What’s Happening

Best Bet

■ The Los Angeles Children’s Chorus Young Men’s Ensemble, under the direction of Dr. Steven Kronauer, sings Music From Around the World at 7 p.m. today at Christ Lutheran Church in Soldotna. Admission is free; any donations received will go to the Soldotna Food Pantry.

Events and Exhibits

■ Local nature photographer Laurie Johnson is showing her work at Kaladi Brothers Coffee on Kobuk in Soldotna. More than 20 pieces will be on display for the month of June. Sign up for a drawing for a free print.

■ The Redoubt Flute Studio presents its student concert, “An Afternoon of Flute Ensembles,” Saturday at 1:30 p.m. at the Soldotna Library Community Room, 235 North Binkley Street. Performances will include the music of Mendelssohn, Bach, and more. Admission is free. For more information, call 907-420-0517.

■ On July 4 at 2 p.m., Dave Thompson of Kenai will recite poetry and ballads at the Kenai Historic Cabin Park in Old Town Kenai next to the Kenai Fine Art Center and across from the Oilers building. If you like ballads from many well-known authors and love America, you don’t want to miss this event. For more information, call 283-1946.

Entertainment

■ Veronica’s cafe has open mic at 6:30 p.m. Friday and live music with the Charmer’s Daughters at 6:30 p.m. Saturday.

■ The Vagabond Inn on Kaliforsnky Beach Road will have live music with Chris Robinson starting at 9 p.m. Saturday.

■ Join Steve and Fern Holloway for Karaoke every Saturday night at the Kenai Moose Lodge. Singing starts at 9 p.m. and everyone is welcome.

■ An all acoustic jam takes place every Thursday. The jam is as Christ Lutheran Church in Soldotna on the first Thursday of the month, and at the Kenai Senior Center during the rest of the month. Jam starts at 6:30 p.m.

■ AMVETS Post 4 is open to all military veterans and their families for support and camaraderie. Join us for Friday night tacos, or Saturday night steaks with Karaoke. Sunday afternoon its super hamburgers. Not a member? Stop by and we can show you how to become a part of this special veteran’s organization. AMVETS is located in the Red Diamond Center next door to IDEA Schools.

■ Odie’s Deli in Soldotna has live music Friday from 6-8 p.m. and Pub Quiz night every Wednesday from 6-8 p.m.

■ The Studio Espresso Shop at Spur Highway and Nikiski Avenue in Nikiski hosts an open mic night on Saturdays starting at 7 p.m. Call 776-7655.

■ The Bow bar in Kenai has karaoke at 9 p.m. Thursdays and live music Fridays, Saturdays at 10 p.m.

■ Hooligans Saloon in Soldotna has poker Tuesdays and Thursdays starting at 5:30 p.m. and live music Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday nights.

■ The Duck Inn on Kalifornsky Beach Road has karaoke at 9 p.m. Thursdays and Fridays, and DJ Arisen on Saturdays.

■ Mykel’s in Soldotna has live music Thursdays from 6-9 p.m. with Robb Justice, and Fridays and Saturdays from 6:30-9:30 p.m. with Bob Ramponi.

■ The Duck Inn will have live music from 7 to 10 p.m. every Wednesday with Robb Justice and Trio.

■ Main Street Tap and Grill has Wednesday karaoke with KJ Natalia, Thursday acoustic music with Dustin and Friends and Keeley & Nelson, and live music and dancing with 9Spine Friday and Saturday.

■ Four Royal Parkers on the Kenai Spur Highway in Soldotna has live music with Bob Ramponi and the Alaska Swing Company Friday and Saturday at 10 p.m.

Markets, fairs and bazaars

■ Kenai’s Saturday Market is open every Saturday through Sept. 13. It is held in the grassy area across the parking lot from the Kenai Chamber of Commerce and Visitors Center. The market will include very talented folks selling beautiful Alaskan Arts & Crafts. Fresh vegetables will start showing up about the middle of June. Vendor rates are as low as $20 per Saturday and spaces are limited, so pick up an application at the Kenai Chamber of Commerce and Visitors Center or call Harold at 283-1991.

■ The Central Kenai Peninsula Farmer’s Market is open each Saturday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. until mid-September. This market features Alaskan Grown and Alaska Made products and includes fresh baked goods, jams, jellies, fresh vegetables and gift items. The market is located at the corner of Corral Street and the Kenai Spur Highway at the bus “turn-around.” New vendors are welcome. Call Carolyn at 262-7502 for more information.

■ A new farmers’ market in downtown Ninilchik is open Saturdays, featuring homegrown plants and veggies, a wide variety of crafts, handmade artisan sea salt and dog cart rides. It will be across from the Kenai Peninsula State Fairgrounds. Vendors are needed! For an application or information call Michelle Hogan 299-4999. Cost for a booth is $25 for the season or $5 per day.

■ The Farmers Fresh Market is open every Tuesday, 3-6 p.m., in the parking lot of the Kenai Peninsula Food Bank on K-Beach Road at Community College Drive. The market features local food producers and a kids’ activity booth. For updates on what is in season, see the Farmers Fresh Market page on Facebook. Interested vendors can contact Market Manager Dan Funk at 382-0210.

■ The Soldotna Wednesday Market is open Wednesdays from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. at the Peninsula Center Mall.

■ Local farmers markets will have free Chef at the Market cooking demonstrations in July and August funded by the Alaska Division of Agriculture. The full schedule includes:

— Central Kenai Peninsula Farmers Market, Saturdays, 11 a.m.-1 p.m., Kenai Spur Highway and and East Corral — July 5, Quick and Healthy Cooking with Ally Bril; August 9, Wrap up a Rainbow: Gluten-Free Wraps with Susan Nabholz; August 16, Loving Your Kale, and Eating it Too! with Nancy Schrag.

— Farmers Fresh Market, Tuesdays, 3:30-5 p.m., Kenai Peninsula Food Bank, Community College Drive and Kalifornsky Beach Road — July 15, Quick and Healthy Cooking with Ally Bril; July 29, Fun and Fast Veggies with Ally Bril; August 5, Wrap up a Rainbow: Gluten-Free Wraps with Susan Nabholz.

Kenai Soil and Water Conservation District is the local sponsor, along with the PPWCA Local Foods Group. For more information, call 283-8732 ext. 5.

Film

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

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

Down the Road

■ The Pratt Museum in Homer is open from 10 a.m.-6 p.m. daily. “Dena’inaq’ Huch’ulyeshi: The Dena’ina Way Of Living” is onn view through Sept. 1. The Dena’ina Way of Living is the first comprehensive exhibit of the Dena’ina culture, curated and provided by the Anchorage Museum. The Pratt is the first stop of the tour, with artifacts, multimedia and text that explores the past and present Dena’ina culture. For more information and a schedule of events, visit www.prattmuseum.org.

 

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

More in Life

File
Minister’s Message: Search me and know me

I have a brilliant friend who was a former archaeologist. She recalled… Continue reading

Sesame seed buns made from scratch elevate a meal. Photo by Tressa Dale/Peninsula Clarion
A taste of Americana

Like all great things familiar and traditional, these sesame seed buns were born of a woman’s labor.

This image is the only confirmed photograph of guide Ben Swesey discovered by the author. The photo, from John P. Holman’s 1933 hunting memoir, “Sheep and Bear Trails,” shows Swesey working to remove the cape from a Dall sheep ram shot by Holman in 1917.
Ben Swesey: More to the story — Part 3

AUTHOR’S NOTE: Danger was inherent in the job. Although his fellow hunting… Continue reading

Historic Elwell Lodge Guest Cabin is seen at its new spot near the Kenai National Wildlife Refuge’s Visitor Center. (USWS)
Around the peninsula

Local events and happenings coming soon.

Nián gāo is a traditional Lunar New Year treat enjoyed in China for over two thousand years. Photo by Tressa Dale/Peninsula Clarion
A Lunar New Year’s treat

This sweet, steamed rice cake is chewy, gooey and full of positivity.

This excerpt from a U.S. Geological Survey map shows the approximate location of Snug Harbor on lower Kenai Lake. It was in this area that William Weaver nearly drowned in 1910.
Ben Swesey: More to the story — Part 2

AUTHOR’S NOTE: Michigan’s hard-luck Swesey clan sprang into existence because of the… Continue reading

File
Minister’s Message: Rhythms and routines

Your habits are already forming you.

This screenshot from David Paulides’s “Missing 411” YouTube podcast shows the host beginning his talk about the disappearance of Ben Swesey and William Weaver.
Ben Swesey: More to the story — Part 1

More than a hundred years after Ben Swesey and Bill Weaver steered… Continue reading

This dish is creamy, rich and comforting, and gets dinner time done fast. Photo by Tressa Dale/Peninsula Clarion
Full of mother’s love

This one-pot dish is creamy, rich and comforting, and can be ready in 30 minutes.

Photo by Clark Fair
This 2025 image of the former grounds of the agricultural experiment station in Kenai contains no buildings left over from the Kenai Station days. The oldest building now, completed in the late 1930s, is the tallest structure in this photograph.
The experiment: Kenai becomes an agricultural test site — Part 8

Over the past 50 years or more, the City of Kenai has… Continue reading

File
Minister’s Message: So your life story can be better

Last month the Christmas story was displayed in nativity scenes, read about… Continue reading

These gyros make a super delicious and satisfying tofu dish. Photo by Tressa Dale/Peninsula Clarion
A new addition to the menu

Tofu gyros with homemade lentil wraps are so surprisingly satisfying and add extra fiber and protein to a meal.