Best Bet
■ Nikiski High presents “Hello Dolly,” Friday and Saturday and May 2-3 at the Nikiski High Auditorium. Shows start at 7 p.m. and tickets are only $5 for students and $10 for adults. Directed by Joe Rizzo with choreography by Chris Morin.
Events and Exhibits
■ Today at 6 p.m. in the Soldotna Public Library’s Community Room, author Dr. Nancy Elliott Sydnam will read from her book, “Sideways Rain,” followed by a Q&A session and book signing. Twenty-five percent of all book sales will go to the Soldotna Library Friends. Dr. Sydnam left a 30-year medical practice in Anchorage to work as an itinerant physician in the Aleutians and the Pribilofs. In journal entries, poems and letters, “Sideways Rain” tells of her love affair with the islands — the people and the bleak, beautiful landscapes.
■ The Kenai Fine Art Center has issued a call for entries for its May 2014 All-Media Curated Open Show. This exhibit is held in conjunction with the May 2014 Kenai Birding Festival and submissions should have a “Flight” theme. The deadline for submissions is 4 p.m. Saturday, April 26, delivered to KFAC, Kenai. For more information and entry forms, email to ourkfac@gmail.com. An opening reception will be held from 6-8 p.m. May 2. The exhibit will be on display through May 31, Wednesday-Saturday from noon-5 p.m.
■ The Kenai Peninsula Birding Festival’s PEEPs Young Artist Exhibit is seeking submissions. All bird-themed submissions will be on display the month of May at the Kenai Fine Arts Center with an Opening Reception May 2, 6-8 p.m. Awards will be announced at the Birding Festival Kickoff May 15 at the Kenai Visitors Center. The deadline for submissions is Saturday, April 26. For more information on the PEEPs Exhibit or the May Kenai Peninsula Birding Festival, visit www.kenaibirdfest.com.
■ The ABC Pregnancy Care Center of Kenai invites women and girls (10 and up) to a Dessert Tea. It will be held at Peninsula Grace Brethren Church on Kalifornsky Beach Road Saturday at 2:00 p.m. Admission is $15. The keynote speaker is Jeanneane Maxon, J.D., Vice President of External Affairs and Corporate Counsel of Americans United for Life. There will be a Fashion Show spotlighting Alaskan Beach Wear. RSVP by April 21 to Elaine at debakk@gci.net or call 420-7025. Walk-ins are also welcome.
■ The Alaska Watercolor Society is accepting submissions to the 40th Annual Alaska Juried Watercolor Exhibition. Submission deadline is June 4. Paintings must be primarily aqua media over natural or synthetic paper, and matted and framed under clear acrylic or glass. All submissions will be through CaFE.org (www.callforentry.org). Up to $4,000 in prizes. Prospectus available at akws.org.
Entertainment
■ Veronica’s cafe has open mic at 6:30 p.m. Friday and live music with Kelsey Shields at 6:30 p.m. Saturday.
■ The Vagabond Inn, Mile 14.1 Kalifornsky Beach Road, has live music with Robb Justice Friday at 9 p.m.
■ 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 in the Red Diamond Center holds blind doubles darts every Friday evening with sign up at 6:30 p.m. Tacos are available; and burn your own steak dinner from 6 to 8 p.m every Saturday with Karaoke after dinner from 8 p.m. to midnight.
■ 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.
■ 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.
Markets, fairs and bazaars
■ A new farmers’ market in downtown Ninilchik will open May 24, Memorial Day weekend, 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 Kenai Peninsula Fair will be hosting the 2nd Annual Alaska Fiber & Arts Festive, Saturday and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the fairgrounds in Ninilchik. This festival was started to bring awareness to a dying art, natural fibers and our state and education of that art. There will be informative booths, hands on experiences and demonstrations as well as crafts persons booths. Booth space is still available if anyone is interested. Classes are being made available this year and the class schedule is on the website: www.kenaipeninsulafair.com along with the registration form.
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, noon-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.
