32.0°

Best Bets

n Today through Saturday, Soldotna High drama department will present the comedy, "Surfin' Summer." Written and directed by Mike Druce, at 7 p.m. each night. Admission is $5 per person.

Synopsis: It's the summer of 1963 and the kids of Point West Beach in Southern California have just graduated from high school. Looking to their futures, Sandy wants to start a singing group called Sandy and the Sonics with best friends Zoey and Joanie. Yup wants to hang out on the beach for the rest of his life, and Ziggy wants to take a trip to Greece, leaving his nephew Vinny in charge of the local hangout. Suddenly everything gets turned upside down with the news that "Surfin' Summer," the next Gina and Johnny beach movie, will be filming at Point West Beach, and the local kids will be used as extras. Stars Nick Starling and Ruby, of the Raylons, turn out to be a lot different in real life. Sandy and the Sonics find themselves headed for a wipeout, and Vinny discovers he's about to lose Ziggy's place to a swindler.

* Kenai Central High School's drama club will present "The Mouse That Roared" a comedy in two acts directed by Cheri Johnson and adapted by Christopher Sergel (1963) from the book by Leonard Wibberley (1955) will be held Friday, Saturday at 7 p.m. and Sunday at 3 p.m. The cost is $5 per person. See photo and story line on page A-7.

* The Challenger Learning Center of Alaska, at 9711 Kenai Spur Highway, will take visitors on a journey to the center of our Galaxy when it unveils unprecedented mural-sized images of the Milky Way's core as seen by NASA's Hubble Space Telescope, Spitzer Space Telescope, and Chandra X-ray Observatory. Challenger will host a free to the public Star Party where it will unveil the images to the public Friday. The photographs of the central region of the Galaxy commemorate the International Year of Astronomy. For time and more information on the unveiling of the never before seen images, along with an overview of the interactive activities for the whole family available throughout the evening, visit www.akchallenger.org or call 283-2000.

* The Broadway musical "Annie" will be shown Friday and Saturday at 7 p.m. at Nikiski High School Auditorium. The cost is $5 per person or $20 per family. Visit www.triumviratetheatre.org for more information.

Events and Exhibits

* Kaladi Brothers on S. Kobuk Artist of the Month is Clair Johnson.

* The Kenai Fine Arts Center, at 816 Cook St, across from the Oilers/Bingo Hall inOld Towne Kenai,will playhost to the Juried Water media Show through Monday.

* The Kasilof Historical Society's cabin museum is open from 1 to 3 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays or by appointment. It has historical displays, and area artists and crafters are invited to display their work on weekends. The cabin is at Mile 1.5 of Kalifornsky Beach Road. For more information, call 262-5125.

* The Kenai National Wildlife Refuge Visitors Center on Ski Hill Road outside Soldotna has films on wildlife, the refuge and the history of the area daily at noon, 1, 2, 3 and 4 p.m. For more information and complete pr ogram listings, call 262-7021.

* John Winter's work will be on display at the Soldotna Visitor's Center through Monday.

Entertainment

* AmVets Post No. 4 in the Red Diamond Center holds blind draw darts at 7 p.m. Wednesdays; Texas Hold 'Em at 7 p.m. Fridays and 4 p.m. Sundays; and open house and dinner at 6 p.m. and karaoke with Mary and Jack at 8 p.m. Saturdays.

* Kaladi Brothers will have live music from 6 to 7:45 p.m. at its Sterling Highway location, next to Subway in Soldotna.

* The Funky Monkey in the C Plaza in Kenai, in conjunction with Mike Morgan, will host Wednesday nights Acoustic Song Circle and Jam Session from 6:30 to 8 p.m.

* Rainbow Bar in Kenai has free Texas Hold 'Em at 7 p.m. Monday and Wednesday; live music with Acoustic Rhythm Machine from 9 p.m. to 1 a.m. and pool leagues Tuesday; and live music with the Maybrey Brothers Thursday through Saturday.

* The Duck Inn on Kalifornsky Beach Road has karaoke at 9 p.m. Thursdays through Saturdays.

* The Riverside House in Soldotna hosts the After 10 party Fridays and Saturdays with Rock Star DJ Service. Dancing until 5 a.m. on Friday and Saturday.

* The Hunger Hut at Mile 26.5 of the Kenai Spur Highway host karaoke with Shane and Sarah at 9 p.m. Saturdays.

* The 406 in Kenai has karaoke with Steve and Debbie at 9 p.m. Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays.

* Mykel's in Soldotna has music by Dave Unruh and Bob Ramponi from 6:30 to 9:30 Friday and Saturday.

* Veronica's in Old Towne Kenai, will host open mic from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. Friday; and Mike Morgan and Friends at 6:30 Saturday.

* Vagabond Inn will have a jam session featuring Robert Pepper at 8 p.m. Friday.

Films

* Call Orca Theaters at 262-7003 for listings and times.

* Call Kambe Cinemas at 283-4554 for listings and times.

Upcoming events

* Triumvirate Theatre will present the Broadway hit, "My Fair Lady" at the Triumvirate Theatre Dec. 11, 12, 18, 19. Show begins at 7 p.m. and tickets are $10 in advance and $12 at the door. Advance ticket sales end 24 hours before the show. Tickets are available at the Triumvirate Theatre Bookstore in the Peninsula Center Mall open Tuesday through Saturday noon to 6 p.m.

Submissions may be e-mailed to news@peninsulaclarion.com. The deadline is 5 p.m. Mondays.

* Triumvirate Theatre will hold a music concert fundraiser for Ivy Howland on Dec. 15 at 7 p.m. at its theatre in the Peninsula Center Mall in Soldotna. Recommended donation is $10. The concert will feature Jack Will, Sue Biggs, The North Road Rizzo's, Koey Dixon and Mike Morgan.

* Auditions for the musical production of "Grease" will be held at 5 p.m. Dec. 4 and ( a.m. Dec. 5 at the Kenai Central High School Little Theatre. For more information, e-mail Terri Zopf-Schoessler at trzopf@kpbsd.k12.ak.us.

* World Music for the Kenai in conjunction from the Kenai Peninsula College Multicultural Consortium and SUnday Showcase will host Chris Smither, finger style bluesman at 7:30 p.m. Feb. 3 at Peninsula Grace Auditorium at 44175 Kalifornsky Beach Road. The cost is $25 general admission; $23 for KDLL members; and family/teen discounts are available. For more information, call 262-6548 or e-mail mjmorgan@gci.net . Vist SAmithers site at www.chrissmither.com .

Down the Road

* Gallery Turquoise at Mile 49.5 of the Sterling Highway in Cooper Landing is open from noon to 6 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays or by appointment by calling the owner at 907-595-1434. on going

* The Pratt Museum in Homer is at 3779 Bartlett St. For more information about exhibits and events, call 907-235-8635 or e-mail the museum director at info@pratt-museum.org.

Submissions may be e-mailed to news@peninsulaclarion.com. The deadline is 5 p.m. Mondays.