will entertain at the Ciroc End of Summer Gala, a party Saturday night at CA Restaurant, 492 McClurg Road, Boardman. No tickets are necessary.

Pesce, a Liberty native and Ursuline High graduate, has been a top-shelf DJ in Los Angeles for about 10 years. She specializes in Hollywood parties and has appeared on ABC’s “Good Morning America.”

Saturday’s party will feature Ciroc’s new pineapple vodka.