Best Bets
■ The Kenai Peninsula Orchestra presents “An Evening at the Pops: Mostly Movie Music,” featuring music from Star Wars, Lord of the Rings, Pirates of the Caribbean, 2001 A Space Odyssey, and many more. Also on the program is Copland’s Outdoor Overture and Suppe’s Light Cavalry Overture. Concerts are Friday, 7:30 p.m. at the Kenai Central High School Renee C. Henderson Auditorium, and Saturday, 7:30 p.m. at the Homer Mariner Theater. Tickets are available at River Ccity Books and the Homer Bookstore, $15 general admission, $10 Crescendo Club, youth 18 and under are free.
Events and Exhibits
■ The KPBSD Art Show is here again for the 26th time! Held at the Kenai Fine Arts Guild on 816 Cook Street in Kenai, this unique show represents the high school and middle school art on the Kenai. The show will be up from April 1-30.
■ The Kenai Peninsula College Showcase event “Imperiled Arctic: Place, Threats, Solutions,” will be held at the Kenai River Campus at 6:30 p.m. on April 8. Richard Steiner, a professor and conservation biologist from Oasis Earth, will be giving an informative presentation in the McLane Commons. Learn more: http://www.oasis-earth.com/presentations.html.
■ “Dena’inaq’ Huch’ulyeshi: The Dena’ina Way of Living” is on display at the Kenai Visitors Center through May 10.
■ A Flute Ensemble Concert, featuring the Fireweed Flutes, will take place at 2 p.m. April 26 at the Kenai Community Library. Flautists will play classical music as well as other genres, such as a song with a plot of the Wizard of Oz, Jazz, Celtic music, and Native American songs on different kinds of flutes, such as alto, bass, piccolo, flute traverse. Admission is free.
■ The Kenaitze Indian Tribe will host a free children’s art workshop from 1 to 3 p.m. on Saturday at the Kenai Visitors and Cultural Center. The event will be a great opportunity for children to get creative for the PEEP’s Kid Art and Photo Contest, scheduled later his month for display during the Kenai Birding Festival. For more information about the workshop, contact Brenda Trefon at btrefon@kenaitze.org or at 907-335-7287. For more information about the Kenai Birding Festival, visit their website at www.KenaiBirdFest.com.
■ The Kenai Peninsula Chapter of Trout Unlimited will host its annual Fly Fishing Film Tour fundraiser April 18 at 7:00 p.m. at the Kenai Chamber of Commerce and Visitor Center in Kenai. This sell out event will feature a handpicked collection of fishing films, a fly casting competition (all ages) at 6 p.m., a silent auction. Tickets are limited and only available on-line: https://www.ticketriver.com/event/13338.
■ Ceramic artist Laura Hewitt’s work will be on display at the Kenai Peninsula College Kenai River Campus’s Gary L. Freeburg Gallery through Friday.
■ An art show sponsored by Friends of the Soldotna Library is hanging in the Soldotna Library with the theme of “Wildflowers” is on display through June 1. Please stop by and drink in the richness of the art. If anyone is interested in purchasing any of the art pieces, the Friends receive a 20 percent commission which is used for library program support. The librarians have contact information for the artists.
■ The Keen Eye Birders in conjunction with the Kenai Birding Festival invite Kenai Peninsula children, ages 2-17, to enter up to 2 artworks relating to the theme of Peninsula Birds to the PEEPS Kids Art and Photo Exhibit at the Kenai Fine Arts Center in Old Town Kenai, May 7-28. The deadline for entries is Saturday, April 28. Details and entry forms are available at www.kenaibirdfest.com or at the art center. The art center hours are noon-5 p.m., Wednesday-Saturday, phone 283-7040.
■ Kenai River Council on the Arts and The Peninsula Art Guild are inviting artists to apply for month long Exhibitions in Calendar Years 2016 and 2017 at the Kenai Fine Arts Center in Old Town Kenai. Artists applying for solo, shared or group shows, please provide the following:
— Up to 12 labeled images (digital, slide, and or print) representative of recent work, with 3-D artists providing additional views of art works as needed.
— A separate image sheet, including title of piece, media, dimensions and when the piece was made.
— A proposal for your show (could include floor plan if needed). If you have a theme you are aiming for, this would be the place for that.
— A one-page Artist Statement.
Submit entries by mailing to: Peninsula Art Guild/Kenai River Arts Council, P.O. Box 703, Kenai, AK 99611; by email to ourkfac@gmail.com; or drop off at the Kenai Fine Arts Center, 816 Cook Avenue, Old Town Kenai.
■ Solstice Music Festival at the Diamond M Ranch will be June 20 and is being sponsored by Justin “Boot” Rousseau, Carrol Martin’s nephew. His group has traveled nation-wide and has performed in several states, including New York, Texas, and California. Local musicians, circus acts, vendors, and sound providers are invited to participate in the festival. There is also a possibility of a Sunday Gospel Music Festival sponsored by The Diamond M Ranch. For more information contact JoAnne Martin at 907-252-8162. For full information and an application contact Boot at bootsbisonranch@gmail.com.
Entertainment
■ A community choir, The Kenai Peninsula Singers, is open to everyone who wants to be there, whether it is their first time singing or they sang at The Met. The choir will rehearse every Tuesday night from 6:30 to 8 p.m. in the Kenai Central High School choir room. Call or email for more details: 907-283-2125 or simjnissen@gmail.com.
■ The Vagabond Inn on Kalifornsky Beach Road will have live music with the Robb Justice Band at 9 p.m. Friday and Saturday. Saturday is a non-smoking show.
■ A bluegrass jam takes place on the first Sunday of the month at from 1-4 p.m. at the Mount Redoubt Baptist Church on South Lovers Loop in Nikiski.
■ The Flats Bistro on Kalifornsky Beach Road has live music with Garrett Mayer on Tuesdays from 6:30-8:30 p.m. and Raymond Machen-Gray on Mondays from 6:30-8:30 p.m.
■ Veronica’s Cafe in old town Kenai has open mic from 6:30-9 p.m. Friday, and live music Saturday at 6:30 p.m.
■ An all acoustic jam takes place every Thursday. The jam is at 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.
■ Sharpen your dart skills with a fun tournament every Sunday during the season at the AmVets in the Red Diamond Center. The number of players will determine the game. Sign up begins at 1 p.m. For more information call 262-3540.
■ 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 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 and Dave Unruh.
■ The Duck Inn will have live music from 7 to 10 p.m. every Wednesday with Robb Justice and Trio.
■ The Pinochle Club, formerly from Kasilof, plays at Hooligans Bar & Restaurant in Soldotna Saturdays at 12:30 p.m. Questions? Call Jay Vienup at 907-252-6397.
Markets, fairs and bazaars
■ Nikiski Community Recreation Center Spring Craft Fair is April 18, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Call 776-8800.
■ The Sterling Community Center Spring Craft & Vendor Fair is April 25 from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Call the Center at 262-7224 or email sterlingcommunityclub@live.com for more information.
Films
■ 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 Tuesday-Sunday from noon to 5 p.m. 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.
