Life

Summer Orchestra highlights new bands

Not a seat could be found at noon in the restaurant-turned-concert venue Tuesday at Odie’s Deli in Soldotna. Picking, and strumming at the back of… Continue reading

What’s Happening

Best Bet ■ Soldotna Progress Days events are Saturday and Sunday at the Soldotna Little League fields on Kalifornsky Beach Road. For a schedule, visit… Continue reading

Reeling it in: ‘Snowpiercer’ a thought-provoking ride

“Snowpiercer” SnowPiercer 2 hours, 6 minutes   I find it a depressing fact of life, but more and more small, independent, or unique foreign films… Continue reading

FILE - This photo released by Warner Bros. Pictures shows director/producer, Clint Eastwood, left, and executive producer Frankie Valli on the set of Warner Bros. Pictures' musical "Jersey Boys," a Warner Bros. Pictures release. The big-screen adaptation of the hit Broadway musical "Jersey Boys" is Eastwood's 12th film as a director since turning 70. (AP Photo/Warner Bros. Pictures, Keith Bernstein, file)

Working late in life, directors refuse to say cut

Visiting a retired Frank Capra at his Sierra Nevada hideaway, Clint Eastwood was baffled.“I always thought: ‘He could be making a film right now. He’s… Continue reading

FILE - This photo released by Warner Bros. Pictures shows director/producer, Clint Eastwood, left, and executive producer Frankie Valli on the set of Warner Bros. Pictures' musical "Jersey Boys," a Warner Bros. Pictures release. The big-screen adaptation of the hit Broadway musical "Jersey Boys" is Eastwood's 12th film as a director since turning 70. (AP Photo/Warner Bros. Pictures, Keith Bernstein, file)

Poem: Dipnetting

Dipnetting SeasonBy Dee Rusin, KenaiThe fish are coming! The fish are coming! Grab your nets and poles! Hurry to the beach Stretch as far as… Continue reading

In this Thursday, July 3, 2014 photo, cell phones, mixed with the evening's supplies, were rarely touched at a crafting party for teenagers in Arvada, Colo. Crafting encourages creativity, develops imagination and counters the many hours teens spend on their computers, phones and other "screens." Activities such as crafting allow parents to connect with their teens in a healthy way. (AP Photo/Jennifer Forker)

Teen craft nights boost creativity, family ties

A few months ago, I launched a diabolical plan to entice my teenage daughters to spend more time with me, and to semi-shelter them from… Continue reading

In this Thursday, July 3, 2014 photo, cell phones, mixed with the evening's supplies, were rarely touched at a crafting party for teenagers in Arvada, Colo. Crafting encourages creativity, develops imagination and counters the many hours teens spend on their computers, phones and other "screens." Activities such as crafting allow parents to connect with their teens in a healthy way. (AP Photo/Jennifer Forker)
The Bookworm Sez: 'North of Normal' an out-of-the-ordinary read

The Bookworm Sez: ‘North of Normal’ an out-of-the-ordinary read

You stopped in the store the other day, and stopped short.In all its electric-colored glory, tie-dye is back. Or maybe it never left, just passed… Continue reading

The Bookworm Sez: 'North of Normal' an out-of-the-ordinary read
This photo released by Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation shows Andy Serkis as Caesar in a scene from the film, "Dawn of the Planet of the Apes." (AP Photo/Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation)

Reeling It In: New ‘Planet of the Apes’ film impresses

“Dawn of the Planet of the Apes” Twentieth Century Fox 2 hours, 10 minutes   One of the pop-culture blogs I read recently did a… Continue reading

This photo released by Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation shows Andy Serkis as Caesar in a scene from the film, "Dawn of the Planet of the Apes." (AP Photo/Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation)

What’s Happening

Events and Exhibits ■ For the month of July, the Kenai Fine Art Center will host an exhibit of quilting from around the state, coordinated… Continue reading

The Bookworm Sez: Be patient - 'Recognition' will come

The Bookworm Sez: Be patient – ‘Recognition’ will come

What you wouldn’t give to spend one more day. Your loved one has been gone — what? Weeks? Years? It seems like forever, and missing… Continue reading

The Bookworm Sez: Be patient - 'Recognition' will come

Reeling it in: ‘Echo’ follows in footsteps of ‘E.T.’

“Earth to Echo” Relativity Media 1 hour, 29 minutes     I am currently writing from the mountains of rural Vermont, and all the power… Continue reading

What’s Happening

Events and Exhibits ■ For the month of July, the Kenai Fine Art Center will host an exhibit of quilting from around the state, coordinated… Continue reading

Poem

UntitledBy Melinda Anderson, Kasilof He’ll never have the chance to walk her down the aisle She’ll never have the chance to see him with a… Continue reading

The Bookworm Sez: 'The Skeleton Crew' digs into unsolved mysteries

The Bookworm Sez: ‘The Skeleton Crew’ digs into unsolved mysteries

You can’t find your keys. Again.It happens every now and then: you get busy, distracted, and you put them down somewhere they don’t belong. Then… Continue reading

The Bookworm Sez: 'The Skeleton Crew' digs into unsolved mysteries
Haida carver TJ Young works on a bear holding its tongue on the Eagle totem pole for the Gajaa Hít building on Thursday. TJ and his brother, Joe, have been working on two poles and a screen to replace the aging ones in front of the building. The project has been organized through Sealaska Heritage Institute in conjunction with the Tlingit Haida Regional Housing Authority, who owns the building.

Hands-on learing: Carving project highlights modern aspects of apprenticeship tradition

When Haida carvers Joe and TJ Young were teenagers in Hydaburg 20 years ago, apprenticeship opportunities there were scarce. To learn the basics of carving… Continue reading

Haida carver TJ Young works on a bear holding its tongue on the Eagle totem pole for the Gajaa Hít building on Thursday. TJ and his brother, Joe, have been working on two poles and a screen to replace the aging ones in front of the building. The project has been organized through Sealaska Heritage Institute in conjunction with the Tlingit Haida Regional Housing Authority, who owns the building.

What’s Happening

Best Bet ■ On July 4 at 2 p.m., Dave Thompson of Kenai will recite poetry and ballads at the Kenai Historic Cabin Park in… Continue reading

Reeling it in: ‘Chef’ a perfect dinner in a movie

“Chef”Aldamisa Entertainment1 hour, 54 minutesOne of the incongruous facts about Hollywood is that more money does not necessarily mean higher quality. In fact, much of… Continue reading

The Bookworm Sez: McMurtry novel moseys through the Old West

The Bookworm Sez: McMurtry novel moseys through the Old West

Every good thing must come to an end.In some cases, that’s a surprising relief: you can only have just so much fun. In other cases,… Continue reading

The Bookworm Sez: McMurtry novel moseys through the Old West
This image released by Sony Pictures shows Jonah Hill, from left, Ice Cube, and Channing Tatum in Columbia Pictures' "22 Jump Street." (AP Photo/Sony Pictures, Glen Wilson)

Reeling it in: ‘Jump Street’ sequel in on the joke

“22 Jump Street” Columbia Pictures 1 hour, 52 minutes Comic actor Nick Offerman sums up the concept of “22 Jump Street” perfectly in one of… Continue reading

This image released by Sony Pictures shows Jonah Hill, from left, Ice Cube, and Channing Tatum in Columbia Pictures' "22 Jump Street." (AP Photo/Sony Pictures, Glen Wilson)

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… Continue reading